How I'm Staying Sane During Covid-19

 Tips on Staying Busy

Hey guys! It's been a long time since I have made a post but I am back! So much has happened since then but I am excited to get back to blogging! 😁

It's been 5 months since we have been social distancing and staying home. For the first 3 months I was working from home while still in school so for the most part I was still busy. However, since the middle of June I have been a free bird with nothing but time! 

Below I'll share what I've been up to. Hopefully you will get some ideas! 

1. Baking 🍞🎂

During the beginning of quarantine this was a bit harder to do because there seemed to be a flour shortage but now most stores are always fully stocked. I've been baking cakes and other yummy treats, although I have yet to bake bread 🤔 

2. Go for Walks 🚶‍♀️

I don't think I have been as active as I have been in quarantine as I have been in a long time lol Not only is going for walks healthy for your body but also for your mental health! 💪🏻 I like to go on walks in neighborhoods that I would normally not pass through. This gives the feeling that you are actually doing something different and seeing different parts of your city or neighborhood can be exciting. My mom and I like to walk to this grocery store that is 1.7 miles away where we usually stop to get a drink like sparkling water and then we make our way back home. We have also found pretty trails to walk on. 

3. Make Art🎨

Now I'm no artist🙅‍♀️so I love making collages/moodboards! I have a lot of magazines that I have been saving or some that I randomly receive in the mail, so I go through them and cut out pics of celebs that I like, pretty clothes, or gorgeous jewlery. I have a notebook where I glue all the clippings together. 

4. Read📚📖 

I love to read but it's a shame that I don't always have the time....until now obviously. The book I have been reading lately is "Along for the Ride" by Sarah Dessen. This book is perfect for the summer because it is set during the summer in a cute little beach town. I love Sarah Dessen's books and I'm thinking on making a post about my favorites! Let me know if you want a post about book recommendations! 

5. Try out a new restaurant or coffee shop🍔🍟🍕🌮☕

As long as you are following social distance guidelines! It can be exciting to try out a new eatery place especially if it is a small business. Small businesses were badly affected by corona and giving them business is really helpful! 

6. Watch YouTube 

Watching Youtube has been one of my favorite pastimes! I'll be making a post with my favorite channels to watch so stay tuned for that! 

7. Go for a Drive🚗

I have always loved going for drives and now since corona I feel like I appreciate them even more. My mom and I love this coffee shop that's across town so every now and then we will take a drive just to get a coffee. 

Hope you enjoyed and please leave a comment. Let me know what you have been doing to keep busy 💕

I hope you all stay safe and healthy. Please wear a mask and stay 6 feet apart! 😷❤

My Go To Make-Up Routine | Orangey Bronzey Eye Look

A list of all the products I use to achieve my favorite go-to makeup look. All products are linked. 

1. I start off moisturizing my face with the Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel. I like to use this moisturizer because it is non-greasy and helps to smooth out my skin. 

2. Then I apply Benefit the POREfessional face primer.

3. Next, I use my beautyblender to apply my Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation. 

4. I conceal with the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer. I mainly use this to conceal my under eyes and blemishes. 

5. I then use the Maybelline New York Fit Me Concealer to highlight under my eyes, bridge of my nose, cupid's bow, and chin. 

6. Next I slightly bake my under eyes, nose, and chin using my Real Techniques Makeup Sponge and Coty Airspun Powder. 

7.  To do my eyeshadow I use my Morphe 15 Day Slayer Eyeshadow Palette. The colors I use in the crease are "Natural" and "In the Crease". On my lid I use "Glow". For the crease I use the Wet n Wild Crease Brush and for the lid I use the Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush. Then using the same RT brush I blend the color "Forever" on the lower lashline.

8. To swipe off the bake and set the rest of my face I use the Real Techniques Glitter Powder Brush and the Coty Airspun Powder.  

9. To fill in my eyebrows I use my Maybelline New York Brow Precise Micro Pencil. I love that this pencil also has a spooley brush at the end. 

10. To contour my cheeks, forehead and nose I use the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer with the Wet n Wild Contour Brush.

11. Next I apply the Milani Dolce Pink Baked Blush with the Wet n Wild Contour Brush. 

12. I spray my face with the Mario Badescu Rose Water Spray

13. For mascara I use the Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara.


14. Lastly I apply my favorite lip gloss Too Faced Lip Injection Glossy Let's Flamingle.  

🍑 Peachy Pink Hair Dye Tutorial | Splat Peach Fuzz Hair Dye Review🍑

Hey guys! So a couple of days ago I decided to dye my hair pink and I went with the Splat Peach Fuzz 10 Wash Hair Dye. I bought it at Wal-Mart for less than $10. What I love about this hair dye is that it washes out in 5-10 washes, so it's low commitment! It doesn't include bleach so your hair either needs to already be bleached or a light color. I made a video showing how I applied the product and the final results which I will link down below:

Some tips for great results:

1. Start out with dry hair

2. Section off your hair for easier application and so you don't miss any spots

3. You can apply vaseline around your hair line so it doesn't stain your skin (this color isn't very pigmented so I didn't really feel the need to)

4. I find it is easier to apply the product onto your fingers and then spread it on your hair, instead of directly squeezing the product onto each strand

So I really do like this product! I'm thinking on dyeing my hair purple or blue next🤔💜💙. I would highly recommend this product especially because the price is great. The only con I can think of is that because the product is pretty thick and gel like it does not blend that easily, but other than that I think it is really good! 

If you have any questions let me know and thank you for reading!❤💕

Updated Skincare Routine: Summer 2018!

My Current Skin Care Routine for Summer 2018🌞🏄‍♀️🐋🌴

Hey guys! I decided to make an update on my skincare routine since I have recently purchased some new products. I honestly have been really enjoying these skin care products and I hope that you try them out as well!

Morning Routine:

1. First, I wash my face with the Yes To Tomatoes Daily Clarifying Cleanser which is perfect for oily and acne prone skin. I have oily skin so this cleanser is great for my skin! I also really like that this cleanser is almost like a gel so it removes my makeup really well.🍅

2. Next, I apply the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30. I absolutely love this moisturizer because it is super light and non-greasy and it also helps to even skin tone and get rid of dark spots. My mom also uses this product and we have seen a huge difference in her skin after only a couple days of use! It is actually clinically proven to even skin tone and texture in just 4 weeks.

Night Routine:

1. I begin by washing my face with the cleanser mentioned above😊

2. I then apply the Yes To Blueberries Age Refresh Deep Wrinkle Night Cream all over my face and neck. Even though I do not have any wrinkles I like to use this product because it is a 98% natural product and because it contains blueberries & lemon peel extract which are great for the skin.💙

3. If I have a pimple on my face then I will put some sort of spot treatment on it.

4. Every other night I use a face mask, I prefer sheet masks and ones that target uneven skin tone and that help brighten up my skin. Lately I have been using the Miss Spa sheet masks, which you can find at Target. Their sheet masks are very well priced and they are a women owned company!♀️

I have been trying to focus more on my skin and taking good care of it. Thanks for reading!

 

How I Take Care of my Blonde Hair👱🏻‍♀️💛

Tips for taking care of blonde hair and keeping it shiny, soft, and healthy💁🏼‍♀️

A couple of weeks ago I balayage-d my dark brown hair and I absolutely love it! I was originally going to go blonde all over but my hair stylist suggested that I do a balayage instead since it is more flattering and easier to maintain since you do not have to go for touch ups as much. For those of you wondering, my balayage cost $140 for medium length hair. After my appointment, I felt like my hair was too yellow and had some brassy tones in it (at no fault of the hairstylist, dark hair will usually have yellow or orange tones in it). So to get rid of the brassiness and make my blonde hair ashier, I used toner to tone it. The toner I used was Wella Color Charm T18 and Wella 20 Developer. I bought both products from Sally Beauty Supply Store. 

• To make sure that your hair does not yellow or turn brassy, you must use purple shampoo. There are many purple shampoos on the market but the one I use is Not Your Mother's Blonde Moment Treatment Shampoo. I also use the conditioner. They both smell really good! 💜💜
• I don't really like to put a lot of products on my hair but I do enjoy using the Not Your Mother's Blonde Moment Seal and Protect Leave In. It's basically a leave in conditioner that keeps your hair blonde and super soft, it also smells really good 💜💜💜
• Bleaching your hair can make it super dry and damaged but I use coconut oil to protect it, prevent split ends, and bring it back to health. I apply it a couple hours before I wash my hair so that it has enough time to saturate my hair. 
• Bleached hair tends to be really dry so it is important to not wash your hair everyday. I try to wash it every other day or sometimes I will go for two days without washing 😬😞😣(I know!) Dry shampoo will be your best friend!! I like to use the TRESemmé Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo or the Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreashing Dry Shampoo. 
• Try not to use a lot of heat on your hair!

Hope these tips helped! Thanks for reading! 

Tips for being successful in College!🎓📚

College 101

I can't believe that it has almost been a month since I graduated from college! And in a few months I will begin university. Since graduation week has begun, I decided to come up with some tips to help you through college😄

1. Go To College! If you are unsure about college being right for you, I think if you have the opportunity, you should definitely go to college. It is NOTHING like high school and I am sure you will actually enjoy this experience. Before I attended college I was really dreading it, but after my first week of school, I knew I was going to love it. 
2. Sign up for classes early! Many classes fill up really quickly and you run the risk of not getting into that class or you might have to end up taking a class during certain days and times that do not work best for you.
3. Counselors are your friends! It is advised to see a counselor every semester to make sure that you are on the right track towards graduation. They can answer any questions that you may have and give you advice on which classes to take, to better suit your lifestyle. 
4. Take advantage of financial aid! You may think that you do not qualify for financial aid but chances are you may get at least a little bit of help. There is also financial aid that is granted through your state so I suggest taking advantage of it! 
5. Actually go to class! Make sure you pick a class time that you know you will attend. If you are not a morning person do not pick an 8 am class! In most community colleges, you are allowed a certain number of absences before they drop you from a class. The best way to pass a class is to attend and pay attention. 
6. Take "rate my professor" with a grain of salt! Some of my favorite and best professors don't have the best rating, those aren't always the most honest.
7. Don't be afraid to ask for help! Don't be shy or embarrassd to ask a classmate a question. Most students are willing to answer any question or problem you may have. I've found that mostly all college students are very friendly 😊. 
8. Make copies of textbooks! Most college and universities libraries have textbooks that you can check out for a couple of hours. Some libraries will even have a copy machine so you can make copies of the text. I have done this numerous times and have saved hundreds of dollars! 💸💸

These are some of my best tips that I can think of atm. If you have any questions about college let me know and I'd be happy to help!😊 Thank you for reading and good luck!!

Blonde inspo!!

I'm going blonde! 

I'm so excited because in a couple weeks I'm going completely blonde😄.

 I'm a dark brunette so it is a little scary to think about bleaching my hair but I've seen girls with black hair go blonde and it turned out fine. A couple years ago, I went ombre and it looked so nice that now I want to go blonde all over. When I was getting my hair ombre-d, my hair stylist said that my hair lifts color very quick and easy, so I am hoping that it will make the bleaching process a lot easier. To prepare for my transition to blonde I have been doing A LOT of research on going blonde, trying to get as many tips as I can. I have also been exploring Instagram, trying to find bleach blonde inspirations💁🏼‍♀️. I am going to post my favorites down below: 

Instagram.com/aryannaclark 

Instagram.com/fatherkels

 Instagram.com/nicolaannepeltz

Instagram.com/devonleecarlson  

I will keep you all posted on my hair journey! Until next timeee💕

My Skincare Routine!!

Hey guys! I thought I would share my skincare routine with you all😄. All of the products I use are pretty affordable and work really great. I also linked them for you!!!😊 Hope you guys try them out!

Night Time Routine:

1. I begin by washing my face with Dove bar soap. I sometimes will use an Olay or Aveeno bar soap, but I mainly stick to Dove. (DO NOT EVER use Irish Spring, Zest, Ivory, etc on your face! They will break out your face so bad, trust me, I learned the hard way😣😔.) If I notice that I am breaking out, I will then use the Neutrogena Oil-free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub.  
2. To any area of my face that has acne (my chin) I apply a gel form of Benzoyl Peroxide 5 % that I got from my doctor's office, but any acne medication with benzoyl peroxide will work.
3. I have acne marks on my chin so I apply a scar treatment to that area, I use Up & Up Scar Care Gel from Target. This is honestly a dupe for Mederma, but for wayyy less!💲💸 I have noticed my acne marks fading immediately after using this and the texture on my skin has also improved.
4. As a moisturizer I use Burt's Bees Brightening Skin Perfecting Serum. 🐝
5. Lastly, To my under eyes I apply the SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Radiance Moisturizer.

Morning Routine: 

1. I wash my face with the Dove bar soap mentioned above.
2. As a moisturizer I use Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel.
3. If I will be leaving my house, then I will use the Coppertone Oil Free Faces SPF 50 sunscreen which is amazing because it will not break you out like other sunscreens. 🌞

Thanks for reading!💞💕

Buxom Va Va Plump Shiny Liquid Lipstick Review

I decided to try this product on a whim. I've never used any Buxom products before, so I had no idea what to expect. Essentially what caught my attention was that this product says it is plumping. My lips are already pretty full but I'm always up for a little extra plump👄. There are a lot of different shades, ranging from light nudes to dark reds. I had trouble choosing a color, but I decided on "Getting Warmer". Which is a nice nude-y brown mixed with pink. The packaging of the box and tube are nice and sleek but nothing special or exciting. The applicator brush is amazing because it picks up the perfect amount of product to cover BOTH your bottom and top lip, with just one swipe. The formula is nice and creamy and leaves a nice shine on the lips that isn't too glossy or shiny. It is also very MOISTURIZING. I tend to have dry lips(😣) and the lipstick made them really soft and moisturized. The formula is very long lasting, even after eating and drinking. However, since it is not matte, the product does slightly transfer. As for the "plumping" I noticed that my lips did look a little fuller but nothing too extreme. There was a tingling, slightly "burning" feeling but it did not feel uncomfortable at all, and it also went away after a few minutes. I can't think of any cons except for maybe the price, it's 20 dollars, which is not that bad especially since it is a really great product but I know that there are lots of different options for much less money. To wrap this review up, I'd like to say that I really love this lipstick, and I would purchase again💞.

If you have any questions about this product, please ask! 😊
Thank you so much for reading!

My first post!

Hello! So this is my first time running a blog (other than tumblr) and I am so excited to see how this thing goes. I plan on posting on a variety of topics from makeup, college, food, etc. I will always be open to taking requests for blog posts that you want to see, so just let me know! 😊

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come back again💕

P.S. my blog is called "velveteen & wine" because I love velvet and I will pretty much buy anything solely because it's velvet😂. I also love wine, especially red wine, and also margaritas 🍷🍸🍹🍾