Black and White Kitty Kats, staying "motivated" to work out and Summer List Updates

Hey all,

I took some fun photos of my cats over the last week or so. For my cat Po I made a necklace from yard flowers. My mom taught me to make these when I was little, and we would make them for her horses Louie and Carly.

It's fun and easy. Just pluck the flowers as close to the ground as you can. Use the stem to tie the flower to another flower, at the bloom. Keep adding more wildflowers until you have a necklace. Surprisingly, these can last all day! Just watch your pet carefully, some animals have grass allergies.

I've been enjoying my morning by listening to Beatles and fondly remembering my dad. The anniversary of his death was a few days ago, and it's important to me to remember the good times, not bad.


I also took a bunch of car photos, and Chris and Po made it in some of them. Looking through them I am again reminded that I live a blessed or lucky life. I have no complaints!

My dad also had a '66 Impala with shotgun windows. His was red though, and mine is uber dark blue!

This is Sugar. I wuv her so much I can't get anything done
 without stopping to play with her every two seconds!

Now on to staying motivated to work out...this one is so tough! When the sun is shining I usually just want to go for long walks and get my exercise that way. However, I also need toning, as in lunges, lifting weights, doing sit-ups, etc...

I have been staying motivated by wearing shorts. While I by no means "hate" my legs, they are thick. Even after working out nearly a year I still have cellulite and a little chunk. Instead of avoiding wearing shorts I've been wearing them anyways. Looking at the chunk reminds me not to eat a bunch of junk, and how much I still need to work out. 

Looking at the beautiful beach will also help motivate you!
It's like a vacation for your brain and body!

Another way I stay motivated is by having someone yell at me. And that someone is Gilad, from Bodies in Motion. If you have cable I seriously recommend taping or DVRing his show at 5:00am on Discovery Fit and Health. He works every body part within the week (it airs 7 days a week). Anyways, Gilad will challenge you in a positive way to get up and work out with him! Just start at your own pace and pick it up as you can. I personally guarantee you will see results within a month, even if you DON'T eat healthy. If you eat healthy you will probably see results in a few weeks :)

If you're like me you  try and sneak in some more exercise when you can :) I try and take a walk, or do something else physical besides working out every day. I'm fighting years of sitting on my buns and eating and not working out, so I have to try a little harder!

As for my summer list, I have completed a few things!

I went to Italian Fest both Friday and Saturday, and saw a few of my favorite Kansas City singers including Frank Cherrito and Frank Vigliaturo. I missed late night with Anna Marie, but the group we were with was ready to go early on Saturday. Oh well, there's always next year! We had a blast, didn't buy anything but Chris got his Northeast T-Shirt and I got to eat good food and have a few drinks. Not too shabby :)

Just a cell phone pic.
I had my boobs out, haha, I hardly wear cleavage shirts anymore...
My hair is a hot mess with that blonde growing out :)
AND bangs growing out!

I am still working on the rest of my summer goals list, including stopping hating on myself. It's such an unhealthy attitude. I'm grateful for my arms, legs, skin, face, eyes and hair! Regardless of if I always look "pretty," I'm grateful I can live a "normal" life. I feel awful when ladies hate on themselves and their looks. Please ladies, enjoy your bodies! Your body is the only one you will ever get. If you hate your weight join me and do something about it!

Have you all made summer goals lists yet?

How do you stay motivated?

Have you visited my Facebook page lately?

http://www.facebook.com/vintagevampstudios 

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

My email is always open for questions if you don't want to share in the comments :)

tiffanyaprilmiller@gmail.com

xoxo Tiffany

Summertime goals and best friends shoots

Hi all,

I hope you had an amazing Memorial Day weekend. The holiday is over I'm catching up on some serious photo editing. First on my list are some adorable photos of Heather and Ashley. These gals were so much fun to work with and I think their friendship translated beautifully into the photographs. I hope to do many more BFF shoots in the future!

Pretty girls

I have lots of pretty photos to be posted on Facebook soon, so keep an eye open :)

Moving on...

There is something so special about summertime. After losing some important people to death (it happens to all of us eventually) I've learned to really appreciate the seasons, particularly spring and summer. I take walks around the neighborhood and take the time to smell flowers, watch bugs and animals, deeply breath in the air. I think to myself, "What if this was my last spring?" I try to reflect on the lessons I've learned in my life so far, and count my blessings.

However, this summer I have other goals besides just enjoying the beautiful weather and self reflection. I've been inspired by some of my fellow lady bloggers to make a list of goals I would like to achieve this summer. It's been a fun, albeit a bit daunting, task.

Tiffany's Summertime Life Goals 2012

-Read at least one Hemingway book and write a review, even if I never show anyone

-Finish one of my novels with the support and motivation of a writing group I've joined

-Visit Loose Park for a shoot, or just casual hang out time

-Go to the Foundation and hear some jazz, this one will be tough to do because my hubby doesn't care for the area it's in...

-Take Gabe to Lego Land. Hopefully at age 11 he's not too "cool" to go!

-Walk around the Plaza and browse through the stores Anthropologie and American Apparel. This one is tough because I'm not the biggest Plaza fan so I haven't been there to just walk around in about 10 years...the shops are just sooo damn expensive and there are so many snooty people...However, the point of this list is to get out of my comfort zone!

-Read On The Road

-Don't hate, and lose weight. Hardest one! It's so easy to hate, whether it's yourself or someone else. It's a horrible burden to carry around all the hate, in my opinion it turns to weight and you get fat! I'm always trying to lose weight, so if I need to stop hating to do it so be it!

-Go to the Jones pool all decked out in my retro suit, hair, makeup, glasses and hat

-Attend Hard Hat Happy Hour at the Kansas City Museum

-Take my pups to Penn Valley Dog Park

-Rock Sophie Sassafrass' Pinup Fair on June 15 @ The Arts Asylum

-Visit the free exhibits at Crown Center

-Powell Gardens has fairy houses...I want to see them!

-Swim in a lake, and hopefully do some camping at Watkins Mill

-Attend Italian Fest at Zona both Friday and Saturday to see the singers, especially Frank Cherrito, Frank Vigliaturo and Late Night with Anna Marie

-Go to the Dragon Boat Festival on the Plaza June 9 @Brush Creek


So see that wasn't so hard! I hope to accomplish all these things, but if I don't that's okay. Sometimes I think the point of making these lists is so you know what your goals are. This crazy world makes us busy busy busy and it never hurts to take the time to ask yourself what you want. I would love to visit the beach this summer but it's not really in my price range so I stuck to KC goals. There's always this winter to visit a beach, while everyone else is freezing, hehe.

What are your summer goals?

Are you reading anything new?

Would you like to visit Vintage Vamp Studios and do a photo shoot with your BFF?

If you have any questions or comments just leave them in the comment section.

Love you all!

xoxo Tiffany

tiffanyaprilmiller@gmail.com

What's the buzz? Tell me what's happenin'!

Hey everyone,

The blog may have been idle...
but the studio has been busy!
Just look at this gorgeous pic of Barbara Ann!

I'm so sorry I have been neglecting this blog! I'm going to brainstorm some neat ideas and fun things to share. I've had a request for how to do easy flowing curls, so that will be up next.

I've noticed my blog has evolved from being somewhere I shared personal feelings to somewhere I share mostly beauty/fashion tips. I'm not sure how I feel about this. My goal was for readers to get substantial information they can use in their own lives, not just the kind you get from reading someone's diary, haha.

However, for those of you who don't mind...

I am so proud of how far Vintage Vamp Studios has come, but it's also really fun to look back at where I started.

Walking in to graduate. Graduation day is such a scary time.
Everything you knew is over. You are no longer a student,
you are an adult. Even for a grown up it's like that final
 push out into the world.

Last May I graduated from Park University with a Bachelor's in Journalism, and then I promptly interned with the City of Kansas City, Mo. for six weeks. During this time I was given the opportunity in my personal life to see how much I love the art of pinup photography, and at work I learned how much I don't love sitting in a cubicle. I need people, I need interaction. I'm so thankful I was required to take photography classes for my degree, and even as I graduated I never dreamed I would be using those skills to create my own dream company, Vintage Vamp Studios.

The pictures of Stephanie started it all!
They were taken for my Photo 2 class,
Spring 2011.

My first paying client, Courtney :)

Sometimes my business doesn't grow as fast as I would like. Until this week I had no help besides the support and vintage shopping/living/decorating/cleaning skills of my loving husband. This Saturday I added my sister Summer to my staff as an apprentice. She will be helping me with a lot of the "work" work so I have more time to focus on the creative aspects of my business.

My new apprentice :)

I'm hoping to have a website within the month, and more exciting news to follow!

I will also (hopefully) have an event coming up in June. The first venue fell through but the lady organizing it is quickly trying to find another. As soon as I get concrete details I will post them on here as well as Facebook!

I really want to thank those of you who subscribe and read this blog. It means a lot to me and I know how bad it sucks when a blog you follow doesn't post for a long time.

I'm going to end this blog post with a few fun photos I've taken over the last year. I hope to take many more this year, and please remember you can contact me for pricing or information at any time on my email tiffanyaprilmiller@gmail.com.

xoxo Tiffany

Hey wait, that's me! I'd show you the rest of it but then I'd have to kill ya, hehe :)

My "Go-To" Beauty Products!

Hey all,

As we navigate through life trying to be as glamorous as we can, it's easy to encounter hits and misses regarding beauty products. I have been wanting to share my biggest "go-to" products for a while now, so those of you looking for new hair and makeup products here's some ideas as to what works and what's worth the money!

Some of the prices are a little off but close enough to get the idea :)

Makeup:

Once you start building a kit you will need to get organized.
I love this roll-up bag from Mary Kay. Retails at $30.00. So worth it!

*Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation $18.00, brush $10.00

Mineral powder foundation is so wonderful. You can dust it on by itself or on top of liquid. Most days I dust it onto freshly cleansed and moisturized skin for light coverage and oil control. It will absorb my oil during the day, so I don't need to reapply unless I'm going somewhere fancy. You simply apply it with the mineral powder brush it is sold with. Easy peezy lemon squeezy! My go-to foundation for every day. Why walk around with a shiny bland face when you can step it up a notch? Natural beauty is all good, but I like to improve on what God gave me :)

*MAC blush in Buff $16.00

I was recently introduced to this color by one of the counter gals at MAC's Zona location. It gives me just the perfect amount of color to my cheeks. I'm very pale, which I'm learning to love, but this color makes me glow!

*Mary Kay Bronzer in Sandstone $13.00

This bronzer gives a healthy glow and is completely matte, no glitter. It makes a beautiful blush, and looks especially fancy on fair skinned gals! Blondes and brunettes!

*Benefit lipstick in Mod $22.00

This is a fairly expensive lipstick, but it's totally worth it. A very light pink, very 60's, it looks great on gals with pale skin or dark skin. We all love a red lip but sometimes pink is lower maintenance! I highly recommend this color, and the texture of the lipstick is great too.

*Mary Kay lipstick in Really Red $13.00

This is the newest shade of red from Mary Kay and it's amazing. Just a bright wild red that looks great with retro or glam looks. You will be sure to turn heads. Great with pale or olive complections!

*Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara $8.00

I love this mascara so much. The wand is really cool, it lets you get all the tiny lashes in between...just a really great buy all around. I highly recommend it for ladies with the flakey lash problem as it does not seem to flake. My first choice was Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara but I didn't have any in my store so I bought this one at CVS. I really like it a lot!

Hair:

*Loreal Elnette Hairspray. $13.00

I bought this from Hyvee after reading about it in a beauty magazine. This is the best hairspray I have ever used, hands down. I'm growing out bangs, which is a painful process because they were short, thick, Bettie Paige style bangs, and this hairspray allows me to do any style. Pompadors, curls, parted in the middle, everything! I use it on wet hair, dry hair, whatever. I highly recommend this hairspray to anyone who loves hair styling, whether retro styles or just glam. What a wonderful product, it's my "go-to" hairspray for now!

*Loreal Fructis Sleek and Shine Conditioner $4.00

I know, Loreal again, but I have been using this conditioner for years and it's just magical. I have long straight hair, so any kind of frazzle or friz shows up big time. I love color treating, bleaching, and using straighteners, hot rollers and curling irons. You can imagine how my hair feels! Even when using heat protectant, a good moisturizing conditioner is a must. I apply the conditioner starting near the ears and down to the tips of my length. I try to leave it on for at least 5 minutes so it can really soak in. Then I rinse with cold water, not hot or warm. Sleek and Shine is the perfect conditioner for ladies who can't always afford the expensive salon brands.

*Lottabody Setting Lotion $5.00

If you enjoy pin-curling this setting lotion is perfect. You mix it one part solution two parts water in a squirt bottle, and then squirt each strand before you roll it into a pin curl and pin it with a clip or bobby pin. This solution helps your hair hold any wet set, and it brushes out perfectly. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to do vintage styles, or just curls that hold well. The only place I've seen it is Sally Beauty Supply. **Wet sets are perfect for girls with stick straight hair that won't hold curl. While heated curls cool and fall down, your hair will dry into the shape with a wet set and hold the curl much longer.**

Skin care:

Most of you know I love Mary Kay for skin care. I've been using the Miracle Set for two years now, and my skin has never looked better. I use the one for combination to oily skin, but there is also one for dry to normal skin ladies.


** Before you die seeing the prices, remember these bottles last from three to four months. Divide that up and you could very well be spending that much on drugstore brands!**

*TimeWise 3 in 1 cleanser $18.00

Little beads in a clear gel. Cleanses and makes the skin feel so soft. I never want to live without it. If I have on liquid foundation, I will also use a clean washcloth to make sure and remove all the makeup.

*TimeWise Day Solution $30.00

This is my sunscreen, it is SPF 30. You apply it after cleansing every morning or before you leave the house. Makes my skin soft and prevents further sun damage. Also prevents free radicals from creeping in my skin. Again, I never want to go without this, so I always keep plenty in my store. It's a best seller and recommended by the American Cancer Society.

*TimeWise Night Solution $30.00

I apply this at night, after cleansing, to help anti-age and replenish my skin. Makes it silky smooth! I need all the help I can get since I was a cigarette smoker for 14 years and I also tanned quite a bit. I feel good about where my skin is at right now, and I know the night solution has really helped.

*TimeWise Moisturizer $22.00

This is the perfect light, oil-free moisturizer for my skin. I know so many people who use it, basically every woman in my family and my husband's. It just doesn't get any better.

*Mary Kay Blemish Toner $13.00

I'm that grown up who still gets zits...or I did before I used this! It goes on after cleansing and before Day or Night Solution.

I know many ladies balk at paying higher prices for skin care. I totally understand, I'm not rich either! Just remember this. Your face will always be with you. You might pay $100.00 for a handbag or nice pair of shoes, but you won't be wearing the shoes or carrying the handbag every day. Your face is always showing, no matter what clothing you have on.

Even if a lady is wearing a $3,000.00 outfit, if her skin looks awful you will not notice the clothing.

I'm not saying you have to use Mary Kay, but make sure and take good care of your skin :) You will thank me later!

As a sign of good faith here is my skin completely un-retouched.
I am wearing foundation, but you know that doesn't fix problem skin.
Not bad for a 29, two weeks to 30-year-old woman!
All thanks to Mary Kay products :)
Oh, and makeup! hahahahahaha!!!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post on my "go-to" beauty products. For any questions on this post, or my photo studio, please comment below or send me an email at tiffanyaprilmiller@gmail.com
Love you all! 


xoxo Tiffany

Outfit, Makeup and Hair of the...day at the park!

Hi all,

Read on to learn how I did this look!

The weather has been so lovely in Kansas City, Missouri. Mild, almost hot even! Usually in March we are getting snows that no one wants to deal with and longing for the cold days of April when we'll wear a skirt or shorts and freeze our asses off pretending like it's May. Imagine my delight to have the windows open and be sitting here next to an open door with sweet smelling air pouring in and I'm warm. Wow, it's the little things in life, it really is!

It's spring break for the students of NKCSD and so my son and I have been spending lots of quality time. Yesterday we devoted to parks, and we visited Macken Park and Penguin Park. We also went on a nature walk and I followed while Gabe roller-bladed at the Wheel Park.

I wanted a look that was fun but practical for where we were going and what we were going to be doing.

How to get my look:

One of the victory rolls got smushed by
the bandanna, lol. Oh well!

Hair:

First, I put hot rollers in while I did my makeup. Always be sure to spray on some thermal heat protectant, especially if you have long hair! I rolled the front sideways, since I have bangs that are growing out. The rest of the rollers I just threw in haphazardly. Basically, I just needed the base curls to make it easy to roll up into pin-curl, victory roll type curls.

After the rollers cooled I removed them. The front I brushed with a styling brush from Sally's and fashioned into a sideways wave. I used tons of Loreal Elnette hairspray, my new favorite hair product. I then rolled two waves behind my bangs into big pin-curls and pinned them with bobby pins, again using hairspray to tame flyaways and get hold. The side pieces I rolled up into victory rolls, pinned, and hairsprayed. I left the back down. I wore a bandanna, rolled up, to prevent sweat from dripping down my back or into my face, since I knew we would be getting a lot of exercise. Use tons of hairspray for this style. The wind was hitting my hair and it didn't move! The long part I just brushed into easy loose waves, which fell straight but with a nice bend at the bottom.

Makeup:

My son is applying sunblock in SPF 30 to his face.
Teach them while they are young!

Start with a freshly cleansed and moisturized face. I use Day Solution from Mary Kay's Time Wise line under my moisturizer. This has SPF 30, to keep skin protected from sun damage. Always wear sunblock every day if you don't want age spots as you get older and wiser. Make sure your neck is included when applying!

I slathered Mary Kay concealer in Ivory 2 carefully on my eye area and blemishes and then dusted Mary Kay Mineral Foundation in Ivory 1 all over my face. On my eyes I applied brow mascara to keep my brows in check but did not color them in. I put a small amount of NYX shadow stick in Milk under my brow to highlight the area. I also applied Mary Kay eye shadow in Hazelnut to the crease only, very lightly. I finished off by drawing a cat wing on eyes using Mary Kay liquid liner in Black, and Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara in Black to lashes.

On cheeks I liberally dusted on MAC blush in Buff for a sun-kissed glow :)

Clothes:

I should have tucked the shirt in!
Bunched up stripes are no flattering...
Oh well!

For my outfit comfort was pretty much number one. I've learned, the hard way believe me, that you need to dress accordingly to what you are doing. For the park, you need sneakers, not flip flops, not heels, and not wedges. I knew it would be hot, so I needed a tank top and shorts. I do not like to show my thighs, so I usually wear shorts that are longer, or capris.

Shirt: French Connection from Sears

Shorts: Tommy Hilfiger from Macys

Scarf: Vintage from an estate sale

Belt and Buckle: Viva Fashion

Earrings: Retro Vixen

Sunglasses: Target

Shoes: Keds from Macys


We had a great day, and I was comfortable and confident with my look, which is about all you can ask for. I did get pointed and laughed at by some 5th grade girls Gabe knows. Ah, to still be getting hated on by 5th grade girls twenty years later, haha.

I'm going to end with some random pics of our fun day. If you have any questions or comments please leave a comment below or send me an email at tiffanyaprilmiller@gmail.com.

Luv you all!

xoxo Tiffany

Rockabilly Prom at Knucklehead's Saloon, How I got my look!

Hey all,

Me outside of Knuckleheads with our Caddy.

This weekend was such a blast. Friday night my husband and I shopped the clearance at Dillard's and then played pool. Saturday was the most fun I've had in a long time. We started the day off right having breakfast with family, then on to estate sales. Trips to Boomerang and Retro Vixen for outfit support were very fruitful. I was so excited to wear my new outfit, which cost me just under $100.00. Shoes, socks, skirt and a shirt all retro reproduction and brand new for under $100.00 is a great price, let me tell ya!

Me and the hubs.

How I got my look:

Hair:

Earlier that day...

Haha, I accidentally watermarked the photo!

I pin-curled my hair first thing in the morning after showering with it pinned up. To pin curl you need some setting lotion, I use Lottabody which can be purchased at Sally Beauty Supply. For those of you who don't know how to pin-curl, I can sum it up. Simply dilute the setting lotion one part solution, two parts water (in a squirt bottle) and spritz inch or two inch wide sections of hair before rolling them into a curl and pinning them. A pin-curl looks a lot like a victory roll, but smaller. I did this to my entire head using bobby pins to fasten instead of  pin-curl clips. I used bobby pins because I was going in public, but I might use them from now on because they didn't pull my hair out as bad as metal clips. I added a yellow bandanna to the look and I was ready to go!

Makeup:

Showcase those bright red lips!

I applied Mary Kay medium coverage foundation in Ivory 1 to my freshly cleansed and moisturized face. I then applied Mary Kay mineral foundation in Ivory 1 to set the liquid. On my upper cheek bones I lightly dusted Mary Kay mineral bronzer in Sandstone (matte). I dusted MAC blush in Pink Swoon to the apples of my cheeks only and blended well. I curled my lashes, and colored in my eye brows with Mary Kay eyebrow pencil in Brunette. Under the brow bone I applied NYX shadow stick in Milk and blended well. I dusted MAC eye shadow in Mylar over the entire eye area, and finished up with a cat eye using Mary Kay liquid liner in Black. I put Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara in Black on my real lashes, and after it dried applied false lashes using lash glue. On my lips I wore Loreal Lipliner in Red, and the newest Mary Kay red lipstick called Really Red. I love it!

Adorable Megan and I at the prom!

Clothes:

Shirt, Skirt, Socks and Shoes all RETRO VIXEN!!! I highly recommend going there, the owner Melissa is such a doll, so sweet and helpful!

Here is the link to her Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Retro-Vixen/121784784516085

Even my purse is from Retro Vixen!

My biker jacket is Lauren Conrad from Kohl's. I got it a few years ago and it is one of my wardrobe staples!

I love wearing these cute lace socks!

Earrings: Betsy Johnson, Necklace, Dillard's



Hair-do:


Later on  I took the pin-curls out, and refashioned some into an half-up victory roll type hairstyle with a few extra pin-curls; the rest of the curls I brushed into soft cascades using a styling brush from Sally's. My hair was a pretty big hit, I got lots of compliments. I did not use a flower because I had so much going on with the outfit and makeup. I didn't want to over-do it.

What a blast!

I have to say this was the most fun I've had in Kansas City in a long time. People who say there is nothing to do in KC can't be more wrong. There is a ton to do, but a lot of it does cost money. Chris and I paid for this event at the door $18.00 a person. It was well worth it, and I could have drank twice that amount of money compensating for being bored out of my mind at any mainstream bar or club in KC. The bands were amazing!!!! So hip. So cool. And what a crowd. Everyone was awesome. No fights, no douche bags. 

I also want to share how cool and down-to-earth Kim Lenz was. I have honestly never seen someone who was a celebrity act like her. She mingled with her fans, took pictures, danced with them. She is such a class act! What a lady! And her band was cool too!

Me and Kim Lenz. Kim freaking Lenz!!!

Knuckleheads is an awesome venue. Please go there at least once and you will see :)

I'm going to end off with some cool pics of the event. Please comment me if you have any questions or comments! Mwah!

Lurlene! 

Daddy-O and Tiff (moi)

Yours truly with Ramon Espinoza!

Chris with Kim and Ramon

Not to be outdone, me with Kim and Ramon!

We stopped by Anthony's for a drink.
Such a cool place, always feels like home!

Chris being too cool for skool as usual!

Daddy-O and his Caddy!

My hair looked so good when I took it down, lol.

Who loves Photoshop Lightroom?
I do!!!

What I would look like with light eyes!!!

xoxo Tiffany