Nightly Routine

Hi darlings! So as many of you should know, your nightly routine is a very recommended necessity especially if you're a person who wears makeup. Without this you will break out and it's just not good for you! Here is what I have been currently loving lately and this is what I have found works for me.

Just a little side note, this is a routine that works for MY skin. I understand that everyone doesn't have the same skin type and what-not, but this is what works for me t the moment. By the way, I have combination-oily skin.

Also, I do use a lot of a certain brand name. This doesn't mean that this is me "picking a favorite" or anything. I have tried so many different brands, and like I've said probably 500 times since I started this post, this is what works for me.

Okay NOW let's get started.

Before I do absolutely anything, I make sure my pajamas are on, hair is up, contacts are out, HANDS ARE WASHED, and my hair is no-where near getting in my face (that can get annoying!) What I use to keep my hair back is my Glitzy-Glam Waffle Weave Headband. You can buy this at http://glitzy-glam.com/ for $10 and sometimes even on sale. They have a variety of headband choices as well as monogram choices. I got mine in a black headband with a hot pink B on it.

After I have gotten all situated, I start by removing my eye makeup. I use MAC's Eye Makeup Remover with a cotton ball and I just take off as much as I possibly can. I have noticed that this actually works pretty well with mascara.

I then get my MAC Cleanse Off Oil, and with my hands and about 2 pumps I just spread it out over my face trying to remove as much makeup as it let's me. I know a lot of people do not like anything oily on their skin and usually I'm that person. But one day I was browsing at the MAC store and asked my MAC lady just how this worked and if it was "icky" on the skin. I ended up having her remove my makeup with it and I fell in love. It's kind of like a dry kind of oil, if that makes any sense.

Just to make sure I removed all the makeup off of my face I use a MAC makeup wipe just to get ready to wash my face. Remember, if you leave your makeup on before you wash your face, you're really not washing your face. You're just going to be removing your makeup.

Now I'm ready to wash my face...

Everyday I always use my MAC Green Gel Cleanser. I've always had a problem finding the right cleanser because for some reason my eyes just burn so easily with some products. But with the Green Gel Cleanser it works absolute wonders. I rub it all over my face and then I use my Clarisonic Mia and use it until the one minute is up.

I then use step 2 of the Clinique 3-Step Skincare System. This step is the toner. I just get a cotton ball get some product on it and apply it to my face.

The FINAL step is using the 3rd step of the Clinique 3-Step Skincare System, which is the moisturizer.

I know this seems like I use a lot of products,


My favorite skincare product this month has been my LUSH Ocean Salt. I use this 3 days a week, usually on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. I should point out that if you have sensitive skin, this product might be a little big harsh on your face. I have in between sensitive and normal skin so at first it did sting a little bit. But after using it a couple of times I fell in love. What I do is I wash my face (skincare routine is coming soon this week!) then I apply my ocean salt, let it sit for about a minute or so and then wash my face. I can feel all of my pores open up and I just feel so clean! You can purchase this at any LUSH counter or at http://www.lush.com/. I bought the $19.95 4.2oz just to try it out, but you can also get 8.8oz for $34.95. I definitely plan on getting the 8.8oz next time I go shopping for this product because this just how much I love it!

Makeup Wishlist

So I'm stuck in bed with a little bug of something going on with my body. Seems like nothing too drastic but it's definitely nothing exciting and fun. Since I really don't have much to do, I'm just browsing different websites just looking up some new and old products that I have my eye on buying in the near future. Here's what I plan on getting at sometime or another.

From Sephora/ULTA

- Urban Decay Naked Palette (I plan on buying that next week for sure!)

- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil's in Baked, Dime and Gunmetal

- All of the new NARS Lipglosses (Super Orgasm, Albatross, Angelika, Luster, Oasis and Strawberry Fields)

- NARS Blush in Desire

- NARS Eye Shadows in Abyssinia, Ashes To Ashes, Cairo, Nepal and Voyage

- MakeupForever Eye Shadows in Earth 13, Pearly Orange 25, Chocolate Matte 29 and Copper 54

From MAC

- Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara

- Springsheen Blush

- Baby Sparks Dazzleglass

- Honeylove Lipstick

- 195 Brush

- Shy Girl Lipstick

- Shadowy Lady Eye Shadow

- Wedge Eye Shadow

- Saddle Eye Shadow

- Oyster Girl Lipglass

- Prrr Lipglass

- Rags to Riches Dazzleglass

LUSH (Some of these products are products that I already own, that I just need backups of)

- I Love Juicy Shampoo

- Frosty Glitter Bubble Bar

- Sunny Side Bubble Bar

- Honey Bee Bath Bomb

- Butterball Bath Bomb

- Ma Bar Bubble Bar

- Karma Bubble Bar

- Sex Bomb Bath Bomb

- Blackberry Bath Bomb (ALWAYS a favorite!)

- Think Pink Bath Bomb

- The Happy Pill

- Space Girl Bath Bomb

Expect a haul (or a couple of hauls) in the future, along with reviews!

Goodnight!

xoxo,

Brandy

Midnight Ramblings

As I lay here in bed, with my face mask on, watching Big Brother After Dark I decided I should just grab my laptop and start "blog rambling." I have to say, I am counting down the days until next Thursday (the 29th). That will be the LAST time I ever speak Spanish ever again!! Well, maybe not but it will be the last time I ever learn about it! This summer has felt like pretty much a complete waste. Mainly because including the time before summer school started I only get 3 weeks of summer vacation. I was off for 2 weeks before and I have a week before school starts. I am looking forward to tomorrow because after my morning class which gets out at 10:45am, the weekend will FINALLY be here! Funny how I say finally because this week definitely went by so fast! Am I the only one who thinks that?

So the new MAC collection comes out next Thursday. I believe it's called "Dare to Wear." I'm sad to say that I'm not too excited for it. 1. because I'm pretty sure I have dupes of every shadow coming out, and 2. the glosses don't really catch my eye. There is one that I think is cute, so I might get it for that reason and plus I would like at least one in the new packaging. By the way, the packaging is only for this collection. In case you didn't know lol.

My room is coming together greatly! I think I'm getting some more stuff for it this weekend, so hopefully I will have a room tour up very very soon! I posted a picture of my new makeup storage, and I am possibly posting that soon, but I really want to get my vanity before I do that just so that it's 100% put together. Hopefully you all won't be mad if it gets put off for like 2 weeks. I'm hoping for less!

I do have a bunch of posts in mind that I want to do, so be on the lookout for some pretty exciting things! I would like to find a way to get more followers without "begging" for any or any of that because I would like to do an exciting contest! I already have prizes and a theme in mind!

Well I guess it's time for me to take this mask off and get to bed. 7:00am comes a lot sooner than you might think! Goodnight everyone!


xoxo

Makeup Collection - The Disaster Before

WARNING! This is NOT how I store my makeup. This was just the beginning process before I organized it. Before I just had them very unorganized in the plastic drawers from Target. Here is just a few shots of what I was dealing with. My actual makeup collection should be up this weekend. I'm still trying to figure out how to make it as detailed as possible. Plus for some reason iPhoto won't import pictures from my camera, so I need to figure all of that out because I want good quality pictures!

Workout Blog: Week 3 (How am I still walking?)

Well well... I must say that I am somewhat proud of myself this week. I made it a point to workout EVERYDAY (except for Saturday. I needed a day off.) Monday me and my friend Lauren wanted to go to a cycle class at our school but we got the days mixed up because since summer I ended and summer II began they changed days. So instead of wasting valuable time we ended up working out for an hour. Tuesday and Wednesday I went back to my gym and did my usual (workout routine will be up this week). Thursday me and Lauren went to a cycle class. She had been before but this was my first time. I have to say that I was VERY nervous because I've heard it's pretty intense. Hmm let me put it this way, anything anyone ever told you about it... imagine it a MILLION times worse. Actually, I'm not sure if I can say that exactly. We had a horrible instructor who was just rude and didn't care about any of us! So I don't think I will be going back.

I am looking forward to the new schedule at my actual gym. The schedule changes monthly, and this month it looks like I can start going to zumba! If you've never done this before, it's so much fun! So hopefully this week I can check it out. Some people were confused about me going to 2 gyms. Technically I only go to one. The rec at my school is paid for in my tuition, but I just don't really like it. The gym that I pay for every 2 weeks is a close to my house and it just seems more for me. Plus there is also one close to my school so when the fall semester starts I will be able to switch it up.

This week I'm hoping to change up my routine, which hopefully you'll find out this week in my workout routine blog post. Well that's it for this week. I am looking into some lunch and snack recipes, but I haven't really found much. If you know of any good sites, don't hesitate to let me know!!

Have a terrific week everyone!
Share a smile with someone (:

xoxo,
Brandy

Workout Blog: Week 2 = Fail.

Let me start this weeks blog with... what in the world was I thinking?! This week something just wasn't right. I didn't go to the gym once and I had no motivation to eat right. Don't get me wrong, I'm very motivated to get this done and to do it right. Last week I just had so much going on with school. I had a final in my accounting class, and I started another class. So my hours were so messed up and I just couldn't get to the gym. I honestly shouldn't be giving excuses because my gym opens at 5AM and closes at midnight EVERYDAY! I know should have made time to get my butt there to workout.

So I guess that's really all I have to say for this week. I do apologize for my lack of trying. This upcoming week is going to be a COMPLETELY different ball game! I even have something new I'm doing this week!

Goals for the Week:
1. Workout EVERY SINGLE DAY!!
2. No soda. No exceptions. None. Zero. Zilch.
3. Find new workouts that concentrate on abs.
4. Survive the new thing I'm doing this week - Details in next weeks blog! 

xoxo,
Brandy

Workout Blog - Week 1 Recap

First a foremost... HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! - Well yesterday. I hope everyone had an excited fun-filled day! I wanted to make sure that I posted these blogs on Sunday of the next week, but since it was the holiday I decided to do this today. This past week I FINALLY decided to kick my new healthy lifestyle into full gear. On Monday I went to the gym to get a new membership. I must say, when I was walking to the door from my car I was practically shaking because I was so nervous! When I was in high school I was very athletic and very much into keeping up a decent image. Not too skinny but healthy. For the past 3 years I kind of let that slip a bit. I do play co-ed flag football during the fall and co-ed softball during the spring for school, but other than that I really don't do anything - especially when it comes to eating. Food as always been my safety. I don't know, I guess it's safe to say that I kind of have a junk food addiction. 

When I was filling out my gym membership application, they asked me a lot of questions that had me thinking. One of them was "What is your starting weight and goal weight?" My answers:

Current: 140

Goal: 120

I figured that I wanted to keep my goal a little bit realistic. I know 20 pounds might seem like a lot, but I'm giving myself a pretty decent time frame. I would love to reach my goal by the beginning of the fall semester (which is around the last week of August) So almost about 2 months. The reason why I want to reach my goal by then, is because 1. it would be great to use the beginning of my last official year of school in the best shape and looking great! 2. Plus, at the beginning of the semester we have this all Greek mixer with all of the fraternity and sorority's on campus - which is a pool party at the school rec. So I would definitely love to be very confident! Last year I basically stayed in my bathing suit wrap the whole time!

Monday - I didn't workout because I just went to sign-up at the gym.

Tuesday - Thursday - I went to workout around 3 and I stayed for about an hour and a half. I rode 5 miles on the bike, jogged on the treadmill for 20 minutes (ran for the last 5 minutes), did 50 crunches and 50 leg pushes.

Friday - I hurt my back so I couldn't workout

Saturday & Sunday - Back still hurt/4th of July

I tried to drink as much water as possible. I have a mini fridge in my room filled with water so I usually reach for that as much as possible. I do have my soda addiction, which I'm trying to ease away from as much as possible. It's a lot harder than I thought but I'm working on it!

Goals for the Week:

- Drink A LOT more water

- Workout everyday no exceptions!

- Ease up on the junk food

- No eating after 7:30