R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Hey everyone,

First off, I apologize for the long hiatus. I had been busy finishing up school, working, etc, and I haven't had much time for blogging. Now that I am on summer vacation, I will hopefully return to a more regular blogging schedule.

Anyway, I've been noticing an issue in today's society, and I think it's time to address it. As most of you probably know, Bruce Jenner recently revealed his new persona as Caitlynn Jenner. Many people have been vocal about their support for Jenner's transformation, posting pictures on social media sites of the Vanity Fair cover and proclaiming their happiness. However, those who are not supportive of the transformation have also tried to express their opinion, such as Drake Bell stating on Twitter, "Sorry...still calling you Bruce." However, instead of people respecting Drake Bell's opinion, they harassed him until he deleted his comment. 

This is what I have a problem with. It's really shameful that we live in a society where if someone's opinions don't agree with the mass opinion, they are immediately regarded as an asshole. We're basically teaching today's children that if their opinion differs from most others, they need to sit down and shut up because they're going to be bullied for it. Did Drake Bell comment on every other person who accepts Jenner's transformation and bully them for their opinion? No. He was just stating his own, hoping that people would accept what he had to say, just as how he accepted what others had to say. Just because someone doesn't necessarily agree with someone else's opinion, doesn't mean they have to be disrespectful. They say today's society is more accepting? How about we start accepting everyone's opinions instead of making disrespectful comments. 

Okay, rant over. Thanks for reading what I had to say. Hopefully some of you agree. And if you don't, hopefully you can at least respect what I have to say.

Ashley 

Caramel Macchiatos (and Other Items of Importance)

Those who know me know my great affinity for coffee. Hot coffee, iced coffee, coffee coolatas, frappacinos-when it comes to caffeine, I am not picky. Down the street from my university, there's at least three Dunkin Donuts' and three Starbucks (I am especially grateful that a Starbucks drive thru was finally put in), so you could say I've had plenty of opportunities to sample different beverages. One drink I was especially tempted to try was Starbucks' infamous caramel macchiatos. 

I will admit that before trying this beverage, I though caramel macchiatos were overrated, and just a kind of coffee people ordered either because the name sounded cool or because they thought they were fancy for ordering it. I fell under the latter category, because how else was I supposed to become a stereotypical Starbucks customer without ordering the fanciest drink on the menu?

So off I went to deem myself worthy of the "Starbucks customer" name. I walked right up to the barista, and placed my order for a grande hot caramel macchiato. You can only imagine the anticipation I felt right up to taking my first step. Was in good enough to be so hyped up? Or was it simply overrated? After taking a few steps I decided....

That caramel macchiatos, are in fact, delicious. The warmness (if you order it hot) spreads throughout your body, with the caramel being prominent without being too over powerful. What I especially love about caramel macchiatos is that since it's espresso, it actually gives me enough energy to get through the day. It definitely requires an acquired test, just like regular coffee does, but I absolutely love it. It's now become one of my go to drinks whenever I go to Starbucks (which is quite frequently).

I guess the lesson here is that you shouldn't be quick to judge something just because you think it might be overrated. Chances are, its overrated for a reason, and you shouldn't count it out until you give it a try. You don't always have to go by what other people say or think; trust your own judgement. 

I hope you enjoy this post and try something new!

Happy reading,

Ashley 

My Holy Grail Products

Hello everyone! If you like makeup as much as I do, you've probably tried a number of different products throughout the years. Makeup brands are constantly coming out with new mascara's, blushes, eyeliners, lipsticks, etc, and you can't help but want to see if they'll be the best ones you'll ever try. However, there's always that one product that you keep coming back to, despite all the different kinds you've tried. Here are a few of my holy grail makeup/beauty products.

ye 

1. Foundation: Garnier Skin Renew B.B. Cream. I've tried multiple foundations and B.B. creams, but I keep coming back to this one. It has medium to full coverage, while providing the benefits of B.B. cream, such as SPF. It completely covers up any redness I have on my skin without making it look cakey. 

2. Concealer: Rimmel London Match Perfection Skin Tone Adapting Concealer. This acts as a 2-1 concealer and highlighter, which is perfect for covering up under-eye circles. I use it under my eyes every morning, and it completely gets rid of any darkness. It also looks great paired with my Garnier B.B. cream. 

3. Powder: Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder. This powder provides great coverage when used on its own, or when used on top of foundation/primer/ B.B. cream. I use it on my T-Zone because it tends to get oily throughout the day, and I also use it to prevent my foundation/B.B cream from creasing. 

4. Eye Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original. I love this eye primer because it conceals any veins or redness on top of my eyelids. It helps my eyeshadow and eyeliner stay on all day, and can even be worn on its own. 

5. Eye Shadow: Rimmel London Eyeshadow quad in Smokey Brun. Now I've tried a lot of different eyeshadows, from high end brands to drugstore brands. As much as I love MAC and Urban Decay, this quad from Rimmel is perfect for an everyday neutral eye. Whenever I'm stuck trying to decide which eyeshadow look to do, I go to to this palette (side note, its meant to complement blue eyes). 

6. Eyeliner: MAC eye kohl in Smolder: This eyeliner is an inky black and applies smoothly on the lash line and water line. It's long lasting, and can also be smudged for a smoky eye look.

7. Mascara: Mascara is a tough choice for me, because I've tried a lot over the years. I tend to always buy Maybelline mascaras, because you can never go wrong with them. My absolute favorite is The Falsies waterproof mascara, because it holds the curl if you curl your eyelashes, and lasts all day. 

8. Blush: MAC creamblend blush in Posey. I tend to use this blush everyday, because it adds a nice flush to your face without making you look like you have a fever. Creamblend blushes tend to last longer than powders, which is why I tend to pick it over my powder blushes when applying my makeup daily. 

9. Lipstick: MAC Viva Glam V: I love everything about MAC lipsticks. They apply smoothly, they make your lips look fuller, they're long lasting, and they even smell great! I especially love this color because it's neutral, so you can wear it with virtually any makeup look. It's not too pink or pigmented, so you can wear it daily without looking too made up. 

There you go, my holy grail makeup products! Feel free to comment below what your holy grail makeup products are!

Happy reading,

Ashley

Sometimes, Simple is the Best

If anyone knew me back in junior high, they would know two things: Most of the clothes I wore other than my Catholic school uniform were from Aeropostale, and that I was obsessed with American Idol. Seasons seven and eight of American Idol were two of my favorite ever, basically because I was obsessed with David Archuleta, and even more obsessed with Kris Allen. Kris Allen winning American Idol was one of the best moments of '09 (besides it being my eighth grade year and getting to do all the fun stuff with my class before we graduated). I fell in love with Kris' voice and how he would put his own spin on every song he performed. When he performed "Apologize" during the semi-finals, I was inspired to learn to play the piano myself. I received his first album as a gift the following Christmas, and I didn't think there would ever be another album where I loved every single one of the songs so much.
Well, fast forward a few years, and I began to think that album had been Kris' first and also his last. Only two songs had been released, something I found surprising, seeing as all of the songs seemed worthy of being on the radio. I hadn't heard anything about Kris Allen for the next year and a half, and I had lost hope that one of my favorite singers was out of the music business for good. Then, one day during my junior year of high school, I stumbled upon a video of Kris Allen on YouTube performing at a place called The Mint. He performed a new song titled "Monster," and, after doing some research, learned that he planned to release a new album!
I bought "Thank You Camelia," as soon as it was released a few months later, and I fell in love with his music all over again. I did not believe anything could surpass his first album, but this one was just as good, if not better (I actually did a review of it on this blog a while back if you want to check it out). He went on a small tour that year, but I unfortunately was unable to attend any of his concerts. Again, his music received very little notification, besides him performing "Vision of Love" on American Idol.
Fast forward to last summer, when Allen released his third album, titled "Horizons." This album is slightly different from his last two, with more of a singer-songwriter feel. For the heck of it, I checked his website to see if he would be touring, and sure enough, he was coming to a city about a half an hour from my hometown. The tickets were inexpensive, so on September 6, my best friend, sister, and I ventured to the music hall to see Kris Allen perform.
The music hall where Allen performed was the cutest venue I had ever been to for a concert. It was in an old farmhouse, completed with rocking chairs on the front porch and home cooked meals from the chef inside. The food was good and the venue was cozy; there was maybe 100 people there, most just looking for something to do on a Saturday night rather than fangirling (which is what we did) over Kris Allen.
The show itself was incredible. It was, to say, the best concert I had ever been to. No, there wasn't any fireworks, like One Direction, nor any neon signs or bright strobe lights like when Philip Philips opened for John Mayer-it was just Kris Allen with his guitar and small band, giving a strong, personal performance. Allen's vocals live are incredible; he definitely deserves much more credit and recognition than he receives.
To top the night off, after his performance he announced, "I'll be at the merchandise station if you guys want to hang out." He was so casual about meeting his fans, I was almost in shock. In fact, I probably was in shock right up until I stood face to face with Kris himself. I wanted so badly to tell him how much of an inspiration he was to me, but instead, we had a conversation about how we don't like Taco Bell (I know, I don't know how it happened either). But, we did take a picture and he signed my t-shirt, so all was not lost.
Anyway, the point of this story is to say that sometime we don't need the fancy, flashy elements of a concert. Yes, fireworks are great and graphics are entertaining, but it has a tendency to take away from a performance. Sometimes all you need for a great show is a farmhouse, some talent, good company, and a guitar.

Watch Allen's performance at the Mint  here

Happy reading,

Ashley

An Important Message

Hello everyone! So if you couldn't tell, a recent theme in my last few posts has been about trying to find yourself and your way in the world as you get older...something that can be scary and difficult for a lot of people. Back in May, my mother, sisters, and I saw Hunter Hayes in concert. The entire concert was fantastic, but one song in particular stood out to me-"Flashlight." This song, which Hayes explained before he performed it, is about being lost, but believing that there is someone, or something, out there, guiding you (like a flashlight, hence the name). Whenever you feel down or like you'll never figure anything out, something happens that makes you believe that things will be okay. 

Here's a video of Hunter Hayes explaining the meaning of the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_k66lheupQ

Here's a link to the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFnxJv5duLk

I hope you guys love and feel inspired by this song as much as I do,

Happy  reading,

Ashley

What Does it Mean to Be Happy?

Hello Everyone,

This semester in college, I am taking a philosophy class called "The Meaning of Human Existence." To complete the first few assignments in the course, we had to read Terry Eagleton's "The Meaning of Life." This book discusses the different perspectives of what the meaning of life is, whether there be one specific answer to the question or no answer at all. Life could have an inherent meaning, meaning that humans are to look for the answer, or an ascribed meaning (a "life is what you make of it" perspective). It also looks at the language of the question itself, for the word "life" could have different meanings for different people, and therefore the question would have different answers.
Something I found interesting in the book is the presentation of the different views of happiness, and whether or not happiness is the meaning of life. In Aristotle's point of view, happiness is a state of being. One becomes happy by living his or her life virtuously. They cannot attain it, they can only create it. In philosopher Julian Baggini's viewpoint, happiness is a state of mind. It is attained most likely through material possessions or favorable circumstances. Because life offers unfavorable circumstances, one cannot truly be happy all the time, which is why it is a state of mind, not a lifestyle.
So what does it mean to be truly happy? Eagleton brings up the point that people who live with disabilities aren't necessarily unhappy; the rest of the world may seem their situation as means for negativity, but that doesn't mean they do. I'd like to believe that happiness is a lifestyle: you can choose to be happy, despite the circumstances you're under. I don't want to have to rely on my possessions to define my happiness; sure, a new pair of shoes or perfume can make me happy, but only for a little while. The effect eventually wear's off, and it's this sense of fleeting happiness that constantly leaves us wanting more.
I want to be able to create my own happiness. I don't know if happiness is the meaning of life, but I would like to be able to live the majority of my life with a positive disposition. There are going to be negative situations and times where being happy seems impossible, but that doesn't mean you have to let it control you. If we have the power to choose to be happy, then we should do so.

Happy reading,

Ashley

The Perks of Being a New Englander

See this? This is currently the view from my bedroom window. As I sit here typing this post, thousands of snowflakes are quickly turning the northeast into a winter wonderland. This is the biggest snowstorm I've ever witnessed (and historically the biggest snowstorm since 1978) with 27+ inches of snow piling up in my yard. Classes were thankfully canceled, meaning I could spend my day forever procrastinating on all the work I have to do (let's be serious here).

Even though the winter months are freezing, the weather is almost never stable, and we can't annunciate our "R's" I wouldn't trade living in New England for anything (well, except maybe for Disneyworld, because who wouldn't). I love living in an area with so much history and so much pride. It's the home of a multitude of great schools, including Ivy Leagues Harvard, Yale, and Brown university. It's also home to actors Adam Sandler, Mindy Khaling, Amy Poehler, and Mark Whalberg (to name a few). Boston is one of my favorite places to explore, whether it's attending a Red Sox game at Fenway Park tasting a variety of foods from Faneuil Hall, or just walking down the streets of the city. So as I look out the window at what some people are calling the snowpocalypse, I can't help but take in the beauty of it all. 

So to all you New Englanders who wish you were somewhere sunny and warm, I'm with ya. But don't forget to appreciate all of the great things New England has to offer.

Happy reading,

Ashley 

Why John Mayer is Relevant to my Life

Hi everyone!

So I may be late to the John Mayer bandwagon (if there still is one), but over the past year or so, I've grown to love his music. This mainly stemmed from my attendance to one of his concerts at the end of summer 2013, for his Born and Raised Tour. I originally had not planned to go; a group of my friends had gotten tickets, and when one of them couldn't attend, I took her place. I figured why not? I wasn't a huge John Mayer fan at the time, but my friends and I were all heading off to college a couple of weeks later, so it would be one last hurrah before we went our separate ways. Long story short-I went into the concert knowing three John Mayer songs, and left yearning for more.

Within the next few months, I slowly built up my Itunes library with more and more Mayer songs. Before I knew it, I had downloaded three full albums: Room for Squares, Continuum, and Born and Raised.

Here's the thing I like about Mayer-he doesn't just write love songs. Sure, he has some pretty great ones (Back to You might be the most perfect love song, but that's a discussion for another day), but he also writes about adulthood and trying to find yourself as you get older. No Such Thing, Why Georgia, Stop this Train, Born and Raised-all of these songs are about entering adulthood and trying to make sense of life. 

 (My friends and I wearing our #mayerisback bracelets)

That's why John Mayer is relevant to my life right now. I just turned 20, and it's starting to hit me that one day I'll be a college graduate venturing out into the "real world." To be honest, it's scary thinking about the future and what it holds for me; however, it's also incredibly exciting. I can't spend my time worrying about the future; I can only accept that it's happening and try to make the most out of life.

So to anyone who's worried about getting older and entering the real world, it's okay if you don't have everything figured out now. Just keep living your life, and have faith that everything will fall into place. 

To quote John Mayer, "Act your age in the age of worry, and say worry, get out of here!"

 

Happy reading,

Ashley 

p.s. here are some of the John Mayer songs

Why Georgia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMJk4Edm8rU

The Age of Worry 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0ToibA86zk

No Such Thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1W2UddURXI

Stop this Train

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHhhTtqWcOM

Born and Raised

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiutMdIeflI

When in Doubt, use a B.B. Cream

Hello everyone!
    As you all know, fall is coming to an end and winter is fast approaching.  When winter comes it brings the promise of snow, Christmas, snow days, winter break...and also cold air. And with cold air also comes *dramatic pause* dry skin.
      Now dry skin is never fun, because your face can be flaky or itchy or just feel like there's absolutely no moisture. What can be even worse is that when you put on foundation or concealer, it sticks to the flakiness of your skin and makes it look cakey or even more dry than it is So how can you achieve perfect looking skin if you can't use a foundation?
    B.B. cream! B.B creams are designed to provide your skin with moisture and other nutrients while also providing some coverage and evening it out. What I find works best is if you mix a good moisturizer with your B.B. cream and spreading it on your skin with a foundation brush or even your hands if your want to (just make sure your hands are clean first!). Your skin will not only feel moisturized but most redness will be covered up with out looking flaky or caked on. Now that you have a good base, you can add blush or highlighter or whatever else you like.  You can use any moisturizer and B.B. cream that you prefer; I personally recommend Maybelline's Dream Fresh B.B Cream, Revlon's PhotoReady B.B. Cream, and Garnier's Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream.

Happy reading

Ashley


                                

Some of My Favorites

Hey guys, so over the course of the summer I've picked up a few beauty products/ non-beauty products that I am in love with! Whether they're skin products or music, they've become part of my daily routine. Without further ado, here are some of my favorites.

Beauty:

         I am in love with Revlon's photo ready foundation, which I have in the shade.  natural beige It looks so natural and gives your skin a beautiful glow. It also has great coverage without appearing cakey, which is an absolute must for me because I cannot stand the look of caked on foundation.

        My next beauty favorite is my MAC paintpot in Bare Study. I wore it with my waterproof  Maybelline Falsies Mascara to work, and they lasted all day. Considering I work in an amusement park outside in the hot sun all day, long lasting makeup is a definite need, and this eyeshadow did not disappoint. The paintpot is a very light champagne color with glitter, which was perfect for the summer as well.

     For face wash, I picked up the Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Daily scrub which I now use every night when I wash my face. I had used the same product in the cleanser/mask version, but it's really hard to find where I live, and I find that the scrub works just as well, if not better. My skin is definitely clearer and my blackheads are not a prominent as they had been. 

   Along with face products, I also tried the Biore Pore Strips. I bought the combo pack that has 7 face strips and 7 nose strips. I think pore strips are so cool because you can actually see that they work, because once you peel them off your skin you can see the dirt buildup that gets removed. These pore strips do a great job to get rid of your clogged pores and blackheads.

 

Non-Beauty:

                 Nutella. Oh my goodness do I love nutella. I have it for breakfast on a piece of toast and put some banana slices on top of it, and it's a delicious and healthy breakfast.

                Counting Stars by One Republic. This song is so catchy and I love the message it sends and the cool gospel like vibe it has near the end.

                I See You by Luke Bryan. This is off his new album, Crash My Party, and I cannot stop listening to it. The rhythm is so cool, Luke Bryan's voice is heavenly and the       lyrics are so meaningful. My favorite lines are "I can't go anywhere, I can't do anything, no I can't close my eyes without you in my dreams. You won't leave me alone, even though I know you're gone, I look around for someone new but I see you."

Anyway those are some of my favorites I acquired over the summer! Happy reading,

-Ashley 

               

      

Why I'm Loving Neutrogena

With prom coming up, everyone wants to look perfect on what just might be the best night of their high school career. Hair, makeup, dresses, everything needs to be just right on prom night. You want to look amazing in all your pictures, and a key step to this is making sure your skin looks great too, right?

Having clear skin is a big must in order to ensure that the rest of your prom look is complete. I tend to get acne on both my face and my back, and I knew something had to be done seeing as my dress has an open back. To try to solve my problem, I picked up Neutrogena's pink grapefruit skin clearing body wash as well as their new blackhead eliminating cleanser/mask. In the past, cleansers that have contained salicylic acid have cause my skin to break out even more, and since both these cleansers contain salicylic acid I wasn't sure what to expect. However, after a week of using both products, I noticed a huge difference in my skin. Not only was it clearer, but many of my red post acne marks have faded away. I use the body wash on my back and chest every time I shower, and I use blackhead wash as a cleanser every night when I wash my face. It also doubles as a mask, so you can use it as that if you prefer. Both these products have not irritated my skin, which is pretty sensitive, but if you've had reactions to salicylic acid before I would only test a little out before you use them as complete cleansers. All in all, I give Neutrogena two thumbs up for these amazing  products.

I hope this helps everyone achieve clearer skin in time for prom! Remember, what you put into your body affects the outside too, so eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water to help your skin look great!

Happy reading!

-Ashley

Review: Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

Hey everyone! So I'm not one to use foundation; normally when I search the drugstore I'm on the hunt for mascara or lip products. However, since the spring holds many big events, such as the Spring Musical, prom, graduation, etc, I figured now's as good a time as any to buy one. Since it had been hyped up by t.v commercials, I decided to try Revlon's Nearly Naked Foundation. I was a little hesitant to put it on at first, because I wasn't sure how my sensitive skin would react to it. However, I wore it consecutively three nights in a row for my schools spring musical, and it didn't cause me to break out once. The foundation is light, offers great coverage, and doesn't make your face look cakey at all. If you want a full coverage look, I would use a B.B. Cream (I use Maybelline's Dream Fresh B.B. Cream) as a base/primer to make the foundation last all day. If you just want to even out your skin, mix the foundation in with your moisturizer for a light coverage. This foundation is also wallet-friendly, so if your in need of something that has great coverage for little price, I'd definitely recommend this product.

Watch the video of how my friend and I do show makeup (I use Revlon's Nearly Naked Foundation in here)

Stay tuned for a prom makeup tutorial!

Happy reading!

-Ashley 

Book Review! An Abundance of Katherines

Have you ever read a book and once you finished it you just sat there for a while, thinking about how incredible it was? Well, this is what happened to me after I read an "Abundance of Katherines" by John Green. If you've never heard of John Green, he's an amazing author who writes novels geared towards teens/ young adults. His other works include "Looking for Alaska" and "The Fault in Our Stars" to name a few. "An Abundance of Katherines" was my first Green novel, and I can't wait to get my hands on another one. Here's why:

In "An Abundance of Katherines," the protagonist Colin Singleton finds himself on a road trip with his best friend Hiassan to Gutshot, Tennessee, in order to forget about his breakup with his girlfriend Katherine, who is also the nineteenth Katherine he's dated. Colin is a prodigy, being very smart and knowledgeable, but he wants to be a genius so that he can matter in the world, and decides to do so by creating a theorem that would be able to predict relationships. While in Gutshot, Colin and Hiassan meets Lindsey Lee Wells, a girl who seems to be the exact opposite of Colin. They begin to work for Lindsey's mother by interviewing everyone who worked at the local factory. Throughout the story Colin learns about life, love, and what it really means to matter. 

What I really loved about this story is that it had a lot of character growth, not just for one but for all three of the main characters. There was also a plethora of good quotes, which I love because I think it's the greatest when you can find a quote that you can really relate to. I think the main question in the story-What does it really mean to matter?- is also very relatable to young people. All in all, a definitely recommend this novel to everyone.

Happy reading

-Ashley

How to Be Healthy Without Really Trying

Hey everyone! So if anything, I would say that when it comes to eating healthy and staying fit, I'm not exactly the kind of person that would be an advocate for it. It's not that I'm picky when it comes to fruit and vegetables (if my mom makes broccoli or corn for dinner, I'll eat it), it's just that when it comes to choosing to having something healthy, I'd rather eat a cookie or a brownie. And I'm not a lazy person, because I like to run, but finding time to exercise is hard with my busy schedule. Part of my New Years Resolution was to be healthier, and I've managed to find some ways to incorporate healthy eating and exercise in my life without really thinking too hard about it. So without further ado, here are my tips for being healthy without really trying.

1. Don't have time for breakfast? Grab a piece of fruit. If I'm in a pinch for time, my go to breakfast is a banana. It's my favorite kind of fruit, and it's so quick and easy that I can eat it in less than five minutes and be on my way out the door. Banana's also keep you full for a longer period of time than a pop tart, because they have potassium instead of sugar. Another good alternative is a breakfast bar, like Nutrigrain or Special K. 

2. Try to have at least one cup of milk a day with a meal. I try to have milk every other day for breakfast in place of coffee. The calcium is good for your bones and teeth, whereas coffee stains your teeth and can be addictive. If you can't part with your coffee, at least put in some milk or coffee cream (most have some vitamin D). If you don't like white milk, chocolate milk works too!

3. Drink LOTS of Water. You don't have to have the recommended eight cups a day (that's just a myth), but at least have a couple of glasses. Grab a cool water bottle or cup and just keep refilling it throughout the day. Water is necessary to live, and it flushes out impurities in your body and on your skin. 

4.  As for exercise, if you can find time to take a walk or run, that's great. I know if you have On Demand they offer exercise videos, and you can find some on YouTube as well. But if you don't have the time to go to the gym, or watch a twenty minute program, my favorite thing to do is just put on my headphones and dance around my room. You don't have to be a good dancer (because believe me, I'm not), but at least your being active instead of listening to music while your sitting around. Just do it for a good ten to fifteen minutes and you'll get a pretty good cardio workout. 

So there you go, these are my methods of staying healthy without trying too hard! Try them out and see what happens; knowing you ate something healthy or exercised for a little bit help you feel healthier too. 

I hope these tips help! Happy reading,

-Ashley 

Review: New Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette!

Hey everyone! I'm so excited because I just got the brand new....Urban Decay Naked Basics palette! It was a nice birthday gift from my two sisters when we went to Sephora last Sunday. The palette comes with six colors: Venus (light shimmery color), Foxy (matte cream color), Walk of Shame (matte nude color), Naked 2 (matte taupe color), Faint (medium brown color), and Crave (dark brown/black). These colors are all absolutely gorgeous and you can create so many neutral eyes and even some smoky eyes! I'm not a heavy smoky eye kind of girl, so I absolutely love this palette of neutrals. The packaging is also so cute; its small and can fit in your purse, makeup bag, carry on, etc without taking up too much space. It even comes with a mirror so you can do your makeup on-the-go! I'm going to Florida in April, and I'm definitely taking this palette with me instead of taking a bunch of individual eye shadows. It sells for $27.00, but if you think about it, a single eye shadow from Urban Decay is $18, and your getting six for less than what it would cost for two. All in all, I definitely recommend this palette. If your looking for a small, easy-to-carry palette of gorgeous, pigmented neutral colors, Urban Decay Naked Basics is the palette for you.

Colors from left to right: Venus, Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked 2, Faint, Crave

Happy Reading guys!

-Ashley

Book Review Time: Beneath the Glitter

Hey guys, it's been a while! I've been super busy the last couple of weeks, but I did make time to read a new book I'd like to review for you guys. Ever heard of Beneath the Glitter? It's a new novel written by YouTube stars and sisters Elle and Blair Fowler. I love the Fowler sisters and their videos; when I heard they had a book coming out I knew I had to buy it. I'll admit it-I was a little skeptical about how good the book was going to be. You wouldn't exactly expect two girls who do makeup and fashion videos to be authors as well. But I gave them the benefit of the doubt, and here's what I think:

The story is of two sisters, Sophia and Ava London, who move to Los Angeles to start their own makeup line after their YouTube videos become extremely popular (the Fowler sisters mention in the beginning of the book that the main characters are loosely based off their own lives). Sophia, the older sister, has just suffered a break up with her long term boyfriend, and is convinced to do a "boytox" and stay away from dating for a while. The younger sister, Ava, meets her celebrity crush, actor Liam Carlson, and the two immediately take interest in each other. When the two sisters win a "Webstars of the Year" award, they're given a chance to launch their own line off of a head honcho makeup line. The rest of the story is basically the fall out of being thrust into the limelight- Ava trying to balance her work while dating an A-list actor and volunteering at a pet shelter, while Sophia deals with trying to protect Ava, work, photography (a passions shes encouraged to follow) and her love life (she becomes torn between two guys). Meanwhile, someone close to them is trying to sabotage them and everything they worked for.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a very quick, easy-to-follow read. I enjoyed that the story has some mystery to it; it makes me want to read the next book they put out. If you want something fun and entertaining, I'd definitely recommend this book. I'd say good job to the Fowler sisters!

Happy Reading

-Ashley

My Top 5 Favorite Theme Songs

Have you every just watched a tv show to listen to its awesome theme song? I'll admit it, I have. Even if I've already seen the episode or I'm about to fall asleep, I'll watch the first two or three minutes of a show because I just want to hear the theme song. Here are some of my favorites:

#5: Carry on Wayward Son-Supernatural. Okay so this song only plays during season finales, but its as close to a theme song as the show gets. Who doesn't love a good rock song during some fight scenes with demons?

#4: Where You Lead-Gilmore Girls. I absolutely love Gilmore Girls, its most definitely one of my favorite tv shows. I watched the entire series throughout my freshmen year, and whenever I hear the song it brings back memories.

#3: The Hawaii 5-0 Theme song- this song doesn't have any lyrics; but it just reminds me of an action movie.

#2: Baba O'Riley- CSI: New York- I actually started watching CSI New York because I thought the song was so cool...

#1: I'll Be There For You-Friends. Absolutely without a doubt my favorite theme song. I love friends and think the shows hysterical, but I get disappointed if I turn the show and the theme song already played.

I know this was kind of a silly post, but I think if you have a favorite theme song it can instantly put you in a good mood, especially if the show its for it good too!

Happy reading, listening, and watching!


-Ashley

Country Music & a Quick Update

Hey guys, so I know its been a while.. but I've been dealing with a lot of stress lately, trying to handle all my schoolwork, preparing for college applications, extracurricular activities, car troubles, family issues, and three jobs on top of that. I'm going to try to keep this blog updated though, at least once a week. Have I ever mentioned my great love for country music? I love just about every genre of music, but there's just something about country that really gets me. Whether its the natural sounding instruments, the story behind the song, or just the fun performances singers give, country music is just, well, awesome.
A couple of my favorite songs right now are "Alone With You" by Jake Owen,  "I Don't Want this Night to End" by Luke Bryan, "Banjo" by Rascal Flatts, and "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes. I actually like the first and the last song so much that I learned how to play them on guitar and piano (covers, anyone?). The way Alone with You is sung is just so raw and emotional, I love it. I recently watched the CMA Country Music Festival, where Hunter Hayes performed Wanted and Rascal Flatts performed Banjo, and I have to say I was truly inspired by their performances. I'll post links at the bottom.
What kinds of music do you guys like to listen to? Do you like country? If so, what are some of your favorite songs/ artists?
Happy listening!

-Ashley

Review: Maybelline Dream Fresh B.B. Cream

Hey everyone, so many of you have probably heard of beauty balms, or BB creams. Lately many makeup brands have created their own BB creams, such as Loreal, Maybelline, Smashbox, Covergirl, and Garnier. Today I tried Maybelline's BB cream in Light (other colors include Light/Medium, Medium, Medium/Deep, and Deep) and I really like it. It has eight purposes: blur imperfections, enhance your skin, brighten your skin, adjust to your skintone, smooth, hydrate, SPF 30, and contains no oils or other heavy ingredients. This product really does all of these things! My skin looks brighter and most of my blemishes are covered. It's also a great moisturizer. I will say it can leave your skin looking a little shiny, so I'd recommend using a translucent or light colored powder over it. If you don't like using heavy foundation and want something to make your skin look a little better, this product is perfect for you. However, if you have a lot of redness due to acne or rosacea, you may want to use a concealer or a heavier foundation.

I hope this review helps! Happy reading

-Ashley

Loving the Lip Products

Hey everyone, so I've come to notice that a very popular product among makeup brands are lipsticks or glosses that provide both a color and a moisturizer. For instance, Maybelline's Baby Lips work as a chapstick while providing a subtle hint of color. Revlon has two lipstick/chapstick products: The Colorburst Lip Butter and the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. I absolutely love the Colorbust Lip Butter (I have one in Sugar Frosting). They really moisturize your lips while providing a soft color (more of a lipgloss effect than a lipstick). I have yet to try the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, but they look fun to try, so I will be purchasing one soon (comment if you want a review!). I have to say, Maybelline's Baby Lips are my favorite. They moisturize very well, and provide a color that's not too overpowering. I've tried two: Fruit Punch and Peach Kiss. Clinique also has a lip color/moisturizer called the Chubby Stick Moisturizing Color Balm. The way they work looks similar to Revlon's balm stain, except a little bit pricier. I want to know what you guys think about the lip color/ moisturizer craze. I for one am loving it! I think its a very fun, innovative way to put two products together.



Enjoy your moisturized, colorful lips, and happy reading!

-Ashley