Story: Courtney

Photography by Leah Muse

Story: Austin

My friend, Leah Muse, and I like to make pretty pictures. So, we "play" a lot and flex our creative muscles. Here is our story with Austin, who, incidentally, is super crafty. We make an awesome team, if I do say so myself.

Roasted Enchiladas with Tomatillo Sauce

Tomatillo Sauce
1 1/2 lb. tomatillos, husks removed
3 small jalapeños, seeded
1 cup chopped cilantro
2/3 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
4 green onions, chopped (about 1/3 cup)
1 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt


Enchiladas
1 small butternut squash (about 1 1/2 lb.), peeled, seeded and diced
2 medium-size red bell peppers, halved and cut into wedges
1 large red [I always cook with yellow] onion, cut into wedges
1 1/2 Tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. salt
3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 Tbs.)
12 6-inch corn tortillas
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese


To make sauce:

Cook tomatillos in pot of boiling water 3 to 4 minutes, or until soft (like a ripe plum). Drain. Purée jalapeños in food processor. Add tomatillos, cilantro, broth, green onions, sugar and salt, and process until smooth. Set aside.

To make enchiladas:

Preheat oven to 400F. Coat roasting pan and 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Toss together squash, peppers, onion, oil, cumin, coriander and salt in roasting pan. Bake 50 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until browned. Stir in garlic. Reduce oven to 350F.

Warm tortillas one by one in large skillet over medium heat. Spoon 1/2 cup vegetables down center of each. Top with 1 Tbs. cheese. Roll and set seam side down in baking dish.


Pour 2 cups sauce over enchiladas. Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; bake 10 minutes.


Warm remaining sauce in skillet over low heat. To serve: Place two enchiladas on each plate and drizzle with warm tomatillo sauce.

Source: Vegetarian Times

Review: Winner, winner, chicken (but not really, because eww) dinner! This dish has officially - yes, let it be noted in the books - kicked this penne dish out of the top spot as the mister's favorite meal. I was a little skeptical when I initially read the ingredients - butternut squash in enchiladas? Yes. YES. It's amazing. Yes.

Lauren = Bride!

Now, THIS is a bride! Lauren is naturally beautiful, so my job was really easy. The day of her bridals was also her Preview Session, and this is the look we came up with - soft feminine makeup and a loose, wispy, classic chignon with a modern twist.

She was married earlier this month and working her wedding was such a delight - it's always fun to see my clients interact with their loved ones. Being alone with Lauren's mother (she was the last lovely lady in my chair) after everyone had set out to the venue and seeing how excited/nervous she was was especially sweet. :)

Beautiful photos by Forever Photography.

Thanks for the pictures and wonderful experience, Lauren. It was truly a pleasure!

Nicole = Engaged!

I'm not going to lie. These engagements were taken in September. But better late than never, right? :)

How good-looking is this couple?? Seriously? Nicole and Chad are getting married this month, and I can't wait to see Nicole again. This is a destination wedding for them; she's from Hawaii but goes to school in Missouri (?), and Chad lives in San Antonio... so, basically, long-distance everything. Anyway, Nicole has got to be one of the sweetest clients, ever. We first spoke over the phone, and I had a really great feeling about her. When we met on the day of her engagements, my suspicions were right on - WHAT a doll! We kept her makeup very natural and gave her some big soft curls. She looks downright divine, don't you think?

Thanks to the fun and fabulous Sarah Q (Her website rules me.) for the photos.

I loooove her hair in the very last one.

Nicole is clearly going to be a ravishing bride, and I look forward to helping make it happen!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Wish-list

The holidays are here! Have no idea what to get those enthusiasts of all things aesthetic in your life? Below, in no particular order, are my favorite beauty products to ease your holiday shopping stress.


1. Face Atelier Brushes

(cue singing angels) I have a plethora of brushes and a variety of brands in my kit, but my favorite brushes in the entire world are, hands down, FA brushes. They are dreamy. For serious. I own 9/13 of them. And look, I know it retails for 72 bucks, but the #1 powder brush is the SOFTEST brush you will ever feel. EVER. And look at it this way, that's $72 closer to $150 to qualify for free shipping!

2. Beautyblender

If you've sat in my chair, you know what this is. You've heard me say, "I love this thing" and "I don't know how I ever lived without my Beautyblenders." Right? Right. Why? Check out this post where I crush on it pretty ding dang dong hard.

3. Sephora Heated Eyelash Curler

"What is that??" Sometimes I get so caught up in what I'm doing, I forget to warn my clients with a simple, "hey, I'm coming at your eye with this heated cylinder thing." And I don't mean to blaspheme, but Shu Uemura, Shmu Uemura. I've tried it. I took it out of my kit, because it doesn't do what I need it to do, namely... ya know, curl lashes. The true test is whether or not a curler can curl my very straight downward-sloping lashes. This does it. Or if you want to be really fancy, check out this one I just recently purchased.

4. Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet +

Love. Love, love, love, love, love, love, love. Foundation with a matte finish that actually looks like skin?! Yes, yes it does. I use this particular foundation on myself. I have dehydrated oily skin (can you imagine!), and this is the best foundation I have ever used. If I had to choose one, MUFE would be my favorite line. I have a lot - A LOT - of MUFE in my kit. It's just so dang good. This line was created by professionals for professionals, and I happen to know that they do extensive research and development before putting anything on the market. They are truly dedicated to creating quality products. You just can't go wrong; they have something for everybody.

5. L'Oreal Voluminous (Waterproof) Mascara

Please, PLEASE, never ever waste money on high-end mascaras. This little tube is all you'll ever need, and it's at your local drugstore.

Happy shopping, and don't forget to treat yourself! 

Ch-ch-changes

Every now and then (i.e. weekly), I go through a self-deprecating phase. I hate everything in my portfolio and want to start all over. I can't help it; it's the perfectionist in me. The bad part about this is that I tend to be unusually harsh on myself. I am, after all, my own worst critic. That said, this perpetual self-evaluation is actually really great, insofar as I am always refining and perfecting my work. So, I have decided to filter out my book. Thanks for all of your kind words and support! It's appreciated more than you know.