Playing with Purple- and Pup!

Hello! The face you're looking at isn't me, it's my beautiful sister Kelly a.k.a. Pup! Though we're about 15 years apart, we have a great relationship- and when we get together (like we did this past weekend) we always have a great time! I love Pup so much and I just wish we could be together more often! She's been there for me during pretty much every major moment of my life, but what's also really cool-- Pup and I can have the most fun & memorable times just goofing off! One of those times came over the weekend when Pup told me to "go nuts" and do some fun & different eye makeup! I took those words to heart, giving Pup a bold purple eye look with some of the most pigmented shades I have access to. Though it's a variation from Pup's natural beauty, I think it's bold and fun-- and she carried it off beautifully!

As you can see from the little image I created above-- I used my Creative Me palette from Coastal Scents. This is similar to the Fierce Pink & Purple look I recently did on myself, only that was heavier on pink and this is more purple. I actually shot this look with Pup as a video tutorial- but due to the way I was positioned in relation to the camera- my voice didn't pick up that well the entire way through. So enjoy the bullet points! :D

• Prime the lid with a shadow primer (I used Too Faced Shadow Insurance)
• Pack a bold matte purple shadow onto the lid, blending into the crease as well
• Deepen the crease & outer V with a rich black shadow
• Brighten the look- with a light touch, use a matte fuscia shade to blend over the outer border of your shadow look (leaving space between the shadow and the eyebrow)
• Highlight under the brow and the tear duct area with any shimmery white shade
• Line the upper lashline with a black liquid liner, and define the bottom lash line using a black shadow and an angled liner brush.
• Complete the look with mascara... or false lashes for extra drama! Pup is wearing Andrea Mod Lash #53

We had fun doing a little post-makeover photo shoot. Pup makes a gorgeous model! Here's Pup with her precious cat Bunny! (Bun has no tail).

Fun Facts about Pup!

• Pup is an incredible artist, and also teaches high school art
• The seasonal Reese's Peanut Butter products (PB eggs, pumpkins, etc.)... Pup loves them
• Pup is a fan of the band U2 and has created a number of U2 cartoon images
• Pup is a nickname that I've used for her ever since I was a small child!
• She's a wonderful cook. She's always preparing a wide range of gourmet meals!
• Pup has a loving husband named Jeff!
• My sister is incredibly smart, loves to read, and will always win at Trivial Pursuit!
• Today someone at work said, "she does art, AND she cooks too?" I responded, "She's pretty much a Renaissance woman."

Want more Pup? She talks about her artwork, cooking, and more at her blog: http://www.alizarine.typepad.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

♥

Emily

QOTW: Weekend Makeup Routine

Hello everyone! How does your makeup routine change on the weekend? That was the "Question of the Week" I posed... and here are your responses!

• No makeup: 43 (9%)
• Less than usual: 96 (20%)
• Same as weekdays: 111 (23%)
• More than usual: 106 (22%)
• More, only for special occasions: 118 (24%)
  
  Votes so far: 474 Poll closed

Wow! The responses were a lot closer than I expected on this one. The majority said "More, only for special occasions"... and I was part of that group as well. It was closely followed by "Same as Weekdays", "More than usual", and "Less than Usual".... so I guess it's safe to say, most of us are wearing makeup to some degree on the weekends! Being one who makes videos on YouTube, I definitely take advantage of weekends to do tutorial videos. But for anyone who is just learning about makeup, I'd advise you to use spare time on the weekends to experiment! If you have a spare afternoon and you don't have to go anywhere, test out a new look you'd be scared to wear to work or school! Wash it off and then try something else! You'll be surprised at what you'll discover... and you'll never know what the final result will be with some of those bright, fun shades- unless you try it! :D

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Speaking of weekends- here are some photos I posted on Twitter from my weekend! Tyler and I, along with my mom and dad met up at my sister and her husband Jeff's house. It was wonderful and I was sad to leave!

Tyler & I on the road! :D

My sister Kelly a.k.a. Pup after I did fun, dramatic eye makeup on her! Look for more pics of that in an upcoming blog! :D

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Have a great day everyone!

Emily :)

Coastal Scents Creative Me Palette #1

photo courtesy www.coastalscents.com

Hey everyone! If you've seen my Fierce Pink & Purple eye tutorial, you know these aren't your everyday shadows. The shades in the Coastal Scents Creative Me Palette #1 are some of the brightest, most pigmented shades I've ever used. This magnetic palette (filled with shadows) costs $21.95. It also holds Coastal Scents Hot Pots- and if you want, you can pick up these "Creative Me" shades individually. I enjoy how the palette comes with a big mirror and keeps all of my brightest shadows available in one place. Here's a look at the swatches- they correspond with the rows in the palette... (I used the CS Eye Poxy 2 Primer under these)

In terms of creating looks with these colors, so far I've only done a tutorial using the shades in the pink/purple color family (minus the red). I definitely want to do more tutorials using these shades- but I want to do what YOU want to see. So in the comments section please let me know what color combinations you'd like to see a tutorial on. While they're split into obvious color families in the pictures and in the palette- I'd like to switch things up... maybe using the pink & the aqua for example. Anyway- just wanted to give you a closer look at the colors! Thanks for visiting my blog today, and please don't forget to answer the latest "Question of the Week" in the sidebar!

♥

Emily

QOTW: Yes To Makeup Artists?

photo: Jin Pak via www.dailymakeover.com

Look at the model in this picture. Is she in deep concentration, the kind that always comes about as you apply liquid liner? Is she looking at a collection of lip glosses, concerned over what might look best with her outfit? Is she wondering if her summertime foundation will still look right as her skin loses its tan as we head into fall? The answer to those questions is likely NO. That's what her makeup artist is there to take care of. Some people would love to hand that responsibility over to an expert, others would not. And some might like to do it just now and then. I find this to be an interesting concept, especially among makeup lovers, so in this Question of the Week I asked: If your job provided a makeup artist- would you want your makeup done for you?

• Always: 162 (33%)
• Often: 172 (35%)
• Only Occasionally: 118 (24%)
• Almost Never: 28 (5%)
  

Votes so far: 480 Poll closed

As you can see- some interesting results! While I realize many of the people who view this blog have a pretty big interest in makeup, the majority still said they would "always" or "often" have a makeup artist do their makeup for them if they had the opportunity. Still, the group that said "only occasionally" wasn't far behind at 24%. I was in that group. This is a question that I think about often, because one of the questions I'm so often asked because of my job is, "Do you have a makeup artist doing your makeup before the newscast?" My answer is no, and unless you're living in a very large city, chances are your anchors are doing their makeup themselves too. While I believe a makeup artist could do a wonderful job on my makeup, my daily makeup routine is something I enjoy. It's a time for me to experiment with new products, try something new, and frankly, just have some quiet time before an undoubtedly hectic day gets underway. In an ideal world, having a makeup artist do my makeup "occasionally" would allow me to learn a thing or two from them, and then practice it on myelf the rest of the time.

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So that's just my 2 cents... but this poll leaves me wanting to know more about YOU. Why did you answer the way you did? Why do you- or don't you- want a makeup artist doing your makeup if you had the chance? Also- are YOU a makeup artist? How do you feel about having someone else do your makeup? Please elaborate in the comments section! Hope you enjoyed this "food for thought" question and have a great day!

♥

Emily

New Products I'm Trying!

Hey everyone! How's the weekend been going? Mine's been good so far! I just wanted to take a minute to let you guys know about the new products I'm testing out and will probably soon review, or include in tutorials.

• Maybelline Super Stay 24 hr. Makeup... Meet the latest long-wearing drugstore foundation! I've received dozens of requests to review this product. Some of my current favorite drugstore foundations (Revlon Colorsty & Rimmel Lasting Finish) claim to last 16 hours... this is the first time I've seen a foundation claim to last for 24 hours! Do you really want to wear a foundation that long? Is that even healthy for your skin? Probably not, but it's comforting to know that it could if you get in some sort of marathon-day situation. This foundation claims to have a "micro-flex forumula" that can withstand heat, sweat and humidity. It claims to be "zero-tranfer", oil-free, and suitable for all skin types. I will definitely let you know how this works for me! (by the way, the shade I purchased is Classic Beige).
• L'oreal Wear Infinite Eyeshadow in Milla's Blues... this isn't a new product- but I was scouring the drugstore a couple days ago to find a drugstore version of my Smashbox Glamour Eyes palette for brown eyes. I used that on Kalee when she made a guest appearance in one of my videos- and many of you asked what a drugstore version of that might be... I advised Kalee to pick up Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips shadow in Smokey Blue eyes- but this 4-pan palette seems very close to the Smashbox quad as well. I'll report back on this!
• Coastal Scents Gel Liners... these have been around for awhile but this is my first time trying them. Coastal Scents recently put out some new shades so I thought it'd be fun to give them a try. I put a few of the shades I'm trying in the picture: Stellar (sparkly charcoal), Beach Glass (teal), Flirtatious (pink), and Wicked (silver). I like that some of these colors aren't your typical liner shades, so I'll experiment with them and see how they work as an eyeshadow base. (there's a 15% off sale on these right now at http://www.coastalscents.com/ )
• Coastal Scents Loose Mineral Shadows... I'll see if these loose shadows live up to the fantastic pigmentation of the Coastal Scents palettes! As a whole, loose shadows have been kind of hit & miss for me, so we'll see if these pack a punch. Colors shown above: Flirt (pink) and Smoochie (plum).
• L'oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara in Blackest Black... does this look familiar to anyone? It's definitely trying to be a drugstore dupe of Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes mascara. I was intrigued by this little spherical mascara brush when that product came out, so when I saw it for 20 bucks less at the drugstore, I just had to give it a try. The smaller brush is supposed to allow you to get to your lashes easily at any angle. How well will it work? I'll test it out and let you know!

If you've tried any of these products- please let me know what you think of them!

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♥ Emily's Journal ♥

It's journal time once again! Is it just me or did this weekend totally fly by? I've been feeling a little under the weather lately- so that stinks. Tyler has come down with a cold and I'm catching it for sure. I'm definitely getting some good out of my hand sanitizer! ha! On the up-side... I got my November Elle yesterday! It was the strangest feeling to be standing there in Wal-Mart looking at myself in a magazine... but so cool! I bought a couple of copies, and my mom bought four LOL! Exciting stuff!

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I went to the Inspiring Women Gala at SIU yesterday (you may have noticed a picture I tweeted about it). It's an event where a handful of women in southern Illinois are honored for their service and accomplishments- and then the money raised goes toward scholarships for young women who'll attend SIU next year. It's quite a fancy event! Lots of pretty outfits, good food, fancy desserts... I went with several ladies I work with at the TV station, and one of our station's managers was honored as one of the "Women of Achievement" so that was cool!

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I went shopping today! I stopped by big lots and picked up a couple of cute things for my niece- has anyone seen the little $2 Martha Stewart kids craft things? They're little sets including everything you need to make puppets and barnyard animals out of felt, etc. So cute! I also went to Cato (never really go there, but given these sales- I'll definitely be going back!) They have some great shoes so I picked up some cute peep-toe heels with neat buckles and some moccasins (Thank you Kalee for exposing me to the world of adorable, faux fur-lined moccasins!) yay for shopping! :)

Have a great day everyone and thanks for stopping by my blog!
♥

Emily

If you had to pick 1 lip gloss...

That's the question I posed on my Beauty Broadcast Facebook Page today! I posted it this morning- and as of 4:10 in the afternoon I had 83 responses! Many different kinds were mentioned, but here are the top 5 brands...

1. MAC
2. Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush
3. Revlon
4. C.O. Bigelow
5. (3-way tie) Lancome, Smashbox, Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips

Since I asked the question, it's only fair that I come up with an answer too, right? After spending far too much time trying to pick just ONE lipgloss... I am confident in my choice. Pictured above is Jordana Pretty Shine Lip Gloss in Lovely. It's a brand available at Walgreens, and items in that brand are usually 2 for $3. Why did I pick this shade?

• It's almost always with me in my purse
• It has a gorgeous shine and shimmer
• Consistency is slightly thick, but not sticky... lasts a decently long time
• Overall, it looks pretty neutral but at times appears to have the slightest berry undertone
• It's the shade I'll put on if I haven't yet picked out an outfit because I know it will look good with everything
• It's cheap
• Clearly- it's loved. The label has been completely rubbed off.

I have so many- too many- lipglosses in my collection. I have some light nudes that I LOVE. I have some reds and deep plums that are wonderful as well. But if I had to pick just one and throw everything else out... this Jordana lipgloss is the one that I'd have to pick. Now that I've forced myself to think about this somewhat depressing situation... I'll revert back to my world of enough lipgloss to doll-up a small army. Have a fantastic day!

♥

Emily

QOTW: Makeup For a Night Out

Hey bloggers! In this past Question of the week I asked: What do you do makeup-wise for a night out? Here are your responses:

• Take day's makeup off & start over: 191 (50%)
• Touch-up your daytime look: 159 (42%)
• Leave daytime look the same: 14 (3%)
• Don't wear night out makeup: 13 (3%)
  
  Votes so far: 377 Poll closed
  

I was surpised that the majority of people who answered this question actually start from scratch for a nighttime makeup look. It really wasn't something I started doing until recently(when I started making makeup videos and wanted an extra chance to do a tutorial). But the truth is- we don't ALWAYS have time to start fresh, sometimes we can only touch-up. Even a minor touch-up can make a big difference, you just need to know what features enhance, and how to make them shine! I'll get to some tips in a moment, but first- some pictures to give you an idea of what I mean by "day" makeup and "night" makeup... (and keep in mind- I'm not a big "rules" person when it comes to makeup... so if your daytime look is slightly more dramatic, or your nighttime look is more natural- that's fine! Go with whatever makes you feel good! These are just some ideas).

DAYTIME LOOKS

• FACE: flawless skin with a natural finish... really letting your skin shine through with a lighter-coverage base- (tinted moisturizers, light mineral powder foundation). Bronzers and blushes can be used, but keep the concentration of color more muted.
• EYES: Keep shadows and contouring light... think pastel and neutral shades. If using liner- make it a fine line, and false lashes are not a must for day.
• LIPS: Think neutral/earthy shades. Light glosses and tinted balms in tones of pink and bronze are great, as are rosey hues that make lips look more naturally pigmented.

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NIGHT LOOKS

• FACE: Full coverage makeup, paired with a deeper concentration of bronzers & blush. Additional contouring on cheekbones, as well as highlighting to work with lighting that might be slightly more dim.
• EYES: More dramatic- smokey effects with liner, brighter colors, false lashes... Think glamorous, sexy, and defined.
• LIPS: Nighttime lips can go one of two ways... a deeper shade to add to an "old Hollywood glam" look... or a barely there nude to create major contrast with a deep smokey eye. Whatever you choose... you have the option of two totally different looks!

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HOW TO MAKE THE TRANSFORMATION: IN A HURRY

Now that you have a visual understanding of the general differences between day and night makeup- you can start thinking about how to take your next look from day to night in case you don't have much time. I have a YouTube video about makeup touch-up tips... but this blog is focused specifically on taking a look from a natural to dramatic...

• Clean it up! Use q-tips and eye-makeup remover to clean-up any under-eye smudges that have developed throughout the day. Make sure to blot with the clean end of a q-tip so there's no makeup remover residue.
• Create Contrast! Add a little bronzer all over the face- then concentrate it in areas you want to contour... cheekbones, forehead, jawline, etc. Then use a highlighter to bring light to other areas- tops of cheekbones, down the noze, browbone, etc.
• Glamour-eyes! All you need is a deep black, brown, or charcoal grey shadow. With a contour brush, deepen your crease, blending outward in the outer corner for a more dramatic look. You may want to use that same shadow with a liner brush to re-intensify your liner. Curl lashes- or add a false set!
• Lips: the look changer. Your choice of lip color can transform your look. When you have time- test out both a nude lip color and a red or berry lip color and take a photo of each. Think about the overall look you've achieved in each situation- and decide what you want to try for your next night out! Remember- red screams glamorous, while nude will only add to your mysterious smokey eye!

Hope this blog was helpful to you! Perhaps it will make the transition from day to night makeup a bit more smooth- especially when you're short on time! Have a great day! :D

♥

Emily

Weekend with Kalee!

Hey everyone! Hope you've had a wonderful weekend! Mine was great because my friend Kalee came to visit! She came down for SIU Homecoming and we did a little bit of everything... eating, shopping, napping, tailgating, makeup... you name it! Kalee used to work with me at the station I'm at now- but now she lives about 3 hours away, doing weekend weather at a different station. It's sort of our dream to be together at the same station once again someday! Until then- we'll just have to make more visits! :D

Fun Facts about Kalee:

• She is shorter than 5 feet tall! (I'm right at 5 ft.)
• She loves to sing (especially country), and she's great at it! It could probably be a career for her if she decided against the whole weather thing ;)
• She has a super cute little puppy!!
• She has a blog! Click here to check it out! Follow her!
• She's on Twitter! Click here to follow her (these pics came from our twitter pages)
  

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Kalee and I also took some time to make a makeup video! It's "What's in Kalee's Makeup Bag?" We had a blast! Plus Tyler made a special appearance at the end :D Have a great week everyone, and thanks for stopping by my blog!

♥

Emily

Hard Candy Makeup at Wal-Mart!

Hey everyone! As you may have noticed in my recent haul video- Wal-Mart is now selling Hard Candy makeup! It's a brand that had always been more of a high-end type of makeup- but I think it's bringing that sort of feel to Wal-Mart with really cute packaging and high-quality products. The prices on their items are similar to the cost of Revlon or L'oreal products. Most are in the range of $5 to $8. In the picture above, you can see the products mentioned in my video- plus a couple of new items I just picked up yesterday! :D I wanted to just give you a quick rundown of what I think of each of the items I've tried so far...

• "In the Shadows" Eye shadow trio in Flower Girl... this neutral palette opens up like a book, and has sort of a cardboard feel to the packaging-very lightweight. I would have liked to see a little more color payoff with these shadows- but for an everyday neutral look, it's definitely something I can use. I love the taupe shade in this palette. Also- BONUS product! You get a mini (and I mean MINI) Kohl eyeliner! It's strapped right on to the palette :)
• "Painted Lady" lipstick in Crush... probably the cutest lipstick I own. Not only do the caps of all these lipsticks have their own unique design (this one has clovers and horseshoes on it)-- but they have the most adorable little ribbon tail! (may make it easier to find when you're digging in your purse!) The lipstick doesn't have the best staying power- but it feels great on the lips and has a gorgeous golden-coral tone. A nice everyday shade- and would look great with bronzed skin.
• "Nobody's Perfect" Concealer Palette in Fair... yeah- more cuteness here. You are supplied with six different shades to even out your skintone. 3 are typical skin-tone shades, and then you get a green, yellow, and light pink. I am actually pretty impressed with the coverage of these concealers considering how light they feel on the skin! Many people dont want to cake a lot of product on their undereye area- and with this you can cover your circles and it doesn't look obvious. This was 8 bucks by the way... it comes with a little tiny brush- which might be good for spot concealing zits- but not big enough for the undereye area.
• "Balm Girls" Tinted lip balm in Elise... These little pear shaped lip balms are packaged in little boxes- each one with a different girl on it. So cute! I was hoping more color would come through when I used this product, but it was basically clear with just the slightest hint of light pink. For people who have really naturally pigmented lips- this shade wouldn't show up at all. I'm interested to see what some of the brighter colors would do.
• "Ginormous Lash" mascara in Carbon Black... I had high hopes for this! The tube itself is big and just makes you feel like it's going to work wonders... despite the rubber cone-shaped brush that made it very easy to coat every lash- I didn't feel like they were very volumized, let alone "Ginormous"... keep in mind this is just my initial reaction- I've only used this mascara once.
• "Plumping Serum" volumizing lip gloss in All American Girl... This is a neutral/mauve toned sheer gloss. I like the feel on my lips... not too sticky, yet it doesn't run all over the place. I can't say I noticed any major plumping- not big tingle or anything like that- but I like the sheer, natural color- especially over my Wet & Wild lipliner #666 Brandywine. Will continue to wear it... even though it didn't really "plump" my lips.

Hopefully you've gotten a sense of some of the items available in the Hard Candy brand- now available at Wal-Mart. Have you tried anything yet, and if so, what did you think? I'll keep you posted with future product reviews from this brand! Thanks for stopping by the blog! :D

♥

Emily

QOTW: Lash Curling!

ELF Eyelash Curler

(photo courtesy eyeslipsface.com)

Hey everyone! This question of the week was very straight forward- Do you curl your eyelashes? Here are the results...


YES: 187 (54%)
Every now and then: 86 (25%)
NO: 68 (19%)

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Votes so far: 341
Poll closed

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I think curling lashes is so important! I do it everyday. Here are some random thoughts on lash curling from me...

• The ELF eyelash curler (shown above) is my all time favorite eyelash curler! And it's only $1!! You can find it on the ELF website, or at your Dollar General store... or wherever else ELF is sold where you live!
• I have 3 eyelash curlers... one sits on my makeup desk, another in my purse, and another in the makeup bag I take to work.
• I curl my lashes everyday before applying mascara- I hold it for about 10 to 15 seconds
• For the ultimate curve... hold the lash curler in place for a few seconds, then reposition the curler slightly closer to the ends of the lashes so you don't end up with one solid crimp- repeat one or two times. It's not absolutely necessary if you have super short lashes.
• A lot of people say you shouldn't curl your lashes after applying mascara. I must admit- though my primary curl comes from what I do prior to mascara application- every now and then throughout the day- for a little lift- I'll give my lashes a quick curl. Just be gentle and you shouldn't have a problem with pulling out lashes.
• Don't curl your lashes in a moving vehicle! It's just not worth it if you hit a bump!
• Don't curl your lashes around a curious cat! My cat likes to watch my mom put her makeup on, and one day he batted at her hand while she was curling her lashes... she lost a few!
• I've yet to find a "lash curling" mascara that replaces the effect of an actual eyelash curler! Some will enhance the effect, but I've tried nothing that can duplicate it.
• Some suggest heating your lash curler with a blow dryer... or even using a heated lash curler. I've actually never tried either of these methods, but I'm not against the concept. Just be careful!

If you've never curled your lashes, I challenge you to try it out! It helps the eyes look more wide awake, framed, and feminine! Many people have lashes that are so straight they practically point downward- Use a lash curler to give your face an instant "awakened" look!

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♥ Emily's Journal ♥

What's up everyone! How are things going? Life has been busy for me lately- hence the lack of blogs. It seems something has been going on every weekend, and I haven't had a ton of quality time with my computer. Oh well! I tend to have these phases where work/social life/family stuff keeps me busy and then it dies down a bit.

You may have noticed this on my Twitter or Facebook... but Tyler passed the bar exam! What a load off! It took so long to get the results in, but now he can breathe a much deserved sigh of relief! This should make his job search a lot easier, thank goodness!

Let's see what else... I'm getting sort of obsessed with Jawbreakers. I love the sweet-but-not-overly-sweet flavor. In other random news- I've been a loyal viewer of yet another season of "Dancing with the Stars!" I've watched for so many seasons, I'm practically more familiar and more of a fan of the pro dancers than the actual celebrities! I remember several of them from my other favorite dancing show- "So You Think You Can Dance". Do you have any favorites on DWTS yet? I'm enjoying Chelsie & Louie Vito, Dimitry & Mya, Lacey & Mark... and the list goes on! I miss Julianne Hough this season though- she was one of my favorites! Also-- I think the makeup on DWTS is FANTASTIC. Wouldn't it be fun to be part of that process? They all get to look fun & dramatic, sometimes colorful, sometimes following a theme... and it just always turns out great! Perhaps I'll devote a whole blog post to this topic if there are enough other DWTS fans out there!

Hope you have a great day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

♥

Emily