Changes

So we're building a house (see below pictures). With that said, we moved to another state my sophomore year of college started and wow it feels good to write again. I've also moved into my first ever apartment, which I got to decorate much to my excitement with tons of cute stuff, and lots of candles. There's been a lot of changes and for the most part, I won't lie and say it's been easy. I know I'm a college student and I don't even really go "home" often anymore, but I still feel like my parents are where home is. Except that home is a bunch of wood that kinda resembles a sort of house. 

Just starting!

More progress!

My biggest help in dealing with changes is to lean on those around me. While moving has been difficult to say the least (plus you can never find anything anywhere), I've been able to feed on the excitement of everyone else has to see the finished product and become excited myself. And yes, I do miss parts about our old house but not all of it is gone. The neighbors I used to call family are coming up for thanksgiving, and the friends I hold so dearly text me everyday. So I lean on them, and it helps. 

Changes sometimes suck, but they also are a part of life. You just have to make the best of it. 

Except going from sunny Florida to the freezing cold midwest. I'm so done with that change and I want to go back. 

Making Moving (Somewhat) Easier

It comes in everyone's life. Whether moving to a different room to moving to a different country, there comes a stage where changing a part of your life happens. Recently, our family has packed up and moved about 35 miles to a different state. And it reminded me how absolutely overwhelming it can be. I've learned a bit through the process, even though it is very much still happening. Here are a couple of tips:

1. If you want, paint some rooms. I found that this helped not only create some good looks for staging, but it also helped to differ some of the rooms so it can take away some of the nostalgia. 

2. Pack early and often. I found that packing all at once was so overwhelming. Packing a few things every once in a while really eases the process. Start with items that aren't of everyday use, such as pictures, decorative items, out of season clothes, etc. and slowly move through items you use more often. It's never to early to start packing!

3. Stay organized. I numbered the boxes/bins and started a word document that listed everything in that place. Therefore, if it's needed or you're trying to find something when unpacking, it's easier to find and you don't have to go through everything. 

4. With that, I found that bins are so much more useful than boxes. Although pricier, they not only have handles making the carrying easier, bins that are clear give you an idea of what items are in it, also making it easier to pick things out when needed. Plus, they can be reused for later things!

5. And finally, grab some friends! Moving can be difficult for many reasons, and having some supporting buddies can help you not only organize, but also get things done quicker and have some friendly advice about what is needed and not needed. I got a lot of help to slim down on my clothes and old stuffed animals/toys that I once loved but really had no use for. 

Hope a few of these help, and good luck in your moving endeavors!

5 Summer Feel Good Songs

Well it's been awhile.

Hi again.

Summer is finally (FINALLY) upon us, and with summer comes enjoying sunny, warm days outside with some friends and some good music. While the latest hits are always good to listen to, here are 5 songs that may not be at the top of the charts, but are most definitely on my summer playlist. 

1) High - Young Rising Sons

Definitely one of my favorite songs of all time. Very upbeat, I love the artist, and I am fully prepared to listen to it on repeat the entire summer. 

2) House of Gold - twenty one pilots

Another good one (obviously as it is listed), but it is one that I quickly learned the lyrics to and (badly) sing to every time I hear it. It has a catchy but subtle tambourine that just screams a fun song. 

3) Beautiful Now - Zedd ft. Jon Bellion

A VERY beat-filled alternative/techno song, but the chorus is where I love this song. You can probably tell from the title that it's about being beautiful, so how can it not make you feel good?

4) My Type - Saint Motel

This song immediately starts with a catchy opening with an upbeat saxophone. While that may sound annoying to some, I promise if you'll give this a listen you'll see why this song is so much fun to listen to.

5) Colors - April Smith and the Great Picture Show

Definitely different than some of the previous songs mentioned, much more of a pop-y vibe and quite unique. However, don't let that deter you because it quickly turned into a song that my friends and I all belt out whenever we hear it. 

So yeah, I'm crap at explaining songs, but I have no musical background so all I can say is I tried. The only thing I can say now is go have a listen, and I hope at least one of these makes your summer playlist. 

Enjoy the warming weather!

Staying Healthy Through the College Semester

The infamous "freshman 15" is everywhere. While I think the daily walking and limiting the amount of stuff I drink other than water is enough, I do have some tips for staying healthy throughout and maintaining a good mood with it. 

Walk and Bike: The great thing about most college campuses, is that they are great places to find really nice pathways to walk and bike. Walking does your body so much good, more than people give it credit for. So try to park farther away, or walk on a round-about path to give yourself some extra daily steps. 

Buy snacks that fill you up: This doesn't mean you have to buy strictly vegetables, but not necessarily potato chips and sweets that you end up eating a lot more than intended (I'm a culprit. It's so easy!) My strategy is plenty of natural popcorn, carrots and hummus, as well as cheese sticks and the twist I sometimes like to go for is microwavable wild rice. While they aren't just lettuce, they are yummy and fill me up when the dining hall is just not sounding appetizing. 

Get creative: Just because the dining hall serves on dish, doesn't mean that's what you have to eat. I like to spice things up, literally. Don't want a plain salad? Go over to the sandwiches and ask for some chicken or roast beef, as well as some veggies they may not have at the salad bar. Pasta night? Grab some plain pasta, then go to the salad bar and stick some spinach and olive oil in there. I like to add a little red pepper from the pizza line as well, to give it a little spice. Finish with a pinch of salt, and you have yourself a meal. You can even grab a healthy version of a grilled cheese at the sandwich line, by using bread, american cheese (and tomato if that's what you fancy), and have them toast it in the panini maker versus with butter. Add some sides and you're ready to go. 

Watch for boredom eating: I am very bad at this one. I always "feel" hungry whenever I'm sitting doing homework and studying. My tip for this is try to drink water first. It may be that you're thirsty, and just need some hydration. If you still feel hungry, set out a snack in a portion. It's easy to just grab a bag of food and end up eating the whole thing, but if you take the time to put the right amount in a bowl or ziplock, you can control your portions much easier. 

I'll also post about some microwave recipes I've discovered through much trial and error, and what works in the microwave and what doesn't stay tuned!

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? 

College Life Week 6

Well it's my college update once again. It's been a rough little while, as things start to really set in and get hard, not to mention the homesickness. College is tough. It's not the party everyday, have tons of free time, no homework type of place. With that though, I have a ton of opportunities that have arisen that truly give me that college adult feel, where I'm pushing myself foward more than ever before. So with some bad, comes some good. I think that's a saying that would really help with any situation in life, and if you've followed me long, you know I'm a huge advocate for positive thinking. I may have lost a friend, but I get to visit my friend from back home at here school. See? Opportunities. Anyways I hope you all have a wonderful week coming ahead. I'm trying to motivate myself to run three times a week (I'm a complete noob), but we'll see how that goes. I'll keep you updated!

For My Fellow Tall Girls Out There...

Rejoice. The perfectly fitting romper is upon us. For anyone, even if you just have a long torso and aren't quite comfortable in rompers, I have found the website of reasonably priced, specialty-made-for-tall-girls, rompers and dresses. 

Asos Tall

Now you may be thinking, "oh just another tall section with 10 items," but no. I'm talking a lot of rompers dresses shirts and pants and even a specific sale section dedicated to tall clothing. I know a lot of you are probably already asos pro's, but it's not as big here in the U.S. It's an amazing amazing site with clothing brands that you can't find elsewhere, and items that fit a huge range of budgets. A haul will most definitely be coming within the next 2 weeks, but for now take a sneak peak at a few items I may have put in my bag...

All images from us.asos.com

6 things I miss about autumn now that I live in the tropics

I promise that I love where I live. Constant warm weather, sunny days and palm trees? It's seriously one of those things that will constantly make you happy. BUT with that comes a lack of a real autumn, which is for sure my second favorite season. Here's 6 things I miss:

1) Changing leaves: I always love my green, but honestly how could red orange and yellow EVERYWHERE not be beautiful? And it's just so autumnal and iconic.

2) Crisper days: again, I'm not putting down my daily upper 80's. However, I do like that time of the year when you pull out some more heavy clothes and layers, and your cheeks just begin to get a little red from the cold. I like this weather too when it's sunny, because it just feels so comfortable.

3) Speaking of crisper days, sweaters and jeans: I'm a fashion lover. And seeing everyone bring out the sweaters in the darker and warmer colors, as well as jeans, well it's just something I kinda miss. I brought way to many sweaters with me to school, and I've not worn any of them, and probably won't until December.

4) Fireplaces: My dad is so good at making a warm and cozy fire. I absolutely adore getting cozy and warm in front of the fire, plus in a weird way it just looks really pretty. It also always means family time and snuggles with my dog, whom I very dearly miss.

5) Autumn smells: So I could just run down to Bath and Body Works and get all of there fall smells super easy, but it's not quite the same. In the north, the smell is everywhere. Here, I still smell humidity and very summer floral smells. I really love the smell of fresh fall-type smells, apples, and nutty smells. 

6) Decor: I miss pumpkins! I know it's such a small thing but we have a bunch of pumpkin patches and corn mazes all around us. They're sold everywhere and they just are so happy in my opinion. I also really like the mums that people put around and leaves and fall colors that are decorated around the house. It isn't such a common thing here in Florida, considering there is so much green.

Well, that's all I have to miss. I really am so happy where I am and I love that it's so warm and sunny and summery, because come November/December, I hate winter way too much. I also get to go home right in the heart of fall, which will give me a good fix. Let me know what you guys like and dislike about fall!

Beauty Firsts

I thought that this would be a fun little thing to answer when I saw it on Youtube. Let me know if you guys answer this!

My Beauty Firsts Tag Questions:

1. What's your earliest beauty memory? 
My mom doing makeup for me when I was dancing in the dance recitals. The bright red lipstick would always be last, and I looked absolutely horrific in stage makeup. I just remember having orange eyebrows from this awful eyebrow pencil, but at the same time I never had to wear fake lashes because mine were always insanely long. It's funny to look at pictures of me looking so much older and only being 6 or 7 because of how much makeup I wore. 
2. What was your first beauty purchase? 
Definitely lip smacker chap stick. Plum was my absolute favorite. Real beauty/makeup-wise, the classic Maybelline mascara was probably my first I remember buying with my mom.
3. When did you first wear makeup?
7th grade, when I was 13. Oh it was really bad. I went through a black eyeliner around the entire eye phase.
4. What was your first beauty disaster? 
See above. Not to mention it didn't get better until about sophomore year in high school.
5. Who was your first beauty crush?
Me mummy. I always think she does her eyeshadow so beautifully and tasteful, and when I was first getting into makeup I'd steal her Bobbi Brown palette and try to recreate it. 
6. What was your first brand crush?
Covergirl, when I got to try all the different mascaras.  
7. What's your longest standing beauty love?
My Tarte 24 hour amazonian clay eyeliner in golden tigers eye. So far, I'm on my third stick!

Coral Gables Spotlight: Books & Books

If you are ever in Miami, I highly recommend coming down to Coral Gables for a day. It's no more than a half hour drive, and it has some really awesome things to see. My inner book junkie came out today when my friend showed me this absolutely adorable bookstore, Books & Books. Not only was it a huge bookstore, where one part even goes up to 2 stories with a gigantic classic library ladder, it includes an outdoor courtyard and a small cafe. I couldn't try the food, but I seriously want to. They also have live music every week and a whole host of other things that sound really fun. And of course tons, and tons, and tons of books, with a lot of signed stuff and first editions for the collector! Also, next to the bookstore is a really good chocolatier and tea shop. What else could you want?

Mid-Month Makeup Favorites

I haven't done a makeup favorites in forever, and I found so much good stuff that I couldn't wait for the month to end. So I'm going agains the grain and doing it mid-month. I'll start off from the top: 
The Benefit Creaseless Shadows are cream shadows that are soo pigmented and pretty. They are all shimmery and a beautiful range of colors. Here I have sparkling champagne, which is a color just as it sounds, and holy smokes, which is a deep grey. They stay on so long and blend beautifully. I find that using a natural hair brush, or even just your good 'ol fingers is the best way to apply them. 
This beauty product is sweeping the nation, and my love for it is no different. The Urban Decay Naked Weightless Concealer is another really good concealer. The tube and applicator is much like that of a lip gloss, and so it applies pretty thickly, but that's why it's full coverage. I wear the medium-light neutral, and it's a perfect match. It stays on, is a nice texture, and my overall everyday concealer. 
The Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil is another product that was really popular not too long ago. The pencil shape itself is a kinda long triangular shape, with a tiny point at the top going down to a little thicker on the bottom. I find it works great with my brows, because unlike the Anastasia pencil which was hard to really fill in my brows, this pencil does the job really well. I have extremely light eyebrows, so in the shade Soft Brunette, it really does a good job at adding just the right amount of color so they look natural, but it also looks like I have brows. Plus, since it's not a powder, it's not quite as messy or hard to apply.
For those who can't get the hang of the classic cat-eye flick (me), this is your pen. The Sephora Fine Waterproof Liquid Liner is amazing. The pen is extremely thin, and also a little stiffer so it's really easy to control versus other felt tip liners. I can proudly say that with this pen, I've mastered the cat-eye. Other than its easy use, it's a nice dark black and waterproof, so it stays on all day. I am unbelievably glad I found this, because I am a huge fan of the flick. 
And lastly, Tarte's Full Coverage Airbrush Powder Foundation is a great, and easy way to apply a nice layer of foundation. I may have mentioned it earlier, but I'm mentioning it again because it is really that good. I wear the shade light-medium neutral, and use the kabuki brush that Tarte specifically made for the foundation. What comes out is a beautiful light layer of a pigmented foundation, but it doesn't look like you have a pound of powder on your face. It covers even sunburn, but still feels breathable. The little brush fits perfectly in there, and it's so quick and easy to apply. The only thing I wish this had was some sunscreen, but hey it's still really awesome. 

Got any mid-month favorites? Let me know! Have a great week!

Advice for Handling Failure and Letdowns

Okay I just first off want to say that I really don't like the word failure. It has such a negative connotation, and maybe not achieving something that you had wanted or hoped for is far from a failure. I mean, not to be that person who writes inspiring quotes but at the same time I'm going to be that person who writes inspiring quotes (if that makes sense?).

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

Thomas A. Edison

(That guy that invented the lightbulb and a bunch of other stuff we don't even know about but use a ton)

I think he nails it in the head. Failure is not a negative thing, but a thing to learn from, and even rise up in the future. I don't believe there is a way to be successful without making mistakes, and without having a lot of people tell you you're wrong. It's part of life, and sometimes it really sucks, but by putting a positive spin on it, it'll make you that much more accepting of failure. I recently didn't get a position in my schools club, and even though that made me feel really upset, I applied for the position because I wanted a greater part in the club. Now, I just need to have a strong voice, and enjoy my time there and I don't have to worry about making certain fulfillments and putting more pressure on myself. See? Positive spin. 

I struggle with let down's everyday in my life. It doesn't even have to be jobs, or school, but also friends and people and even a coffee machine that won't let you brew your coffee. (It failed giving you your caffeine!). The best thing to say to yourself is "It's okay" and if you need to put a swear word in there, by all means go for it. And now for another inspirational quote because I actually do love inspirational quotes (thanks pinterest). 

College Life Week 3

Hi everyone! So this is kinda my mini college update which I don't know if you even want to read but hey, you never know and I enjoy writing them. 

My classes are challenging, but I knew the would be so at least there wasn't a surprise factor. Chemistry is especially tough for me, but like I said I'm getting through it. On a more fun note, I'm getting scuba certified, and will hopefully become fully open water certified by the end of this week! I have yet to go to a frat party, but I'm okay with that because I am just swamped with work. I miss my dog now more than ever but I'm lucky that campus has a lot of dogs that are totally open for a good pet. Other than that, the weather has been great if you like it hot and with lots of storms, which I do. It storms nearly every day in Florida, which is great if you aren't running to class though it. I think one of my favorite parts is sitting under a palm tree looking out into the lake.

If you're also curious, here is a little peek at my dorm room decor. It basically includes lots of string lights, polaroids, and little motivational sayings. I think I might go more into detail, but that'll be for later. 

I hope your school year is going well so far if that is applicable. Have a great week!

Easy Pink Shadow - Tutorial

Hello everyone. I thought for today, I'd show you how I use pink/magenta shadow on the eye. I was always afraid to do this for the longest time because I thought that it just made  me look like I was crying, but with the right colors it can look absolutely gorgeous. 

I used my Mac warm palette for this. I started with brushing Vanilla Extract (1) all over the lid. This color just has the slightest pink hint, but is more of a shimmery ivory color and is a go-to for everyday. Then, using a large fluffy crease brush I take Gingersnap (2) into the entire crease of the eye, making sure that it blends well. It doesn't have to be the neatest strokes, and in fact I think it makes the look better if it's a little messy. Lastly, I take Dark Brew (3) with an eyeshadow brush that has a more pointed end (such as the hourglass shadow brush) and put that in the outer crease of my eye, stopping just as my iris begins and taking that to the outer corner. I also blend a little under my eye, which just gives it such an elegant twist. 

I love these colors, because they are absolutely pink, but not overbearingly pink. They still have a nice brown/gold tone to them, and are perfect for any kind of skin tone, pink or yellow. I finish off the look with a bit of bronzer (I use the hoola bronzer from Benefit) an a pinky nude lipstick (this one is Mac patisserie). I don't use any blush, because my cheeks are pretty pink to begin with, and otherwise it would just be too much pink. The bronzer still gives a little color without being overwhelming. 

Practice makes perfect, so if you don't get the look you want the first time keep trying. I think my biggest tip is just to blend really really well, and just experiment! That's how I find some of my favorite ideas. Hope you enjoyed this little tutorial! Also, excuse the lighting. Dorm room lighting is not the best!