Beauty Bucket List || 2014

It's a new year and with a new year comes a whole new list of things I'd like to do and experience. This year instead of making Resolutions, I decided to make Bucket Lists. Not because the two are really all that different but because I look at them differently. My personal life bucket list is full of experiences and adventures I WANT to have, the important word there being want. A lot of the time resolutions are things we know are good for us and things we know we should do, but rarely warrant the enthusiasm a bucket list item gets because we don't see them in the same light. I am going to challenge my way of normally seeing resolutions and make a couple bucket lists for this year. They aren't all going to be life altering but they are things I want to cross off, so to start get things going here is my 2014 Beauty Bucket List...

1| Be more adventurous with my hair. 
I have a curly mop on my head, I've kept the cut relatively the same for the last few years. Long layers are my comfort zone. Recently my hair has been going through a bit of a change I think, the texture is different in the back and it is getting much more tangled. I've decided that it is time to really give it a good snip. I am not going to do anything too crazy, but I am looking into cutting shorter layers and maybe even shaggy side swept bangs. Because I wear my hair curly more than anything else, I am still thinking on the bangs part... I've wanted them for a year now and every time I go I end up talking myself out of it. The thing is with shorter layers all around the bangs will blend in better... so if I am going to do it, now would be the best time. I actually have a hair appointment set for Thursday, so I will be sure to share a pic on Instagram after I get it done.

2| Figure out the right skincare regimen for my face.
I'm 30 and I still don't really know my skin type. I am determined to figure out what products will work best for me this year. I am even considering getting a proper facial so that I can have a professional point me in the right direction. I like the products I am using right now, but I think there might be something better suited for me out there. Skincare is really overwhelming for me when I go shopping, so I tend to make quick decisions. I want to invest now in products that will help my skin in the future.

3| Play more with eye shadows.
This is pretty self explanatory, I love the idea of eye shadow and I love all of the colors but I tend to stick with a neutral look when I am doing my makeup in the morning. One of the reasons is because my eye makeup never lasts, I am looking into finding a primer that will actually help my makeup stay put all day. Another reason is because my eye lid is relatively small and the space between my lid and my brow bone isn't much bigger, I have to learn how to modify the tutorials I watch to work for my eye shape.

4| Master the art of eye liner.
I am horrible at eye liner. I don't know why it is so hard for me but it is. This year I am making it my number one goal to either find a brush or applicator that is fool proof or just practice practice practice until it becomes so easy I don't even know I'm doing it. I've already started a list of some brands I'd like to try. I'll be sure to keep you updated on my progress.

5| Give Shallac a try.
When it comes to nails, I love wearing all different kinds of colors. However, I hate actually painting my nails. I am not that great at it, I am never patient enough between coats or at the end and I get really frustrated with how quickly you have to do it all over again. I don't go to the salon often, because there are other things I'd rather spend my money on, but when I have gone I've tried the gel manicures and they were quite impressive. Over the past few months quite a few at home gel options have come out and I am going to look into getting a system for myself. I know with shellac I'll still have to be patient, which very well might be my downfall, but I am excited to give it a try.



Do you have any items on your Beauty Bucket List this year?

beautiful you

Yesterday I was riding in the car and Sara Bareilles' song, Beautiful Girl, came on. I had never listened to that track before (I am one of those people, I skip to the songs I know I love, often missing some gems in the process) and the lyrics instantly caught my attention. After letting it play through three more times, I knew I had to share it with you all. The song itself deals with the definition of beauty, and the battle we have to find where we fit into it. 

Going off of Sara's lyrics, my thoughts not only went to physical attributes that define beauty but the fact that we as a society put a definition on so many things... success, talent, love, beauty, etc. and because of these definitions the majority of us struggle to feel good enough. To feel beautiful enough, talented enough...

So often, we compare ourselves to one another. I've not met a person that hasn't experienced this in their life. We love our friends and family, but I think we also battle the "why" questions. Questions such as, 

"why does their life seem so amazing, and mine so boring?" 

"why is it we eat the same thing, but they never gain a pound?" 

"why does everyone notice them, but I seem to be overlooked?"

"Why them and not me?"

We don't ask these questions because we hate the fact that our friends and family have all these good things. We ask them, because we want to know why we don't see those attributes in our own lives. The beauty about Sara's song is that she recognizes the hurt that can come from the comparison. She highlights that if not addressed it can cause insecurity, bitterness and a lack of self worth. But, in the midst of this she also challenges us to stop comparing. Stop comparing our looks, our relationships, our lives... just stop comparing. She encourages us to take a better look, because there is beauty there. We just have to strip off the blinders and see it. 

My favorite lyric is when she sings... 

"but take it from me, that you have to see it first."

Life isn't fair, I don't think it is meant to be. If we all had everything we ever wanted, our lives would be boring and I think we would lose the preciousness of being individuals. It's the challenges in life that shape our character. It's the journey of discovering ourselves, of defining our self worth, not in what others say or how we compare to others. But rather, finding our worth in our own hearts, in our strengths and passions. That's when we'll see the beauty in the mirror. When we discover the beauty... it won't matter if others see it. That being said, a crazy thing happens when we find the beauty in ourselves and in our lives... when we walk in confidence and joy, we look more beautiful to others. Nothing might actually change about our appearance or situation, but the worth that we've found in ourselves... that self worth is the most attractive quality anyone can have. 

You are beautiful and there is beauty to be found in your life. I hope you take the time to discover it.

If you've got a moment take a listen to Sara's song.... Beautiful Girl

I hope it encourages you.

oh my... beauty haul

1. Deva Curl Mist-er Right   2. Deva Curl Styling Cream  3. St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub  4. Essie Nail Polish in Bikini So Teeny and Angora Cardi  
5. Loreal Paris 24hr Infallible Eye Shadow in Amber Rush and Bronzed Taupe  6. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe and Downtown Brown   
7. Revlon Super Lustrous in Pink Cognito   8. Loreal Revitalift Eye Cream   9. Bliss Fabulips Sugar Lip Scrub   10. Mario Badescu Flower and Tonic Mask
11. Loreal Colour Riche LaLaque in I Lacque You A Lot and Never Lacque-ing (I got this in Target, I can't find it anywhere online)

It's that time again! Time for another beauty haul. As most of you know, I'm cracking down on being better with my budget. Because of this, I won't be doing a beauty haul every time I purchase new items because more often than not I usually only buy one item at a time and that isn't much of a haul. So... what I thought would be better is for me to do hauls each time I get at least 5 new items to share with you. 

I've tried every item above and I have been happy with all of them, so I thought I'd highlight some of my favorites, because I think they are amazing and I want to talk about them. hahah. My favorite beauty related item has to be the Loreal Paris Colour Riche LaLaque, in I Lacque You A Lot. The color is a beautiful BRIGHT orangey red. It goes on incredibly smooth with amazing long lasting coverage. I LOVE IT! My favorite item in skincare is the St. Ives Apricot Scrub, it smells delicious and I've seen a huge difference in my skin. Plus, it is budget friendly which to me is a double win. My favorite item in hair care is the Deva Curl Styling Cream. I've been using this for about 2.5 weeks and it has replaced all my other styling agents. I use to put 5 products in my hair after washing, I now only put in two. The Styling Cream does the job that both my gel and mousse use to do. I am a major fan. 

Have you all fallen in love with any new products lately? Please share them below!

it's time for a new hairdo

I am getting my hair done this thursday! It has been FOREVER since I've been to the salon, and I thought I'd treat myself for my birthday. Why not start this new chapter, of my 30's, with a new hairdo? I have to be honest, I always get a little anxious when trusting someone new with my tresses. They are my security blanket after all, and I have had my fair share of bad hair cuts. But now that I live in Florida it is much harder for my sister-in-law, to do my hair. And the last time I was home it was for her wedding. So, you know, she was busy getting married and stuff. 

Above are a few of the hair pictures I've pinned over the last few months. You will see a theme of layers, curls, bangs, reddish hues and the ombre look. I am blessed with thick curly hair. It has some red in it but I am thinking about playing it up in the color a little more. I am also a big fan of the ombre look, I actually did an at-home kit 4months ago and it is still going pretty strong. I am thinking that I would like to stick to that kind of look but instead of lightening my ends even more I am going to go a shade darker at the top. Right now my hair is all pretty much one length except for around my face, this is something that needs to change. I honestly love my hair long but right now it doesn't have much shape and when the humidity hits it it just turns into a big blobby mess on my head. So I am thinking long layers, especially in the back. 

What do you guys think? Are there any hairstyles or colors you are absolutely loving lately?