Because I'm A Girl

Say hello to my newest and greatest infatuation yet..! Make up, make up, make up. Anything to do with it. Pigmented eye shadows, natural bristled brushes, pink emollient lipstick, rosy powder blushes, and more. If you're in the least bit in touch with the make up sect of the beauty industry, you should be familiar or know of the top and leading brands of cosmetics. One of the most highly praised is definitely MAC. Not only is it highly praised and highly popular, but without a doubt, it is highly PRICED. Being a seventeen year old female without a job often pushes me away from a visit to the MAC counter in department stores. I am interested in MAC's products, particularly eye shadows and brushes,but its hefty price tags have left me feeling disheartened every time. I am most certainly not proud to say that I am in ownership of only a single MAC cosmetic: a pressed powder eye shadow in a deep forest green hue called Humid. Because my wallet's contents are usually not sufficient enough to satisfy my savage spending on apparel, jewelry, shoes, purses, and make up on a single trip to the mall, I make my meager purchases at the drug store on my facial beauty tools and supplies.

However, the fun of make up has exploded into my system. Its force hit me so strongly that the dormant make up "artist" within has chosen to take some initiative and make some sacrifices. I have decided to keep the shopping for clothes to a moderation in order to make room for my soon to be Sephora, MAC, and Ulta splurge.

The greatest obstacle for make up and myself is sweating my ass off in Houston humidity every weekday morning for band practice from now until the end November. Although we may not be out there for very long, my make up surprisingly melts and diminishes copiously in this mixture of oil, sweat, and heat. The answer is clear: Keep the make up splurge to the bare essentials until cooler weather kicks in and the marching outside is over.

I will share with you the keys to my heart's numerous desires.
Kabuki Brush - A kabuki's primary purpose is to evenly apply and buff powders, bronzers, blushes, and mineral make up. Although I love the pink Sugar ($26) and the purple Urban Decay ($36) brushes pictured at the top, a more sanitary, portable, and still pink retractable brush from Too Faced ($28) is what's on my list.

MAC 194 Concealer Brush & MAC Select Cover Up - Concealer to conceal. Conceal what? Acne and scars. Plain and simple.

Eye shadow - Eight is better than one, no? This visually appealing and colorful pallet conveniently features and showcases eight highly pigmented bright shadows and sells for $28. I can't say that these shades are suitable for every day wear, so I would rather pick inexpensive eye shadows from Revlon and Cover Girl to meet my needs and my taste.
Eye shadow brush - I've never been into so recklessly applying eye shadow onto my lids with my finger tips. Up until now I have been utilizing the sponge tip applicators that are included with my handed down Clinque eye shadow compacts. Without a good brush, the color stay and power of my shadows are lost to the oily surface of my lids, even sometimes with a primer.

MAC Fix + Spray - This $16 dollar "fix spray" has contains water, cucumber, tea, and much more. It serves a number of uses such as a quick refresher or a make up finisher. I would love to use it as a mixing medium to really bring out the vibrant color of my drug store shadows by misting the eyeshadow brush with this concoction.
Lipstick - I despise lip gloss in the wind. It is so achingly irritating when the front layers of my hair stick my pink glossy lips. I prefer moisturizing lip sticks with a little SPF for that sun protection in pinks, reds, and peachy tones. Whenever I'm looking for the glossy look, I can always add a coat of clear gloss on top of my color stained lips.

That's most of my cosmetic must-haves for the upcoming months! Now boys, if you're wondering why I (and many other girls) love make up, it's because it's fun. To put it simply, it's because I'm a girl.

Excuse me miss, do I know you?

I shall begin the third Sunday of August (it kills me to say that because next week school starts) by composing a blog of sixteen facts about myself. Get to know me a little better, won't you?

01. Many of the pictures I take are crafted by small shreds of lies.
02. I detest my tanned skin and it getting tanned so easily.
03. Alex really likes the picture on the left. That's why it's there.
04. Fake earrings irritate my ear lobes.
05. Applicable only to my male friends: if I hit you often, that means I like you and feel comfortable with you.
06. I refuse to leave the house without liquid eyeliner and powder on.
07. Evening showers are for me.
08. Ben & Jerry's Bananas On Rum is my favorite ice cream flavor.
09. Speaking of which, I have bear stuffed animals named Ben and Jerry.
10. Dancing is a talent I wish I was born with.
11. My college applications will be sent to Baylor and UH.
12. Two years ago I was thirteen pounds heavier.
13. You'll find that my books, media, and clothes are VERY organized.
14. I'd like to bartend in the future, but I doubt I'll be allowed to.
15. Plaid things are my new obsession. ♥
16. Coming up with all of these facts was definitely not an easy task.

I'll commend you if you knew every single fact listed above.

The other side of the mountain

There is a young girl sitting in the second row of the classroom, lips pursed, with eyes that scream, "I'm bored!" She is dressed in a burnt orange shirt, casual faded jeans, and used-to-be-white sneakers. A geography book clothed in an aqua book cover lies on its back, cracked open to the hundred sixteenth page or so, staring at its unenthusiastic owner, only begging to be read. Her eyes' focus slowly moves away from the distant hall to the textbook. The girl examines the images printed on the tattered corners of each page then looks up to her heavyset teacher happily illustrating a mountain on the immaculate white board. Lesson two of this particular chapter tells of the two sides of the mountain: the dry and barren leeward side and the moist windward side abundant with flourishing flora.

Do you recall this lesson that was explained during your high school geography class? Maybe not. I am one to admit that this subject never captured my fancy nor was it a class where I received exceptional marks in. (Truthfully I got some B's and I have a bad behavior grade for chatting too much.) Despite this disinterest, this particular concept caught my mind and struck me on a number of occasions lately.

I have willingly flipped the optimism switch on, and embarked on a journey to settle into the windward side of the mountain. My eyes have longed to see the greener side of the grass. My hands have yearned to bask in its glory. Triumph has trailed only steps behind me on this expedition. It was only days ago were we united.

I'm afraid I won't be needing to dig a deep hole of intricate details for you, nor will I draw any of sort of vivid image that will exhibit every facet of my situation. However, I must share these words with you: things are far more pleasant on this side of the mountain.

The top headlines in MY newspaper? My name listed on the insurance policy on ALL our cars and earning the flag solo. Perpetual try is such an excellent trait!

Determination rolls on.

I've been attempting to continue and get close to finishing my required summer reading for my AP English class, with very little success. Although Into The Wild is interesting, my heart's not up for the reading. So after hours of lazy behavior, resting drowsy eyes, mashing keys on my phone, and laying my head on a soft pillow, my dad emerges from the front door and declares that he is hungry. He grabs his Hugo Boss wallet and asks with a smile on his face, "Wanna order pizza?"

I looked at him with a frown because this was the last thing I wanted to eat: a greasy Pizza Mia with chocolate or cinnamon topped desserts. Not long ago I decided that I must get myself back up into optimum health.

I proposed to cook something healthier instead. With clean hands, I carefully handled the raw salmon and sliced it into three. I lightly lathered them with spices accordingly to size and set them into the pan coated in olive oil under medium heat. The first salmon I'd ever cooked turned out great.

Today was the first day of color guard practice. We have begun learning the opening routine for the show. Movements foreign to my body have caused pain in my elbow and wrist, bruised hands, and sore muscles from strange leg extensions and leaps. Guess I'm not supposed to leave guard through an easy route.

Everyone at practice was notified that there will be two soloists, one of them a dance, the other a flag routine. All sixteen members are eligible to try to create their own original routine and present it on audition day. This is just like a captain tryout. I am overjoyed for this opportunity!

Hopefully before tomorrow's tropical storm hits, I'd like to practice what we've learned so far. As much as I do not want to work hard in school anymore, my determination to finish with my own set glories rolls on.

Late pt. 3: we miss daddy so let's cook!

(click to enlarge)

In Alex's absence from Texas, I was drowned in boredom and uncertainty of what to do, especially during the late evening hours. I thought it out carefully. Things happen for a reason don't they? The only solution that I made from the situation at hand was to create a "fun" list of must-do activities to truly enjoy and complete the rest of the summer on a high note. And when I say high note, I mean Mariah Carey high.

But before this perfect answer hit me, I was sitting in bed contemplating what to make of these long hours without hearing my boyfriend's voice. Eventually I found myself in front of the camera making silly faces with OUR dog, Nico. This series of photos eventually sparked the idea of creating another cartoon. Now it's yours to read and enjoy!

One of the many items listed on my "fun" must-do list of activities, was to cook and/or bake something. If there is a time where I want to sharpen my culinary skills, it's now. I can imagine myself in the kitchen cooking up a hearty meal for my family. But just cooking something from the box or something 'instant' didn't cut it for me. I thought the experience was no where near as rewarding if it were made in that manner because super girlfriends, wives, and moms cook from scratch!

I began with something with an easy difficulty level: soup. Caramelized onions and carrots in olive oil. Threw in some chicken broth and water and finely diced potatoes. And to top it off some small pieces of chicken, chopped lettuce, and broccoli. When everything was finished, it tasted like my mom's soup. And by the next day it was all gone.

Thursday afternoon, before settling down into my computer to watch 200 Pound Beauty, I wanted to make pigs in a blanket, but I had to thaw out the frozen sausages overnight.

I started off with making the dough. While allowing it to sit, I got to cooking the mildly spiced sausages in canola oil. Kneaded the dough, flattened it out, placed the piggies in, and tucked them in gently. A little low-fat butter to spread on the top and it's time to let those babies bake. After 25 minutes they were delicious! (picture on the left)

I'm just so damn delighted with myself that I had to brag to everyone about it.

Next I think I'm undertaking some cocoa cupcakes, broccoli soup, pizza, or something else that will tempt my taste buds and make me salivate.