Beauty Favorite of 2015
Here are my 2015 makeup favorites! Ive added the links to everything if you are interested!

Eyes
Milani eyeshadow in Bella Beige - Its really similar to the color tattoo in creamy beige but more of a satin finish
Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige - I love any and all the colors in the color tattoos but Creamy Beige is my favorite and a great everyday color or under other eyeshadows color.
Loreal Telescopic mascara in Carbon Black
Maybelline lash Sensational waterproof
Tarte Light Camera Splashes
Kat Von D liquid eyeliner in Trooper - By far my favorite liquid eyeliner. Ive tired tons and tons but this is still my ride or die eyeliner. this will probably still be my 2016 eyeliner tbh.

Eyebrows
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pomade in ebony - When I really do my makeup I use this I love it. You can make your brows intense or or define your rows in a natural way.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Whiz in Ebony - For every day, going to work, I use this for my brows.
Loreal Brow Plumper in medium to dark

Face
Smashbox Primer pore minimizing 
Smashbox primer water
Nivea men post shave balm - This is a recent fantastic find. Super inexpensive and perfect primer.
Too Faced Blush in Candy Glow - I haven't been using this one as much lately because Ive been experimenting with other blushes but it was definitely a 2015 staple
TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer - Ive been trying all different highlighters and loumanizers but this one is still my favorite.
Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Kit - I use this almost everyday. Seriously. If not to contour but to add just a little warmth and dimension to my face. 
Park Avenue Princess - The is by far my favorite everyday bronzer.
Covergirl Stay Luminous foundation in 842 medium beige
Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream in Medium - my everyday simple makeup go to
Tarte BB Cream in light
Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Medium Light Neutral
Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer in Medium-Light Neutral - Obsessed with this concealer

Lips 
NYX lip Liner in Mauve
Revlon lipstick in Rum Raisin and Toast of New York 
NYX soft matte Lip Cream in Stockholm 
Gereard Cosmetics Hydra matte in Serenity 
Revlon Color Stay Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

Tools
Real Techniques Sponge
Real Techniques Sculpting brush - Perfect contour brush
Real Techniques Setting brush - Great setting brush but also a great highlighter brush
BH cosmetics Dense Tapered Brush - I dont know what this brush is actually caller I got it in a set. But its a great bronzer brush
Crown AC012 shadow/crease brush 

Two Ingredient Pancakes

So I've been watching Shaanxo's vlogs and she made these simple pancakes. If you don't know who that is she is a "beauty guru" on YouTube you can find her main channel here or her blog channel here. It's really just two ingredients banana and egg (she also used protein powder) I was very intrigued by these flourless fast and easy pancakes so I had a go at it. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. So I'm going to share with you!

First you'll need a banana and an egg. 

Originally I had just a half a banana then after I made the first one I realized I wanted more. So it ended up being more like 3/4 of a banana and one egg. 

Scramble up the egg then mash up the banana. I just used a fork to do both, then mix them together. Then just cook then like you would a regular pancake. 

Flip!

A little burnt whoops! Cooks much faster than I thought it would. Next I microwaved some frozen raspberries (because that's what Shanon did except she used blueberries and that sounded like a good idea) and I made a couple sausage links and sliced the rest of the banana topped it all with a little maple syrup and voilà! 

It was actually really good. The first one I made was eh, it tasted like a weird omelet. After adding more banana I really liked it. So recommend making your first one a small one and taste testing it to make super you like the egg to banana ratio. 

If you give this a try let me know how you like it! Happy breakfast! 

July Ipsy Bag

Forever a month behind. 

Anywayyys here is my July Ipsy bag! 

I got a sample size of Park Avenue Princess from Tarte- I own this but I love it and it's one of my favorite bronzers. This one now lives in my purse makeup bag. 

Lip conditioner from Jersey Shore Cosmetics- good little Chapstick. I love the coconut smell! 

Eyeliner in Blue Hawiain from Tini Beauty- I actually didn't have an eyeliner in the color. It's a fun color. It inspired me to do some fun colorful looks before summer is over. This eyeliner worked great much better than that purple one I got. 

Jor'el Parker fragrance in Classico- I got a Jor'el fragrance in a bag before I like this one. I like the other one more though. The name fits thefragrance.

BellaPierre lipstick in P.I.N.K - this is a great prank color. I thought it was going to be benighted but I'm glad it's not.

Last but not least here is the look I created! It was fun to do. I did it before going out and I think it was a great summer night out makeup look. I even threw on some false lashes to pull it all together. 

 

I just got my August bag I havent really used anything yet but knowing me that review will be up in September haha

Do you have ipsy? What did you get? If you are interested in getting a subscription let me know!  

Berry Cheesecake salad

Hey there! I haven't done a recipe in awhile! This is a totally yummy and easy recipe great for summer because it is cold.. Perfect for a dessert or just to satisfy your sweet tooth without eating a pint of Ben and Jerry's (guilty).

Here is the original recipe: 

http://www.ohsweetbasil.com/2010/05/berry-salad.html

I didn't follow the directions or ingredients exactly. I didn't use peaches or grapes. This recipe is something you can definietly change around to fit whatever you are in the mood for.

Ingredients: 

1 - carton of strawberry's 16oz with a handful taken out because I ate some whoops (sliced)

1 - Banana (sliced)

1 - small cartoon of raspberries 

1 - box of instant cheesecake mix 

2 - cups of cool whip  

1 - 8 oz container of strawberry yogurt 

Instructions 

Mix the dry cheesecake, cool whip and yogurt together well. (My yogurt had chunks of strawberries in it) 

Next fold in the sliced fruit. Make sure to fold in the fruit gently so they don't get all mashed up. 

Chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes and you are done. I loved this it was so yummy and so easy. 

Let me know if you try it! 

DIY face wash and moisturizer

When I was a teenager I had problems with acne. Nothing too terrible but I had constant acne. As I've gotten older it's gone away and now I just suffer from the occasional break outs. I've tried all kinds of things to control it. And I've learned a lot about my skin along the way. Like when my skin gets dry I'm guaranteed a break out. Also my t-zone is almost always oily and keeping it under control, controls break outs in that area. My skin tends to be more on the sensitive side so most face washes dont do a whole lot for me or make my face worse. The ones that work are usually of the organic variety or at least ones that do not have a whole lot of crazy chemicals. LUSH and Alba has probably worked the best for my face. So I decided to try my hand at making my own face wash. Something gentle, cleansing, and possibility help with my occasional break outs. So I came up with this recipe and I've been using if for a few weeks now and I am so happy with my skin.

Here's what you'll need: 

Aloe vera gel (pure aloe vera gel) or straight from the plant like I did. If you dont like touching slimy things I recommend buying the aloe vera gel, the plant is slimy.

Coconut oil

Tea tree oil

A container to put it all in

*optional add ins

*rose water

*vitamin E oil

As far as the amount to use of each it really depends on your skin and the size of your container. The main ingredient is he coconut oil. The majority of it should be coconut oil. The tea tree oil is drying so depending on how dry your skin is or how sensitive your skin is hoe much you'll put in. The first time I made this I wasn't sure so I did about 4-5 drops.  My container is a pretty good size so the next time I did a little more.  Test the tea tree oil on your skin first.

Ill quickly run through the benefits of each so you an judge much or how little of each you want. 

*Disclaimer* I am not a doctor or a professional anything. Just did some research. You can do your own research if that makes you more comfortable.

Coconut oil- Antibacterial, anti wrinkle, moisturizer, helps remove dead skin

Aloe-Treats dry skin, anti inflammatory (good for acne and reduce redness), anti-fungal, anti-aging 

Tea Tree oil- helps clear up acne, antibacterial, anti-fungal  

Rose water- Soothe irritated skin, balance oily skin, hydrate, 

Vitamin E oil- moisturizer, helps remove age spots, helps remove dirt 

Ok now the how-to:

The easiest way to get the "meat" from the aloe plant is to use a potato peeler and peel just the edges. 

Then peel the top remaining green piece off. Next I used a spoon to scoop out the "meat". Chop up the aloe as much and as thin as I can. Its slimy and hard to cut up but cut it up as small as you can. Chunks aren't a big deal and its kind of inevitable but still the smaller the better.

Next I took a whisk and whisked all the ingredients together until it looks like the below picture.

Then just scoop your new face wash into your container.

This is great for dry skin because how moisturizing it. If you have oily skin and nothing has helped before, I know this might sound crazy, but try using essential oils. Using essential oils helps trick your skin into not producing anymore oil. 

How I wash my face is massage it all over my face. Then I wet a face cloth with nice warm, almost hot water. I rest the wash cloth on my face for about 10-15 seconds. The steam and heat help the oils really sink into your skin. It's actually pretty relaxing. I think anyways. Then I use the wash cloth to gently wipe it all off. Simple as that. It leaves your face moisturized and clean. On days for whatever reason I do not clean my face this way I use this treatment as a moisturizer that I wash off in the morning. My skin is happy and healthy.

The Best Policy

Dear Mocha, 

Honesty is the best policy. We've all heard it. We all agree with it. But when honesty or the truth can be hurtful do you still agree? When being honest may hurt someone's feelings or cause avoidable turmoil do you still think that honesty is the best policy or at that point do you feel like white lies or hidden truths become a better policy? 

Being in a situation where, if you are honest you could potentially hurt someone is stressful. It makes you question the idea of honesty being the best policy. In most situations there is an easy or at least easier way out. When it comes to your integrity always pick the best way not the easier way. When it comes down to it always pick honesty. Though it may make things seem more difficult now it's always best in the long run. 

I've been in plenty of situations where it may have been easier to mask the truth then say what needs to be said. I'd be lying if I said every single time I picked honesty. Learning from those situations in the long run and for the sake of your integrity, honesty really is the best policy. Be the person that has the courage to stand by that phrase every single time. Don't be the person who hides behind short cuts and white lies. Stand tall stand, stand strong, and stay honest. 

#FBF : Flash Back Friday 7/10/15

Hey! 

Not whole of exciting things happening in my life still working a lot but I have bought a few new beauty products that I have either yet to use or currently testing. 

Here some of the things I've got in the past few weeks 

I've tried everything in the top picture. I got the shampoo because youtuber Ingrid Nilsen mentioned it in one of her favorites videos. It's super inexpensive and it's been great for my oily hair. The eyebrow plumper has become a makeup staple now. I always use it. Regardless if I fill my brows in I always, at minimum use that. It's plumps and keeps my brows where I want them all day. If you're now one to fill in your brows but want to plump them of try a beginner brow product I highly recommend it. 

  The second picture is a more recent haul. I'm really excited to try the smashbox primer spray. I'm so glad I Sephora had a sample size or travel size to try before commiting to the big one. That Pixi spray was another YouTube inspired purchase thanks to Judy from Its Judys Life. I also just love anything 

rose or rose water. The little plastic bag is a sample of Origins Charcoal mask. The lovely lady at Sephora recommended it. I've been having some skin issues lately. I ran out of my homemade fashwash which helped my face tremendously but once it was out my face went back to weird texture, dry and breaking out. So I made some more finally and bought some masks to help get my face back to normal. 

I'm really excited about all of these. I tried the pumpkin one last night and I really liked it. I don't recommend it for sensitive skin. But if you need a good exfoliating mask this one is great and it smells like pumpkin pie! I'll probably do a full review when I've tried them all a couple times. 

I originally went into Sephora to find a highlighter. I, along with most of the makeup community, have been obsessed with highlighting. My go to is Mary Loumanizer by The Balm. 

Have you seen this floating around the Internet? 

Let's be real contouring isn't going anywhere but this whole idea of glowing skin is beautiful and much less face altering than contouring. I love it. I'll probably do a post on how I do it without looking like a straight up disco ball. I'll also go through some glowing face products I have and use. 

If you want to know about anything I got that didn't mention let me know! I hope you are having a fabulous week and you have a fantastic weekend! 

 

Things You Don't Miss About High School

Since Mocha the very inspiration for this blog is graduated from high school, I thought about my high school experience and I realized how much I don't miss high school at all. Though graduation is exciting it is also a little sad. As the summer comes and goes and fall comes back around everyone's lives will start to move on. So when that all sinks in and you may start to think you miss highschool here's a list of this you will not miss from high school: 

1. Raising our hand to use the restroom 

2. Standardized tests

3.Detention 

4. High school dress code 

5. The bus 

6. High school cliques 

7. Assigned seating 

8. Required parent signature 

9. Gym Class 

10. 50 pound backpacks 

11. Constant bells 

12. Try hard substitutes 

13. Fire drills

14.  Highschool drama 

15. School lunch 

I do miss high school fries. And there will be things you miss like seeing your friends everyday. Or even being able to keep in touch with those friends. 

Now starts the real challenge of becoming an adult. I can't say I've quite figured it out. Good luck. 

June Ipsy

I'm going to do a real quick June Ipsy. Since it's kinda late. 

Here's what I got: 

Another simple but cute bag. Does anyone need any little makeup bags? Haha

Love the nail polish beautiful summer color. 

Love the eyeshadow crayon. I love quick throw on stuff like this lately that I can keep in my make up bag. The color is subtle but you can layer it.

The primer is good. Not my favorite but it's a good quality, I've actually used it before. 

The eyeliner I've also used before. I have a love hate relationship with it. I loooove the matte bold finish, however it's staying power eh. I've purchased it before getting it in my Ipsy bag and I just wish it would stay on my eyes. 

Ok last the Selfie tan and go bronzer is so strange but I like it? It's super weird to apply becaus it feels like hair gel. It has little brown beads that break apart and create the color. It drys really quick so you have to work fast. But lately I've been all about the super bronzed I've been laying out by the pool all day look and that's what this product gives you. I feel like a lot of people wouldn't like this but it's been great for me. It's really great for my chest, neck, and shoulders to kinda bronze them up and really get the full bronzed effect.

And here's the look: 

Cooper photo bombed. 

I am still really happy with my Ipsy bags. The past few months have been awesome. They have had products I really liked, and at minimum really like trying. I don't know what I'm going to do with all these bags though. Can't wait for Julys bag! 

If you want to get your hands on your own Ipsy bag or have questions about it let me know! 

It's been a long day with you my friend

Hey hello! It's been awhile I have been busy busy. Let's catch up! 

I went to Washington to visit Mocha! She graduated from High school. I am so very proud of the beauitful young lady she has grown into. 

We had so. Much. Fun. In Washington. Me and my boyfriend went and he got to meet that side of my family for the first time which was really cool. We thourghly enjoyed ourselves. Washington is a beautiful state and Seattle is a beautiful city. When I got back and thought about writing this post I don't know why I didn't vlog it? I vlog everything else? I did, however, take loads a pictures so here is some of those. 

So much fun. 

If you follow me on Instagram you already saw that me and my sisters recreated some old family photos. They turned out hysterically perfect if you ask me. 

Before our Washington trip we took a trip to Virginia Beach with some friends. I don't have a whole lot of pictures from that trip but it was nice to go back home for a couple days. 

As far as blog related things I filmed a couple short hair hairdo ideas videos. Those will hopefully go up in the next couple weeks. And I also took pictures and did a look for my May ipsy bag. Which I'll just quickly tell you about and show you now. You know, since it's almost July!! 

Hair thing - awesome but It's a 10 still my fav. 

Matte lip cream - great color and ok finish. Not the best quality and terrible staying power

Eyelashes - eh too long for my taste other than that pretty natural looking 

CC cream - awesome I love it! I love the SPF. Really considering actually purchasing 

Eyeshadow - so pretty. I wished they'd send an eyeshadow that wasnt some kind of variation of brown. 

That bag though! I love it! I think everyone did. Now for the look: 

Last cool thing I've done recently is I got to see Betty Who live! She's one of my favorites. Her music puts me in a good mood and makes me want to dance around my room like an idiot. Good chore music. She's never been to Charlotte or North Carolina at all until now! She was so entertaining!! My boyfriend went with me who isn't a big fan like myself but could still admit she was entertaining to watch live. 

I really want to get back to doing some Mocha Monday type stuff. I miss writing. Since work lately has me either busy or too tired to think. I haven't been able to write anything in a long time. So hopefully I'll gain some mental strength soon. 

If you are reading this I love you. Thanks.