Dear Lipstick,

Awhile ago I saw an awesome lipstick tutorial over on The Beauty Department. I have been using it ever since and it works like a charm. After a night out exploring and playing my lips still look like they did when I left the house. It is one of the best lipstick tutorials around, especially for those RED holiday lips. Or... any color holiday lips as the party season gets into full swing.

I couldn't seem to find it to share with you so today I am recreating it.

• STEP ONE: Apply lipstick over the entire lip area.
• STEP TWO: Blot. Folding a tissue in half, open your mouth and place it in between your lips, then press down.
• STEP THREE: Dust lips with a powder. Loose, pressed, or transulecent.. whatever you prefer. Use an eyeshadow blending brush and powder your entire lip area until they are completely mattified.
• STEP FOUR: Apply another layer of lipstick.
• REPEAT STEPS 2-4 to make it last. Now go party!

If you are a gloss girl dap a small dot in the middle of your lips to add some shine. If you are going out to eat try not to wrap your lips around your fork/spoon. Just use your teeth mostly. Sounds weird, but it works. Hope you enjoy your holiday lips and embrace that color! What lipstick color are you wearing?

Dear Claw Hand,

There is this strange thing going on with my hands... but only when I place it on my hip. Ya know, the pageant pose? Oh, you don't know what I mean by pageant pose? Think knee popped, the front hand on the hip, the back hand on the seam, S-curved body, big smile. That is the pageant pose. Well overtime my hand on hip has turned into claw on hip. And as I look through all my pictures I am starting to realize this is not a new thing. It was a slow transition from simple claw to almost a lobster claw.

1. Summer 2011: My nephews baptism. 

Slightly broken wrist with the pinky straying away from the rest.

2. January 2012: Miss America. 

Pinky still straying but so is the index finger.

3. March 2012: Miss Idaho Orientation and MIOT. 

Fingers all separated, apparently they had a fight. Pinky starting to bend.

4. March 2012 (a week later): BYU vs Utah Baseball Game. 

Fingers all separated and bent... ready to attack.

Do you see what I have become!? A full fledged lobster hand! How did this happen? How can I fix it? It must be fixed. And fast. Think pretty hands Deidre, pretty hands! Fingers straight and close together... Don't fall victim to the claw!

Love,

Deidre