W magazine + emma stone.

emma stone is hot. and funny. and hot.

i love this screen test she did for W magazine.

charmed, i'm sure.

btw, i'm obsessed with W magazine these days.

tom ford + curly mohawk. perfection.

i'm obsessed with the hair in this tom ford shoot

featured in this month's W magazine.

then again, i think we've established that i have

an affinity for curly mohawks.

how baking helped me make friends.

so i've been dying to make these peanut butter blondies

since the very second i laid eyes on them.

pretty much, if joy says it's good, it's gonna be GREAT!

see how i threw her name out there? like we're old friends?

yeah, it's cause we are.

i tweeted her a pic of my peanut butter blondies

cooling on the counter. AND SHE TWEETED ME BACK!

see?

we're friends. so maybe we've never actually met in person.

so maybe we never will. but whatevs, we're friends.

in conclusion, baking brings people together.

also, you NEED to make these peanut butter blondies.

they're not just good. they'll rock your world.

the bachelor: second time's a charm?

when it comes to bachelor dishing, i'm no aubs or natalie, but i just couldn't resist posting about this seasons bachelor. the scandal in a nutshell is this: brad womack (aka b. mack) was on a previous season of the bachelor, AS THE BACHELOR, and didn't pick anybody. walked away as a bachelor still. are you scandalized? apparently america HATES b. mack for walking away. fast forward to the first episode of the 2011 season. b. mack spent the first hour of the show talking about how he's a changed man and ready for a relationship. the show even had his therapist vouch for him (awkward).

so what do you think? is b. mack a changed man? maybe he is, maybe he isn't. time will tell. my bet is he caves under peer pressure, picks a lady and then breaks up with her 6 months down the road. isn't that what usually happens anyway?

b. mack drama aside, i think there are some pretty okay girls on this season + some girls i'm gonna love to hate. my fave is nascar emily from north carolina (?). she seems so so SO sweet and nice. i just hope she's not still hung up on her deceased baby daddy (if she is, i can't say i blame her). the other lady that i don't love love love but think is so reDONKulously gorgeous is michelle money. she's the hairdresser from utah. i think she's STUNNING but i sense a whole lotta crazy up in that mess. again, maybe i'm wrong...but prob not. ha.

so yeah...good luck, b. mack, my little hottie. changed man or not, you're gonna need it.

twenty eleven.

a lotta people been hatin' on 2010. me, i'm not sippin' on that haterade. for me, 2010 was the year of the change. LOTS of changes. some good, some bad.

i lost my job.

i went back to school.

i moved.

i moved again.

the thing with change is, it's all about perspective. losing my job sucked. but if i hadn't gotten laid off, i never would've had the opportunity to pursue my dream of being a hair stylist. and moving twice in a year. yeahhhhh. i wouldn't recommend it. but i spent a fabulous 6 months with a wonderful friend who taught me a lot. if she hadn't been willing to let me shack up, i'd never have been able to go to school. and now, i'm back with my angel. we've been roommates before, so she knew what she was getting into by taking me in, but she didn't even hesitate to extend the offer anyway. looking back, i realize it has been my friends that have played a huge role in making my dreams a reality. thanks, guys.

i just spent two weeks with my family in washington. being with them was healing in ways i didn't even know i needed. they are so loving and supportive and i just couldn't make in this crazy world without them. they help me in so many ways; some ways they realize, some ways they don't. i am so blessed + grateful to have them in my life.

i am so fired up for 2011. it's going to be GOOD! i'm looking forward to:

getting unpacked.

graduating from cosmetology school.
passing my state board exam (eek!).
getting a job as a hair stylist.
styling at NY fashion week.
being happy.
helping those around me follow their dreams.

learning how to play the guitar.

i'm sure it won't be easy but it'll definitely be worth it. and really, those are just a few things i have to look forward to. i'm sure heavenly father has plenty of other things in store for me that i couldn't even begin to dream about. bring it on. i'm ready.

what're you looking forward to this year?

image

asked + answered: making the most of your natural curl

ASKED by not yet curly kim: paula--what name and brand of product do you recommend for naturally curly hair that you'd like to style curly, ringlet-y, and cute? I want to try to do something to love my curl instead of hide it maybe. Thanks!!

ANSWERED by paula: first of all kimmy, good job on being open to embracing your natural texture. trust me when i say that's half the battle! i'm a curly girl + i love my natural texture but it wasn't always that way. after many years of frizz + awkward triangle hair + a general hatred for the mess of ringlets atop my head, i've learned to love the curls. we have an understanding of sorts. i coax ever so gently and they fall in line...sort of. you asked about products, but bear with me and let's back up a couple of steps.

first, you need to start with a good haircut. ask your hairdresser for some layers (round generally work best). this will remove weight from your hair + give your curls more bounce and body. like this.

i get TONS of layers. i like big hair. kinda like halle here but a shorter layers on top. you no like it so big. that's okay. longer layers will still help. but get a few layers. please. no layers and you're gonna look like this.

except worse. nobody wants that. so get some layers.

after your hair's cut all fancy-like, you need some product. if your hair is fine to medium texture + wavy to very curly this cocktail will prob work for you. to wet hair, apply in the following order:

. SMOOTHING SERUM .

naturally curly hair tends to be on the dry side, so moisture is almost never a bad thing. i love love LOVE paul mitchell's super skinny but moroccan oil is real nice too. work it. work it. if your hair is really fine, don't use too much or you'll end up looking like a total greaseball.

. MOUSSE .

PM extra body sculpting foam. good. this is what provides definition and control for the curls. make sure to work it into the hair really well. scrunch that mess up in there. again, if your hair is fine, don't use too much. quarter size to start. after a couple of styling sesh's, you'll know what amounts work best for you.

. HAIRSPRAY .

the freeze and shine spray is a firm hold that might be too much if your hair isn't super curly. hard to say. BUT if you just do a quick overall spritz and then diffuse, it's fine. i like this product because it gives good control and a shine seal before the final step.

. DRYING .

the team air dry or team diffuse conflict is similar to the team edward or team jacob conflict. i just can't pick just one. both have great qualities but both have a few weaknesses too. btw, diffusing is when you take the little attachment pictured above and cram it on the end of your blow dryer. it diffuses the air flow so that you're not getting a full blast of air to your curls which would blow + frizz them all to bits.

me, i like big, tight curls so i'm all about diffusing. it gives the hair that extra oomph (i'm so happy i just used that word) to get it all voluminous and crazy. the down side, is that there's potential for more frizz with the diffuser if you don't do it correctly. umm hmm. i feel a diffuser tutorial coming on. kimmy, if your hair is more wavy than curly, you're gonna need the diffuser to help coax the curls out.

now, if you want a softer curl, then you just give those curls of yours some time and let nature takes its course a la air dry. i personally, don't like air dry because it takes HOURS for my hair to dry to the point where i can zhooz (as in carson kressley) my hair to the volume i like. but when i let it air dry, the curl pattern is definitely different. not better or worse, just...different. less of a halo effect, i guess. look at that pic of halle again. homegirl's got a curl halo.

try both diffusing and air drying. see what you like best. some days, when i have time, i air dry and love love LOVE it. usually though, i'm all about instant gratification. you, my curly girl, do what works best for you. i'm not here to judge.

and so curly girls of the world, don't stress! if things start getting rowdy, look in the mirror and repeat 3 times: i am in control of my hair. it works. you're in control. promise.

asked + answered

now that i'm in the business of hair doing, i get a lot a LOT of questions about hair. does this haircut make my butt look big, is rainbow hair really in style, what's a chignon, what kind of products should i use, what's the latest hair trend, how do i's, i wanna look like her etc etc.

i love it so much i've decided to create an asked + answered area of the blog. i figure, if one person has asked the question, chances are there are a few others that have wondered or are struggling with similar hair issues.

here's where you come in: if you have questions, email me and i'll whip up something witty + educational + entertaining. i know, i know...too good to be true. believe it, baby. i'm here for you. so ask away. this is gonna be FUN!

email me at paulareneeperalta {at} gmail {dot} com.

merry newsinator

i've never been into the christmas card thing.

in fact, i've sworn never to get involved in the

stress-ridden practice of selecting + sending

the PERFECT christmas card each year. sorry, friends.

but this, this is something i can get behind.

the merry newsinator is where it's at, people.

just answer a few simple questions and the site generates

a personalized + clever card ready to be emailed or uploaded.

booyeah.

daybed.

i just moved into a new bedroom that is on

the teeny tiny side. i've been thinking and rethinking the layout.

i'm not super keen on the idea of a twin bed (dorm room anyone?)

but i think a daybed might be just the ticket.

it'll take some work to make it chic, but these setups give me hope.

i like that this bedroom is obviously multi functioning.

one of the awesome (note the sarcasm) things about living with

roommates is that your bedroom becomes the haven that

serves a multitude of activities.

i have an affinity for all white bed + linens.

i also like the idea of a headboard of repurposed materials.

this fancy schmansy bed is kind of awesome.

i love the bright velvet color + the tufted-ness.

maybe something in a more grown up color could work?

to start, my bed will probably look a little like this.

plain jane. but a girl can dream, right?

gang's all here!

levi - 9

hope - 5

lilli - 4

kyra - 4

harmony - 3

jayden - 2

alex - 2

aiden - 2

all my sibs are together for the first time in 6 years

and they've all got little ones in tow.

this is gonna be good.

merry christmas!

little monsters.

on thursday, i'm headed home to washington

to meet up with all these little monsters.

they're comin' in from all over the U-S-of-A.

it's gonna be a whole lotta personality in one holiday.

can't wait to run around + play games + laugh our heads off.

seriously good times.

huzzah.

it's moving weekend.

pray for me.

get it girl.

i have a major major MAJOR crush on adele.

her voice is like buttah. so good.

she's got a new album coming out in 2011.

can't wait.

can't. stop.

do you feel like when a new heartbreak comes along

all the other broken relationships rear their ugly heads again? i do.

stuff you thought you'd dealt with, that time was supposed to heal.

how do you pull yourself out from under the weight of that?

how do you "get over" someone? i've yet to figure it out.

and it's driving me crazy.

christmas kickoff.

ocmco's centuries of christmas

went off without a hitch. good times!

ran into this little darling backstage.

m'peanut's little nephew, adam. he's ADORABLE!

i'm obsessed...and a total cougar.

it was a double header, so between shows

we had a minute to cram our faces. naturally,

diet coke was involved. mother's milk.

oh! good news! ocmco is hittin' the road to

perform the messiah in america oratorio in salt lake

next year at the tabernacle at temple square.

we'll combine with the arizona choir. 500 strong.

how exciting is THAT?!

macy's fashion show.

got a chance to work a macy's fashion show

fashion shows are my fave!

my dream is to work NY FASHION WEEK.

for now, back to reality.

working fashion shows, you never

know what kinda hair you're gonna get.

you've gotta make it work in whatever time

(usually too little) you have.

this little darling had a LOT of hair

and they wanted a fun party updo.

because her hair was SO heavy,

i cheated a big and pulled most of it

into a french braid along the nape.

i gathered the remaining hair in a ponytail

and curled the ends.

this girl had a LOT of crazy curly hair.

it was a little unmanageable but luckily

the requested an edgy look.

i braided up one side to get it under control

and then tucked and pinned the wildness

into this mohawk shape. kinda fun.

this gal was one of my faves.

she swore up and down that her hair

just didn't hold curl. i love a challenge.

i used worked up + super clean hairsprays

to help keep the curls in place. success!

all in all, the show was a lot of fun.

working fashion shows is definitely something

i would consider doing post-graduation.

a christmas carol...or two.

rehearsal last night was FABULOUS!

and tonight is the night. it's showtime!

i hear there are still a few tickets available.

you DON'T want to miss this!

show me how you burlesque.

latest obsession.

i saw this movie (maybe more than once)

and immediately ran home to google

"burlesque dancing classes."

think i'm kidding? i'm not.

there's a class in huntington beach.

who's with me?