Since a young age, I’ve always loved makeup and nail polish and high heels. I’m a girly girl, who may (at times) be a little high maintenance. But at least I accept who I am! Since I’ve been snowed in in my apartment I haven’t had a need to put on makeup or blow out my hair. And ya know what? It’s kind of liberating.

Due to my skin type (I’m on the extreme side of the oily spectrum), I tend to find that my foundation will often wipe off throughout the day. This certainly drives me insane, but that’s why I keep my green tea oil-blotting sheets on hand for free moments of glancing in the mirror. This week, I’ve naturally still had the oil problem, but haven’t felt my foundation melting away. Another common “day face” product I use is mascara to brighten my eyes and accentuate my face. This would have not been a good thing this week, especially due to my lounging around (and tendency to nap the day my electricity was out). It was nice to not have to worry about finding makeup everywhere but actually on my face. It was like giving my face a very much well-deserved break.

Of course, I’ve been keeping up with my normal beauty routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing my face. I’m not completely lazy! There’s a difference between maintenance and putting on your everyday face. When I’m leaving my apartment, I like to feel as beautiful as I can. This doesn’t mean that I need to do a complete going-out routine. It’s just a little grooming and tweaking to enhance my face and fix some imperfections.

Meanwhile, I’ve also been able to sleep in this week and get caught up on some beauty rest! Though I may have been cursing the snow and Mother Nature during the past week, I’ve sure been able to relax with my beauty routine under the covers.

-Amanda Fornecker

I came upon an amazing site this morning and just needed to share it with all of you. As I fantasize about lying on a beach in this wretched blizzard weather, I couldn’t help but think of the hassle it can be to get all your fave beauty products on the plane with you (especially if you’re able to save money and not check your bags). In the case of carry-on luggage, we’ve all learned the rules by now: products must be in a Ziploc bag and not exceed three fluid ounces per bottle. And this is exactly why I think that 3floz.com is genius!

There are some exciting brands on 3floz.com where you can get some of your favorites in just the right travel-sized bottle. This is perfect for a weekend getaway or even if you’ve been dying to try a product, but don’t necessarily want to commit to a full-sized bottle. I mean, what if you don’t like it? I’ve certainly been there before and often find myself having a problem with commitment (to certain products, of course!).

You can search the site by product type, brand, kits, and more. Some brands on the site include DDF, Yes to Carrots, Ahava, the Art of Shaving, and more. From moisturizers to sunscreens to lip balms, there are lots of different products available on 3floz.com.

I’m hooked and will certainly be looking to this site for a trial run. Until then, I’ll be fantasizing about a tropical getaway. Stay warm!

-Amanda Fornecker

So what do you do on a weekend where you find yourself in the midst of a record-breaking snowstorm? Sure, you can snuggle in bed and catch up on your shows or watch some of your favorite movies, but why not take advantage of this time to research a new career? And while I realize that most of you are not experiencing this record-breaking snowfall the way I am, you may still want to take your free time to check out these fun career paths.

As someone very interested in speech therapy, I am one to know the definite advantages of both occupational and physical therapy. This career is one in which you certainly help others feel better and rehabilitate. In fact, the National Opinion Research Center named physical therapy as the number two career in which its employees are most satisfied. Not too shabby!

A fitness school education may be extremely beneficial, especially during hard times like these. Lots of people who have been laid off have found themselves with a plethora of extra time and are taking this opportunity to get back in shape. That means that fitness instructors and maybe even personal trainers will be in higher demand. And the best part of a fitness career is that you get to stay in shape for a living!

For proof that you can change careers and still be successful, check out this beauty career story. Success stories don’t always come out of a first job, you know. The old saying goes: “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” I think those are great words to live by. Keep up your dreams and go for what you really want. It’s the best way to be happy in life.

There are lots of reasons to go to nail school. Check out 10 reasons that we’ve come up with here at SBS. And those aren’t the only reasons. But it’s a good place to start so check them out!

Lastly, be sure to see some of the school profiles we’ve featured in beauty and spa/wellness…

Good luck, stay warm, and use your time wisely!

-Amanda Fornecker

I always agree with the saying: “Everything in moderation.” In my experience, overindulgence and excess are usually a bad idea. For instance, too much makeup will make you look unnatural; makeup done correctly and in moderation can really make a difference. This begs the question of what beauty actually is. And of course, what is going on with Heidi Montag?

I’ve been an avid fan of The Hills from day one. In fact, I started before that show debuted and used to love Laguna Beach (don’t act surprised — you know about my reality TV obsession!). So when I really think about the days of Heidi before she met Spencer and took the Speidi spotlight, I seriously can’t believe the huge change from wholesome Heidi (whose only problem was her fights with her boyfriend Jordan and her inability to stay in fashion school) to plastic Barbie Heidi (who now represents the negative influence of Hollywood and her personality of being a follower).

In a recent interview with Good Morning America, Montag debuted her new look. She allegedly had 10 plastic surgeries in one day in order to enhance her beauty and make some adjustments to her body. But my favorite part of this interview was when Heidi said that beauty is on the inside and comes from within. That’s such a contradictory statement. I totally believe that statement, but I do not believe that Heidi represents it. If she really believed that to be true, she wouldn’t be enhancing or “tweaking” her body at the age of 23.

Heidi went on to say that she’s in a different industry than everyone else and she has had to keep up with a certain image in Hollywood. I’m sorry, Heidi, but your fame is skin-deep. And although you may have 30 minutes of fame instead of 15, this doesn’t mean that you’re a superstar. You may not have an addiction at the moment, but what will happen in the next 10-20 years when your body really does start to age?

To me, beauty is accepting who you are – flaws and all – and staying true to yourself. While I am not naive to the existence of insecurity, I think it’s very important to work at taking what you have and spinning it into a positive light. No one is perfect. Not even those who are on the A-list in Hollywood. Beauty isn’t makeup or hair or spa treatments. Beauty is being yourself and not letting anyone else get you down. The rest of it is a way to maintain yourself in a natural (and hygienic) way. Beauty is allowing yourself to be you.

What’s your definition of beauty?

-Amanda Fornecker