Ambitious Beauty Cuties: Mia

Mia is part-photographer, part-fashionista and all style. For her blog Marionette, s

he always finds the most fashion-forward people who aren't afraid to take risks (and I always love that).

This 21-year-old Norwegian takes to the streets for her blog to find serious chicness in models, fashion royalty and everyday glamazons.

1. What inspires you?

It's hard to say one thing that inspires me because I get inspired all the time, every day. It can be a person or something I see. It's all about the feeling I get when I spot an item or a person--a feeling that gets my mind running!

2. What is beautiful to you?

I take photos of what I find beautiful. People expressing happiness, shyness or passion is beautiful. Old people and wisdom is beautiful. Life itself is beautiful. The personality people have given themselves in what they have created is beautiful. The power and massiveness of nature is beautiful. I could continue forever. We are surrounded with so much beauty, which is one of the reasons why I love photography.

3. Why did you want to start a blog?

I started a blog when I lived in Paris for a year and a half. In the beginning, I wasn't that into it until I came home to Norway the next summer, and I wasn't surrounded by the beauty of Paris anymore. People aren't as fashionable in Norway as in Paris, so I started writing on my blog again when I was spending my summer experimenting with styling and photography, as well as getting lost in style.com!

4. How do you choose the people you photograph?

If they've got something I find different and unique. If they stand out in the crowd!

5. Do you have a personal motto?

I don't have one in particular, although a good quote can turn around my day in a heartbeat (check out the label wise words on her blog).

6. What are some of your favorite things?

Some of my favorite things: my Dior bags I got from my mom (my mother used them when she was my age), an ancient silver bracelet I bought in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, my vintage YSL glasses I bought in Hong Kong and, maybe most important, my camera :)

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

Ambitious Beauty Cuties: Marianne

"I sell my soul to the fashion devil on a daily basis. This is my blog." From the tag line alone, I knew Marianne's blog was made for fashion junkies like me. Marianne has a keen eye for fashion and an eclectic style I love. Mixing parts Alexander Wang (see the amazement), Acne, Forever 21 and vintage, she's the epitome of street chic.

1. Give us some background info.

My name is Marianne. I'm 27. I live in Oslo, Norway and work as a shop manager at the best fashion store in town, KOMA. I love fashion, art, music and life in general. One happy camper!

2. What made you start your own blog?

I was asked to start my own blog by the people behind Carousel (the Web site I'm blogging at). We´d met through work a couple of times, and I thought it sounded interesting, so I gave it a shot. Glad I did...it´s great fun!

3. What inspires you?

I get inspired just by living.

4. What’s your favorite thing about makeup?

5. My favourite thing about makeup is that it can change your look totally, not to mention that it saves me from looking like a garbage bag on a daily basis. Love that!

6. What’s your secret for a bold red lip (Check hers out here)?

My secret to a bold red lip is a good lip liner and my favourite red lipstick from Make Up Store, "Pout."

7. What are some of your favorite beauty products?

I love the mineral powder from bareMinerals, plush lash mascara from MAC, and the blush from Bobbi Brown.

8. Do you have a personal motto?

To treat others like I want to be treated. And smile…a lot!

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

Ambitious Beauty Cuties: Melissa Osburn

To kick off my blog, I thought I’d start with someone who has already been successful with hers. Melissa Osburn, 28, is a slot machine artist and part-time culinary student in Las Vegas, N.V. She started The Daily Nail, a personal project that has her doing one new nail design a day for a year (so ambitious, I love it). She has so many innovative designs, and her dedication is truly admirable. Check out her blog for amazing nail design ideas (color-changing, anyone?) or simply a new color or brand. If you're like me, nail polish is a necessity (my toes are always painted, even in the dead of winter). Naturally, I immediately loved her blog. Here, I asked Osburn to share a little more about The Daily Nail.

1. What made you start this project?

I decided to start the project when I realized that I accumulated around 70 nail polishes in a matter of a month and a half and really felt the need to justify the purchases. I made the first post detailing the idea of the blog on September 30, 2009, but didn't post the first nails until October 14. The year will end on October 13, 2010, but the project won't—I plan to keep posting new nail art on a very regular basis still!

2. How many bottles of polish do you have? What are your favorite brands?

I'd estimate that I have around 400 bottles now, based on my last count a couple of weeks ago. About 95% of these bottles have been purchased since August 14, 2009! (I have an addiction I think)!

I love Zoya, China Glaze, Essie, CND and OPI most, but I'm loving ORLY's new polish collections recently, too!!

3. What's your favorite thing about nail polish?

Nail polish doesn't have a size. It doesn't make you feel fat, or thin, or go out of style. Nail polish is ALWAYS there to brighten your day and make you feel pretty, and it's a pretty inexpensive accessory!!

4. Where do you get inspiration for your nail designs?

Everywhere. I get ideas from outside, inside, my job, my hobbies, TV, radio, art, etc. People send me ideas from time to time, too, and when I use them, I always credit the person who came up with it!

5. How long does it usually take you to do your nails?

It depends on how complicated the design is. Some designs take minutes, while others take hours. The longest ones took about an hour and a half or so. Those were the Rubber Ducky nails (all the tiles!!). One of my favorite designs took only a few minutes though—the Crimi-Nails.

Rubber ducky nails

Crimi-nails

6. What kind of tips do you have for people who want to do cute nail designs on themselves?

Be patient, practice, and don't drink anything with caffeine beforehand!

7. What do you hope to take away from this project?

Most of all, a sense of accomplishment. I have a tendency of starting projects but never finishing them, so I'm really looking forward to achieving that goal.

You can e-mail Melissa comments or nail ideas at thedailynail@gmail.com.

If you want to suggest any blogs or people for me to spotlight, e-mail me at beautyisblissblog@gmail.com.

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn