Brows by Taby

Last weekend I had an opportunity to visit a local salon and meet with a permanent cosmetic artist by the name of Taby. She is located in Orem at Studio K. Taby has such fun personality and knows her stuff when it comes to permanent makeup. Taby has been small business since she was 16...yes 16! Can you believe that? She can do anything from natural to bold, so no matter what your stye, she's your girl. Taby has experience with women of all ages but is a specialist when it comes to older women, she really understands their skin elasticity and what would be flattering to their facial features.

Let's start form the beginning. For about a year now, I have been interested in the whole 'permanent cosmetic' world. It's not something that I have ever considered initially, but as I am getting older and busier, I just don't have time to perfectly color in my brows every morning. I have always had full brows, needing to pluck every single day...sigh. But lately I've noticed a few spots here and there that need to be a little more filled in. So I started researching the Soft Tap application method and thought it would be the right choice for me. But hello, tattoo...that can be a scary thought!! So I decided to meet with Taby and talk about some of my hesitations. She was a great listener and answered all of my questions, which I'm sure she's answered hundreds of times!

Chances are you have similar concerns, especially since you are reading this. I thought a great way would be for me to share some FAQ of permanent cosmetics.

Q: So this is like a tattoo, right?
A: Similar, but this procedure is done with an instrument by hand, where there are no machines used. The technician has more control and can make it look as natural as possible. It only affects the first few layers of skin, lasting about 3-5 years, whereas a tattoo is forever.

Q: Does it hurt?
A: No! So the first application feels a little like plucking, but not nearly as bad. It wasn't uncomfortable for me at all, just felt like pressure. After the first layer is on, Taby applied a numbing creme and I didn't feel anything after that.

Q: How long does it take to heal?

A: About a 7-10 days. Obviously you will notice your brows are a bit darker right after the procedure. Taby gave me a special ointment to keep my brows moisturized so they wouldn't itch during the healing process. I only noticed a few times where I had to stop myself from itching them (this will remove the pigment). As long and I kept the ointment on, I was not uncomfortable at all.

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Q: How many appointments do I need?

A: Basically two. The first appointment is the biggie. You will be there about 1-2 hours for the application process. About 6 weeks later, you will go back in for a touch up appointment, where you can fill in any places where the pigment didn't take as well. Taby also recommended that I come in once a year to keep my color fresh.

Q: How much does this cost?

A: $350. Some permanent cosmetic artists may charge more or less, but this is a fairly common price point. For me, not having to color my brows in every day and constantly worried about their shape it was a win/win!!

                                      Before                                                                After

Q: Are you glad you got it done?

A: Absolutely! The "after" photo was taken right after but a week later they have really softened up and look very natural which was my #1 concern. I mean, we all notice bad brows, right?

If you are interested in any Soft Tap permanent cosmetic procedures feel free to reach out to Taby or myself. You might have other questions, that I didn't and I'm sure we could get them answered. Oh and keep a lookout for a giveaway coming up soon....who doesn't love free stuff, right???

Photos by Makenzie Jamias

Gimme Lemon....Everything

There is something genuis behind the lemon, ya know? It's beautiful, bright yellow color makes me instantly happy, invoking fantasies of sipping' lemonade in the sunshine. I'm going to totally pretend like it didn't snow a few days ago and summer is right around the corner. Good news is these Lemon Chia Protein Bites are the perfect way to get ready for that bikini, or tankini, or swim dress. I love to make a big batch at the beginning of the week and have them on hand whenever I get the urge to snack, which might be every 20 mins. Anyone else feel my pain???

Lemon Chia Protein Bites

½ cup quick oats

1 TBSP chia seeds

3 cups vanilla flavored protein powder

1 TBSP Truvia

1 tsp lemon zest

4 TBSP lemon juice

6 TBSP water

·      Combine oats, chia seeds, protein powder, Truvia and lemon zest in bowl.

·      Add in lemon juice and water

·      Form into balls (note: all protein powders have different dryness levels, so you might need to adjust water measurement)

·      Roll in unsweetened coconut shreds and place in freezer for 30 minutes.

·      Remove from freezer and store in airtight container in fridge. Will last for 5 days

Oatmeal....healthified

Even though oatmeal is associated with a healthy breakfast, unfortunately the majority of people don't prepare it the way it should be eaten. For example, adding heavy cream is a popular thing to do, and makes the oatmeal very rich. Also brown sugar is the #1 sweetener that is used in making oatmeal delicious...also not healthy. A fast timesaver in the mornings, instant oatmeal is literally THE WORST oatmeal ever, nutritionally speaking. So now you are probably scratching your head thinking, great, either I can't eat oatmeal ever again, or if I do it will taste horrible. But don't worry, I've got you covered. I love eating hot oatmeal, especially in the the winter. It's the perfect breakfast and way to start your day. Here is a 5 minute (no joke) recipe that will restore your faith in oatmeal.

5 Minute Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

1/2 c rolled oats

quarter of an apple diced (leave skin on)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 TBSP almond butter

1 tsp honey or desired sweetener

1. Boil one cup of water in small saucepan

2. Add oats and apples

3. Allow to cook until all moisture is absorbed and apples are soft (around 4 minutes)

4. Remove from heat and add cinnamon, almond butter and honey.

The Best Breakfast Smoothie....Ever

A few years ago my husband and I stayed at a super swanky hotel in Southern California. After our spa treatments, I ordered a Blueberry Chia and Lemon Smoothie from the spa menu. Let me tell you, it was life changing. I feel like blueberry and lemon are an obvious flavor combo, but chia? Genius. Here is my version of this delicious concoction.

Lemon Blueberry Smoothie

1 cup unsweetened almond milk 

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

handful of frozen blueberries

1 tsp chia seeds

¼ lemon diced (with peel on but remove seeds)

½ frozen banana

5 ice cubes

1. Blend!

 XO,

Veggie Lisa

Coconut Greek Yogurt Parfait

My girl Chelsey over at Housewife to Hostess and I teamed up to bring you a series of drool worthy, healthy breakfast recipes to get your 2016 resolutions off to a great start! After developing these recipes, I headed over to her house for some feedback and to stare at her gorgeous kitchen. This first recipe is my favorite. In fact when I left Chelsea's house I came home and whipped up a batch to have on hand. It's...that...good...folks. I mean, you really can't go wrong with creamy coconut and fresh berries. The best part is it's low in sugar, high in protein and tons of antioxidants from the berries. 

Coconut Greek Yogurt Parfaits

1 cup non fat plain Greek yogurt

1 TBSP Truvia baking blend

 ( adjust to desired sweetness level)

splash of coconut extract

fresh blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, or raspberries

finely shredded unsweetened coconut flakes

1. Mix together yogurt, extract, and Truvia. Allow to sit in fridge for 20 minutes or until trivia granules have dissolved.

2. In parfait cup layer yogurt, berries, yogurt and more berries on top

3. Top with unsweetened coconut flakes

Enjoy! XO,

                        Veggie Lisa