Inner & Outer Beauty

2009-12-12T20:25:00.000-08:00

change is coming around

2009-12-05T07:57:00.000-08:00

If you haven't noticed, there's a new link on my profile page.
The Shoe Corner
It will the new home to my musings and thoughts.
A combination of Modern Dreamer & this here blog.
Silly fashion loves and thoughts on beauty.
I'm not sure when I'm going to "launch" it,
But probably after the giveaway I'm hosting is over.
Thank you for all the support on here,
The next post will probably on The Shoe Corner.

Editt::: Incase of confusion....
The Shoe Corner isn't another blog,
It's going to replace Inner & Outer Beauty and Modern Dreamer
This way, there will be only one blog to worry about instead of two

{PS Pottsgrove Daily is actually my blog for my school
It's part of my Journalism class}

why long breaks of nothing are necessary....

2009-11-29T18:37:00.000-08:00

It's been a week of no school now, and the thought of going back depresses me extremely now. It feels as though a lot longer has passed since I was forced into my Chemistry class, so much has happened, and I feel as if I've grown up a little bit since then.

If you've read my other blog, you'll know about the deaths that occurred in my community. Since then it's been extremely heavy around my friends, as we all knew one of those that died and we're good friends with his cousins. Thankfully, though, that weight is slowly lifting away, and soon we'll be able to move on with our lives and smile happily again.
But that's besides the point of this post. The point of this post is why this past week was a much needed break from the drudgery of high school. I'm happy to say that besides work and swimming I did absolutely nothing. I don't even think I had three meals a day, more like a smattering of small meals that may or may not have been healthy. I had to time to hang out with friends, forget about classes and the people that irritate me. I sort of had this going on:I read some manga (ohhh yes, I read that cartoon stuff, and it never fails to crack me up and make me smile), some books, watched some movies, and basically truly smiled and truly laughed more than I have since school began. (And this is including a funeral, yeah it's been that rare) I saw my friends and my family multiple times through out and slept whenever I wanted to. Basically, I was living in utter bliss of relaxation and happiness.
Of course, I know I have to go back to school tomorrow. And life must go on, because even living on a cloud of school breaks will get old if I choose to continue on it. But remember taking a nice, long, well deserved break will do more for the body and soul than taking none at all. So, for all you who have been slaving away all year, take a break! Go to a spa, take a soothing bath, and take the time to do something that's truly enjoyable, whether it's beneficial or not.

{source}

PS I'm holding a giveaway. Do join =)

douchebags, school, and all around teenaged wasteland

2009-11-17T19:22:00.000-08:00

Hey guys after nearly two months of nada, I'm back! Kind of. I can't say now how regularly I'll be posting here. And in all truth I was pretty happy on a bubble cloud of chlorine, sweat, and routine. Buttt I got an infection on my cheek last week and I've had a lot of time on my hands. And break is coming up next week. And now that my bubble cloud burst without its chlorine and routine, I'm getting pretty moody and pissed off. And I need to vent. So be prepared. Because beauty comes with venting, as it shows humanity and reality.To begin with, the weather sucks. And I know I'm an idiot because I want to go to North Eastern US colleges where cold is in the description, but I really hate it right now. I hate being cold and I hate that when three o'clock rolls around it looks like it's ready to be night time soon. Maybe I could deal with the cold weather if it was sunny out longer. Maybe.

And douchebags at school are really really really getting on my last nerves. Remember this guy? Yeah total number one jerk right now. It sucks because he's incredibly intelligent and not a total weirdo. Like you just know he's going to be successful in life. The only things I have over him (which I feel would be incredibly mean to tease him about) is his horrid body odor, which no one tells him about, and his vertically challenged stature. Like he's Frodo. I'm not kidding. He yells at me for stupidity and tells me I'm dumb, etc, etc. And of course people only listen when I say something stupid. I'm never heard when I'm intelligent. Makes me want to stand up and walk out.And last, but not least, I hate school. I want to be done and out of there now. I hate the people, I hate the suffocating curriculum, I hate... well mostly the people. Ughhh

If you read this, thank you for reading my long rant! Hopefully the sun will shine again soon!

{sources}

hiatus...

2009-10-31T11:55:00.000-07:00

a month already and i haven't posted?

i'm one hundred percent sorry.
i've been updating my other blog frequently.
and i promise to come back to this one,
but for now consider this
my official hiatus.

weight a minute

2009-10-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Ha like that title? I thought it was pretty clever and cheesy myself.

{gorgeous much??!! yay glamour!}

I don't know yet if this will be a longer post, but I have a feeling it will. Because, let's face it, weight is something every girl has an issue with. I mean, seriously, now matter how tiny, how big, how short, how tall a girl is, she's always got insecurities, especially in a world where the idea of one perfect beauty is always changing, evolving, regressing, and just turning chaotic.

For me? Right now, I wish I had more defined abs and waist. I wish my arms were bigger (yes bigger, because bigger arms=stronger butterfly=faster time.). I wish I was just slightly taller. I can't truthfully turn and say "Oh yeah, I love my figure." I can say that I'm much better than I was in middle school when every one I knew flirted with the idea of anorexia as something a bit glamorous, a bit dangerous, and a tiny bit rebellious. Middle school was three years of body loathing and attempts to be at peace with it.

{typically gorgeous yes, but they're having fun & they're healthy}

But, I'm not going to give you-all a long, sordid detailed story of my seven years of body issues. I am going to talk about the idea of beauty though, in terms of the body.
A beautiful person can be a size two. They can also be a size twenty. They can be short, tall, stocky, skinny, etc, etc. A beautiful person, though, understands how to be healthy and how to be happy. Those are the keys to beauty-health and happiness. A girl with a fun smile and who knows that a tiny bit of exercise and healthy food is important is a beautiful girl. She doesn't need to have a tiny waist or long legs or huge boobs. She just needs to know that she's taking care of her body and she's enjoying life.

{my beautiful friends from size 12-2, can you tell? i can't.}
So for future reference, let's do one of those fun fill out type deals.

{why weight? because the minute we can tell our true weight (no fibs!, we've already won half the battle}

I am____________
I weigh____
I love__________
I smiled today at______
I did this for myself________
I'm beautiful.

Example:
I am S. Elisabeth.
I weigh 142 pounds.
I love that I can survive swim practice.
I smiled today at my lab group's klutziness.
I did this for myself: took a much needed nap.
I'm beautiful.

PS: To magazines: I love that you're posting plus size beauties, I really do. But do you think to represent your women too you could add in the girls who aren't size twos or size fourteens, but somewhere in the middle? We're feeling a tad bit left out too!

when someone tells you what you cannot do...

2009-09-24T18:35:00.000-07:00

prove them dead wrong.

I have this super genius that goes to my school. Okay, well maybe I give him a tad more credit than he deserves, but the kid is pretty damn smart. I think he's a tool bag and since his obnoxious "popular" friends graduated last year, he's been a bit lost. Anyway, when discussing our future plans in a class one day (actually to give you a better idea, it was my philosophy seminar, a class that's part of being an enrichment student in my school), he laughed at my plans.

Which are high hopes, of course, and sound unreasonable to a person in his own little world of wannabeness. But hey, I'm allowed to dream, and it isn't completely out there. Becoming a famous young socialite in the city as a result of a successful literary, public relations, and/or journalistic career is not completely unsound for a dream. But of course, he and another smart tool bag girl, laughed at this and said, "Uh, I hope you have a back up plan."This same kid laughed out loud when I played with the idea of becoming a lawyer. He literally shouted out "Noooo wayyy!!" and laughed. -Pulls a face of irritation.-

My point of this story?

Don't let someone tell you what you cannot do. Ever. Ever. Because, really what do they know of your talent and drive? What do they know of you dreams and your personality? Let all their negativity drive you forward in the direction of your dreams. And hopefully at the ten, fifteen year reunion, you can return in all your glory and say, "Oh, you lost a huge business deal with so and so? That's a shame; he's an acquaintance of mine as a matter of fact..."
Okay, well don't be quite as petty as that. Remember I'm still growing! I'm allowed to gloat over the fact that I got 18 points higher than him a calculus test. -cough cough-

Anyway, moral is: Only you can determine what you can and cannot do.
{credit}

time to lighten things up a bit...

2009-09-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

I strive for moderation in most of the things I do, and I've been on the heavy side on this blog for a bit (besides the fact that I've been horrible at updating it!). So here is a nice outer beauty post to lighten things up on this blog.

The Perfect BlowoutOh yes, most strive for it, most pay a ton of money for it, and everyone agrees it is the simplest way of being chic and looking tres put together. {side note: be prepared for the stereotypical French words. I may be studying Spanish, but sometimes French just sounds better. Case in point: tres vs muy}

Well, after reading an embarrassingly large amount of articles on how to create the perfect blowout, and wondering what the heck a blowout was supposed to look like anyway, I have finally discovered the simplest, quickest, cheapest way to achieve the look.

1. Prepare hair.
Obviously. Clarifying shampoo, moisturizing conditioner. (or whatever works with your hair type.) Towel dry all excess by patting dry hair (do not rub it!).

2. Product.
Put in a product from ends of hair towards mid shaft. I use Garnier Sleek & Shine serum. (Good for straight, normal hair). I can't quite tell you what to use otherwise. Except for limp/thin hair use a good volumizing mouse instead.

3.Divide & Conquer
Dived hair into four parts. Clip three away and do as follows.
a) Use fingers to pull hair from scalp and blow dry. You want this perfectly dry. (if moisture stays there, it will cause frizz later)
b) Take a round brush (half bristle/half regular preferred) and dry. Keep nozzle pointed down at hair and try to dry ends first.
c) Use the cool setting and run it over.
d) (optional) Roll section into velcro rollers.

4. Finishing Touches
Let hair out of rollers, and brush through lightly with fingers. Spray a flat brush with hairspray and glid gently through hair to tame flyaways and help hold the blowout.

Done!
As someone with major chlorine damage, after doing this once, my hair finally felt soft and pretty again! And considering it normally frizzes funny, it's been straight (but not emo kid straight) all day.

remember, remember the 'leventh o' september

2009-09-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, that was a lame take on the "remember, remember the fifth of november," but, hey, I'm going on about....five and a half hours of sleep.

Eight years ago today, I was only a fourth grader, thoroughly confused as to why everyone was suddenly going home. Many rumors were spread-we had a bomb threat, someone killed someone- no one quite understood or knew what had happened at the same time we entered into our "morning meeting."
It still makes me sad to think of all the hatred that had to have gone into those men taking over planes and killing thousands upon thousands of innocent souls. It makes me frustrated to know that we could have prevented this.
But I won't focus on the negative emotions, and I won't drag you all through a sad, sad day again. I want to focus on the positives that came out of 9/11. Because, despite all the horror and grief, there was a silver lining to this thunder cloud.
America became more aware. It became closer. It seems lately, we've forgotten about that closeness, that sympathy, that empathy. Americans looked to each other for strength. Complete strangers were kind to each other, returning dropped wallets, helping with things. In the aftermath of such a terrorist attack, we turned to each other and for once America was truly, truly united.

So, my American friends (no, I take that back. To all my global friends), I beg of you to remember the closeness we had after these terrible attacks. Remember the kindness and compassion, and let's not let things like politics, religious beliefs, and prejudice keep us apart. Now, in this awful recession and this "war on terror," etc, etc, we need to understand each other. We need to see each other as human beings with feelings, with hopes and dreams and fears.
Let's not ever, ever allow another 9/11 to happen again. And not because we upped security or buckled down on protection. But because we learned to see past the cloud of differences and learned to love and respect each other.

"It's a turf war
On a global scale
I'd rather hear both sides of the tale
See, it's not about races
Just places, faces
Where your blood comes from
Is where your space is
I've seen the bright get duller
I'm not going to spend
My life being a color"
-Black & White

{sources: 1, 2}

role models

2009-09-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

Blah! I'm sorry I haven't posted in so long; school started and I've been so incredibly busy, I've barely had time to do the little updates I do on my other blog! If I haven't commented on your blog yet, rest assured I have at least visited it! I appreciate every single comment and I do my best to get back to everyone!

Onto the real point of this post.
Role Models.

Role models are incredibly important. They inspire us to be better individuals; they give us hope, and, the best part, learning about them feels as though one is discovering a kindred spirit!
I shall share some of my biggest role models.

Louisa May Alcott

She was such a beautiful woman, and her writing transcends time! Every time I read one of her novels, I feel the inner child in me urging to come out and play in the woods and pretend to be on adventures once more. Her current novel I'm reading, Little Men, is so endearing, I wish to start up a school for children immediately! Her writing makes me long for those days.
She was a truly talented writer. For any who want to see her best work (besides Little Women), I recommend: Rose in Full Bloom, Old Fashioned Girl, and Jo's Boys

L.M. Montgomery
It saddens me to know that she suffered from depression and eventually killed herself =(
Her books are in the same league as Miss Alcott's. Anne Shirley is surely a kindred spirit to me and I value her as I do to all book characters I feel I know personally. Her vivid descriptions of Prince Edward Island make me yearn for a visit, and her constant writing gives me the happiness of know there are still many, many novels for me to find from her!
PS Gilbert Blythe is the most perfect male ever.

Jane Austen
Where would my love of the Regency era be without Miss Austen's witty, funny, and endearing novels be? Her life intrigues me and my only gripe with her is that she only has six novels for me to enjoy! I nearly have all of them, except for, I believe, Persuasion. Her firm stance in her own individuality and her persistance for happy endings, make her a clear favorite in my book.

Okay, so my top three right now are authors, all in a similar genre. I can't help it =) I'm obviously in a huge dreamer phase at the moment. I've just come up with about a million edits to make my book better, and I'm hoping, hoping, hoping that one day it will be able to be published and that everyone will love the characters as much as I do!

who are your role models, and why?

PS I created a bloglovin' account a long time ago, and only now just figured out my password! So: =) Follow my blog with bloglovin

why don't you....

2009-08-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

{Got this amazing idea from It's Unweavable!}

Summer is quickly coming to a close, and while the fresh, crisp novelty of autumn is always welcome {kind of} in my book, I am going to miss the carefree, lazy dog days. I'm starting my senior year and I know a whole lotta stress is coming my way with AP classes, high school society, swim team, and, of course, you know, those college applications... {bring on the feelings of depression, anxiety, and finger biting!} And others are probably getting ready for work or college as well, so I thought I would post a sort of ending to summer to-do list. You know, before a to-do list becomes nagging rather than fun. So, turn off your cell phones, close your computer, shut off the TV, put down the Pop tart... andddd

{{Why Don't You...}}

Go for a picnic in the park...
Run through a sprinkler, go rollerskating, act like a kid...
Take a ride and blast summer music the whole way...
Have one last hurrah with your friends!

& Enjoy summer o9 before it becomes a memory!

{photos: wehearit}

gone til saturday

2009-08-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

i'd try and come up with a nicer post to keep you-all held over till my return, but at the current moment I'm lacking the skills to make one {sorry!!}.

so i'm just going to tell you, i shall be gone 'til saturday for the beach and I won't have a computer on me! I will attend to the comments from last post when I get home.check out my other site {modern dreamer} for some great blogs I have linked and enjoy the archives.

{source}

we really can't assume...

2009-08-22T17:37:00.000-07:00

getting pregnant in high school.

getting mugged.
having sex for the first time.
choosing love over work, or vice versa.
ending a perfect relationship

We can assume what we'd do in these situations {adoption, punch to the face, waiting until marriage, compromise!} but obviously we really can't make decisions until we've been put in the predicament. Nor can we judge the people who do make their own decisions.All of these weird situations, we can never quite know what to expect. Yes, I could say I'm totally waiting until marriage to have sex, but, really, is that even plausible? Marriage these days is as flimsy as a normal relationship... Or I could say "I'd totally kick the mugger's ass ten times over if he tried to hurt me!" But no one really knows until the complete terror of someone with your life in their hands has descended what they'll do.
So, I think before we scream out in movies "What are you doing?!" or judge the girl in the hallways or work rooms whose got a growing bump until we've been in the situation ourselves...
Instead of judging, we should offer support. We may not know the girl or guy whose going through all this, but we can at least let them know, we don't judge them. We're there, albeit oddly, if they desperately need someone.

{source 1, 2}

beauty on youtube

2009-08-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't done an Outer Beauty post in quite a while. I'm currently recovering from having my wisdom teeth removed, so I thought I would post some of my favorite beauty youtubers. They've got great beauty tips as well as amazing tutorials.

Michelle Phan-make up

PurseBuzz-hair

Mulzanza-monolids

I'll see you all when my cheeks don't resemble chipmunks!

the definition of sexy...

2009-08-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

{Thank you for everyone's response to my post. I appreciate all the answers, very good ideas by the way!}On a much lighter note, I got tagged by the lovely OceanDreams for "What makes You feel Sexy?" tag. It made me think a bit about what is sexy? So here's my definition of sexy, I hope you enjoy...

- Write 5 things that make you feel sexy

1. When I make a stand, and tell someone off who desperately needs it.
2. After a hard practice and good race.
3. When I wear a nightgown {I know I'm weird =)}
4. When I wear a bathing suit. Oddly I'm more comfortable, the less clothes I wear...
5. In a new pair of heels.

- Post a pic {only IF you dare}

- Pass it on to 5 lovely bloggers
I'm passing it on to the first five comments who haven't done this yet. And I'm serious! I'll be looking for answers! I'm just not patient enough to name five people/hyperlink them/yeah.

Just remember everyone can be sexy in their own way. Playboy sexy isn't the only one out there!

ways to express my hatred.

2009-08-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Just watched The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas and wanted to bawl my eyes out. How can people do that? Why? I want to cry, scream, freak out....In my immature states, I have a hate list. My mature self tries to not hate. But my immature self mostly tells my mature self to shut the hell up and let me hate these awful people. (Don't worry I'm not psycho)-sigh- I do understand that whole Britney Spears song now. Blehh
Okay, the top of my immature hate list has GOT to be Adolf Hitler. Who could do that to all those people?! ALL? Who could be so insane, so psychotic enough to kill based on prejudice and racism? I thought I'd write out some things I would say to Hitler if I ever got the chance. The movie (as all Holocaust movies do...) made me so upset.

immature self: You asshole with the wannabe Charlie Chaplin mustache, I hope you rot hell you stupid son of a bitch and learn true pain for all the shit you pulled! You effed up little man! Good kill yourself! Maybe you should try being burned alive or hanging out in the gas chambers! (I'm slightlyyy ghetto when in this person. Comes from my neighborhood I suppose...)

smart immature self: You self righteous, insane little psycho! I hope you join Brutus and Judas in the ninth circle of Hell. Where do you get off killing millions of people based on lies and delusions? Hm? Mein Kempf, my ass.
mature self: I feel pity for a man who was so psychotically tortured from childhood on that he had to take his anger out through prejudice. And I am sorry he never really learned from the error of his ways. We must hope that no one else in the world will feel as terribly as him and, as a result, not suffer in the afterlife as he most surely will.

Yes, yes, the mature self does sound a lot better, but the immature one would just feel so good to say...
Short story ending: Yes, immaturity is appealing, but in the end maturity will get one farther and sound less...well psycho...
Thoughts? On Hitler? On the Holocaust? On immaturity vs maturity? What would you say given the chance to meet Hitler.

unusual inner beauty inspiration

2009-08-08T19:35:00.001-07:00

Meet: Chelsea, Shar, Aria, Kelly, Lauren

Ever since Pop Champagne posted their song on her blog, I can not stop listening to "Patron Tequila." I was drawn to the fact that they were deemed the next "Pussycat Dolls." I'm not a huge die hard PCD fan, but I do love the club beats and so I was intrigued.

I went to their official site and discovered some really cool things and learned some minor, but necessary lessons.

1) Don't let any precedents bias your view.
2) Don't judge a book by its cover.

The Paradiso Girls, while having the girl group vibe with styles verging on "slutty," they're actually very intelligent, sweet girls! Their bios, all written in first person, by them, reveal a writer, a wife/mother, an athlete, a painter, and much more. Their music may not be "intellectual," but these girls are artists in the truest sense possible.
They're diverse (France, Barbados, England, Phillipines, AND US!), they're is no lead singer (3 singers, 1 rapper, 1 DJ), they're extremely smart (Aria speaks four different languages!), and they don't take themselves seriously. They embrace their femininity (I'm pretty sure every one of them said they love shopping) and sexuality, but don't flaunt it. They embrace the fact that they are human as well, a trait I love most in a person. They joke, make fun of themselves, acknowledge their imperfections....
They are individuals, and I cannot wait until these girls get their chance to really shine. Do check them out!

PS Modern Dreamer is back. Who am I kidding, I can't go on a blog hiatus.

images {Paradiso Girls 1}

the bardot bump

2009-08-06T17:45:00.001-07:00

Okay, so we all know Brigitte Bardot is probably the textbook definition of sexy. I mean the woman is a) French (doesn't it run in their blood?!) b) genius at the innocent face c) a lover of animals and d) well.... I mean just look at her!We all can't be like Brigitte Bardot (and with some of her shattered past and possible"racism" I don't think I'd exactly like to be her either) and about 1% of the worlds population has the tiny waist-big boobs combo. Or the pouty face. Or the French "je noi se quoi" (how badly did I spell that?), but there is one thing we can all do....

The Bardot Bump
It's really quite simple. I'm off to try it once I'm done this post:

1. Part hair (how ever you like).
2. At the crown start teasing. Take hairspray and brush your hair upwards and spray (took me forever to learn this! I'm challenged when it comes to some stuff)
3. Cover it loosely with hair from the front
4. Pin back slightly to hold, or (if you're skilled enough) leave nice and free.
If you have any questions (I know I wasn't super specific) just leave them here and let me know if you give it a try!

image sources: {bardot 1, runway, bardot 2)

drop dead diva

2009-08-04T05:42:00.000-07:00

It's a new show on Lifetime and it's surprisingly pretty good. It's full of "yeah go you!" type plot lines. Basically a really shallow, attractive "model" (Deb) dies in a car crash the same time as fat, plain, super genius lawyer (Jane) dies. And because she's never been bad or good in her life and she messes with the computer system in heaven, she gets sent into the latter's body.
Now we've got a super genius plus-sized lawyer with the attitude and confidence of Deb. An actually genius combination.
I like think of this as a Legally Blonde-esque movie, but instead of Elle Woods, you have Jane. Recommended highly =) Tell me what you think of it!

boys boys boys

2009-07-26T16:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, I suppose it is time for that kind of post. It seems some of my friends are plagued by boys. Seeing as how we know a boy could very easily be a Prince Charming figure and how sweet they are when they choose to take on such a role, it is hard when we must realize that the majority of these boys aren't going to choose the princely route.There are the boys who are nerdy and cute, but hopelessly awkward and in the end lacking that spark required to fall in love. There are those boys who are hopeless flirts and too outgoing for their own good that in the end have too many choices and too many raging hormones to be any good for you. There the bad ones who are just so awful and rude that for some reason we feel the need to fall for them when in the end we're hurt more than anything. Of course all these kinds of guys will mature, hopefully, or get their due in the end. I still believe that true love can change a person if needed and plow through each sides' shortcomings.

But let's face it.

Gilbert Blythe, Edward Ferrars, Rhett Butler, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Rochester are not real people, and boys aren't looking to them as role models.

We are also in the 21st century. Happiness does not equal boys. Our choices, our decisions, our arguments, our fights, our life should not have to do with boys. Friendships should not end over a boy. Job, college--those decisions should not rely on a boy. Our confidence should not come from a boy.
So the next time you find your mood affected by a single boy, try and picture everything else that is going well in your life and decide, "Well if he likes me, we'll go from there, but if he doesn't that I won't waste my time trying to change his mind!"

embarrassing moments...

2009-07-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, I had one of those yesterday. Thank goodness I was the only one who realized how mortifying it was.I'm lifeguarding with my friend and all of a sudden I feel slightly uncomfortable and really gross. I go to the bathroom and oh! look what a surprise, every girl's monthly BFF has arrived. Well of course I was out of it and didn't realize it until too late because now it was on my shorts. Like I said.

M.o.r.t.i.f.y.i.n.g.

So I go out and tell my friend what happened and then say, "I'm gonna go, see ya!" Except I didn't have a ride home (as I'm dragging my feet on the whole license thing). So I'm trying to call my neighbor when an old friend suddenly walks through the doors. Oh, yay! Except this old friend is a really hott guy old friend.
Yeah.
So we say hi, and he winds up giving me a ride home, all the while I'm sliding backwards like an idiot and shoving my huge purse (thank you for huge purses!) on top of my butt to hide the grossness.
Suffice to say I make it home, and either 1) I succeeded in my hiding attempts or 2) he was too polite/had too much experience with such matters to say anything. I jump into the shower and take a really hot, long shower to wash away the mortification and embarrassment. And now I have a funny tidbit to tell you guys =)
Moral of the story? We all have super gross, embarrassing moments, but we can prevent them from living on in secret ignominy. We can laugh about them and use them later for funny stories and not need to feel shame. Feel free to post your own embarrassing story here =)

quirky little tips from the other blog....

2009-07-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

I put this on my other blog Modern Dreamer a while ago, but I thought that since most of my readers of this blog don't read my other one and I've had a bunch of new readers, I'd repost it! Enjoy and if you have any other cool tips just add them on!

in the shower...
1. Steps: Shampoo, Rinse, Condition, Wash Skin, Rinse-- this way you can give your conditioner time to settle in.
2. Hey, do your face washing in the shower! You're already wet, and you'll probably save water too. I always do mine right after I shampoo.
3. Shampoo only at the scalp, & Condition from middle of the hair down to the ends.--Shampoo foam, when rinsed, will reach the ends anyway. And this way your roots won't get greasy as easily.
4. Take an icy shower.--Ok, don't go overboard and straight through. But at the end of your shower, turn the faucet all the way cold and stand for about a minute. (Or as long as you can take it.) This wakes you and your skin up. I love, love this tip. Every morning, it blasts me awake.

your face: skin

1. In the kit: Daily Moisturizer, Night moisturizer, an exfoliating scrub, a foam cleanser, a daily cleanser, toner, make up removal

2.Exfolite every other day or three times a week, but NEVER every day!! Too harsh
--A good homemade scrub? Brown sugar & milk
3. Wash your make up every night, no matter how tired you feel.
4. When applying face lotion, put a bit on your eyelashes to help condition them (it works =))
5. If you have bangs, try keeping them off your face at night, as it increase the grease on your skin & causes acne
6. Vaseline is a timeless classic for lips. At night, put some water on your lips, then put on loads of vaseline, and bam! perfect, plump lips

your face: make up

1. Products: Blush, Lip Balm, Vaseline, Simple Mascara, Lip Gloss, Red Lipstick, Pale Pink Lipstick, Normal Lip color Lipstick

NOTE: I'm not a big make up girl. I can't wear any eyeshadow product because I have monolids and it just looks ridiculous. And I've never needed foundation or anything like that, so I've just never bothered getting any. Plus when I tried to get tinted mosturizer, there was none that matched my color.
2. Dab lipstick on with your finger, it makes it ten times better.
3. Use an eyelash curler. It makes a difference, trust me.
4. Michelle Phan on Youtube--excellent make up advice
5. To help make up stay, blow a blowdryer at your face (far from it though!) for a minute or so
6. ALWAYS start with mosturizer!

your body:

1. Products: Pretty Smelling shower gel, moisturizing shower gel, radiance lotion, moisturizing lotion, & vaseline

2. Exfoliate: (I do it dry right before I hope in the shower) You can a) do a scrub of white sugar & lemon juice or b) take a dry loofah and rub all over.

3. Feet! Most important. Vaseline again is the perfect thing for feet. Dry them, coat on vaseline, and put in a sock for overnight softness. Works wonders.
3. Use your face products on your hands.
4. Lotions with little sparkles in them (usually radiance lotions) are both fun and actually work.

hair!

1.Products: volumizing shampoo, hydrating conditioner, color shampoo (made for your hair color), deep conditioner, straightening shampoo & conditioner; hair spray, dry shampoo, mouse, & gel
2. Use volumizing shampoo & hydrating conditioner for curls; once a week do the color & deep conditioner, for straight hair use the straightening
3. The best way to get wavy curls is to use a steam curler. They're quick, easy, & they do the least amount of damage to your hair.
4. Quickie Blow Out: Start with wet hair, work mouse into the scalp. Blow dry with a paddle brush, aiming the nozzle of the hair dryer down to prevent frizz. Once dry, flip over and spray hair spray. Then flip back over, spray hair spray in brush, and light brush strands down.
5. Use Vegetable/Olive Oil in your hair once in a while before you shampoo & condition to really cleanse & condition it

Finished! Thanks for reading all this, and I hope you found some useful tips.

pictures: weheartit.com & Google

healthy eating

2009-07-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

I'm not necessarily the example of healthy eating. I'm definitely far more mindful of food than my other friends, but I still succumb to pizza, french fries, and other greasy delights (don't even get me started on my sweet tooth. I didn't have it when I was little, but now I'm more than making up for that!) but I still try and keep in my veggies and fruits (mangos are my newest discovery and they are so delicious) and drink water. I've found lately that I have to when training anyway because otherwise I get sick and drown!
Eating healthy is obviously difficult; if it was easy everyone would be fit and healthy and glowing. But it's so important, especially lately, that finding a way to make it work is the key. Probably the best way is to keep a food diary.

Personally, I fail miserably at food diaries. I get too caught up in the numbers and remembering and blah blah blah, that I just stop them or forget about them. I found this super cute way via Hi Fashion and I fell in love. I gave it a try today... (still a work in progress) and I found it super fun. It may not last, who knows, but for now I like it.
There are other ways: the diet companies (Zone, Jenny Craig), but they're always way too expensive for me, WeightWatchers (too young on my own and not fat enough apparently...), etc etc etc. I really think food diaries are possibly the best and cheapest way. You could get fancy (I used to have a blog where I took pics and posted them) or keep it simple (pen, paper, done) or be creative, either way it's supposed to help a ton. Carrie Underwood swears by it.

Good luck!

the beauty of intelligence

2009-07-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone for your comments on my last post, they definitely made my day!!!!!!!

{source}

I think there is something really very appealing about a person who is intelligent. Personally I think obnoxious idiots grow old-very fast. And immaturity (like girls screaming hysterically for attention) is completely unattractive. But women--and men, of course-- who hold themselves well and show that there is a brain working behind their looks, seem to last forever in our society while the seeming airheads fade away.
For example just look at great icons--Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel, Reese Witherspoon (She's quite recent, of course), Katherine Hepburn. These ladies have been remembered fondly today for showing their individuality, wit, and intelligence. No one remembers the model who had a moment in the eighties or the actress who made a good movie playing every man's fantasy. They remember Audrey for her kindness, Coco for her fashion rebellion, Reese for her varied and brilliant filmography (wait she can play a smart blonde bimbo, a funny, dowdy suck up, a freaked out wife of an accused terrorist, a country star icon, and manage her kids?! Ryan Phillipe, you bastard!), and Katherine for her feminism.

{source}

If you're worried about boys (After all most of these ladies didn't exactly have the typical fairy tale), don't. Boys have their own agenda, whether you want to believe it or not. The beauty and transcendence of being an intelligent individual is that men are not necessarily needed. Don't get me wrong, I've been ready to meet my prince Charming since I was five years old, but the thing is (and I'm still learning) that men do not equal happiness. There are other elements in life that are more important. And anyhow, like my mom always said, boys may screw around with the airheads, but they don't marry them. =)

So the next time you feel like reenacting an episode of Girls Gone Wild or acting dumb, just remember that there is an aura that surrounds an intelligent girl that nothing but the quiet confidence in ones own abilities can create.

{source}

a lesson in dealing with assholes

2009-07-03T18:28:00.000-07:00

Here's the thing with assholes. They come in all shapes and sizes. You've got the snobby ones who are pretentious and rude. You've got the gross ones you just disgust you with their attitudes. You've got a lot. Tonight I dealt with the stupid asshole.

{source}

Definition: A stupid asshole is an individual who defies common logic. You cannot use sense with them, because their thinking pattern is so strangely warped that whatever they think cannot be reasoned with anyway. And they fully and one hundred percent believe in their ways. They have no legitimacy behind their logic, they just have brash obnoxiousness.

Rant?
{source}

Tonight I had work (I'm a lifeguard, yayy glamor!) with my friend and this guy. This guy is rude, loud, and gross. He is, in short, a stupid asshole. My friend and I get at the pools at 4, he's been there since 3:30. My friend goes over to give him a break. Twenty minutes past four he comes marching with this: "We're doing 20 minutes, get up and go to the other pool."
Um, excuse me? I do not respond to rudeness. Especially from him. So I tell him, "No, I'm doing thirty minutes. It makes more sense." (After all, it does. He started on a thirty, hence thirty minute shifts!) We argue one of the head guards asks us what's going and this is his reply, "I've been dealing with people I hate here, and this is one of them."

RUDE.

So of course he storms off and story come short, I get to stay in one pool for five hours. Which would be bad if it was actually busy. But, uh, after swim team, the pool was literally empty for the next three hours until close. I had three people in at a time tops. While he screwed over my friend in the other pool, which is worse because it has more kids in it. And he thought he was punishing me, when really he gave me a break! He's going to complain to our boss (who likes me and is annoyed by him) about working with me, so we don't have to work together anymore! (Score again?!) In the end the stupid asshole looks immature to our boss and gets stuck in the bad pool all night, and I look mature (because when she asks me about it, it'll be easy) and get a super easy night at work. Me-win? Him-ZERO!{source}

There's really no good way to deal with these bastards because they defy common logic. The only thing to do is to stand your ground (be strong!) and don't let them try and over power you, because that's exactly what they'll do. The great thing about stupid assholes is that they always screw themselves over without ever knowing it.

PS Stupid asshole gets to work with me all day Tuesday. ;-p

fishtail braid

2009-07-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

How perfect is this braid? Different from the normal and ohhh so summery. Plus it reminds me of mermaids. Must learn how to... Hmmm youtube.... Found one! Here's a basic of how to do it.... Actually it's quite easy!

everyone needs at least ONE friend

2009-06-28T10:21:00.001-07:00

I read an article in Teen Vogue about how friends are super competitive with each other these days. As in making out with a friend's previous hook up just to prove they can or lying about grades, etc, etc. They call it the "Gossip Girl" effect.
This made me really upset for some reason! Maybe it's because I find that it's really sad that friends are competing with each other. Is it just me or do other people feel that their friends are not competition, but friends? If my friends do better than me, I'm proud of them!! It's like yes I know her/him, aren't they amazing?
Albeit, friends and acquaintances are completely different cases in my book, not to mention the classmates we have to tolerate. If an acquaintance does better than me, then, yeah there is some jealousy and if a tolerated classmate does better than it's like "F***." But friends are such a different matter. So please, if you find yourself feeling jealousy over one of your friend's accomplishments, step back and ask yourself why? Isn't the point of a friend to support and encourage and confide in each other? Instead of focusing on her/his accomplishments, focus on what you've done. You can proud of your accomplishment and your friends!
So here is my message to my friends: We have our moments of irritation at each other, but at the end of the day I will defend you, I will listen to you, I will trust you, and I will cheer for you.

I hope everyone has at least one friend they feel like that towards!

5, just 5...

2009-06-25T07:38:00.000-07:00

I've boiled it down to five things a girl (or guy!) must have at all times to give off the classy put together look. Ala Audrey Hepburn.

1. Good Skin
Clear, acne free skin is obvious. No one looks good with bumps and redness all over their face. Obviously, we can't always help that, but there's a trillion acne kits out there (cheap and expensive), so a little effort=smooth, pretty skin. I'm a personal fan of Clean & Clear Products. I've been using the Deep Cleaning Astringent for some stubborn pimples/blackheads that won't go away, and it's been a week and they're already nearly gone.
Also, don't forget sunscreen! Later wrinkles are nott pretty

2. Neat Hair
As cool as the messy, bed head style looks, in reality it's kind of hard to pull off the whole day. Especially if you weren't born with Gisele-like waves. As long as you keep a good trim and keep it washed, neat hair is fairly easy to maintain.

3. Put Together Outfits
T-shirts, sweats, hoodies--none of these look neat at all. Of course, owning them and wearing them is just fine (I'm a complete victim of it all the time), but if you really want to put off that classy look, they don't cut it. If you still want comfort, yoga pants are smooth and not at all bulky, fitted shirts, etc... Personally, I think dresses are wayy more comfortable than anything in the world!

4. A Ready Smile
Really, does this need a whole lot of explanation? No one likes to be around a sour puss. Obviously, don't be a total fake about it. And don't be annoyingly cheerful to the point where everyone wants to smack you. A simple, kind smile that allows you look friendly and comforting.
Also, take care of your teeth. Brushing, flossing, etc always makes them look nicer. Plus, crooked, spaced teeth always add a kind of charm, so be proud of them!

5. Clean NailsIt sounds silly, but really how gross is it to see someone with overlong, hoochie nails or nails with unknown substances lodge under them or raggedy, bitten down nails? Chipping polish definitely gives of a slight disheleved look. Keeping nail colors fairly light so that chipping doesn't really show is a good idea, or, to keep it simple, a simple nail trim, wash, and file goes a looong way.

With these five things, everyone can look lovely =) Just remember, that an ugly personality (vulgar vocabulary, mean spirited, selfishness, cockiness) will shine through despite all this. Audrey Hepburn's charm didn't just come from her unique beauty, but from her unbelievable kindness and sweetness.

when to not feel bad...

2009-06-19T14:42:00.001-07:00

I remember reading these lists in Glamour and they always made me laugh, so I thought I'd make up one for here =)

You should never feel bad when...

1. You get called last minute to work for a guy so he can hang out with his girlfriend and then denying him because a. you're single and b. you've had a hella long week.
2. A girl complains about being cold in the pool because "she has no body fat!"
3. Finishing the split desert. Especially when the other person says go ahead.
4. Asking to eat the breadstick or extra twizzler someone has with their lunch, because 99% of the time that Twizzler is going into the trash.
5. NOT going to a girl's graduation party when a. She calls you NEIGHBOR in the yearbook during the time you were apparently best friends, b. she neglected to buy you a birthday present when you both agreed on one, and c. she hasn't said more than two words at a time to you SINCE fall when you realized her bitchiness.

just be yourself

2009-06-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

Possibly the best advice ever given in the entire world and sung by one of the greatest Taiwanese bands ever =)
Loving cartoons or heels or literature or bad nineties pop or even secretly stashing romance novels--no need to be remotely ashamed of any of those little quirks, because in the end they all add to make one unique person, that, despite what we believe sometimes, people out there actually like. So, even at our lowest points, we should just be ourselves and let all else follow.

absolutely despicable

2009-06-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

*note there is a slightly disturbing image of Emmett Till here, but it's to show just how bad it can get*Okay, so this might be a bit of a stretch to talk about this here, but the blog is about inner beauty, and people who are racist or prejudice are certainly not beautiful.
I was just watching the news today when I saw the story about a white supremacist, James von Brunn, went into the Holocaust Museum in DC (THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM!!) and opened fire, killing a security guard there. Ironically enough, that night a play about two famous faces of the consequences of racism, Emmett Till and Anne Frank, was supposed be performed. Here's the story here.

If there is one characteristic I truly and deeply hate about the human race, it is that prejudice can exist, especially racism. I do not understand the need to dislike someone based purely on things they are born with! Why? Especially white supremacy. I really detest that the most. It is ethnocentrism at its prime. Groups like the KKK, Black Panthers, etc should not be allowed to exist. I know this is America, land of the free, and everyone's speech is protected by our First Amendment, but really, these kinds of acts are truly despicable.
So please, the next time we look at someone, let's try to not judge them based solely on their clothes, their skin color, the shape of their eyes or the texture of their hair. Let us consider who they are as a human being, their emotions, their quirks, their personalities, their attitudes. Sure maybe they really are snotty jerks who deserve a good slap, but its better to learn that through conversation than one glimpse. Race should never play a role in our views of other people. Everyone has their pros and cons regardless. Yes there are the stereotypical gangsta blacks, genius Asians, valley girl whites, etc, etc, etc. But everyone is unique, and racism is probably THE ugliest trait a person could have.

** Side Note: I'm figuring everyone knows about Anne Frank, but Emmett Till was a 14 year old black boy who was brutally murdered by a number of white adults for "whistling" in their convenience store.... Those murders were never properly convicted.

braids, braids, braids

2009-06-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been obsessed with braiding hair and different hairstyles associated with it! It doesn't help that I've finally learned how to the French braid.
I think the trend setter who deserves the credit is definitely Sienna Miller & her hair stylist. Remember when she wore this and everyone was on the fence about liking it. Nowadays it's definitely a loved hairstyle!
I've tried some hairstyles out with braids myself. I keep braid my hair in different ways... (I've done cooler stuff lately, but I don't have any pics of them!)

Here's some tutorials from pursebuzz for easy, super cute braid styles. Let me know how they go!

women to not admire

2009-05-28T19:15:00.000-07:00

I am not a political person. I'm wayyy to emotional and right-brained for politics. With that said, I do have my opinions and I understand what's going on with Republicans and Democrats, Fascists and Communists, etc. And my friend Steve likes to call me a feminist, which I suppose I am on some cases...
With that said, I was reading the 100 Most Influential People in Times, and came across "Sarah Palin by Ann Coulter."
Now, I don't know if you know who Ann Coulter is (basically, she is a CRAZY conservative Republican. She's the loud-mouth neo-republican who gives other Republicans a BAD name. Want proof? Spend about five minutes reading the stuff on her website), but I hope you have at least heard of Sarah Palin. The fake tanned, former beauty queen, crazy Alaskan governor who, thank goodness, did NOT become our vice president. Oh and her daughter is now a single mother who almost married the baby daddy because, during the elections, the Republicans pretty took on as a political prisoner.
Okay, so I do have some political opinions, but they spring more out of my "feminist" dislike of Ann Coulter and Sarah Palin.
I feel that there are so many great women out there and I hope to the dear Lord in heaven that no one really looks up to these two ladies. Republican/Democrat aside, the extremes of both of these are nothing but trouble. Moderation is key. Ann Coulter is crazy and Sarah Palin? Talk about a great blemish on American democracy! I don't want to go into all the awful things she did during the campaign and all the stances I disagree with because this isn't about that.
This is about the fact that we need to find proper role models (everyone does!) and in turn become good role models to the next generation. These women are examples of what we must NOT become.
Just read the article; I hope it gives you a good laugh.

PS Thank you to everyone for the last post!! I felt so much better after writing that and reading everyone's kind words

Ohh life...

2009-05-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, so sometimes we all need a little wallowing. Even the most optimistic of us cannot be happy and cheerful ALL the time. I need to vent a bit/unload my high school misery.
1) I have wanted to be president of this club since sophomore year when I was inducted into it. So I group up with three other girls, M, A, & C to form a cabinet or whatever its called. Well, Tuesday, C comes up to me and says, "I want to President, not Treasurer. Do you mind?" Of course, C is well aware that if I tried to fight her on it, M & A would back her up, and thus over half the voters. Hence, basically I'm screwed out my sophomore dream.
2) This kid who've I've been having facebook "disagreements" (aka I accidentally insulted him and now he's facebook e-mailing me in the most pretentious way. PS, we're not even facebook FRIENDS) with decided to inform me of his oh-so-great future and my insignificance. Which actually doesn't bother me all that much, but it just kind of adds into the irritation.
3) The guy I've had a minor thing for the past year, has fallen for my friend, who is beautiful and I love, but still! It's just an added bummer to my list of failed crushes.
4) My prom date just got a girlfriend. The whole reason I didn't ask anyone was because I didn't want to go with anyone's boyfriend. And of course my date (and this date term is used fairly loosely, as we haven't talked since our italy trip. everything has been via facebook) got a girlfriend two days before prom. Oh, irony.
5) My nose is stuffed up like a turkey at Thanksgiving.

Okay, self-pity over. Now it's time to look at the good things in life! (My English teacher wrote a very nice evalutation of me, which I wasn't expecting; I don't have to take the SATs again, and PROM is around the corner despite my date annoyances!)

Just remember. Life is good. Smile. =)
Anyone else need to vent?

that "glowy" skin...

2009-05-17T19:12:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants that super healthy, radiant skin that seems to turn heads. You may have seen it on every Victoria Secret's angel or celebs when walking the red carpet, or that particularly genetically blessed girl walking on the beach (or school hallway) the other day.
Well, I've picked up some tips to achieve said skin...

Overall Maintenance...

1. Drink lots of liquids (aka WATER) I think I've given this tip before, but it's key to getting the skin you want. If you're dehydrated, it's going to show.
2. Get SLEEP! There's a reason everyone looks haggard the night after a party.
3. Wear sunscreen. I'm a total culprit of forgetting to wear sunscreen, as I don't burn. Like, at all. But I know how bad it is, so I've been trying to wear it when I'm lifeguardng or out in the sun. I've been using the spray on stuff as it keeps me fairly cool and not as sweaty.
4. Exercise. Even if it's walking around for half an hour or something. Exercising is key to keeping the blood flowing and thus having glowy skin.

Quick Steps:

1. Before a shower, use an exfoliate (brown sugar with milk is good!) and rub it all over your skin. Leave in for about a minute before rinsing off.
2. In the shower, shave any hairy areas (aka legs and armpits) and use a soft skin body wash. (I've been using Greek Olive Oil Soap...) Don't use any brushes, but only a wash cloth or a puffy thing (I forget what they're called...)
3. Outside of the shower, pat skin dry, don't rub it.
4. Immediately apply lotion with radiance in the label. I use Aveeno Radiance Lotion. If you want, you can use a gradual tanner as well. Anything with a bit of sparkle in it.
5. Put on your clothes, and you're ready to go. =) (Skin wise anyway...)

after a looonnggg day

2009-05-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

We all have these days. If you don't have at least one of these days in your life, you are simply to inhuman. The day starts out bad and just gets worse. My day today? Started out waking up and realizing I feel asleep dreaming of how pathetic my lack-there-of love life is. Then I tripped out of the car, losing my flats, and stepping on the rainy concrete. At school. Then it got worse when I learned that this annoying girl Mel was running against me for National Honor Society president...when she was just inducted two weeks ago. Yes. It's called fml. And then this awful guy who facebooked me to tell me how beneath him I was and this girl who makes fun of me from my "dry hair" to "annoying smile" to "her know-it-allness" standing in the hallway together and turned to me said, "Hi!" and snickered. Get a life assholes. =(
Badd morning, but once I got home and went to practice, I took a deep breath and realized that a) my crappy little public school is not worth it. And I will be out of there in a year. b) at least I love what's going on outside of school. and c) heck everyone in there can screw themselves, who really cares?
SO...moral of the story. At the end of one of these days, kick up your feet, put on your favorite tv show, and eat something you love. (Me? I put on It Started With a Kiss and ate grilled ham and cheese with dill pickles.) Tomorrow is another day and there has to be something beautiful in your life, whether it be the little kids who make you smile at the lessons you teach, finally perfecting the scrambled egg technique, seeing your silly cat do something funny, or passing by a house and seeing the prettiest flower ever. The future is never bleak unless you let it. So smile and take a step towards a definitely better tomorrow.

a day at the gym....

2009-05-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

I used to read magazines that said, "Working out makes you feel sexier" and scoff because I certainly never felt anywhere near sexy while working out. My hair is usually wet from the pool, baretted and ponytailed back, my skin is dry, my face tight and contorted into some sort of strange expression from heavy breathing- in short NOT sexy.
But after being fairly dormant since swimming ended, and then starting swimming and working out again last week, I have to honestly say.... my self-confidence in my figure has risen significantly. So, moral of the story: do some sort of working out, because you really will feel better after it.
Now, not sure what to do at the gym? =)

Cardio Machine-15 minutes (elliptical, treadmill, bike)
Arm Machines or Leg Machines (Alternate every day) 3 set of 15 times
Cardio Machine-30-60 minutes
Cool Down-10 minutes

Or if you're like me, you can dance at home and blast music =)

"standardized tests are for standardized minds"

2009-05-08T07:11:00.001-07:00

I love this quote, repeatedly said my by friend Nick. And trust me he's a scientific genius/could've been a main character in Revenge of the Nerds (in the best way possible). He'll behind the scenes of NASA or wherever he wants to go some day. So, it isn't as if he's some pothead idiot whose going around muttering this quote; he's pretty legit.
With AP exams coming up, and SATs, ACTs, and finals (whatever your forced poison is), I have come to this conclusion: it's all pretty much a scam to get as much money from us as possible. (Really $80 for a horrible four hour test-on-steroids?!) Finals probably not so much, but the former three, definitely.
Our intelligence cannot be measured by a standarized test. So, as the test anxiety starts to creep up, just stop whatever you're studying and take a step back. You probably already know this stuff. There is no need to bite your nails down to nothing. This test does not determine who you are, and in ten years you'll look back and laugh.
My advice? Take a nice, hot bath (or shower) and do not think about studying for at least an hour. Indulge in something whether it be a Starbucks frappuchino or a gooey chocolate chip brownie.Watch something mind numbing (Gossip Girl anyone?!) and then return to studying with a calm mind.
Good luck!

hair, hair, hair

2009-05-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

I've gathered some great hair tips just in time for the summer when we all want Gisele-esque waves. Personally, I want my hair to be as smooth and silky as the actresses in Memoirs of a Geisha and Asian dramas in general. It's gotten pretty dry since swimming ended.
Here are my top five hair DIYs. Eventually I will try them all.

1. Mayonnaise
It is probably the grossest thing ever, but it's not too bad. My hair felt lighter after. Just take mayo from the fridge, massage it through dry hair, wrap in saran wrap or a shower cap, and after 20-60 minutes rinse out and wash like normal. I tried this, and my ends are suppper nice again, but my scalp is greasy. So, for oily scalps, just do the ends.

2. Olive Oil
In the shower, hair wet, before anything you do, pour olive oil into your hair. Massage it in like shampoo, then rinse as best you can. Then just shampoo/condition like normal. I got a lot of compliments on my hair after.

3. Hair Sunscreen
In a spray bottle: 1 C water, 1 T sunscreen, 1 T conditioner. Shake and spray into hair before going to the beach or anywhere. I haven't tried this yet, but I definitely am going to.

4. Cornstarch
For the greasy scalp. Just use your brush to brush it through the scalp, let it sit to soak up the grease, and then shake it out I suppose. I'm still unsure of this one, as I haven't tried it yet. But I'll let you know once I have the details.

5. Lemon Juice & Water
I liked using this, but my hairdresser said lemon juice dries out the hair... I don't know. I keep seeing the advice all over, and it definitely made my hair shinier. -Shrugs- I don't see the harm in trying it though.

Let me know how your results go!

fearless

2009-05-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

I read an article today for English class that positively infuriated me. Of course, one girl voiced her opinion of how much she loved it & the writer, no one really said anything. I said something, and the same people mutter things like,"There she goes again..." or "Wow, way to freak out." I wasn't freaking out. Trust me people, if I was freaking out, it be a whole other picture. Even my friend, A, told me she thought I handled myself a lot better than I have before when I've gotten angry. And coming from A, that means a lot. She said she agreed with me.
Point of the story is this: Even if people call you crazy or disagree with you or laugh at you, stand up for what you think. Voice your opinion. There so many of us out there who have smart, logical ideas that go unheard. Even if you have opponents, speak up. In class, even at the risk of sounding stupid, speak up about your ideas. Be fearless. America (heck the world) is not going to saved by the quiet, shy people. It needs you to find the strength in yourself to speak up when things are wrong and voice the opinions you have.
(PS the picture is from one of my favorite shows, Eli Stone. He fights court battles everyone else thinks are crazy)
PPS: here's the article. If you like it, that's fine, let me know. I disagree with you, but unless you say something completely idiotic like "Yeah! This guy rocks, marry me!" I'm not going to disrespect your opinion. (Btw Obama had pay off his Ivy League loans)

"love me, for me, 'cause I am beautiful"

2009-04-30T13:00:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I make a playlist for everything on my Ipod--love songs, break up songs, rock out songs, fashiony songs, everything. A couple months ago when all I wanted to do was jump off a cliff, I put together a playlist called "Gold Mix" for those days or moments when you feel like you're completely worthless. It always helps to make my day that much better.

Change-Taylor Swift
Stronger Woman-Jewel
Breakthrough-Hope 7
Don't You Know You're Beautiful-Kellie Pickler
This One's For the Girls-Martina McBride
One Girl Revolution-SuperChick
The Middle- Jimmy Eats World
Hanging On-Cheyenne Kimball
Grow-April Start

And possibly my favorite song ever since sixth grade. It's a shame Jessica Simpson never made this into a video, I'm sure her whole image would be different. (PS this is a Sims video I found of it on Youtube.) Although unlike the video, it's not about a guy, it's about her life in general at the time. (I think mostly against her recording studio?)

You guys have any songs that make you feel instantly better? I have a firm belief that music can cure all.

rejection

2009-04-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those days... Not necessarily a terrible day, but not really a great one either. For one I found out about a few girls who really did not like me. Which would be fine, except they play that game where to your face they say things like, "Oh, cute outfit" or "Nice job." And then behind your back (sometimes quite literally) they say things like "She's so annoying" or "She think she's the best" or "Her hair is so dead." I hate that about teenaged girls. I don't care if you don't like me. Then don't talk to me. Let me know you don't like me, then leave me alone. It's very frustrating to be rejected by someone but never be really sure...Also I received my very first rejection letter for my book. It's not too bad, but it's kind the top of my ehh day:

Thank you for your thoughtful query and writing sample.
This is an interesting concept and I enjoyed reading your first pages. That said, after careful consideration, I just didn't feel I would be the best fit for this project and so I'm going to have to decline the invitation to review more of your manuscript.
Thanks again for thinking of me. I wish you the best of luck in finding a good home for your book.

Of course, they're s a million and ten ways to read into the letter, but I'm just going to take it at superficial value--she genuinely thinks its an interesting piece, but does not think she's a fit. Yeah, it still sucks.
But I know that I shouldn't let anything get to me too much. We all need to do that in a way. Rejection sucks, but it doesn't mean we're worthless. People are going to like and dislike us in life, and we've got to deal with it. I'm going to try and have patience from now on and be a better person. I hope I can avoid playing mind games...
On a high note, I called someone out for cheating on an open-note test. In the quiet room, I said, "It's really pathetic that you're cheating on an open-note test." And he and his tool friend got in trouble or at least a talking to at the end of the class period. It made me feel a lot better to call him out. If there's one thing I hate, it's cheaters. Especially when they do it terribly and blatantly.
So, to sum up this post, call out those damn cheaters and don't let rejection get you down.

advice from the vs angels

2009-04-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

I think the greatest models out there right now are the Victoria's Secret Angels. Miranda Kerr, Heidi Klum, Selita Ebanks, Alessandria Amrbosio, Karolina Kurkova (all pictured above) and many more present and former angels have all been spokespersons for sexiness. Yes they have killer bods, gorgeous faces, and are in every boy, man, and old man's dreams , but they also have a confidence that practically glows. I think Victoria's Secret is that her beauty comes from within and radiates out. These girls, unlike other models, smile, have boobs, look healthy, and are quite honest about their beautiful and ugly days.
So who better than these angels to give advice? I've read quite a few articles and seen videos of their tips (and admittedly many of them endorse VS), so I have compiled a top five list.

1. Drink Water
I've hear both Miranda Kerr and Karolina Kurkova list this. Karolina's a fan of coconut water; I'm curious to try it.

2. Lemon Juice
Heard this one from Karolina as well... On those bad breakout days, wash your face with lemon juice to dry out the face.

3. Steam Your Face
It really opens the pores and makes the face glow.

4. Great Workouts
The Angels thank everything from kickboxing to yoga to pilates to surfing as their ways to stay fit. Conclusion-get active.

5. In the Lingerie
Wearing nice underwear can immediately make you feel better!

"true beauty comes from within"

2009-04-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

There are so many different aspects for this blog I'm bouncing around in my head at the moment. I want to create a blog where I can post my "journey" of sorts through fitness and health and finding that inner confidence that everyone seems to want and few seem to have. I'll try to chronicle recipes, what a daily day of eating looks like, fitness tips, workouts, etc. And of course, days I'm feeling particularly confident or self-conscious. We're all people, and I hope that when I do have my confident days, I can spread it to my readers. =)
For my first post, I thought I'd write up about what true beauty means. I think true beauty is someone who is both strong, smart, and confident with her/himself. (I look up to hers mostly, sorry guys). Here are some I&OB girls.

Tsukushi Makino/Shancai
Fictional Manga/Asian Drama character with a strong personality and smarts to match.

Analeigh Tipton
An aspiring model with the kindest heart, wit, and wisdom. check out her blog peaceofanaleigh.blogspot.comTina Fey
Smart and incredibly funny? With glasses? Queen Katherine of Aragon
First of wife King Henry VIII (a vile pig) and a strong fighter for her rights under a subtle simplicity required of women. She fought til her death to remain queen.Anne Boleyn
She used her smarts and wits to reach from court disgrace to queen of England. Her downfall is truly sad.Betty Suarez
Smart and kind fictional character who shows that true beauty really does come from within.