Lazy Girl Tip: Clean Your Face the Easy Way!

I think many of us have been there before... That time when we get too lazy to wash our faces at night, especially after a long night of partying or a great date night. I've been there myself a few times of course! When you don't remove your makeup by washing your face, it's like leaving a stain on your clothes without treating it. Failing to wash your face at night can make you prone to all kinds of bacteria, and can even cause your skin to break out. YIKES!

Yes, those little annoying bumps on your face, the dreadful blackheads, can be from your leftover make up. I try to wash my face every night, but there are those nights where I just want to hit the bed as soon as I lay eyes upon it. In these instances, I use an alternative for washing my face... Here's introducing one of my favorite makeup remover towelettes by Garnier. These towelettes leaves your skin feeling refreshed and reinvigorated.

Since I have sensitive skin I can't use some of the harsher products out there, but I happened to bump into these towelettes ended up loving them. The soft, napkin-like material, along with the right amount of makeup remover solution, equals the perfect product to remove your stubborn leftover makeup. Grab a few next time your out shopping, and give yourself that just washed face feeling on even your laziest nights!

How to Get Full... The Healthy Way.

Lately, I've been forcing myself to eat healthier; it isn't always easy with some of the delicious, yet not-so-good-for-you, choices out there. With Thanksgiving behind us, there's no better time to start thinking healthy! I'm prone genetically to all kinds of health issues such high cholesterol. With that considered, it has become more and more important to find yummy and appetizing snacks that are also good for me. I've started on this healthier path by snacking on some awesome foods that actually suppress my appetite. Here are some of the snacks I enjoy eating on a daily basis:

 1. Almonds

  Almonds are an amazing little snack containing generous portions of antioxidants, magnesium, and vitamin E. In addition to these already healthy stats, almonds are a natural appetite suppressant. A serving is not especially high in caloric intake, and some of those calories are technically never absorbed as some of the fats in almonds aren't completely digested by the body.

2. Celery Sticks and Hummus

Celery is high in vitamins, but low in calories: a sure fire win for the healthy eater! By itself, celery may not seem like the most appetizing snack to some... Why not add a little something to spice it up? My choice is a nice hummus dip. Hummus is a very healthy dip, known to contain numerous minerals, amino acids, and vitamins.

3. Plain Popcorn

Plain popcorn is yet another wonderful snack for the health conscious eater. Popcorn is a great substitute to some of the greasier, less healthy snack options such as  chips. The most common problem is butter, a classic popcorn staple. Plain popcorn is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and has a high amount of dietary fiber. If you can bear to eat popcorn minus the butter, you'll find yourself full without the unhealthy extras that are typical of buttered or movie-style popcorn.

4. Dark Chocolate

 Chocolate is a classic sweet that is a vice for so many people. However, chocolate also has some healthy benefits, when eaten in proper moderation. Dark chocolate in particular is known to improve cardiovascular health, and is also high in antioxidants. Like with any food, healthy or not, moderation is key. Dark chocolate is great for you, but be careful not to get too carried away by this sweet treat!

There you have it, just a few of my favorite healthy snacks! Not only do they leave you full and satisfied, but you'll be happy to know that you've filled your body with necessary nutrients in the process. So next time you here a rumble in you stomach, stray from the chips and find yourself reaching from one of these healthy choices. Don't think that these are the end-all-be-all, though, as there are tons of other delicious, healthy options out there to fit every taste!

My Favorite Fall Perfume

 I am totally obsessed with this fragrance! I have gotten so many compliments on it lately; even strangers have come up to me to ask what I was wearing... I love using this scent during the cold fall/ winter months. It's pretty strong compared to other perfumes, so one to two sprays will do the job. I am so drawn in by the sexy, amber scent and its hint of sweet sandlewood. It's a very fresh smell, with a sassy side to it! Me explaining this does not do it true justice, so you'll have to smell it for yourself.

 It was definitely not a cheap perfume, so save up and be patient; it is most DEFINITELY worth it! When I  wore this scent to work, one of patients came up to me, and I noticed his nostrils become enlarged. He asked me what it was, and I told him it was Gucci; his reply made my day, when he exclaimed, "oh... That's a very Hollywood smell." That, in a nutshell, is why Gucci Guilty is my favorite fall perfume. Save up now, and get a little Hollywood glam in your life!

Manicure Monday: Penny Talk

It's Manicure Monday! Today, I'm wearing a beautiful shade of rose gold. This nail polish is called Penny Talk by ESSIE, and it's from their new fall collection. Every time I wear this nail polish, people always say it looks like a shiny new penny on my nails. It really does, explaining its monetary namesake! The best results come from using two coats of; that gives a fuller, overall better look. Go out and get yourselves some shiny nails, and y'all have a great week! 

NARS Orgasm: Review & Swatch!

I think I may have found my new favorite blush for a while: NARS Orgasm!

 As you can see, it is a beautiful shade of pink, slightly on the darker side of the spectrum. It strays from the bright and hot shades of pink, but doesn't go quite so dark as to appear bland.

I love the way it pops against my complexion, and has just that right amount of sparkle to it. The problem with some blushes is the amount of sparkle they have; too often, a blush goes overboard with the glitter and shine... I want to pop, but not look like a Liberace outfit! The perfect blend of color and shine gives you enough of a glow to stand out, without being too loud.

NARS is typically a pretty safe bet when choosing a blush, as their products tend to hit perfection pretty often in terms of pigment and sparkle. This product is no exception! Now, as a disclaimer, it did appear a bit light when I started a  swatch on my arm, but I did go a bit light on my first brush to avoid overdoing it. I suggest that everyone do a swatch in store before purchasing, just to make sure that this shade agrees with your complexion. For some paler complexions, the darker pink may stand out to much, but perhaps a lighter coating and proper blending can make it work for you!

Back to the 50's... FOR ICE CREAM!

Let's take a trip back to 1949, to a wonderful little drive-in restaurant called Zesto... They have burgers, hot dogs, french fries, chicken tenders (which were AMAZING, by the way), and of course ICE CREAM! My boyfriend hadn't eaten dinner yet, so he decided to go with the chicken tenders meal; I'd eaten with a study group a little earlier, so I decided to jump straight in for the ice cream. I decided to try out their banana split, and I was most definitely impressed. This spot had common food choices that you could find at any number of restaurants, but you would be hard-pressed to find this same level of great taste mixed with history and nostalgia. I've driven by this place dozens of times, and was so glad I finally had a chance to try it out. I recommend that anyone living in or coming through Atlanta take just a moment to stop in for lunch or dinner at Zesto... I promise you won't be disappointed!

                                      

Meeting and Greeting My Favorite Designer

Oh, where to begin? It's a girl's dream to meet her favorite fashion designer... That one person who is responsible for the styles and pieces that make her closet complete! My particular experience had me feeling like SJP herself. This past weekend, I found myself presented with the opportunity of a lifetime' an opportunity to meet one of my favorite designers. STEVE MADDEN!

After waiting for about four hours, I found myself first in line thanks to my VIP wristband! There I was, face-to-face, with the chance to meet him and tell him how much of fan I am of his shoe and handbag collections. Many of the ladies present were so starstruck and in awe of him that they could hardly say so little as hello. He seemingly noticed how relaxed and composed I was that he even took the time to shake my hand; he even to time to get to know me for a brief moment. I was so excited that my knees were shaking, but I tried to keep focused on the moment. The photographer at the event took a photo of Steve Madden and I together, and I was overjoyed to see that he was looking right into the camera along with me; some of the girls weren't so lucky, as he was distracted and looking off elsewhere in their photos. Just for showing up, I got a lovely goodie bag filled with some free gifts, and my favorite pair of my favorite Steve Madden stilettos.

During my moment with the man himself, I got him to autograph one of the shoes for me. A funny story from the day was that a met Steve Madden's best friend, who happens to be an executive manager in the company; he and I had a discussion about the shoes I got, which he was responsible for naming. They were called simply "Awesome," which I'm sure many will agree from their aggressive and edgy styling! I am planning on wearing these shoes (can't let these babies go to waste!), though only special occasions. Overall, my experience meeting him could only be expressed in one way... Magical!

                                                                     

An Inexpensive Microdermabrasion Alternative

 It seems that microdermabrasion is all the buzz lately. I've noticed signs in front of numerous spas advertising specials on this popular skin treatment. My bestie and I were window shopping one day when we decided to go into a spa to ask how much the treatment would cost... Well, we found out that the "special" price wasn't as enticing as we imagined. We walked out promising ourselves that we'd start saving up right away! Since I was so disappointed from the spa visit, I went online to find an alternative for the microdermabrasion spa treatment... And did I ever find one! I came across it in person when I was shopping at my local drugstore one day; there it was sitting on the shelf screaming my name!!! It's by Olay and contains essentially the same ingredients that they would use at a professional spa. I purchased it for roughly $25.00, a much better deal than "specials" at most spas. I rushed home to try it out immediately. After using this product, I noticed my face seemed so smooth and bright. I limit my use of this treatment to once a week since it can be a little harsh on your skin. I like to have Spa Sundays to prepare and freshen myself for the following week. Overall, I am very impressed with Olay's Microdermabrasion; I've even noticed some acne scarring disappear over time. This product is great for people who have such scarring, or who just want to refresh their face to jump start the week!