Get Cute Quick

Even though I don't really do resolutions, I do like to set goals for myself. One of my goals for 2010 is to step up my swagger. In the spirit of the Get Cute Quick, I've taken a few steps to enhance my style. Here are the results of my Get Cute Quick experiment:

I started with the hair. My hair journey has been an interesting one, and I'm finally learning new, fun ways to tame (or not to tame) my mane. Inspired by this PrettyDimples hair tutorial, I tried a new and simple style. I started with Mixed Chicks' shampoo, deep conditioner and leave-in conditioner, which makes my hair really soft and really defines my curls. Just a few minutes after washing it, I had a style that I was happy with. Definitely, a get cute quick victory!










Next, were the nails. I was reunited with my love for painting my nails and inspired to try something new and funky when I found the Fifty-Two (52) Flavors blog. This girl has creativity, serious patience and a steady hand to create some of the looks I've seen. I'm not quite ready for that yet, but I did try a trend that I've been seeing: accentuating the manicure by painting one or two nails with a complimentary color. I still don't know exactly how I feel about it, but it's something fun and funky and because I used two of my favorite colors, it tickles me on the inside every time I look at my hand.
I haven't accomplished the wardrobe makeover yet, but I got some great ideas from the fashionable Midtown Girl that I will keep in mind on my next shopping trip.

And I'm always open to other Get Cute Quick tips you have. Please do share!

Fun Friday: Getting to know Miss Journey

In each issue of Her Journey, we ask our contributors to complete a brief questionnaire. Now it’s my turn:

Name: Danielle but you can call me Miss Journey
Education: Emory University, Class of 2007, B.A. Psychology and English: Creative Writing
Other Work: Creator of What Women Everywhere Want newsletter, dining enhancement specialist (aka waitress), The Emory Wheel ad sales rep., SCORE! Educational Center tutor
Career Goals: To achieve a fulfilling career as an international travel and food expert and motivational speaker
Favorite Destinations: Trinidad and Tobago, Las Vegas, Paris, and New York, of course
Travel To Do List: New Orleans, Chicago, Coast to Coast road trip, Brazil, Dubai, Egypt and wherever else the wind blows me. There isn’t anywhere I wouldn’t go.


In past issues we’ve discussed the Get Cute Quick bag. I keep my Get Cute Quick bag in my trunk at all times. In it, you’ll find:
The essentials: Deodorant, toothbrush
Always helps to have: comb, brush, hair clip
Just in case: Underwear, mini pack of Always, razor
To be ready for whatever may come up*: shirt, pair of jeans, shoes, eye shadow
Comes in very handy: Cell phone charger

*It’s tricky to be prepared for any and every situation. The key is to keep your Get Cute Quick bag stocked with simple but cute items that can be pretty universal.

Oh yes ladies, it helps if the bag is cute too. I got mine at MyDivaBoutique.com, and they have so many other cute ones! Pack your Get Cute Quick bag and never leave home without it!



What else would you like to know about Miss Journey? Come back next week to get to know me a little better.

Get Cute Quick: My Fave Things

Thanks to On The Lookout NYC, I was invited to the launch of Pink Nouveau Mondays at Haven Lounge. Although I am not a beauty professional, I was inspired by all the glam to step by own beauty game up a notch. I absolutely loved my makeup makeover (thanks to Nachalia). My eyes (pictured above) looked bolder and sexier than when I do it myself. My goal now is to recreate it.

It's been a little while since I've done a Get Cute Quick post. So I've decided to do one dedicated to my favorite cosmetics of the moment:

Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Kit- Because my eyebrows are not as full as I would like, I've learned to accentuate them with a brow brush. Using a brown powder allows it to look natural and not as harsh as a black pencil would.

Motives Luxe Precision Eye Line- What I love about it is not just its precision and boldness, but it dries so quickly that I don't have to worry about smudging it when applying my eyeshadow. I have recently realized how much I really like how my eyes look when the lower lid is lined. I haven't quite perfected it or found the right pencil, but it will soon be part of the Get Cute Quick process, especially for special occasions.

Motives Pressed Eye Shadows- I do not wear any of these consistently yet, but I have loved every one that I've tried. They have such bold, rich colors. The shimmers are my favorites.

Avon's SuperSHOCK Mascara- As one who was not born with bountiful lashes, I can truly appreciate any mascara that makes them look that way. I swear that my eyelashes transform a little every time I apply this. What I love most about is the applicator is made of a hard plastic (I believe) with evenly spaced bristles that force lashes to stand at attention in a neat formation. So there are no deformed bristles that cause clumping.

Sephora Collection Fresh Gloss- I fell in love with this lip gloss ever since trying the sample set I got as my free Sephora birthday gift. It gives gloss without being too thick or sticky.

Equipped with these, I can get cute quick for any occasion.

• What are your favorite products?
• I'm actually on the search for a lightweight foundation, preferably powder, for a finished look. Any recommendations?

Get Cute Quick: Vegas

I've jumped on the bandwagon for Sally Hansen's Salon Effects.

For my trip to Las Vegas trip, I tried the Wild Child nails. These easy-to-apply stickers that I got at CVS for under $10 were the perfect funky finish for my Vegas look.

They come in a variety of fun patterns, like lace, glitter, denim, and other bold colors.

This is something I would definitely recommend for the summertime.

Seattle: Happy Hour

I've been intrigued by Pnk Ultra Lounge since my visit in May, and seeing it in the CRAVE Seattle guide was confirmation that I needed to check it out. Because I was so determined to accomplish this one thing on my Seattle to do list, I decided to treat myself to happy hour. After much anticipation, I am happy that it lived up to my expectations.

I was immediately impressed by the oh so chic decor of white seating and pink lighting. The ceiling of the main bar area looks as if dressed with a rain-shower of crystals, which was very Vegas-esque. Because it is on the top floor of the mall, the outdoor seating overlooks downtown Seattle. With two bars and a third bar seating area, the layout is very spacious. The detail that topped it all off was the bathroom that is really more like a ladies lounge. Not only is there cute and comfy seating, but this is the first bathroom in which I have ever seen a bar.

I appreciated that the bartender used his experience from working on the Virgin Islands to make me a rum punch with Bacardi Dragonberry, which was tasty and potent. I really enjoyed the baked mac and cheese, which was super duper cheesy, and the big noodles made it pretty satisfying. I loved the sliders less than I wanted to, but I think it was the caramelized onions that were throwing it off for me.


Even if I did not consume anything during my time at Bin on the Lake, the experience would have been unforgettable. Upon walking up to it, my breath was taken away by the view surrounding the entire area. This was when I had a "I think I love Seattle" moment. Although this is a bit outside of the main Seattle area, this is the type of atmosphere that I crave and can imagine myself surrounded by on a regular basis.

Because it was a quick stop before the main CRAVE event, I just had a glass of Prosecco and a few bites of calamari, which came with a sauce that I couldn't get enough of. I've already decided that this is on my list of reasons to return. My imagination and my taste buds are tickled by the opportunity to indulge in a full dining experience.


I've found that the happy hour options seem to never end and can be a bit overwhelming. However, GoTime is a handy resource that sorts happy hours by specific criteria and keeps it as fun as it should be.