HOMEABOUT MECONTACTSTYLEBEAUTY

Saturday, January 29, 2011

show me how you BURLESQUE.

Burlesque! I cannot say enough about just how much I love this movie. Everything about it! I could watch it a million times and still not get bored. Let me just tell you that I was completely unaware that Christina Aguilera could act. Without giving too much away, let's just say her transformation was absolutely believable. And really, it's not so much a transformation, but you could tell she had it in her all along. And can I also say how gorgeous Cam Gigandet is as Jack??! The wardrobe for this movie is also to die for. I loved the burlesque era. The epitome of true femininity and sexiness, but keeping it classy as well. Women who are truly 100% comfortable with themselves and not afraid to show it!

Also, to add to today's news, I couldn't help myself and I bought a dress at Target for ten dollars. Ten dollars! It was on clearance and it's sooooo perfect for a birthday dinner this week...hehe. I can't find a good picture of it (grrrrr!) but basically the bust is a dusty blue color with spaghetti straps and ruffles and the skirt of the dress is a black lace overlay with the same dusty blue underneath. Gorgeous. Even more so due to the bomb ass bargain I got it for! Plus I also bought a new makeup brush by Sonia Kashuk:


Well, obviously this is a MAC one, which I am not fortunate enough to be able to afford...lol. But I couldn't find the brush I bought in store, online. Weird! Basically, this brush is amazing. Amazing enough to post about, but ONLY because of its magical powers. And I believe that the tools you use to apply makeup are just as important as the makeup itself, if not more so! They can make or break your look. So....at first glance this just looks like the company who made the brush forgot to dye the rest of the bristles. But alas, there is more than meets the eye! lol. What it is is shorter, real-hair fibers (the black) with longer synthetic fibers peeking through (the white). The black bristles are thicker and coarser, and the white ones are itty-bitty thin ones. One would think that this is the stupidest makeup tool ever created...but this brush actually is designed to multi-task, and boy, does it do that well. You use this for your foundation...the coarser bristles work the foundation into your skin, while the softer ones blend and make that airbrushed finish, and make it look more natural and not cakey. But you can also use this to apply powder, because it blends it in super well. Or if you're using something that's super shimmery or super pigmented, using just the white bristles and a light hand will make sure you don't end up looking like a clown. So yes! Check it out. Target sells this for 12.99. Much better than MAC's fifty-something or whatever it is, lol.

Anyways. I love makeup. I'm obsessed. That is all, goodnight :)

Monday, January 24, 2011

so, the big 22 is coming up...

I don't really feel old.

I just feel...like life is what it is, and we can only do the best we can to make sure it's a happy one. So I don't really know what to do for my birthday, to be honest. Any ideas??

(:

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

torture is...

shopping online when you have no money!

So....I put together a wishlist. If only I was rich and made serious dolla dolla bill$, y'all!


Isn't this cardigan cute??! Too bad it doesn't come in black ):




Skirts, skirts, SKIRTS! I love high-wasted skirts with a lot of more structural detail than printed detail, if that makes any sense. If you wanna check these out, you can click here, here, or here.



And this hoodie is to die for. I would wear this a lot. A LOT.



I love this tank. I think pale gold and white make a gorgeous combination!



Aaaaaand back to cardigans. I can't get enough!

There's more....but that will have to be continued, sleep is getting to me. Also, I realize these are all from Forever 21, but that is ONLY because the H&M site doesn't display any styles! And I was too lazy to go on with my other favorite stores.


my style.

Again, my lovely BestFriend Gayle has inspired me. I went to Polyvore and made up my own inspiration board! Just things that define my style, so....here goes:

cleo strapless dress$396
$396 - aliceandolivia.com
Strapless dresses »

Petites Purple Ruffle Dress
36 GBP - missselfridge.com
Purple dresses »

A.L.C. Henley striped linen tank
$165 - net-a-porter.com
Striped tank »

Lace Insert Loose Tank by ALLMYLOVE
20 GBP - my-wardrobe.com
Sheer tank »

Ruffle Skirt
$49 - calypsostbarth.com
Ruffled mini skirts »


WHEW! A lot, huh? But I couldn't help myself. And making these inspiration boards ARE addicting...thank you, Gayle. hehe. Basically, I'm in love with stripes, loose-fit clothing, lace, black, blue, teal, purple, silver jewelry, anything with ruffled, ruched, or draped detail...and i love bows!!! I play with proportion a lot...if I'm wearing skinny jeans or leggings (which i usually am 99%) of the time, the top is usually looser-fitting...if I go with skinny jeans, tight top, I at least have to layer so I don't feel too restricted...with like a loose cardigan, sweater, etc. I rarely go big on the bottom but if i'm wearing a skirt (like I've been feeling lately...I've bought a lot of high-waisted short skirts), I'll definitely have a form fitting top. Or if it's loose I'll put a belt around it or something. I have a serious obsession with anything lace. No joke. I own about five different black flowy cardigans in different styles, and I just have probably fifteen different cropped cardigans. I'm short (standing at 5'2"), so anything too long competes with my height and makes me look dwarfy. Cropped styles are definitely the way to go if you're petite! But I'm curvy, so I stay away from anything insanely printed. or white. or skintight. hey...curves are gorgeous! Whoever said stick-thin was what's up is insane. Not to hate on skinny girls...we are all beautiful in our own way! But there are some narrow-minded people out there who truly believe if you're not 5'8" and 95 lbs, you're obese. Not true.

I do love my accessories...I love scarves! And silver jewelry. I used to really not like gold, but I've come to appreciate gold jewelry too. Silver/white gold is still my number one, though. I love long necklaces with dangling charms & whatnot...love, love, love me some dangly chandlier earrings...usually filigree or fleur de lis inspired. Bracelets, ehhh, not so much. I feel like there's something stuck on my arm that I need to shake off, and I realize, oh...it's a bracelet. Never been one for watches, either.

Anyways, that's enough on clothes for ya. Goodnight!

oh, and p.s. can I just say...I seriously wish my wallet was big enough to afford all of the things on my inspiration board! my birthday is coming up...hint hint wink wink ;)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

praise you in this storm...

I want to dedicate this post to my BestFriend (no spaces) of ten years and many more to come, Gayle (you can read her blog here).  She's recently been diagnosed with cancer, and although she only has about five months of chemotherapy to do, it's still a big deal. All the treatments/medication have been taking its toll on her body, but you know what? She remains strong, positive, looking forward to the future, not dwelling on her condition. And I know she reads this, hehe :) So, Gayle, I know that I unfortunately have not been able to make it to a treatment yet. That's due to business with work and whatnot, but it's no excuse! It's been hard for me to comprehend the fact that you have cancer, that of which I can do nothing to control, to help; and if I had any say in the matter, I would take it all away. I'll be here with you until the end, and you will overcome. I'm so sorry and I don't want you to think even for a second that I'm not there for you, because I would be in a heartbeat. I love you.

Not everyone believes in the same thing. But everyone has to believe in something. Some higher power, some reason for us being here. Some sort of validation that provides some sort of answer, as satisfactory as it may be, for why things happen the way they do. My answer, my reason for living, my validation is my God. My God hears my prayers; He may not always answer them the way I want them to, but He sees the bigger picture that I can't, and therefore lets things happen accordingly. I may get a "no" to something I ask for, but eventually that "no" turns into more than I could ever ask for. I recently reconnected with a friend who's been doubting his faith lately, and I can't get one of the questions out of my head: "Why does God give some people more struggles than others?" That caught me off-guard for a second. And you know what, it's not necessarily that God decides to be like, "Hmm...this person should have x amount more of issues than this person because..." No. It's not like that. Problems are not a lottery. This is not raffle time. This is earth, not heaven. Heaven is perfect, earth will never be. Heaven will give us everything, earth will always lack something. We are not in God's world yet! We are going to have hard times...this is inevitable. If we never had any, we would never grow in strength or character, we'd never appreciate the good times, we would never realize how much we need to depend more on God and less on ourselves.  Every single person is different. We have different mindsets, different backgrounds, different histories, different experiences, different EVERYTHING. If God gave every one of us the exact same struggle, everything would be thrown off balance. He gives us trials according to how much we can handle, and nothing more.

So I have a bad day...and my first thought is, "oh, crap." But you know what? It means God cares enough to risk us turning away from Him during hard times if it means bringing us closer than ever to Him, if it means making us better people.  It means that since God will never give us anything we can't handle, that we are going to get through this just fine.

So, Gayle...I know that everything you're going through, the pain, the sickness, the hair loss...you will get through this. God hasn't for a second turned his back on you. He's carrying you through this because He knows you're stronger than this. It might not seem like it now...but it's true. And I will always be here.


So...I leave you with a song by Casting Crowns, it's one of my favorites...

Praise You in This Storm

I was sure by now,God, You would have reached down 
and wiped our tears away, 
stepped in and saved the day. 
But once again, I say amen 
and it's still raining 
as the thunder rolls 
I barely hear You whisper through the rain, 
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls 
I raise my hands and praise 
the God who gives and takes away. 

Chorus: 
And I'll praise you in this storm 
and I will lift my hands 
for You are who You are 
no matter where I am 
and every tear I've cried 
You hold in your hand 
You never left my side 
and though my heart is torn 
I will praise You in this storm 

I remember when I stumbled in the wind 
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again 
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on 
if I can't find You 
and as the thunder rolls 
I barely hear You whisper through the rain 
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls 
I raise my hands and praise 
the God who gives and takes away 

Chorus 

I lift my eyes onto the hills 
where does my help come from? 
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth 
I lift my eyes onto the hills 
where does my help come from? 
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Sunday, January 2, 2011

what's in my makeup bag...

well, that should be makeup bags, with a plural...i am obsessed! so this will just be stuff that I pretty much use on a daily basis.

Artistry Balancing Lotion. Artistry is a brand that can only be purchased online through an IBO (Independent Business Owner). I have my good friend Brian to thank for that. Let me just say...I love their products! Artistry is actually a sub-brand under Amway Global, a company that literally sells everything, from diet/nutrition supplements to air purifiers. Check them out by clicking here. And I highly, highly reccomend it. Their skincare products are natural and effective. I also use the Balancing Toner, Pore Cleansing Mask, and the Hydrating Mask as well.


Victoria's Secret Pro Airbrush FX Face Primer. Try saying that ten times fast! Gee whiz. Aside from the ridiculously long and descrptive name, this stuff works. After moisturizing, you put it on under your makeup and everything just looks smoother and better and lasts longer. Granted, it does feel kinda oily at first touch, but that soon goes away. Love. This. Stuff. :)


Physician's Formula Baked Eyeshadow Trio in Baked Sands. This is my FAVORITE eyeshadow set of all time. I was sooo super in love with it...until the day I dropped it and all the eyeshadows broke...so I bought myself another one. If I only had the ability to just wear one makeup look all the time, it would be bronze eyes. So naturally I love this. The colors go on sheer or more dramatic (if you use them wet), and the light-medium-dark shades = lots of combinations. I probably use the lightest shade the most, because it's the prettiest off-white/pale gold shimmeryness that goes good as a lid shade, or for highlight. So, yes. This is bomb.


MAC Eyeshadows. I love MAC! These five are my favorite shades (First row, left to right: Satin Taupe, Naked Lunch, Twinks; Second row, left to right: Satellite Dreams, Contrast). I love me some purple and blue looks, too. I have about ten different shades of plum/burgundy-colored eyeshadow!

Revlon Photo Ready Makeup. This foundation is ahhmaaaaazinggg! Seriously. It's high-definition makeup. It gives sheer, buildable, natural coverage that lasts for a really long time. Over that Victoria's Secret primer mentioned above, you have seriously perfect skin.


e.l.f. High Definition Powder. This is a really good product to have after you've applied your foundation. It's colorless, and somehow gives you that airbrushed, soft-focus effect--except not just in pictures, but in real life! It's not just powder...if you feel it, it kind of melts into your skin like a liquid...weird, but I'm not questioning its magical powers. And can I just say right now how in love with e.l.f. I am?!? This brand is amazing. e.l.f. stands for eyes, lips, face. Their products are well pigmented and last for awhile. e.l.f studio products are probably what I turn to most, because they work better and last longer than the regular products.


|
NYX Eyeshadow in Eggplant. Let me just say that NYX is hands down the best drugstore brand out there. Performance-wise, it's very comparable to MAC in terms of pigmentation and wear, but for literally a fraction of the price! And Eggplant is the best shade of purple I've ever found. Sadly, I dropped mine (what is with me, I always drop pressed products!)....but I am in the process of buying another! Check out their eyeshadows, blushes, and eye/lip pencils. Haven't tried the lipsticks (yet), but I'm sure they're great, too.


Best. Lip balm. Ever. Super moisturizing, you don;t have to keep reapplying too much. And it's light on your lips, not heavy, so you're not overly aware that there is something on your lips. And it's just amazingness.


Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Hair Care Line. Okay, this is probably the best shampoo/conditioner I've tried. I've been using Garnier Fructis religiously for a few years now, and I've never strayed too long from it. Aside from smelling ridiculously good, this line really moisturizes your hair. Mine gets either really oily or really dry, and it's mostly on the dry side. This shampoo/conditioner leaves my hair feeling soft even days after using it, and the 3-minute Undo really works wonders after periods of serious damaging (as in, I decided to curl my hair...three days in a row...or tease it, etc.). And it's not too crazy expensive.


e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen. This is amazing. Usually I'm not a fan of liquid liner, let alone pens (I stick to gel/cream liners)...but for this one, I'll make an exception. While it's not totally waterproof, for the most part it stays on save for a little smudging. But for only $1 a pop, who the hell cares??! I always do my liner with the little flick at the end...it changes depending on the look I'm going for. But there's always that flick. And this liner makes that flick flick-tastic. So check it out along with other e.l.f. products at elfcosmetics.com or at select Target stores!


Wet N Wild Mega Last Lipcolor. These are semi-matte, long lasting, and pigmented. They're only like, three or four dollars, but so worth it. Such a good quality for such a bargain. Unfortunately they don't have shades, just numbers, but I loved these so much I bought five shades--a nude color, a peachy pastel pink, a hot pink, a deep burgundy, and a lilac-mauve ish color.

Check it out....let me know what you use on a daily basis! Or just what your favorites are. :)




it's all music--life is the lyrics, you make the melody

Have you ever noticed that if you apply the same lyrics to different tunes, you get totally different songs? That's because the background music--chords, tempo, beat--all matter.

And I consider myself very musically influenced. very.
I just love music. I play it, sing it, hell, I'll even write it sometimes. It just....kind of helps my day go along. And music can totally change my mood. I'll admit...I'm a club kinda girl, and I do love me some hip-hop. Like that song by Dev and The Cataracs..."I like my beats fast and my  bass down low." Which I do. Nothing relieves stress for me better than dancing at a club until my feet feel like they're about to fall off. Which also goes to say that I can't handle going out at clubs very often! It wears me out. Usually I'll try to go once, maybe--maybe--twice a month.

But I also have my days where all I want to listen to is Journey songs. And I love my Nickelback, Lifehouse, 3 Doors Down, Nine Inch Nails, Good Charlotte (yes, I still love them!)...or I'll have my boy band days where I'll bust out Backstreet Boys, Nsync, 98 Degrees...then there's the soul moments--Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight. I like my punk-rock-pop, like Avril Lavigne, Simple Plan, Sum 41, Paramore, The Veronicas...just everything.

Music is my inspiration. It lets me be myself no matter what--not that I'm a different person with each genre, but rather a different version of me.

Sometimes music is empowering. When I get ready to go out, I like to listen to music to just get me pumped for wherever I'm going and I'm just like, "BRING IT." Usually I'll listen to like, "Like a G6" by The Cararacs feat. Dev, or "Firework" by Katy Perry. I listen to a lot of Katy Perry. Her music is just so damn catchy! You listen to it before you go out and you know it's gonna turn out good.

So let music affect you at a deeper level. Artists pour their hearts out in song, sharing parts of their lives, sharing a message, trying to connect...it's something to think about.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

a new year...

so I welcomed 2011 in a low-key way. I had a bunch of parties I was supposed to go to, and my sister was supposed to come with. But she was tired--and my DD, lol--and since everything was so last minute for this damn "holiday" anyway, I just decided to stay home. But that's not to say I didn't have fun! But--I will definitely plan better for next year! The holidays snuck up on me this year. Work was especially stressful thus holiday season due to it being my first holiday season as a supervisor. Sometimes it's okay to relax and just do nothing...

I guess I did ring in the new year early on Thursday...with kind of a spontaneous going-out with my favorites from work. Some of these people are my best friends and when we go out, it means a lot to me. Just because we can get away from everything and just kick it. Do whatever, go whatever, with whoever. So we went to Dave & Buster's. Just in time for happy hour, I might add...hehe. And then we shot some pool. Simple, but the people I was with made the night.

And so this new year...this 2K11...will be my best year yet.
I'm gonna focus on the little things. Because that's what matters. 50 years from now I won't remember the guys I dated, the people who pissed me off on the road, Laker game scores....but I will remember the people who carried me through hard times, the people I was with when we were laughing so hard we couldn't talk, inside jokes that had us looking stupid in public (but of course we didn't care). Because life's not defined by what statistics you make yourself a part of. Life is all the little things...i define my life by all the moments where I'm happy. Where I don't have to worry. Where I don't care about the consequences. This year I plan not to take anything that God's thrown my way for granted.