Beauty & Baking!

I'm baaaack!

2011-02-06T21:09:00.000-08:00

I realize I have not posted in FOREVER!
Unfortunately, my busy life gets the best of me as far as starting up my blog. :(
However, it is my GOAL to not just look at/read other people's blogs but contribute and update my own as well.

So.. coming soon.. my new favorite blue eyes eyeshadow palette, a review of Fructis Garnier Blow Dry Perfector 2-Step kit, a new body-acne product I'm trying out, and the BEST/comfiest t-shirts everrrr!

Glad to be coming back :)
Steph

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication." --Gail Devers.

Skincare

2010-07-28T06:15:00.000-07:00

"Though the circular round-and-round of routine be the bulk of life's affairs, make an occasional jutting diversion - of fun, love, or something that will outlast you - so the shape and motion of your life shall resemble the round lifegiving sun with bright rays shining forth from all directions." --Terri Guillemets

I know its been a longg time since a post but I find working full time and having a summer class keeps me extremely busy, unfortunately. I tend to look through everyones' blogs but don't find time to update or comment.

Lately, I have been focusing on fixing my skincare routine. I have combination skin that gets oily in my tzone as the day goes on. I have tried to pay more attention to ingredients in cleaners, ect in order to try and fix this problem. Here are some things I am trying:

1. Palladio Rice Papers- as far as oil blotting sheets go, I love these babys. They have a thin layer of translucent power to "set" your face & blot oil at the same time. Theyre like $2 at Sally's Beauty, and a lot come in a pack. Also, they don't mess up your makeup at all!

2. Cetaphil cleanser for normal to oily skin- I had read a lot of recommendations on how this is a good cleanser because it doesn't really have irritatants and is pretty mild, not too drying, no fragrance, ect. I would say I have been using it about 3 weeks to try and stop breakouts/oil. I would say that my skin tone has improved as far as like coloring evening out. I don't get redness around my nose like I did from clearasil, neutrogena or clean and clear. As far as breakouts go it may have improved a little bit, but not much, and I don't think my face gets any less oily throughout the daytime. I still find my tzone gets somewhat slick 1-2 hours after washing. I use this in the morning and at night. Oh, and one more thing.. it stinks at getting off mascara. However, I would say it is working better for me than all the neutrogena, clearasil gimmicky face washes.

3. Neutrogena Oil free Hydrating Acne Treatment- again I read some recommendations about how this could help clear up some breakouts, even skin tone, and clear blackheads. It contains a percentage of salicylic acid and it a gel-ish consistency. I use this in combination with my product #4, so I normally will put this on at night after I cleanse my face. I used this probably 2-3 weeks consistently and found it really did nothing for my face. When I use it at night my tzone gets oily pretty quickly and so far its done nothing for blackheads or breakouts that I can tell.. if anything I think they got worse so I'm definitely considering ditching this product. However, I'm not sure if maybe it takes a while to work, or maybe I need a different form of salicylic acid because everything I have read said its supposed to be really great for combo skin.

4. Benzoyl peroxide prescription cream: I don't have a picture for this, but its a little jar of a cream that I apply in the mornings and (before I got the sal. acid ointment) at night. When I got it 3 years ago it worked great for clearing up any acne/breakouts, and helping my tzone stay relatively dry throughout the day. However, after using it about 3 years it doesn't work that well anymore. I'm thinking maybe I need to up my perscription percentage amount because the one I have is around 5% and I know you can get some OTC ones for 7-10%. But the 5% definitely helped me the first couple years using it and it was my go-to acne product!

5. Moisturizer: is something I really don't know what to do about. I got an SPF 20, oil free moisturizer, fragrance free from target and I never know if (having combo skin) I should put this on after my acne treatment products, before, at night, in the morning... or whatever! Any suggestions?

Lemme know if you have any questions, tips, tricks, or suggestions about skincare because I'm always open to hearing them! :)

Stephanie

Quote & peep toe pumps!

2010-06-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

"Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary." - Sir Cecil Beaton

Hello Hello pretty girls! :)

So, last week I started a new job for the summer while I am home on school break, and I have been SWAMPED working full time. That's why I haven't had any updates. But, since I have a free moment I definitely have some beauty questions maybe someone will know...

#1 Where is your favorite place to buy age appropriate work clothes (20ish)?
#2 I am on the search for a cute pair of black heels! I want them to be cute so they can double as being [relatively] comfy to wear to work, but be able to go out in them. I love these:

(Charlotterusse.com) (forever21.com)

The PROBLEM, is that I cannot find any shorter than 4 inches! I would like 2-3ish inches, but all the pumps I find are 4 or 5 inches high. Anyone bought some from somewhere that didn't make them superduper tall?

Thank you!

Stephanie

A pretty cool website!

2010-05-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure about everything else but I LOVE to change the background on my computer all the time. Well, I was searching and I came across this really cool site that posts a set of free "monthly" wallpapers. Each wallpaper is a different design with a calendar on it, if you like that (I do! I do!) or you can download it without the calendar (like if you want a past month's picture).

Here's the site: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/tag/wallpapers/
My favorites for May are the birdhouse one and the sunflower with the lady bug one :)

Enjoy!

Stephanie

Summer shorts

2010-05-18T21:27:00.000-07:00

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken!" --Oscar Wilde
This is one of my absolute favorite quotes (I have a big poster with quotes written all over it.. I sorta collect them!) and I think this one is just a really good message for everyone! :) What is your favorite quote(s)? I always love to hear new ones!

I've been on the search for some new cheap pairs of shorts since I have begun working out a lot more and my body has changed and mine no longer fit right... so here are some clothes deals I found.

JCPenny: Shorts: buy one get one for 1$.
Aeropostale: Buy one get one free (which comes out to about 28$ for 2 pairs)
Charlotte Russe: 10% student or military ID discount (at least in Florida?)
Forever21.com: Under "features" they have "Daily 21 specials" where they put 21 random items on sale for 20% each day. Also, their sale section has quite a few items pretty cheap right now!
Kohls: is pretty much always running sales, right now they have 40-60% off most tops, shorts, and capris!

So, those are the deals that I found but when I get paid and go check out these deals I'll let you know if I see anymore good ones!

Happy Wednesday! :D

MY Favorite beauty products!

2010-05-16T22:11:00.000-07:00

This is a post dedicated to my favorites! For each category, I will post a more expensive first, and then an inexpensive item! (or for some there will just be one!) My ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS/FAVORITES are highlighted in Red!

MAKEUP: (I am pretty fair skinned with light strawberry blonde hair :)

eyeshadow: (E) Stila palettes, Bare minerals singles (I) L'orael HIP eyeshadow duos, Avon roller eyeshadows, JANE single eye colors
blush: (I) everyday minerals (purchased online @ everydayminerals.com) in apple, new shoes, and snuggle
bronzer: (I) JANE bronzer compact (I love love love this one! Its perfect for my fair skin)
concealor: everyday minerals concealor in Mint (again, I LOVE this, it hides any redness on my face, and its really light weight.)
foundation: I don't really use any foundation, but if I had to, (E) Clinique in superbalanced makeup in #27
mascara: (E) clinique high impact mascara in #1 black (I) Rimmel volume flash in 005 extreme black
eyeliner: (I) covergirl perfect point plus in black onyx & expresso
lipgloss: (I) lip smackers or ELF...I am on the search for a nude lipgloss great on fair skinned or redheads if anyone knows of any, especially if they're cheap!
lipstick: none, I'm not a huge lipstick person, however any recommendations for really inexpensive ones for me to try would be great!

SKIN CARE: (I have combo skin: a semi-oily t-zone, but the rest is okay)

face soap: (I) clean and clear oil free facial foaming cleansor
face scrub/exfoliator: (I) neutrogena deep clean invigorating foaming scrub
face masque: (I) St Ive's mint mask
toner: (I) Olay refreshing toner (this is made from witch hazel...which i know you can also buy pretty cheap at drugstores and what not, so I think you could easily spend a few less dollars and just get witch hazel; this is what I am going to do next time.)
lotion: (I) I have clean and clear morning glow, oil free moisturizer with SPF 15. I like this but I don't like the little specs of glitter in it... any recommendations for an oil free face lotion with SPF?
others: I would like a good method for eliminating blackheads on my nose/chin; however, I have been unable to find any product to do this or way of getting rid of them if anyone has suggestions!

HAIR PRODUCTS: (I have decently curly, fine, thin hair that I have to wash once daily)

shampoo: (E) paul mitchell strength shampoo (I) herbal essences drama clean
conditioner: (I) Aussie 3 minute miracle, herbal essences hello hydration
curly hair product: (E-ish) Catwalk TIGI curls rock! (I've been using this years, I LOVE it), (I) fructis garnier curl shaping spray gel
straight hair product: (E) CHI shine serum (I) john frieda frizz-ease hair serum-transform (this stuff is really great... it makes my hair so sily soft!)
blowdryer: (E) CHI
straight iron: (E) CHI
curling iron: (I) conair instant heat 3/4 in. curling iron
others: (I) Aussie hair insurance leave in conditioning spray, Aussie anti-humidity flex hold hairspray, Dove flex hold hair spray, fructis garnier shine spray

*I'm always looking for different hair products/shampoos/conditioners to try out to make my hair be the softest, silkiest, strongest, shiniest, and least oily it can be, so lemme know if you have anything you love to use!

So girls... those are my favorites, must have products, WHAT ARE YOURS? I love to try new things, especially if they are cheap! Every single one of my inexpensive items I purchased for under $10 I believe! :D

xoxo, Stephanie

Summer 2010!

2010-05-10T00:36:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! :)

I'm backkk to blogger, finally!
My first year of college is over, and it was absolutely AMAZING! I loved it so much! I'm sad to be gone from school and my new friends + boyfriend and experiences there, but it's also nice to be home. Plus, that gives me time to finally update my blog again!

So... I haven't figured out what it will be yet, but new post soon! I'm excited!

Hope everything is going fantastic for everyone!

love, Stephanie xo

...not beauty related, but how to get college textbooks CHEAP

2010-01-04T21:05:00.000-08:00

Hey girls. :)
so.. I know its been a while since I updated.. when I started this blog, it was summer time, right before I left to attend a university. Since then college has kept me EXTREMELY busy, and unfortunately I never have time to update it. When I get out of school in May I plan to start updating again, and I can't wait. I've still been following your guys' blogs on and off, I just haven'd had time to update mine.

However, I did want to let you all know about how I bought my college textbooks this term, because its an amazing deal even though it's not beauty related.

www.chegg.com !! (coupon code: CC110759) It is a website that was recommended to me from some people at school where you rent your college textbooks instead of buying them from amazon, the bookstore, ect. You order them from their website, add them to your cart, and rent them for the term.. then once the semester is over, you print out a mailing label from their website and ship them back (free shipping both ways!), within a month after the semester ends, and thats it! This term I calculated everything out and my books from the bookstore would have been $938.23. From half.com (a bookstore through ebay), they would have been around $800, and from chegg.com was able to rent ALL my books for $420.00! So overall, I saved about 400-450 dollars this term just by renting them. They are either new or used books but they are always in good shape, and you're allowed to write and highlight in them! When you checkout, make sure to use the code ' CC110759 ' and you get 5% off your order!

Again, I just wanted to log on and share the word from this because it saved me 500 dollars and im sure some of you are college students too, and we all know saving that money lets us buy more makeup, shoes, and hair product ; )

Hope you had an amazing holiday season and new year!

xo, Stephanie!

2009-08-22T00:23:00.000-07:00

moved in college this week, so its been INSANE.
ill post/comment soon.

thanks to my new followers<3

2009-08-15T02:33:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies. :)

Okay, I was looking through Dashboard, and someone I follow, Blogspot beauty (http://xblogspotxbeautyx.blogspot.com/) , is having a "minis" giveaway for her followers! So I encourage you to go check it out, and check out the rest of her blog. My personal favorite post of hers is the one about dry shampoo and how to use it.. I have just gotten interested in dry shampoo and her tips were very helpful for using it!

So go check her out and have a happy day!

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude." --Denis Waitley

reviews

2009-08-12T23:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I want to review two products I have been trying out, the first is H2O spa hair repair seaweed masque, and the second is palladio oil absorbing rice paper tissues.

This is it's description: A moisture intensive treatment for hair damaged by sun, heat, saltwater, chlorine or other environmental elements.

I give this product a thumbs down, unfortunately. I got it discounted for $4.99 at TJ Maxx, and it really didn't add any moisture or make my hair soft or anything. The only thing it did was make my hair smell bad.. the product has a seaweed/unpleasant smell to it, and your hair smells like it until the next wash. Overall, I do not recommend this product. If you're looking for a good moisture treatment (if you straighten/blowdry/curl your hair a lot like me) then i suggest either Aussie 3 minute miracle deep conditioner (smells AMAZING) or one of garnier fructis's deep conditioners. They are both much better, about $2.00 and smell good!

Next, I want to review these Palladio rice paper tissues, which I buy at Sally's for $3.99 a pack (which contain 40 sheets) I buy them in the color "natural" because they have a slight powder to them, and I am very fair skinned. These are AMAZING! Seriously, I love them. If you live anywhere where it is humid a lot, or even if you face just gets greasy/slimy feeling during the day, then GO BUY THESE! I love them. You just take out one sheet (about the size if a credit card, so the pack is perfect for your purse!) and blot your entire face with the powdered side. It takes off all grease/sweat and makes your face super smooth and matte looking again! But, the best part about these are... THEY LEAVE YOUR MAKEUP ON! I love these. They are probably my best makeup/skincare find of the summer! Sometimes sally's even has them on sale for like $2 a pack too.

Alright, my next post will most likely be about Everyday minerals makeup, because I got some after reading about it online, and I have ordered twice from them now, so I have many foundations/blushes/eyehadows to talk about with them. :)

Here is a quote that I like to remember: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" -- Eleanor Roosevelt.

question

2009-08-08T00:57:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know, because I am new to this site.. is there any way to search for blogs. Like, you found my blog, and I was wondering if there is a way for me to find other beauty, makeup, fashion, ect blogs, so I can follow those too. Right now I've just been clicking on random people's followers to try and find other beauty blugs to follow.

Thanks!

appreciate simple beauty

2009-08-08T00:43:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't made another style type blog post yet, but I definitely plan to, it's just been a hectic week as I have been preparing for college!!
I think my next one will be reviews on different makeup products. :)
Anyways, I decided to include this picture, because I think it's important to appreciate simple, nature beauty too!
I think the beach is one of the most relaxing places, and if you ever get the chance to get up and go see the sunrise like I did, it is incredibly peaceful, quiet, and wonderful!

Here's my favorite chocolate chip recipe.. you can't go wrong with this one! It's on the back of the nestle chocolate chip packages; I've been making these since I was little with my parents, and now I just have the recipe memorized from making them so many times!

Ingredients:
2 and 1/4 cups white flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 sticks butter (softened in the microwave for about 15 seconds)
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 cups chocolate chips

(Preheat oven to 375)
Intructions:
1. Mix together flour, baking soda, and salt in seperate bowl for later.
2. In a power mixer (like a kitchenaid mixer bowl) mix butter, white sugar, and brown sugar, add in vanilla, and eggs one at a time (make sure to beat well after you add each egg, and that everything is blended together). Now add in the flour mixture, a little at a time (or it will poof all over and you'll have flour in your hair!! Believe me, I have done it before). Make sure to mix well until the dough is nice and fluffy. Next add in the chocolate chips and give it one last good mix and you're all set! (This is the most delicious dough, by the way..sneak a little ;)

Put small globs of dough on a baking sheet (they should be about the size of a cotton ball), and bake for 9-11 minutes, or until a nice golden brown color. As you cook each sheet you may want to cook them a minute less (maybe 8 minutes) or so, because your oven will be hotter, and you don't want them to burn!

Eat them will a nice cold glass of milk and enjoy!

Stephanie

today's look!

2009-08-03T02:17:00.001-07:00

"Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us." -- 14th Dalai Lama

Today I took two cotton clothing items, and turned them into a cute, relaxing, hippie-inspired outfit.

To do this I added lots of jewelry, light makeup, and soft, curly hair. I want to also add that I got my shirt and shorts on sale, and all my jewelry was extremely inexpensive! My shoes even were too! Here's how I did it:

OUTFIT: white top ($8.00) and plaid colored shorts ($15.00) from Aeropostale, black sandals ($9.00) from Ross, white flower earrings, color beaded necklace, and blue bangle all $1.00 each from my sister :) she got them in a small jewelry shop in Florida. The lime green string bracelet I'm wearing I got as a gift- it is a Brazilian wish bracelet.

MAKEUP: It's hard to tell in these pictures, but I wore mint concealor from everyday minerals, clinique pressed powder in #2, snuggle blush from everyday minerals, covergirl eyeliner in black, rimmel mascara in black, a light pink sephora eyeshadow on the lid, with a shimmery white shadow under my brow and in the inner corners of my eyes. and e.l.f. super glossy lip shine in "pink kiss".

HAIR: My hair is naturally curly, so I brushed it, let it air dry, put CHI heat protecting serum in the ends and wrapped 1 and 2 inch sections starting under my eyes on high heat. I did mine curling away from my face and just did different size chunks around my head. (it should only take a few minutes) After I sprayed some fruictis garnier shine spray on the ends, and flipped my head upside down and sprayed dove super hold hairspray all over. I flipped my hair over, gave it a good shake and had a perfect messy, loose curl style to go with my hippie inspired look!

* I didn't want my bangs curly so I took a large round brisseled brush and blew dry them while curling them under and away from my face. After that I added a light mist of hairspray to keep them straight and wispy all day long!

Okay so that's it for my first post... they won't all be like this (styled myself head to toe), sometimes they'll just be product reviews or a picture, or a cupcake recipe!

Keep watching for updates!

Stephanie

First post!

2009-08-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, so for anyone who stumbles upon my blog I have decided to share my love of makeup, hair, clothes, and baking yummy treats in here. :) Since I was little I have been playing with makeup, different hair styles, products, and cooking. I figured why not share reviews of prodcts, style tips, cheap outfits, makeup/hair looks, amazing desserts, and anything else I feel like throwing in. So feel free to look around, make suggestions for posts, follow/join as a blog friend or comment. I'm always open for blog topics, ect.

Thanks!

Stephanie

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." — Marilyn Monroe