Love is the Answer.

Love everyone like you've never loved before.
Because that love makes the world spin round and round.
So I will love you.

Can I Change?

Simple answer, Yes. Of course. And so with that I am going to post some cool people's blog posts or videos that have inspired me. Also I will be adding quotes because hey they're nice things.

http://jacksgap.com/5-videos-will-restore-faith-humanity/

This really made me cry tears of joy. It just really moved me. People really move me. They amaze me all the time. Please share this with all of your family and friends. I think it is  very special.

http://m.youtube.com/my_favorites#/watch?v=r3FcZNvzaOs

Watched this last night and it's a great push. I know I will find myself coming back to this when I'm at a loss with myself.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r3KiQHOhVG4

I know this is a long video, but Meghan (who made this) has a lot of great things to say about life. And she is only 16 like myself. She has found a positive outlook that she wants to share with other like I aspire to do too.


 "Life is a physical manifestation of the thought in your head" from the movie The Secret on Netflix that I also recommend taking the time to watch.

"Desire to Inspire" -

IMPORTANT

Please click the link and watch the videos. I promise that it has made the world of a difference.

http://jacksgap.com/5-videos-will-restore-faith-humanity/

Thank you have a great day

Emotional Comfort through the Power of Music

Hello! First I would like to address today, an important anniversary from a moment of history that I will never forget. 9/11. Being only age 4 at the time this tragedy occurred, I have no recollection of that day. But that doesn't matter because the world has changed since then without my knowing of it exactly. I would like to offer my condolences to everyone who lost someone or was there. It's just a truly awful thing that happened and I wish it didn't. It would have saved a lot of sadness. Nonetheless it happened and we must grow stronger from the moment. And I believe the United States has and I am truly proud to be an American. God bless America. Switching  gears to a softer subject, music, I wanted to share the songs and albums that have been providing me emotional comfort that I can't seem to find anywhere else. Here I will list them all in hopes someone else needs a soothing voice to reassure them everything is going to be okay. Because it will. I pray that music can always be a voice in the dark for me and for others when no one else seems to be there.

Music Loves as of 9/11/2013

Fix You- Coldplay on X&Y

Paradise Valley album- John Mayer (Who You Love feat. Katy Perry is my #1 favorite)

Everything Has Changed- Taylor Swift feat. Ed Sheeran on Red

Dirty Paws- Of Monsters and Men

King and Lionheart- Of Monsters and Men

Sun- Two Door Cinema Club

Get on the Road- Tired Pony in The Place We Ran From

All Things All at Once- Tired Pony

Wake me Up- Avicii

Royals- Lorde

The 1975 Self-Titled album

Here Comes the Sun- The Beatles

Counting Stars- One Republic

Let it Be- The Beatles

-Brianna

Speedy How To: Sunday Night Pamper

HIII. So today, as you may already know, is Sunday! I love Sundays. They are always so relaxing and I look forward to spending Sunday nights pampering myself. I do these few simple steps to get me ready for the week ahead. I find it to be very fun and nice to do for myself. I recommend you do it too! Here are the things I do on my Spa Night at home.

1. Take a nice long shower. Shave, scrub, and sing. Really massage your head with the shampoo as this is great for stimulating the scalp as well as being quite calming.
2. Slather on the body butter. I'm talking all over that BODY girl. My favorite is the Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter. You will smell so delish when you wake up and your skin will be soft as a baby's bottom.
3. Put on some funky music. I love Ed Sheeran for putting me in a good mood.
4. Pick out your outfit for the next day. I would spend way to much time doing this in the morning if I didn't already plan out my outfit.
5. Paint those nails. I always do this as a last step so that you don't ruin them. I have a whole post on what I do for an at home manicure that I suggest you check out for further info.
6. Read magazines or a good book. One book I finished a few weeks ago that I really enjoyed was Looking for Alaska by John Green. Definitely a tear jerker so beware.

And there you go! You will be looking and feeling awesome for the week ahead of you!

Brianna

My First Empties

HI THERE. HOW ARE YOU? I hope you're just dandy. So I'm going to share with you things I have used up because I love these posts/videos I see being done. It just shows what products you really stick with and love. Most of these are skincare/body care rather than makeup because makeup takes a bit longer to use up. Let's get into this schnitzel. 

Overview
Johnson's Baby Wash, Got 2 Be Dry Shampoo, Neutrogena On the Spot Treatment,
Eucerin Aquaphor, Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter, Maybelline Illegal Lengths Mascara,
Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Body Wash, Dove Go Fresh Deodorant in Revive

So yes that is a lot to add into a caption, but you know #YOLO. Ok I'm not going to be one of those people, but I do say YOLO to make fun of YOLO. YA KNOW? So yes notable mentions of this empties is the Dry Shampoo. It was the first time I tried it and I love it. Could possibly be my favorite... EEK 

Also my holy grail body lotion/butter is something I have bought time and time again because its bomb. The Johnson's baby wash is my everyday face cleanser because I need something very, very gentle so this obviously does the job. The only thing I probably won't repurchase is the B&BW wash because it's expensive for what it is and I wasn't in love with it. 

Please leave feedback down below. 

LOVE BRI 

Review: L'Oreal EverCreme Shampoo and Conditioner

Hi pals and gals so in this post I will be raving about my new hair care routine from the drugstore. I picked this up a month or so ago on recommendation of Essie's blog post of her July Favorites. I thought huh that looks nice maybe I should pick it up. And guess what, I did. The rest is history. Haha I'm being dramatic for the sake of being dramatic so sorry. Anway I'm going to list the things that I love about this sulfate free hair care system to make it short and sweet. 

THE GOOD

• Smells absolutely divine. Very sweet scent that lingers. 
• Hydrates like no other to any damaged locks
• Adds shine and softness after just one wash 
• Doesn't make my hair extra greasy 
• Lathers very well considering it is sulfate free
• Doesn't drain my ombre hair color (even though I want to get rid of it)
• Makes my ends feel healthy (before I got a haircut too)
• Not very expensive maybe $6 a piece

THE BAD

• Does not come in huge containers 

So as you can tell the good greatly outweighs the bad. I say go get it if your in need of a new shampoo and conditioner. I really can only complain about one thing and that one thing isn't a huge deal for me. So it's definitely a keeper and I will repurchase! I hope this format is okay. I think it makes it easier than just doing paragraphs, but please critique! I will always appreciate that. 

Brianna

5 Eyeshadow Palettes Every Makeup Lover Needs

HELLO. So I have been wanting to do this post for so so long, but just never had the time and patience until now. I am happy to report my computer is back to its normal running slowly, but running self. I can finally include pics in my posts hallelujah. So I'm presenting to you five glorious eyeshadow palettes that I think you should have if you are a makeup junkie such as myself. Please enjoy!

Swatchey Swatch

Shall I start with probably the most talked about makeup product ever, the Urban Decay Naked Palette. Well there is a reason this is raved about all across the boards. The colors are gorgeous neutrals that have insane and awesome quality. They are rich and creamy, like any Urban Decay Eyeshadow. It offers two matte brown shades and ten shimmers. You can easily create a soft girl next door look or a rocker chic smokey eye. Depends on what your feeling really because this palette has it all. I would like to point out also that I have had this palette since a little bit after it was released so it is very old and very well loved. I have hit pan on 8/12 shadows so I would say it was also well worth the $50 price tag. Please go buy this if you are at a loss for eyeshadows or are just looking for new colors to spice up your look.

Can you say pan?

Next up is the Wet N' Wild Color Icon Palette in Lust. You can pick this up at any drugstore for a mere 4 or 5 dollars. The quality is sensational considering the price. The colors can be a bit powdery, but are overall workable. It includes 3 matte and 3 shimmer shadows. The color scheme is purples with the odd pewter shade that is gorgeous. This is my go to smokey eye palette because the purple is dark, but not harsh or anything crazy. I would suggest you pick this up the next time you pop into Walgreens for a birthday card.

It's a little hard to tell in this pic but the left side is all matte
and the right is all shimmer

Another drugstore eyeshadow set I adore is this Physicians Formula Baked Collection Trio in Baked Oatmeal. I got it for about $12 at Ulta, but you can find Physicians Formula at most drugstores as well. This has got to be one of the prettiest colors of eyeshaow I have ever seen. The sheen it gives is just beautiful. These are perfect neutrals for everyday or just when you want a pop to your eyes. These give a whole iridescence to your face that is just stunning. Get it girl.

Indeed all of these palettes are gorgeous; and, this next palette is no exception. It is the Kat Von D True Romance Palette in Ludwig, which goes for $34 at Sephora. It offers two matter shades, both very dark and intense. The rest are all shimmer. My favorite colors include a beautiful mossy green and a yellowish champagne that I adore for my inner tear duct. Overall the shadows are very creamy and pigmented so I would say pick it up if you're wanting to add color to your eye looks. 

This last palette I have only had for about three weeks, but I already love it so much. I actually ditched the other palette I originally had as my fifth for this one. I originally took these photos a couple months ago, but only the one changed. I hope in the future to try out more palettes, but for now these are my favorites. So moving forward, the last one is the Wet N' Wild Color Icon Palette in I <3 Matte. It's an all matte palette with your everyday neutrals as well as fun brights. I scored it on sale for $1.99, but usually it goes for $2.99. Either way it was a steal. These shadows are great for everyday as matte is more natural. I find the lightest colors are perfect for the brow bone. The orange-ish brown is a wonderful crease color for any look and the colors are great for when I'm feeling sassy. I think if you are looking for some matte shadows, you should try this out. Just such a bargain. 

Ok kiddies. That concludes this post. As I mentioned before I had all of this planned awhile ago, I just didn't have the patience to do it haha. I hope you enjoyed! Let me know what your favorite eyeshadow palette is in the comments below. Thanks !!!

Brianna 

YES!

Hallelujah! I fixed my computer so now I can get back to having pictures in my posts which means I can do beauty and fashion things! YEEEE so happy! If this doesn't encourage me to post more I don't know what will. I was really bummed out my computer broke a few weeks ago and just couldn't figure out how to fix it! That is until now! YAY. Now that this is fixed and I have a little time today I will be rolling out beauty and fashion posts I have been meaning to do! Adios!

Brianna

Epiphany

Hello friends. I have no excuse for my absence and I apologize. Things will get back on track for me and this blog too. So after a crappy week I was rewarded with an epiphany. Last night I was feeling down, stressed out, and frustrated. As usual when I want a break from reality I head to YouTube. There, I found a new video in my subscription box. Now before you judge there is more to the story. It was a PMS video from Lisa Eldridge. Ok so now you see my disclaimer. You might be thinking what kind of an epiphany did you get from that video? The realization that yes periods suck, but I can put on lipstick to make it better. No not even close. While watching this video I was struck by the passion Lisa showed when talking about her best tips to help the "PMS" face. I have always loved her videos, but for some reason I just felt her love for makeup more than ever and I realized something. I want to be good at something and passionate about something like Lisa so I can be happy doing it in life. Now that was first aha moment in the 12 hours of this story. So I took it and held on to it.

 Fast forward to this morning. I was drinking my green tea and clicked onto good ol YouTube again. There i saw a new clothesencounters video. After watching this I thought hey I want to watch some more fashion videos now that I'm in the mood for it. I searched Chriselle Lim as I have only seen a few of her videos, but knew she was a fashion queen on YouTube. For some reason I never explored her channel. The first video of here that caught my eye was her Draw my Life tag. And that's when epiphany #2 occurred. I listened to her story and loved it. I felt as if we are very similar. She said she lacked confidence and then found clothes as her armor. She took me through her fashion journey and I just was in awe. This woman made something of herself. She took what she loved doing and ran with it. Chriselle in high school is me now. I have very low self esteem, a growing love for clothing, and a lot of passion. Ok so let me slow down. As I'm typing this all I sound crazy, but I don't care because I want to mark down this moment. This moment when I felt whole. And I felt like I could do something in my life. I'm not going to force myself to do something people tell me to do. I'm going to do what makes me happy, makes me good again. Because I have been bad for so long.

So now where do I go from here? Well now I feel as if I know something more about myself, I have something to work for. I have something to gain. So I will work hard. I will do things to make me happy, make me strive for my dream. I feel like its all falling into place.

Thank you

Brianna

Speedy How to: 5 Minute Makeup for School/Work

It's that time of the month... Ew no stop yourself there I mean back to school ! I have done a few of these back to school posts and today I have to share with you my favorite 5 minute face. Feeling a bit better in under 5 minutes is definitely time well spent. Here are 5 steps to a polished face !

1. Tinted moisturizer for dry skin and powder foundation for oily. A more even complexion is a real face changer. The tinted moisturizer and powder are the quickest ways to get a nice medium coverage look in a  hurry.

2. Bronzer on a big powder blush. I think this keeps your face from looking flat and a little bit of color can add coverage and a warmth to your face. Contouring is not good for being is a rush but a light dusting of bromzer never hurt anyone.

3. Mascara. This is my secret weapon. It brings the attention to your eyes while defining them. This is really an essential makeup product for me.

4. Natural lips or bright lips. A little bit of color is nice for everyday and if your a person who likes bright lipstick then this is the time to bring it out. It will liven up everything and give the impression to everyone that you spent a ton of time on your makeup when haha the jokes on them because you didn't!

5. This last and final step is to do a fun hairstyle. If your makeup can't look super then your hair should! I mean if you want. Haha.

Have a great school year !

Be kind to others.

-Brianna

Beauty Things I Suck At

Hi there. So for today's post I thought I would share with you beauty tasks that I just can't seem to complete. Nobody's perfect and I love to read these more relatable posts so maybe you will like to read them.

#1 Tweezing my eyebrows. I suck at doing it consistently and before I know it I have a two bushes for eyebrows. Plus my brows are dark and the hairs grow fast so yay for gnarly brows.

#2 Winged eyeliner. I try and I fail. I try again and I fail again. It's a vicious cycle really where I can get one eye perfect and the other eye is just completely different. Sometimes both eyes turn out good but they're not the same shape by any means. The struggle is real.

#3 Deep conditioning my hair. Again this is something I just don't do consistently. I either forget, am too lazy, or don't plan to do it around my hair washing schedule. I know it's stupid, but it happens to the best of us right ?

#4 Applying blush. I always feel like I over apply and end up looking like a clown. I am really pale so it's hard to apply the right amount of blush without having red cheeks. I love blush just a little too much sometimes.

#5 Doing my nails. I am a very impatient person and doing my nails can feel like eternity. So I usually nick and smudge majority of my nails. And not to mention I just let them keep chipping away. I dread smelling the nail polish remover smell. It literally makes me cough and gag. I just hate the process. The outcome is sometimes good but mostly less that average.


Ok leave a comment down below with your biggest beauty problem. Maybe I could come up with some helpful tips or tutorials ! Thanks

Dream Big.

-Brianna

Make Working Out Easier

Hello ! So I put together some ideas and tools I use to help me get in a workout when I'm just not feeling motivated. Hopefully this helps those of you wanting to workout but struggling to push yourself.

• Putting together an upbeat playlist. I have a playlist of my favorite songs to listen to when working out that you can check out HERE this can really keep your mind off things and make it go faster. 
• Treat yourself to comfortable and cute workout clothes. Confidence is key. If you believe you can push through a workout then you will! Also being comfortable is very important so you're not fidgeting around with a wedgie or such. Might sound weird but try not wearing underwear. I do it and I recommend haha 
• Switch up machines at the gym. I know that running on the elliptical is a good cardio workout but it does get quite boring after awhile. Changing the machines you use means it will work different muscles, while making things more interesting. 
• Count down instead of up. I feel like this makes me push more knowing how many reps I have left verses what I have done. That's just me, maybe the complete opposite works for you, but it can't hurt to try. 
• Focus on  your breathing. If you are having trouble during a workout focus on your breathing instead of how tired you are.

Ok! That concludes this post ! Thanks for checking it out and happy sweating! 

Conquering School- Don't Worry Be Happy

Hey there ! So I figured out I can't access the photos I took previously for beauty related posts. Hopefully all my computer difficulties are tackled in the near future. So for now I'm doing talky talk posts... Aren't they all  ? Here is one that I hope is helpful for those of you wondering about school or worried about it. I'm entering my third year of high school so I do have some experience. Please note these things don't come easy, growing up and all. It's a struggle for me daily trying to figure out myself and what I want to do and who I want to be. I'm sixteen years young, but will have to make all these incredible decisions in the next year or so. I'm not ready. And it's scary for me. But I think it's scary for a lot of people. And sometimes I just need to take a deep breath and relax. Because this life is short so why waste it drowning in worry . Anyway enough mushy gushy talk, here are my key points in having a better school experience.

* no professional here I'm just a girl with her thoughts and lonesome trying to learn from my mistakes

• Welcome new people. Don't be afraid to strike up small talk. Compliments are good ice breakers or just ask them about their classes. It's nice to have a friend or two in every class. If you don't already know one make them! It's easier than you think. 

• Don't do anything you aren't comfortable with. There are so many new things that come up in high school. Drugs, drinking, and sex are among the kinds of peer pressure one can experience in school. It's might seem that it's the cool thing to do, but it's not. Think of your future, your goals. These things can stand in the way of that, is it worth it? 

• Being single means nothing. It may seem that everyone has a boyfriend or girlfriend, but that's not the case. My rules for myself are don't settle and don't force it. These are lifesavers and will rescue you from a lot of pain. The time will come when you find the right person. 

• Learn to find a happy medium between your social life and academics. Too much of both isn't great and too little of both isn't much better. You are going to school to get an education, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun doing it! Enjoy life! 

• It's important to join extracurricular activities as this will help you on college acceptances as well as giving a perspective of maybe what you want to do with your life. Join a club, play a sport, volunteer, or find a job. All of these things can help you in your search of who you are as well as being something rewarding.

Again I just want to reiterate that I am no means telling you what to do with your life, but these are some things I wish I would have listened to and heard three years ago. To each his own. 

Priceless Beauty Secrets- Part 3

Hey guys so this is a continuation of my "priceless beauty secrets" posts. I have even more to share with you! I think these are so nice  because its fun to find simple things to do that will make a huge difference ! Let's go !

Apply brow products after doing foundation and powder. The foundation and powder can get stuck in  your brows making them appear lighter so its best to do your brows after these steps so all your hard work doesn't go to waste!

Before purchasing any staple makeup products at the drugstore look online for any coupons. This is very easy to do and you would be surprised how many things are on sale at once. If you are a Walgreens snooper there is a "member" program that gives you really good coupons after most purchases. Beware though they usually expire in 2 days!  Smart shopping here folks !

For you coffee addicts out there I think it's important to note all those trips to Starbucks can take a toll on your skin. It's very dehydrating so make sure with every cup of coffee you follow up with 2 cups of water.

Words of encouragement can go a long way. Take a sharpie and post it notes and go nuts. Write down your favorite quotes and post them around you house for inspiration and a quick pick me up.

No act of kindness is ever wasted

- Brianna

Speedy How to: Easiest Way to Clean Makeup Brushes

This is a super simple concept that I have been using for years that is absolutely foolproof. Now I'm serious I am a fool and I can do this too!

1. Wet brushes

2. Dispense a pump of any inexpensive shampoo into your palm

3. Swirl the brush in the palm of your hand and rinse when you see no more makeup is coming out

4. Repeat if the brush is really dirty or a face brush that is big so that is gets a good, deep cleaning

5. Lay flat to dry

I do this at night so I have fresh brushes in the morning. I recommend doing this once a week at the least because the face brushes can carry breakout inducing dirt from being used repeatedly. Also your will notice the brushes perform better when they are clean.

You are beautiful

- Brianna

5 Fabulous Uses for Coconut Oil

Hey there ! I have a secret to share... It's coconut oil. This stuff is gold I'm a jar. I swear this has helped so many beauty related problems I have had and I can't get enough of this stuff. Everyone needs to have this ! And here's why

1. Makes your breath fresher. Sounds weird but coconut oil has been used for years and years as a remedy for bad breath. It's called oil pulling so if you want more in depth on this concept, search it !
I have been doing this for almost a whole week and I have definitely noticed a difference. What you do is swish a teaspoon of the oil in your mouth anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. The spit it out snd brush your teeth as usual. Gross at first but it really works.

2. Hair mask. I use this weekly to condition and heal my hair. Just slather on the oil all over and let it set for 10-45 minutes. Really helps your hair become stronger and healthier.

3. Makeup remover. Before washing your face slather this on, including eyes, and slowly work it into the skin to break up the makeup. Use a wet cloth to remove the oil. Wash your face as usual after.

4. Cuticle oil. This softens them so its easy to clean them up before an at home manicure. Do it every night if you wish for top of the line cuticles!

5. Facial moisturizer. I used to do this, but now I'm on a very strict acne regime that doesn't include this. But I did use this for several months and recommend it ! I would suggest only using it at night as it is an oil and will leave residue. This helps to over time reduce the oiliness on your skin as it is insanely hydrating.

Hope you pick up some coconut oil the next time your at the store ! Of course there is tons of other uses but these are my favorites.

Just keep breathing

- Brianna

Get Ready Quick Essentials-Back to School

Hey there ! I have had a lack of posts lately that I'm kicking myself for. I promise I will get back into the swing of things, but I have been having computer difficulties lately. I'm on my Dad's iPad for now, but hopefully it will get fixed soon ! So for this second back to school post I'm going to mention the "essentials" of getting ready in a hurry because if your anything close to normal then you hate getting up extra early just to go see the same faces and same place everyday. At least that's how I look at it. Anyway without further a du here are the steps !

1. Dry shampoo your hair up. It will give you volume and suck up any oils you didn't get to wash out as you were too busy hitting the snooze button. I like the Suave Dry Shampoo.

2. Deodorant and perfume. Don't miss this step unless you want to feel and smell like a gremlin the rest of your day.

3. Wash your face. This will clean up the oils produced overnight and the dirt you collected from tossing and turning your pretty face. It also will help wake you up with a splash of cold water.

4. Moisturizer. This will help with any dryness and will prep your skin for any makeup you have time to apply. Don't miss this step as your skin will be begging for moisture all day long.

5. For a polished look that will take you not more than a couple of minutes apply mascara, concealer, and lipstick. Mascara really opens up and brings attention to your eyes. If I had to choose one of the three options I would always pick mascara. Concealer for any bags or pesky pimples to even your skin. When your skin looks good you can't go wrong. Lipstick to brighten your face and add some color so it's not so flat.

6. Don't skimp on breakfast. Definitely put eating a good breakfast in front of doing your makeup. It kicks up your metabolism for the day. Most important meal of the day and blah.

OK so you should be set to jet my friends! I'm sure I will be doing this routine everyday but the first. Stay tuned for more back to school posts! I start school in exactly one week !!! Good luck on your school year!

Don't worry be happy

- Brianna

Dry Shampoo?

Several years ago I heard about this new invention called "dry shampoo". At first glance I thought "that's so totally weird like OMG never gonna try that" and now I'm like a dry shampoo hoarder. And this is why.

Perks of Being a Dry Shampoo User

• Hair styles for dayz
• Less showers= less water= saving earth (you will be a hero)
• Saving real "old fashioned" shampoo 
• Less time wasted on doing your hair everyday
• VA VA VOLUME
• You will smell like a citrus fruit 
• Healthier hair by not washing hair everyday 
• You will just become more well rounded in general so I suggest it 

Tehe but seriously get some. I will do a post with a dry shampoo "fight night" 

July Favorites

HELLO EVERYONE. Wow July. Where did you go? I had a great month of July and I hope you did too. I'm going to share with you some things I have been loving yo. Please enjoy.

MAKEUP-

Maybelline Illegal Lenghts Mascara $7 at any drugstore.
Great for as it says, lengthening. It really can give a false lashes effect that I adore as I'm a huge lover of dramatic eyelashes. I have hardly been wearing any makeup and if I do I am first to put on mascara. :)

NAILS-

ZOYA Nail Polish in Paz $8 from www.zoya.com This is a really really BRIGHT neon orange polish that is just fab. Zoya is one of my favorite brands because they are so opaque and fast drying. Vibrant nail polish for summer is a staple of mine and this is at the top of the list. Get some.

Sorry this pic doesn't show how neon it is

SKINCARE-

Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream $18 from www.mariobadescu.com I hadn't used an eye cream in a long time until I received trial size Mario Badescu products in the mail. This is the only thing I could use as I had just started a new skincare regimen at the time I got it. This is great for hydrating my undereyes which have been surprisingly dry. I don't need any anti-aging help, but its killa for moisture. 

Sample size

HAIR-

Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo $13.95 from Lush stores or http://www.lushusa.com/No-Drought/9999903589,en_US,pd.html?start=10&cgid=liquid-shampoos

This was given to me over a year ago and I haven't even made a dent in it. It smells heavenly and works like  a dream. My only complaint is that while it does get out the oils, it leaves a white residue that can be tricky to brush out. It just takes some time, especially with the difficult packaging. This will last you a while as you only need a little and honestly this comes with sooo much product.

4.6 oz worth of goodness

BODY-

Bath and Body Works Creamy Body Wash with Triple Moisture Complex in Warm Vanilla Sugar scent $12.50 from B&BW stores. I have almost finished this up and I will probably pick up another one as it smells SOO good. Not only that, but the scent lasts on your skin. YUM

JUST SMELL IT

MOVIES-

ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING RYAN GOSLING. I watched every movie on Netflix that had him in it and I loved every single one, but if I had to tell you one I would say go watch Blue Valentine. Mind you it is rated R and pretty inappropriate with the sex scenes and what not. He's just such a talented actor and it amazed me how he could play such completely different roles. The man is good at what he does. AH I just love it. 

Pic via www.wikipedia.org

MUSIC-

I'm going to list five songs I have been in love with. Go check them out !

Counting Stars- One Republic

Safe and Sound- Capital Cities

Pretty Brown Eyes- Cody Simpson (so catchy you don't even know)

Best Song Ever- One Direction 

Everything Has Changed- Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran (<3 Eddie)

BOOK-

Paper Towns by John Green. I mentioned this in a different Current Favorites post, but I wasn't very far into it. I finished is a little while ago and MAN! I can't wait to read more John Green books because this was seriously bomb. The characters, the plot, the style, it was all perfect! :D

FASHION-

Kohls Tinseltown Pink Floral Shorts not sure of cost. These shorts. Just. Great. I have been wearing them a ton. They feel like athletic shorts, but look so cute. A win. Plus I'm not a pink wearer so these must be awesome. 

Have a wonderful August you silly gooses!

Speedy How to: Fix Broken Makeup

That the moment your favorite blush hits the cold hard ground is truly a tragedy. You may think, "Well that's 20 bucks down the drain" but fear not I have a solution! All you need is rubbing alcohol too, something you probably already have. I have used this on multiple different occasions and it always works. 

1. Break up all the pieces of makeup until its fine. 

2. Add cap fulls of the isopropyl alcohol till the texture becomes like a paste

3. Smooth the paste it looks good as new !

4. Wait overnight for it to dry! 

5. WAHLA brand new powdered makeup. 

BEFORE

AFTER

Haul of Wonderous Items

I did a little mother daughter shopping today so I thought I would share what I picked up because I'm psyched about everything!

First is Ulta. I had a 20% off coupon, but I didn't buy anything huge just some small things I've been eyeing.

Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara
I was running out of mascara so I needed to pick one up! Maybelline has my favorite mascaras and this is one I haven't tried yet. One of my favorite beauty gurus on Youtube, MissMeghanMakeup, raves about this mascara and her lashes always look phenomenal so I thought hey why not? It was $4.40 with the coupon. I will def do a review on this.

Maybelline Color Show Holographic Nail Polish in Blue Blaze 05
I just now realized that everything but one was from Maybelline... whoops. I think these holographic nail polishes are new and they're so stunning. I have yet to try this line of nail polishes so let's hope its a goodie! I also picked up another shade that I will show right below this. Oops almost forgot to mention that this was $3.19! SCORE

Maybelline Color Show Holographic Nail Polish in Alluring Rose 15
I thought both colors were so stunning for year round that I had to get both. Plus they were such a bargain! I can't wait to paint my nails for once! Also $3.19 :)

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Fine Liner Brush 
I'm a huge real technique brush fan. I think they're great quality for a very reasonable price. I have been needing a smaller eyeliner brush for more precision as I hate a really heavy eyeliner look on me and that's all I can achieve with the brush I own now. I think it will be a winner! $4.79              

Maybelline Super Stay 10 Hour Stain Gloss in Pleasing Plum 170
I bought this on a whim as it was marked down to only $2.29! That's not counting the 20% off so it came to only a whopping $1.83. I already tried it on and its pretty rockin. It gives nice look to my lips and is surprisingly moisturizing! The color is definitely something I would wear in the winter/fall, but that's not too far away...



Next is Jo Ann Fabrics where I only picked up one thing. I thought it had a really nice vintage quality to it and I have been need more space to hang my bags and jackets.

On sale for only like $5.50! Man I'm on a roll!

I also stopped in a local boutique where I picked up three really nice clothing pieces. I can't list the store as it's local, but I will list the brands/ sites to hopefully find the items if you like them.

Ya Los Angeles Knit Poncho $30 in size M http://www.yalosangeles.com/Main.aspx
Really like this for year round. I love very baggy, comfy sweater type tops so this was right up my alley.

Cecine Navy Sweater $29.95 in size M http://www.cecico.com/ This is an awesome lightweight sweater I can't wait to wear for fall and winter. Love the detailing on the side. 

I put on the flash as the detailing wasn't showing up 

 

M. Rena Unique Printed Top with Lace Detailing along the back $50 in One Size fits all http://www.m-rena.com/

I love the huge arm holes as it's pretty flattering with a bandeau. I love the pattern and loose fit of this shirt. Definitely a "me" piece. 

Back detailing 

Speedy How to: Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment that Kicks BUTT

Helloooo. For this next How to I wanted to talk about conditioning your precious hair. In the summer time the heat, pool, and sweat will leave your hair feeling just plain old nasty. So it's especially important to deep condition your hair in the warmer months to revive and moisturize your locks. This is the easiest conditioning treatment I have used because its cheap, natural, and effective. COCONUT OIL. This is all you need. Pick it up at any grocery or health food store and you won't regret it. I will be doing a whole post on the benefits of coconut oil in the near future as well.

1. With dry hair, goop on a hearty amount of 100% pure virgin Coconut Oil (magic). Don't be afraid to get the scalp as this is a good oil that will help with your hair's natural oiliness
2. Let it sit anywhere from 10 minutes to overnight to penetrate it with all of its goodness
3. In the shower shampoo your hair before it gets wet as this will remove the oil more effectively
4. Condition as usual or skip, but I always condition because my hair is naturally pretty dry and frizzy.
5. Air dry or style as usual and WAHLA beautiful, shiny, soft mane you will have

P.S. I try to do this at least once or twice a week. I wouldn't do it anymore because it can cause buildup.

Fashion at the Moment

Flower crowns. High waisted shorts. Crop tops. This is your basic outfit of way too many girls between the ages of I wanna say 14-18. And quite frankly when these trends first started I liked it. The whole boho, effortless vibes was something I totally dug. Until everyone and their mother and their mother's niece was wearing a Coachella inspired "hipster" if you will style. The stores of Brandy Melville, Urban Outfitters, and Topshop ate this shit up. Giving girls hundreds of different washes of "vintage" looking short shorts and a basic white crop top became all too easy. I am totally for dressing how you want to dress so I'm not saying that this look is something you shouldn't wear, but I would like to see more variety. Fashion to me is about the patterns, shapes, colors, and the masterpiece you become when you put on the clothes you love. I think of fashion as makeup in the sense that I can become who I want and feel good while doing it. I would like to say I loved clothing right out of the womb, but then I would be lying to you. I first remember my love affair with designing clothes when I was around 9 or 10. Since then it has been something I have loved and cherished. I could do a whole post about my journey with fashion if I end up thinking that's interesting enough. For now I just want to give a piece of advice that will probably end up sounding cheesy but I will tell you anyway. Don't be afraid to wear something because its not what everyone else is wearing. Choose to wear things that make you happy because they will. I find it pretty incredible that wearing a certain outfit can impact a person's confidence and mood.
This is my first all fashion post and I really want to continue to do more even though it might be a challenge snapping outfits I wear. This will be  something I will definitely  have to work on  and for now this is just an introduction of sorts <3

Back to School? Eh.

Sadly, summer has to come to a close. And for a lot of us, its ending sooner than we would like. I think everyone deserves time to do things they love with the people they love so my summer break has been great. I haven't done anything extravagant, just fun little things here and there. It seems as though its one of my best summers yet for a few reasons. 1. I had a great season with my softball team. I just ended tonight, which is very bittersweet as my teammates have become such good friends of mine that I spent practically my whole summer with. 2. I really got into shape/eating healthy as I have had more free time and motivation to be a better me. 3. I started this blog! I only started it 20 days ago out of a mix of curiosity/hope. I wanted to start a little project for myself as I didn't find a job to keep me occupied most of the time. I use it whenever I have free time, but I also try to carve out some time for posts. Its been a really great thing that makes me feel happy and proud. 4. My friendships have grown stronger than ever. I have four awesome best friends that I feel are closer to me now more than ever. I think that the future holds exciting things for me and I can't wait to take a fresh start on my journey. I will be facing one of the toughest school years yet, junior year. The words ACT and college sum up most high schoolers junior year. I am optimistic about my academics next year as well as my social life. I feel myself wanting to take charge more and look for better things to be doing. I hope that one day I can look back and know all the little things are what add up to make one big great thing. So for now I bid you goodnight and I hope you have had and are having a truly spectacular summer <3

Wishlist- Back to School

Hello so this has been something I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to do, but I ended up caving to myself. I will be sharing a few things I have been eyeing lately that I hope to be purchasing. I think this will be helpful because then you guys could see the things I want to try and then I can share my opinion on it after testing out. LET'S BOUNCE!

Not my photo it's from www.sephora.com

 Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette $27. I would say this is reasonably priced for Urban Decay eyeshadows as they're all full sized and individually they would be $18 a crack. I like natural eyeshadow for day to day if I do wear eyeshadow. I find myself being lazy with eye looks in the summer and early mornings for school so I think this would be perfect for that. It contains 5 matte and 1 semi-shimmery eyeshadow shades. Not to mention it could be used for brows or as an eyeliner (matte black).

Not my photos it's from  www.sephora.com

Bumble and Bumble The Surf Set $28. I really love the effortless beach waves look and so this seems to be the perfect kit for me. I have been looking for a new shampoo and conditioner as mine just aren't doing the job. The shampoo and conditioner supposed work together to create the "base" for the beachy style as the Surf Spray will add texture and body. Sounds like a party to me.

Not my photo it's from www.polyvore.com

Chuck Taylor Hi Top in White $55. I have been eyeing these for a couple years after I have been living in my Lo-Top Black Converse for the past three years. They're timeless, but still manage to give a vintage-cool feel to any outfit. The off-white "color"  is a fresh and crisp finishing touch to this beauty.

Speedy How To: At Home Manicure

I'm thinking of doing a series of these posts called "Speedy How To", which will consist me giving my best step by step approach to basic things that most of us do. Starting with something I need to do desperately, an at home manicure.

1. Obviously remove all traces of polish. 
2. Coat your fingernails and cuticles in your favorite oil (I use coconut)
3. Let it soak for at least a couple of minutes to soften the nail and cuticles. 
4. Wash off oil and clean up cuticles. 
5. Trim and file for shape
6. Add a base coat for a longer wear time
7. Add 1-2 coats of your desired nail lacquer 
8. Finish with a top coat or fast dry depending on how fast or not fast you are working, but if you can always use a top coat as this will protect and seal the color better than the fast dry. 

Drugstore Gems- The Best of the Best Part UNO

Hello! Happy Sunday! I had a great day and I hope you did too! So I'm going to share with you twelve products from the drugstore that I think you should try the next time you stop into CVS for shaving cream. I don't think you have to pay a lot to find good makeup and in this case this is all great stuff!

NYC Sunny Bronzer $4

I would say this is a cult favorite so I picked it up the last time I was at Target and woohoo is this awesome. It's great for us pale girls or if your a beginner with makeup. Bronzer can be a tricky thing. There is a fine line between Victoria Secret model and Snooki. This is a must have for a year round bronzed face.

Maybelline Color Tattoo $7

These are perfect for lazy days or under any eyeshadow for extra pop. It increases the wear time for powder eyeshadows. It's also very vibrant and creamy. They're just a breeze to apply and wear. 

I have Barely Branded and Bad to the Bronze 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Liner $4

I have raved about these before. They're so so creamy and so so long wearing. I love the nude and brown shades for everyday. I would consider these a dupe to the Urban Decay 24/7 except oops these are better !

Brown and Nude

NYC Blushable Creamstick in Big Apple Blush $4

This is one of the very first makeup products I ever purchased and I most definitely don't regret it. It's the only cream blush I have tried that doesn't appear greasy on my skin, but natural. The color is a perfect rosy flush. It's so quick and easy you don't have to think about it for a second. 

Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 for Normal Skin $10

A very long name, but I don't mind as this is the best moisturizer I have tried for daytime yet. It's not greasy and very smooth on my skin. It soaks in relatively well and provides a good base for makeup. I have had this for at least 3 months and haven't even used 1/4 of the bottle. Well worth it. 

Maybelline Color Whisper Lipstick in Who wore it Red-er ? $7

This is my favorite red lipstick from the drugstore. The quality is decent, it does feather and fade pretty quickly. The color is just so stunning thought. It has a bit of a fushia-pink quality to it while it is still a red. Beautiful color for many skin tones, especially very fair girls. 

There will be a second part as I have a ton of drugstore faves! Look out for that too!

Makeup = Confidence ?

So for about three years I have worn makeup. I started when I was around thirteen, pilling on blue mascara from Benefit because the lady put it on me and I liked it. I still think it's pretty cool so I might have to pick that up. Anyway then when I was fourteen I started doing more by adding foundation, concealer, and eyeliner to the mix. I was having a blast trying things out. Before I started using makeup I hated it. I remember my friends tried to put eyeliner on me once and I refused, but they finally did and I hated it. I thought I looked so strange and it hurt. Probably because it was a cheapy F21 eyeliner and that was all I wore so that was not a good experience. My love of makeup grew and so did my confidence with it on. But when I took off the makeup I felt different, less acceptable. I have had acne since I was around eleven so that has always hurt my self-esteem. Makeup fixed that for the periods of time I wore it. But makeup didn't permanently help my confidence. I thought I looked completely different with and without makeup. And I felt different.
I got teased for my acne and I felt it made me gross. Like I had to wear makeup so people wouldn't see my ugly skin. I didn't realize this then, but mostly everyone suffers from breakouts at one time or another. But when your like me and it stays with you for over five years, it hurts you. I could go without eye makeup, but I could never leave my house without face makeup. It was becoming a problem. Finally something hit me. It might have been that I just stopped caring so much and dared to face the world without makeup. And when no one said anything I knew it wasn't a big deal to others. Only to me. Guy and girl friends of mine told me I don't look any different without makeup. So has my brother, uncle, and dad. They don't see why I wear it. And sometimes I don't either. But I realize I love it. Applying it, making new looks, trying new products. I love it all. But now I have a healthier perspective on makeup. I go out without makeup all the time. Now I do my makeup when I have time and actually feel like doing it. Its less of a chore and more of something fun.
People won't stop liking you because you don't wear makeup or have acne. I learned that people care way more about the person you are deep down inside. So makeup isn't something I so much  need anymore as it's something I like. Something I want to do to make me happy. Brave your own fears. If its not wearing makeup, start small. Go to the drugstore or gym without makeup. Then I promise after several times of doing it, you will feel good sporting a makeup-free face. I still have breakouts, but I'm working on a new skincare to help even more as I really want clear skin. I have wanted it for a long time and there is nothing wrong with that. I still go out without makeup. Now when I look into the mirror and see my bare face I don't think "Oh gosh I look hideous". Instead I see my eyes which are one of my favorite things about myself. I see my full eyebrows and goofy smile. I don't see the flaws as much as I see the things I love about myself. I'm still not 100% there, but its definitely better. "Everybody is beautiful to someone" -Kevin Aucoin.

I'm in Narnia.

I don't know where I am or where I'm going. I haven't got a clue with what I want to do with myself. I'm entering my junior year of high school and I don't know who I am at all. I have been told so many different things throughout the years that I just don't know who or what to believe. But I do know that I feel like what I'm doing right now in my life isn't making me happy. I feel like I need to be doing something greater. I want to do something greater, bigger than just sitting my room watching YouTube videos. Its not fulfilling me. One day I think I want to be a journalist the next I want to be a personal trainer. I want to do something great though. I can do something great. Everyone can. This whole high school searching for myself thing is one of the toughest things. I don't understand how we can be expected to decide what we are going to pursue at only 17 or 18. Its absolutely nuts to me. I know I like music, fashion, doing makeup, boys, singing, movies, and fitness a lot. But what can I make of all or any of those. I keep telling people that I'm thinking of studying journalism in college, but that's only because I like to write and other people think I'm good at it. I don't even know exactly what journalism calls for. I don't know what life or being a good person calls for. I don't know what I call for. I'm holding myself back.
God being on my period just makes me want to cry all the time and get sad about everything.  I know I'm not the only one in this situation, but I really wanted to vent. This is a little bit diary style. Which I do pretty regularly. I may or may not do these. Again wasn't planned.
Have a good night

FOTD- Something Different than Just Mascara

I don't know about you but sweating your foundation off does not sound like a good time. So in the summer time I barely wear any makeup. But today I felt like going all out with everything. I tried to get good pictures, but the lighting was horrendous and my phone doesn't pick up colors all that well. Anyway I'm going to show you anyway because I like how it turned out and how the products looked.

FACE

I mixed Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Foundation in fair with Revlon Nearly Naked in Shell to get the perfect color and consistency. The soft matte finish of the Revlon make the Josie dewy finish less intense. Then I dusted my Studio Fix , but the powder in N5 to set everything. Added my Time Balm concealer in light under my eyes.

Sorry for the carpet background
I'm working on finding a good background to show things

EYES

I primed with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. Then I used my Physicians Formula Trio in Baked Oatmeal on my lids. The lightest color in the inner corner, middle on the lid, and darkest in crease/outer v. Then I lined my eyes with my Rimmel Scandaleyes liner in brown and applied two coats of Maybelline Illegal Length mascara.

CHEEKS

I contoured lightly with theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer. For blush I used my Rimmel Lasting Finish blush in Pink Rose. And for highlighter I used Watts up by Benefit

LIPS

I wanted something simple so I used my Tarte Lipsurgence Natural Lipstain in Charmed, a baby pink.

My like 50th attempt at showing the final look
Sorry you have to see this

Pricey Products that Deliver

Hola mi amigo! How are ya? I'm going to be sharing with you make products that are expensive as butt, yet really work. I have mentioned a few of these items in previous posts, but I thought I should reiterate their makeup goodness. Now enter makeup heaven.

MAC Lipsticks $15

These are my absolute favorite lipsticks even though I only own two. I have the colors Snob and Viva Glam Gaga. They just look stunning on the lips and feel so luxurious. They don't feather at all, which I have problems with drugstore lipsticks doing. Not to mention they smell so divine. One tube will last awhile as I find I don't need to keep reapplying. Plus there's always the Back to MAC program so you can score one for free!

Buxom Lip Products $19
I own three different types of Buxom lip products. I'm not a huge lip junkie so when I like a lip product it's a keeper. I own the lip cream in Cherry Flip, original lipgloss in Dani, and the Big and Healthy Lipstick in Sydney. All three of these products impress me so much. The cream offers so much color all while being a thin formula. The original lipgloss is more on the sheer side but its great on top of any lipstick for amazing shine. The lipstick is great because its a skinny stick so you can fill in your lips with it or use it as a regular lipstick.

Urban Decay Naked Palette $50
One of the most expensive makeup items I have ever purchased, but its so worth it. I have hit pan on 2/3 or the eyeshadows as I use them all the time. Great quality and pigmentation. The colors are perfect for everday eye looks.

MAC Rubenesque Paint Pot $18.50
This is gorgeous all over the eyes as a peachy, gold shade. Its longwearing and can be used as a base. The color is just so fantastic and unique. The formula is thin and easy to work with as well. Mine is much loved and I would repurchase it in a heartbeat. Would look absolutely stunning on blue eyes.

MAC Studio Fix Foundation Powder $27
I have talked about this a couple times because its one of my holy grail beauty items. Its my type of foundation as its natural, quick, and lightweight. It gives the most stunning finish and the coverage is easily manipulated by using different brushes/a sponge.

Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter $30
This may be cheating putting this in here as I haven't bought the full size because I got a sample size from Sephora as a birthday gift. But I will pick up the full size when I run out because its the best everyday highlighter I have used. Its  a beautiful golden champagne that I don't find too intense for everyday unlike my Mary Lou Manizer from theBalm. Absolutely gorgeous.

theBalm Cheek Products $19-24
I did a whole blog post featuring all theBalm products I own with reviews and swatches so check that out for more details on the Bahama Mama Bronzer, Mary Lou Manizer highlighter, and Hot Mama blush. http://aimfurstrange.blogspot.com/2013/07/makeup-brand-review-balm-cosmetics.html

I hope you enjoy and remember it's good to treat yourself ! Don't skimp on you !