A Glimpse of Glam: March 2014

Study Time Snack Break: Homemade (sort of) Froyo

10:21 PM
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All Natural Beauty Product: Coconut Oil ...plus a crazy surprising use!

Hey everyone!

One of my favorite beauty tricks is super cheap and affordable. It barely makes a dent in your wallet. I love using coconut oil in my daily beauty routine. It is so moisturizing and the delicious smell makes it all the more better!

Dr. Bronner's Magic All-One fresh pressed unrefined virgin coconut oil

The type of coconut oil I use is unrefined virgin coconut oil. It only cost around $9-10 for 14 oz. Unrefined virgin coconut oil is one of the best forms because the oil had undergone the least amount of processing, so it still holds most of its nutrients. Coconut oil mainly is made up of lauric acid, which gives it its antibacterial health benefits. There are also many antioxidants in coconut oil that can really nourish your skin.

An empty jar I use to store coconut oil

You can use coconut oil as part of your beauty routine, or you can stick with simply consuming it. I suggest to scoop some out and store it in a different jar, if you were to use it as a beauty product. This will help reduce contamination, in case you plan on using it for cooking as well. I store mine in this old empty jar.

This is how it looks in the jar. At room temperature, coconut oil is in a solid form. I like that because it is way more portable than olive oil. When I travel and bring olive oil, I store it in a tightly sealed container and slip it into a plastic bag. But, somehow that oil loves to leak out and make the entire bag a shiny, slippery mess! Now that I have also integrated coconut oil into my routine, I plan on bringing this with me instead!

Room temperature, solid coconut oil

Coconut oil slowly melting on my finger only after a minute

So, I know what you might be thinking. How can I use this oil if it's all solid? Do I go and heat it up in the microwave to melt it? No! Save yourself that extra work. Here's a magic trick: Coconut oil actually melts when it touches your skin because the warmth of your skin makes the oil melt! (Ooh, ahh) Otherwise, if it is just sitting at room temperature, it will be solid. After barely a minute of having that glob of coconut oil on my finger, the oil was already melting!

I like to use coconut oil as a moisturizer for my skin and my hair. I like to rub the tiniest amount in my fingers then comb it through my freshly-washed wet hair. I also use it on my lips as a lip balm. Some people like to use it as an eye cream for the nighttime because while it has antioxidants and will nourish and moisturize your skin, it is super gentle and good for sensitive skin. I have sensitive skin and this works great for me!

Coconut oil can help heal wounds faster and can help protect your skin. This is a great alternative to many commercial beauty products because it is all natural. If you are feeling daring, you can actually replace most of your beauty products with coconut oil! It can be used as a lip balm (or a base for a DIY lip balm), as a skin moisturizer, as hair conditioner, as a face wash with the Oil Cleansing Method, and more.

There is also something else quite bizarre that you can use coconut oil for. It actually doesn't seem that weird, once you actually think about it.

You can use coconut oil as deodorant. Yes, a deodorant!

I'm guessing you are probably thinking, What?! That is crazy! But, I am serious though! Since coconut oil has antibacterial properties, it can be used as deodorant. The lauric acid helps kill the bacteria that causes you to smell bad when you sweat. Although coconut oil itself is not an antiperspirant, it will help you not smell bad when you sweat. To easily make a DIY deodorant, you can mix in one part baking soda to one part coconut oil to make an antiperspirant deodorant. The baking soda will help absorb the sweat and the coconut oil will prevent you from stinking and scaring away your friends. You can also just simply use coconut oil by itself as a deodorant, for it works too! Unless you sweat buckets, then I suggest adding in the baking soda and perhaps some arrowroot powder to help absorb sweat.

Lemme know what you think about using coconut oil as part of your beauty routine! What other all natural beauty products do you use?

Til next time,

10:58 PM
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Spotted: Statement Jewelry

accessories

Hey everyone!

I love to get dressed up for no reason sometimes. Just slip on a nice outfit, fix up my hair and makeup, and complete it all with the perfect accessories. I find that the finishing touch to an outfit is the accessories you add to it. You can even dress up a boring old t-shirt just by adding a statement necklace. It's so easy the laziest person on Earth can accomplish it.

The other day when one of my friends got all dressed up, I noticed the jewelry she had stacked on her fingers and wrists. They were so unique, matching her edgy rocker glam style so well.

Mixed metals bracelets and rings

My friend is an incredibly talented musician, hence the pictures showing her playing the keyboard. She was in the middle of showing us her latest original song when I interrupted her to take pictures of her jewelry.

Pyramid ring; overlapping coil ring; gold midi ring (barely shown)

I always love her jewelry. I am the girl who has a ton of necklaces and she is the girl with a ton of cool rings. I love her ring collection. Only she can wear that many statement rings on one hand, and pull it off!

Rings and bracelets

This is a picture of her rings and her bracelets. I admire how she is not afraid to mix metals. She is wearing gold and silver and black bracelets. For all you jewelry-shy people out there, do not be afraid to mix metals! I personally think that mixing metals looks really good, as long as the style of jewelry still matches. If she was wearing an engagement ring or something fancy, then I would think that hunk of rock did not match and I would volunteer to take it (down the street to the pawnshop! Hahaha jk!!). But, since all these pieces had unique styles, yet a similar theme going on they all worked.

Intricate gold studded ring

I particularly love this ring! I saw it on her finger and I was thinking, Oh my gosh! I need to try it on! It just looks so amazing!

All of her jewelry were statement pieces. They showed unique styles and reflected her personality. Of course, to accessorize an outfit, you don't necessarily have to choose such big and bold pieces! A simple ring, bracelet or necklace would do too!

What types of jewelry are your favorites? Is there something you tend to wear everyday? For me, its a silver charm bracelet and this silver and pink ring.

Til next time,

10:27 PM
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Simply Chic Dutch Braid Bun

braids

Hey everyone!

You know those days when you are just bored in class and don't know what to do? But, luckily you have a friend who doesn't mind and lets you experiment new hair ideas whenever you want? Yeah, I had one of those days this week. And using only one hair tie I created this simple yet chic braid that flows into a bun. I'm not kidding. I only used one hair tie!

Dutch braid and messy bun

This is how it looks from the back. Very simple and straightforward. It's only a braid that travels diagonally down and ends in a nice messy bun. My friend only had one hair tie, so I had to make do with using only a hair tie to keep her hair in a nice style.

This is a great take on a messy bun because it looks like you put more effort in and makes you look more put together as well.

Side view

I always find that when you want no-fuss hairstyles, using a hair tie is always the best option. Same goes for braids. They make your hair stay in place by using other pieces of hair to hold it in, which is way better than using pins.

Front twist into dutch braid

She naturally has a right side part, but I wanted to part it on the left side just to see how it looks. And when I did her hair, I kept it that way. I twisted the front pieces tightly then began a braid. I was going to start a French braid, but I realized that to keep the twist in place a Dutch braid would be the best option because the pieces of hair twist away from her face and a Dutch braid pulls hair under, so it flows the same direction as the twist.

I added the twist just because it gave it a unique look and pulled her bangs away from her face nicely.

How the bun looks

I was going to just braid it off to end it, but I decided to do something else. I thought a bun would look cute. I tried wrapping the braid into a bun, but that didn't hold as nicely with only one hair tie. So what I did was loosened the end of the braid, while still keeping the base of the end braid tight then made a messy bun. I pulled out some strands hear and there so that it sat nicely.

I think this is a great hairstyle to do when you want an easy look that takes little effort, yet still produces chic and slightly bohemian results. It's like business in the front and party in the back! Because of the hair being pulled away from your face neatly and ending in a big, messy bun. Hahaha!

When you are ever stuck with just one hair tie and don't want to revert to a simple ponytail, try out this hairstyle! Let me know how this works out for you!

Til next time,

10:26 PM
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A Cup of Green Tea a Day Keeps the Zits at Bay

DIY

Hey everyone!

What is your number one go-to beverage that you reach for every day? For me it's green tea. I drink it all the time! It's quite funny because most people my age tend to go for coffee, preferable Starbucks. Confession: I don't think I have actually bought a cup of coffee at Starbucks before. I prefer to drink tea, for the taste is refreshing and there are so many health benefits from this cup of brewed leaves!

One of my favorite types of green tea

Green tea has many great benefits. Since it is the least processed type of tea leaves, it contains an abundant amount of flavonoids - which are essentially, antioxidants. This provides the tea with its anti-inflammatory benefits and anti-carcinogenic effects. This delicious tea is also proven to stimulate your immune system, boost your metabolism and help you burn fat.

I like to just drink it straight up because I like the taste. But, if you are not a tea-drinker, there are other ways to get these benefits. You can always apply this directly to your skin to still obtain all of the good components of the tea and most importantly, get rid of acne!

Brew some green tea in hot water for about 2-3 minutes and then let it cool. You can soak a cotton pad in this liquid and apply it on your face as a toner. All you need to do is soak a cotton pad and then rub it on your face.

You know those mornings when you are super tired and it's just a bad skin day? No problem! Well, I guess as long as you do this beforehand. Make some green tea and freeze it in the fridge overnight. Rather than using plain ol' ice cubes on your face to reduce puffiness and redness, you can use these green tea ice cubes. It gives you all the beneficial antioxidants, while still providing you with some relief and satisfaction from the coolness. Of course, I suggest holding this for no longer than several seconds at a time because having a frostbite is wayyy more painful and unattractive!

Rinsing your hair in green tea also helps boost shine! Leave it on your hair for about 10-15 minutes then shampoo and condition as normal.

I hope you find these helpful! These are just small ways you can add green tea into your daily beauty routine. You can always just drink it too, which is what I do. But, then again, DIY beauty products are way more fun to do! Green tea is all natural, so applying this to your skin is a way better option than relying on those synthetic chemicals that are in commercial face cleansers. Let me know how this works out!

Til next time,
~A

10:24 PM
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My Week in Review: March 2/14

apologies

Hey everyone!

This past week has been pretty good. I can't believe it is already Sunday night! I really don't feel like waking up with the moon still out and about, and having to get ready for school. Then again, I had a great week last week and I can't wait to see what this coming week has in store for me!

The first thing I want to say is holy flapjacks! In a span of three days, I was nominated THREE TIMES for the Liebster Award! I am still in shock about that and I am so grateful! This didn't just make my day, it made my week! Okay, enough about me ranting on about this haha even though I am still very happy!

Here's something new, I actually cleaned my room too! My room has been a huge mountain of random junk for the longest time. But, I took the time to clear out the stuff I don't need and to hang up my clothes. Before, my clothes were in a messy pile in front of my closet, daring to topple over and crush me at any moment. Yet, since I found that I had some time on my hands, I decided to clean my room. I hung up my clothes and straightened up everything. I don't know about you, but there is just this feeling of satisfaction when you clean your room. It looks so nice I don't exactly think it is mine anymore. Haha!

I know I'm sounding very boring right now, talking about cleaning my room. Haha! But I didn't have many new things happen to me this week, so I decided to rant about something stupid and boring in hopes of being entertaining.

I take a jewelry class at school and I am almost done making my first necklace. I'm designing this gold statement necklace and as soon as I and done I will post a picture!

HUGE APOLOGIES RIGHT NOW!! I didn't really update anything new in my blog this past week, and I apologize for that. But, be sure to check out my blog in this upcoming week, as I will be posting more stuff!

There weren't many interesting things that I did this week, so this post is going to be pretty short. Anyways, have a great Sunday night and take the time to be well rested so that you will actually be awake on Monday!

What I like to do in the mornings to wake up is soak a face towel in cold water and hold it to my face. This really helps wake me u. It also helps tighten pores and bring down any swelling or redness you might have on your face.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and I promise you I will update more this week!

Til next time,
~A

10:18 PM
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Liebster Award: Part Two

answers

Hey everyone!

Guess what? I received yet another surprise! I was nominated a THIRD time for the Liebster award! Three times in one week! This really made me so happy!

I was nominated by Belle from http://belleslook.blogspot.co.uk thank you so much for nominating me!! I'm so happy that I was nominated again and this means a lot to me. Although I recently (as in my last blog post) did the Liebster Award, I still would like to participate and I will answer the questions. Click here to see the 11 facts about me and my answer's to Grace's and Ana's questions!

So, without further ado let's jump into the questions

Favorite subject while at school?

Definitely art! I love being able to be creative and have little limits in what I can do. Sometimes I don't admit to people I'm good at/like art because then my perfectionist and OCD side slips out as well, which makes finishing group projects on time way more difficult.

What is one of your hobbies?

I like to sew. I recently learned how to sew and it's really fun!

If you were given $1000 what would you spend it on?

I think I would buy a ton of new clothes and get some gifts for my close friends, if I were feeling generous. Or, I would save a hundred or so and donate the rest of the money to various charities.

Would you rather go on a relaxing holiday or an adventurous holiday?

An adventurous holiday! I can always relax at home, but how often would I get the opportunity to have an adventure? ...Unless an adventure meant going out of my comfort zone. Like being stranded in the middle of the Sahara desert and having to live off of cacti and coyotes or something; I mean, that is an adventure alright, but certainly not my cup of tea!

What is your best memory as a teenager?

Oh gosh! There are so many good memories, and I am still a teenager. I guess, one of the best ones would have to be going to the Homecoming dance my senior year. My friends and I, we spent over 6 hours getting ready. By the time we went downstairs to meet the guys, they were so bored they fell asleep on the couch. We were so late, we ended up eating dinner after the dance instead!

Most used lipstick?

So this is kind of hard because I have been trying to branch out and try out lipsticks, for I normally use tinted lip balms and lip glosses. It's way easier to touch up and requires less maintenance. My most frequently used tinted lip balm would be my Revlon ColorBurst lip butter in Berry Smoothie. It's a nice pink that is only several shades darker than my natural lip color, so it is perfect for everyday usage.

Do you prefer summer or winter and why?

I think I prefer the summer. It's hard to choose because the winter is always really pretty and its the holiday season. I love snow, and having a long break from school is always nice. Summer can be bad because it's the end of a school year, and I always hate endings of any kind. But I will go with summer because it's also a way longer vacation and there is so much more to do in the summer. The bright, sunny weather also makes me happier than the dark gloominess of winter.

One item you can't live without?

My phone!! But, I mean, if I were to think realistically, it would have to be lotion since I have easily dry skin. Or tissues because my allergies always act up in the morning. Or medicine because I need to take my meds. Then again, who's saying we gotta be realistic? Haha, my phone it is!

Boho or grunge style?

Boho is definitely more my style!

What made you become a blogger?

I always get so much inspiration from other bloggers. And, I too have so many thoughts and opinions I want to share to people. I want to inspire others, the way others have inspired me. I want to have a way to reach out to others and connect with those who have similar interests as me. It took awhile for me to finally decide on starting my own blog. But, I figured there is no harm in trying.

If you could choose one actress to play your life in a movie who would it be and why?

Hahaha this was one of the questions that I answered before too! If there was a movie about my life, I would definitely want to star in it! After all, no one can be me better than me....I hope

Thank you for reading and if you want to see who I had nominated in my last post click here! Feel free to answer those questions too in the comments because I would love to learn more about you guys too!

Til next time,
~A