2016!

wow. can't believe it's been since 2014 since i have posted anything...my bad!

but i'm back. i need a creative outlook so i have decided to regularly start blogging. again... but this time i plan on sticking to it.

updates about my life:
1. still don't have a boyfriend. though there are three guys i met but that's a story for another time.
2. i started a new job at a great company in the IT department. ill be finishing up my first year in march
3. my dog is officially 4 years and 7 months :(
4. i officially walked across the stage to get my diploma though i don't get my degree till my 2016
5. summer of 2015 was the best and worst time of my life! more details to come in a separate blog post

Brushology

Coconut Oil as a Facial Cleanser

Why Coconut Oil Is Good For Your Skin

• It has antibacterial and anti fungal properties (goodbye acne and eczema)
• It won't change the pH of your face so it's not irritating
• Lots and lots of antioxidants to help diminish fine lines and wrinkles
• Great natural moisturizer
• It tricks skin into thinking it has enough oil to slow down oil production while locking in the moisture.
• It's been shown to work for all skin types although some people may be more prone to break outs using only coconut oil. If you break out then you can mix it with other oils like castor oil or jojoba oil.

The one thing I will impart with you as IMPORTANT is that you buy a good quality coconut oil.

You should look for a coconut oil that is unrefined, 100% coconut oil, and preferably organic. Remember this stuff will be entering your pores and hydrating your skin-- this is a time to splurge a little! Get the good stuff! (personally I buy from Traders Joe)

Your face will smell like vacation.


What You Need:

• Coconut oil (organic is best)
• A warm, wet washcloth-- I use 100% 
• Organic Cotton Wipes Technically, they are baby wipes. I know. I know. But they are a nice size and softer than a wash cloth.

Step 1: gently massage the coconut oil to your face (~30 secs)

Step 2: apply warm towel onto your face (to open up the pores)

Step 3: wait 15-30 seconds or so and then lightly remove oil with washcloth-- no scrubbing!

Step 4: if you feel like you need it, splash some warm water to remove excess oil, but your skin should absorb most of it. 

#funnyfriday

Inspiration for ya'll

Jewelry Making Tip: Handcrafted Clasp Jewelry Making Tutorial

my mother is a avid jewelry maker and occasionally she asks me to go out and pick her some ends to complete her projects. and when asking me to pick up the ends, she tells me such names as "s" hook, barrel, fold over, and until i saw this guide, i had no idea what she was talking about. so  i have decided to share this with you.

enjoy!

DIY: night cream

doling out hundreds of $$$$$ for night cream is not my forte. so as i was looking online, i found the perfect recipe from ablossominglife.com!!!

source:  http://www.ablossominglife.com/2013/10/diy-miracle-night-cream.html

DIY “Miracle” Night Cream

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp beeswax
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 2 tbs almond oil
• 1/2 tsp of shea butter (or you can just use more coconut oil)
• 1 tsp vitamin e oil
• 1/4 cup aloe vera gel
• 1 tsp honey (Try to get some local honey if possible)
• 1/2 tsp bentonite clay
• 5-10 drops lemon essential oil

*You can double the recipe

Directions: In a double boiler, sauce crock pot, or microwave safe dish place first 4 ingredients and heat slowly until melted. Pour into a blender and let cool.  In a separate bowl, mix together aloe vera gel, vitamin E oil, lemon essential oil, and honey. Once the beeswax oil mixture has completely cooled and become almost the texture of lip balm, mix it with a spoon a little to break it up, and add the aloe mixture into the blender. Blend until well combined. Place back in a non-metal bowl and add 1/2 tsp bentonite clay, and stir with a non-metal utensil. DO NOT LET IT COME INTO CONTACT WITH METAL! You get the point :). Place cream in a glass or plastic container and store in cool dry place.

DIY: Ikea Desk Hack

moving out of the dorms and trying to find a apartment but being mindful of your budget. i'll be the first to admit that i'm not the most creative when it comes to coming up with my own ideas but i get inspiration from others. so as i was looking through pinterest, i found this ikea desk hack from prettyprovidence.com

source: http://prettyprovidence.com/ikea-hack-diy-desk-under-60/

click on the link above for the full article.

for a more sturdy desk, you can either tape/screw the top board to the bookcases but it takes away from the flexibility of having the option of taking it apart is taken away. also, remember to screw the screw from the bottom up. BUT first don't forget to measure how long the screw should be so that it doesn't come from the bottom. 

MAC Makeup Vs Drugstore Products

let's admit it, we love our mac products but for a college student, it means really stretching our wallet. so i came upon a website where it provides a list of mac product and their drugstore equivalent.

source: http://www.pantryspa.com/beauty-remedies/mac-makeup-drugstore-dupes-complete-mac-swaps-list-save-tons-of-money/

MAC Shadesticks: NYX Eyeshadow Wands
MAC Amber Lights: Milani Sun Goddess, Milani Desert Sun, Prestige Melba, L’Oreal HIP Saucy
MAC Aquadisiac: Jane Millionare
MAC Atlas: ULTA Silk
MAC Bamboo: Wild and Crazy Wild Guava
MAC Banshee: Milani Spice
MAC Beautiful Iris: ULTA Iris
MAC Black Tied: Covergirl Shimmering Onyx, Milani Storm, Jane Clubbing
MAC Blue Noir: Prestige in Ink
MAC Brill: Wild & Crazy Bahama Water
MAC Brule: Milani Almondine
MAC Camel: Revlon Pro Bamboo
MAC Coco: NYX Beanie
MAC Cork: M Professinals Soft Brown Eyeshadow, Covergirl Swiss Chocolate
MAC Cornflower: Physician’s Formula Virtual Eyes Loose Shadow in Eye-Tech
MAC Coquette: Almay Khaki Eye Gel
MAC Creme de Violet: ULTA Iris
MAC Crystal: L’Oreal Beauty Queen On-the-Loose
MAC D’Bohemia: Wild and Crazy Crazy on You, ULTA Knit
MAC Dazzleray Pigment: NYC Loose Sparkle Eye Dust in Champagne
MAC Dark Soul pigment: Jane clubbing
MAC Deep Truth: L’Oreal On the Loose in Night Fever
MAC Dementhe: Milani Clover
MAC Electra: Jane Hi Ho Silver
MAC Electric Eel: Milani Atlantis
MAC Embark: Jane Brownie Points, Flirt! Coconutty
MAC Guacamole: Milani Limbo Lime
MAC Goldmine: Prestige Golden Retriever
MAC Gorgeous Gold: L’Oreal’s Enlightened Emerald Duo, Dior GoldFusion
MAC Glare: Prestige Golden Sun, ULTA Silk
MAC Hepcat: Prestige Blossom
MAC Humid: Milani Clover, WnW Sensual Sage
MAC Hypnotique: Prestige Saturn
MAC Jest: Milani Peachy Peach, Maybelline Pink Sands, ULTA Bermuda Sand
MAC Jewel Blue: Jane Eye Zing in Surfer Girl
MAC Juxt: Prestige Wasabi, Milani Garden Mist, Jane Rain Forest, ULTA Mist, Jane Sage
MAC Kicky Blue: L’Oreal Holographic Blue
MAC Leisure Time: L’Oreal OTL in Flash Light
MAC Little Madame: Milani Illusion
MAC Lucky Green: Wild and Crazy Marquis
MAC Medowland: L’Oreal Wear Infinite in Glistening Sea
MAC Melody: Jane Millionare
MAC Metamorph: Rimmel Hope
MAC Midnight Blue: Jane Blue Jeans, Prestige Horizon
MAC Mulch: Milani Java Bean, L’oreal HIP in Saucy
MAC Naked Lunch: Wet n’ Wild Fine Wink
MAC Nocturnelle: Milani Shock, Lancome Contrast
MAC Nylon: Milani Classic Beige, TooFaced Glamazon
MAC Paradisco: Flirt! Feeling Hot
MAC Parfait Amour: Milani Enchantment
MAC Parrot: ULTA Deep Sea, L’oreal HIP in Showy
MAC Perverted Pearl: Milani Silver Bullet
MAC Pink Freeze: Prestige Ballet, Milani Taffy, Cover Girl Pink Chiffon
MAC Pink Source: Milani Taffy
MAC Pink Venus: Milani Taffy
MAC Quarry: Prestige Sandalwood
MAC Rose: Prestige in Flushed
MAC Rose Pro: Jame Prom Queen
MAC Sable: Milani Java Bean
MAC Satin Taupe: Maybelline Silken Taupe, Rimmel Strength, ULTA Twilight
MAC Shale: Milani Icy Plum
MAC Shimmermoss: ULTA Luna
MAC Silver: Milani in Mercury
MAC Sketch: Milani Marooned
MAC Shadowy Lady: Milani Marooned
MAC Shroom: Jordana Beige, Jane Magic Mushroom, Wet ‘n Wild Flirt Shimmer Stick
MAC Soba: ULTA Toast
MAC Sprout: Prestige Wasabi, Milani Garden Mist
MAC Steamy: Milani Clover, ULTA Luna
MAC Sumptuous Olive: Milani Antique Gold, ULTA Golden Olive
MAC Sushi Flower: Prestige in Love
MAC Swish: Prestige Love
MAC Tilt: YSL Duo
MAC Trax: Prestige Flushed, Flirt! Glamourazzi, Milani Desire
MAC Unreally Blue: Milani Blue Jeans
MAC Vanilla: Philosophy Serenity, Wild and Crazy Mist Over Me 3110, Milani Snow Frost
MAC Vapor: Prestige Chilly
MAC Vellum: M Professionals Opalescent White, Wild and Crazy Lily Song, Milani Moonlight, Max Factor Spotlight Sparkle
MAC Vex: Max Factor Mint Matinee
MAC Wedge: M Professionals Taupe
MAC Woodwinked: Milani Golden Bronze

Life Hacks (8/10)

so the below link/picture posted are from lifehacks.com, 8 of them i thought were AWESOME and share worthy!

link: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7lBrUq/:1aLrUc!w6:LbQgfs$f/lifehacker.com/top-10-awesome-macgyver-tricks-that-speak-for-themselve-476433796/

10. Make Perfect Pancakes with a Squeeze BottleP

It doesn't have to be a ketchup bottle, any kind of squeeze bottle will work—including the kind you buy empty from the store.P

9. Use a Post-It Note to Avoid a Drilling MessP

8. Seal Plastic Bags with Old Bottle CapsP

7. Remove a Stripped Screw with a Rubber BandP

Then fix the hole with toothpicks.P

6. Organize Anything with an Over-the-Door Shoe HolderP

This works with anything from pantry items to cleaning products to gadgets, game controllers, and even cables.P

5. Create an Instant Snack Bowl from Any Snack BagP

SEXPAND

Then eat the snacks with chopsticks to avoid getting the mess on your fingers, too.P

4. Create Extra Shelf Space with a Tension RodP

Tension rods are great for oh-so-many things.P

3. Organize Cables with Toilet Paper TubesP

It ain't pretty, but what cable organization system is?P

2. Use Soda Can Tabs to Save Closet SpaceP

You can use them to hang pictures, too.P

1. Use Binder Clips as Cable CatchersP

Really, binder clips are just a MacGyver hacker's dream.P

DIY Pore Strips

so i'm not much for coming up with my own recipes or posting about really cool recipes but i will share the ones that i have tired BUT, i forwarn, will not be creating my own, until further notice. (why? because why would i waste time remaking something that somebody has taken the time to do. so i will give them credit and write my opinion and then move on.)

but getting back to the point....

homemade pore strips WORKS!

copied from: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1cUEkm/:19VyvQwPX:LbQgfs$f/www.delightedmomma.com/2012/05/pin-tester-make-your-own-pore-strips.html/

blog: http://www.delightedmomma.com/

This week I tested out a pin from my beauty board. The pin came from a blog calledPetit Elefant and it was a tutorial on how to make your own pore strips. To be honest, I had no idea if this would turn out and I was a little skeptical...not gonna lie. I actually HATE the store bought ones and would never ever recommend them to anyone, but this seemed to be a little more gentle so I wanted to give it a whirl.

What you will need:

• 1 packet of unflavored gelatine
• 2 tbs of milk

Directions:
Mix the gelatin and milk together in a microwave safe dish. Microwave the mixture for 10 seconds and apply to face (you can use a facial brush or popsicle stick). Leave on for 15 minutes. Slowly peel off the pore strips and walla!

A little forewarning....this next picture might gross you out a little...

Here is the pore strip that came from my nose. I LOVED this! This is seriously the coolest thing ever. I worked like magic and actually peeled off like a regular pore strip, but without ripping off actual skin.

My skin was so soft after and I even think it removed a little peach fuzz from my face ha! The only weird/negative thing I have to say is it smelled like dog food was on my face...yep very stinky! Other than that this was pretty awesome. Thank you Petit Elefantfor this great (inexpensive) beauty idea!

Two-Ingredient Recipes

i'm not much for cooking but i love pulling out and filing recipes. the biggest place is on pinterest. i find the recipes and when i have dinner with my friends, i bring the ingredients and how-to!

i know i should really learn to cook since i'm 23, but it will only happen when the time comes.

below i have attached/pasted links for 2-ingredients reciepes

posted/credit: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/33XQha/:bhWKHWY6:KDny+X8n/crazyfood.net/the-34-simple-two-ingredient-recipes/

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