Monday, April 28, 2014

Stila Review


Don't you just love it when you finally break down and buy that pricey makeup item that you've always looked at but never bought, and turns out that's it's actually pretty amazing? Yeah, I had one of those moments this weekend when I went to Ulta to look at a different foundation. I've been using Naked Skin by Urban Decay and it was great for a while, but after a while it really dried out my skin. The lady at Ulta recommended the Stila stay all day foundation because not only does it have great coverage, but it's also moisturizing. I've been wearing the foundation for about 3 days now and I'm very pleased with how long it lasts throughout the day, it's not heavy, and it not drying. Plus, you get a cute little brush and concealer/mirror on the top!
What's a shopping trip without an unexpected buy? Or two buys in my case. One being the Stila smudge stick waterproof eyeliner, and Stila convertible blush. I was sold on the liner when I noticed how much it made my eyes pop as apposed to black eyeliner which can look to harsh. I took it down a notch and went with the color metallic umber which is like a grey/brown/copper tone. 
Last but never least, This beautiful pink blush has taken the award for best blush I've ever owned. I've never tried cream blushes until now and little did I know how much I was missing out. The color is beautiful and stays on pretty well, unlike powder blushes. But wait, there's more. Not only is it a blush, but it's a lipstick as well! Swipe a small lip brush over the blush and onto your lips. I suggest a clear gloss over top because it is a tad dry.

Overall, I give all of these products rave reviews and highly recommend them. They are a bit pricey, but defiantly worth the splurge!


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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Tuesday Tip: Bathing Suit Season!



May is quickly approaching but with exams and graduations taking place in May, it seems to go by pretty quickly, bring June even sooner. You know what that means...

Bathing Suit Season

That's right ladies, it's almost time to stash away your sweaters and bust out that super cute suit you bought last week. The only problem? Those cheese fries and candy over spring break hasn't done any justice for your body. Don't fret, I'm here today to give some tips on how to flush out the bad stuff and possibly lose some pounds. Remember, your body is made in the gym, but shown in the kitchen, meaning that if you really want to see results, doing 1000 sit ups but eating a doughnut afterwards won't make any progress.


1. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!
Okay, this one's kind of obvious. You should get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, which isn't much. Everyone's body is different, so it only makes sense to say that not every exercise will work for you. Try out everything your gym has to offer from yoga classes to Zumba, find what works for you, but don't forget to occasionally switch it up to ensure you stay active!

2. Stay Hydrated!
No, those three piña coladas you had on vacay doesn't count, and I'm pretty sure there's very little fruit used as well. You need to drink at least 8-8 ounce cups of water a day to keep your body healthy. I recommend buying a 32 or 64 ounce water bottle and keeping it with you at work, school, or while you're out during the day. Having it with you at all times will remind you to drink, and you may even find yourself sipping subconsciously. 

3. Avoid these foods like the plague:

Watch out for anything processed, even if it says fat-free or reduced fat. No added sugars, white breads, rice, or pasta. Fried foods. Candy and pastries. Ice cream and milkshakes. Take-out food in general. Try to make your food at home as much as you can with simple ingredients so you know what you're eating. If you can't say it, don't eat it! 

4. Swap coffee for tea.

This will be hard for people like me who have to have a cup of coffee every morning before anything can get done. and I mean have to. Try having a cup of tea with a small amount of sugar instead. Green Tea is super good for your metabolism, and studies show that black tea has as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, without the bad acids for your stomach!

5. Get your Zz's.

Sleep is very important for your body, and people 16-25 should get about 8 hours of sleep a night to recharge your body. I know that seems impossible when you have a ton of work to do or maybe you just really have to see the next season of Gossip Girl on Netflix, but it can be done. Go to bed earlier and get up earlier, or take a nap during the day.

I hope you get the results you're wanting by following these tips! Remember, don't strive to look a certain way, because you may never look that way and that's okay! You're body is shaped differently that other's and in order for it to stay healthy, you may not get those razor sharp hip bones or thigh gap, but that's absolutely fine! You're gorgeous the way you are, and your body deserves the best treatment, it is the only one you have!




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Monday, April 21, 2014

Naked 3 Tutorial

Happy Monday! Who am I kidding, there's no such thing as a happy Monday, but we can always make it a little brighter with a makeup tutorial! I finally got with the times and picked up the Naked 3 palette yesterday and I totally see what all the hype's about, it's so lovely! 
As I finished with my eye shadow this morning, I really liked it and wanted to show you guys, but I totally forgot to take a picture, but don't worry, I'll explain the steps as best as I possibly can!

Step 1: Prime your eyelids with a primer before you begin. This will keep the eye shadow on much longer than it would without it. If you don't have primer, use a bit of concealer!
Step 2: Cover your lid with the color Burnout. It's a nice rosy color that doesn't have too much shimmer and will serve as your base.
Step 3: Add a small amount of Strange to the corner of your eyes to brighten your eyes and make you look more awake.
Step 4: Swipe a bit of Factory to the outer edge of your eye and on the crease. This adds a bit of a smokey eye look, but the shade isn't too dark that it's overwhelming. 
Step 5: With a blending brush, add Nooner to the brow bone and slightly blend into the lid. Be careful not to blend everything together too much.

Now that you've finished with your eye shadow, put on a nice amount of mascara to widen your eyes. To help your eyes POP, put mascara on the bottom lashes.

I hope you all find this tutorial helpful in any way, I'm so very sorry for the lack of pictures. If you decide to try this, instagram it or tweet it to me, I'd love to see what you've done! Have a lovely day!

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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Tuesday Tips: Traveling

Hi guys! Now that the weather is warming up there's going to be plenty of traveling to do. Whether it's to the beach, mountains, South, or North, I've collected a few traveling tip guides to help you out with packing, what to do at the airport, and once you get to your destination. 
The list above is for a trip to the city, but if you're going somewhere like Los Angeles and will be in the city and the beach, just throw in a bathing suit and cover up and you're good to go. 
When packing for a vacation, it's a good idea to make a packing list beforehand, especially if you're going to be flying there. You won't over pack and you're less likely to forget something. Also, plan outfits, don't pack individual items, and try them on before you go. That way you'll know if you like that outfit on or not. 
These carry-on essentials are a must for a long flight. Personally, I could go without a neck pillow and sleep mask, but that's just me. If you don't have a kindle, swap it for a magazine or an actual book. If there's anything that I absolutely recommend to bring on the plane, it's a pair of headphones. You never know when there will be an annoying crying child or an old man snoring an isle over. 
These are just some basic rules to follow to insure a smooth traveling experience. 
For more traveling tips, try these links!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5


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Monday, April 14, 2014

Graze.com Box Review

Hi Guys! So today I received my first box from Graze.com and I'm excited to share with you my snacking experience.
If you're not familiar with Graze, it's a healthy snack company that sends you a box to your home or work with 4 well portioned snacks. Each box is only $6 with free shipping, unless you are out of the United States.
The packaging is very simple in a thin cardboard box, which is understandable due to the companies eco-friendly, natural approach. 
Inside there are four little containers (only three are shown here, I was a tad hungry) with a randomly chosen mix of nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, or seeds.
At first I was skeptical about how good a boxed trail mix could be, but the mix I sampled was very good, and also satisfied my hunger for a while. The mixes aren't your boring old raisins and peanuts either, my mix, called Brooklyn Bites, had poppy seed pretzels, cheese cashews, and roasted pumpkin seeds.  

If you're looking for healthy, yummy snacks to eat at school, home, work, on the go, etc., then you should definitely give graze a try! Check it out here and enter code XK4W33NXB to get your 1st and 5th box free!
Enjoy!


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Saturday, April 12, 2014

New In: Art Prints

Hi Guys! It's finally spring break and I couldn't be happier! I may not be going to the beach, but that gives me more time to spend blogging and shopping, and personally, that sounds like an awesome spring break to me. 
As you may have seen on my tumblr, I recently purchased some art prints for my room, and they arrived today! I was very surprised at how quickly they came; I got them in under a week! 

I got these three lovely art prints from LadyGatsbyLuxePaper on etsy. She has some amazing prints, and it was so hard to only choose three, but I'm very satisfied with my selection. The prices range from $3-$15 depending on whether you want adorable little gift cards to send to your friends, or a chic wall print. The prints I received are 8.5" x 11", as are most of her prints. 
Another thing I was pleased with was that I also received three little note cards with envelopes that came with my purchase.

Overall, I was very happy with this purchase and I recommend that you check out her etsy store in the near future.
Have a great weekend!


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Thursday, April 3, 2014

Clean Eating: Caramelized Bananas

Photo Cred: Pinterest 

Hey Y'all! I'm so sorry for my absence but don't worry, I'm back now, and with a new blog plan! From now on this blog won't follow any certain style or topic. I plan on sharing yummy recipes, makeup trends and fashion finds with y'all, and much much more! 

Anyways, back to the bananas!

I pinned this recipe on my pinterest and finally tried it out last night. I didn't have any Greek yogurt with it mainly because I didn't have any, but also I didn't think it would be very good. To get a bit of a sugary crunch, I also added a bit of brown sugar on top. I did exactly as the directions called for, but the sugar and honey didn't caramelize like I had planned, and I was quite disappointed, that is, until I tried a bite. It.Was.Fantastic. It's like a warm banana pie without the crust (but the sugar did add a bit of crunch!). I highly recommend it. 

Here's what you'll need: 
1 banana 
Cinnamon 
Honey
Brown Sugar (optional)
Greek Yogurt (optional)
Fork (for digging in)

Cut up your banana and place it on a pan with tin foil and sprinkle cinnamon, brown sugar, and honey on to your taste. Cook at 180 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until a caramel like glaze is on top. 

Enjoy, and tell me what you think!


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