Review - Maybelline Palette: The Nudes | July Favorites | National Lipstick Day

In my adult life, I have always owned makeup, but I have never really consistently worn it. Probally because I am not really good at putting it on. The only things that I faithfully wear is mascara and lip balm. However over the last 8 months, I have been dressing up a little more, and have a bigger interest in makeup and you know what? Its kinda cool. These last few months I have been on a hunt for a neutral eye palette and while I do now own a couple different ones now, the Maybelline palette I picked up at Walmart recently is so beautiful. And super affordable. The colors go on so smooth and also match perfectly with my skin tone! This is definitely my new go-to palette.

This is just one of the looks I created with this palette. I like the whole it doesn't look like I am wearing makeup, but I am look. Soft and natural for a daily look never goes out of style.
Side note--my hair is growing!!!!! I have been been really enjoying it and wearing it out more. 

Look at Ruby layer out on the floor

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National Lipstick Day!!!!

Bare faced with just lipstick. 

I don't know why, but I have been loving red lipstick lately. If you would have asked me last year I would have told you I would never wear red. Times sure have changed :)

And is it just me or is are there a lot of days in 2014 that we just pick random stuff to celebrate??? Like National Cheesecake Day. When did start doing that?? Well, luckily for my wallet and unfortunately for my belly, I did not partake in that one.


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And because school is out, I haven't really been terribly busy, and haven't been buying too much so for my July favorites I picked some times that have really gotten me through the month! Coffee and a pre workout!!! My lifesavers!!! The coffee because I have been sleeping so horrible this month and it helps me from not falling asleep at 4 in the afternoon and the pre workout because without it, I would be dragging on my workouts and probably wouldn't even go half the time. I love the tingle I get from the pre workout and it tastes really good. This is actually my second time buying it.

I add stevia and peppermint mocha creamer

More later!!!

Monday Motivation | Healthy Eats | Fitness Plans

// Healthy Eats

So whenever I eat fish I like to boil it because it not only does it stay super moist, but whatever seasoning you use with it permeates throughout it. Its the only way I make it at home now. I guess you can call it being lazy (I would call it crafty), but I started putting my veggies in there to cook with the fish as well because after all, its all going to the same place. Plus, I always end up mixing it together into a mash anyways. It came out pretty good and my stomach and my macros are pretty happy so I guess I will be eating a lot of it this week. 

Its really easy to make, you just add your fish and veggies, season it how you like and boil it. If you season it right you won't even need to add anymore seasoning once its done. Put it on a plate or bowl and enjoy!

I added garlic, onion powder, chipotle season and a little chicken bouillon seasoning. 

I can eat this for every meal and not get sick of it!!!

What are some of your favorite healthy eats? 

// Fitness Plans

I can't believe that July is almost over!!!!! This month has seriously past by so fast and this time next month I will be back in school. One thing that I did do this month was become a little more consistent with working out and running. On days that I am going to work out I have to give myself a little pep talk just to go and work out. What can I say? Old habits die hard. I just have to think about my goals and where I want to be and that gets me out of the bed so I can work out and start my day off right. For the month of August I am thinking about doing a run and squat challenge. I recently downloaded the Nike + app on my iPod and it tells me how many miles I have ran which the other app I was using didn't do. Plus, I the gps is accurate which is super important to me. Sometimes I like to time my 2 mile runs and the other app I was using was so off and I didn't realize it until it told me I ran 4 miles in 16 minutes (definitely didn't happen!) when it was more like 2. SMH. Anyways, I am loving the app and I definitely want to log some miles. I need to come up with a end of the year goal for how many miles I want to have run and then double it for next year. 

Well, thats all for now. Later on this week I am going to review the Maybelline Nudes Palette and a NYX nude palette so look out for that. 

Photo Roundup | Plans | Food

Here a couple of shots that I took recently of my fellow blogger Vic Styles. I myself usually go for the minimalist style, but she has really inspired me to add some patterns to my wardrobe. Plus her fro is pretty awesome!!!

Now, as for me, these last few weeks I have been taking it easy. I guess you can call it a life detox. Lots of self reflection, some planning, lots of running (surprisingly) and eating good food. It feels great. I am not sure what the next 3 weeks have in store for me because I am not sure if I will get orders to go to Texas for school or not. I really wish Uncle Sam would make up his mind and let me know. Because of the whole Texas thing I didn't really search for a part time job. I did put in applications here and there, but I didn't put the effort I would have put into it if I wasn't going anywhere. I just don't want to start something knowing that in August I would be gone for several weeks. Ugh. At any rate, if I don't go to Texas for 8 weeks then I start up school at the end of the month.

This weekend I actually might have a busy weekend coming up. Tomorrow I am taking some photos for another lovely blogger and then Sunday I was thinking about taking the train to the Salsa Festival in Oxnard. Not sure about Sunday though. Depends on how the weekend goes. Might decide to live it up and party too hard, thus leaving me incapacitated on Sunday. Or not. Ok, definitely not, but you never know ;)

So here are a couple of photos over the last 2 weeks or so, I know its not many and I need to do better :)

The Eclectic in North Hollywood--I really want to sample everything, but my pockets and belly say otherwise.

Sunday Brunch and bottomless mimosa

I got the smoked salmon and poached eggs on toast with potatoes--AMAZING!

It sure is.

Instead of salad dressing I have been adding spicy mustard. Not bad actually.

Summer nights at the beach.

I really don't even eat fried chicken, but this was good!!!

Candied yams

My homemade cheese sauce

You can still eat the foods you like in moderation and healthy options

Random Rambling: Being Selfish

So the last few weeks I have been going through a detox of sorts. Lots of brainstorming, lots of interesting conversations, lots of meditating and lots of alone time. School is starting again next month and I need to get my mind right.

On another note, I had a conversation with someone recently on the topic of being selfish in a relationship. She was telling me about a relationship that she is in is failing and that the reason was because of selfishness. Now, I am the last person to give advice, but it really got me thinking. There are definitely levels to the selfishness that one could/should have. And I do believe that you should always take care of yourself first, but when it gets to the level that its always you and what you want above everyone else (especially when your in a relationship)…you only end up hurting yourself.

So what did I say to her? I told her to do what's best for her. Life really is too short to be miserable. The most valuable thing you have is your time and you shouldn't waste it. You can always go out and make money, but your time? You can't get that back.

Hair Banding Natural Hair | Mini Review: Alikay Naturals & Lotta Body

So I have been natural for a long time and this past year I have really been on a kick to take better care of my hair and I have noticed something finally, because it is growing and I have been able to retain some length. One of the things that I have been doing in order to achieve that is by stretching my hair. If I don't stretch it, my hair is prone to get tangled and I end up loosing a lot in the detangle process so I try to make it a habit to stretch my hair in some way. Most of the time it ends up being a bun or a twist out. Even though twists outs would be better for my hair because I wouldn't be pulling it back as much, I really just don't care for it. Number 1: I have a big *** head. And number 2: my hair is fine and thin and it just looks like its on a struggle mission at all times IMO. It lacks volume and then when I try to fluff it out it looks stringy and that never looks good. Anyways, I am on a mission to accept my hair as it is and finding out what works for best for me. Last week while surfing around on YouTube I saw a video on hair banding and I decided to try it out because it looked easy enough. Now, don't get me wrong, I like my results (sort of….ok I'm trying! I will love my hair!), but it was a little time consuming for me. I think I will do it again, but next time do bigger sections so it doesn't take as long to complete. I got the same results as I do from my twist outs, but the big difference was that my hair was a lot more straight than the twist outs (I like) and I had a little more length. So its already a winner. It just takes too long to do! No worries though, I will find a way to make it work for my lazy schedule.

As for the products I used for my hair I used my Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave in, then the Lotta Body Moisturize Me Curl & Style Milk, followed by the Alikay Naturals Creme Brulee mixed with some avocado oil and finally the green Eco Styler to set it. When I took my hair out of the bands my hair was (and still is) super soft and most importantly, NOT flaky. Gosh, I hate flakes!!!

I got the Lotta Body product from my We Are Onyx June Box and its my first time using it so the jury is still out on that one. So far, I really like that its not heavy at all and isn't too greasy. And it didn't flake up considering I used some products from different lines with it. The Alikay Naturals products I have been using for the last month and I don't know…they are not heavy in the least, but they do smell absolutely amazing. I still feel like I cannot use them by themselves and I need an additional moisturizer with them (I added oil). I know she has more products with her line that I could have bought, but see the way my bank account is set up….yeah…. I just bought what everyone keeps raving about. Maybe next time I will get a different product from her line and see what thats about.

Pics are below!!!!
BTW---I banded my hair on freshly washed and damp hair.

Thats me all day! LOL

Cooking With Jessica Rae: Busted Cookie Edition!!! | Ruby: Modified German Poodle Cut

So I wasn't even going to post this after how the cookies turned out, but you know what!? Screw it. You live and you learn and one thing I learned is not to listen to Walmart when they give you a recipe for coconut macaroons. I mean seriously, they came out not pretty. Like, not at all. They still tasted good, but its all in the presentation. And I promise I followed the directions. It was kind of like making sugar cookies except instead of adding flour you added coconut. I think that is what was missing anyways because a lot of recipes that I looked at after my busted cookies had flour in it and it makes sense. Anyways, here you go!!!

PS--Dont try this at home, and whatever you do, do NOT use the recipe on the back of the bag of coconut you get from Walmart! I did not include the instruction because as you will see below they didn't come out so good. I ended up throwing them out. :(

Vanilla extract

 

I used this to grease the pan I was using to cook the cookies on

All done and ready to go in the oven

WTH!?!? Um no ma'am!! 

On a lighter note I realized I haven't shared any photos of Ruby in a while. Right now she is currently rocking a modified German Poodle Cut. Its too hot and she is so miserable with all the hair so I decided to spare her and cut most of it off. I will probably cut it short again one more time towards August and then let it grow out again. I still have some hope she will lose her puppy coat, but we shall see. If you are interested to know, I used a #4 on the body, #10 on the ears, face and at the base of her tail, and scissored the top knot short. Very simple!

Before

After! Mama's baby!