Thursday, December 31, 2020

Hottie Toddy

Say hello to the Hottie Toddy! One of my all-time favorite winter cocktails.


Hottie Toddy Recipe

Boil fresh ginger in a pot of water to make ginger tea to use as your water. 


Poke cloves into the top of a lemon round. 


Add all ingredients to a cup:

A shot of burbon (you pick the amount)

1 tbl of honey 

1 tsp of lemon or orange juice

Lemon round with cloves

Cinnamon stick

Star Anise 

Hot ginger tea or boiling water


Let sit for 3 to 5 minutes before drinking.


I also love adding a tiny bit of cayenne. 

Flavors and ingredients are easily adjustable to what you like. 


Cheers and wishing you all a safe and bright new year -Shana


Sunday, November 8, 2020

Fox & Doll Wellness Gift Guide

Great Gifts for Everyone

Cloud of Protection $18 *

Clarity Mist (formally Alignment Elixir) $29 *

Roller Relief (formally Essential Oil Blend) $60 *



Tigers Eye Under Eye Oil $38*



Dabble Bag $20 *



Sippin' Pretty Tea $18 *



Melt and Restorative Yoga Sessions with Emiko Oye, good for your body and your mind $18-$130


Melt Holiday Special Kit $30


InfraMatPro BioMat from HealthyLine, use code SAFD10S for 10% off of $159


Masks $15-$25 *


Reusable Glass Straws $8-$10 *


 * items available at Fox & Doll


Subscriptions and workshops make great gifts too!

CreativeBug Class Subscription


CreativeLive Classes


Jenny Lemons Workshops


New York Times Cooking Subscriptions $5


MELT Self-Care Course




Fox & Doll also offers a selection of gift sets and gift certificates here.



Plus shipping with gift packaging and a note direct to the recipient is available.


And my newly launched Patreon is a great gift for you and for me:

Join my new Patreon page! Get exclusive access to new things I am working on and membership benefits.



Happy Holiday wishes to you -Shana

Saturday, October 31, 2020

Smirnoff Red Devil

Halloween 2017 I was inspired to make a costume I had wanted to do for sometime. The Smirnoff Red Devil from the 1967 advertisement. I sewed this up out of red velour and glued the plastic cubes onto a costume shop pitchfork. Then went over to my favorite neighborhood bar in San Francisco, The Rite Spot. My friend Annie at the bar made me a drink to match the one in the original image and my friend photographer Eileen took the photo. This is a costume I plan to use for years to come and has inspired my new Halloween line of swizzles and hairsticks, see images below.


Smirnoff ad from 1968

From my personal collection, Smirnoff 1968 swizzles



Halloween Pitchfork Hairsticks, Swizzles and Cocktail Picks available in the shop




Thursday, October 29, 2020

Pink Atlas Sewing Machine

Meet Adele. Named for my grandma, who I like to think would fully approve of my passion for all things vintage.

I acquired this beauty recently from Spidora Vintage Seamstress. It’s a dream to sew with. I can hardly even compare the difference between sewing on a modern machine and a vintage machine. It’s smooth and quiet and feels very solid, it also guides the fabric in such a natural easy way. She’s perfect. This is an Atlas, made in Japan for Brother sometime between ‘55 and ‘62. Thanks to Kiley of Spidora for taking such good care of her so that I could be her next owner. 


I plan to make many beautiful Fox & Doll items with this machine

My other two machines

My sewing room is looking good. And the inspiration of Alexander Calder watches over my workspace, with this banner being one of my most treasured possessions. Both of these machines were recently gifted to me. Not shown is also a Bernina sewing machine from about 2000 that was purchased new at the time, which is what I have been sewing on the past 20 years. Now that I have these other machines the Bernina will be my backup machine or used for specific stitches.

Friday, October 23, 2020

Lucifer’s Elixir made with Beauty Elixir Concentrate

Introducing Lucifer’s Elixir

2 oz. vodka

3 oz. ginger beer

2 oz. Beauty Elixir Concentrate

Ice

Garnish with Fox & Doll Pitchfork Swizzle and Surfside Sips glass bamboo straw, both available here


I created this cocktail after making a fresh batch of my Beauty Elixir Concentrate, a delicious and hydrating rose and hibiscus tea. I make this brew weekly to keep in the fridge. Add to water or sparkling water and makes a wonderful mimosa. See below details for how to brew this red juice.


For the cocktail it is simply Vodka, ginger beer and Beauty Elixir (but you can substitute with any slightly sweetened red juice if you aren't up for making the Beauty Elixir).


And garnished with my new Fox & Doll pitchfork swizzle and black glass bamboo straw from Surfside Sips, both available in my online shop. Used Sobieski Vodka and Fever Tree Ginger Beer with Fox & Doll Beauty Elixir Concentrate

Beauty Elixir Concentrate contains rose, hibiscus, rosehip, goji berries and schisandra berries (top left)⁣

$22 for 3oz.⁣


Pour 2-3 cups of boiled water over 1/2 cup of leaves and berries, cover, steep for 1 hour. Strain. Add honey to taste. Add water, sparkling water, campagne or add to cocktails. Keeps in the fridge for one week. This makes two batches.







Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Tips for Looking Your Best on Video and Zoom: Makeup and Lighting

Some current day on camera scenarios: You are teaching a online workshop or giving a presentation and want to look professional. You have a virtual meeting and want to look put together and at your best. You want to start using Facebook, Instagram or Zoom for regular broadcasts but are nervous about how you will look. I totally understand, there are enough other things to think about with your online presence without worrying about your makeup and hair. So here are just a few tips to step up your game, and all things you can do with minimal product and time commitment.

A after and before picture of me, including proper lighting

1. Prep your skin to moisturizer it so it has an underlaying glow and hydration. Same goes for your lips, make sure they are exfoliated and moisturized. See my post about B3 products here.

2. A little foundation goes a long way. I like to start with a little concealer on the red and/or dark area, usually around the nose, right above the brows, on your eyelids and where you have any other discoloration, redness or blemishes. Then take some of that concealer and mix it with a little moisturizer to make a tinted moisturizer. Buff this into your skin with a foundation blending brush, I like a domed or scallop shaped brush made of a synthetic fiber. The buffing it into your skin gives a natural even glowing looks. I also recommend if you are going to invest on one great makeup brush go for a foundation brush.

3. Add a little blush or matte bronzer. Place on blush on apples of cheeks. And the matte bronzer on your temples at the hairline and a bit right below the apples of your cheeks close to the hairline (suck them in to find that spot). Blend well.

4. Brush your brows upwards and add a little colored pencil or powder and some colored or clear gel. So easy. And frames your face. I'm loving the ESUM Brow Pencils.

5. Curl your lashes and add some mascara. The mascara acts at hairspray of sorts for you lashes. Try my ESUM Mascara.

6. Add some lip balm or tinted lip color, my favorite everyday go to color is:
ESUM Blush Lip Pencil mixed with lip balm.

7. Add a translucent powder to anyplace on your face that has shine or gets shinny.

8. Keep the neckline of your outfit simple but interesting, and choose a flattering color or one that identifies with your brand colors. 



And now for a few camera and lighting tips:

1. If you are using your phone for video get a tripod or table top tripod to hold your camera. I also recommend a PopSocket on the back of your phone. I often put it in the pulled position and prop it on the edge of the top of my computer, then it basically hangs there steady and at a good angle.

2. Angle the camera from above, not below. I have a little shelf riser I put my computer on, or in a pinch use some big books.

3. Consider getting a webcam if you are doing lots of live video. 

4. Have a clean and non distracting background behind you. If need be hang a curtain as a backdrop. 

5. Lighting should be in front of you, or even better if you have diffused natural light from all angles. But whatever you do don't have the light coming from behind, and try to avoid light directly from above too. If there is a window behind you that you cannot avoid hang something over it that blocks the light, I put a dark fabric behind the curtains so it the brightness doesn't come through. You can also purchase a small ring light so that you can light yourself from the front, I got this one from Amazon for only $25, and it has a built in phone holder.

6. A lighted makeup mirror both helps you put on makeup so you can see what you are doing and can double as a light source in front of you on video. Plus ones like the one below (which I own and adore) even have an attachment for a phone and a separate magnifying mirror attachment. 

A great list of gear I found from the girls at https://www.facebook.com/groups/perigirls/

Riki Skinny Mirror

Want to gain more skills to step up your video look? Consider scheduling a personalized makeup lesson, hair lesson, skincare consultation or personal shopping session? I am offering all these virtual beauty services and more via Zoom. I also offer online group lessons and spa parties.

Images from a recent virtual lesson


Recent client feedback:

"Such a great lesson! Super helpful. Even with my limited makeup pallet Shana was able to help me up my teaching from home zoom game."

“This is the video i shot yesterday using all the things i learned at our lesson. Much better look! I have glasses on so you cant see my eyes that well but i put on foundation, blush, the works! Thanks for such a great lesson!”

“The best thing I did for myself during quarantine! It was so much fun Shana. What a cool way to work with you from a distance!”

“I felt so amazing after my Fox & Doll video call makeup sesh with Shana that I immediately went and filmed two of my best YouTube videos to date! The craziest part is that I was wearing less makeup than ever. And it was all makeup I already owned but didn't know how to use like a professional. Totally recommend this new opportunity Shana has available to anyone looking to freshen up their look!”

Want a personalized lesson? Check out the virtual beauty options on my site.

And watch for a follow up post with some hair tips. xo - Shana, Fox & Doll

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Glass Straws from Surfside Sips

I discovered these fabulous glass straws from Surfside Sips out of southern California. They are the perfect complement to my starburst swizzles and to any tiki bar. Available in so many colors, sizes and some extra fun shapes like bones and bamboo!

Available in my shop
OR
Order through my link and use the discount code FOXANDDOLL for 20% off your first order.






Soon to be styled in a tasty beverage with my Fox & Doll cocktail swizzles and hairsticks to match.












Pics from Surfside Sips website and instagram

Fox & Doll Recommended

search #foxanddollrecommended on instagram for more beloved products.

Disclaimer: I certify that I personally use these products and love them.