Friday Flash Back

So there are a couple of bloggers and vloggers that do a week recap type thing. I'd like to do something similar, like a flash back Friday of what happened during my week. I've wanted to do this for awhile but I got nervous that I wouldn't always have something to say or show on Friday. But in reality I take a lot of random pictures and videos that don't get shared anywhere and at minimum I always find share worthy things on the Internet. What this all really boils down to is me wanting to blog more. Who knows if this will last or how long it will but it's here

Friday flashback 

Last weekend we went to Science on the Rocks. I made a video about the last one we went to, you can check it out here. The children's science museum here has a once a month adult night. Adults can explore the museum and play with adult beverages in hand. Each month has a theme this month was illusions. It is becoming increasingly popular because it was crowded but still so much fun. 

These boxes look like something out of transforms just with a little projection and light play. 

This bubble guys was way too entertaining. This is his career. He blows bubbles. I think he did something right. 

They had a fun little photoboth so me and Joseph were our usual selves. 

My week other than work has been me playing sims, watching Netflix, and working on this blog. Yesterday it snowed. So having an excuse to not leave the house all day helped with productivity.

Speaking of working on the blog I changed some things around! There's a new better banner and a new background and some new colors. If you're on mobile you can only really see the new banner of you wanna see the whole shebang scroll down to the bottom and click "view web version". Also check out those snazzy buttons on the side with links to my social media things! Yay Ahteablog! 

I also did my First ipsy bag post and I also listed some chokers I made on my Etsy! Check 'Em out here! 

So how was it the first Friday Flash back? I'm surprised I had more to say than I thought. Hate it? love it? 

My First Ipsy Bag

Hey guys! 

I finally joined ipsy annnnd I finally got my first bag! I decided that Im going to review the things I get and also do a look based on the items I got.

So first things first what I got!

It came in a pink, grey, and white geometric pattern little bag and its ok.. Im only saying ok because Ive seen a lot of ipsy reviews and posts. I needed to make sure this was worth getting! So Ive seen a lot of the bags and this just wasn't as awesome as some other ones Ive seen. But free cute little bag every time, the part of me that likes to compartmentalize everything is screaming with joy.
Lets move onto the more important part the contents (drum-roll please)

Sample size lip gloss from Cargo cosmetics in the color Anguilla
Sample size Up All Night Volumizing Spray from Eva-Nye 
Full size Eyeliner pencil from Me in in Amethyst
Full size blush from Model in Peach Bellini
Full size Large Angled brush from Luxie

Ok lets talk about it. I love everything except the eyeliner and the lip gloss. When I did my makeup look today I liked the lip gloss a bit more then when I originally tried it. Its not a color I would normally go for. The eyeliner is just not the best. It does not apply very evenly. To get the most out of it I used it on its side with little pressure and built it up.

Though Im not a huge fan of the eyeliner I did like the color. Colored eyeliner pencils remind me of the early 2000's when I really started using and experimenting with makeup. I was such a fun of having a pop of color with my eyeliner under my eye. So today's look is brought to you by Ipsy and me 12 years ago.

I used the eye liner under my eyes which I liked. I used the blush on my checks with the brush I got. I used the lipgloss over my lipstick which is much nicer than the lipgloss on its own. 

I loooove the volumizing hair spray. With my current hair style I've been wanted more volume and texture to my hair. I love that it gives my hair that "showered last night just rolled out bed with this hair" look and stays that way.  

True to the early 2000s makeup I was rocking, I used at tinted moisturizer with a little Bare Minerals over. I'm so used to full coverage makeup it was kinda nice to let my skin breathe and show my freckles. I used some of my 2000s staples 

The gold color is Goldleaf by Bare Minerals I used this on my lid and as a highlight with my new brush. I used to do this all the time I used Goldleaf for EVERYTHING. Instead of eyeliner I would use French Navy by Bare Minerals and an little angled brush. I might start doing this again I really like how it made my eyes look. Last is a bronzer/highlighter from Physicians Formula. I used this as obviously bronzer and highlight but I also used it as eyeshadow. I also went very natural with my brows, just a tinted brow gel. Back in the day all I did was over pluck my brows haha.

This was fun! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!  

It Builds Character

Dear Mocha

 

Something my dad always says is "it builds character" and I mean always. He says it when it when it's appropriate to say it and inappropriate. It doesn't always make sense, which makes it funny. 

However, inspired from a few recent events, where people I know are put in unfavorable situations, I've found myself thinking It builds character. (Thanks dad) So what does this saying actually mean. When you go through anything tough or emotional, when you get through it and get to the other side you've learned from it. You've grown through your experience. You've built character. What's character? It's the mental and moral qualities distinctive to who you are. When I tell someone about a bad thing that happened to me I always say don't feel sorry it's made me who I am. Whether it be thicker skin, better knowledge about handling things, or even learning about myself, unfavorable times have built character. So my advice to you is, let it. No matter what you are going through don't drag yourself down because of it. Get through to the other side and get there a better person. 

Something to also keep in mind. How you react to bad situations shows your character. Remember what ever it is you'll get through it. Don't let your emotions and anger get the best of you and have all the "character building" situations be in vain because you lost your cool. Be strong It builds character.

 

Winter Skin Care Routine

It's been awhile since posted about my skin care routine. And it has definetly changed since then. The biggest changes has come with cold weather. I have learned that my skin tends to break out more when it's dry. So I've made some adjustments to my skincare this winter.

I'm going to talk mostly about my nightly routine because that's where I put in the most effort when it comes to my skin. 

To take off my makeup I have been using LUSH's Ultrabland. I am so in love with this as a nightly cleanser and makeup remover. It breaks down my makeup more so than any makeup remover I have ever used. It has 20% rose water in it which is just an all around favorite lately. 

Buy it here!

After I cleanse and remove my makeup I use Joise Maran 100% pure agran oil light. I am in LOVE with this stuff! I have seen such an improvement on my skin since I started using it. I was so hesitant to use an oil on my skin thinking it would just make the oily parts of my skin oiler but I promise you it has not. I've replaced my regular moisturizer for this one (at night at least). You can use it on your face, split ends, cuticles, or any dry spot on your skin. It really is awesome. It's a bit pricey. I currently have the "to-go" size which is $16 but the regular size is $48 but since you don't need that much everytime you use it. It's definetly worth it. 

Buy it here!

Last step lips. My lip routine hasn't changed. I still use my homemade lip scrub with coconut oil when needed. Link for that recipe can be found here. And my favorite night balm is called My Favorite Night Balm by CO Bigelow. 

Buy it here!

That is it that is how I protect my mug in the cold winter months when my skin, in my opinion, is at its worst. Remember the first step to any great makeup look starts with skincare. Stay warm! 

First Grey Hair

Dear Mocha, 

I found my first grey hair. Grey hair. I'm 25. Right? Yea I'm 25! I had flash back to sitting in my moms room watching her get ready and watching her pull out her grey hairs with tweezers. I instantly felt older than I should and thinking about retirement, my future, and my past. Do I overthink things? Absolutely. 

It got me thinking about where I am in my life at 25 and where I thought I'd be by 25. I had this image in my head when I was kid of who I thought I'd be at 25. When I was young 25 seemed like such an important age. It seemed old but not old old. Sometimes I put myself down for not being where I thought I'd be in my life by now and in this last year especially. I think I've finally gotten to a place where I'm ok with that because I'm happy. I've forgotten that regardless of where I am in my life and how I feel about it, life is still happening. The world is still spinning and everyday is an opportunity to change anything Im not happy about in my life. Regardless if you're are young and your life is full of opprotunity or old and getting grey in your hair, live in the now.  As for as those pesky grey hairs it's nothing a little hair dye can't fix. 

Dear Mocha

Dear Mocha, 

Exactly a year ago today I wrote you a public letter just as I am now. It was the first post on the blog ever. That letter more or less outlined why I started this. I actually just re read it. It made me a bit sad. I expressed how important it is to me to be a big sister and yet for part of the year I gave up on this blog. I stopped writing to you completely. That makes me sadder than anything. 

I got caught up in what people thought of me. I've heard people tell me so many good things about this blog and me writing but I hung on to the negative. I posted some good content and things I am proud of. I posted about my anxiety something I didn't think I could do. The amount of support from the most random people was amazing and literally brought my to tears. I realized my audience wasn't just you. And the negative comments seemed a little more poignant. I let it effect me. So I stopped writing when it mattered and making videos. My videos made you laugh you even told me you liked them but I never made another one. 

I went through a rough patch this year when I lost my job. Instead of sharing with you what I was going through and sharing this life experience like I wanted to be able to do I just hid. I hid how I really felt I hid that I was laid off for the longest time. In the letter I wrote to you last year, I wrote how I wanted to share the ups and the downs with you but I didn't. 

This year is a big year for you. You turned 18 and you're a senior. Soon you'll be graduating and taking on the world. We also have another little sister. Who is growing up and might need some big sister guidance. So I will stop listening to negative comments and voices from others and in my own head. So here is to another year lets make this one a better year. And here is to you Mocha. I love you. 

New Years Resolutions and Reflections

I started this blog Janurary first of 2014. And my third post ever was on New Years resolutions. You can find a link to that post here. Let's take a look back on those resolutions and see how I did shall we? 

Lead a healthier lifestyle. About half way through the year yes absolutely. I was eating healthier and working out then it started to go down hill. I picked up hooping to stay active but that was as far as I got. I'm still addicted to french fries and hooping like once a week now is all I got. I need to fix that and hoop more! 

Paint more. Definite big fat fail. I didn't paint at all. I did however do more creative things. I opened an Etsy shop for heaven sake! So I'm still happy about how much effort I've put it to being craftier and more creative, even if I didn't paint. 

Purge Negativity. I feel like this has taken all year for me to actually accomplish. It wasn't until the end of this year were I felt like the really negative people in my life where out of it. And it took a huge career change or lack thereof to really see it wasn't happy with where my life was going. 

Last was, Keep up with this blog. For half of the year I did great I wrote a post every Monday and usually a post sometimes two during the week. Then toward the end of the year I stopped writing at all. I'm so disappointed in myself for letting this blog take the back burner. That will change. More on that later though.

 

Ok whew. That was full of good realizations and disappointments on to this years new News Years Resoltuions. 

Continue to do things that make me happy. I've been enjoying being creative with makeup and my etsy and everything else that I want to keep this momentum going. I can do this. It takes dedication but dedication I'm willing to put in. I think once lost my job and realized I didn't have anyone to please I started concentrating on making myself happy. I need to not forget that. 

Hoop more. Not just hoop more but be a healthier and fitter me so my hooping improves. It was just a thing I picked up to be active and now it's more than just a thing I picked up its a stress release. When I'm feeling out of inspiration or down or stressed, in my circle everything keeps going and flowing. I love that. 

Last but not least keep up with this blog and expand this blog. It's been a year. A year that could have gone better in terms of this blog. I want to keep writing. I started this blog for a reason. A good reason. I want to make more videos, make more in general and write to you more often. Check out my letter to Mocha on tomorrow's post for more on that. 

To you, you lovely reader you, make 2015 your best year yet. I'll try to do the same.