Imagine if Q&A

Are there topics you'd like me to address, or questions you'd like to ask/discuss? Shoot me an email at this address, and I'll post your question and my answer in a post! (Inappropriate/Adult topics will be promptly discarded).

imagineifquestionswereanswers@gmail.com

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Bright Hub

Hey! So I was recently hired by an online article site called Bright Hub. Here's a link to my first article! I just wrote it tonight. Check it out if you want!

http://www.brighthub.com/parenting/young-adult/articles/80695.aspx

-Heidi Nicole

How to curl your hair!

Here's my response to this question:


  • Can you tell me everything you do when you curl your hair? Every step every details (products and what not). Curious


First of all, I've always had problems curling my hair. I've never been able to get it to look like anything other than Shirley Temple or an 80s hairdo. I've had other people curl my hair too and they've never been able to achieve what I wanted either. BUT the other day I FINALLY did it!!! It was easy and actually fast (and I have thick hair! So this isn't just for thin hair-ed gals), and even better I did it with my straightener, so no need to buy a curling iron!

Ok, so here's how I learned what I know. I was searching around on youtube and found this video. This girl has a lot of videos that are great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w74e5aXrFs4

So, I didn't use ANY products in my hair before curling. It was clean and product free, just like Rosebud suggests in the movie. It took me a while to figure out which way she was curling her hair, so I'll tell you!

Use hair clamps to do sections of hair at a time. Then grab about a one inch section and clamp down on it with your straightener. Then wrap the hair UNDER the straightener, and then roll the straightener AWAY from you until the hair is sticking out from in between the plates of the straightener. Pull it down slowly, then release and twirl it with your finger. Once you're done with a layer of hair, lightly spray the curls. Pull the hair you have already curled back into a hair tie. This step makes it soooo much easier! I was worried about the tie creating a "kink" in my hair, but it didn't. Be extra careful and spend more time on the top. In the movie she tells you when and where to tease your hair. I teased a little bit and I liked it. Tease more or less or none at all, depending on what you like.

So, I've only tried this once and it worked wonderfully. Here's some pictures from my attempt! I was pretty darn happy with it for being the first time I'd ever been able to curl my hair



They aren't the best pictures, since they're just from my phone and I took them, but I plan on trying it again today, so if I get better pictures of how it looks I'll show you (the curls look better in person than in the pictures. . . ) NOTE: I added a little more hairspray before bed, and when I woke up it basically looked the same!

I hope this helped! This method certainly worked for me. Let me know if you try it and how it works for you! Or feel free to post your method!

-Heidi Nicole

Friday, July 30, 2010

Eye makeup, pale skin and foundation

Alright! So I've been doing some homework and I've come across the following information to help me answer the following questions:


  • Is it true that if you have lighter skin (pale) you should avoid heavy dark eye makeup because it looks tacky? Can you have an entry dedicated to eye makeup (liner, mascara, shadow, etc.)?
  • How do you propose a person choose colors for make-up and clothes?  Sometimes something you like doesn't always look good, and I have bought make-up too many time that doesn't work because it is either too dark, too light, or something.  (Especially blush and FOUNDATION.)

Alright! So, I will tell you all of the sites that I used for the info, so that they will be properly given credit, and also so you can read more on the topics if you want to.

On the topic of pale skin


Ok, so what I have read and noticed myself is that dark makeup really doesn't look good on pale faces. It makes your eyelids look heavy, making you look tired, or just plain too made up. I think it can also make it look like you are just trying too hard. Stick with natural and lighter colors. Honestly, as I have really had to find out myself, most of makeup really depends on trying things out. As I was searching I found tips for someone who looked like me, and the first thing it said was to NOT do what I am doing color wise and I just laughed because I think it looks great on me ( and I know it is because people say it does). No one has the exact same face and coloring, so you'll have to experiment. I think that with any look mascara and eyeliner are a good idea, but as I've found out, some eyeliner colors can make you look tired or washed out, so again experiment (or if you have the money, visit a makeup artist. I'm sure that for a fee, or not, they would be willing to do an analysis for you). I found the following sites to be very helpful when it comes to livening up a pale face:

http://www.carefair.com/makeup/Makeup_for_Pale_Beauty_2218.html
http://www.totalbeauty.com/video/the-right-makeup-for-pale-skin (in this one the model isn't even pale. . . but I think the idea would be worth trying anyways).
http://ezinearticles.com/?Makeup-Tips-For-Pale-Skin&id=500482
http://www.ehow.com/how_4464897_choose-make-up-fair-skin.html
http://www.funadvice.com/q/gils_i_need_some_advice_plz

Each one of these sites give info on more than just eye color. They also include blushes and foundations, which will be important in creating the look that you want.


On choosing the right colors


Again, you have to experiment. When deciding a shade of foundation test it against your neck, or as mentioned in one of the above sites, you can even test it against the inside of your forearm. Even though that does work, you still want to be careful. I use a color that is darker than my arm and my neck, but it is perfect for me. If you get a shade that you don't think IS perfect, try using different amounts. I've applied foundations that are FAR too light for my skin, but by using a smaller amount than I use of the right shade, it works out alright. On the other side, if it is too dark try using less.

For choosing the right colors of makeup, pay attention to your skin tone, the colors you usually wear, and your hair color. Your tone is really important in determining makeup colors. Check out this site for more info http://www.ehow.com/how_2223005_right-makeup-colors-skin-tone.html

It would be a good idea to purchase cheaper makeup (like the kinds at dollar stores or other places that come with a lot of different random colors) so you can try them out and see how they look on you without spending and potentially wasting a ton. When you find colors that you like and look good on you, compare those colors to more quality makeups and find what you would like. Another option would be to try out samples. A lot of companies offer samples. Look around or ask around online and in stores to see if samples are available. Another idea; play around with makeup with your friends, experimenting with their colors too, to give you a broader perspective.

For choosing the right colors of clothes, take some friends with you to the store who you know who will be HONEST and not tell you that you look great in everything. Try different colors and see what happens. I used to think I didn't look good in bright colors but in time I found out that I did. The seasons should be part of  your consideration of what colors of clothes to buy. Check out this site. It has some helpful tips

http://www.ehow.com/how_3249_choose-colors-flatter.html

Try different makeup looks with different outfits. For example, I've come to realize that I can't do my "brown look" when I'm wearing a blue or black shirt, and that my "ocean look" works really well with my green shirts!

SO, a lot of makeup is trial and error, but hopefully this post helped you out a little and gave you some ideas. Let me know what you tried and if it worked. If there was something I didn't cover let me know!

-Heidi Nicole

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Questions and Answers

Hey, just another quick note. I really appreciate the questions, but in the future please ask me via the email address I posted at the top of this blog (it will stay there so you can always have access to the address). This will make it MUCH easier for me to manage and see which ones and need to address first. Thanks so much!

-Heidi Nicole

Delay

I just wanted to make a quick post here to say sorry its taking me so long to answer questions! I've been dealing with school registration problems, and I had to go out of town for a day, and I drove for about 3.5 hours today, so I'm a bit wiped out. Falling asleep at the computer actually. So, I may not be posting tonight, but I will definitely answer the first question I was asked tomorrow, and hopefully more of them. Thanks!

-Heidi Nicole

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Whistle while you work!



Ok, so while I was looking at beauty tools online I came across this and thought it was a brilliant idea! I love that they made it so you can have music with you wherever you do your hair. Usually I use my laptop to listen to music while I work. This would be so convenient! The other thing that I really love is that the plates move so they are always working on your hair! Check it out. What do you think?

Mi-TUUNZ World First MP3 Nano Ceramic Flat Iron / Hair Straightener (1") Free Shipping

-Heidi Nicole

Makeup and hair tools

First of all, thanks to those who have asked me questions so far! I was so excited to get them and I've been researching and comparing info and I'll soon be posting answers! Before I do though, I thought I would share with you the products/items that I use when I'm playing with makeup and hair! I meant to have these more organized, but for some reason they uploaded in a random order. Oh well!

First of all, I'm not a big fan of hairspray, but it is definitely handy when it comes to those little fly-aways and keeping certain styles in check. I like to use White Rain Extra Hold. It isn't so strong that it makes your hair hard, but it holds your hair in place. For those times when you need something to stay put for real, use Aussie Instant Freeze. The second you spray this your hair will not move. It really does instantly freeze your hair in place. I would probably use this for an up-do, or if I had a style I really wanted to stay in while doing something active like going to a dance, but I don't use it everyday. Especially not on bangs. It makes them look like a shell over your face. Aussie has a GREAT fragrance!



This is just something I like to play with. I dyed my hair in November and by now my hair is mostly back to its natural red. I plan on dying it either a dark brown or black and weaving some of my natural red in in a few months. So for now, and just for fun, I got this temporary hair color. It instantly dyes your hair and washes out with shampoo. It says to apply when it is wet, which worked well until I dried it. Then the color was gone. I don't know if it is the heat or what, but the same thing happened when I used the mousse version of this dye for Halloween. I found out that when you don't dry your hair the color stays just fine, but what fun is it to color your hair and not be able to style it? So, I haven't tried yet, but my plan is to try applying it when my hair is dry, and then see if it fades when I try to style it.


Here is my new set of brushes! So far I've used the eyeshadow blenders (the 2nd and 3rd from the right) and they are great. I considered buying a larger set, but for my purposes I thought that these seven would be enough (especially since I have a rather small budget).  After searching around and comparing sets that I found I ended up buying these ones off of Ebay from a seller in Hong Kong. 




Here's my makeup set I've been waiting for! My sibling's thought it was a laptop or an ipad haha. It really kinda looked like one and it is so shiny! haha


This is to show you the size compared to my pressed powder. There are 88 different colors of eyeshadow in this palette 


Lots of lip color options!


Eyeliner and Mascara = huge musts! For a long time I've been using liquid black eyeliner, but lately I've been leaning more towards brown or black pencils (with very small tips - the kind you don't have to sharpen). They give a more natural, softer look. I've also added brown mascara to my collection. I used to use brown, then used black for a really long time, but now I use both, depending on the look I want. Brown is more natural looking and does not stand out as much as black. I always use my eyelash curler, for that extra bit of flirty curl!



Important stuff here! It is really important to make sure you use that right color of foundation. I really like trublend (by Cover Girl). I buy it at Wal-Mart. I've also just switched from using pressed powder to trublend minerals loose powder. When you find the ones that work for you remember the number and brand!


Here's just some fun stuff that I like to play around with: Fingernail polish (Sally's sells mini ones that are only $1 and they are great!). Hair glitter and eyelash adhesive - both bought from a local dollar store. I use the eyelash adhesive for adding hair or face jewels, or anything else for fun! White face paint, and a crown! For random fun stuff.


Good bobby pins! A huge must for sweet up-dos. The only kind I buy are from Sally's. They come in a package like this in a 300 pack. They are a little pricey, but so worth it!



You don't have to have professional brushes to do makeup! This is what I was using while waiting for my set. Applicators that come with makeup, some brushes from around the house, and even paint brushes. 


I bought these originally for applying foundation, and I probably would use them to apply it on other people, but on myself I just use my hands. I recently used them with the temporary hair dye (seen above) to get roots and hard to reach areas. They work really well because they don't soak up the dye. 


Just a few tools in my kit: Hair clips, comb, nail/foot file, and scissors. The reason the scissors are here are for those annoying random hairs on my face that tend to grow longer than the rest. I've been wanting to buy a waxing kit from Sally's but that will have to wait until I get more money. 


Lots of eyeshadow and blush to play and experiment with! I really like to buy the ones with four colors. They usually tell you how to apply each color and they really turn out great as long as you find colors that work well with your complexion and hair. 


To store all my makeup stuff I currently use one of these "under the bed" boxes that you can buy basically anywhere. I really would like to have a fishing tackle box though - they are full of separate compartments to keep your things organized. 


I've always had a dry skin problem and I've spent a long time looking for lotion that isn't oily or too watery or what not. I finally found this brand and it is perfect! I bought it at Wal-Mart and its really a good price too!


Just for fun, check out all my jewelry! I used to wear it more often, but nowadays I tend to just wear simple earrings. I probably should start wearing them again. 


All of these (except the brown one on the left and te big-beaded green one) I bought in Chinatown in NYC and I used to wear them all the time! The brown one was actually a belt that came with a skirt I bought. I just tied the ends together! The green one I got from my friend.


I bought this facial masque at a dollar store and I LOVE it! The sad thing is that a dollar stores, when you go back for things they usually aren't there anymore. This is made with oatmeal, banana and almond oil. I've been thinking about trying to make one on my own.


After searching and comparing A LOT of straighteners, I settled on this one and I have loved it since the moment I bought it! I can't remember where I bought it, but I think you can get it at Target and Wal-Mart.


This one should have been up with the makeup, but whatever! This is the lip color that I usually use. I actually got this from my Grandma! The mirror is convenient and the applicator is great. I love the three different colors of lipstick. I can choose which one would be better depending on what look I've got on.



So there you go! There's all my stuff. Not the best or anything, but it works. Once I get a more reliable income I plan on buying more professional makeup, but for now this is it. In my next post I'll take you through the process that I use in applying them! Let me know if this helped you at all in choosing products, and if you would recommend anything!

-Heidi Nicole

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Q and A email address

Hey readers! I just wanted to let you know about an update I've made to the site. Under the title of the blog there's a not that lets you know about the email address I've created so that anyone can ask me questions or give me topics that they would like addressed on this blog. Special thanks to the reader who suggested this! I think this will be fun and a way for you to be more involved! Try it out! I'm excited to see if I get any emails :)

-Heidi Nicole

Healthy and Delish!

Today is good, and do you know why? Because last night I checked my mail and lo and behold: there was my makeup set! I'm quite excited to use it. It looks fantastic! Once I finish a few other things today I'm going to let loose and spend some "Heidi Spa and Makeup" time! I thought some of you may be excited about that update, but that is not what this post is about. Nope, this post happens to be about my lunch today.

While I was in high school we had several options for lunch, including creating your own subway sandwich. Sometimes I would deviate, but on most days that I took the sandwich option I always went for the same one. Today I realized that we had most of the ingredients that I needed (left over from our trip to Lagoon yesterday!). So, I pulled them out and set to work. I also made my favorite drink to compliment the sandwich! Here's what to do:

Sandwich:

Bun/bread/hogie. Whatever you prefer to make your sandwich on!
Sliced Turkey
Cheese
Olives
Ranch dressing
Sprouts

Today I did it without sprouts and it was still good, even though I like to have that flavor added. Just add the ingredients (slicing the olives) and enjoy! Its a nice break from the maybe too typical everyday PB and J.
Now, for the drink.

My favorite drink is a buttermilk/peach smoothie I guess you could say. My family has been big on home canning, and so I used a quart sized jar of home-canned peaches. There aren't any real measurements for this recipe. Its just something my mom started doing when I was younger and I fell in love with it.

Drink:

Canned peaches (with juice)
Buttermilk
Sugar (or other sweetener or none at all. It depends on what you like).

Add all the ingredients into a blender and enjoy! I blend the peaches, juice and buttermilk first, and then taste it to decide how much sweetener I want to add. Once in the blender the amount of buttermilk should take up about as much "space" as the peaches and juice. But, of course you can add more of less depending on what you like. I love buttermilk, and so I tend to add more.

So, there you go. Today I also threw in a cheese stick, one of my other favorite foods. It all added up to be a fantastic lunch. Questions today: What are your favorite foods? Do they come from restaurants or foreign places? Or do you make them at home? Did you try the ones I just mentioned? Did you change them up at all? Feel free to share your favorite recipes/cooking links with us! I'm always looking for new, quick, healthy and good snacks and meals! Just for fun, another Q: Are there any foods that you absolutely cannot stand? :)

-Heidi Nicole

Sunday, July 25, 2010

The "Road to BYU" story

At the request of an anonymous commenter, I'm going to tell you how I came to be in the position that I am in.

First off, let me say that I don't have to Imagine "if you had to go to a ton of different schools to get your degree." Yeah, I'm working on that one right now. During high school the plan was to attend Brigham Young University as a music major. My major choice changed from that to history to archaeology and back who knows how many times. Finally I settled on history. I was accepted to BYU while I was in high school, but something in me told me that that wasn't where I was supposed to be. So, I stayed at home and went to Salt Lake Community College for a year. Then I discovered a major that would help me a achieve a long lost dream: Equine Science and Management. I'd forever been in love with horses and read all about them and the lucky girls who grew up with them. Horses were their lives. I wanted them to be mine too. The only school in Utah to offer the major was Utah State University, which I had never considered before. So, in the months that followed I prepared, found roommates, and headed off to USU. After one semester it became apparent that Equine Science was still a dream of mine but I would not be obtaining it from a college. I couldn't handle being so closely watched by my teachers. To learn more about horses I wanted to feel at ease and know that my teachers were wanting to help me, not decide what grade I deserved. At the beginning of my second semester at USU I went to the first day of classes, and I could just feel that I needed to change my major back to History, and so I did. I left class, went home, and totally rearranged my schedule (which was not cheap). So, I proceeded from then out to be an American History major, minoring in Anthropology.

My year at Utah State seems to have flown by, and now I've been living at home for the summer. After some time it became apparent that there was no way that I would have the money I needed to move back to Utah State in the fall (2010). I also noted that I wasn't feeling as happy about USU as I previously had. It was hard for me to understand, and still is at times, because I love USU and the friends that I made there and especially my USU basketball men (I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!). After researching and thinking, I discovered that my feelings were telling me that now was the time to go to BYU. So, I've sold my contract at USU and have switched my classes for ones that will transfer to BYU. This summer I'll be living at home, taking one more semester from USU completely online. Its going to be challenging to say the least, but I know it is right. In January I will begin classes on campus at BYU (Still majoring in American History and minoring in Anthropology).

This whole story has so many questions involved that it really is tiring to think about sometimes. Why not BYU right out of high school? Why now? Why was I supposed to go to SLCC and USU? Why did I waste all those credits on another major that won't count towards history at all? Is there something I'm supposed to be here for? There are people that I met today that convince me that there is. Who knows what will happen from here. I think I am sure in saying that at least I'm not going to transfer again until I have my BA! I sure hope not anyways. This whole thing has seemed just short of insane.

So, now you know my story. Do you have crazy school stories? Are you done with college? Was there something that prevented you from going? Are you a student now? What are you studying? What do you want to study? What do you do with your degree?

-Heidi Nicole



P.S. while on Amazon I found some totally awesome BYU things. The football one I would love to have, the others I just think are cool. Check them out!

Franklin Sports Byu Helmet / Jersey Set

B Y U Barbie Mattel Collector Doll

Trademark BYU Stained Glass 16-inch Tiffany Lamp

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Makeup Artistry

For some time now I've been very interested in makeup, and recently I have been checking into beauty schools. After researching, I discovered that instead of spending two years and thousands of dollars, I could just search on youtube and other sites to learn techniques and secrets for free. I've found out a lot of new things that I am excited to try out. I recently bought a set of professional makeup brushes and a set of makeup, similar to this one

SHANY Professional Makeup-Kit, 78 Color Palette

I've received the brushes in the mail, but I am anxiously awaiting the makeup. I can't wait to try it out on myself and others.

When I was a senior in high school my friend and I were thinking about opening up a shop of our own which would provide full services for Prom, or other fancy outings for girls. We'd style hair, do makeup, give pedicures and manicures, and also sell and create custom modest dresses. It would be the place to go for any high school girl. Even though that dream didn't really happen, I've always held on to my love for sewing, makeup and spa activities. I've recently been looking into facials that can be made with everyday items at home, and finding new ways to treat myself to an "all about me" day.

So, questions for today: What do you do to treat yourself? Do you like to pamper yourself? Do you take time off to do something you love, even though others may think you are "working?" (My Dad likes to work in his garden on his days off. I consider that work). Is there somewhere you go to to be yourself and escape from everyday life?

-Heidi Nicole

Blogging as a career

Here's an "Imagine if" to think about. Imagine if it were possible to be able to write freely and expressively and get paid for it, without having a degree in English. This is my most current dream. Lately as I've looked at many different jobs that I could possibly apply for that would work with my school schedule I've realized that any job I could take with me everywhere and have forever would be one online. One that would not be affected by schedule or location. I looked at all the "work from home" sites and have tried several, but honestly, are there any real ones? Then, as I was searching I was reminded of the people who make money by blogging. I have long wanted to be able to write and be paid for it, and I am currently waiting to to hear back from a publisher about a novel that I wrote last November. This is my fifth blog, but I've never tried to blog for money. My current project is this blog and trying out AdSense, through blogger. Have you used it? Do you make money by blogging? If you do, how do you do it? It would bring me a large amount of joy to be able to just write whenever and about whatever I want and have that be my source of income. I want to find joy in what I do for a living. Writing isn't what I plan on doing in the future, but if I could still do it on the side and make a profit from it I would sure be one happy camper. So, any advice?

On another note, for you writers out there, what do you do to keep your skills up and to gain new ones?

-Heidi Nicole

Imagine if. . .

Imagine if you were stranded. Imagine if you had time on your hands. Imagine if you had things to say, but no one who really seemed to listen or care, because we all have things we want, but few are obtained. Imagine being a college student who loves to write and needs an income. Imagine you have giant dreams that seem so close, but so out of reach.

For all of these reasons and more I have created this blog. I want to share with you what it feels like to be me: a full-time college student, in need of money, and in want of dreams to come true. Are you reading this? Are you real? Imagine if there were actually people who would read this blog. I don't know if anyone will, but I hope that YOU are. I want to hear someone listening. I want to hear YOUR stories from your life. Stories of things you wish for, and dreams you want to come true, or even the things that you wished for that came true, and your dreams that you were finally able to grasp. What's your story? Here, will be mine. Simple and to the point. Down to earth and expressive. I want to share with you my passions and desires. Maybe they will become yours as well. Who knows? Nobody will know until they try.

In an effort to keep this site a place where people can feel happy when they read, religion and politics will be kept in a broad spectrum, not mentioning certain groups or people, and I hope that if you comment you will follow that same rule, because if there is anything offensive on this site, it will promptly be removed. Anything considered as "adult content" in my eyes will also be removed. I think I will enjoy this blog, because I love to write and express my dreams. I hope that you will too. For all of the above.

-Heidi Nicole