Part of my holiday countdown involves stepping up my beauty routine and finding the perfect outfits for holiday parties and the annual family photo session. What is now a holiday card staple, the family photo session can be a time and energy zapper for moms. First you have to either shop for clothes or rummage through closets in hopes of making everyone look put together. Then there’s actually getting ready for the photo session. I try to get my family set first so that they’re happy and I can get some uninterrupted primp time. Inevitably someone can’t find their socks, an epic toddler tantrum occurs, someone needs a snack, and then it’s time to leave and I’m applying lip gloss and crossing my fingers that I remembered to wear two of the same shoe. I’m frazzled, cranky, and not in the mood to smile pretty.
Sound familiar? What we mommas need is our own Glam Squad to help us look good so that we can get the rest of our families looking great without stressing about ourselves. Celebrities have them, so why can’t we? After all, aren’t celebrities “just like us”?
Well I’ve put together your very own Glam Squad! These are local beauty and fashion resources that every mom needs in her back pocket to get pampered and beautified stress-free! Use one of them. Use all of them. Use them to look and feel your best for family photos, for holiday parties, or a moms’ night out. After all, we take care of everyone else so we should be taken care of once in awhile!
GLAM SQUAD ESSENTIAL: THE BLOW DRY BAR
I’m blessed with a very full head of hair that takes an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to completely dry and style. Then my kids get bored and ask me questions that I can’t hear over the blow dryer and… oh wait, it’s time to get them dressed! Well, forget finishing my hair.
Now I leave it to the pros and go to a blow dry “bar”, like Drybar. You walk in, get washed and styled, and walk out looking and feeling fabulous. (Bonus: You get time to yourself. Whee!) Choose from the salon’s menu of hairstyles, or simply tell them how you’d like your hair to look. Save time and stress by booking your appointment early in the day and then refreshing your hair before your photo session. Your stylist will make sure to set your style so that it lasts. Drybar also offers “Shirley Temple” styling service for ages 10 and under to help you avoid the “mom don’t touch my hair” battle, as well as discounted prepaid visits. Visit www.thedrybar.com for locations and to book an appointment.
GLAM SQUAD ESSENTIAL: THE SPARKLE BAR
I love makeup, but when I try to apply it my toddler either tries to give me a leg hug while I’m putting on mascara or attempts to give herself a makeover with my cosmetics. So like my hair, my make-up ends up sorta done before family photos.
Well mamas, there’s now a solution to this dilemma… The Sparkle Bar, AZ’s first makeup bar. Like the blow dry bar, the makeup bar offers makeup applications only. No selling of products like at mall cosmetics counters. In fact, each makeup artist curates his/her own toolkit with products from their favorite brands.
What I love about The Sparkle Bar is that they don’t just slap a bunch of makeup on your face and then guilt you into buying products. Your makeup application is tailored to YOU. When I sat down for my appointment at their grand opening, the first thing my makeup artist asked me was where I was going that day. She asked me what products I used, what color products I liked, and most importantly… how would I like to look. So if you don’t wear a lot of makeup, they won’t apply with a heavy hand. If you put on a full face everyday, they have no problem stepping it up. Learn more about The Sparkle Bar and book an appointment at www.thesparklebar.com.
GLAM SQUAD ESSENTIAL: THE STYLIST
Yes, a stylist! That’s exactly what I thought as I was rummaging through shoe boxes trying to find the perfect pair of shoes to wear while my husband called out that it was time to leave to meet our photographer. I wished that regular people like me could have a stylist. Guess what? Stylists are not just for the mega rich and famous and they don’t all push the fashion envelope so that you end up looking like a style experiment. Stylists, like Angela Isacksen of Savvy Styled Sessions and Events, help busy everyday moms get their family dressed in something tasteful and timeless that’s not the Frozen shirt that your two-year-old insists on wearing daily without charging the price of college tuition.
A former Kindergarten teacher, wife, and mom, Angela understands the stress of getting everyone coordinated for photos. Lucky for us, she loves the challenge of creating a cohesive and polished look among family members for photo sessions! Angela will work with your family’s wardrobe or do the shopping for you and provide you with more than one ensemble option to choose from. Learn more about her services on her blog, and keep up with her on Instagram (savvystyledsessions), Pinterest (Savvy Styled Sessions & Events), and Facebook.
Going to a holiday party? Put the Glam Squad to work for you! They’re not just for family photos, but any time you want to take the stress out of our beauty and fashion routine, and get out of the house on time with a smile! Be on the lookout for Part 2 of this series, when our Glam Squad experts share their favorite fashion and beauty tips for moms!
*Please note that this is not a sponsored post, just me sharing local resources that I feel are helpful for moms. I did receive a complimentary makeup application from The Sparkle Bar; however, I did not receive compensation and was not required to provide editorial coverage. All opinions are my own.*
