Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Hairstyle Mania

"A tornado flew around my room before you came,
Excuse the mess it made,
It usually doesn't rain."

-"Thinking 'Bout You", Frank Ocean

If you haven't heard this cover by Jaden Smith and Justin Bieber already please do yourself a favor and watch this:


I know I know... Justin Bieber, not everyone's cup of tea, but watch it just to be blown away at Jaden's voice. Like dayummm, boy.

Anyway, SO sorry guys for going MIA for the past like week ): I've been crazy busy with exams, applying to summer camps and the SAT this weekend. Literally worked on a summer application from 4-11:58 yesterday and submitted 2 minutes before the deadline. My work ethic is incredible, as you can tell.........

So yes. Again quick post today, because I've been a hot mess for the past week and I'm barely functioning. Today's post: Cute Hair Inspiration








Just a little bit of hair inspiration, if you're bored with your boring do' (:

Love ya'll!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Betsey Johnson Yay(:

"Don't ask me how I'm doing If you don't wanna know
I stayed out too late
Woke up late
Oh, you know how it goes."

-"One of Those Days", Joy Williams

Hey there everyone! Hope you guys are having  a great day(: If not, listen to the song of the day! It'll forsure cheer you up:



Anyway I just have a quick post for today:

So for most of my life, I've always believed that runway fashions were outrageously unwearable and reserved for those who had superior fashion knowledge, but recently I've been looking into Spring 2012 Ready to Wear Collections and I've really liked some of the stuff I've seen. Particularly the Betsey Johnson collection. 

It's a lot of florals and sheer lingerie-like styles which gives that feminine touch without being provocatively revealing. This includes flow-y frills and dresses, but it's far from over-the-top. In fact, I could actually find myself -gasp- WEARING some of the clothes.... Craaaazy, right?

So take a look guys, and tell me what you think about these runway looks!!(:

I see this as a picnic look:

Betsey Johnson Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

Little more rocker and bling:

Betsey Johnson Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

Minus the bra showing, I really like this dress!

Betsey Johnson Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

LOVE LOVE LOVE the colors and print on this:

Betsey Johnson Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

Yay animal print:

Betsey Johnson Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

Very pretty cut and print:

Betsey Johnson Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

** All pictures are from: style.com**

That's it for me, today! Don't forget to comment and keep requests up. 
Take care, guys <3

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Go-To Eye Shadow

"Check yes Juliet
I'll be waiting
Wishing wanting yours for the taking
Just sneak out and don't tell a soul goodbye"

- "Check Yes Juliet", We the Kings

Hey guys, two days ago I made a post asking what you guys wanted to see on this blog, and all of your comments were so sweet and supportive! So shout-out and thanks to everyone who gave me feedback.(--and if you haven't yet, please comment and let me know your thoughts:)

I did get a request to do more makeup and health-related posts so I'm going to be talking about eye shadows. Now originally I was going to do a review on the Too-Faced Natural Eye Palette, but I think I'm going to wait and experiment a little more with the palette before I do a review...

SO, today's post is going to be a review of my go-to eye shadow quad:

L'OREAL Studio Secrets Professional Eye Shadow in 936 (Blackened Smokes)



So basically, this line of drug store eye shadows comes with 4 colors which they number and give you instructions on how to apply them. The colors include an eyeliner, a base, highlight, and brighten color.

This quad is a great basic/ starter quad because it's super versatile and easy to use for beginners. This is my eye shadow staple and this is what mine looks like now:


Kind of nasty, right? Hahahah(:

So personally, I don't really use pencil/gel/liquid eyeliner, I much prefer using the "1" color with an angled eyeliner brush that's been dipped in a drop of water. For me, the look is soft and super easy because you guide the line with your brush and you don't have to work with pencils not sharpening or the harshness of liquid liner.

It's really quick and simple in the mornings and I say this from experience since I'm ALWAYS late for class and I literally do my makeup in 4 minutes.


The colors are all shimmer with the exception of "1" that has tiny glitters inside but its subtle enough that I don't notice it when I use it as eyeliner.

The colors "2" and "4" I just simply sweep across my lids for a wash of color, but most of the time I leave it out because I like the winged eyeliner + mascara look.


The shimmering white color "3" is great for your tear duct to add that bit of sparkle and make your adds look brighter and more doe-like.

So its pretty great pigmentation for drug-store, applies well, and easy to use.

Here are my swatches and I did these without primer cause I know not everyone has primer or if you're like me... has time to deal with primer....



The negatives are that the glitter in color "1" can be distracting and the colors do fade a little during the day.

Quick summary:
Pros:
1. Very versatile (eyeliner, shadow, inner-corner)
2. Beginner friendly
3. Great price: $5.99 at drugstores (I got mine at Walmart)

Cons:
1. Fades a little
2. Distracting glitters that smudge easily


All right then, I'm off to the gym (KICK BOXING CLASS YAYYY!). Be on the look-out for my Too-Faced Natural Eye Palette Review!!!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

What do you guys want to see on this blog?(:

"Say it again for me, cause I love the way it feels when you are telling me that I'm the only one that blows your mind."
-"Say It Again", Marie Digby


You guys, the song of the day is from basically my favorite YouTube-originated artist EVER. (And yes that includes Bieber) 


And fun fact, she's also the first YouTube singer that I found on YouTube wayyyyy back when I had one of those embarrassing 10 year old usernames like "puppyprincessxoxo54" or "angelfairy10" Oh dear... 

Why wasn't I someone cool when I was a kid, like Avia from the style rookie, who I recently grew attached to: 

What a daring fashion-forward kid. 

And then there was me. 

Just kidding that's not really me... but I did have a phase where I was obsessed with stripes... 


Just so you know, this post will gain you absolutely no knowledge because it falls into the ramblings category. :D Sorry to disappoint.
Oh and by the way, I've been bursting out into random fits of laughter throughout the day because of this image I saw on Tumblr.





HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. That third picture gets me every time....


But anyway, lately, I've been spending WAY too much time on Blogger. Like seriously 3 hours today, and I haven't posted anything until now, because I'm slightly OCD... 
I also tried to do an outfit of the day, but I feel inferior since I took the picture in my bedroom and it's not as well artistic, with like flowers shooting out from the sky and leaves falling around me.... And then I made a "i'm really pissed off right now" post about my dramatic teenage life which I then decided not to post because I don't think anyone has any interest in that kind of junk... But if you do please let me know, because I've got lots of that kind of random angry posts saved in my drafts... 
You would think I'm kidding but I'm really not.


If you're not feeling it, tell me what you guys WANT to see on this blog. More fashion? Reviews? Beauty? Fitness? Cooking?! Advice? Let me know!!! And I'll do my best. (:


For now: Here's an outfit that I'm in love with, but can't wear right now because the weather in my city is unseasonably warm and awkward... ):
I need SNOW!!!





Don't worry, more posts to come!!!
Hang in there guys <3

Monday, January 16, 2012

Healthy Eating 101


"If you were falling, then I would catch you.
You need a light, I'd find a match.

Cause I love the way you say good morning.
And you take me the way I am."

-"The Way I Am", Ingrid Michaelson

To me that song is the perfect Sunday morning with a cup of tea in a powder blue cup, laying snuggled up with a novel on a rainy day.




Okay so I don't have a lot of time to blog today because I slacked on my homework because of good old MLKJ day so today's post will be brief:

HEALTHY EATING 101
Background on my eating habits: I'm naturally really slender which I've found this to be a mixed blessing because while I don't struggle with losing weight, I find it hard to motivate myself to eat healthy. Chocolate and basically anything horribly unhealthy is my weakness... cheesecake, burgers, truffles

But lately, I've been trying to incorporate healthier foods into my diet, usually by replacing junk food with healthier snacks. And here are my 3 tips of the day for healthy eating:

1. Buy a water bottle. Preferably a cute one.
I don't know what about chic water bottles but they motivate me drink A LOT of water. With regular plastic bottles, I drink maybe one bottle, but ever since I picked up my Starbucks cold cup, I've been drinking NON-STOP. I usually fill this up with healthy juices and then refill it at the water fountain in between classes. And the simplicity of the design allows you to refill it with whatever you want... tea, juices, coffee, because the cleanup is easy. You can find cold cups anywhere, and they come in MANY MANY cute designs.



     2. Shop at healthy food stores
Whenever I go to Walmart I find myself reaching for the raspberry chip ice cream or the king-sized Reeses, so to get rid of this temptation altogether, I go to healthy food markets. The atmosphere of it just makes me want to fill myself up with healthy, nutritious foods. Today I went to Whole Foods and picked up:


    
















 3. Always have packaged snacks at hand
This will save you a trip to the vending machine stuffed with high-calorie, high-sugar and diet-breaking foods. Share snacks with friends and bounce ideas off of each other. I find that my runner friends are the best eaters and they've introduced me to COUNTLESS healthy snacks. Things I'm loving: CLIFF bars, LUNA bars (seriously the best snack bars ever. They literally melt in your mouth), Stretch Island All Natural Fruit Peels, dried fruit, wheat thins, and pretzel thins. 

But remember guys, it's okay to eat out! I did today at Panera and it was SO GOOD. I have no regrets (;



Okay well off to the gym. I might post some workout tips or things I do at the gym to get toned, but that's a little off the fashion theme of this blog haha. See you guys later!!(:

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Top Drugstore Makeup Removers

"I'm feeling sexy and free. Like glitters raining on me"
-Domino, Jesse J.

Hey everyone! After blogging all yesterday, I literally could not wait to get on my labtop and type away a new post for today! I've been jittery all day in excitement and the old Teen Vogue magazine I read about teen fashion bloggers didn't help...
But at last. I'm here. Sprawled atop of my bed that hasn't been made for well over a week, munching on Honey BBQ Fritos (delish! if you haven't tried) and letting my fingers fly over the keys of my crappy little labtop. <3



Anyway. Today's topic is removing makeup!
We all know that removing makeup is essential to preventing breakouts but oftentimes, we get lazy and end up waking up the next morning with eyeliner on our forehead and drool smearing our foundation. Yum.

So here are the makeup removers I use and which ones I've repurchased:



     1. Neutrogena naturals fresh cleansing + makeup remover

Now this makeup remover is an all in one miracle. It takes off your makeup like a charm and I've found that I don't need to scrub to get this to work either. Plus it's super affordable!
How to Apply: What I do is splash my face with water to loosen the makeup  and you only need one pump. The product comes out as a opaque white shampoo- texture which by the way smells amazing. I would describe it as a natural floraly scent that reminds me of a fresh spring day after some rain showers. Then all you do is rub in between your hands and apply all over your face. It lathers a bit, and I like to focus on my eye area to get out the mascara residue and etc. 
Price: $5.97
Where to buy: Walmart, but I'm sure other drugstores will have it too
Use: Every night and mornings, if you'd like.
Repurchase: Just finished first bottle, definitely repurchasing!!


     2. Sonia Kashuk Eye Makeup Remover

Okay, I've got to admit that I'm a HUGE sucker for cute packaging and this sleek design really caught my eye. It's one of those makeup removers that has 3 separate layers, the blueish liquid at the bottom, then a frothy white layer and a clear oil at the top. It isn't that much product as compared to some of the other makeup removers, but it does last a good 2-3 months. This is hands down my favorite makeup remover, because it removes ALL  your makeup WITHOUT leaving residue, it's pretty affordable and it has a simple and chic packaging.
How to Apply: Since it separates into layers, I shake it all up first. Next, I take a cotton ball to the top of the bottle, turn the bottle upside down and wipe the product on my eyes starting from the inner corner going outwards. 
Price: $10
Where to Buy: TARGET(:
Use: Every night!
Repurchase: Just picked up my second bottle!


     3. Neutrogena Oil-Free Makeup Remover

This makeup remover is great for targeting eyes and if you have a little more time to remove your makeup and then use a separate cleanser. It claims to be oil-free and while I don't dispute this, it does have an thicker texture and leaves an oily residue. I've gotten this in my eyes MANY times before and it doesn't sting at all. It just fogs up your vision for a second or two. The only complaint I have is that when I use this with a cotton ball, I find that occasionally, an eyelash will fall out which is really no big deal, BUT it does freak me out a little cause I have very sparse eyelashes to begin with.
How to Apply: See above
Price: Around 8 dollars
Where to Buy: Walmart
Use: Every night!
Repurchase: Finished two bottles, but probably going to stick with Sonia Kashuk from now on

So there you have it everyone, my top drugstore makeup removers!(: I'm thinking about doing a drugstore mascara review next, but if you have any other skincare/ beauty reviews you like, please leave a comment to let me know!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Fashion Inspiration When You're Broke Like Me

"No here we are so close, yet so far, haven't I passed the test. When will you realize, that I'm not like the rest"
-"Give Your Heart a Break" Demi Lovato

So I was at the gym the other day watching the People's Choice Awards and heard Demi perform this song. Seriously guys, I was blown away. 
This girl knows how to make a comeback and she is a true inspiration for all those little kids out there watching Disney Channel. Mass props to that girl. 

Anyway. Topic of the Day... INSPIRATION.
Fashion Inspiration is everywhere and blogs are a great place to start, but here are just a couple of other tips for changing up your style:

1. Magazines- I know kind of obvious but subscriptions to these magazines will help you out a ton if you're not into watching fashion shows and keeping up to date with runway trends. There are numerous publications but I gravitate towards Seventeen, Teen Vogue and People: Style Watch. 


2. Half Price Books- Has a great selection of magazines but I find fashion magazines go fast, so you got to check back often. Sometimes you'll get lucky like I did today and there was a huge stack of old Teen Vogue magazines for 50 cents each. Jackpot.

3. Sketchbooks! I know I mentioned them in my last post, but I just bought a small sketchbook from Half-Price for $5 and it's perfect for sketching cute things you see other girls wearing or just random inspiration that hits you when you're out and about. And if you're not "artsy" enough, you can copy and paste from advertisments, magazines or random print outs!


4. Celebrity Fashion Guides- If you have a celebrity that's already your inspiration, see if you can find a fan page for their street style. I know many teenage celebrities have one such as Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and Victoria Justice. Literally Vanessa Hudgen's style page was my childhood inspiration.


5. YOUTUBE. As if I haven't beaten the horse...dead? What's the saying? Beating a dead horse? ... You know what I mean. There are dozens of popular beauty and style gurus who showcase their fashion. "Outfit of the Day" or OOTD is a popular segment on a lot of channels and a great place to start because most of those ladies are real people who aren't super high fashion-y (Of course there are some that are, if that's what you're into) so that you can follow their advice without toning it down. (Which I find myself doing with high fashion magazines) My favorites include
MissGlamorazzi: Gorgeous girl with the sweetest personality and a cutesy, classy style

Fleur de Force: Literally like the prettiest girl on YouTube who's British accent is absolutely adorable.

Everything Luxy: Two very beautiful ladies with more mature styles. Think blazers and chic accessories.

Wendy's Look Book: All over Sophistication. Her videos are flawless. Leaning more towards high fashion and the editing to her videos are amazing.



Allright, everyone, hope you enjoyed this post. Off to bed now! I need to catch up on my sleep from an EXHAUSTING week... 

Friday, January 13, 2012

Confessions

"OOOOOOOOOOOOH SOMETIMES I GETTA GOOD FEELING.
YEAH.
I GETTA FEELING THAT I NEVER NEVER KNEW NEVER HAD BEFORE OH NO I GET A GOOD FEELING.
YEAH."

-"Good Feeling", Flo Rida

Usually I'm not a huge fan of auto-tuned pop songs centered on vague hormone-charged emotions but what the heck, this one has been stuck in my head all day.
And you know what it feels like when that happens. #firstworldproblems.

Anyway. I have a couple of confessions. To all 3 people out there that have actually read my blog, I feel like I need to get this out........
I'm not the hipster-fashion forward style junkie that I want to be......unfortunately. I shop at forever21 too much and I couldn't name you 4 vintage stores... ): Sad right?

HOWEVER. I'm getting there..........With help from my super fashionable friends and from my constant subscriptions to YouTube gurus and fashion vlogs, I'm getting there!!! Slowly but surely.
But here are just a couple of things I'm going to try this month and if you'd like to be more fashion forward you can do them with me!

1. get cultured. Read. I'm planning to read the Hunger Games and I'm absolutely STOKED. Seriously, guys. stoked.
2. buy some cute sketchbooks and write and draw. Inspiration hits you in the awkwardest moments and i don't know about you guys but pulling out the iphone 4gs that I don't have isn't as-- well, artsy as you know, taking out a vintage-inspired sketchbook
3. explore at least 3 new stores. For me, I'm going vintage ones and to anthropolgie(: (: Just because Tay-Tay tweeted about it and she's like my hero. Sorry for sounding like a thirteen year old girl, but after getting my confessions out there, I feel like we've connected on a deeper level, ya know?

So there! my super delayed new years resolutions!!! Enjoy guys and you know this post wouldn't be complete without a link, so here's one to a fashion/random vlog that  I've been following in 2012. I'm seriously obsessed:

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGridMonster?blend=2&ob=video-mustangbase

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Question: What do you do when you can't finish your homework?

Answer: Screw it and blog instead.

"When I look into your eyes, it's like watching the night skies, or a beautiful sunrise."
- "I Won't Give Up", Jason  Mraz

Beautiful beautiful song. Give it a listen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdN5GyTl8K0&ob=av2e

Anyway. This blog is going to be completely unrelated to fashion, just a heads up.

So the topic of school comes around, and I'm not gonna lie. School is a love-hate thing, for me, it leans more towards hate, but honestly, the only thing that makes it moderately bearable is when you're doing what you love.

I loved cross country when I was in high school. I was very mediocre at running, but it's one of the best experiences I've ever had. The team bonding, the sisterhood, if you will, is amazing and when you're all doubling over with cramps and freaking impossible workouts, you develop a bond with those people. I definitely did not not do cross country to put it on my college application and that was what made all the difference.... but who am I kidding, putting it on my app wouldn't do much since my biggest honor would be a participation ribbon in a meet hahaha.

Also, I loved writing in high school, and I didn't write for the school newspaper because at our school, you had to be like... a super talented writer with a huge commitment to journalism, and I didn't have the time, so I just wrote for fun, entered a few competitions and what do you know? I was actually pretty good at that. And why? BECAUSE I FREAKIN' LOVED IT.

I also did a lot of volunteer stuff, but I volunteered for activities that I had interest in. Colleges want to see your passion, not the stuff that you think they'd like. So do your research! The internet is an amazing tool to get started, but be sure to network and talk to friends and relatives. I'm sure people who are in college would have great advice for you and be more than willing to share. So set up a couple coffee dates with some old mentors and friends and you'll be amazed at what they have to say.

You guys, in short, the best advice I have is to try everything you think you might like your freshman year, and then when you find out what you do  like, stop trying to do everything and just stick with what you love. It's really just that simple. Because the worst thing is to live in regret and wish you would've tried something else when you're a senior stuck with boring clubs just because you thought it would look good on college application. If you live like that for college applications, you're probably going to end up living your entire life doing stuff you hate. And I'd rather scrape a living traveling the world and taking pictures of city skylines than to be CEO of like a Fortune 500 company and not have time for my family.

And as a girl, I can't wait to have a family and I'd much rather spend time with my future family and friends and just live my life with no regrets... ya dig?

Maybe I'm an idealist for saying all that, or maybe it's modern family getting to my head. Which by the way is my all time favorite show. Love love love them Dunphys(: