Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Phantom Faces at the Window...

Do you every have the feeling that your phone is vibrating in your pocket, but the phone isn't in your pocket, nor it it vibrating?  Has it ever happened to you that you play video games so long that your thumbs twitch and you go through life hearing video game music?  These things have been happening to me a lot lately and they are WEIRD. BECAUSE IT'S NOT REAL D: But I'm not alone, nor am I crazy.  They've actually done a few studies on it.  But I don't want to talk about that.  That's boring!

Yesterday I wen to the mall and got a new Mac lipstick.  I got Ruby Woo!  I'm still having trouble wearing it because it is soooo dry but I love the color and want to work it out.  There are not that many videos on YouTube  that I like, that show how to apply Ruby Woo.  But of them apply a products over it or add shiny lip gloss.  To me, that defeats the purpose of a matte lipstick.  Nonetheless, it is a gorgeous color and I will keep trying with it until I get it right.  My love for all red Mac lipstick knows no bounds! I will not be defeated!

Anyway, give it a try in the store before purchasing.  It's definitely not for everyone!  A good universal red lipstick I would recommend it M.A.C Red.

Until next time.

Xoxo,


Sarah

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Bun Week: How Wearing a Bun for a Week Changed My World

As you can maybe guess, I love my heat products. But I recently got a cool piercing in my ear and I wanted to show it off. I wore a bun the day after I got the piercing and then never again. Fast forward a few weeks later...

I waxed my eyes brows, so I decided to rock a pouf and a bun. I love my new eyebrows and I got to show off my piercing. Then something happened... I wore a bun for the next whole week. It was something I had never done before. I ALWAYS do my hair. How can you NOT do your hair? And I even started going less on the lipstick *GASP*

I experienced a few revelations during this week of wearing a bun...

1. Some people I know have never seen my forehead...
The first thing my coworker said when I walked into work with a bun and a pouf was that she had never seen my forehead. And to be honest, I hadn't seen it in a while either because I always wear my bangs straight across. It felt really weird to have air blowing on it. It has been a while since my forehead saw the light of day...

2. I spent my time doing more productive things...
Since I was spending less time doing my hair, I spent more time doing more important things like... Sleeping in in the mornings! I didn't have to wake up an hour and a half early to do my hair so I got one more hour of sleep. My dark circles definitely thanked me.

3. My hair started to feel healthier...
I feel my hair is softer and thicker now that I put down my weapons of mass hair destruction. And it was just a one week break! Imagine what one month or two could do!

4. People complimented my changed look...
I had been doing my hair for so long that people got used to me looking that way. Immediately after changing to the bun, people noticed. And they had really nice things to say about it. Changing up your look can illicit compliments. And who doesn't love someone else telling you how great you look?

5. I learned something about myself...
I realized that I rely way too much on my appearance to dictate how my day and life will go. It my hair isn't fully done, I would feel ugly and want to crawl in a whole. If I wasn't wearing red lipstick, I would feel like my lips were naked and I wouldn't want to draw attention to my mouth. I was giving my hair and makeup way to much credit. I'm pretty awesome whether I do or don't wear makeup and do my hair. I had kind of lost touch with that but my week wearing a bun helped me remember. My gorgeously made up hair does not make me a better person and neither does my chic red lipstick. But they sure do make me look cool...

Hair and beauty products are awesome. They can make us feel like bad asses and old Hollywood socialites. But we can't get so addicted to them that we can't walk through life feeling uncomfortable without them. WE ARE GORGEOUS! And we have to rock our natural beauty.

So give the straightener and lipstick a break and wear yourself for a day :)

Until next time,

Xoxo,


Sarah

Monday, February 4, 2013

Shampoo 101!

Have you ever gone to a hotel, washed your hair with the hotel shampoo, rinsed put conditioner, rinsed, then when you get out your hair feels REALLY squeaky clean. Like, TOO clean? So you think, "Wow! This stuff is fan-freakin'-tastic! I'm so clean!" Then you proceed to blow dry your hair. But when you finish, you find that your hair is extremely dry and sizzled looking. That right there was the cause of terrible hotel shampoo. But why was that shampoo so terrible? That is what we will cover today in, "Shampoo 101!"

Now children, what is the most common cleaning agent used in shampoos?
A. soap
B. acid
C. sulfates
D. I don't give a $h!t

If you guessed 'C', you are correct! Almost all shampoos have sulfates. It's what gives you the bubbles and lather and they're almost impossible to avoid. They're so common because they are the most inexpensive cleaning agent to use in shampoo products. But if you read the back of a few shampoo bottles, you will notice that there a few different kinds of sulfates. And they vary in degrees of intensity. The strongest sulfates will dry out your hair immensely depending on your hair type, and the less potent sulfates will be gentler for your hair. Here are the different types of sulfates from strongest to most gentle:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Ammonia Laureth Sulfate
Lauryeth Sulfate
Sodium Myreth Sulfate

They all sounds pretty terrible don't they? The important thing to avoid damage such as scalp irritation, hair loss, breakage and split ends from your shampoo is to use a shampoo that is designated for your hair type and don't shampoo everyday. If you have dry, thin hair, don't use a shampoo for people with thick oily hair because it will be too strong for your thin locks. Now I know, not cleaning your hair everyday to every other day might sound gross. But just because you don't clean your hair, doesn't mean you don't clean your body. Pop on a shower cap and wash away!

Shampoo Label


The point of this post isn't to scare you away from shampoo. It's so you understand what is in your product and to get you asking the question, "Am I using the right product?" Because if your not, it can be damaging your tresses. There are tons of other stuff in shampoo as well that aren't really great for you such as parabens, perfume, etc... But I just wanted to give the shampoo basics. So read those bottles, ladies! And pick products for your hair!

Until next time,

xoxo,


Sarah

P.S. Stay tuned, I will be posting a "Shampoo Alternatives" post for those of you who like to experiment a little with your hair care routine.

January Favorites: Beauty Products

Oh, January! So many wonderful things happened. Awesome after-Christmas sales, chilly weather, a new year... I could go on. But there were some beauty products that I found myself reaching for more often this month. Below I have listed some of my favorite beauty products for the month of January!

1. Mac's Russian Red Matte Lipstick

Russian Red


I know I spoke about this lipstick in an earlier post as one of my all-time favorites, but I found myself reaching for it more than usual this month. I wore this almost everyday for two weeks straight! The color is just so rich and pigmented. And for a matte, the application is a dream. It makes your lips look like you just stepped out of the 1940's.

2. Revlon Color Stay Concealer

Concealer


This was a new product for me this much and i thought it was genius! I'm not sure if this is common, but this concealer has salicylic acid (used in many anti-acne products) which helps get rid of pimples while the concealer hides them! GENIUS I TELL YOU. I don't like to wear foundation so I usually go for a heavy concealer and just apply that over problem areas and this concealer is perfect for that. And since it is part of Revlon's Color Stay line, it stays in place all day. My only complaint is that it dries so fast when you place it on your face that you have to apply and blend quickly!

3. L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara

Mascara


I'm not usually one for mascaras. I have kinda weird eye lashes -they are really long but stick straight forward and don't curl- and mascara usually doesn't do great things for them, but this mascara has such a fabulous formula that I couldn't help but find myself reaching for it on days that I wanted to add a little oomph to my lashes. It does have good staying power -although it is not waterproof- so you might have a little bit of difficulty removing it.

4. Chanel Chance Eau de Tendre

Perfume


I love this perfume. It has such a feminine scent and it isn't overpowering or overly floral. I have put it on at 9am and gotten compliments on it at 4pm. I feel like perfumes are kinda hard to review... I recommend that you head to your nearest Macy's, Dillard's, or whatever and just take a sniff of this perfume.

5. Les Miserables Soundtrack

Les Mis


I know this isn't a beauty favorite, but darn I just love this cd! I love to listen to it when I'm getting ready in the morning, if I'm getting ready to go out, or driving. I could sing along to it three times over and not get tired of it. I even tear up a little too with some of the songs. If you love musicals, I definitely recommend you watch the movie and get the soundtrack. It's like reliving the movie. Some personal favorites of mine are: ABC Cafe/Red and Black, In My Life/Heart Full of Love, On My Own, One Day More, and I Dreamed a Dream. I know, that's a long list of favorites. But it is an AWESOME cd for an AWESOME movie.

And there you have it! My favorite beauty and not-so-beauty favorites for the month of January! What were your favorite products of January? Were they cosmetic? Music? A book? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,

xoxo,


Sarah

P.S. Stay tuned for a post called, "Shampoo 101" which will give you the down low on shampoos and what they could be doing to your hair.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

UPDATE: New Years Resolution

Ahhh... It's January 31st... Only one month ago you probably made a New Years Resolution. Have you followed through with it? Because I sorta kinda have! I have been faithful to the "no hair cuts except for regular trims." I even saved myself the $15 dollars it would have cost me to have a professional do it and did it myself.

The one thing I did amend in my "legally binding" haircut contract is the "bangs clause." I have continued to trim my bangs; because after trying to transition to side-swept bangs, I was not happy. I feel like the blunt bangs suit my face and personality more. I was a totally different person when I had my bangs to the side. And she was NOT happy. Who cares if they're too thick are not completely perfect? Not this gal. I will embrace my too-thick fringe and rock it to the best of my ability!

Let's wrap this up with a picture of Zooey Deschanel. AKA Bang Goddess Supreme.

Zooey Deschanel


How can you not love the blunt fringe? Just look at it! It's PERFECTION.

What's your opinion on the blunt bangs? Awesome hair action? Or a disaster waiting to happen? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,

xoxo,


Sarah

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Some Awesome Adult Fiction

I usually go between phases of reading all YA and all adult fiction. Right now I'm in my YA phase again; but I still have some favorites in the latter category. There are some really amazing adult fiction books out there! I personally, really enjoy historical fiction. The royal courts, scandal, mystery, intrigue, betrayal, ooooh! I get excited just typing about it. Anyway here are some of my favorite adult fiction books. I tried not to pick all historical fiction, but there are quite a few great ones...

1. Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors

Mistress of the Revolution


Set in the Grench Revolution, this story follows a young girl as she tried to go through life as best she can. Her hardships, her good times, and love found lost and found again. This is my favorite book of all time and a definite tear jerker.

2. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

The Historian


This story is really cool because of how it jumps between time periods and jumps between history and fiction. It has a little bit of everything! Mystery, love and an adventure that spans continents.

3. Molokai by Alan Brennert

Molokai


This book chronicles the life of a woman who, as a child, was diagnosed with leprosy and sent to live out her life ina leper colony in Hawaii. Her story is beautiful and heartbreaking. Grab your tissues!

4. Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor

Forever Amber


Oh, Amber... She is a stubborn girl who grows into a stubborn woman that uses her "womanly assets" to secure her comfortable life but is not satisfied because she can not get the love of the only man she ever really cared about.

5. The Eight by Katheirne Neville

The Eight


Sooo good. This book is so good. A mystery that revolves around a magical chess set once owned by Charlemange that spans continents and centuries. Did I say how good this book is?

6. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Gone with the Wind


A classic. Gone With the Wind is the story of Scarlett O'Hara and her conquest to pretty much own the world and all those in it. But she insists on longing for the one person she can never have.

7. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

The Tea Rose


An epic story about a girl that rises from poverty, and against all odds, makes a name for herself by creating a tea empire. All while calculatingly extracting revenge on a person she has feared and hated all her life.

8. The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

The Winter Rose


The epic 'Tea Rose' saga continues and we welcome new and old characters.

9. Helen of Troy by Margaret George

Helen of Troy


'Helen of Troy' is a beautifully written novel. It's been a while since I read it, but it left a lasting impression in my head as a really interesting read! If you love mythology and a bit of a rocky relationship story (COMPLETE UNDERSTATEMENT) then pick up 'Helen of Troy.'

10. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Interview with the Vampire


A true vampire classic. We hear Louis tell his story and his struggle through the years to hold onto his humanity.

11. The Magic Circle by Katherine Neville

The Magic Circle


Mystery, magic, a little bit o' incestual-cousin-love... What more could you want from book? No but seriously, it's really good once you get past the whole "I'm in love with my cousin and my aunt married my uncle" thing going on. GIVE IT A CHANCE.


And there you have it! Some amazing and memorable adult fiction that I recommend looking into. I also recommend reading the ACTUAL synopsis for the books. I did my best to give them an interesting kinda-descriptive blurb but I'm sure all I did was pique your interest slightly. All of these books can be bought for very handsome prices online, or you could take a trip down to the good ol' book store.

What are some of your favorite adult fiction books? Do you hate adult fiction? WHY?!?! Do you love it? GOOD...

Anyway, read a good book. It's food for your brain.

Until next time,

xoxo,


Sarah

Product Review: It's a 10 Products

I am a big hair products freak. When I go into Walmart, I always want to try the latest Tresemme shampoo or that cute Herbal Essence 'Honey, I'm Strong' that boast the lady with the strong-a$$ hair on the bottle. Don't even get me started on when I went through my "no-poo" days. I love to experiment. But those were dark, dark, greasy days.

Recently, I've been wanting to venture into a bit higher quality products. I did a little research, and after reading lots of Makeup Alley reviews and youtube reviews, I decided I wanted to give It's a 10 products a try!

It's a 10

This is the first It's a 10 product I tried and definitely my favorite. It's the 'Miracle Leave-In Product." And let me tell you, it delivers. I am a heat addict and this keeps my tresses silky smooth. And on days when I feel like giving m hair a break, I rub this into my wet hair and let it air-dry. It controls the frizz all day and keeps my hair looking natural, smooth, and under control. I highly recommend this for people that have curly frizzy hair. I myself do not have curly hair, but I know that a lot of products that people with this hair type use makes their hair look weighed down and greasy. This does not do that! I have accidentally put a little but of this on my roots and it didn't make me look greasy. I have black semi-straight, oil prone hair and this really does live up to it's claims. I have medium thickness hair, but a lot of it, and this product makes my hair look thick and healthy. I got my 10oz bottle on eBay for $25 free shipping. This was an amazing deal and there are similar ones all over the internet. Beats buying it at CVS for $45!


It's a 10


I got a really good deal on this product. I had no intention of buying it. But the hair gods smiled upon me and placed this awesome deal in my path. So... I bought it! What else could I do? You can't say no to the hair gods...

Anyway, back on track. This is the Miracle Styling Serum! This make my hair feel so delish when I've just sizzled the ever living hell out of it with my dryer and straightener. I am heat addict. And if you are too, you will love this product. It's alcohol free and very nourishing for your hair. The product also doesn't leave a gross greasy residue on your hair. It just makes it feel soft and have a healthy shine. I scored this for $10 at a JCP that was going out of business near my house.

You don't need to pay high prices for high quality products! Shop around and keep your eyes open and you will spot an awesome deal. I highly recommend these products. And used in conjunction, you will have a fab hair LIFE.

Have you tried any It's a 10 products? Did you love them? Did you hate them? Leave a comment and let and know!

Until next time,

xoxo,


Sarah

Books I'm Looking Forward to Reading in 2013

I absolutely love reading! And with the new year, comes new books and sequels to series that we absolutely love! Please excuse my excessive use of exclamation points. It's just that... I LOVE READING!!! *Clears throat* Well now, lets move onto those books in no particular order.


1. Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons (Article 5 Series)

Breaking Point

'Article 5' really kept me in suspense. The romance wasn't as great as I thought it would be but all around it was a good book. I really look forward to this sequel because the first one had a GREAT plot.


2. Scarlett by Marissa Meyers (The Lunar Chronicles Series)

Scarlett

In the first Lunar Chronicles book you couldn't help but feel sorry for Cinder and hopes she gets her happily ever after. I really underestimated this book when I started reading but Cinder is a really strong character. I predict that this sequel is going to have some really cool locations! CANNOT WAIT.


3. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me Series)

Unravel Me

I read 'Shatter Me' all in one sitting. It was a book that pulled you in and scared you all at once. The main characters resilience and compassion for others, even in her circumstances, is refreshing and the romance was sweet. I expect great things from this sequel.


4. Untitled Book #3 by Veronica Roth (Divergent Series)

Divergent

This has to be one of my favorite series of all time. And I think it's because it has such a REAL heroine. Tris is impulsive, mean, and sometimes violent with no remorse. But she also has so many wonderful qualities. And it's this blend of good and bad that make her such an admirable character. She's not perfect and we see her struggle with it. She stands up for what she believes in and won't let any one steer her moral compass astray. If you haven't read 'Divergent' or 'Insurgent' I would greatly recommend doing so! I rarely cry in books, but this one really pulls at your heart strings at some points. I can't wait to see what Roth has in store for Tris!


5. Requiem by Lauren Oliver (Delirium Series)

Requiem

I absolutely loved the first book 'Delirium' the writing style was just... beautiful. There really is no other way to describe it. Not much happened in the first half of the book but you couldn't stop reading because it was written so beautifully. To me, that book was a work of art. This one also pulled on my heart strings and I cried at some points. The next book 'Pandemonium' was okay to me. I didn't get emotionally involved in the book because I just didn't find the *SPOILER ALERT* romance believable. Besides that it was an okay book. I have really high expectations for 'Requiem' to make up for what 'Pandemonium' was lacking.


And these are just a few of the the books I'm looking forward to in 2013!

Are there any books you would just love to get your little hands on? Comment below and let me know :)

Until next time,

xoxo,


Sarah

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Five Tips for the College Kid

College is a great experience and a time of exploration. You decide who and what you want to be and you become a young adult. But when some kids get to college, they experience a freedom they didn't know before. No curfew, no parents, you have free range over what you do. And as they say, "with great power comes great responsibility."

I have compiled some college tips that I want to pass onto others. Everyone is entitled to do as they please. I'm just writing this to give my two cents on how to have fun in college, but still stay on track and be successful.

Here are some tips that I recommend the average college kid follow, or at least keep in mind when making decisions.

1. Don't drink.
I understand that A LOT of college kids drink. And if you want to do it, go right ahead. But here are some reasons why I suggest you steer clear. Number one, it's illegal. This doesn't phase most people; so I'll move onto to my second reason. Number two, it's not cute. You get sweaty, your hair gets messed up, you can potentially ruin your cute outfit, your speak slurs, you stumble, you lose control over yourself. I'm very much a fan of my self control and pretty hair. And the losing control leads me to reason number three, it's dangerous. So many terrible things can happen to you that are just not worth it. You can be taken advantage of. Whether it be a sexual assault, or even someone stealing your purse or wallet because your drunk ass can't defend itself. Again, you can do as you please. But keep the negatives in mind when pondering the question, "Should I drink?"

2. Think things through.
Don't let people pressure you into making quick decisions. I personally need time to dissect and think about an issue/question before I can give a response. For example, "Omg, there is this really hot party that we need to go to. I need to know right now if you can go." Don't let them pressure you into making an on the spot decision if you feel you have to think about it. And go with your gut. If your brain is sending you signals that something is up, go with that; because something probably is. And if this person will not stop pressuring you into a decision, say no. "No" is my favorite response ever. If I'm not given ample time to think something through, I will always say no. There must be a reason that that person wants a response right this minute and it's probably not a good one.

3. Accept the consequences of your decisions. Because they are YOUR decisions.
This one applies to many areas of your life. Let's take the don't drink tip for example. If you did something really dumb while you were drunk and you only begin to comprehend it when you sober up, don't blame it on the alcohol. You had a choice and you chose to drink, and that choice lead you to whatever mistake you made. Accept that you messed up, and try to atone. Don't try to feign responsibility. Another example, lets say you chose to not study for a test. You get to the test and you do a really crummy job. You get an F. Don't blame your F on the teacher. You didn't study and that was your choice. Maybe you fib a little to your parents and say "I don't know what happened" but don't lie to yourself. You know you should have studied. So own up to your F.

4. Join a club.
I'm not a very social creature. Large crowds make me nervous and loud music puts me on edge. But we all need to reach our social quota for the day! So join a club. You'll probably have a meeting weekly, or biweekly which will give you the opportunity to meet new people and get involved, or just find that buddy that you sit with and make small chit chat with at meetings. Either way, it's good to be minimally involved. If your like me, it makes you feel accomplished and like you're part of something.

5. Be happy!
College may be short, but make sure you spend it happily. Do things that you like to do and don't worry about what other people might think. If it makes you happy to sing while you walk to class, do it. Life is too short and is there ever an occasion where you should NOT sing? There are very few. If it makes you happy to just sit in your dorm and chill, do it. There is nothing wrong with that. Everyones college experience is different and different things make YOU happy. So find those things and do them :)

Those are a few of my tips for college kids, new and old. I realize some of these tips may make me sound like an old lady, but trust me, you will come out a lot more success at the end of your college career if you keep a few of them in mind. You don't need to drink to have fun, and you don't need to go with the crowd to be cool. Do your thing, be happy, study, and everything will fall into place.

Until next time,

xoxo,


Sarah


Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Five Favorite: Lipsticks of All Time

Lipstick is my favorite accessory! A pop of red lips can make you feel like a 40's pin up girl, and a bright hot pink can make you feel Barbie cute. Here are a few of my favorite lipsticks that can spice up any dull day.

1. Mac's Russian Red
This is a perfect vintage red. It's bright, goes on thick, matte, and last all day. Russian Red is a lovely blue based red that would add a pop and flair to any day. Add a winged eyeliner and you are sure to get some compliments on your vintage inspired look.

2. Mac's Diva
This is a very dramatic color that is lovely for the fall and winter. It's a deep matte, wine color. It's perfect to achieve that vampy red lip we love, or a dramatic night look. Be ballsy and wear it in the day time! Other women (and some men) will look at you and admire your daring color choice!

3. Revlon's Siren
This is a gorgeous orangey coral color that would add a pop of Spring in anyones wardrobe. This color is really similar to Mac's Vegas Volt and at half the price! This is a great alternative to spare your wallet a few bucks. It goes on smoothly but later requires some reapplication especially if you ate. Dab it on lightly for a subtle look, of pile that puppy on in layers to get a bright orange lip! Be daring :)

4. Mac's Chili
This was my very first red lipstick and it holds a special place in my lipstick holder. I don't find myself reaching for it very often anymore but it's still one of the best colors I have ever owned. It's an orange based red and has a very brick-like color. Be cautious because it could potentially make your teeth look a bit yellow. This is a great starter red for people that are a bit new to lipstick because it is extremely wearable for all skin tones and hair colors.

5. Mac's Mocha
I'm not a nude lipstick kind of girl, but I'm a fan of this one. I feel like it give a a "your lips but better" kind of look. I love that it's a satin finish so it goes on smoothly but settles to a matte finish. It's an awesome color for those days when you want some color, but don't want it to overpower you.

And those were my favorite lipsticks of all time! Lipstick is one of my passions and something I love to play around with. People rarely see me without some form of color on my lip! Stay tuned and I'll post something about getting a little color on your lips without the heaviness of a lipstick.

What are some of your favorite lipsticks? Comment below!

Until next time,

xoxo,


Sarah