Little something for my girlies

Today is my surprise hen's party. The only thing I know is that I have to be ready to leave the house at 3.30 pm, eat my lunch before that and preferably wear a white bra.

But my girlies are wrong thinking they're the only ones having secrets :) I prepared surpise gifts for them and this is how they look like:

I bought these heart-shaped boxes in a dollar store in Vancouver and filled them with Rafaello pralines, heart-shaped bath bombs and candles in a form of an angel (photo below):

Then I printed little cards saying 'Monika's hen's night', the date and 'Thank you girlies!' on a special pearlescent paper. I used a fabulous font I found online called Covent Garden, I really like the retro feel of it:

I cut the cards out and attached them to the boxes using a double sided tape. Voila!

I had a lot of fun making these, quite relaxing indeed compared to some other wedding-related activities. How do you like my little surpise boxes?

One week before the big day

It was a super busy week for me. I'm still working (until Monday), arranging things for the wedding and had to get at 5 am each day from Monday to Thursday. I wanted to post something about the wedding, but I'm too tired and tomorrow's my hen's night. It's a complete surprise, I know absolutely nothing, I'm only advised to eat a hot meal before and wear a white bra (sic!). I can't wait to see what the girls have come up with :)

Tomorrow I'm hoping to squeeze in a little post about the surprise gifts I made for my girlies, so watch out for that. For now, I'm leaving you with one of my favorite photos of me and my family which was undigged and used for a short film I created to be shown during the wedding reception.

Amazing how big basketballs were once...

French twist updo

This time I have a more positive experience to share :) Last Friday, I went to a hair saloon to have my trial wedding updo done. I thought I could kill two birds with one stone since I also needed an updo for a cousin's wedding, and the hair stylist promised me to do something a bit different for a trial so that the updos wouldn't be exactly the same and I could have something unique for the wedding day.

My stylist was Miss Ania, a very nice and cheerful girl who listened carefully to my expectations and tried to follow as closely as possible. Obviously, the result had to differ slightly from the photo I took there as an inspiration, because my hair is different to the model's, but I didn't mind a bit of originality.

Unfortunately the photos from my cousin's wedding are on my parents' camera, but I was quite pleased with the effect apart from the fact that there was WAY too much hairspray in my hair, even for updos' standards.

Today I went again to have my ends cut so I can grow long, healthy and strong hair, but as soon as Miss Ania saw me, she suggested doing another trail updo since I wasn't entirely happy with the last one. She convinced me it's better not to leave any changes for the day of the wedding, and I think she was right. She also listened to my hairspray concerns and some other suggestions I had and, after cutting the ends, came up with this:

Basically, it's another variation of a French twist. You can still see some bobby pins, but they will be covered under delicate flower decoration for the big day. I really like the messy effect and the loose strands, I think they add some personality to the updo and make it look more natural. Plus, there's actually very little hairspray in the hair, so it all looks and feels very soft, but is still quite sturdy because of the pins which don't hurt at all!

Yes, that's my natural hair color, but I think it looks so shiny because of the camera flash...

At the front, she created a loose wave and pinned the lock to the left. I think this will go really well with a delicate veil and the 40's inspired make-up look I'm planning. All in all, a happy customer!

On a different note, yesterday I went for a facial. I was really impressed with the customer service at the beauty saloon I visited and actually enjoyed the experience. A beauty therapist diagnosed my skin as oily (of course) but dehydrated, and suggested an exfoliation using ultrasounds to get rid of the dirt clogging my pores, which is recommended even for sensitive skin types, and then an intensive retinol therapy under an algae mask to aid the skin in healing any scars or blemishes. At the end, she applied a vitamin A cream which smelled divine, like a mix of marzipan and meringue. Yum!

My skin felt really refreshed and hydrated afterwards, but it was a bit irritated because of the exfoliation. Today all the redness is practically gone and I haven't noticed any new breakouts, so yay for that! I think I might go for the ultrasound exfoliation from time to time to help even out my skin texture, but the retinol therapy is unfortnately too expensive for a hard-working student :)

How do you like the updo? Have a lovely Friday evening everyone! xxx

MAC wedding makeover

Caution: lengthy rant! You've been warned...

After doing some research, I decided that I'd like to have my make-up done at one of the MAC stores in Warsaw. The fee is 150 PLN, quite a lot comparable to other brands, but redeemable on products, which is always a huge plus.

So on Monday I happily trotted to a MAC store, hoping to walk out with a gorgeous, long lasting make-up on my face. It was my first professional make-up application ever, but I think I was well-prepared, I took photos of the dress, the hair, a piece of fabric from my wedding dress... When I walked in and asked for a lady that I was supposed to have my appointment with (I asked specifically for her because she's been recommended by another MUA), she told me she's very busy and another person has to replace her. It was a bit odd, but I agreed.

Together with a MUA we decided that I wanted focus on my eyes rather than lips, I also said I have VERY oily skin and then let her pick the products for me. At this stage I began to be feel even more suspicious, because she went for Prep & Prime SPF 50 (I thought SPF reflects light in flash photography and is not recommended) and after covering my face in Studio Fix Fluid, didn't conceal any blemishes showing through. At the end she also went for some super glittery orange blusher that was not only gone within an hour from application, but also emphasized the shine on my face.

The strangest thing however was my eye make-up. She went for orange (Paradisco, I think, but I'm not sure since I wasn't given a face chart at the end) on the lid and dark purple in the crease and then she heavily applied some shimmery highlight shade under the brow bone. For my lips she chose one of the Slimshines, and the color she picked looked on me like Softlips lipbalm I put on BEFORE I do my make-up; it did abslutely nothing for my lips.

Here's the finished look:

My face got shiny within 2 hours, and, as I said, the blusher was gone even earlier. The shadow placement was uneven on both eyes as was the liner. Also, I don't think she used a waterproof mascara or liner (Blacktrack Fluidline) because it came right off with some cleansing water. But I think what pissed me off the most was the fact that the whole style of doesn't match the style of my dress or hairdo at all. FAIL!

Basically, I let her finish and told her right away I didn't like it and that we have to go for something entirely different. I suggested 40's inspired make-up with dramatic, reddish lip to match the retro style of the dress. I spent al least 15 minutes with 2 MUAs choosing a lipstick (they wanted me to get a lipgloss, but with the veil on my face I'd rather avoid having it glued to my lips). I settled on Cockney; somehow I have a soft spot for Lustre finish, and also got a Blot powder in Medium Dark, which still looks very light, so I hope it's a good shade. They booked me in for another quick makeover on Wednesday just to try a different eye look.

So I went there today again and despite having an appointment, the same MUA who booked me told me she was busy and had to hurry up because she had another client in half an hour. She was so rushed that she only took off the eyeshadows I applied in the morning and left my eyeliner and mascara ('Oh, you've already got the eyeliner, I don't have to apply it again'), then I told her specifically which colors I wanted and it took her maybe 3 minutes to do both eyes. Voila!

MAC Brule e/s on the lid, Wedge e/s in the crease and Vanilla e/s under the brow bone and in the inner corner

This was taken after I got home, so my mineral foundation is melted, I've got nothing on my lips, the eyeliner should be thicker plus there'll be some falsies, but maybe somehow you get the idea.

I'm seriously disappointed with the customer service at MAC. I think it's simply unacceptable. Today I made sure I was booked to a different MUA for the wedding, but as I've seen before, it doesn't guarantee anything. If I had all the products I need and wasn't worried that I wouldn't be able to do my own make-up on the big day due to stress, I'd rather do it myself.

I guess I AM being very picky here, but that's what happens when you know too much about something and are able to follow closely what a 'specialist' does on you. I'm trying to be positive and think that if I tell them in detail which products I want on my face and which I don't like, it's going to be fine.

What experience have you had with makeovers at MAC?

Birthday wishlist

My birthday is getting closer and closer and I've been thinking for quite some time about the things I'd like to get (possibly because I'm that shallow), so I thought I might as well share my cravings with you :) My 23rd birthday is on the 7th of September, 2 days after the wedding. I'm sure there'll be enough alcohol left after the big day to celebrate it too!

It all started with me wanting badly Benefit's Creaseless Cream eyeshadow in Skinny Jeans. This product is available in Poland, but when I saw its whopping price in Sephora, I decided I'd rather ask my fiance to pick that up for me, there's a Shopper's Drugmart with a Benefit counter about 3 minutes walk from our apartment so he can make that sacrifice... Then I thought I might as well ask him for some bits and bobs from Lush since they're unavailable in Poland, maybe a solid perfume I could carry with me... I'd also love some new stud earrings, these rose shaped ones are really adorable and elegant; I'm saving this wish for my mum, I know she'll pick something beautiful. To finish off, I'm really enjoying wide waist belts at the moment, and I think this plum shade is perfect for autumn. And, lastly, speaking of autumn, a nice square scarf would be ideal for chilly days.

What do you think of my birthday wishlist? Anything else I have to have? xxx

Fresh voluminous hair

... which I hope to achieve with the new haircare I bought at the hair saloon last week. It'll be my first experience with a professional line, so I keep my fingers crossed that higher price means higher quality!

My hair has been diagnosed as fine and delicate, and, from my everyday experiences, getting oily superfast as well as rather flat and lifeless. The hair stylist recommended L'Oreal Professionnel Volume Expand range and I decided on their Volumising Shampoo and Volumising Cream Conditioner for fine hair. The other products in the range include a face mask, a styling mousse and a root spray which I'm also lemming.

The effects that the shampoo is supposed to give are based on a MINERAL CA technology which uses calcium crystals and silica to build a structure in the hair that helps to achieve volume. The conditioner uses a different technology called NUTRITEX and promises to condition and volumise the hair without making it feel heavy or greasy.

So far I've only tried the conditioner once and I really liked the smell, texture and how soft my hair felt after using it. Also, I noticed it was much more prone to styling. As for the volume, I really hope for a lift at the roots and I couldn't observe that after using the conditioner which is meant to be used on the mid section and ends of your hair. I keep my fingers crossed for the result and will update this post as soon as I try the shampoo and conditioner combo!

The always gorgeous Tali at The Gloss Goss chose me for the famous photo tag. The rules are to open your first photo folder, scroll down to the 10th photo, and post it with a comment. So here it goes!

It's actually me in the photo, some 17 years old or so. It's from a photoshoot I did with my best friend's boyfriend who happened to be a photographer. The strange strings in the photo are just some fluffy wool in which I was covered to make the shoot more interesting. What I like most from this shoot is that my fiance (then boyfriend) was there in the studio and the photographer snapped some shots of us together at the end and they bring back so many memories.

I tag Ondine, Loveaudrey (Happy Birthday, hun!) and Nadia from Love Lipstick and Lime.

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely Monday evening! xxx

Nutrition tips for beautiful skin

In addition to my changed skincare routine, I'm trying to incorporate some 'inside' treatments to help me along and I thought you might be interested. I'm not a nutritionist or a specialist, but I'm just speaking of my own experience and what works for me.

1. Balanced diet. This is the first and most important point in keeping not only your skin, but also the whole organism healthy. Of course, following a balanced diet is sometimes really difficult, but we should always try and aspire to it, whether it'd be refusing another mojito or adding some fruit/veggies to a lunch box.

2. Moderation. Speaking of a balanced diet, the rule of the golden means definitely works for helping your skin out. Too much of anything may cause problems as well as ruling some products out of your diet completely. One example could be a skincare myth stating that eating chocolate may lead to acne, which caused me to avoid chocolate in any form for 2 years when I was 14. Not eating chocolate did not improve my acne, and I felt really miserable not allowing myself even a praline. On the other hand, devouring 2 bars a day will definitely cost you some pimples if not some more serious health conditions.

2. Drinking plenty of water. I know everyone says that and I am the first to completely forget about drinking it (like last Tuesday, when I got home at 7pm and realized I only drank 2 cups of tea throughout the day), but it really helps to get rid of the toxins and keeps your kidneys in shape.

3. Fruit and veggies. In the summer, we enjoy a wide selection of fresh fruit and veggies that contain essential vitamins and minerals that definitely play an important role in achieving healthy, dewy skin. Some nutritionist advise eating fruit or vegetables 5 times a day, which sounds quite unfeasable to a normal, hard-working human being. My methods to smuggle some fresh produce into my meals include eating sandwiches with lots of tomato and chive, berries for lunch and peaches for supper, eating out in a vegetarian bar, or if anything else fails, drinking organic carrot or fruit juice.

4. Fish. Eating fish is especially important for those of us who suffer from dryness, as some kinds of fish like salmon, herring, tuna or mackerel contain lots of healthy omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids that help to moisturize and condition the skin. If you dislike the taste, try taking cod-liver oil tablets, but you have to be careful not to overdo it as vitamin A overdose is toxic (thanks to Little Rus for the info!).

5. Supplements. Currently, we have lots of different food supplements that promise us a beautiful, healthy, radiant skin. What we have to remember though is that these products will not dramatically improve our skin as they're not medicine and as such have no clinically proved results. They can however help if we chose them appropriately and follow the recommendations for use. Right now, I'm using pansy (Violae tricoloris) extract pills to help cleanse my system, but unfortunately the immediate result in my case is having even more blemishes while the skin is getting rid of the toxins. For the next step, I'm going to take yeast tablets which help to regulate hormonal imbalance.

Also, I finally decided to go for a professional facial. I've never had one so far and I don't really know what to expect, but I'm so tired of what's going on with my skin and actually scarred that it might be very difficult to conceal for my wedding day that I'm planning to go this week. I'm thinking of a Dermalogica facial for acne-prone skin, has anyone had any experiences with it? xxx

New make-up station

I already showed you my make-up storage in our apartment in Vancouver, but I was a bit at my wits' end when I came back home and realised I had literally nowhere to put my stuff.

First, I hesitated about setting it up in a chest of drawers in my bedroom, putting most products in an Ikea organizer I've had for ages. However, the drawback of this solution was that I wouldn't be able to sit at it. Then I thought that I could actually put everything in the bathroom, but again the disadvantages were a very diffcult access to a mirror where I'd have to lean across the sink and also bad lighting. Finally I decided against those two solutions and started preparing a station at my desk, where I can sit comfortably and the daylight hits my face directly from a window.

If you (like me) don't have a vanity table or a nice set-up in your bathroom, I highly recommend this solution. Here is what I did:

1. First I had to empty two top drawers so I could put all my make-up products in there. This was a bit of a challenge!

2. Then I cleaned the drawers with a damp cloth on which I poured a couple of drops of lavender essential oil, so they smell really nice when I open them.

3. The very top drawer now houses various face products and a kabuki brush, liners and mascara as well as single eyeshadows and eyeshadow bases.

The second drawer is filled with my two palettes, a brush case with mostly eye brushes (not in the photo), a container with lip products and some other stuff like samples, falsies, sponge applicators etc.

4. On the desk top, I put a cup with my most often used face brushes, a lit-up mirror and a scented candle. Right now I also added my MAC brush cleanser so I can have it handy whenever I need it.

I really like my station, it definitely saves me time when I'm getting ready in the morning. I'm also thinking about decorating it somehow, would you ladies have any suggestions how to prettify it?

PS. I'm away for a cousin's wedding tomorrow, so I'll blog all about my make-up, hair and outfit when I come back - watch out for that!

Monday award and a secret

I feel like at the Oscars - all because of you, bloggy beauties! Recently I've been nominated for an awesome blog award and I can't wait to pass it on :)

The absolutely lovely Suka & Spice (very promptly nicknamed a Tongan Princess by Tali ) gave me this hilarious award; thank you, cherie!

The rules are to list your 5 current obsessions, link back to the person who nominated you, and then nominate 5 fabulous blogs by linking to them and letting them know in the comments. Simple!

1. Wedding. Enough said :)

2. Lingerie. Seriously, my undies are a STATE. If I were in MTV Room Riders, I don't even want to imagine what the poor audience would think of my drawer. The biggest crime is that most of my bras are the wrong size and they're really uncomfortable to wear. But... I went lingerie shopping today, haul will be posted soon!

3. Beautiful photography. I discovered Tumblr through Magpie Sparkles blog and I never have enough. It really motivates me to start snapping my own photos pronto!

4. Tan. I want a perfect tan now! Any product recommendations, my lovelies?

5. Essential oils. I blogged about this last week I think, and I'm still lusting after some new scents to add to my collection. Currently, my favorites are levender, patchouli and eucalyptus.

I tag these amazing blogs:

Loveaudrey, with whom I share the Hepburn obsession

Tali at The Gloss Goss, another Slavic beauty junkie

Victoria at Lily loves Lola, a fellow dog person

Hele and Holly at The Nail Buff, which got me hooked on nail polish

Natalia at Fashion Titbits, who posts the most amazing fashion photos

Also, I decided to let you girls in a secret :) When I set up mu blog a couple of months ago I decided to keep it separate from my real life identity and not to share it with my non-virtual friends as I knew there'd be little understanding for it. I even disguised my name and settled on a French nickname ('rocaille' [pr. ro'kay] is an ornament in the shape of a shell/ spiral, widely used in the art of Rococo period) , even though I'm Polish. Anyhow, I know this has been a bit confusing to some of my readers and I thought that I also love knowing people's real names, so... My name is Monika, in Polish pronounciation stressed on the second, not first syllable; yes, I'm a a languages geek, you have to bear with me... :)

So, if you feel comfortable revealing it, what's your real name? I'd love to know! xxx

My top 3 nail polishes

Until recently, I wasn't really so much into nail polish. However, since I started reading beauty blogs, my small collection is constantly expanding and these are my 3 favorite shades that I wear over and over again.

The first choice is my only China Glaze nail polish in the shade Heaven. It's a gorgeous neutral color that goes very well with my skin tone and suits every outfit. It's got a slight pearlescent effect and usually I'm not so much into pearl finish, but this one looks fab on and makes your nails look clean and polished. I'm wearing it right now with a DIY French tip.

The next one, Miss Sporty in the shade no. 215, is a very unique color. I'd say it's a muted brownish raspberry, slightly darker than in the photo, and it's a cream finish. Miss Sporty polishes are mostly great quality for the price, and I like the smaller bottles.

My last choice is Rimmel Lasting Finish in the shade 061 Exotica. I'm not sure if you can see that in the photo, but it's a blue-based red with a golden/lime shimmer running through it. Again, applies very smoothly with no streaks and looks very vampish with my pale skin. One of my dad's favorite shades as well, so I guess men appreciate its looks :)

Check out Hele's blog, The Nail Buff, for nail polish swatches, reviews and tips!

Ins & Outs

I feel a bit sorry for not posting as often as I used to these days, but you girlies have to excuse me; this week I reached home every day at 8pm the earliest. But it's been a very fruitful week so far!

Ins:

1. Wedding planning and preparations. I managed to sort out so many things this week! First off, I had a meeting with a florist and decided on the venue and car decorations and also chose my wedding bouquet. The color theme will be off-white/cream shades combined with delicate apricot and some greens. For my bouquet, we settled on off-white lisanthius, small apricot roses and freesia (mmm, the smell...). What I also love about this florist is that she makes all the flower decorations in disposable containers, so we can give them to the guests or take them home after the reception!

The bouqet will be similar to this one, but with apricot roses instead of pink. Sorry for the poor quality, but I couldn't upload a better photo.

This week I also had a dress fitting, met with a friend to hand over an invite, met with 'special effects' people to discuss fireworks (this one was a catastrophy, unfortunately) and yesterday I met with a camera man. So many things to cross off my list!

2. New pair of cute ecru heels. They're meant to be worn for my cousin's wedding next week and also as a spare pair for the wedding in case my wedding shoes prove uncomfortable. These are made of super soft leather and the heel height is perfect for such an unexperienced wearer as me!

A bit dirty after one walk on the road from my parents' house to the bus stop...

3. Challenging project at work. So far, I worked as an English teacher at my company, but our boss is thinking of expanding the company's business activities and I've been appointed to deal with all the translation projects we'll have. I'll be responsible for developing our offer, gaining and dealing with the clients and managing projects. If everything goes well, it'll also mean a pay rise :)

4. Patchouli essential oil. Will it prove to be the new tea tree oil? It has similar properties as the latter, plus the smell is much more sensual and it keeps mosquitos and other bugs away, a huge plus for this summer, as I'm constantly covered in mosquito bites.

5. Tan. I do look so much better tanned than piggy pink. I'm still trying to find a prefect product to get the effect though. In terms of bronzer, I'm loving my Coastal Scents G Bronzer/ Blush. It gives a perfect, natural glow to the cheeks.

6. Hen night. I don't have a faintest idea what my girls are up to, but I know that even my mum and my future mother-in-law are engaged (or else they're engaged in some other surprise for us, I'm not sure). I love surprises and I'm so grateful they're organizing it, because initially I thougt I'd have to take care of it myself.

Out:

1. Being tired and stressed out. Work and wedding planning are sometimes too much for me.

2. Having a great idea for a post and not being able to execute it thanks to the lack of time.

3. The guests not confirming their presence at the reception. Honestly, do people really think is doesn't make a difference? I can sort of understand some old aunties hesitating to reach for the phone, but mine and fiance's friends?!

What are your Ins and Outs this week?

The prettiest shopping bag ever

Just a quick post to share with you... yes, the prettiest shopping bag ever (if you're a bit of an artsy geek like me).

Anyone recalls this painting? It's "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt, a XIX/XXth century Symbolist painter and a prominent member of the Vienna Art Nouveau movement (Vienna Secession). This particular art work is one of the most famous paintings from his critically acclaimed Golden Phase. As you may know from my Mucha inspirations, I definitely have a thing for Art Nouveau, so I had to get this shopping bag!

I heart it so much that I'm even thinking of converting this into a regular bag...

Then I also spotted this gorgeous flowy top at C&A for less than half price. You could wear it with a cami underneath, but for really hot summer nights, it's actually opaque enough to sport it on its own. These are definitely 'my' colors and it fits really nicely.

For those of you interested in my wedding updates, today I met with a florist to discuss the details of my bouquet as well as venue and car decorations. She turned out to be a really sweet, professional girl and I'm so happy to cross out such a big thing from my wedding preparation list! Tomorrow I'm having a dress fitting and a meeting with a fireworks man to see what 'special effects' he can offer for our big day.

Other than that, I'd like to thank all of you girlies for your super sweet and encouraging comments, especially on my last post, and say hello to my new readers! I really appreciate your support and enjoy meeting you through your blogs. THANK YOU! xxx

FOTD 60's style

Today I felt like doing a 60's winged eyeliner look to go with my poppies print dress I blogged about a couple of weeks ago. I was going to town to meet with a friend over some freshly squeezed fruit juice and icecream and, because it's super hot and sunny this weekend, I was a bit afraid as to how my make-up was going to last. I didn't use waterproof cosmetics but I'm still very impressed how everything lasted!

My tan, a result of sun rays, fake tan and bronzer... I really like it!

I also used some of my July favorite products here, so you can see how they perform!

Face:

MAC Studio Finish concealer in NW20

Coastal Scents Honey Fair 1.2 Flawless Finish Foundation mixed with CS Concealer A (much darker shade)

NYX blusher in Taupe

CS blusher in Dare

Wet'n'Wild MegaGlo Face Illuminator in Blushing

Eyes:

CS Eye Poxy primer

Revlon Seashells cream eyeshadow quad (peachy shade to cancel out blue veining on my lids)

Eyeshadows from 78 e/s and blush palette

GOSH pen liquid eyeliner in black

Covergirl Lash Blast mascara

Lips:

MAC lipstick in Jest

Do you also do a winged eyeliner look in the summer or only reserve it for the fall/winter time?

Updo hesitations

Finally I managed to cross something off my wedding preparation list! There's still some 50 to go, but I'm closer to getting there every day :)

I don't know if it ever happened to you, but I've had some serious problems booking an appointment with a hairdresser (for my wedding updo). I found the service at the saloon where my favorite hairdresser works quite impolite when I called and tried to book the appointment. I was told 'they don't know yet if she will be available', 'I might call later but, you know, she has her permanent clients', and generally 'This can be a problem'. This just reveals the reality of saloons were some customers are treated better than the others because they come more often and leave more money, and the most popular dates (like Saturday mornings, for example) are always reserved for them in advance. This really annoys me, so today I decided to cancel my trial updo appointment there and find another saloon (meanwhile, I also tried reaching 2 other hairdressers, but to no avail). I found one that had rave reviews online, and when I called them, the lady I spoke to on the phone was very nice and helpful. I hope that turns out ok!

It got me thinking about what kind of updo I'd like that would match my dress. First I thought of something more romantic with lots of messy curls, but while browsing the pictures, I actually liked another style the most... I've always been a big fan of French twist updos, and I found two styles that really caught my eye.

I really love how elegant yet a bit messy this looks. There's some volume at the crown and hair has a lovely texture. I actually think this is feasable on my not very long hair and would go nicely with the dress and delicate veil.

This is a bit more horizontal version of the classic French twist. It's still very simple, the hair seems voluminous and natural. Also perfect updo for the veil.

I'm undecided as to which one to choose... I think I like the first one a tad more, but that's probably because of the beautiful model with a long, swan-like neck. I need some advice... Which one do you prefer?