lessons to live by.

the thing i love about my age is...I'm not the youngest kitten in the litter, but not an old geezer either. I can now say I'm "in my twenties"....ha. But I really have learned a lot and I'm in no way trying to sound all preachy--because I most definitely have a lot more to keep on learning. and here is what i've learned:

1. Always be prepared. You can never go wrong if you are!!! And this goes for any situation. Job interview/first day on the job or of school--be early. If you're waiting in line to buy something, return something, register for something--while you're waiting, have all the necessary items on hand. Don't wait until it's your turn and then be all, "uhh....just a second...it's here somewhere..." and this goes for even just always having the right stuff. I am a contact lens wearer, so I make sure to carry solution and my contacts case and even glasses just in case. And I have eye drops...and bandaids...and i'm working on trying to carry cash with me (even though I hate it), in case of emergencies.

2. Never do anything half-heartedly. This, for me at least, applies to two things: shopping and dating. For shopping, it means not buying anything that you're not 100% crazy about--BUT...avoiding impulse buys is also important! What I do is I'll look at something and be in love with it, then walk away for a bit and come back. And I'll try not to buy it unless I can think of five places/occassions to wear it to! As for dating? Never get into a relationship half-heartedly. Don't assume you'll eventually fall in love with the person, never assume when someone's feelings are at risk, especially your own. It's not fair to the other person, or to you. The biggest mistake you can make in a relationship (besides cheating) is preventing someone else from being as happy as they can.

3. You are what you are committed to. Say it with me now: oooooh. Seriously! I learned this from my youth pastor, and it could not be more true.  Just look back at your life--what are your priorities, what takes up most of your time, what defines you? it's something to think about.

4. Get to the point. Don't beat around the bush. Confrontation is hard, awkward, nerve-wracking--but necessary. **EMBARRASSING STORY ALERT** In middle school, I have no idea why, but I guess at the time I thought that life could be solved by writing notes. Every guy me or my friends liked, we told through a note. I'd try to get the least amount of face-to-face contact as possible, until I knew for sure things would work out--which usually never did. Long, long story short, notes NEVER work. better to just be upfront and tell it to them, straight up.  I also pretended to like people back for fear of hurting them by rejecting them...ALSO NOT FUN. OR BENEFICIAL TO ANYONE!!! Dang, I was pretty messed up back then...haha.

5. If you have to wonder if it's too tight...it probably is. Self-explanatory.

6. Trust your instincts. No one knows you better than you. If you have to second guess something, you probably shouldn't go through with it.

7. Don't let anyone sway you from your beliefs. Stand your ground--it's true what they say; if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for something. Find something to believe in, something to live for...and hold on tight to it. Don't let people influence you, be your own person, stand up for yourself. Don't be a doormat that people can step all over...do not take crap from anyone!

get creative.

this world is full of it.

FULL of it!

so much beauty, so much wonder...in the weirdest, most random places. I know I've been posting a lot about inspiration and I SWEAR I do talk/write/think about other topics, but inspiration really is so much a part of who I am. wanna see how inspired i can get?

ignore the men fishing. but how gorgeous is this?!? i can see it now...shimmery gold eyeshadow, bronze in the crease, plum in the outer corner, and maybe a brighter purple as a liner on the lower lashline. Add some bronzer and peachy-pink blush and gloss, and you have a glowing summer look.

Oooh, how about this? Try: matte ivory shadow with shimmery chocolate brown shadow in the creases, and maybe gold-flecked brown liner. Add a rosy-brown blush and goldish beige lips and you have a warm winter look.

Candy inspired! You can have fun with bright--but sheer, you don't want to enter clown territory--colors. Like sheer, bright lavender eyeshadow, dark purple liner, and sheer hot pink blush and a matching lipgloss.

I love anything Italy--the food, the people, the culture, the architecture. This is a seaside villa in Italy...look at the vivid colors! I would definitely use rich, yet muted colors...all matte, of course. Probably matte golden-brown eyeshadow with dark brown in the creases, no liner..a neutral brownish blush and brick-red lips. Sophisticated.

GLITTER ! that's all i can say. in any color. you can use it all over your lid, or just as a liner on your top or bottom lashline. the key is to have some sort of sticky base. Usually i'd say just a little bit of Vaseline or Chapstick before applying glitter, but for oily eyelids like mine, that will last probably about all of five minutes. If you're like me, what you can do is use a damp brush before applying the glitter. Water is fine, but not the most efficient. I reccoment spraying your brush with a mixing medium or setting spray. Urban Decay has one that you can get at Sephora but it's like, $28...eeeep! MAC Fix + Spray works wonders as well, and that's $18. For cheapies like me...you can always make your own by mixing together one part glycerin to three parts water. If you really want to duplicate professional-grade sprays, add minerals and vitamins by using mineral water like Evian. Note. You are not actually a professional cosmetic technician, so unlike professional products, this home-made mixing medium only has a shelf life of about two weeks. So, with that said, make only a little at a time to avoid wasting ingredients!

Making the world more beautiful a little at a time, Faustina

a little more inspiration never hurt anyone.

let's face it, celebrities have a lot of influence. whether that be saving-the-world-via-adoption-of-as-many-unfortunate-children-as-possible à la Angelina Jolie, or the "NO H8" campaign, celebrities definitely have the upper hand on getting people to listen to what they have to say.

i'll admit it...celebrities influence me every day....fashion-wise, that is. i have a few favorites that just never let me down--they are always classic, always in style, and always pulled together!!!

VANESSA HUDGENS

This girl always looks good. always!!! i love that she is the completely opposite of the typical Hollywood blond-haired, blue-eyed stereotype. Being half Filipino, half Irish (with some Native American and Spanish descent as well), she's exotic, yet always looks natural. She never overdoes it with anything--hair, makeup, fashion--and always has this glow. Her style can go from glamorous, to boho, to uber-trendy, and sexy (but never overly so, it's always sexy and sweet). I definitely identify with her style most of the time. Except for maybe the boho look. That doesn't really work too well with me...

KATY PERRY

In the words of my best friend Gayle, girl crush. Eeeek! Katy Perry (soon-to-officially-be Katy Brand) has gone through, needless to say, many transformations. her style can be VERY out there, very tongue-in-cheek. i love her latest looks though...less pin-up with the thick, blunt bangs, and bright red or pink lips, but more relaxed and natural...longer hair, longer side-swept bangs, more realistic makeup (like in this photo). She's a married woman now, and I feel this look is more appropriate. Granted, being a celebrity, it's inevitable this version of Katy won't last long (tear!), but it's still inspiration to me while it last, probably even long after. I love how she never tries to hide her curves, but embraces them--stick-skinny will never be attractive to me! She proves that you can be sexy, and not have everything hanging out. She's known for being extreme in makeup and fashion choices, but when she's more subdued and covered, it just goes to show sometimes less really is more.

 JESSICA ALBA

Really, who doesn't love Jessica Alba??! I've been a fan ever since the Dark Angel days, lol. She is another example of never going over-the-top (do you guys sense a pattern here....hehe). Every time I see a picture of her, her hair always looks perfect, yet not fussy. Like she didn't try too hard...because she doesn't have to try...that's a big thing with my hair, I make it a point to make sure it never looks too "done." Soft, touchable hair (as opposed to shellacked, stiff hair) is much more appealing. If my hair is down, you best believe you can run your fingers through it. And the rare times where it's up, best believe I make it look like it could fall out at any moment (but in reality it's fixed with a million bobby pins). And her makeup is always phenomenal. She is the queen of smudged liner!

EMMA STONE

One of the most down-to-earth actresses I know. I love her! She always plays the geeky chick, but it's always geeky-cute meets geeky-chic. She is very personable and all the characters she plays are very relateable. I like her simple fashion and beauty style, but she also knows how to glam it up every now and then and give her look some edge. I probably subconsciously channel a little bit of Emma Stone on a daily basis, fashion-wise.

LEIGHTON MEESTER

A natural beauty. And, can I just say how amazing her voice is??! She is the only reason I watch Gossip Girl..i mean, I love me some Serena, but Blair's style probably identifies more with mine. I don't wear as many bows, ruffles, or headbands, but I dress along like a toned-down version of Blair. I do like bows, and lace, and that sort of Victorian-inspired style...just a modern, more edgier version of it. Leighton's makeup is always super, super natural. Like she's not wearing any. The "I just wake up looking like this..." look...and it's refreshing to be reminded that you don't need makeup to look good. It is merely an accessory. And she makes neutrals look good, not boring, either. Leighton's style is always classic, and she always dresses to fit her body. Her ensembles are always proportionate, which is good--always dress to fit your body! Know what shapes work and don't work. Never assume you can "make" something work for you, this is not always the case...

KIM KARDASHIAN

You know I had to bust this one out....say what you want about her, but I'm talking style and beauty here. I always channel Kim Kardashian if I'm going out and about to dress and impress. I'm talking seriously sexy here. She's the queen of smokey eyes and nude lips. And while Katy Perry embraces her curves, Kim flaunts them to their fullest extent! Kim definitely always looks done-up--but sometimes, you just wanna go all out with your makeup. I love her bangs and straight hair in this picture, but I love Kim best when her hair is in soft waves and when her makeup is sexy neutrals. A signature look of mine is bronzey, smokey eyes. It's smokey, but the colors aren't crazy so I can get away with wearing it every day....definitely Kim-inspired.

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY

Ever since Pirates, man...i love her ethereal beauty. Doesn't it seem like every picture she takes, her eyes have that brooding look...lucky girl. I try that and it really just looks like I'm sleepy or stoned....anyways, her style is amazing. Very romantic, very European. And I definitely have a romantic style. For a girl who doesn't like pink, I looooove me some florals. and I hate tight clothing. For me, clothes have to drape your body just right. And fashion is all about balance. If you go tight in one area, loosen up in another. Play with proportions and textures. For instance, if i wanna wear leggings, i'll wear a loose tunic with a belt around the middle, and a cropped jacket. Or if I wear fitten jeans with a fitted top and boots, then I make sure to have a flowy or relaxed jacket/cardigan on top. And don't get me started on Keira's makeup...her natural look is always pretty, but when she smokes it up, it's gorgeous. She smudges it a lootttttt a lottt...but the colors are kept neutral so it's never too crazy.

yup...that's it. I only wish there were more Asian actresses in Hollywood to inspire me!

inspiration. disclaimer: if there are any men out there who happen to have stumbled upon this post, you might be bored.

inspiration can come from anything. i usually take fashion and beauty very seriously...for me it's almost down to a science! call me obsessed, a makeup junkie, makeup freak, clothing whore, whatever--all of this is true :)

yet i can't pin down any "signature" look that i can claim to be mine. hmmm... this makes me think. i should do like "face of the day" and "outfit of the day" posts..........maybe. just maybe. anyways, i mean...okay, look. how about this. i'm gonna pretend that you asked me to give you a top five list of things i can't live without, one for fashion and one for beauty.

fashion:
- skinny jeans
- black spaghetti strap tank top
- off-the-shoulder top (any color!)
- nude strapless bra
-black leggings

beauty:
- Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Hairspray
- bronze and gold eyeshadow
- mascara
- black eyeliner
- Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil

why thank you, it was so kind of you to ask ;) anyways. i've gotten so lazy/laid back with makeup. it used to be if i was running late for work or church or something and i didn't have a lick of makeup on, i'd, well, be late, lol. but now....well sometimes i just don't give a damn and let my face run nekkid. but i think i found a happy medium--mascara, some sort of color smudged on the lids, a little powder, and lip balm go a long way. i just love that you can, at least for as long as the colors you choose stay on your face, express different sides of yourself. read: different sides, not different completely. makeup shouldn't be used for totally changing the way you look. it's to enhance what's already there. if i'm feeling sexy, yet demure, red lips + winged black liner will do the trick. to me, just plain sexy is a smoky bronze eye and smudgy, imperfect liner. glamour = anything black, silver, grey (or all three!), and smoky--with fake lashes of course! you get the picture...when i say i have it down to science, i'm not kidding, yo.

on to the clothes. i'm not rich, so i am definitely a bargain shopper. and an impulse shopper--BUT i am getting better at saying no! :) one thing i have learned is to never buy anything that i'm not 100% crazy about. case in point: you see a top and it's love at first sight. what do you do? a) grab it fast like there's no tomorrow, b) don't buy it, but keep circling around like a shark surrounding its prey so no one else can buy it, c) walk away for a little bit, then come back. if you are still as crazy about it as you were upon first sight and it's reasonably priced for your budget, then you move to phase two.

okay.....if you aren't the best at multiple choice questions, the answer is clearly the most thought-out, detailed one...C. and that brings me to phase two. okay, so said top passed the first test. on to the second: name five places off the top of your head that you can wear this to. if you can't get past one, it's not worth it.

this is why i invest so much in basics. i have a million plain tanks, camis, and cardigans. my number one rule is to probably own at least two or three black spaghetti strap tank tops! they go with EVERYTHING. i love it. when you shop, you should actually make sure to be wearing one, especially with a strapless bra. that way, if a top is too low you can realistically gauge whether or not you can pull it off. oh, and never shop right after eating a big meal. it'll result in clothes that you have to keep throwing in the laundry just so they'll shrink enough to fit, only to have them stretch out again a day or two later. i've been so obsessed with two things lately: boots and tights. i have a pair of black suede slouchy boots that literally go with EVERYTHING, and i lovethemilovethemi.love.them. and i have a bunch of high-waisted skirts that i'll throw with my growing tights collection (ribbed, metallic, lace, crocheted). oh, and spend the time and money to find a good black leater jacket. i love mine! goes with everything. you can wear all black to get that tough-girl vibe, or with something extremely feminine to add edge and not be too sugary sweet. wear it with a sexy dress and you'e red-carpet ready. oh and zippers! i love love zippers. don't ask...because i sure don't know why.

and no matter what the season, i will always be a big fan of hair accessories....floral, to be exact.they get expensive, so make your own...find any flower you want at a craft store and buy duck bill pins from any beauty supply store. hot glue the two together and voila! my signature look in the summer will usually be beachy, wavy hair with a flower tucked behind one ear. this season you can make it fall friendly by choosing classic flowers as opposed to the more exotic ones (i.e., ditch the orchids and lilies in place of roses or darker colored flowers or feathers). and hair that's less beachy, but more classically wavy.

alright, i'm done being uber-girly. time for this makeup junkie to get some z's. goodnight!

it's raining, it's pouring...

and i love, love, love it.

last night a storm hit around midnight and i was getting out of work at a little before one--right where it was going at its hardest and fastest. i'm pretty sure that my lil' pink umbrella does not not have much of a lifespan left...the wind broke it, i think. we'll see.

but i love the rain. it gets you in the mood--no, not in that way, sicko...lol--but seriously, there's something about it. it's kind of like a metaphor. have you ever looked outside after it rains? the air is beautiful. clean. fresh. yeah, there might be leftover debris here and there, but that's a small sacrifice for the bigger picture here. and every time it rains i'm reminded that sometimes we all have storms. but in the end, it's better for us, and we come out of it fresh, clean, and ready to take on whatever comes our way. but think about it: without rain, we'd have droughts galore. no water = not much chance of survival, considering our bodies are made up of about 75% of it. same with the metaphorical storms in our lives--without the bad, we'd never appreciate the good. who knows, maybe we'd never even notice it. and then the whole purpose of things that make us happy is defeated.

thank you, God, for the rain.

and, before i leave for the night, can i just say...

that i am absolutely head-over-heels, 100% in love...with Glee right now! Forget the storyline, which yes, includes borderline cheesy plots derived from cliche, drama-filled situations surrounded by plenty of hormonal teenage angst, but more importantly, has lots and lots and lots of singing.

i love singing. and to be honest, while i do love singing, most musicals do not sit well with me. everything is too planned and forced, but with this show, each musical number really comes perfectly during whatever scene precedes it. it's kind of like when you sometimes fantasize that your life is a movie and you imagine certain situations as the equivalent to having your own soliloquy in the form of a sing-and/or-dance number.

okay, maybe not everyone is like me in that sense (for example, where i'm at, there's an intense storm going on right now. it's raining cats and dogs and hippos and elephants, and the wind is fierce. and i'm picturing me dancing in the rain singing some ridiculously emo song)...but there is one scene from an episode called "Grilled Cheesus"--don't ask, just watch--called "One of Us." I literally sleep with it at night on repeat, playing it on my phone and I have not tired of it yet.

...it's been several days.

watch Glee.

goodnight.

welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to insomnia at its finest.

good evening, or should i say, morning!

as i write this, i'm seriously blaming my friend Carlos for giving me a coffee-flavored Monster energy drink. tell me...wtf was i thinking?! should have known better...rarely do i ever drink energy drinks. it's just bad news...and now that i've acquired a 24-hour Fitness gym pass, i'm way more careful about what i eat. i can't stress enough how muy importante it is to take care of yourself! you can look like the hottest person in the world on the outside but if you can't walk a set of stairs without huffing and puffing...i'm no doctor, but i'm pretty sure something's wrong.

second order of business..."why 'red lipstick, black lace'?"
i figured at least one person out there would wonder why i chose this name for a blog. you see, i was racking my brain for something that would sum me up, but not define me with just one aspect of myself and who i truly am. (having said that, i figured also that something like "LaKeRfAn4LyFe" or "MakeupAddict" wouldn't truly sum up the essence of who i am.) i thought...and thought, and thought, and after thinking some more, this came to mind. i believe women should be appreciated not only for their beauty, but also for their knowledge. we should feel empowered. so many are objectified and judged at face value, and after enough of that sometimes, it's inevitable that one has no choice but to believe that they are as limited as everyone makes them out to be. and the combination of red lipstick and black lace is sexy, and bold without being overly so of either. it exudes confidence. it's tough, yet delicate at the same time. and that's me. maybe not all the time, but for the most part, it's what i am, and strive to be more so as i grow and somehow make it through this crazy thing called life.

anyways. i think i need sleep. i also think i've written more than enough for someone starting a blog at damn near four in the morning. keep reading.

another time, another sleepless night--sincerely, faustina.