May

May has got to be my favorite time of year. Its the time where the weather is absolutely perfect, the flowers and leaves on the trees are so beautiful and vibrant, and summer is just right around the corner. I also get to celebrate my birthday in May and have so many exciting trips and things going on this month which makes it just that much better. 

So, I thought I would just type up a very quick post just to show some appreciation to this lovely month. Happy May!

(More blog sposts coming SOON)

xo

Where I've Been and Motivation Tips I Used

It has been way too long since I've opened my web browser and logged into this blog. Time got away from me and I lost all motivation to come up with new content to blog about. I didn't just lose motivation when it came to my blog, I kind of lost motivation in my everyday life. I suffered some serious January blues after my last blog post and allowed myself to start my year off in a funk and didn't enjoy 2015 as much as I would have liked. Don't get me wrong, I had a lot of great memories last year, but when you aren't feeling your best, you tend to feel like you aren't living life to its fullest potential. But I'm happy to say that I've come full circle from last year and I am motivated and ready to make this year a great one!

I want to share a few tips I used to get my life back on track and how I was able to feel motivated again.

Getting Out of Bed

can honestly be one of the hardest parts of the day. On days when I didn't have anywhere to be I would sleep in way too late and lay in bed for an extra hour or two scrolling through social media on my phone. I realized in order to have a productive day I needed to wake up earlier and to enjoy my mornings instead of sleeping them away. I made myself follow a rule of not checking my phone until I was out of bed. This may seem simple, but it really kept me from laying in bed aimlessly scrolling and wasting a few hours a day. And sadly, it drives me crazy not knowing what those late night snap chats are of, so it really does force me out of bed. Breakfast is seriously my favorite meal of the day and there's something about eating it before 10 am that makes it taste even better. I'm always sure to have delicious breakfast food and coffee to motivate me to make it into the kitchen at a decent hour.

Making Small Lists 

everyday really helps me plan out my days in to-do list form. I try not to overwhelm myself with unrealistic goals for the day, so I keep the lists fairly short. That way you aren't setting yourself up to fail before your day even begins. There's a quote that I love that goes "people often overestimate what they can do in a day, but underestimate what they can do in a year" Ticking off all of the check marks that day is so satisfying. I love making lists in cute notepads and I recently found a few inexpensive ones from Target that I absolutely adore. I also found the matching pens which made me a lot happier than I should have been. 

Working in a Clean Space

keeps me form procrastinating on things I really need to get done. If I need to write a paper but there are dirty dishes in the sink, I'll most likely do the dishes then clean the counter top and before I know it the entire kitchen is clean and my paper is no where near started. So, I either make sure I keep my apartment tidy, or I go to the library or a coffee shop where I'm not distracted by any messes around me. 

Decorate Your Work Space 

with motivational quotes that inspire you. Print them out and place them in a frame or write them on a chalkboard. Not only are the cute, but they'll act as a constant reminder that as long as you are doing your best, you'll be successful.

I really hope I was able to inspire you with this post and I can't wait to start writing my next post! 

Let me know if there's anything you would like me to blog about.

xo

What I Got up to in December!

December was an amazing month filled with incredible memories. School ended and I was stress-free and able to devote my time to friends, family and to just enjoy the holiday season. I did work a lot, but I was still able to do so many fun things. Here's what I got up to!

Wicked

 

For an early Christmas present I took my mom to see Wicked at the Civic Theater in San Diego. It was an amazing show and we had such a great night together. Before the show we popped into The Melting Pot and had fondue and martinis. Seriously my favorite place to splurge!

She looked so gorgeous and happy that night! I love my momma so much and loved spending the evening with her! She's my best friend :)

Christmas Decorations

Besides buying gifts, one of my favorite things about Christmas is decorating! Whether it be the tree or mantle, I just loved making my apartment feel festive and cozy!

Handmade Advent Calendar

Out of everything I did in December this next thing was one of the best parts. It took up ALL of my time for the last week of November, but was so worth it. My best friend Krista and I share the same love of all things beauty--she's actually to blame for my obsession! I wanted her Christmas gift to be beauty related and really special. She's one of my favorite people to spoil and this year I did just that!

For her gift I made her her very own advent calendar. The outside of the box had 25 papers that she could peel off and reveal the number of the day/gift and on the inside it was filled with things like nail polish, lipstick, bath bombs, body butters, etc. They were all numbered accordingly so she could open one a day leading up to Christmas.  

She absolutely loved it and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

Disneyland

Disneyland during the holidays is probably the fastest, easiest way to get into the Christmas spirit! It is so magical and beautiful with all of the decorations and lights. Darren and I took a trip to celebrate our three year anniversary. Even though it was super busy, we were able to get on all of the rides we wanted to and see all of the Christmassy things. My favorite rides during the holidays have got to be The Haunted Mansion which is taken over by The Nightmare Before Christmas and The "Jingle" Cruise-- the jokes never get old!

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was so amazing, I loved spending time with all of my family--especially my younger cousins who are just so adorable! 

Our little drummer boys!

This has got to be the most precious gift I've ever gotten! My four year old cousin Larkin took the time to hand make an ornament for me. Have to admit, I teared up when I opened it! It will have a place on my tree forever!

 New Year's Eve

There's no one else I'd want to ring in the New Year with than my boyfriend and best friend! I love them both to pieces and we had such a great night together!

 

I hope you all had an amazing December and enjoyed this post! Happy 2015! :)

xo

My Hair Care Routine!

I get so many compliments on my long hair and it is honestly one of my favorite features. When my hair is done and looks good, it makes me feel good. My hair is colored and I use quite a bit of heat because my favorite hairstyle is a head full of long curls! I've been using the same products for quite a while now and they all work well together to prevent split ends, frizz and heat damage. 

From left to right:

I absolutely love the John Frieda hair care line and this leave-in conditioner helps when I brush my hair -- wet or dry. It makes my hair so soft and smooth and any brush runs through so easily. 

I also use the shampoo and conditioner by John Frieda. I wash my hair everyday, which I know most people say is bad for your hair and strips it of it natural oils, but if I go a day without washing I look like a greasy mess! This shampoo and conditioner has really helped with taming my frizzy hair and keeps it looking healthy and smooth. 

Next is the Macadamia deep repair masque. I use this about once a week -- usually during my Sunday pamper night. It is such and amazing product that really moisturizes and leaves my hair incredibly soft and smooth!

The Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Leave-in Spray has the longest name, but has made it possible for me to use heat on my hair almost every single day without completely drying it out and causing a ton of split ends. It really does what it's supposed to and I don't think my hair would be as long and healthy if I  didn't have this product. 

All of these products are super affordable and can be purchased from Target and Ulta!

This is really the only picture of my hair (after a few rides) from behind and is also a super cliché photo Darren took while we were at Disneyland (A 'What I Got up to in December' post coming soon!).

Hope you enjoyed this post!

xo

October Shenanigans!

October is the month when it really starts to feel like fall and it is one of my favorite months. I love how the leaves change and the weather finally starts to cool down. I love the sound of crunching leaves and the taste of pumpkin everything. I love picking out and carving pumpkins and I absolutely love dressing up for Halloween. 

I put together a little collage of some of the things I did throughout the month of October. 

Enjoy! :) 

We went to Bates Nut Farm to pick out pumpkins. It is such a cute, festive place that I absolutely love going to every year!

                            

What I Wore:

Top: Forever 21

Pants: Tillys

Shoes: Tillys

My Tinkerbell pumpkin was a fail, but I was very impressed with Darren's Olaf pumpkin. :) I forgot to take an actual picture so I had to screen shot a snapchat to share... oops!

Halloween night was a lot of fun! Darren and I dressed up as a pirate and a mermaid and we went out to a few bars with friends.

I hope you all had an amazing October and that your fall season is treating you well! 

xo

        

Fall Inspired Outfit and Makeup Look!

Fall is almost here! Despite the fact that the weather has not cooled down at all, the leaves are changing color, pumpkin flavored everything is starting to appear, and Halloween is slowly approaching. So, I thought I'd share an outfit and make up look that is still appropriate for the hot weather, but still has the warm color scheme of fall.

I wore this outfit to school a few days ago and it was fun incorporating the fall trends while still staying cool in this long lasting summer heat.

Outfit Details:

Top: Tillys

Shorts: Forever 21

Bangles: Forever 21

Shoes: Famous Footwear

Back pack: Target

I had so much fun creating this makeup look after being inspired by the colored eyeliner trend that seems to be really popular at the moment. I used a subtle rose gold eye shadow to line my lash line and then a black liquid liner just below it to define my lash line and help the color pop. I loved how it turned out and it was surprisingly easy to do!

Unfortunately the pictures just don't do the color justice, but I promise it looked amazing in person!

 Make up Details:

Rose gold shadow liner: "Chopper" from the NAKED 2 palette

Highlight: Lightest shade from the Maybelline "Copper Chic" quad

Black liner: Stila Stay All Day liquid eye liner

Hope you enjoyed this fall inspired outfit and makeup look! 

xo

Hello Summer!

During the summer time I like to give my hair and skin some what of a break. What I mean is I tend to wear less make up and use less heat on my hair. This is usually because most days I'm just lounging around or going places like the beach or pool where I don't need to worry too much about my appearance, but I also don't want to look like I just rolled out of bed.

To look and feel my best I make sure I'm really taking care of my skin so it is still fresh and radiant without having to pile on a lot of make up. I do the exact same thing with my hair so that it is still soft and smooth without having to apply any heat to it. 

Here are just a few products I use to keep my skin and hair healthy in the summer time.

From left to right:

I have two face masks that I reach for regularly. The first one is the Mask of Magnaminty by Lush. This mask really draws out impurities and also exfoliates the skin. This leaves my face feeling so refreshed and smooth. The next one is the Clear Improvement mask by Origins. I apply this mask whenever my pores feel clogged and when I really want to draw out any dirt or makeup. I alternate between these masks just depending on what I need. I use them once or twice a week just depending on how my skin is behaving.

Next is my face moisturizer. This is just a fairly inexpensive one from the drugstore by Neutrogena. It is an oil-free lotion that is designed specifically for combination skin. It really hydrates the areas that need to be, but also controls shine in the T-zone area. I really like this moisturizer and it definitely keeps my skin hydrated and soft. 

My lip butter from Bath & Body Works is one of my favorite things ever. It is in my favorite scent, Market Peach and it just leaves my lips so hydrated and super soft!

This eye cream from Kiehls has worked wonders on my under eye area. I know I've been raving about my one from Origins, but I've definitely found a new favorite. This cream is just super hydrating and also gets rid of puffiness and dark circles. 

Last product is the one I use when I want to really treat my hair. It is the Deep Repair Masque by Macadamia. This deep conditioner is amazing at keeping my hair soft and smooth and it helps get rid of frizz and split ends. I use it about once a week and especially after a day at the beach or pool to put some moisture back into my hair. 

Hope you enjoyed!

xo