Sunday, August 28, 2011

Battle of the Pencil Cases

So, when doing your school supply shopping, there are many decisions to be made! One of which is buying a pencil case. This may seem a little frivolous, but if you're as indecisive as me, this may help you out! I am going to show you four different types of pencil cases and tell you a little about them!

Organized and Convenient:
Binder pouches are nice for people who like to carry around binders, especially if you use one large binder for all of your classes. Binder ouches range in prices, the more expensive pouches are usually more sturdy. They come in a lot of colors and patterns, too! These can be kind of bulky if you don't have a binder, and they won't fit really well into totes or purses. (I don't have one of these, but I'm sure you all know what these look like.)

Here's the three types of pencil cases I have. From right to left: Modella makeup bag- 2.74, Walmart. Greenroom pencil box, $2, Target. Studio C three pocket pencil pouch, about $3 at Walmart.

Fashionable and Sturdy:
So, if you're really into all things fashionable, you might want to go the makeup bag route. Not only will makeup bags be fashion forward (usually) but they are usually built better than the typical fabric pencil case. Depending on the size of the pouch you choose, you may not be able to fit certain pencils or markers in them. Depending on where you buy the makeup bag, it will range in price. Typically from $1 to $15.

Minimalistic and Contained:
Pencil boxes, usually thin and long, are another option when searching for a pencil pouch. Pencil boxes are usually pretty cheap and can be found anywhere school supplies are sold. You won't be able to fit anything too thick (like whiteout) or too long (like post its) into a pencil box. However, it will keep its shape and you definitely won't be overpacking. These will fit easily into most bags.

Practical and Prepared:
A typical pencil pouch (even one that is a little more organized-like the one I bought) is another choice. They usually won't be too expensive, and can be found where all school supplies are sold. The problem with traditional pencil pouch is that they aren't the best quality, and the selection varies greatly per store. Pencil pouches can get bulky, but will typically fit all of your supplies and then some. This is great for overpackers. 

I hope this helped! I still don't know which one I wanna use... :/

Saturday, August 27, 2011

How to: Shop for School Supplies

Hey ladies! Here's a quick school supply shopping blog for you. Hopefully my power won't go out in the middle of writing this. Hurricane Irene is in full blast over here!

So, to start off, my first tip is to get some shopping done early. I am going to be a senior in high school. My school doesn't send out school supply lists, but the teachers will give out lists when the year begins. So, I don't find out anything that is required until the first few days of school. However, I always like to get the basic school supply shopping done before the rush starts. This way, the cute stuff isn't picked over!

Here's a tip, if you get a look at your schedule before the school year begins, check to see if you have any teachers that you've had before. If you do, you probably already know what they require. For example, I have the same teacher for Anatomy 2 that I had for Anatomy 1, so I know what I need.

Other than that, here are some things that you will, without a doubt, need (or, just really want, if you're me..)
-a pencil case (if you can't find any cute ones, check the makeup bag section!)
-pens (know your tendencies. if you happen to lose a lot of things, get the cheap pens. if not, you can probably get away with getting more expensive, more comfortable pens. or just the pretty colors)
-pencils (STOCK UP, get the led, too.)
-index cards (these were a lifesaver in A&P and med terminology)
-planner/ agenda (i cannot stress this enough! this is probably the most important thing you'll need!)
-flash drive (if you don't already have one)
-at least one folder
-highlighters
-post its & post it flags
-white out (if you use pens a lot)
-book socks
-loose leaf paper

All of the things mentioned above will not go to waste. I like to go shopping twice. I do this shopping when the stores are still stocked up and have a good selection. I usually shop around and try to find the best deals. Then, when I get the lists from my teachers, I head out to get binders and notebooks and whatnot.

Here's a quick peak at the stuff I bought already (it's unpackaged, because I have bought this stuff sporadically since July)

Cutest Flashdrive. Ever.

Here's most of my supplies. I forgot to put my post its and post it flags in.

Here's most of the pens and pencils I have for school, I just put in one of each type.

Pencil cases. Yeah, I bought three... I'm so indecisive!

Annnnnnd, index card maniaaaaa!


A couple of tips from my experience:
-If you take a lot of notes, or have to do a lot of hand writing, invest in some quality pens or pencils. I usually take my notes in pen, and I prefer to have colored pens with some type of grip. The colors help me focus when I am studying and recopying my notes. And, I prefer them to be comfy because there are some days when we take notes for 80 minutes straight.
-Use supplies that are aesthetically pleasing, I find that it helps me stay interested.
-Index cards are your friend.
-Stock up while the sales are good.

Happy school shopping!

Irene Who?!

So, if you life on the East Coast, I'm sure you have heard about Hurricane Irene. Everyone around here is freaking out and running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I feel like this always happens, people clear the shelves at Walmart buying three days worth of nonperishable food or whatever... But nothing ever really even happens. Either way, my thoughts go out to everyone who has been or may be affected by the hurricane.

Anyway, I'll be spending today and tomorrow locked in my room blogging, watching youtube videos, and watching movies... crossing my fingers that the power won't go out.

What are your hurricane plans?

OH! By the way, we can hope for more updates- I got a new keyboard, because the one on my laptop is missing the space key and the tab key. That made writing pretty difficult. (:

Monday, August 15, 2011

Back to School Shopping, Anyone?

So, it's getting to be that time of year again- back to school! So, I am personally on the bandwagon a little early, (I don't go back until September 8th) but I can't help it, office supplies are my vice. Keep your eyes open for a haul, hopefully I will be able to post it tomorrow. Who else is excited for back to school... or at least for the shopping part?

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Get to Know Me Tag!



So, my blog really isn't new. I am, however, new to posting on here! That being the case, I  thought it prudent to formally introduce myself to my current and future followers... What better way than a get to know me tag?! Anyways, if you're interested, please read on! I would love to hear feedback and get to know any and all of my readers! Leave comments so I can respond! <3 Oh! and, please do this tag! I couldn't find one I liked too much so I compiled a bunch of different ones and made my perfect get to know me tag.

Life:

What's your name?
Kelly

Favorite quote:
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi. I live my life by this quote!

Do you have a favorite animal?
Why, it's a manatee, of course! :D

What's your absolute favorite color?
Purple, obvi. (:

Do you have any phobias?
Clowns. Agh, it's legit.

What's your astrological sign?
Aries, the Ram.

Have any pet peeves?
So this is a bit random, but I absolutely cannot stand when people don't put their shopping carts back. Because, really, it's just plain lazy and ignorant. On a broader note, I can't stand ignorant people in general-this especially includes discriminatory people.

Do you like coffee? What do you order at Starbucks?
YESYESYESYES.
If it wasn't for coffee I'd be a miserable person. If it's cold out, I get a hot chocolate with whipped cream. If it's warm, I get a mocha frap, sans the whipped.

Name a food you could not function without.
Pickles, hands down.

Do you plan on getting married one day?
Actually I'm not really sure. With the future career I have in mind, I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling. That's just not the type of relationship I'd want. It wouldn't be fair to my husband or myself. I don't need a man, anyhow. (:

Favorite movie:
If you don't count Harry Potter, it's gotta be The Pursuit of Happyness. Will Smith is my favoritttttte.

You got a pet?
Sure do! I have a yorkie named Bella. She's precious. I've also got about 397629 fishies.
Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.

What are some of your hobbies?
I like anything artistic! To be more specific; drawing, painting, reading writing, and doing makeup!

Beauty

If you could only use one makeup product the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?
Mascara. Definitely mascara. I feel like my look is never finished without mascara. I've also got some pretty decent skin, so concealer, foundation, powder, and even blush aren't really that necessary. My eyelashes are miniscule, though.

What shampoo and conditioner are you currently using?
John Frieda Full Repair.

Where do you typically do your clothes shopping?
F21, Target, and Kohl's.

What perfume do you wear?
Viva La Juicy and Vera Wang Princess.

What's your hair color? Is it natural?
Currently red, with some new blonde highlights! I'm a natural blonde (if you haven't caught on yet) and I'm in the process of going back to blonde.

What do you like about makeup?
I like that makeup provides a way for you to express yourself. I think that the way you present yourself is a reflection on how you feel about yourself. Confident people exude confidence through their makeup choices, whether bold or bare faced. I love that you can accentuate your natural beauty. Besides all that, it's fun.

When did you start wearing makeup?
Mascara and lipgloss in sixth grade. Full face freshman year.

What's your favorite place to shop for makeup?
It's a tough call between ULTA and Sephora. Probably ULTA.


Okay, now it's your turn! I tag everyone who reads this.
-Kelly

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Agh! Frustration!

I'm so terribly sorry that I have been gone for so long! I went on vacation a few weeks ago and when I got back my computer was completely busted.  I'm working on getting everything figured out. I've got it working right now, but I know his won't be for long. With that said, I can only hope to have some posts up soon. I've got a lot planned, only if my computer will cooperate!

Thank you.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

NOTD

Here's a nails of the day! However, this is from earlier today and the Wet n' Wild polish is terrible and chipped all over. Boo... I might just have a new notd tomorrow. The blue polish, which was also cheap as it is an NYC color is still hanging on strong, though. I put on Essie No Chips Ahead top coat, which I love, but apparently can do nothing to salvage the Wet n' Wild nail polish.

On my nails-  Wet n' Wild in Shield & NYC Empire State Blue.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

It's Wednesday!


That means it's beauty inspiration follow-up day! Wednesdays are all about getting even closer to our beauty inspirations. It can be by recreating a look, getting a couple questions answered... anything! This week's follow up is a Taylor Swift inspired look. Read on!
I used my Conair Infiniti Curling Wand, I'm sure everyone knows what this is by now!
I curled half inch to one inch sections of  hair to get this look.
The makeup I used for this Taylor Swift inspired look:
ELF 100 color eye palette
Body Shop face primer
ELF tinted moisturizer
Benefit erase paste
Maybeline Dream Matte powder
LUSH  lip scrub
Nivea chap stick
ELF Natural Nymph lipstick
ELF Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips
Benefit Stay Don't Stray
NYC liquid liner
Revlon creme quad in Black Magic
Tarte eyelash curler
ELF eye widener (white eyeliner)
Rimmel black eyeliner
Three mascaras: Too Faced Lashlight, Rimmel Lash Accelerator, and Bare Minerals Buxom Lash
Too Faced eyeshadow palette
Sonia Kashuk Highlight brush, ELF Studio Powder brush, ELF blending brush, ELF studio concealer brush,  and ELF studio eyeshadow C brush.

Okay, that was quite a mouthful. You may use whatever products you like to recreate the look, that's the fun part! Here's a rundown on how I achieved my Taylor Swift look.

-Prime your face with your favorite primer.
-Slap on a tinted moisturizer. I like this better than liquid foundation because it keeps everything a little lighter and more natural, just like Taylor's skin. 
-Use a concealer to cover any blemishes and under eye circles you may have.
-Set your makeup with a powder, this will help keep you shine free!
-Prime your eyelids.
-Use a black base (I used my Revlon quad for this, but a NYX jumbo pencil or a black pencil eyeliner will work... anything along these lines) and fill in the outer two thirds of your eyelid up to your crease. Create a soft swoop along the outside to get a subtle cat eye. Be sure not to get any black on the inner corners. Use a blending brush to smooth and soften this. 
-Now take a black eyeshadow and use the same blending brush and swirl this onto the lid, directly where you placed the black base.
-Using an eye shadow brush, use a shimmery flesh toned color in your inner third. Use the same color to highlight your brow bone.
-Use the blending brush to blend everything together, as well as any harsh lines. 
-Use liquid or gel liner to make a really thin thin along the entire lash line.
-Line your inner corner and your cheek one with a white eyeliner for a highlight.
-Use a black pencil liner to line your water line and tight line all the way around.
-Curl your lashes and apply a thick coat of one or more mascaras. If you have false lashes, this is a good time to use them!
-Apply a light flush of color to your cheeks. I used a soft peachy pink color from  Too Faced, but you can use whatever compliments your skin tone best.
-Prepare your lips however you like, I used a scrub and a chap stick.
-Use a light pink to nude color lipstick, then apply a pinky nude gloss. This will pull the look together as well as tone down the eyes.

When you're done with hair and makeup, you should get something like this!





This is the Too Faced palette I used for blush and my inner corner and highlight color. It's a customized one I received as a gift so I'm not sure of the colors.

Hope you enjoyed!




Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Beauty Inspiration of the Week

On this blog, every Tuesday is Beauty Inspiration day. BOTB chooses one beautiful and inspirational girl to feature. Girls of any age, shape, and size are eligible! Any girl is eligible, famous or not.

Our inaugural beauty inspiration is the one and only Taylor Swift.

What makes her beautiful?

Taylor Swift is a name everyone knows. Her songs have touched and helped millions of people across the globe. She is a simple beauty, but with a twist. Taylor has a different type of look than most girls. Her style is unique and inspiring, and, no pun intended- fearless.

Taylor told People magazine, "I love makeup. When I go on stage, I get to play with my look and try on all kinds of different colors--try red lips tonight, purple eyeshadowtomorrow. You get to play around with all these different characters, and I think that's one of my favorite things about makeup--you can put on a new character." Taylor's love for makeup, and of course her fame, landed her a spot as the face of Covergirl Cosmetics. 

Taylor Swift is known for quite a few signature looks, which are her cat eye, her curly blonde locks, and, of course, her bold red lips. However, Taylor is more than the looks. What really makes her beautiful is the way she expresses herself, which is her music. Her true emotions shine through in her songs. She admits to her flaws and pours her heart and soul out for the world to see, or should I say, hear. 

Look out for a Taylor Swift inspired look, coming soon!

DIY Sea Salt Spray

Follow these steps for an effortless, beachy look that's perfect for summer!

What you'll need:
A spray bottle
-one that holds a decent amount of water, a cup or more is good.
A measuring cup
Sea Salt
Measuring spoon (tsp or tablespoon)
Some type of conditioner or serum
Gel or Hairspray (optional)

-So, to start off, you'll want to take your measuring cup and fill it up with a cup of warm water.
-Next, fill your measuring spoon with sea salt. You can use anywhere from one teaspoon to one tablespoon of sea salt per cup of water. I find that using 1/2 a tablespoon works best for my hair, but you may need to experiment a bit depending on your hair type.
-Pour the sea salt into the measuring cup and stir.
-After this, i like to pour my mixture into the bottle.
-Next, take your conditioner. This step is crucial because sea salt is very drying to hair. You can use any conditioner or serum you like. It can be cream or liquid. Just squirt or spray a little into your spray bottle. Just eyeball this step, you don't need too much.
-If you'd like, you can also add a little bit of gel or hairspray into your mixture if you'd want a little extra hold.
-Now just screw on your cap, shape the bottle, and you're all set!

Using your sea salt spray
I find that sea salt spray works best when your hair is damp or dry. It won't do much in soaking wet hair. Simply spray a good amount into your hair, root to tip and scrunch. Then, style as desired!


All of the products you need/ might use.

 Here are the steps in pictures:

 Don't forget something to add moisture!
 You may use one or more type of product to get the moisture. Here, I show Aussie Hair Insurance leave in conditioner, Frizz Ease serum, and Garnier Fructis leave in creme conditioner.


 And some gel for hold (optional).

Here are two pictures of what my final product looks like- yours may vary!