My First Femme Phenom: Arantha Royce of Arantha's Gourmet Beauty

Name: Arantha Royce

Occupation: Account Manager by day, Foodie/Beauty Blogger by night

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Website:  aranthasgourmetbeauty.com

I began following Arantha's beauty/foodie blog about a year ago, and as someone who loves both beauty product reviews and new recipes, I was intrigued by how seamlessly she fit the two mutually exclusive ideas together. Once I decided to start my own blog, I noticed her Beauty of the Month segment and loved how she introduced the blogging world to beautiful, intelligent, successful, REAL women. Even at 27, I still feel like I need some female role models in my life, and Arantha's Beauty of the Month gives me that, so I decided to borrow (read: steal) her idea and create a monthly spotlight on real women, too! Thus Femme Phenom, better known as FE|NOM, was created, and who better to be my first spotlight than the gorgeous chick I stole the idea from: Arantha Royce of Arantha's Gourmet Beauty.

What do you always have in your purse?

In my purse I always carry my little bag full of lipsticks and glosses, a hand cream and a face mist for refreshing my makeup and hydrating my skin throughout the day!

What’s on your current fashion/beauty wishlist?

I am currently obsessing over the Tory Burch Nadine riding boot.  I'm also really wanting Sigma makeup brushes.  My favorite beauty vlogger, Tiffany D, swears by them and I can't wait to get a set of my own.  They are extremely high quality and rival MAC brushes at a fraction of the cost!

What inspires you and/or Who is your muse? 

Kindness, classic beauty and uniqueness inspire me.  I'm not sure I have a muse, but I have a serious obsession with Gwyneth Paltrow.  She always seems so genuine and kind, she has a killer body, timeless beauty and she's positively radiant.  She also loves to cook and seems to lead a balanced lifestyle of ultra healthy foods mixed in with some heavy indulgences sometimes, which I love.  I've been a huge fan for as long as I can remember.

Favorite Cocktail Recipe? 

I'm typically a wine drinker but when I do make a cocktail it's often a Flirtini!  It's a fun and dangerous combo of champagne, vodka and pineapple juice!  You can't taste the vodka at all, which is why I say it's dangerous, so it just tastes like a pineapple mimosa! Yum.

Flirtini Recipe:

Ingredients

• Champagne
• Vodka
• Pineapple juice

Directions

• Pour half a shot of vodka into each glass
• Fill each glass with champagne, leaving your desired room for pineapple juice (I like my pineapple juice to take up about 1/3 of the glass)
• Serve and enjoy!!!

Why did you start your blog? 

Arantha Featured as ABQ Magazine's Best of the City winner for Best Blogger

I've always been a reader of blogs and my boyfriend had been telling me for years I should start my own.  The thought was daunting to me and I was worried that my two passions, healthy cooking and beauty, wouldn't go together in a cohesive way to attract readers.  One of my girlfriends started a blog one day out of the blue and that really gave me the push and confidence I needed to finally launch my own.  I'm so glad I did and, even though the two topics of my blog aren't related, it seems to be working just fine.  I think this is mainly because I'm so passionate about both and that's the real key to a successful blog.

When you’re not blogging, what can I find you doing? 

I work full time as an account manager at a news company and I blog in my free time.  When I'm not working or blogging you can find me reading a novel, painting my nails or cooking!  I also try to work out at least 3 days a week and alternate between kickboxing classes and hitting the treadmill.

What’s your signature fragrance?

Prada Candy is currently my go-to scent.  It's an ultra-feminine perfume with notes of sexy caramel and warm vanilla.  It also has a bit of an edge to it that keeps the scent from being overly sweet.  I get headaches from perfume easily so I didn't think I would like a "sweet" perfume but I'm totally in love and it never hurts my head.  I keep smelling myself all day when I wear this perfume, it's THAT good.

My other favorite perfume I go back to is Chanel No. 5.  Always classic, elegant and womanly with these soapy clean notes that I love.  

What do you want to be when you grow up?

The blog has really become a fulfilling part of my life and I'd love to continue with Gourmet Beauty and become a contributer for beauty and food media and possibly partner with a cosmetic or food company!  Having my own lipstick and nail polish line is my ultimate dream!

If you could Freaky Friday with one person for a day, who would it be and why? 

I would absolutely LOVE to be Adele for a day.  To know what's it like to sing the way she does would be so incredible!!!  I would just sit and sing for the entire day!  I can't carry a tune to save my life.  :)

What photo rocked your world?

 

[This Photo] brings tears to my eyes every time I see it!

During a protest in Brazil a General said "Do not fight, not on my birthday!" Then the group of protesters made a surprise for him.

Hope you enjoyed meeting my December FE|NOM! Follow her @Arantha or subscribe to her blog. 

Stayed tuned for more!

Ps. Know a Femme Phenom who is deserving of the spotlight? Tell me why!