Makeup Tutorials are Live!

Makeup Tutorials are Live!

So, last I updated this thing I had just begun to upload videos to YouTube on a regular basis. Now - I'm just on a roll. I filmed three videos last night and have plans to film some more as soon as my boyfriend wakes up.

I have so much fun filming makeup tutorials and coming up with ideas of what to create! If you haven't already checked out my channel, please do so and subscribe so you can be the first to view my new videos!

www.youtube.com/user/shannonleta

Thanks for all of your support! XOXO Shannon

YouTube Rolling...

YouTube Rolling...

So, I've been trying to upload videos to YouTube on a regular basis, but the process is so time-consuming! My first makeup tutorial was a simple bronze look that I think is wearable day or night. I'm sure the filming and editing will improve over time, but I'm happy that I'm regularly updating my channel.

If you haven't already subscribed to my YouTube makeup channel, please check it out. Feedback and constructive criticism are ALWAYS welcome! Also - check out my Twitter account!

Hopefully this blog will go hand-in-hand with the YouTube channel and be improved as well. I'm working on it...LOL.

Back in Action! --And on YouTube

Back in Action! --And on YouTube?

I logged into this account and I haven't posted a blog since early January. Well, I hope to bring it back!

I started to upload videos to my YouTube channel on a somewhat regular basis. All I have so far are old contest entries and a couple of haul videos. But, if I can figure out a good enough set up and devote the time, I'll soon have makeup tutorials and reviews on there as well.

So, if you haven't checked it out yet, I say go ahead and do so! The lighting is crummy, and the camera is mediocre but it will get better...eventually ;)

I love makeup and even if only 5 people watch my channel, I'm cool with that! I just love communicating with others who love makeup and beauty products as much as I do!

Shannon Leta

Trip to the Mall

Trip to the Mall

A much needed trip to the mall was accomplished today. One where I desperately needed to find belated Christmas gifts before the celebration with my Mom, her boyfriend and my two brothers on Sunday.

It was a successful trip, and I was glad my friend Rosa joined me. I did get two things at Sephora with an AmEx gift card I was given. I loved Benefit's Coralista blush so much I had to try another. So, I picked up the Benefit Dandelion blush. A lot of people say it's too light and doesn't show up on their skin, but I'm really digging it.

I also got a Sephora lipgloss in Gold & Glow. It's a nice color, but not worth $10 really and it has a funky taste. I hate eating something and tasting my lip gloss all over the food - NOT COOL! So, not sure if I'm going to buy more of these. We'll see!

I had fun spending time with Rosa, even though it was a bit of a mission finding the gifts I needed!

Makeup Contest Entry for JennisseMakeup on YouTube

Makeup Contest Entry for JennisseMakeup on YouTube

JennisseMakeup on YouTube is one of my favorite makeup gurus! She has some amazing tutorials on makeup and nails - and has her own website where makeup and accessories are sold.

Her current contest is sponsored by Maggie Bags, who are a handbag company that makes handbags out of recycled seat belts. They're incredibly fashionable IMO, and the average retail value is about $100. Because of the sponsor and Jennisse's passion for the "going green" movement...The rules of this contest are to create a makeup look inspired by going green, the affects of going green, or the affects of NOT going green.

The contest was pretty much open to interpretation and a lot of freedom was given. I decided to do a look based on arctic polar bears - now an endangered species. It is the fault of us - humans who pollute the earth - that this species is slowly dying off. Various human-pollutants such as excessive amounts of greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere. This causes the arctic to warm each year, allowing the frozen ice less time to melt each spring. During this time, polar bears are desperate to find land where they can find food. Because of the vast distance polar bears need to travel to find food in the arctic - namely seals - there is not enough time for the bears to travel across the frozen seas. They are melting rapidly and most polar bears die of starvation in search for food - or drown while swimming through the now melted seas.

The colors used in this look were drawn directly from the colors in the photograph. Enjoy!

Christmas 2009 in Oklahoma

A glance at James' brother Fred's car. It had to be dug out of the snow!

A view of the aftermath. It glistened and was so pretty...

Some parts of the snow drift were so deep!

Piles of snow pushed aside to create a path

View from Kathleen & Steve's driveway

All of the decorations were blown around by the blizzard

I loved the way the ice formed on the glass - classic white Christmas

Crazy snow drift in front of the door. And, we took this during the halfway point in the storm

View from inside the house - so many more pictures but takes forever to load!

Christmas 2009 in Oklahoma

Since James and I have been together, I've gone with him every year to visit his family in Oklahoma. We usually stay well over two weeks - even staying to celebrate the New Year.

Unfortunately, due to many reasons, we were only able to stay for a week this year. It went by so quickly, and we arrived back in Miami last night.

We did have a lot of fun there, though. And, for how crappy 2009 was, Christmas was really spectacular. Additionally, I experienced my first white Christmas - a fluke for Lawton, Oklahoma - and I got to witness it first-hand. Not only did I see snow, but we were caught in a blizzard that hit Central U.S : Oklahoma, Texas, North Dakota & Minnesota (I think - don't quote me on that)

Lawton, Oklahoma got 6-8 inches of snow while Oklahoma City (about an hour and a half northwest of Lawton/Fort Sill) got 14 inches of snow. Needless to say, we were trapped inside the house while cars piled up on the roadsides - frozen and helpless - and the roads began to shut down.

There were tons of reported accidents and even some deaths. The snow also ruined some of our plans as James, myself, James' Mom and his Brother were planning on doing some last-minute shopping at the mall in Lawton. Most of the roads were closed and we spent Christmas Eve eating all day and sleeping. Nevertheless, our Christmas was great and I was thrilled to see so much snow. I regret to say that I didn't make a snow angel, snowman or even have a snowball fight because I caught a bad cold and was afraid of getting sick-er.

I did walk to a friends house and fell into a pile of snow drift that was over a foot deep. I was up to almost my knees in snow it seemed - and my trusty faux-ugg boots were not cutting it.

Not to mention, it was below freezing and my Miami body wasn't too pleased. I was glad to experience it though, and want to share the pictures.

Enjoy and I hope everyone had a merry Christmas, happy holidays and great winter season :]

TinyTea5's Contest Winners

TinyTea5's Contest Winners

I just returned from my trip to Oklahoma for Christmas, and checked out the contest winners for TinyTea5's "Sexiest Going Out" makeup look on YouTube.

I was so excited to see that I won second place. Check out the contest winner's video here. I don't know what the prizes are as Tami (TinyTea5) added a second prize package later in the contest. I went back to the original contest video on YouTube, but it's now private - so, I don't know exactly how many entries there were. But, I believe the contest had several hundred video responses and over 1,000 views!

I'm excited to see what the prizes are!