The End

It's 11:30 pm of December 31, 2011. The last moments of 2011 are upon me. Am I ready for 2012? I'm  honestly not quite sure. 2011 has been a year of growth, failures, learning to get back up, and blessings. I am so glad to have the family and friends I have to support me through everything I do. I'm not sure what I want out of 2012. It's the year I graduate and finally finish high school. It's the year I apply (which I did already!!) to college, and finally start college. I know it's going to be a year I will never forget, for various reasons. It's going to be a year of transitions and turning points. Hopefully, I'll be able to take everything head on.

And if you're interested, here are a few of my New Year's resolutions.
1. God first.
2. Sleep (more).

3. Love (more).
4. Workout (like 3x a week actually).
5. Successfully complete a project 10 pan

And, here's 2011 in a couple of pictures (most recent to least... sort of)

My friend Alex and I in some subway station (1 train..)

halloween in school

on a marching band trip

shuba's birthday dinner! in june

field trip to the zoo!

junior prom with my friend michelle!

doing makeup on friend - maddy!

boyfriend.

I hope everyone has a wonderful start to their 2012!

Neutral Brown Smokey Eyes

Products Used: 
MAC Bare Study Paint Pot
MAC All that Glitters e/s
72 Matte Neutral Palette from lecosmetique.com (You can use any neutral browns. I used a medium-dark matte brown, a warm soft brown, and a light cream, all these shades being matte)
Tokidoki Adios Eyeshadow 
Almay Black Liquid Eyeliner
Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara
ELF Contouring and Blushing Duo (Blush)
Covergirl Lipstick in Vintage Wine

How to: Smokey Eye

Just some pictures of a smokey eye I did a while ago. A tutorial is definitely coming soon...

How I curl my hair... Cool

So, this is how I curl my hair. I've been doing it recently. It's not terribly time consuming, maybe 25 minutes for all of my hair, and it stays in forever. 

I used a 5/8'' curling iron from hot tools and a conair 1'' curling iron at the highest heat settings. I simply sectioned my hair vertically and used the smaller iron on the front portions of my hair. I curled all hair away from my face. I clamped half way, did a 180 with my hand, and then released the clamp to the bottom of the strand and curled all the way back up again. Near the back, I used the larger barrel to get less curlier hair. The mixing of textures keeps the hair from looking too uptight, and tightly curled. I made sure to spray in heat protectant before and to spray hair spray onto each strand before curling (the key to making it hold). After finishing everything, I misted my hair with hairspray again. That's really it, I have a video coming up on this. The waves/curls are relaxed enough to be worn everyday, and I think they're actually quite similar to the ones the VS models wear on their fashion show (and in general). 

Enjoy loves!

Trust

I've decided to start something new with this blog, not to take away from the usual makeup and fashion posts. But, rather, to have something additional to give this blog more, substance, shall we say. Some of you will really dislike these posts, if you don't, please just don't read them. Skim over them. X out your window or tab. These posts are for me, and for those who want to read them. Some may find them helpful and others will find them a way to get to know me better. I really believe in these. So, these are going to be something like testimonies, little anecdotes about my spiritual life. Yes. JESUS. I said it. So here goes testimony number one. I think I'll do these weekly.

I guess I'll start off and say, this is going to be reflections on my senior year - what I think of it, and how it's been going so far. As compared to junior year, it's been more and less stressful. During the first few months of the year, there was a lot less work, yet a lot more stress because of college applications and the like. Especially with all the major competitions this year, I've been feeling the pressure. And even beyond the temporary pressure you feel at a competition, the lasting pressure to get into a good college. Now, everyone has been telling me, and I guess every other senior that this year is about us, or me. "Make this year about you." It's your year to shine, to embrace the end of a chapter of your life. Yet, quite frankly, I don't want this year to be about me. If I make this year all about myself, where does it put God? Clearly not my number one. It'd be all too clear that I'd be my own number one. So, my prayers for myself, are to God, asking Him how to show me the way to put Him as my number one in my life. It's become all too clear that if someone puts God as his number one, and claims the God as his Lord and Savior, that God will show him the way, that God will provide. And that brings me to the second worry of my senior year, college. Lovely, gotta love the subject. It's all uncertainty, worry and self esteem issues for seniors. You also can't forget the hardcore passive aggressive competition between students applying to the same universities. Yet, I've been trying, and will continue to try for the next few weeks to put my faith completely in God. Where he puts me is going to be the right place. Trusting completely in Him, and trusting in that statement is something I need to work on. And, as a young believer, I think it is always our struggle - to put our lives, our well beings into His hands, giving it all up to Him. It is my hope that we can all work on this together. I am with you, to anyone who is reading this. Feel free to comment or contact me with any of your troubles. I'd love to grow close to you in Him!

And some verses to meditate upon...

Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  
1 Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

Holiday Snowbells Makeup Tutorial - Photos

Products used:
MAC Bare Study Paintpot
Tokidoki Eyeshadows in Bullets, LA Girl, and Adios
Revlon Rivera Blue Eyeshadow
Maybelline Designer Chocolates Quad
Revlon Cream Shadows in Precious Metals
Baby Blue Glittersss!
Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara
NYC Plaza Pink Cream Blush
Rimmel Pink blush lipstick
American Beauty Sunset pink lipgloss

Autumn Smokey Eyes

Okay, I know. I admit it. I'm like the worst, most inconsistent blogger on this planet. Yet, a lot has been going on in life, and I mean, I'm giving myself a break (if that's even possible, are self imposed breaks real?). I've needed it, life has been overwhelming and I've needed time to just be myself. Yet, eventually, I'll wean myself back into the groove of things. I'm uploading this video tomorrow night. I saw that I had quite a few new followers (hello! <3) and wanted to do this for them. A new blog post with just a few up close pictures of my makeup look that will be going up tomorrow! 

Products used:
MAC Bare Study Paint Pot
Tokidoki Robbery Palette
Random skin toned eyeshadow
Almay Liquid Liner in Black (I actually had a professional makeup artist use this on me multiple times. Apparently it's a cult favorite among professionals? I can see why. I've had it forever, and it's amazing. It's surprisingly smudge proof and the applicator just makes liner so easy.)
Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara
Lash Comb
Fusion Beauty Sculpting Blush in Cherub
Bronzer from Robbery Palette
Ellis Faas Lipgloss in 301

Life is short. Live with no regrets.

She picked up the limp, frayed ends of her life, running them through her fingers. She felt the ends that were split by pain. They slipped through her fingers, over and over. They kept on separating. Yet, she picked them up again and again. The broken pieces of her heart and the fragments of her once full life were within the yarn she had in her hands. She silently wept, feeling hot tears roll down her cheeks as she began to pick them up, lacing them through her needles. Slowly, stitch by imperfect stitch, she began to knit her life back together.

i just thought this picture was cute. heh, no relation to absolutely anything.

A lot has happened over the last couple of days. I really feel like I need to write something about this, and I think a lot of other people would appreciate my thoughts. I feel as if I'm being told that life is short, and anything tragic, and terrible can happen to me in an instant. I could lose someone. I could pass away. Anything can happen in the next second. For example, I recently watched the movie Soul Surfer with a few friends which has this exact theme (If you are unfamiliar with the plot of the story, it's about the life of a professional surfer named Bethany Hamilton. Her arm was bitten off by a shark while she was surfing and she had to learn to get up and get through her struggles). Anything can happen to us. We could lose anything or everything. So, I will genuinely try to learn to appreciate every single thing in my life. We take so many things for granted. Yet, we could lose everything so quickly. I hope you will too. I want to start living the life I have tried to plan for myself, the one I wanted to have. Why not? I may only have today. Make each second count. Love each other. Be there. Do not regret anything. If you do, try to fix it - say sorry, or just change from this point on. We deserve so much more than a life not lived out to its potential. Love. Live. 

Don't count the miles/Count the I love yous

I think I should start out this blog post with an explanation. I've been gone from the youtube and blogging sphere for a very long time (about a month). But, honestly, my only excuse is, I've been busy. And this is completely true. I've been busy with applications to college and with various other applications. Besides this, I've been using up my time by spending more time in extracurriculars, friends and with just myself. It has been so nice to have a break but, I'm back!

I've been dabbling around with my shopping lately: just buying a few things here and there. So, I decided to do a haul on my first video back (because I know everyone loves a good haul). This haul is decently sized, considering it's over about a month period of time. I have my thoughts on most of these products because I've tried out almost all of them.

• YSL Parisenne Perfume, 1oz. 
• Fusion Beauty "Sculpt Diva" Blush with Amplifat in Cherub
• Smith's Rosebud Lipbalm
• Tokidoki Roberry Palette
• NARS eyeshadow in Night Sun
• Bare Escentuals eyeshadow duo in the Ephiphany
• Ellis Faas Glossy Lip Lipglosses in 301, 303 and 308
• NYC Eyelash Curler
• NYC Curling Mascara
• Sephora Ribbon Hair ties

On a side note, The song reference is Miles by Christina Perri if you didn't get it. These lyrics are just so good. Read through them and listen to the song when you get the chance.
"I’m scared today, more than I told you I was yesterday
Give me a moment to catch my breath
And hold me every second left

Proud of me, that’s the only way I want you to be
Look at me and love what you see
I won’t make it alone, I need something to hold

Kiss me on my shoulder, and tell me it’s not over
I promise to always come home to you
Remind me that I’m older to be brave, smart, sweet, and bolder
And don’t give up on what we’re trying to do
Don’t count the miles, count the “I love you”s

We made it out, and all the other people are asking how
This doesn’t even sound like truth to grow from a bruise
But one day we will realize how hard it was, how hard we tried
And how our hearts made it out alive

Kiss me on my shoulder, and tell me it’s not over
I promise to always come home to you
Remind me that I’m older to be brave, smart, sweet, and bolder
And don’t give up on what we’re trying to do
Don’t count the miles, count the “I love you”s

And these are words I wished you said
But that’s not how it went
‘Cause you gave up on us in the end
And I won’t make it alone, I need something to hold

Kiss me on my shoulder, and tell me it’s not over
I promise to always come home to you
Remind me that I’m older to be brave, smart, sweet, and bolder
And don’t give up on what we’re trying to do
Kiss me on my shoulder, and tell me it’s not over
I promise to always come home to you
Remind me that I’m older to be brave, smart, sweet, and bolder
And don’t give up on what we’re trying to do
Don’t count the miles, count the “I love you”s "

I miss the days where you reached out to me all the time

Okay. I know this was like a year ago, even more. All of you. But, you suck. I don't get over things easily, and sometimes I remember everything in one night. Everything every person has done to me, and it's pretty sad. Maybe it's my problem but, I think it's yours. I think we all need to do this once in our life. So, cheers, here's a letter to you, yeah you, who broke my heart.

Dear You,

I have a problem; I never say anything when I have to. But, I'm saying it now and it honestly doesn't even matter that this is delayed (by years even). Let me get this straight for you: you can't pretend to love someone when you really don't. Heck, you can't pretend to love two people at once because, well, that's not love. Get your words straight. If you're infatuated with me, that's fine. Just don't say "I love you." I know you don't. Don't tell me "you care about me" in response to "I love you" and run away while you can. Stand up like a man, and just say it to my face. It'd be nice if you accounted my feelings in this too. You can't just pretend this is real and leave, without anything. We all make mistakes. But, no "Sorry" is inexcusable in my book. So go, actually, run because you'll never want to come back. You hurt me, sure. And I'll never be over the fact that you're an absolute jerk. The fact that I actually invested something in you. I have no faith in you and less in myself because I ever did in you. I'm better off without you. Better off without any of you. Oh, and fyi, I've never looked better even in baggy sweatpants. Thought you should know.

Sincerely, your biggest fan,
Christie.

Your words are the most beautiful to my ears;

I just wanted to share the pictures of a makeup tutorial I'll upload shortly - it's for rainbow liner. I edited this pictures so my skin looks really weird but, the colors are really true to color. So yay me! (Suite Life reference)

Bare Study Paintpot (base)
Sleek Makeup Palette in Storm (as lid and crease color)
Almay Liquid liner in black
BH Cosmetics 120 palette in v. 3
Almay Get up and Grow Mascara

Besides this, I also wanted to share something I've been thinking about lately. We have to write these journal things in English class and he just lets us write whatever we want for about 10 minutes, twice a week. It's pretty relaxing but, somehow all my journal entries come out really depressing. But, I was just thinking about how people automatically assume, somewhere in their brains that beautiful people are good people. And, I mean seriously, if you honestly think about it, aren't we all really, really superficial? It's kind of disgusting honestly. I wish I wasn't this way.
(more pictures and a song I really like after the jump)

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Truth is, our time spent together is the best.

I took a simple outfit (from quite a while ago, it's currently like 65 degrees in the afternoon here) and just added a bunch of necklaces to it. Really super simple. Supery Duperdy simple but, I guess I prioritize school and forget about everything else. And I mean, I've never been that adventurous of a dresser anyways.

Sweater: Charlotte Russe
Tank: A  Apparel
Shorts: J. Crew
Necklaces: Juicy Couture (both)
Hair - In it's natural glory (it really is getting long)
Makeup- Sleek Makeup Palette

My heart's in the cloud but, my mind brings it down

So.. September. This month and I have a love-hate relationship. I guess the fact that school has started hasn't really hit me yet. Probably because of the fact that all the work I should be doing hasn't been given to me yet (Yay?) but I know in one week I'm going to be like, why did I ever think senior year could be good. Anyways, it was really hot yesterday. But, I went to walk my dog today and it was cold. So, I don't really know what's up with that. There's really not much to say, maybe next time? 

click to see more delightfully awkward pictures of me.

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