Always Believe

Sunshine Weather

Spring is practically here. Here's a little spread with everything I've been lusting over - both individual pieces and trends.

Mid-length Skirts by Topshop
Sandals by Givenchy

Weekly Love 2/27/12

This week was the first week back from school. Wow, the transition from vacation to school is rough when you're a second semester senior. I never thought I'd catch the senioritis but, I have a serious case. I've been trying to get myself out of it and was pushing myself to study for a math quiz I have tomorrow. But, I came on here to post - so much for reducing my procrastination. Anyways, beyond just suffering from intense laziness, I went on a field trip to a huge art museum this Thursday with my Spanish class and saw a lot of famous murals and artwork from famous Mexican artists. Also, I ran away from the pack to go find a few Monets. Claude Monet is definitely one of my favorite artists. Something about impressionism is so soothing. Then, on Friday, I drove with my parents to visit my sister until Saturday night. It was definitely great to catch up with her and meet her friends and "family" at college. I sadly won't be seeing her again until the end of the school year. Besides that, I've overeaten so much this week. The upcoming week will definitely be about reducing my food intake. I still feel like a ball after an overload of Korean food!
In terms of things I hauled, I didn't get too much. I was clearly pretty busy this week but, I managed to pick up a few things at the beginning of the week. I bought a Kenneth Cole "Sassy Sling Crossbody" from a local outlet in a pretty turquoise suede color. I thought it'd be the perfect size and color to bring out to college with me in the future. It was a pretty good steal at around forty dollars. I also picked up a pair of Calvin Klein tights from the outlets. There were two pairs of black tights with different types of patterns on them. I've been really into wearing skirts, tights, and boots so, they'll definitely come in handy. Besides that, I just bought a lot of pastries and chocolate croissants (favorite!) to bring home with me from my weekend trip! :)

form kennethcole.com

On my wish list for this week is this watch (isn't it just gorgeous??), and a couple of possible prom dress picks. Don't even get me started on this "prom-a." (prom + drama)

from kennethcole.com

Girls With Glasses are Sexy too.

A lot of pictures, I know. But, I have a little story behind my sudden glasses embracing. I realized, somewhere between my dance moms marathon and my pilates workout, that it's silly for me to feel the way I do when I wear my glasses. Again, this will sound silly, but, I truly do get a huge confidence boost when I wear my contacts versus when I'm wearing glasses. Maybe it's because no one in the media is considered "pretty" while wearing glasses, I'm not completely sure. Yet, since I was 11 years old, I've been wearing contacts. Many people have no idea I have glasses even. But, in a few short months, I'm going to be in college, roaming both the campus and the dorms with my glasses on. Am I just going to lack confidence and feel awkward when this happens? I hope not. So, in preparation, I'm wearing my glasses more places and just getting used to the fact that girls who wear glasses can be beautiful too. Because, it's true. 

So, if you feel the same way I do when you make the glasses-contacts switch, join me! Embrace your glasses. 

Tutorial: Everyday Grey Smokey Eye for Brown Eyes

I really love this look a lot! I had been experimenting with grey eyeshadows and came up with this look. I'd like to say I wore this look from about 10 am until 7 pm and it looked great throughout the entire time. So, if you're looking for a long wearing eyeshadow look, this may be fore you! I'd definitely recommend wearing this to any special occasion you'd like and if you lighten up the eyeliner, it's perfect for everyday.

Products used:
MAC Barestudy Paintpot
BH Cosmetics 120 Color Palette 3rd Edition (all colors w/ hot pink square)

Milani Liquf'eye Eye Pencil in Black

Mally Evercolor Eyeliner in Royal Plum
NYC Curling Mascara in Black

Me by Mezhgan Lipgloss in luscious me

I can't keep up with your turning tables;

Close enough to start a war,
All that I have is on the floor
God only knows what we're fighting for
All that I say, you always say more.
I can't keep up with your turning tables
Under your thumb, I can't breathe

I'm currently super obsessed with Adele. Her lyrics are kind of perfect.

dress: french connection; shirt underneath: h&m-mens; socks: hue; boots: lucky brand

My Top 5 Favorite Nail Polishes

Although I'm not a huge nail fanatic, I have a decent sized nail polish collection. These are my top nail polishes that you'll most likely be seeing me wearing in all my videos/pictures. Keep in mind, I'm a huge fan of the light pink/nude nail polish look. I find that it makes fingers look longer and clean.

1. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Petal Pusher

2. OPI Sweetheart

3. Barry M Nail Paint in Navy

4. Sephora by OPI in Personal Shopper

5. Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Pedal to the Metal

Arm Party

The Arm Party begins! As summer and spring approaches, I've slowly become more and more obsessed with bracelets. The best type are the ones that look homemade. Everyone, including me, pays even hundreds of dollars for that homemade, boho feel in their bracelets. You could just make your own. It's literally so easy. I'm going to be posting tons of posts on cool bracelets you can make on your own. DIY is so much more fun anyways! In the meantime, as I work on those DIY posts, here are some photos of the crazy bracelet combinations I've been wearing.

A World Away

A month ago feels like a completely different world. Maybe it's just because a month ago I was in a totally different life situation, or that a month ago I was so much more naive yet, here I am, a month later. Although I'm proud of myself for how much I've learned and changed in the last month, I am always going to be looking towards the future or, what is to come. I think, over the past five or so weeks, I've learned to trust my gut instincts, and most of all how to become a truly strong woman. A lot of girls give off the vibe of being confident and sure of their decisions and I am willing to admit I am not that person, yet. I hope that I can develop into the girl that is fine on her own, and that truly doesn't need a boy in her life as a security blanket towards her happiness. I hope I can realize the truth in that statement and simply forget about men for a short blip in my life and focus on something I haven't in a while, myself.

So, after contemplation and a lot of journal writing, I've decided to organize this desirable change for myself, to make it more attainable. I'm hoping to change for the better, in every single way. I want to be able to focus on one aspect of myself during a one week time period, where I can improve myself in the little ways, and hopefully, over time, improve myself in a big way. There is no time for moping over the past, there is only the future in sight.

So, what am I doing to improve myself? Well, first off, I'm recording everything in my journal, which has slowly become everything. On a side note, after reading through entries from even September of 2011, I can tell how utterly unhappy I was with myself and in that place of life. I think it was upsetting that it took me so long to get out of such a place, and I believe I'm so much more carefree nowadays. Anyways, besides just recording things, I'm focusing on three separate topics: Mind, Body, and Soul. They're all very vague yet, I think they're reasonable things to focus upon, especially with the way I want to change myself.

Mind: I want to improve the way I think about the world, the way I study, the way I perform in school, and my overall mental health as well. So, this includes, reading books I've always meant to and writing the novels that I spin in my head that I've never gotten the chance to. It also means completely focusing on school for that week, and on getting enough sleep to recuperate after a long day.

Body: This one's obvious. Working out! Eating healthy. Watching my overall physical fitness. I've come to realize how good it really feels to eat healthy and to know you're taking care of your body.

Soul: For me, this is religion. Focusing on my religion that week. I don't want to get into this too much.

Hopefully, after sampling what it's like to be completely devoted to these three areas, I will slowly make the changes a part of my daily life where everyday I live works towards becoming better, and the best I can be.

I challenge you to do the same, Change! Improve! I believe you can. We all can.

Rainbow Smokey Eye

I decided to just play with some colors today, and I came up with this look! There's really not much too it but, I think the combination of colors is pretty. If you want to make this more wearable, try just doing the upper portion of the makeup look and choosing one color for a pop of color on the lower lashline. 

Products:

It Cosmetics Eyeshadow Trio in Pretty in Amber

It Cosmetics Eyeshadow Brush

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer

Wet n' Wild 6 Pan Palette in Greed

Mally Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner in Carribean Sea

Wet n' Wild 8 Pan Palette in Comfort Zone

Sleek Makeup Palette in Storm

Maybelline Eyeshadow Quad in Give Me Gold

Almay Liquid Eyeliner in Black

NYC Curling Mascara in Blackest Black

NYC Eyelash Curler 

Cargo HD Bronzer

Revlon Lipstick in Prim Rose

Elf Plumping Lipgloss in Baby Kiss (unshown)

Taylor Swift

My attempt at some sort of Taylor Swift waves (tutorial soon)

But when you think Taylor Swift
I hope you think my favorite song
The one we sang to all night long
The moon like a spotlight on the street
When you think happiness
I hope you think that little black dress
Think of my head on your chest
And my old faded blue jeans
When you think Taylor Swift
I hope you think of me

"Tim Mcgraw" by Taylor Swift has always been a long time favorite song of mine. Actually, Taylor Swift has always been a favorite. I fiddled with the words a little. This post is for someone out there, if he ever reads this. Learning to accept changes, especially for the better, are one of the best lessons in life. 

Perfect Glowy Valentine's Day Makeup

This is one of my all time favorite looks, ever. I do this eye makeup all the time - for school, out with friends, fancy events, whatever; it works for everything. I hope you guys enjoy this tutorial as much as I do wearing it. I've gotten so many compliments on this makeup that I was determined to make a tutorial on it somehow. So, I decided to use it as my Valentine's Day look for 2012 because, well, it's perfect. You don't actually think you're going out to dinner with pink eye shadow, do you? This look is subtle, slightly festive (because of the grayed out purple) and just makes you glow. Nothing gets better than something this effortless. 

Products: 

Face: Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer in Ivory

Airspun Translucent Loose Face Powder

Eyes: MAC Barestudy Paintpot

Mally Shadow Stick in Copper Rose

MAC Shale, Sable e/s

Too Faced Totally Toasted Beige, Oh Ah Black e/s 

Milani Liquf'eye Eyeliner in Black 

NYC Curling Mascara 

Eyebrows (done before hand) Billion Dollar Brows Universal Brow Pencil and Shadow in Taupe, set with a clear brow gel

Cheeks: NYC Creme Blush in Plaza Pink 

Too Faced Pink Leopard Bronzer

Lips: Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstain in Blushing

Smith's Rosebud Lip Salve