Entries from December 20th, 2012

December 31, 2012

2012 year in review | top 10 blog posts of 2012

As the snow comes down outside here in Kansas City, I’m reflecting on the tremendous year that’s coming to a close.

From natural beauty industry leader interviews and television appearances to fashion week coverage and regular outfit posts, this blog has grown so much from the date nearly three years ago that I decided to give it a go.

This year, here’s what you told me (via your clicks!) were your favorite posts. Thank you very much for your support, and I’m looking forward to connecting with you in so many more ways (video?!) in 2013.

10. beauty diy | fight acne naturally with tea tree oil

tea tree oil and jojoba oil

Two of this blog’s most-praised natural beauty ingredients — tea tree oil and jojoba oil — kicked off the new series “beauty diy” back in July.

I will forever recommend tea tree oil and jojoba oil to natural beauty newcomers, and I’m thrilled to uncover more effective natural beauty ingredients that help in the constant fight against acne.

9. beauty scoop | one love organics essentials to go travel kit

one love organics essentials to go travel kit

Back in March, I shared my discovery of natural beauty startup One Love Organics.

The company takes a “waterless” approach to natural beauty ingredients; that is, instead of diluting precious, effective ingredients with water, they give you more of the good stuff … and you can use less of it thanks to the concentration!

8. beauty scoop | badger damascus rose spf 16 face sunscreen lotion

badger damascus rose spf 16 face sunscreen lotion

To kick off the summer pool season and commemorate Skin Cancer Awareness Month back in May, I started searching for natural sunscreens — which is more difficult than it seems!

Most natural sunscreens leave a white cast on your skin (thanks, zinc!), so finding natural sunscreens 1) without a Casper finish and 2) without harmful ingredients took some sleuthing. Badger’s Damascus Rose SPF 16 Face Sunscreen Lotion got a lot of praise from you thanks to its affordable pricing and effective formula.

7. kansas city fashion week favorites | kansas city, missouri

kms couture presents american trash kansas city fashion week

I’ve been a proud supporter of the Kansas City fashion community since my first Kansas City Fashion Week show back in February. Since that first show, the community has grown so much stronger, with designers, models, photographers and leaders coming together to put KC on the sartorial map.

For this post, I highlighted my favorites from the spring 2012 show and am impressed to see how these designers have evolved their style and skill throughout the year. Be on the lookout for more from these Kansas City fashion designers!

6. natural beauty buff | sophie, the clean beauty blog

sophie the clean beauty blog tata harper lotus wei bedside table

I can’t tell you how excited I was when Sophie, the writer behind The Clean Beauty Blog, reached out to me to see if I wanted to do a feature on her blog. I jumped at the chance (I adore her and her blog!), and of course asked her if I could feature her top beauty picks on my blog as well.

I’m happy I did, because not only did I get a peek at some natural beauty brands I was unfamiliar with, but I got a chance to write one of the most popular posts of 2012! It seems you love Sophie as much as I do — here’s to more collaborations in 2013!

5. fashion on the fringe | vintage fringe at the kc fringe festival | kansas city, missouri

little shells designs fashion on the fringe kansas city fringe festival

Speaking of the thriving fashion community in Kansas City, back in July I covered the eclectic “Fashion on the Fringe” show, a vintage-themed fashion show that was part of the Kansas City Fringe Festival.

This show celebrated both emerging and established artists and presented them the opportunity to produce their most creative work — and boy did it show! I am looking forward to 2013′s Fringe Festival and seeing more new faces and inspirational designs come down the runway.

4. beauty scoop | deodomom roll-on natural deodorant

deodomom roll-on natural deodorant from 30someweeks.com

One of the biggest changes I made in my personal care routine this year was switching to natural deodorants — so of course I had to blog it!

This hasn’t been an easy switch, but I’ve found a handful of natural deodorants (including DeodoMom, mentioned in this post) that come close to providing the odor protection I need to get through the day.

I’ll be continuing my search and review process for natural deodorants in 2013 (I have so many lined up to share with you in the coming weeks!), and I hope you’ll stick with me as I sweat it out.

3. natural beauty buff | spirit demerson, spirit beauty lounge

spirit demerson spirit beauty lounge

In February, I launched the “natural beauty buff” series — one of my favorite natural beauty product discovery tools — and who better to kick it off than Spirit Demerson, the founder of online natural beauty apothecary Spirit Beauty Lounge.

Since debuting the series, I’ve interviewed a total of 19 natural beauty industry leaders. That’s a lot of great, green product recommendations from the ones who know it best! Who do you want me to interview in 2013?

2. this makes me happy | mustache watch

urban outfitters mustache watch

You guys, sometimes it’s the little things in life.

This was the second most-popular blog post of 2012 — who’d a thunk it?!

This is why I firmly believe in writing about whatever I want (which is why I started a blog!). By giving you little peeks into the things that make me happy (whether they are natural beauty-related or not), I let you in just a little bit closer and you get to see sides of me that make you think, “Oh, that’s who kimberlyloc is!”

1. beauty secrets | multipurpose beauty products

kimberlyloc with multipurpose beauty products on kctv5 better kansas city

One of the coolest things I did in 2012 was become a regular on KCTV5′s “Better Kansas City” lifestyle talk show.

As a lifestyle and natural beauty resource, I’ve shared fashion, beauty and DIY tips on the show, but the most popular appearance that I blogged was December’s “Multipurpose Beauty Products” segment featuring natural products curated from Beauty Brands as well as from my own personal arsenal.

Better Kansas City co-host Kelly Jones and I had a blast talking about the secret double lives of your beauty products and how to save money by using your products in multiple ways. I’m so grateful for the chance to share my ideas and tips with a wider audience, and I look forward to seeing you on the small screen again in January!

To my lovely readers: Thank you for your support! Whether you started reading this year, last year or the year before, I value your comments, likes, clicks, reads, shares, tweets, emails — EVERYTHING — that you do to give me the courage to share what I love with you. Cheers to a happy, healthy, naturally beautiful new year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Kim Wallace
0 comments
filed in: beauty, foodie, kansas city, style

December 27, 2012

beauty scoop | osmia organics spot treatment

If you’ve been around the blog for a bit, you know that I’m always looking for the next best blemish treatment.

While I believe I have found my holy grail of acne prevention, when annoying little spots crop up every now and then, I turn to Osmia Organics Spot Treatment for backup.

osmia organics spot treatment

{Osmia Organics sent me its 0.16-ounce Spot Treatment, which retails for $20, to sample and review.}

Made with a powerful blend of essential oils, Osmia Organics Spot Treatment gets to work on those little red beasts by swooping in, killing bacteria and leaving nothing but beautiful, clear skin in its path.

Take a peek at the ingredients:

Organic evening primrose oil and essential oils of organic lavender, organic cajeput, organic lemon, parsley, thyme, organic cypress and organic rosemary CO2

The only ingredient unfamiliar to me is cajeput oil. After a little research, I learned that cajeput oil is similar to tea tree oil with its antifungal properties — perfect for a blemish treatment, and even better for my acne-prone skin that hasn’t experienced cajeput oil before!

(Note: I think my skin is getting a little bit used to tea tree oil, so it’s not as effective for me anymore — I’m experimenting more with a tea tree and lavender blend as well as other acne-fighting oils!)

Because the Spot Treatment is packaged in a convenient roller ball style, I like to roll the treatment into my hairline (a recurring breakout place for me) to help keep little pimples from breaking through.

When a pimple has formed on my face, I roll the Spot Treatment directly onto the offender, and usually by morning the spot has either 1) become ready for extraction or 2) has decreased in size.

Final verdict? I think Osmia Organics Spot Treatment is my new secret weapon for bratty little blemishes! The mix of new-to-my-skin ingredients (as well as old standbys like lavender and rosemary) keeps my skin in check and allows the Spot Treatment to do truly amazing things to my skin.

Have you tried products from Osmia Organics (I hear their bar soaps are absolutely fabulous, and have a few to try myself!)? What do you do to spot treat blemishes? Tell me your thoughts in the comments section!

By Kim Wallace
10 comments
filed in: beauty, skin

December 26, 2012

beauty secrets | how to organize your beauty products

To ensure that I give all my natural beauty products a fair shot at making it to my top shelf or makeup bag, I must keep them on display and within reach.

That old saying “out of sight, out of mind” is all too true with me — so I’ve devised a way to keep my beauty products out without being a total sensory overload.

At least for me.

Here’s how to organize your beauty products:

beauty stand on vanity

I recently picked up this pastry stand from World Market to store — yes — my makeup (bottom level), facial moisturizers (middle level) and hair products (top level).

Before getting this stand, I kept my eye shadow palettes in drawers in my bathroom’s closet. While this was fine, I found that I would take just one eye shadow palette out at a time and use the same colors every day.

Now that I have my assortment of colors out in front of me, I can be a little more creative about what colors I choose to wear every day.

The facial items used to be crammed onto my wall shelf, but I opted to pull down treatment items (Zum Rub Moisturizer in Frankincense & Myrrh and Stark Skincare Grapefruit Cleanse + Hydrate) as well as sunscreens (Badger Damascus Rose SPF 16 Face Sunscreen Lotion and Sunday Riley Cashmere Mist SPF 30) because they are crucial parts of my everyday routine.

natural skincare shelf

Aw, so now, the skincare shelf. This has been a lifesaver, as I’m low on prime tabletop space.

As you can see, I store wash cloths and headbands on the lower level. The middle level houses my oils and serums, and inside that cute Chinese soup bowl are lip balms. (Yes, I am a bit of a lip balm addict.)

The “top shelf” that I constantly refer to is the top shelf of this skincare shelf. My pure carrier oils live inside that yellow basket (argan, marula, castor, jojoba, avocado, tamanu and baobab are the current residents).

To the left of it is my small collection of essential oils (peppermint, lemon, lavender/tea tree mix, orange, rose and jasmine are in my arsenal) as well as my beloved Zum Oil in Frankincense & Myrrh, a couple of toners and the recently reviewed Defend Argan Oil.

makeup brushes in mason jars

Back on my vanity, I keep two small Kerr jars filled with makeup brushes.

The jar on the left houses an assortment of makeup brushes, including my lovely Sigma F30 Large Powder Brush and Sigma F40 Large Angled Contour Brush. These are my favorites for applying loose powder all over my face to set my makeup and for adding depth and color to my cheekbones.

The jar on the right holds my EcoTools brushes. I use the Eco Tools Eye Brush Set on a daily basis, and if I’m not contouring my face, I choose my Eco Tools Bamboo Blush Brush to tap color directly onto the apples of my cheeks.

I also have this great Eco Tools Bamboo 5 Piece Brush Kit in there — it’s great for mineral makeup as well as for blending eye shadow colors!

The third set inside that little Kerr jar is this Eco Tools Day to Night 6 Piece Set. It comes inside a cute clutch (great for travel!), and I decided to get this set because it contains a great concealer brush as well as that fluffy powder brush that is more easily portable than my Sigma F30.

bamboo drawer organizers

I don’t know how I found anything in my drawers without these bamboo drawer organizers. The two long organizers hold my hair styling tools and my natural deodorants.

The short bamboo organizer holds hair ties and bobby pins. The backward “L” shape that remains holds my fabric headband, a few Sephora compact mirrors and my glasses and glasses cleaner.

nail polish display

Finally, I don’t know where I would be without my nail polish display.

I was lucky enough to score two of these babies from my sweet manicurist last year (he was redoing his interior design and had these as leftovers!).

Storing your nail polish on a shelf is so helpful if you’re a visual person like me.

You can easily see what colors you already own, and if you’re like me and enjoy organizing by color, what colors you’re low on (or what colors you just don’t like on your nails!).

So, do any of you have a mini-Sephora in your bathroom, too? :) How do you organize your beauty products? Tell me your tips in the comments section!

By Kim Wallace
6 comments
filed in: beauty, beauty secrets

December 21, 2012

holiday gift guide for the favorites on your list

Now, I know we aren’t supposed to play favorites, but c’mon: We all have them.

This holiday season, I’ve been spoiling my best friends, the teacher man and my eight-year-old nephew (Happy Birthday, Jackson!) with the best gifts ever.

If you’re out doing last-minute shopping this weekend, pop into Halls on the Country Club Plaza to score a few special items for the favorites on your list.

halls kansas city holiday gift guide

Here’s my top five picks from Halls on the Country Club Plaza!

1. J Shoes, $185, on sale for $129

men's j shoes

I love a guy in a great pair of shoes. The teacher man just got a new pair not too long ago, but I’ve been eyeing these for a bit — look at the sale price! — and adore the mahogany coloring with darker shading on the toes.

These shoes seem versatile enough for any color and any style of dress, from daytime to evening. Did I mention the great price?!

2. Frye Boots, $348

women's frye boots

I have yet to add a pair of Fryes to my shoe collection, but these tough-girl boots caught my attention while perusing Halls. The distressed look + shiny rivets look downtown cool.

Pair them with skinnies and a feminine top for an interesting juxtaposition of style, or throw on your most badass leather moto jacket to keep the cool going from head to toe.

3. Darphin Aromatic Care Oils, $70 — $150

darphin aromatic care facial oils

You know that I’m obsessed with facial oils, and I bet that anyone I introduce them to will be as well.

For friends who prefer a high-end approach to down-to-earth facial oils, I choose Darphin, a Parisian brand that brings a bit of chic to the art of oil cleansing and oil care.

My favorites are rose ($70), chamomile ($70), myrrh ($70) and jasmine ($110). Other great scents include 8-flower nectar, featuring ylang ylang, patchouli, neroli, rose, ever-lasting and lavender essential oils plus jasmine, arctic cranberry, iris and date extracts ($150), niaouli ($70), tangerine ($70) and orange blossom ($80).

4. 74 Harley Street Necklace, $330

74 harley street necklace

Made right here in Kansas City, 74 Harley Street combines vintage flavor with modern pizzazz to create one-of-a-kind jewelry that just begs to go home with you.

I’m in awe of the beading — and quality of beads — in this statement necklace. The blues and turquoises look stunning next to the honey and amber tones.

5. Mad Pax Spiky Backpack, $65

mad pax spiky backpack

My nephew has a thing for Mario games, and I couldn’t resist getting this cool Bowser-like backpack for him to use on trips to Grandma’s house, school and maybe even my apartment some summer!

He’ll be opening this fun gift at his birthday party tonight, and a cool little kid on your list could be opening it on Christmas if you jet over to Halls to scoop one up!

So tell me: What’s on your last-minute, final weekend of shopping list? Who is the hardest to buy for in your family and circle of friends? Leave me a note in the comments section!

By Kim Wallace
4 comments
filed in: accessories, beauty, jewelry, kansas city, shoes, skin, style

December 20, 2012

outfit post | snow day

The Kansas City-area got its first winter storm of the season late last night.

I couldn’t help but gently wake up at 5:45 a.m. to the sound of the teacher man talking to a colleague about how to deal with the inclement weather.

Today was supposed to be the last day of the semester (and grade-entering day!), but winter break came a day early for him and the kiddos — snow day!

kimberlyloc snow day

{Head Wrap//c/o Charming Charlie; Oversized Sweater//Saks Fifth Avenue Off Fifth (similar); Skinny Jeans//Forever 21; Hunter Boot Socks//Gift from Megan, via Nordstrom; Hunter Boots//Gift from Eugene, via J. Crew. Photo by the Teacher Man}

I’ve been on holiday break since last Friday, but there’s something exciting about getting the first snow … and not having any obligations whatsoever besides staying in, baking reindeer cookies and watching Christmas Vacation.

kimberlyloc snow on the tree

{Bracelets//Vintage, c/o Savers. Photo by the Teacher Man}

OK, so I did have to run to the store to get a few missing ingredients for the reindeer cookies, but this outfit was so simple for a quick dash through the snow to the store (well … I drove …).

I’ve been living in this sweater lately, and I predict it will get a lot of play post-holiday meals, too.

kimberlyloc charming charlie head wrap and vintage bracelets

{Photo by the Teacher Man}

kimberlyloc snow

{Photo by the Teacher Man}

Have you gotten your white December yet, or could you care less about snow?

(I’m not really a fan, but it is pretty to look at when you have no reason to be out in it…unless it’s to play!)

By Kim Wallace
4 comments
filed in: outfits, style
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