So once I graduated from high school I started to get more acne.  My acne now is worse than it was when I was a teenager.  Yay......the joys of adult onset acne.

Over the past few years I have been trying all kinds of different stuff to help, nothing really is a long lasting solution.  And nothing clears my face completely.  However, I do have a decent regimen now that helps limit my breakouts and also improves the overall appearance of my face/neck despite the acne.  With the exception of when I'm really stressed, and then there is nothing that will help unfortunately  :-/

Anyway, here's my skin care regimen.  I thought I would break it down to morning and evening routines.

Mornings:
Wash face with Natural Acne Solutions Purifying Gel Cleanser from Burt's Bees ($10, lasts 2-3 months)
Tone with YES TO BLUEBERRIES CLEANSING FACIAL TOWELETTES ($7, lasts about a month)
Moisturize with Neutrogena® Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Moisturizer  ($14, lasts 3-6 months)

Evenings:
Wash face with Neutrogena® Fresh Foaming Cleanser  ($7, lasts 2-3 months)
Tone with YES TO GRAPEFRUIT BRIGHTENING FACIAL TOWELETTES ($7, lasts about a month)
Acne spot treatment to help reduce/relieve pimples Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick ($8, lasts 3-6 months)
Lip care EOS Sweet Mint Lip Balm ($4, lasts 3-6 months)

My skin overall is much healthier since I started this routine.  My complexion is much more evenly toned and smoother.  I have less issues with blotchyness and I also have limited issues with under eye bags.  The Yes to Grapefruit towelettes actually help reduce/relieve pimples much quicker than normal.  With the exception of the towelettes, all listed items are long lasting because a little goes a long way (I say that a lot don't I!), especially the moisturizer!  If you put on too much it's gonna feel really heavy, which is true of most "natural" facial moisturizers.  So use moisturizer sparingly and thoroughly massage in to skin.

I have combination skin and this routine keeps my face pretty even, not dry and not overly oily.  However, if you have dry skin you may want to limit your use of the Burt's Bees gel cleanser to every other day.  Oh, also, it is super important to exfoliate your skin!!  Try not to exfoliate during peak breakout times as it will only irritate it more.  And don't over exfoliate!!  Exfoliating helps with blackheads and improves the overall look/feel of skin.  I do not like scrubs, so what I use is body exfoliating gloves with a super lathery cleanser (something with lots of foam to help create a buffer between your face and the glove).  I use Dawn......yes dawn the dish washing liquid, it works great for exfoliating.  Don't scrub too hard, you should not feel pain!  lol

My great grandmother (GiGi) told me the importance of taking care of your face.  She took great care of her skin and had a healthy looking face until she was well in to her 90s.  So I try to take care of my skin as much as possible.  I think I may be interested in trying Proactive if anyone has tried it please let me know what your experience has been!!

And I'm gonna end it with a video from one of my new favorite bands, Buxton.  Great band, check them out.  Awesome live show!!

Ok, I know everyone and their mom already knows about Sephora and how awesome it is. And I've been there before, but it was when I had less money so it was not that impressive because I couldn't afford anything. But now that I'm an adult and have a decent income I can actually enjoy the fruits of my labor by purchasing little fancy tidbits here and there.....which is why I'm now obsessed with Sephora!!

Anyway, did some shopping yesterday picked up a few goodies. Got ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS DIPBROW™ Pomade in Blonde. It is $18 not including the brush.  A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY!!!! Can be used for a natural look as well as a bold, dramatic look depending on how much you apply. While I wish the blonde was a little bit lighter, I really love this product. I have a gap in my left brow where no hair will grow and this fills it in perfectly without looking weird/fake. Just gives your brows a nice, clean, groomed look which I like. Plus it's waterproof and smudge proof, which is perfect in Texas since I will be sweating profusely once summer hits!  And I did test out the waterproof/smudge proof-ness of it because I wore it while working out, brows still looked awesome even though I was drenched in sweat, lol.  Now my best friend and I each had a Sephora employee give us a demonstration of the dipbrow in store........not exactly a smart idea. Both of us ended up with CRAZY DRAMATIC BROWS!!!!! So we each had to go home and practice applying the dripbrow, and we both aimed for a more natural look. It really is a great product to just make your brows look more filled in without looking fake or drawn on.


Also picked up BENEFIT COSMETICS Benetint in Rose and I am in love with it!  It is a cheek/lip stain.  Yes, stain but don't be scared!!  I love blush in general anyway, but this is a great option for a bare face, natural look.  It blends really well and the color is not overwhelming with the first application.  It is very much a buildable color.  The rose color is perfect for fair skin to give a natural, blushed look.  Again, a little goes a long way making it worth the $30 price.  I blend with my fingers, but I think I want to try blending with an actual applicator. Being a stain, it stains your fingers too and it's also water/smudge proof.  So remember: a little goes a long way, build the color, and try using a sponge/applicator to prevent pink fingers.

Ok, I don't know what's wrong with me. I have never been an overly sentimental person. I am dramatic, but I try not to be overly dramatic. And I'm not really overly emotional. So why can't I kick this stupid heartachy feeling from being dumped a month ago????? I do tend to obsess when I don't have answers, maybe that's why. I don't know, but it's ridiculous. I'm trying very hard to keep it to myself at this point, because I hate going on and on about being sad over a stupid guy (I still rant to my best friends, poor things, but I hate it). I hear a sad, sappy love song and it instantly depresses me and makes me want to cry. When I'm by myself, I can't stop thinking about it. I decided to try and distract myself with another guy, and that was not a smart move AT ALL. He's not the right person to distract myself with because he plays too many games and it just makes me feel worse. And then I obsess about him being dumb!! Ugh!!! I just need to take a break from guys right now and get back to just taking care of myself. Not caring about dating, just focusing on improving myself and spending time with my friends. Because I don't care for this whole feeling stuff situation, lol. Anyway, I'm writing this down to get it out of my head. No more obsessing. No more pity parties. No more letting a stupid guy affect me.

On a positive note, I am down 5lbs. I'm getting back to working out and eating healthy. I'm ready to take my activity level up a notch just in general, because I want to get to the point where I can do fun runs. Seems like a fun activity I can do with my friends, and it would be nice to actually be able to jog the whole thing.

A couple of reviews: I got a new lipstain (thank you bff Gabby) from Sephora and I LOVE it! It's SEPHORA COLLECTION Cream Lip Stain in Always Red - matte bold classic red. It's only $13 and totally worth it because it lasts ALL DAY. You literally have to wash it off with soap and water to get it off.

Forever 21 has a really cute, well priced plus size collection. I'm actually really impressed with it. I highly recommend my plus size ladies to check it out if you haven't.

That's all I have for today. I'd like to get back into my blog again. I need to update the look of it and find new stuff to review. It's a nice outlet for me. Hope everyone is enjoying their week and has a great weekend! Peace out!

It's been over a year since my last post. I have a TON of updates. So here is a quick list of some of the stuff that has happened to me in the past year:
-Got a new job
-Was signed up for a dating site
-Lost my boss at new job, had to take on ALOT or responsibility
-Starting dating guys from dating site
-Lost 10lbs
-TURNED 30!!!!
-Got a raise at new job!
-Got a new boss at new job
-Met a guy from high school on dating site, didn't go well
-Gained 7lbs back
-Met new guy on same dating site, started dating
-Been at new job for a whole year now
-Became serious with new guy from dating site, fell in love
-Got a new tattoo
-Boyfriend broke up with me 5 days ago -My amazing friends and family poured their love onto me to help get me through the heartbreak
-Ready to get my ass back in gear with working out! New Year's resolution: lose 50lbs before my next birthday.
-No more waiting for life to happen to me, I will make my life what I want it to be



May not seem like it from such a short list, but the past year has been crazy for me. Even though the year is ending on a sour note, 2013 was actually a pretty great year for me. I think I'm coming in to my own in my 30s. I'm currently heartbroken but optimistic about the future. In a weird way looking forward to 2014.

My coworkers at my not so new anymore new job are AMAZING! It's a very stressful, time consuming job but they really make it worth it. I can honestly say they are my work family.

Diet and exercise started out well for 2013 but I kind of floundered mid-year and never really got back in check. I'm ready to get back on track. I want to be healthy. I want to do fun runs with my friends. Plus working out is a great stress relief that I greatly need. So back on track for me, and I know with my supportive friends who are also working on their health I will meet my goal of 50lbs down by my next birthday. I have work friends and home friends to help keep me on track. The working out part is fine, I enjoy it. And I'm ready to take a positive approach again to food/diet.

Dating......hhmm, I don't know what to say about this subject. In 2013, with the help of my cousin, I was finally comfortable enough to put myself out there into the dating world. Cautious, but ready and willing. Dating has not been super successful this year, unfortunately. But I'm figuring it out. Figuring out what I want in a man, figuring out who I want/need to be in a relationship. My most recent relationship was wonderful, it really was. Until the very end. I just, I have no words really because I'm still confused myself as to what really happened. Bottom line, I fell head over heels for a man. A man that wanted very badly to be in love. A man that is in love with the idea of being in love. A man that rushes head first in to love, and doesn't take the time to make it work. I don't blame him, and I'm not mad. I'm genuinely heartbroken. I wanted things to work out differently, so badly that I made a complete fool of myself by opening myself up to him and exposing myself fully. But according to him, it was too late. Apparently, you can fall out of love with your soul mate in less than 12 hours. I allowed myself to get swept up in the wake of his love, and despite knowing better I rushed right in with him. I knew better, but it felt so right in the moment. It's not his fault, he really thought he loved me. And it's better to find out now that it wasn't real rather than years down the line. I don't want to be with someone who doesn't love me for me, for who I really am, and loves me regardless of everything. I want a love that will do whatever it takes to make it work, because to me that is what a relationship is. You do what it takes to make it work, you go through the ups and the downs together, and you come out stronger on the other side. Anyway, I will always love him for the good times that we had regardless of the short time period. Because to me it was real. It was whole heartedly real. And now I have learned for my next relationship. I was going to just block all of it out, forget it all. But I need to learn from it, and I will. So I think for now, at least for a little bit, dating will wait a little bit. I'm gonna enjoy myself, I'm gonna grow, I'm gonna sow my oats until I get to the point where I'm ready for dating again.

One thing that he said to me, was I was too free spirited. And you know what, I'm not TOO free spirited.... I'm just free spirited enough. I am me. I am independent. I am mildly free spirited. I do small things that make me happy like change my hair, get piercing/tattoos, and jump in bouncy houses in the middle of the night. I don't drink, I don't do drugs, I don't party, I'm not promiscuous. I am fiercely loyal, I am loving, I try to be kind, and I will give you my all if you accept me. I don't live my life FOR anyone else, but I do want someone who will live life WITH me. I don't want to be 80 years old with regrets because I didn't really live life. To me, life is measured in happiness, not in money or things. And I will do whatever it takes to live a happy life with the people I love. I'm ready to take on 2014 with that same spunk, and after a little bit of healing I'll be ready to find the man that God has made for me to enjoy the happiness of life with.




I hope everyone has a fantastic New Year's, be safe, and be HAPPY! Let's do this 2014!!!

Don't worry, it's not a new dance craze.  Have you ever been out and about and you see someone that you REALLY don't wanna talk to.  For me it's usually at Walmart, cause you know everyone and their mom goes to Walmart in the South (it's true).  Anyway, you see this person and you proceed to bob and weave your way behind anything that will provide sufficient coverage in an attempt to escape that person.  You finally get to a safe place, you're like 5 rows away from the danger zone, and you're attempting to resume your shopping while still remaining vigilant.  5, 10, 15 minutes go by........you start to relax a little and then what happens............BAM, you turn the corner and that person is literally right in front of you.  Typically one of two things happens in these situations:  1. That person would like to avoid you as well so you both look at everything but each other and walk by like this never happened.  OR  2. That person does the worst thing imaginable and speaks to you.  UGH!  Now you're stuck with a dilemma.  You have about 10 seconds to figure out in your head what you're gonna do before things get even more awkward.  Do you :  A. Suck it up and talk to this person even though you would literally rather gouge your eyes out with a rusty spoon.  B. Straight up ignore them and continue to walk away.  or  C. Talk and walk.  Be polite, but keep creeping away.
I live in a large suburb of a huge city and this happens to me more times than I'm comfortable with.  I could not imagine having to live in a small town and constantly u;run into people.  Anyway, I have no rhyme or reason for this rant, just something I was thinking about, lol.

So I was having lunch with one of my best friends and we were talking about how we like to make fun of other people. We were both hesitant to admit that not only do we make fun of random people around us, but yeah we kind of enjoy it. I know I'm supposed to feel bad about making fun of others, I should I know, but I don't. If I see a chick at a bar that looks like Kate Gosling from Jon & Kate Plus 8......I have this internal mechanism that locks on and forces me to make fun. Or if I see a child on a leash (yes at the Walmart again) sarcasm and laughter just erupts from within me. I don't do it to be mean, I don't make fun of people to their faces (unless you're my friend, and it comes from a place of love). The snide remarks just happen, don't judge me! If you've looked at the pics on People of Walmart and laughed, then you're right there with me.....welcome to the dark side.

Ok, just a random short blog for today. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! Stay safe, eat lots of yummy food, and enjoy your family time!! Oh and presents!!! Don't forget the presents!!!!

And I can't figure out how to post a video from my iPhone so I'll end it on a PEACE OUT!!

Goal for today: write a blog that will interest guys too.
It was suggested by a dude that I talk about cars and airplanes if I want to interest guys in my blog.........yeah well I don't know anything about either of those things!  So I wanted to find some stuff that I do know about that I think guys will enjoy too.  So here we go....

I live in Texas.  Pretty much every man in Texas loves meat.  So listen up fellas because Bear Creek Smokehouse has seriously some of the best smoked meat I've ever had in my life.  Can I sidetrack for like 2 seconds, I feel very awkward saying meat so much, lol.  Anyway, they had a booth at the Houston Nutcracker Market and I can honestly say it was one of the busiest food booths there.  I sampled the peppered bacon, Polish sausage, brisket, and cranberry turkey.  All were seriously delicious!!!  To put it in terms guys will understand.  Know how huge the Reliant Center is?  Ok, well after walking around for 5 hours through huge crowds I was willing to walk the entire length of the Reliant Center and brave the crowds again just to go back to their booth and buy some meat.  I bought brisket and sausage and made it for dinner last night, my mom really liked it too.  I would definitely check out their specials and if you can find them at a local fair/market/etc. hit em up because their prices are cheaper in person!  You can order online or you can request a free catalog in the mail.

Anyone like horchata??  For the longest time I swore by Taqueria Del Sol's horchata, but I think I've found another place that beats them!  El Ranchero has THE BEST horchata I have ever had so far.  It's much thicker/creamier than the horchata at Del Sol.  Their food is good too, I wouldn't say better than Del Sol, but still really good.  And they have free cinnamon ice cream for desert that is sooo yummy.  I don't go to Del Sol very often, it's always packed and it's a little bit of a drive for me now.  So I'm happy to report a local Mexican restaurant that I can go to and still get my horchata fix!  Who's down for some dinner???

Is it sad that so far I've only talked about food??  lol

Let's try something non-food related.  How about cologne?  Most girls, unless allergic, really love a good smelling guy.  If a guy walks next to me that smells great, I get a little weak in my knees.  It's just soo attractive!  A cologne that I really like for guys is Hugo by Hugo Boss.  It's a nice, clean, subtle manly smell.  Another nice scent is Guilty by Gucci.  I think Hugo is like an every day kind of cologne, but Guilty is like a sexy, date night cologne.  And then of course there are the oldies but goodies Curve and ck One which to me always smell good!  There's really nothing better than snuggling up next to a good smelling dude.

Ok, last but not least I wanna touch on some hygiene issues.  Most of this stuff should be pretty well known, but sometimes you fellas need a reminder.  So just like girls primp and prepare for y'all, y'all need to do the same for us!  I'm not saying full on spa days, but there are some basic personal care procedures that every dude needs to follow.   1. Invest in nail clippers and keep your fingers and toes right OR suck it up and get a mani/pedi.  There's no need to buff and polish your nails, but at least keep them trimmed and free of sharp edges.  I should not have to fight through your talons to hold your hand.   2. Hair, ALL hair, keep it trimmed and nice looking.  The hair on your head should be cut in a way that you can style it with ease every day.  Purchase grooming tools to keep your facial hair in check.  There is absolutely nothing worse than trying to kiss a dude with razor sharp stubble on his face.  It's painful and kills the mood.  Also, if you have crazy long eyebrows try using a mustache trimmer to keep those caterpillars at bay.   3. CHAPSTICK!! Invest!!!!  You know how when you kiss a girl her lips are soft??  Yeah well we want that too!!  No one wants to kiss lips that feel like tree bark or a peeling snake.  Again, mood killer.  And it's just gross.  Chapstick brand original chapstick is perfect for guys.  No scents, no colors, and it's not glossy.   4. Lotion, USE it.  No one likes alligator skin.  If your elbows are soo dry and crusty that they can cut me, it's toooo dry!  Here's a trick: Use a thick lotion at night before you go to bed (try Bath and Body Works Ocean, has a great guy smell).  You can also try vitamin E skin moisturizing oil. 
I think those are my main complaints for guys.  I like a manly man, so I'm not saying you need to get all metrosexual.  But guys you do need to learn to take care of yourselves!  Personal hygiene and care is not just for girls!

So that's my man blog.  Suggestions, complaints, comments?  Let me know what you think!

And in my typical style, I'm gonna end it with a video although it's not a typical music video.  But I thought you dudes might appreciate it  :)