How to Clean Makeup Brushes

Rachel recently emailed me and and mentioned her blog (Useful Beautiful Home).  I popped over and thought it was super cute !  I was then flattered and happy to see my blog button on her sidebar- so sweet!  I always take note of that because it's really thoughtful to show your support for other bloggers. If you have my blog button up on your blog, please email me to let me know so I can acknowledge you here. 



While reading Useful Beautiful Home, I found a post I really needed- how to clean your makeup brushes.  I'm embarrassed to admit I cannot remember the last time I cleaned mine- eww! Rachel's got some great tips and accompanying photos that she kindly agreed to share here. I probably need to add "clean makeup brushes" to my Master List!  

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A long time ago I was about to dish out big bucks on a special cleaning agent for my makeup brushes. As I was hunting for the right one, I got talking to a makeup artist. She interrupted my search and told me of a much cheaper option that works the same.

Yep, you're looking at the right picture!  My secret ingredient is baby shampoo.  Nothing fancy, just the original, gentle, no tears formula so your brushes won't cry at bath-time.  :)

Apparently, the formula is similar to a lot of marketed gentle cleansers for makeup brushes.  I can attest to it because I've been using this method for YEARS without any problems.

Just for kicks, I'll show you my process.  It takes less than 10 minutes.  However, if you have heavy build-up on your brushes, it may take longer to wash until the water runs clear.

Lay out a CLEAN hand towel big enough to hold your brush collection.  Gather the baby shampoo and all your brushes & makeup tools that need a good scrubbing.

Start with a small dot of soap in the center of your palm (it's there somewhere, I promise).

Wet the brush and begin swirling the bristles in your palm. (I don't know how she managed that snapshot!- Megan)

Keep wetting and swirling until you have a soapy lather.  You may need to add more shampoo if your brush is really dirty.  I always give a quick wash on the handle end too.

Rinse and watch the bacteria filled bubbles wash down the drain.

Rinse & rinse again to make sure all the shampoo product is removed!  Repeat the process for each brush, even the eyelash separator will wash up nicely for you.

I give a gentle squeeze to drain the excess water and then lay them all out on my towel with plenty of room between each brush for optimum drying.

I usually do this shortly after applying my makeup in the morning (and now it's a new habit I recently hooked) to ensure almost a full 24 hours of drying time.  At some point in the day, I turn all the brushes at least once to make sure both sides dry out before the next day.

Above all, don't forget those eye tools. I wash everything, including the sponge tip on the eyeliner. All of them contain bacteria and the last place I want a bacterial invasion is in my eye! (By the way, she's a nurse, so she knows what she's talking about!-Megan)

Come clean, have you cleaned your makeup brushes lately? 

Thanks so much for sharing Rachel.  I hope y'all go visit her blog! :)

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I answered a few personal questions for my friend Susan in an interview at her blog, Simply Modern Home. You might remember I featured her gorgeous home HERE. 

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On Honey We're Healthy, I made a delicious pesto pizza and was so surprised how easy it was!

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Organized Scarves

We got a little tease of cooler weather today, which has me pulling out the scarves that I cannot wait to wear again! When we get days without humidity it feels like the whole city is in a collective good mood.  We certainly appreciate it because it's so rare. I finally found a simple way to organize those scarves that I'll be getting to wear soon too.  I wanted to be able to hang them in a way that didn't take up too much space and so that I could see them all at a glance.  

I found a belt and tie hanger on Amazon and thought it might be perfect for scarves.  The hanger has 14 hooks, therefore, holds 14 scarves:)

I think it's a perfect solution to the scarf mess.  

The hanger is metal, so obviously it's super sturdy and can hold a lot of weight. 

It's so cool to be able to see all the scarves hanging nice and neat instead of crumpled up in a bin and getting wrinkled.  I like them hanging as opposed to folded too because it makes them easier to grab and go.

My most favorite scarves are gifts, but I also really like the Stella & Dot scarves.  They are BIG and you can wear them a million ways.  In the summer, I'll wear them as a bathing suit cover up.  They have a cute 2-minute video showing 10 ways to wear your scarf here.  

I'm also a fan of infinity scarves too, kinda in love with this one from Kate Spade.

This cozy light blue one Echo is also on my list.

Leopard from Express- yes, please! 

Totally drooling over the creamy white Michael Kors.

Hello Anthropologie!

Okay, I better stop now or I'm going to need another scarf hanger!

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On Honey We're Healthy: Healthy Banana Bread

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And big congratulations to my friend Michaela on the launch of her new interior design business (Michaela Noelle Designs). I'm so proud of you- your future is so bright! 

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Living an Organized Life // The Master List

Whenever I'm asked, "How do you do it all?"  I always laugh and say, "I don't!"  And then I want to ask you the same thing!  We wear so many hats these days, especially when we have kids to raise and take care of.  There are so many things to juggle in our lives- work (at home or outside), home room mom, sports mom, grocery shopper and meal preparer, chauffer, homework supervisor, all the while trying to have a life that may involve commitments with friends, church, fitness, caring for ailing family members, etc.  

Whenever I get overwhelmed by life pulling me in different directions, I always return to my "Master List" and it helps calm me down and focus.  The Master List is just a giant brain dump onto a piece of paper that I organize into different categories of my life. Getting all those ideas and to-dos out of my head and onto the page makes me breathe a little easier.  When I can see the things on paper, I'm less likely to stress about forgetting something and less likely to actually forget.  I can also prioritize the things that need my attention most.  The Master List and Calendar are my two best organizing friends!

I have used organizational apps on my phone (like Reminders, Things, and Clear), but I always come back to my written List. Lately, I've been drafting my Master List on the computer giving the main categories a different color, then printing it about twice a week.  I try to keep the first page general life categories and Page 2 for blog related things.  I use Pages (the Mac equivalent of Word) and the two-column option.  

Here's an example of how my Master List looked on the computer after a recent "brain dump".  Some of the items aren't necessarily "to-dos" that get crossed off and are done, never to be heard of again, but more of a gentle reminder of things to do daily, like prayer or meditation.  Or things I'm working with my son on, like reading/writing practice. 

I'll print out the list and highlight the things I plan to do that day, and cross off items that I've completed.   Doesn't crossing off feel so good?! I keep the list handy and edit and reprint as needed.

My favorite Master List accessories. 

And speaking of getting organized, several of my close girlfriends swear by Amazon Prime.  Do you use it?  It's a program where you pay $79 a year, and get movies and books instantly, but the feature my friends rave about is the unlimited Free 2-day shipping with no minimum order size.  These girls are full-time working moms who buy a lot of their household items from Amazon.  While I was running from store to store trying to find everything the school required this year (and the list was not short), Angela ordered all her daughter's school supplies on Amazon while we were sitting at school during orientation!  Tisha gets all her family's paper goods from Amazon so she's not lugging home a massive carload full of items.  I must admit, I'm tempted to sign-up.  I use Amazon a bunch, especially for random items like my bracelet organizer and a hair-drying brush (just ordered this- but it's not coming in 2 days!).  It's definitely easier to shop online than to run around to stores when your time is limited. 

Amazon is offering a free 30-day trial to Amazon Prime so I'm thinking of trying it. Are you using Amazon Prime?  If so, how do you like it?  I can imagine if I signed up, I'd start buying more household items there- the convenience sounds really nice.  Do you do a version of the Master List?  If you prefer an app, which one? 

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I'm sharing this post with my friend Jen at I Heart Organizing.

On Honey We're Healthy lately:  Homemade Granola & Faith

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Our Sitting Room // New Wingchair

How good do you feel when you score a really great item at an affordable price?  And when that item is a piece of furniture purchased over the Internet, without the benefit of an in-person inspection, isn't it even better?  I feel that way about a wingback chair I found on Overstock a few months ago.  It works perfectly in our master sitting area and is actually pretty comfy. 

It's a pretty cream color with silver nailhead trim along the bottom and sides.  I think it goes great with the rug and coffee table I moved upstairs.  

I only ordered one initially, to make sure I liked it in person, but I'm thinking a pair would work well in this space.  This is where I go to watch "Mom TV" alone or sometimes chat on the phone from this spot.  I've had it styled different ways, with different side tables, sometimes a lamp.  

I love to have fresh flowers here and Whole Foods is such a great place for gorgeous flowers.  

*Update- Ah! Need to switch up the chair legs- so funny!

Source List

Paint // Sherwin Williams Anew Grey 

Chair

Rug (on sale) & Similar

Pillow (out of stock, similar)

Throw

Coffee Table  

Side Table (out of stock, similar)

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Thank you to my friend Andrea (Worley House) for having me at her blog.  We share a special connection because our kids are about the same age.  Her daughter, Ava, is the cutest thing ever!

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On Honey We're Healthy lately:  



Healthy Homemade Granola

Working Out and Breakout Solutions

My Favorite Workout/Running Shoe

Baked Fish in Parchment Paper

Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

Spin Class

Lulu & Georgia Gift Shop

Yes, Christmas is still months away (less than three now), but birthdays, anniversaries, showers, hostess/bridesmaid opportunities, and just becauses exist all year long. Lulu & Georgia just launched their gift shop and it is filled to the brim with awesome goodies! I'm especially loving their bright, poppy accessories and think they would instantly brighten anyone's day, not to mention home. What do you think?  

1 // Happy Holidays Boxed Cards, Raspberry $18

2 //  Avant Guard Candle $24.50

3 // Incitatus Bookends, Turquoise $60

4 // Reversible Wrapping Paper, Cheerful Red $8

5 // Wonka Stripe Candle, $20

6 // Woodlands Creature Cake Stand, Owl $74.50

7 // Henry Tin Candle, Owl $7

8 // Retro Stripe Pencil Cup $10

9 // Bridled Elephant Statue, Nectarine $80

10 // Three Wise Owls, Apple Green (Set of 3) $50

When do you start buying Christmas gifts?  I try to make notes throughout the year of things I think would be perfect for certain people and usually start buying in early November so I'm not stressing in December and can relax more.  Pinterest is a great way to catalog gift ideas throughout the year too.  I'll also look into my friends boards to get ideas of things they like.  Sneaky, huh?! :)

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On Honey We're Healthy:  Keeping Skin Clear and Avoiding Breakouts

Give to Feed Hungry Children // feedONE Houston

I'm taking a break from Fall and pumpkins and decor to write about a topic close to many of our hearts- feeding hungry children.   My girlfriend Maggie has teamed up with a nonprofit organization, feedOne Houston, to raise money (100% of the funds go to the kids) for this cause. 

If you want to give, you can donate HERE.

If you are in Houston and want to attend the feedOne fundraising event on October 10, you can purchase a ticket HERE.

FEEDONE FINAL from Simmons Visual Arts on Vimeo.

feedOne was created with the global mission of ending world hunger by feeding children.  We believe that hunger is a problem that can and will be solved.  We know with the right partnerships and passionate people we can end the senseless problem.

Here are some of the alarming statistics that lead us to begin our mission:

• Hunger is the world's #1 health risk.  Hunger kills more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.


• 66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry across the developing world, with 23 million in Africa alone.


• One out of six children -- roughly 100 million -- in developing countries is underweight. 


• Every day, almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes. That's one child every five seconds.

Currently we are feeding over 125,000 children in 9 different countries every day, which is awesome.  However, there are thousands and thousands more that need our help!  That is why it is so important for us to all join in the fight.  Together we can change the world.

Why and How we are different:  At feedOne we do things very differently than other charities.  100% of all donations go to feeding children.  We do NOT take 1 cent out for administrative fees or to pay salaries.  Every cent goes to the feeding of children.  We raise money through other channels in order to pay for the day to day business cost.

What we do with $10:  We have the ability to turn $10 into 30 days' worth of food for a child.  That means $120 feeds a child for an entire year.  Not only does it provide food, it also gets them into an education program where they receive clothing, fresh water and other necessities.  Food is the vehicle used to break the cycle of poverty. 

How and why feedOne:  feedOne was created because of one simple, yet power conversation.  Our Founder Hal Donaldson (then a college journalism student) was interviewing Mother Teresa.  During the interview she stops him and started asking him questions.  One question she asked changed everything for Hal.   She grabbed his hand and asked, "Hal, what are you doing to help feed the hungry and the poor?” His answer was...nothing.  Hal tells the story of how that question, that moment changed him forever.  This is why feedOne was named and created.

Mother Teresa quote: "If you can't feed 100 people then just feed one."

feedOne:  www.feedone.com 

feedOne/Convoy of Hope

330 S. Patterson Ave.

Springfield, MO 65802

Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization #68-0051386

IF YOU FEEL LEAD TO GIVE, CLICK HERE 

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