He left death in His grave

We are celebrating today and everyday that our risen Jesus is alive and sitting on the right hand of the Father! 

Hair Tutorial // Twist&Tuck by Nicole

As a photographer, people tend to ask me how they should prepare for a session. Women want to look their best in photos, and I'm always looking for new ways to help my clients feel more confident during their session. Hair and makeup play a large role in a woman's confidence, which is why I'm excited to introduce you to my dear friend, Nicole! 

We've decided to team up and create some fun tutorials for you here on Nicole Dianne. We're excited to bring you all things beauty...face masks, product reviews, hair/makeup tutorials [how to achieve a matte look so you aren't shiny in your photos :)] and we'd love to get feedback from you guys for anything else you'd like to see here! Nicole is a cosmetology student, passionate about helping other women find beauty in themselves & teaching practical solutions for everyday beauty hang-ups. I have learned so much from her personally, and I know she will bring fresh ideas to your beauty routines! 

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Hi guys, it's me Nicole... the other Nicole :]    

I'm so excited for this new feature & I hope you guys are too!

   

The great thing about hair products is there are so many! Don't feel like you need to get every single one of these, use what works best on YOUR hair...these are just my personal favorites. 

Here we have:

1. Thin, stretchy head band. 

(Use a color close to your hair color to conceal the band. My hair is dark so I used black.)

2. Thick Bristled Brush

3. Fine Tooth Comb

4. L'Oreal Elnett Hair Spray 

5. Big Sexy Dry Shampoo

6. Kenra Shine Spray

7. Hot Tools Curling Iron 1Inch Barrel 

8. Bobby Pins... Just In Case

9. Babies Breath... For A Wee Bit Of Romanticism

 I began this look with clean hair, but keep in mind this look is practically made for 2nd/3rd day unwashed hair. Nothing covers up dirty hair like a couple a curls and some dry shampoo.

Clip up the upper most layer of hair at the crown of your head and spray the dry shampoo directly onto the scalp. This will give your hair texture right where you need it and will keep all the teasing your about to do intact. Once you have reached optimum volume let down the layer of hair you had clipped up. Your teasing should be completely covered...because ladies never need to tease their hair, right? You were born with that volume weren'tcha girl?

Next, we curl! Before I begin I like to run each section of hair through my iron to heat up the hair. 

Then begin your curl at the mid-shaft slowly feeding the hair through the clamp to make sure each part gets in contact with the heat. I also leave the ends out and uncurled since we are going with the whole I-didn't-even-try-hard-look. Spray your hairspray in sections to keep the curl holding strong. I left my bangs untouched because they will eventually be completely tucked into the headband. Also, I'm lazy.

Take your brush and brush through your entire head. This makes ringlets into waves and gives you a much softer "un-done" look. Add in a little shine spray to complete the look. 

Now the fun begins!

Place your headband on the crown of your head almost touching your forehead and taking small sections of hair begin twisting and tucking them into your headband. I know, it looks a little intimidating but once you start it's almost relieving how easy it becomes!

Once you're comfortable with your Twist&Tuck look go ahead and spray and play!

To take this look a little further,  add small pieces of babys breath into the twist. 

Wedding hair anyone?

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and in case you thought we were totally normal...

photography by yours truly
;]

conversations with jeff & other people // v.3

It's time for another installment of Conversations with Jeff...& other people, except this week it's just Jeff! I've started a notes folder on my iPhone with all the weird things he says, so every time I pull up the yellow screen he rolls his eyes b/c he knows where his words will soon appear...I just love this husband of mine and his quirky self....I don't know why I didn't start documenting the conversations we have, sooner :)

[jeff singing in a vibrato voice]

me: you should be on worship team [joking]

jeff: don't be silly. i don't have a Christian voice, it's too saucy.

//

jeff: i bought myself a little lunch treat

me: bagel dogs?

jeff: no

me: corn-dogs?

jeff: i'd get down on a corn-dog or two 

//

[watching tierra on the bachelor, 2 diff episodes]

jeff: she can't control her face! she has a sparkle...

jeff: why do they want her to say good morning so bad?

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me: my arm hurts for some reason

jeff: it's your wing again isn't it?

[see v.1]

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[watching Ellen]

jeff: who was the band?

me: tegan & sara

jeff: oh i love tegan & sara!

me: you don't even know what they sound like

jeff: i know they sound like girls 

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[in regard to this video]

jeff: but seriously...i got the most motion in my tata's

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[talking about turbo yawning]

jeff: he's so yawny

me: i was just gonna say that!

jeff: i call him yawny depp sometimes

//

[trying to get out of chores b/c he has homework] 

jeff: i dont have time to fold laundry!

me: but you have time to play games & go on a walk?

jeff: i had to wind down! now i have enough energy to flow from my brain into my finger tips to create chemical genius in writing

and THAT, my friends, is my life every day :) 

v.1 // v.2 

thus begins the unpackin'

In case you wonder where I've been and where I'll be...it involves boxes, and lots of them. We're all moved in and ready to settle in our new home. What a relief.

// a few things that make the list of my happies //

starbucks // family night watching the oscars // my little guy cozied up on mounds of blankets // my favorite books // clippings from our yard // warm march days with blue skies // my little guy soaking up some sun // coffee date in a garden courtyard with a great photographer friend

+ stay tuned for another installment of conversations :)

IN WHICH I PERSUADE YOU TO READ REVELATION

+book with art from Banksy | spending time with my pup | hang dryin | watching exit through the gift shop with my boy | taking a picture of the largest slug in California+

My today was good. It was normal with wonderful weather, quality time with a friend, and an evening spent with my Jeffrey.

This morning I spent time with Turbo and the laundry, while listening to my church's series on the book of Revelation. Folded clothes before noon? Pure accomplishment. Solid preaching on the end times whilst sorting underwear from socks? Spiritually enlightening.

The book of Revelation always scared me as a young girl, and up until recently I was nervous to open this mysterious book full of end times prophecy. To say I was scared as a young girl is really an understatement, I was terrified of reading Revelation. Let me give you a slight taste. I went to a private, Christian school from 5th grade to high school and in first period our teachers led a Bible study to start off the day. Each teacher conducted their studies differently, but most read scriptures or some sort of study book. Well, in 7th grade we would read an entire chapter each day, and slowly work our way through books of the Bible. This happened to be the same year as 9/11, so I was already on a sensitive high. Due to the 9/11 prophecy hype my class voted we read through Revelation each morning. I about lost my noodles, guys. The last thing I wanted to do was read through the very book that was going to dictate the end of my life as I knew it. Not to mention my fears of being "Left Behind" even though I knew I was a Christian. So I took matters into my own hands; I plugged my ears every single morning, through all 22 chapters of Revelation. I didn't want to hear it, I didn't want to know.

But guys, I was missing the point. I was missing SO many big things. I'm proud to say that 12 years later, I've come around and I'm thrilled to be studying the book of Revelation. This book is full of God's intense love for His children. All of the wrath you read about? It's for those who seek to harm His children. Our God is fierce for His children, and in the end? He wins, we win. There's a lot of debate that takes place in this book, but I think it's healthy conversation. The debates have allowed me to dig deeper in my faith and draw closer to my Father. I want to know Him so well that I can discern what He would or wouldn't let His children endure. I don't know that God will ever fully reveal Himself, until the day of the Lord, but until then I can climb further into the scriptures and run with the words that He speaks to me. It's cool and it's big and it's comforting. You should read it. It can be confusing so go through it with others, find podcasts, and ask questions. Jeff and I are listening to it alongside a group of friends and we've been able to come together and talk things through. Right now I'm learning about the tribulation and the 4 Horsemen. It's intense friends. Our world has never been in a worse place, so distant from our Father...I never imagined I'd crave the end times, but I do. I'm ready for the Father to take His people home.

life lately & some news (i'm not with child)

chai with good friends // this book at anthropologie is on my "to buy" list // mid-century dresser that Jeff didn't think we needed tear // we went back in time to winter for one day [we've already moved on to Spring in Cali] // good book.. green tea lemonade..and great company at Starbucks // family kisses before daddy goes to work.

I have news! We are moving again.

This will be our 6th move in our first 2.5 years of marriage. I know what you're thinking...we are beyond nuts. You're probably right, but each move has had significance in our individual lives and marriage as a whole. Yes, I'm going that deep with houses we've lived in. We're still pretty young and learning to navigate our way through life as a married couple. It's challenging, scary, fun and most of all it's rewarding. The rewarding part, really? Yea, it's rewarding because Jeff and I are learning how to do life together and make decisions together. Let me tell you...it's an absolute REWARD when a married couple can agree on big things in life. I'm certain that this move will be our last for at least a few years...as is Jeff, reward.

I have mixed emotions over it, but honestly I'm more happy than not. I wrote about some stuff that happened when we first moved to this house here. Since that first weekend we have been questioning a lot of things. Namely, should we have ever moved here? To say we never should have moved here is silly because clearly God had a plan and He's using this as a stepping stone to our next place in life. However, there are an overwhelming amount of reasons why we're moving. The bottom line is that we shouldn't be living here and we feel that it's been confirmed in more ways than one. Though we're excited for the next step in our lives, we do feel strongly the 7 months we've lived in this house were nothing short of God's perfect plan for this time of our lives.  We matured in different areas that never would have been addressed had we not experienced this home. So, we've listened to our hearts and have faith that it's in our best interest to leave our little 1940's home and venture back to apartment life.

Bring on the noisy neighbors and upstairs inconveniences! Just kidding, I'm so excited to be above ground again.