Best Things in the World

Best Things in the World

1. Sushi

2. Girls night in

3. Coming home to a kitty that just wants to cuddle

4. Napping under an umbrella at the beach

5. Laughing so hard you cry

6. Lazy sundays

7. Succulents

8. Finding the perfect black dress

9. The feeling you get when you come home, after a long day

10. Spending time with family

Ingredients For an Awesome Summer!

Ingredients For an Awesome Summer!

While not exactly edible, per se, I thought it would be fun to make a sweet summer recipe for summertime fun.

Here’s what I’ve got so far:

1 Tablespoon: Boardwalk bike ride.

3 Cups: Sunsets, with a dash of Phoenix and the Beach Boys.

A sprinkle of cucumber lemonade.

2 Cups: Outdoor concert or music festival.

3 Teaspoons: Sunday champagne girls brunch.

A splash of midnight swimming.

1 heaping scoop of long naps on the beach.

A pinch of spontaneous road-trips.

1 stick of cocoa butter (and some SPF, for tanning, of course).

Instructions: Mix all ingredients together over a 3 month span and enjoy!

What are your plans for summer?

Happy first week of summer!

Mac Semi Precious Collection

We can all admire a girl with a 30-carat diamond. But the new dazzle is Semi-Precious. Gems that are rare in spirit, rich in substance and worn fluidly, on the skin. In MAC Semi-Precious, four finely milled gems – bronzite, black tourmaline, gold pyriate, and lilac lepidolite – bring their own earthy an spiritual affluence to three key elements of the mineralize collection.

Each summer, MAC’s mineralize-themed collection is one that seems highly anticipated. This year was no different. Once again I have fallen in love with almost all 12 and dont know how I would live without them in my collection.

MAC Semi-Precious Mineralize Eyeshadows ($19.50 for 0.07 oz.) includes twelve, limited edition shades: Blue Sheen (melange of navy, black, peach), Clarity (melange of light pink, off-white green, gold, and black), Dark Indulgence (melange of forest green and black), Faux Gold (melange of coral, gold, lime, bronze), Golden Gaze (melange of gold and black), Hint of Sapphire (melange of pink, violet, teal, copper, blue), Jade’s Fortune (melange of bright yellow, blue, lime, black), Mineral Mode(melange of white base with copper and gray), Quartz Fusion (melange of soft pink, silver, deep pink),Rare Find (melange of violet, brown, gold), Smoked Ruby (melange of burgundy and black).

Blue Sheen is a blackened navy blue with a blue and violet sheen when applied dry, and it takes on a much bolder, brighter midnight blue with a slightly metallic sheen when applied wet.

Clarity is a barely-there green-tinged gray with flecks of green and gold shimmer-sparkle when applied dry. It’s not very useful when applied dry–there is just so little color payoff. When applied wet, it’s a deeper charcoal gray with green and gold shimmer and slightly metallic sheen.

Golden Gaze is a dark, molten gold with a black base peeking through. It’s very similar in color whether used dry or wet, and when used dry, it still has fantastic color payoff. It tends to bind better and therefore have a smoother, more metallic sheen when applied wet.

Jade’s Fortune is a sheer charcoal gray with a hint of green sheen when applied dry. When applied wet, it’s a deep charcoal gray with a silvery-teal sheen and purple shimmer-glitter dominates.

Mineral Mode is a sheer, darkened rosy pink when applied dry. It’s more opaque and has a brighter metallic sheen when applied dry, but the color itself is similar.

Smoked Ruby is a really rich, luxurious blackened brown with a burgundy-brown shimmer and sheen. The pigmentation and depth are the same whether it is used dry or wet.

Faux Gold is a muted coppery brown with warm undertones. It’s softer and sheerer when used dry.

Rare Find is a slightly sheered plum purple with multi-colored shimmer when applied dry. When applied wet, it’s a darker, grayer purple with less plum. The multi-colored shimmer seems less apparent when it is used wet.

Hint of Sapphire is a sheer purple-casted gray with multi-colored flecks of shimmer when used dry. Like Clarity, there really isn’t much to it when used dry. When applied wet, it is a deeper silvered gray with a purple cast and teal and copper shimmer.

MAC Semi-Precious Goldstone Mineralize Skinfinish ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is described as a “brown base with inner circle of rosy pink, white, and gold.” The center splotch creates a soft peach with a hint of pink and gold sparkle, while the outer ring is a warm, medium-dark bronze with gold shimmer. When mixed together, they create a softened bronze with a hint of orange and gold sheen set off by gold sparkle.

MAC Semi-Precious Pearl Mineralize Skinfinish ($28.00 for 0.22 oz.) is described as a “beige champagne base with inner circle of white, plum, and bronze.” The center splotch is an russet bronze with heavy shimmer and slightly frosty finish. The outer ring is a pearly, white gold that’s a little sheer as it is mostly shimmer and sheen as opposed to color. Together, they swirl and create an ambery bronze with a white gold sheen. It adds a little warmth with a high sheen on my cheeks; there is some color, but it is light.

Over all I love this collection.

I hope this helps.

DIY Hair Mask

Don’t you hate how your hair gets super dry over the summer? Between swimming, sunshine, and daily styling your hair can get pretty dried out over the summer months. One of my favorite ways to keep my hair hydrated is by mixing up a hair mask.

A hair mask is essentially a super thick, heavy duty conditioning treatment to help make your hair smooth, shiny, soft and ultra conditioned. Store bought deep conditioners are great, but I’ve found the best hair masks are those made in your very own home with ingredients typically found in your kitchen. Making your own hair mask is also way more cost effective since the ingredients are all very inexpensive and you only need to make it per use.

Since everything in these hair masks is perishable, don’t bother storing the leftovers. Instead, I suggest making your hair mask in batches with a friend. Just make sure you guys have some time to hang while the mask sets (I like to cover the mask with a shower cap and catch up while it soaks in).

Here are three of my favorite hair masks to mix up…

Avocado Hair Mask:

This mask is super hydrating and great for all types of hair.

Ingredients:

1 ripe avocado (no skin)

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon of honey

1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon of aloe gel (this is optional, but you should add it if you have it)

Instructions:

In a medium sized bowl, mash the avocado up like your making guacamole (a ripe avocado and a fork are ideal).

Combine the rest of the ingredients into the mashed up avocado and mix until it forms a thick paste.

Apply mixture directly from bowl onto dry hair as you would normal conditioner and let is set for 30 minutes and then rinse.

Apple Hair Mask:

This is an especially good one to use if you have a dry-scalp or are experiencing itchiness or flakes.

Ingredients:

1 to 2 large fresh apples (or 3 to 4 medium sized; any flavor will do)

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon corn flour

Instructions:

Peel apples and then grate the apples (like you would cheese) into a large bowl. You can also grind them in food processor.

Add in the remaining ingredients to the bowl with the apple and mix well.

Apply the mixture to dry (unwashed) hair, cover your hair with a shower cap, and leave in for 30 minutes.

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Yogurt Hair Mask:

This is a great mask for de-frizzing your hair.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1 tablespoon almond oil (or olive oil)

Instructions:

Mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl.

Massage the mixture into (wet) hair, starting at the roots and working your way to the ends.

Let the mask sit for 20 minutes and then rinse it out with a shampoo.

Hope this helps with Summer Time Hair!