The Boyfriend Jeans for Beginners

I'm the first one to say that I always have major fashion envy when I see girls walking around campus wearing perfectly ripped up, baggy boyfriend jeans. However, when going to actually try them on, I never felt quite like they suited me. Perhaps it's just perspective, but then I found these at Lucky Brand. While still fitting like a regular jean in the butt and thighs, it loosens around near the knees and ankles. They are rolled up, and even though I never think capri pants suit my shorter legs for my longer torso, it still just works. I pair them with my topshop white shirt and chestnut booties. This outfit is just so casual and chic, but still is comfortable because I feel like I'm wearing normal jeans. 

Little Chat

Hello everyone! So last post I mentioned a new internship, but I never really established exactly what this internship is. I'm doing an internship that is extremely important to me, and also involving something I love. So basically you clue is: 

So yeah, basically I work with sharks. Not directly (yet). I'm a photographer for Shark Research at the University of Miami, where we take groups out to learn about and tag sharks. The work that we do not only gives us a better understanding of a species that is sadly still largely a mystery (for example, a shark species was discovered alive by the human eye a few weeks ago), and also to help these guys with conservation efforts. I can go into the whole shark finning talk of mine, but instead of writing a novel, you can check out this Ted Talk by the leader of the team that gives you all the basic information. 

My life has been pretty busy with this including trips, training, editing, etc. but it really means so so much to me. This hammerhead for example is an endangered species, and also a rare find. We were able to do a full workup, meaning taking measurements, blood sample, sex determination, etc. in a really short amount of time, and the sight for me personally is one I will never forget. We let him go after 4 minutes, and he swam off into a world we know little about. 

Shameless advertising here, but honestly again, it means so much to me to be able to do this work. You can check out a bunch more awesome pictures on Facebook under Shark Research at the University of Miami, and also visit SharkTagging.com to find out a whole lot more information. Sharks need our help, and if one person visits, we can make it one step closer to ensuring their existence for future generations. 

Again, not trying to write a novel (it's hard), but if you have any questions feel free to leave them down below! I'd love to reply, and also I'm a really big geek for this stuff so I love to talk about it. Thanks everyone!

AGH

I should get a prize for worse thought of titles for a blog post. But at the same time, it also is quite accurate. So instead of the average college life week blah blah, I thought that was appropriate. Anyways, I'm going to list a basic rundown of what has happened in the past couple of weeks (aka a lot).

• Midterms (ew)
• Accepted into an internship
• Brother came to visit
• More midterms (more ew)
• Homecoming week
• Keeping up with a running regime
• A whole lot of stuff I can't even think of

So basically there's been a lot. But it's been amazing having a good college experience. I may be busy, but it's the kind of busy that makes moving 1,000+ miles away into an unfamiliar place worth it. Looking forward into the future makes me even more excited, and feeling like I'm more at home bit by bit. If you are still trying to adjust, don't worry. It'll come sooner or later. Just trust your gut, and do what you need for yourself. 

Hope you guys have a great week!

Updated Everyday Makeup

Bad picture quality hits again(college probs)     

I thought since I haven't done what I use everyday and the routine I follow, I'd update you as I have learned more about makeup, my skin, and what makes me feel confident. All the products I use are from Sephora, so if there is something you want to check out, head on over there. 

Starting off with my base, I apply either the Tarte Amazonian clay full coverage foundation in light to medium honey, or the Lancome foundation in warm bisque I mentioned in my haul post (which I absolutely love), depending on how much coverage I want for the day. They both have the same SPF, which is vital in this Florida sun. I spread that all over my face and down my neck. I then put on Too Faced Primed and Poreless face primer around my nose where my pores appear the largest, and on my forehead. I feel like putting it on after my foundation doesn't just strip it away, but make my skin really look tighter and less pore-y.

I then move on to my eyebrows, which I use the Hourglass brow pencil in soft brunette, and just take that through my eyebrows to add a little color and make them look shaped. I then take some Sephora ultra fine black liquid liner, which I've mentioned in my favorites, from the beginning of my iris all the way to the outer corner, and just fill it in as needed to look even on both eyes. Sometimes I'll put some light gold eyeshadow on, but for today I kept my eyes bare, as I usually do. I finish off my eyes with a coat of Benefit They're Real mascara on the top and bottom lashes. 

I go back to my cheeks, and apply either Tarte amazonian clay blush in captivating, or the hourglass blush palette in any of the three colors (although since this is limited edition, I don't think they sell it anymore :( sorry!). I pop that on the apples of my cheeks and sweep that upwards. I also pop on a little bit of Benefit Hoola bronzer, and using a big fluffy brush, I lightly brush that right under where I put the blush so it's not quite contour, but does give some warmth and definition to my cheek bones. 

Lastly, and most definitely my favorite part, I put my lipstick on. Pretty much everyday I'll have a different color, but for today I chose Mac's Hug Me, which is a really pretty nude brown color that looks so amazingly gorgeous. I will wear anything from nude to bright pink, depending on what I'm feeling for the day. I do love me some bright lips!

So that's it! It's a pretty simple routine, that usually takes me about 10-15 minutes depending on how early I had to wake up in the morning. I really think I've found products that suit me, and also make me feel good and confident in my own skin. And I really think that's what makeup should be about; expressing yourself and feeling amazing and beautiful. 

Little Goals - Big Improvements

I said a post or 2 ago that I was attempting to run twice a week. While I'm not quite reaching that quite yet, I'm not getting rid of it yet. For the past month, I've run once a week. With only 4 runs, I've gone from running about .7 of a mile to 1.1 miles. That's .4 of a mile that I've been able to improve in just a month. Although to some, that may seem like a tiny amount and to some it may seem like a length that will never be reachable. It doesn't really matter about WHAT the number is, but achieving a goal. And it doesn't matter how long it takes, but staying consistent is key.

I'm unbelievably proud of myself, considering that I was barely out of bed last year, and I really was surprised about how little it took to just improve. If you have an inkling of a goal, I'd say go for it! You'll never know if you'll learn to love something if you don't try it. During the gym years of middle school and high school when we were forced to run, I absolutely hated it. We had to run a certain amount, on certain days, and when the temperature was absolutely freezing which isn't something I enjoy. Now, with my Nike+ app in hand, some music in my ears, and running to my schedule, I've fallen in love with that satisfactory feeling it brings me.  

I have even bigger goals now to improve. I've laid out some tips if you're beginning that goal:

• Write it down: I've written down every time I've ran on my little white board calendar. Having it in a physical presence not only makes me feel good about what I've done, but also comes as a good reminder to keep going. 
• Don't reach too high or too low; know your limits: back when I was doing hard core club volleyball, I was running 3 miles. But that just isn't a good place for me right now, as I am once again learning to get back into shape for running. Saying that, the first couple of runs I did, I didn't set a goal for myself, but instead just ran what I was capable of. From there, I set my goal of a mile, and was able to achieve it pretty quickly. 
• Be positive! There will be good and bad days! If you end up doing worse, it's perfectly okay. In the grand scheme of things, the more you do something the more you'll improve. It'll take patience and effort, but you know it's very much worth it. 

I hope you guys can take away some positivity in this, even if it's not for running. It could be for academics, or cooking, really anything. It's all up to you now to take control, and reach your goal. Sorry, cheesy rhymes are my thing. 

Some More Sephora Stuff

I went home. Also known as I finally had time to look at Sephora, and I had a little spree. 

I got a new foundation, the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24 hour foundation in the color 270 warm Bisque is a beaut. It is very long lasting like it says, and although fairly matte it doesn't cling to dry spots which was a nice surprise. Its a full coverage foundation, but I diffuse it and make it a bit lighter with the Sephora Pro Airbrush #55. I love Sephora brushes, and this one is no different. I'm going to talk more about it later, so stay tuned! Lastly, in the makeup category I repurchased the Benefit They're Real mascara. This will continue to be my favorite daytime mascara, it separates and creates such a beautiful long fluttery look. I seriously will always talk about sorry not sorry! 

For my skincare products, I purchased the Clinique All About Eyes eye cream. I've used it for a couple of days, so I haven't noticed anything, which is totally to be expected. It does feel nice on my skin though, not harsh or stinging, and I can tell that it's moisturizing. I will give a full review once I've used it for a month! The next product is the Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment. It's a mud mask that I use once a week. I found this product when it was used during my facial when I visited Charleston, and loved it then. After one use at home, I can say that that love stayed the same (I've been saying love a lot haven't I?) It makes such a difference with a thin layer at just once use. I wore it for 12 minutes while taking a bath to open up my pores, and I really feel like it helped to clear and smoothen my skin. It's a product that I'm really eager to use again, half because I think it does wonders half because masks are really fun. 

I also got 2 reward products, the 100 point 5 in 1 hair treatment from Living Proof, and the 250 point Bite lipgloss and lipstick in a dark pinky purple color. I tried the lipgloss today, and it didn't last very long but it was absolutely beautiful and not terribly sticky. I haven't tried the other products, but again, I will let you know. 

Have a fantastic week everyone! Side note, my normal schedule will also resume on Friday this week. 

Apples and Oatmeal

Hey everyone, sorry for the interesting blog schedule that is happening, but I am home for the weekend and super busy so my posts won't be going up on their usual day for the week. Anyway, to the good stuff. 

With being at home, the autumnal stuff is at full blast. I thought, why not act upon it and take a very fall like bath, if that makes any sense. I didn't use any fruity bath bombs, but instead this Aveeno oatmeal bath that they sell at any ol' CVS or Walgreens, and my Yankee Macintosh candle, which is that class fall apple scent. Together, they made the most amazing smelling bathroom (if you're like me and love the smell of oatmeal), and also was not too bad for my skin (who says you can't use oatmeal baths even if you're skin isn't itchy). Not to mention, just the feeling of relaxing in a bath while I had the window cracked with cooler air coming in, it was just autumn bliss. 

Speaking of apples, I ate my first orchard honey crisp apple, and it was utterly fantastic. I am obsessed, and especially when you get them fresh, if you leave them in your fridge they can last for a month. Good college snack am I right?