Our DIY Christmas Photos♡

I'm always on the search to do my own photos. Now with my first DSLR, I can really have fun! I've always taken our photos together myself for years with just a regular old point and shoot. I'm still learning to get better everyday but now I have what I feel like is a 'real' camera to really branch out!

One of the best things to get when taking your own photos is a tripod. I can not explain how much easier it is then setting it on something that's "just the right height". Usually never works how we want it to anyways. The tripod is so easy to throw your camera on (maybe not throw) and start shooting stable photos. No more shaky, blurred photos!! A life changer!

Another good thing to invest in is a remote for your camera. No more having to run back to the camera before the timer goes off! (Even though I'm sure that's good exercise) Getting a remote has been one of my favorite "must haves" when it comes to taking your own photos.

Don't forget about props and where you're taking your own photos. With it being so cold and snowy in Idaho lately, I reverted to just taking our Christmas photos indoors. A plain background can suffice but if you want to get extra fancy, in front of the Christmas tree is perfect for holiday photos. Or putting on reindeer antlers; what we did last Christmas.

So there are quite the basics. My husband is the most comfortable taking pictures when it's just me guiding him. I personally find it funner to try and do our own photos anyway. I love to edit and come up with my own ideas every year! So I hope you pull that camera out and have fun this year. I think it's a cold one.
Until next time! ♡

Selfie Tips♡

Hey, guys!! We all know that selfies have literally taken over everywhere! Everyone's taking selfies and I personally think it's great! I've been taking my personal photos very seriously since I was about thirteen and before the whole 'selfie nation' even existed! (hardy har) One of my favorite things to do is look back at them and see how much I've changed over the years. It's so cool to see your style change.. maybe not so much as watching yourself get older!

I thought I'd share a few of my tips and tricks when it comes to taking your own photos.

1. L I G H T I N G : Just going to go ahead and make this number one. I can't stress how much light helps! Get in front of a window, go outside, go somewhere with a ton of light. The darker the image is, the harder it is to decipher what's going on and the more pixelated your picture turns out to be. You want nice lighting for sharper photos.

2. A N G L E : Different angles work for different people. I like the right side of my face better than the left, also don't like my side profile. It's all about trying different things out, and try not to take the same pose every time! The higher you have your camera from you, the slimmer your face will appear. Try out different angles by tilting your head.

3. E X P R E S S I O N : No one likes to look at the same expression in every photo. Why do you think they make such a big deal of Kristen Steward and her same expression every picture? Throwing some silly faces every now and then changes it up. Showing moods really is a good idea and I enjoy seeing people smile in their pictures. (Even though I'm guilty of not liking smiling with my teeth showing)

4. B A C K G R O U N D : Some people may not notice how messy your room is, or bathroom. I'm the type though who does! I know it doesn't really matter but clutter in a photo takes a lot of focus off you and more on your background and what's going on around you.

5. C O N F I D E N C E : Do YOU feel good and confident and just want to show off how good you feel about yourself? Yes, it might be hard to feel completely confident. When I think I look good, I feel good. I feel like getting things accomplished and smile more. You might not take the perfect picture the first time, take more than one!

6. E D I T I N G : Get artistic, try all kinds of apps and editors and just have fun! Probably my favorite thing about taking pictures is getting to edit them. I wrote a post on what apps I like to use here!

Selfies are all about having fun and saving memories. I say, enjoy them and don't be afraid to snap a few! Look back a few years from now and see how much you've changed. Hope you enjoyed this post guys! Until next time friends!

Tips To Save Money On Your Wedding♡

Sometimes when the subject of how beautiful my wedding comes up, there's always that question of, "how much did you spend?" When I tell them I spent under $2,000, they tend to not believe me! So I'm gonna tell you some tips to cutback on all the expenses, but still leaving room to spend money on things you think are the most important on your special day.

First thing is, what's going to be your theme? Any theme can vary in expenses, but I had always wanted a vintage theme wedding since I was little. Pick a theme you can look back on in twenty years and still be satisfied with.

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Wedding Venue. This will probably be one of your most important decisions for your whole wedding. Think, will it fit my theme? Will my guests enjoy it here? Is there enough room for my number of guests? I chose the Beaty Orton House in Jasper, TX. (Our hometown) It has a very vintage look to it, as well as in the interior. So I wouldn't have to put up too much decor. I wanted my ceremony outside in the backyard underneath the trees. I only spent about $250 on our venue because we only needed to rent out about six hours.

Guests. How many guests are you wanting to invite? This is the biggest thing that can be more costly. The more people you have attend, the more likely the cost will be for you. I just wanted a small group of people with close friends and family and preferred it that way, with the cost or not.

Wedding Invites. Here's another thing you can cut costs on. Why spend hundreds of dollars when you can just make them yourself? I swear I must've only spent $20 on all of them. I chose to do postcards and found a free site here and used that exact one. When you do postcards you cut out the costs of envelopes as well as stamps. Just look for a free invite online that fits your theme and BAM! It's that easy! I couldn't have been happier with how ours turned out!

FREE is your best friend. Do you know how many free printables there are on the internet? A TON. I printed out and made my own fans for guests, ect! There's a lot of free ones here that I used myself.

The Dress. This was my biggest purchase for my whole wedding. I wanted to look/feel beautiful in a dress on my special day as well as have great pictures to look back on and who knows, what if I have a little girl one day who wants to try on her momma's wedding dress? I got my dress with my mom and had one of those mother/daughter moments in a wedding gown at David's Bridal. Can you believe it was the first dress I put on? As soon as I put it on, I knew it was the one. It was vintage looking, long train, lace and even had a keyhole back that I always pictured having. We both cried as soon as I walked out of that dressing room. It was everything and more!

The cakes. My pastor's wife made both of my cakes from scratch. Keeping in mind my theme. Helps knowing people! I got a big discount on both of my cakes, and they were extra special because she has been making my birthday cakes since I was young. So see if you know anyone who makes cakes and does a good job, you never know!

The help of friends and family. This is the most important thing I can tell you. Have friends/family bring food. Help with pouring drinks, ect. My dad set up and took down all of the chairs we used outside for the ceremony and he loved being able to help. My mom made sure to make some of her special foods. It all helps, little by little. I wouldn't have got to have the wedding of my dreams without the people who pitched in and helped.

Don't over stress. I see people all the time who plan a wedding for over a year. It's good to have enough time to get everything done but I did most of everything within the last month leading up to the wedding. Make check lists and reservations for chairs/tables and anything you know you can't get last minute.

Traditions. Will the groom's side pay for the dinner rehearsal? If so, let them! Don't be afraid to let the groom's side help out. They're just as important as the bride's side! It feels more special when both parties help with the wedding coming together. It's a good way for them to know each other more, and will be easier on your part.

Pictures. Let's be honest. Photographers are expensive. Especially for a wedding. I didn't have the funds so I just got my Aunt to take pictures as well as my sister-in-law. I have so many pictures since I did that, a lot more than I would've gotten with a photographer. I enjoy editing photos and didn't mind editing my wedding ones at all. Just make sure to step out during the after party and take some special ones with your groom. Like a normal photographer would. I treasure all my photos from my wedding!

Something might go wrong. No one's perfect, something might not turn exactly how you pictured it. I left my petticoat at home and had to have my dad make a quick run to my house to get it before the wedding started. The thing is to focus on what all the good things are happening, even the smallest good things will be precious. Your flower girl might be walking around during your ceremony, but looking adorable while doing it. Treasure everything because it'll go by so fast. Don't dwell on things you have no control over and enjoy y'all's day!


Well, there's some of my top tips and tricks about saving some money/time on a nice wedding. I think anything can be special and made into what you make it. We eloped right after Steven finished his basic training in San Antonio before we even had this wedding with our friends and family. Even though we had a lovely wedding with everyone, the most important thing is you and your future husband. What you both want with each other. I'll always cherish running off and getting married like we always said we would when I was fourteen.

Maybe one day I'll make a post on us eloping? Here's a little sneakpeak.

Until next time friends! Hoped this helped a little!

DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner♡

Cleaning your makeup brushes can cost a good bit of money when you have to clean them pretty often. This is an easy DIY you can do at home to clean and disinfect your makeup brushes for way less!

Here's what you're going to need:
1. 1 tablespoon of vinegar
2. 1 tablespoon of dish soap
3. Warm/hot water

That's it! You're ready to start!

As you can see, the water instantly starts to clean the brushes. Swish the brushes around and leave them in there for 4-5 minutes. If you have a lot of makeup brushes like me, pour out and mix up a new batch when the water gets too dirty. Makeup brushes for your face always end up making the water extra dirty!

When they've sat in there for about five minutes, take them out and rinse them with warm water. Pat them dry with paper towels or a dish towel. Lay them flat out to dry for a few hours. I went ahead and let mine dry over night.

Before

After
So there's a cheap and cost efficient way of cleaning your makeup brushes. Hope you enjoyed this post! Until next time friends!~

How To Clean Silver Jewelry♡

Hello, everybody! I wanted to share a secret with everyone.. How to clean silver jewelry! I know you guys have some laying around, looking dull and lifeless. Let's bring those back to life so you can start wearing them again!

What You'll Need:
1. 1 cup of boiling water
2. 1 tablespoon white salt
3. 1 tablespoon baking soda
4. 1/2 cup white vinegar
5. 1 sheet of tinfoil (shiny side up)
6. pretty decent size bowl
7. polishing cloth

Directions:
After your water starts to boil, place the tinfoil shiny side up inside your bowl. Adding your salt and baking soda first. Slowly pour your vinegar in. It'll start to fizz but that's normal! Add your water and stir to make sure there's no huge pieces still in the bowl. You don't want it to scratch up your jewelry!

Place your jewelry in:
Softly spread out your jewelry along the bowl. You don't have to do anything else except sit and wait! If you want, you can flip the jewelry over to make sure both sides get exposed to the chemicals.

Polishing time:
Be careful taking them out, they still may be hot! Take your polishing cloth (I used microfiber cloth) and buff it! You should definitely start seeing results as you rub the tarnish off!

This is a cheap and effective way to clean your silver pieces. Hope you enjoy your new shiny jewelry! Until next time friends!~

Things I Wish I Knew In High School♡

Angie N Photography
Yes, that's one of my Senior pictures. Crazy how it only seems like yesterday I was throwing on my school uniform, taking care of my poorly done makeup and thinking how hard life was. Not gonna lie, I was a very lazy student. Even though I took AP courses, I managed to fill my school day with texting, dozing off during lectures and reading library books for my own leisure. So what would I tell my high school self?

• Raccoon eyeliner is not every day makeup. (I figured out senior year, less is more... finally)
• Most of your 'friends' there are temporary. We really do move off and never see each other.
• Don't sleep in school. Maybe you shouldn't have stayed up so late playing videogames.
• Grades actually do count. Remember that expensive college you pictured yourself going to?
• Enjoy your time with your mom. Once you graduate you won't get to see her very much.
• One day you will actually marry your boyfriend since 8th grade. Crazy right?
• All the drama that happens doesn't even amount to anything.
• Please fill in your eyebrows. You'd be x10 prettier.
• You're a pretty rad chick. Don't be afraid to talk and not be so shy.
• You'll make mistakes, but a few years from now you'll be a better person for them.
• Hang in there. It goes by fast, so enjoy it. Trust me.

What's something you'd tell yourself during high school?

How I Cut My Bangs♡

Bangs are a fast an easy way to change up your look. I always find myself coming back to cutting my bangs after letting them grow out. I always feel plain without them! I think they tend to fit my personality, making me look and feel a lot cuter! Not to mention hair always grows out. So don't be afraid to do something drastic and fun!

Before I ever started cutting my bangs myself, I did a lot of research. Don't just take some scissors and start chopping, please! Go online, look at instructions and watch videos until you're confident enough to start cutting your bangs yourself. My bangs grow out fast and I just think it's easier to cut them at home rather than keep going to the salon and spending a lot of money.

Not going to tell you I cut my bangs perfectly every time. Especially starting off! It takes practice and I've been cutting my bangs for years now. So after you've researched and watched enough youtube videos about cutting hair, and you feel like you can make it a profession, you're ready!

Get correct scissors. I made this mistake a lot when I first started cutting my bangs. I used my mom's kitchen scissors. *cringe* Go to Sally's or somewhere with real hair cutting scissors and buy them. They're not that expensive and trust me, it's worth it!

Cut on dry hair. I know, more damaging but trust me! If you're cutting your bangs and keeping them the right length, there shouldn't be too much time for that many split ends. Having your hair wet, shrinks your hair. So you might cut off too much. Keep your hair dry and there's no guessing games!

Section your bangs. The triangle section has always worked best for me. You can make it larger or smaller, depending on how thick you want your bangs. I start the highest point on the slant that starts to go downward. It's recommended you never go higher than that slant! I like to line up my bottom two sides with my eyebrow arches. Twist your section and make sure it's all even and tie the rest of your hair up!

Cut a tiny bit at a time. When I say tiny, I mean you cutting your bangs is gonna take some time. You don't want to rush and cut too much off! Take your sweet precious time. You can always cut a little more, but you can't grow your hair nearly as fast!

Reach desired length. I like to cut my bangs a tad bit above my eyes. If you're going to wear a side swept bang, you'll want to keep your bangs longer. So when you push them to the side, they aren't extra short. Cut your bangs with your scissors vertical. You don't want a straight line or something that looks choppy.

Section your new bangs horizontally. Now cut each horizontal section, using the vertical cutting technique. (So much horizontal and vertical words) This will make sure that your bangs get some texture and won't look as straight. I make sure to do this every time I cut my bangs and it makes such a huge difference!

Comb and make sure everything is even. Check to see if both sides are even and nothing is sticking out where it's not supposed to! I take this time to take a few more snips here and there and get everything perfect.

Admire your work. You're done! Congrats on your hard work! Hope it turned out like you planned!

Had fun doing this! ^.^
Until next time friends!~

Photo Apps I Use ♡

I get a lot of complements on my photos on Instagram. (@torikkuma) A lot of the time people

ask me what kind of apps I use, so here ya go! Obviously, I really like editing my photos!

I think it's a lot of fun trying out different photo apps, but these are the ones I've decided to stick

with in the end. I won't go through every single app, just my personal favorites!

before                                           after

"Camera 360". I used this app A LOT before I found my new favorite when it comes to evening out your skin tone and making it look flawless. (Who doesn't love that?) There's a lot of filters to chose from also. This was one of my 'go to' apps when it comes to 'selfies'! 

before                                                        after

"Line Camera". Is an awesome editor but my favorite one to add stickers with! You can also buy more stickers at the shop but the app is free. I bought rilakkuma package of course. ;)

"VSCOcam". This app was recommended by my sister in law. Really love the filters they have preset for you to choose from! There's also other filters you can purchase if you end up loving the free ones!

"Afterlight". This app has amazing filters. A lot similar to VSCOcam but I really like how you can add the white borders with a photo and make it show the whole picture. Also love the different shapes you can put your picture in. Gives a nice variety! 

"Meitu". Is my favorite app EVER! Since I've found this, I don't use anything else for my selfies. (Most of the time anyways) Do you want your eyes to sparkle and your skin to look flawless? This is the app for you! Hands down!

That's all for this post. What's some of your favorite photo apps you use?

Love ya!!~♡