Coconut Oil

Hi guys,

I have been hearing buzz about coconut oil for a while now.  I have used products that contained coconut milk and oil, but about two months ago I purchased my first jar of virgin unrefined coconut oil.  I absolutely love this stuff.  Unlike other oils, coconut oil has a low melting point which means it also has a low freezing point.  This is great because when coconut oil is at room temperature it is a solid, making it easy to apply (just by scooping it out), unlike other oils.  The low melting point allows it to be melted in without leaving clumps!  It is perfect, and it smells great!

• If your skin is dry you may want to apply coconut oil to your skin and lips.  This is especially important with the colder weather months coming.  

• If you wish to use this on your face use it sparingly because you don't want your face to appear too oily.  

• You may want to apply this around your eyes if the skin is dry.  This can be also used to condition your eyelashes (that's right I said condition and eyelashes in the same sentence).  If your eyelashes fall out it may be because they are dry. 

• This can be used as an oil-based makeup remover.

• To apply to hair you do not need much.  Coconut oil will add softness and shine to your hair.  Remember it will melt in quickly so don't worry about the clumps.  

• You can also use coconut oil to shine leather.

• You can use this to clean paint brushes (instead of using mineral spirits).

The great thing about coconut oil is that considering all of the uses it is relatively cheap!

Do you know any other uses or recipes with coconut oil?

Camo Glam

Hi guys,

I decided to make another comfy/casual look but this one has a bit more edge to it. 

I went for a tough look with bling.  If you want to add more glam, this look would look great with a cat eye and bold lipstick.

Shirt/Dress: Edith A. Miller

Leggings: Topshop

Boots: Sketchers (I didn't know sketchers made boots!)

Ring: H&M

Watch: Micheal Kors

Eyeliner: Elf

Lipstick: Topshop

Lets Chat #6: Tips on Flying

Hi guys,

Happy early weekend everyone!  It's weekend for me because I have no classes on Fridays.  I've been extremely busy this past week and have not been as active on my blog as I would like to have been.  I finally have a chance to sit down and blog *sigh*.  I went to a science conference and was out of town last week and when I came back I was hit with two quizzes and a test.  It's really good to have a break, so I am really looking forward to doing nothing this weekend.

In addition to the stress from the conference and studying.  I had problems with my flights including a cancellation that resulted in returning home one day later than planned.  *sigh* (again, I know, so much sighing).  As much as I love traveling, I just wanted to go home; even if that meant going to Chemistry lab for three hours the next Morning.  I'd rather not talk about that right now and just get to what I planned on discussing: How to pack for a flight.  

Everyone knows that flying especially in the U.S. can be a pain.  Here are some tips to make your flight easier.

1. What are you doing on the trip?  If you know what you are doing on the trip you will know how to pack.  My trip was for business, so I packed mostly pencil skirts, dress shirts and blazers.  
2. Bring a comfortable set of clothing.  I usually chose these to be my "traveling clothes"; the clothes I board the plane (or whatever mode of transportation) in. 
3. Try to pack all makeup and beauty products together.  This makes your life so much easier.  If you are afraid your beauty products will leak, put the leak-prone products in a plastic bag that you can put into your beauty/makeup bag. When you unpack you can simply place this bag in the bathroom and your set; no rummaging through you bag looking for that misplaced eyeliner.
4. Make your suitcase  unique (when flying).  This helps you identify your bag especially if it is a plain black bag.  I usually put colorful yarn on the zipper and handles.
5. Make sure your bag is not overweight (when flying). In the U.S. overweight suitcases are 50lbs+.  Try to shoot for 40lbs max when departing.  This allows you to bring back 10lbs of souvenirs.   I brought back around 7 extra lbs of clothing in my bag.
6. If you are flying and bringing a laptop.  I suggest bringing it as a carry-on.  I know people put their laptops in their suitcase but to be extra careful, carry it with you.  Who knows what happens to your bag after you check it in?
7. If you are bringing liquids make sure they follow the requirements.  There is a specific number of ounces allowable in carry-on bags. 
8. Don't wear too much jewelry and wear shoes that are easy to remove.   In the U.S.  You are required to remove your shoes at security check points.  Also you may be asked to remove jewelry.
9. Bring some food for the ride.  Although the guidelines for this is strict in the U.S. you can still bring a sandwich if you don't feel like spending on expensive airport food.  

Although I faced problems traveling I honestly can't wait to travel again (for vacation purposes this time).  If I ever came across a large amount of money I would travel the world.   I'd love to go and experience different places, cultures and foods.  

This reminds me... If you also enjoy traveling you might want to check out the Around the World tag I did a while back.

Don't Get Sick!

Hi guys,

The cooler months are here and it is only going to get colder.  (Sorry for being such a downer, but it's true).  When the seasons change people get sick, don't be one of them!  Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy.  I promise I won't get too Science-y on you guys.

1) Go to sleep-  Your body has to be charged to the max if you want it to fight against any sickness or even allergies for that matter.
2) Stay warm- I know people debate this one a ton.  Some people claim that being cold does not make it sick.  But like not having enough sleep, you aren't setting yourself up for a fair fight against a sickness.  Your body is a bit more stressed out trying to keep you warm instead of putting all of its effort into fighting off the sick!
3) Drink more fluids-  Although your body is capable of flushing itself out it can always use a bit of help.
4) Eat healthy-  What can I say?  You should try to be healthy anyway.  Try to give your body an extra boost in vitamins: A, B, C and E, whether in supplement or food form.  My personal favorites are green tea and grapefruit.  If people around you are sick I suggest stocking up on vitamins.

These tips can also help you fight off sickness quicker once you are already sick.

How do you stay healthy?

Leather and a Sweater

Hi guys,

"Leather and a Sweater", say that five times fast!  I created this look to put together two things that you don't usually see paired up.

I suppose you can wear this look day or night depending on the makeup.  The makeup I chose for the collage was a bit more of a daytime look.

Earrings: Jagger Jade

Watch: Forever New

Ring: Auriele Bidderman

Eyeshadow: Shishedo

Lipgloss: Makeup Store

Mascara: Lorac

Would you wear this look for day or for night?

Lets Chat #5: Minimalistic Beauty

Hi guys,

I was thinking of doing a post like this for a while now and decided to make it into a "Let's Chat", where I usually express my opinions.  I know a lot of you may disagree with my opinions in this post and you are entitled to your own opinions. Wow this is a super long post, so I have decided to put my points in bold (for all of you who don't like reading).

If you haven't figured out what this post is going to be about yet this post is going to be about daily makeup.  I think that daily makeup should be on the minimalistic side.  It's nice to be able to change your look up on special occasions; but on the day-to-day you should keep your makeup a bit more simple.  I think for the most part makeup, should highlight your features and not change them up.  For example, if your favorite feature is your lips why not highlight them with a nice lipstick and keep everything else on the simple side.  I feel you should choose one thing to bring out and keep everything else simple.  (I chose the two photos above to illustrate these points).  You can also go for a completely natural look and decide to go all out on special occasions; I completely understand wanting to express yourself.

Another reason you may want to keep your makeup on the natural looking side on the day to day (other than saving time and money) is the fact that you may feel good about yourself.  If you are used to wearing a full face of makeup and go all out everyday you may feel worse about yourself when you wear less.  In other words, wearing makeup is a slippery slope; the more you wear the better you look but the worse you feel when you are not wearing any.  If you don't feel this way and can sport a full face of makeup and au natural with the same confidence, God bless, you are rare! 

The last reason to be minimalistic is the fact that makeup especially foundation can clog your pores.  If you don't buy high-end brands, this is even more of a concern.  If you don't give your face time to breathe your pores may get larger to compensate for this. I know the use of foundation is a pretty touchy topic foundation for some people.  I'm an advocate for using foundation only when necessary.  If you have acne and want to cover it up, go ahead.  I know how acne can affect a person psychologically.  Just be mindful that you have to put in extra effort to remove it and clear your skin.  If you do have acne and decide to wear makeup this does not solve your problem (acne), put effort into clearing your skin and not just cover it up.  I do not have perfect skin by any stretch of the imagination and I prefer to cover up problem areas as opposed to covering my entire face.  

Bottom line: Do what makes you happy and be aware of what you are doing.  Makeup should make you feel good about yourself when you wear it and not worse when you don't.

Keep it Simple!

Hi guys,

I really love this look -and I have been sporting a similar one- for a day at school or a casual occasion because it is comfortable yet stylish.

What is your everyday look?

Let's Chat #4: Relax

Hi guys,

This week hasn't been the best and I'm glad it is over.  It was one of those weeks when you feel like nothing goes your way.  Well at least a new week is starting soon.

School or work can leave you stressed out and unable to relax.  I know sometimes I get so wired from school that I feel guilty just sitting down and relaxing, this is a terrible thing.  If you are a workaholic you need to relax before you burn out.  Think about it this way if you keep your laptop and use it everyday and just close it from time to time, it will eventually run out of battery.  You are the laptop and you need to recharge and not just rest. 

Last year in the midst of my studies I began to burn out.  I was so bitter about school work that I hated it.  I did not enjoy my classes at all, not because I do not like the topic but because I was so worn out that I no longer wanted to work.  People told me that I was too young to burn out, and I thought to myself "If that is true I can only go downhill from there", (yes I know a bit pessimistic).   In my case the burn out was the result of years of constant work and I haven't had a summer off (I'm a sophomore in college now) for as long as I can remember.   This past summer I took a break, I didn't get a Summer job or an internship.  I have to admit at first I felt guilty not doing anything for the Summer. When I went back to school I felt much happier and motivated. 

Many of you may not be able to take time off to give yourself a break but you should find bits of time to relax.  Don't feel guilty relaxing! You are a person, not a robot (even though I used the laptop metaphor earlier).

Here are some things you might want to do to help relax.  Although some of these are very obvious, sometimes I find myself staring at the wall wondering what to do, I know many other people must feel the same.

• Take a bubble bath
• Enjoy a nice walk
• Find a non-stressful hobby that lets your mind wander (example: knitting)
• Read a book (non-work/school related)
• Hang out with your friends
• Watch a movie
• Blog :)
• Cook
• Write/Draw
• Music
• Have a pampering day
• Find a new hobby.

Life can be quite a juggling act work and play are two of the things we have to juggle.  Although some people can work for what seems like forever without being stressed you need to relax every once in a while.  Even if you think you don't have the time, for fun at all, you need to find a way to stop you from burning out. 

Sunshine Blogger Award

Hi guys,

I was nominated for the Sunshine Award, (and I'm super happy about it), by Megan from     http://meganroisinn.blogspot.co.uk.  Her blog is great you should check it out. 

This award is for bloggers whose blogs you enjoy and make you smile.

Rules: Give 11 facts about yourself.  Answer 11 questions.  Make 11 questions for the people you nominate to answer.  Nominate 11 lovely blogs!  

11 facts:

1. I randomly make references to movies or shows or even songs in everyday life (when the situation calls for it).
2. I laugh a lot.  My friends think I'm crazy for laughing until I cry.
3. I am a Biology major and Neuroscience minor in college.
4. I like to knit and crochet.  I consider myself a crafty person, I love DIYs
5. I love to read and I would like to write a novel one day.
6. I love spicy food!
7. I think deeply very often.
8. I am a morning person and can get my best work done in the morning.
9. I absolutely love the beach.
10. I want to travel the world and experience different cultures.  
11. Classical music helps me study without getting frustrated.

11 Questions answered:

1) What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
      I turn on the light next to my bed to help me wake up.  Once I get up I put on my socks because my feet       are always ridiculously cold.
2) Who was the first celebrity you ever had a crush on?
      I honestly don't know
3) Can you remember the names of you very first best friends?
       Uhhh...
4) If you had to describe yourself using a food, which would you choose?
       I like this question.  I would have to go with a strawberry.
5) What is your favourite school-related memory?
      Finding out there was a snow day and school is canceled.  It's not that I hated school I just can't     think of anything I would consider a favorite.
6) What is the next book on your reading list?
       The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  I hear it's sad, so I am prepared to cry.
7) Did you give something up as a child you wish you had carried on?
       Gymnastics, it was super demanding but I wish I carried on with it for a bit longer.
8) What are your career plans?
       Research biologist
9) Who or what is your biggest source of inspiration?
       My mom.
10) Would you rather have one true love for one year, or as many great (but not in love) relationships as you could ever want for any given time? (that was a hard one to word!)
      That's a hard one but I'd go with true love for one year.  Even though I would probably reminisce   about it forever.  Why only a year?  A year is so short.
11) Is there something you want to tell anyone right now but can't??
       Not really, I'm not much of a secretive person.

My turn...

1)  Are you introspective or are you an extrovert?
2)What are you most proud of?
3) Describe yourself with a color
4) Do you have any nicknames?
5) What is your favorite food?
6) Sweet tooth or sour tooth?
7) Do you like to keep a routine or change things up?
8) What makes you laugh or smile?
9) What makes you happy?
10)Morning person or night person?
11)What is your best memory?

And the nominees are.... 

In no particular order:

1. Francesca from http://ladolcemoda7.blogspot.com/
2. Andrea from http://www.andysparkles.de 
3. Anthi from http://relocatewonderland.blogspot.com/
4. Shayne from http://www.queenofallyousee.com/
5. Janine from http://theeoptimist.blogspot.ca/
6. Doffy from http://www.whatdoffydoes.com/
7. Gabriella from http://gabriellawolf.blogspot.com/
8. Sadia from http://saidacanephotography.blogspot.com/
9. Charley from http://ramblingofabeautyblogger.blogspot.co.uk/
10. Paige from http://www.roseandpine.com/
11. Mary from http://littlefeatherstyle.blogspot.com/