THE LIGHTER SIDE

Inside My Purse

2011-01-25T15:12:00.000-08:00

Today I am bringing you inside of my purse. All of these items are must-haves for an average day of going out, seeing friends, or running errands - depending on the day and where I'm going of course. If it's the weekend I'll throw in a little flask of whiskey and more makeup. If I'm going to work (Lifeguarding) I switch and put all of my necessities from my purse into my pink Under Armor gym bag and add; extra clothes, a towel, my Red Cross book, lotion, a whistle, etc.

For some reason I feel like men are terrified of a girl's purse. A memory of me asking someone to grab something from inside my purse and him saying, "no, you do it," comes to mind. I'm not going to claim to be every girl, but I am pretty sure we all like to keep the same stuff with us. Dear men, don't be scared! A purse is just a pocket to us. However can be quite valuable, depending on the girl.

Now let's take a look, shall we?

Here's my current purse, Kathy Van Zeeland. I got it for 40$ at Marshalls.

Uh oh...

Alright, here we are! Nothing special right? I laid everything out so I can try to tell you in order what I have, what I use it for, why I love and NEED to carry it on me at all times. Let's begin!

Starting from the left I have my makeup, wallet, and electronics...

Makeup... (left to right)
Make Up For Ever's HD Liquid Foundation. 40$ and totally worth every penny. It's a moisturizing medium-full coverage foundation with benefits such as making your skin look beautiful in photos.
LashGrip Eyelash Adhesive. I am a huge fan of false eyelashes, and have been for years now. This is a 5$ product that I get from Sally Beauty Supply. I carry it on me just incase a lash starts to come off, which rarely happens - better safe than sorry though, right?
Maybelline Nude Lip Pencil in Toast. I'm not sure how much this was, but I always try to wear a lip liner to give my lips that extra juicy look.
Revlon Luscious Lip Gloss in Peach Petal. This is a non-sticky lip gloss that I put over my lip liner and lipstick to accomplish a pink nude lip. Love it.
Orglamix Mineral Powder Foundation in Butternut. I have mentioned Orglamix Mineral Makeup in other posts. It's the only powder I use. I always bring this with me because I tend to get very oily skin, even in the winter.
MAC Lipstick in Creme D'Nude. This is actually the first MAC lipstick that I've ever owned. It's very moisturizing and long-lasting. I absolutely love this color too.
Crown Brush Powder Brush. To apply my Orglamix Mineral Powder.
And lastly for makeup, a mirror that I got from Sally Beauty Supply. Got to make sure my makeup is always on point!

Wallet and Electronics...
I am so glad that I'm actually putting my Bad Mother Fucker wallet to use. If you're curious as to why I have a wallet that says such a thing, don't get me wrong I am totally a BMF but the wallet came from the movie Pulp Fiction. I got my dad one as well for Christmas.
Flip Video Camera. I love this thing, even though I don't put it to use as much as I would like. I think everyone should invest in one. It's about 150$ and plugs right into your computer for fast uploading.
Phone and charger. I will just say that I sometimes wish I didn't have one. For some reason people LOVE bothering me while I'm sleeping with pointless texts and calls...

Etc...
Spare Change. Yes I am the type that has to have exact change.
Deodorant. Gotta stay fresh! I've been looking to purchase a new all-natural deodorant. If anyone could suggest any that'd be much appreciated!
Facial Moisturizer. I'm obsessed with facial moisturizing. Actually, that could be why my skin is always so damn oily! The one I like to keep with me is Dress Green's coffee moisturizer. It does the job and is travel size.

Well, those are the contents of my purse. Even though it probably wasn't as exciting as you all were hoping for, I hope you feel like you know me a little bit better now, haha! Ciao. Xoxo.

Chicken Alfredo Pizza

2011-01-24T18:40:00.000-08:00

Next to sandwiches and pasta, pizza is a favorite of mine. The possibilities are endless. My most favorite pizza toppings (usually) are: pineapple, jalapenos, and BBQ sauce. However tonight I decided to switch it up a bit with...
-Chicken
-Red peppers
-Broccoli
-White alfredo sauce
-Mozzarella cheese

I usually always make my own pizza dough, but I understand that not everyone has the time for that. Pillsbury offers both traditional and thin crust pizza dough. All you need to do is roll out the dough and add your toppings. :)

Simple Purple French Manicure

2011-01-21T00:13:00.001-08:00

Laser Tattoo Removal (First session)

2011-01-20T17:21:00.000-08:00

Wooofta, that was probably the most painful 2 minutes of my life! I covered a lot about tattoo removal in my second to last post. So I'll just go ahead and tell you about my first session. People aren't lying when they say it feels like getting hot grease splashed on you over and over again. That explanation nails it. Or I mean, you could just explain it for what it really is... putting a LASER to your skin. I'm glad I decided to go to Northeast Tattoo in Minneapolis. Alex (the owner, I believe) is the one doing my tattoo removal. He's very professional and comforting. His prices are also the best I've seen (for tattoo removal). He says you see the most results after the 2nd and 3rd session. There will be before and after photos to come.

Bad Bitch Cosmetics

2011-01-19T19:27:00.000-08:00

Hi all! I just wanted to tell you about my experience with Bad Bitch Cosmetics. I'm always playing with new mineral makeup, especially eyeshadows. While looking for new product to try I stumbled upon BBC's Etsy store. I was impressed with how many beautiful pigments (con: only two in matte) they had to offer and decided to try 10 different shades with their sample package. They shipped my order out fast and there is more than a decent amount of powder in every container. I have yet to use these pigments, however am already extremely pleased with how vibrant and glittery they are. Keep an eye out to see the makeup looks I create using Bad Bitch Cosmetics.

Shop Bad Bitch Cosmetics

Life Update

2011-01-18T15:41:00.000-08:00

Hey lovers! It's Tuesday afternoon and I am just now fully recovered from an insane weekend. Saturday night was pretty relaxed, however Sunday is a night I'll never forget (from what I remember). I got to see both male and female strippers in action for the first time in celebration of my girl's birthday. It was wild, my jaw was dropped the ENTIRE time. It's not like I've never seen a naked man before, but the stuff they were doing... was shocking, to say the absolute least.

Today I took the time to pamper myself, there is a great deal going on at the nail salon near my house - 20$ pedicures, yum!

Afterwards I finally got a consult for my chest tattoo, if you've been following my blog for a few months you know that I've been wanting it removed for quite some time. My first appointment is this upcoming Thursday. Each session is going to cost 75$ and take about 10/15 minutes. Which is not bad considering that other places can charge up to 200$ a session. In between each session I have to allow 4-8 weeks healing time. The longer you wait in between sessions, the better the tattoo will come out. Luckily I'm a very patient person. Wish me luck!

Love YOUrself

2011-01-13T21:28:00.000-08:00

what you say...
I'm fat, I'm a whore, I'm stupid, I'm ugly, I have a big nose, I'm a home-wrecker, I'm too young, I look too old, I'm too honest, I am not honest enough, I'm an addict, I'll never be successful...

what i know...
I'm ambitious, I'm unique, I make people laugh, I make others feel good about themselves, I have talent, I am beautiful, I am full of life, I am young and have the whole world to explore, I can make honest changes in myself, I have style, I am spunky, I'm wise upon my years, I'm motivated, I am a great speller, I am ME.

I am true to myself. I love myself. I know what is true and what is not about myself. I may not be perfect, but in my family's eyes I am.

Welcome back, fake nails

2011-01-13T14:34:00.000-08:00

I've missed my vibrant babies so much! My (real) nails finally healed up enough to get them done today.

(Mine are the more ridiculous set of the two)

Philosophy's Purity Facial Cleanser

2011-01-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

Taking a (long overdue) trip to Sephora was post-poned until tonight. I finally made it out there and was very glad I did so... because I was finally able to purchase and try Philosophy's Purity Facial Cleanser. The reviews I've read had nothing but great things to say about this product. So I am so enthusiastic that I got a bottle. Of course I LOVE it. With reviews like 4.6 out of 5, you're going to have a hard time finding someone who doesn't. It's milky, moisturizing, has a FABULOUS scent that reminds me of Aveda's products, and a little goes a very long way. Click here to purchase. Remember, I'm sincere about skin care, I would never recommend something that's not wonderful! Xoxo.

Ice Cube

2011-01-10T13:00:00.000-08:00

Hello followers! It's been a great monday so far, so I decided to tell you about it quickly. My mother and I started our day by going shopping... thrifting to be exact - Which was quite unsuccessful, however we did find a very nice curling iron. :)

We then went to Down In The Valley... to pick up... Ice Cube tickets! Yay! He's coming to Minneapolis for a show on March 15th. I couldn't be more stoked. I had no idea who I'd invite, none of my friends are into old school rap like I am... besides the man who introduced me to it - My father! He was very eager when I told him we were going. I'm really excited to get him out of the house.

Tonight I'll be spending time with my two close girlfriends, Finesse and Julia. Julia attends college in a different state and is going back tuesday. I miss her again already!

Accomplishments of 2010

2011-01-02T23:15:00.000-08:00

Quit smoking cigarettes, along with the unhealthy lifestyle of partying.
( http://gynoid-fembot.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-dont-need-you.html )
( http://gynoid-fembot.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-dont-need-you-2.html )
( http://gynoid-fembot.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-dont-need-you-3.html )

Became healthy and happy. (Exercise and nutrition)

Started making jewelry.

( http://gynoid-fembot.blogspot.com/2010/09/jewelry-preview.html )

Became a certified lifeguard through The Red Cross.

Wrote a successful blog, and kept at it!

Enjoyed my last year of youth.

Attended my first festival, Plunderfest @ Harmony Park.
( http://gynoid-fembot.blogspot.com/2010/07/plunder-fest-2010-led-jellyfish.html )

( http://gynoid-fembot.blogspot.com/2010/07/psychos-stay-at-home.html )

Cooked my first thanksgiving dinner.
( http://gynoid-fembot.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving.html )

Went on a plane for the first time, to Saint Louis.

New Year's Resolutions

2010-12-29T13:15:00.000-08:00

1. Start capitalizing.
2. Start making video blogs/tutorials.
3. Take time to pamper myself atleast once a week.
4. Save money. $
5. Get my Etsy store running.
6. Take adult enrichment classes.
7. Take more photos.

Here are a few goals I quickly thought up for 2011. I have successfully stopped smoking, eating unhealthy, and (heavily) drinking. Which I personally think are HUGE accomplishments enough!

(1) Start using capital letters. I have gotten a few complaints about how I never use the shift key. I personally think capital letters are ugly (don't ask). However most successful bloggers use capitals, so I shall too! Easy, right?

(2) Instead of simply writing all of the time, I will start posting video. It will be such a fun way to interact with you guys! :)

(3) Although it may seem like I pamper myself often, I let stress consume me too easily. This goal is to simply tell myself that it's okay to relax. I am still young and have time.

(4) Save ca$h. Now that I am making more money, I need to learn how to save it.

(5) Get my online store running. This is a goal I told myself I'd complete by the new year, and have obviously not. This is now one of my top priorities.

(6) Take adult enrichment classes, such as soap making, cooking classes, etc.

What are your goals for the new year?

nail repair

2010-12-28T23:18:00.000-08:00

if you haven't noticed from my photos - i absolutely love fake nails. it's almost an addiction for me. the designs, the pampering, the girly-ness... however, with fake nails come unhealthy real nails... and even nail fungus.
i got my artificial nails removed on christmas eve. since then, i've been using a antifungal treatment and orly's 'nailtrition' - and i can say i'm already seeing major improvement. before and after photos coming soon.

i will continue to post on my nail recovery. but until then... let's reminisce...

R.I.P

(for now)

avocado and honey face mask

2010-12-28T15:48:00.000-08:00

ingredients:
1 medium avocado (ripe)
1 - 2 tablespoons of raw honey
a small dash of olive oil

moisturizing mask, ideal for sensitive skin.

prepare avocado and mash up with fork. add honey and olive oil, mix well. apply all over face. leave on for 10-30 minutes. relax & enjoy. rinse off with cool water.

don't worry (about others) be happy.

2010-12-26T17:13:00.000-08:00

lately i have been noticing a lot of people attacking others. maybe they're unhappy with themselves, having a bad day, or something may not be going well for them in their personal life. and the only reason i am posting about others today is because i used to be that rude and unhappy girl. however, i don't try attacking people - i try to understand and help them.

"sometimes you've got to let everything go - purge yourself. if you are unhappy with anything... whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. because you'll find that when you're free, your true creativity, your true self comes out." - tina turner

everyone grows up and becomes truly happy at different times and in different ways. or sometimes they never do. i wish i could tell you all how to become happy with yourself and how to accept others for who and what they are - but i can't.
my biggest inspiration would be my ex fiance. he's the most loving and wise person i have in my life. he does not let anything bring him down, and is also very ambitious.
my next biggest step was getting rid of those and those things that were destroying my character. such as being unhealthy, and having friends that were a bad influence on me.

getting drunk and partying is just a temporary feel of happiness. if that's all you're doing then i'd question what it is you're trying to escape from. if all you do on networking sites such as facebook is complain and hate on other people, question yourself again. "why am i so angry?"

happiness is worth the effort.
do what you love.
allow yourself to grow.
be responsible.
have fun.
be optimistic.
set and accomplish goals.
find and pursue your talent(s).
don't worry about others.

happiness, kindness, and patience will always be rewarded.

http://healing.about.com/od/cocreate/ss/happieryousteps.htm

christmas presents

2010-12-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

even though this year was the most stressful of all. it ended beautifully. i love my family... even if we don't always agree. here are some of the gifts i received.

a food processor, adidas track suit, sports bag, mel b fitness game for our ps3 move, 'bad mother fucker' wallet from the movie 'pulp fiction' (i got my dad one too), a snuggie, a subscription to health magazine, sephora gift card, and raw honey.

i hope you all had a beautiful christmas like i did. xoxo!

you are what you eat!

2010-12-24T04:44:00.000-08:00

i have posted on how to take care of your skin from the outside. now, let's talk a little about taking care of your skin from the inside. you are what you eat. if you eat good foods, you're going to have great skin. if you eat poorly... well you probably have already noticed the consequences. it only makes sense, right? not only will changing your diet make you a happier and healthier person, it will show.

for every one of my meals i make sure to include either a vegetable or fruit. both are good for your skin. here are some specific foods that your skin will LOVE:
- blueberries
- broccoli
- yogurt
- oats
- strawberries
- garlic
- salmon
- spinach
- almonds
- whole-grain breads

*make sure to drink lots of water. green tea (rich in antioxidants) and 1%, skim, and fat-free milk (good source of calcium and vitamins) are also good for your skin health.
*fish oil supplements are a great way to get healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
*foods high in antioxidants such as blueberries help fight free radicals which can damage skin cells.

mmmmm, delicious :)

oat and honey face mask

2010-12-21T10:07:00.000-08:00

what you'll need:
- honey
- milk
- finely ground old-fashioned oats

why oatmeal/old-fashioned oats?
- great for sensitive skin
- reduces redness
- moisturizes
- exfoliates

grind your oats in your coffee grinder until they're almost a fine powder. empty into a bowl. add a tiny bit of milk, and a generous amount of honey. mix. if the scrub/mask is not at the consistency you'd like at this point, add more oats or milk. apply to clean and steamed face. leave on for 15 minutes. rinse off with cool water to close pores.

facial products i couldn't live without

2010-12-20T18:04:00.000-08:00

burt's bees orange essence facial cleanser

- bursting with orange scent
- non-irritating
- leaves face soft / not dried out
- removes makeup

price: 5-8 $
buy online now

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olay complete all day UV moisturizer (spf 15) for normal skin
- best moisturizer i've used
- addictive
- not the best smell, but i'll live
- makes foundation go on smooth
*this product unfortunately has some bad reviews, however i love it. my face has never been so smooth, especially under my eyes. i love how lightweight it is.*
price: about 9 $ buy online now

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orglamix mineral makeup

-organic
-priced well
-lightweight
-satisfaction guaranteed
- a little goes a long way

*i use this either by itself or on top of my liquid foundation. and either way it offers great coverage while staying lightweight. cheri is always offering specials, so i recommend giving orlgamix a try. she also offers vibrant eyeshadows.*

price: around 7-14 $ buy online now

minnesota snowstorm

2010-12-11T06:21:00.000-08:00

pistachio-cherry cookies

2010-12-08T20:58:00.000-08:00

these pistachio-cherry cookies were really a delight. they're much different then the cookies i usually make, which are soft and chocolate-y. i had some trouble with the dough, it was way too crumbly/dry so i had to add a bit of water, knead, and then a bit of flour, and knead to the right consistency.

-1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
-1/2 cup granulated sugar
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1 large egg, separated
-2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
-1/2 cup pistachio nuts, roughly chopped
-1 8-ounce container candied red cherries, roughly chopped
-1/3 cup coarse or sanding sugar (i used regular granulated sugar and just sprinkled some on top)

find the rest of the recipe here.

cookies, cookies, cookies!

2010-12-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

it's pretty much tradition for my mother and i to bake tons of cookies before christmas, well isn't it everyone's? anyway, i thought i'd share the cookies i decide to make, along with their recipe.

1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chow mein noodles
1 cup salted peanuts

melt chocolate and butterscotch chips using your microwave. about 2 1/2 minutes. once melted, stir in peanuts and chow mein noodles until well coated. line a baking sheet with wax paper and drop by tablespoons onto baking/cookie sheet. refrigerate for two hours.

this is an easy no-bake cookie, and it's one of my favorites - along with my family's. i don't even enjoy chocolate that much! but these are truly delicious.

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two days ago i went to the dentist to figure out what is going on with my jaw. we did an x-ray to find out that all four of my wisdom teeth are coming in. they're huge and very painful, they also helped cause my TMJ. even though this means i'll soon be going through dental surgery to remove them, i'm relieved to know what exactly is going on.

in between baking i started on my DIY snow globes. tutorial will be posted soon.

candy cane necklace

2010-12-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

here is a necklace i made to show my christmas spirit, a polymer clay candy cane.

i absolutely love crafting for the holidays, even while in pain. a few days ago i found out that i have a jaw disorder called tmj. i've been in severe pain for a week now. tomorrow i'll be going to the dentist (hopefully) and getting a mouthguard.
i'd really like for this to be done with, so i can enjoy the holidays without pain.

honey + aspirin = love

2010-12-02T13:40:00.000-08:00

today i'm going to share with you the DIY honey-aspirin face mask that i use 3 times a week. it's affordable and very effective. this is because aspirin contains beta hydroxy acid (BHA) BHA is an exfoliant, as well as an anti-inflammatory. i've mainly noticed how aspirin makes my skin soft and blemish/acne free. however others say it can help with dryness, wrinkles, roughness, and more! i add honey to the water/aspirin mixture because it is a natural humectant, which works as a moisturizer.

now, you want to apply this mask to a clean face, i personally do it right after a hot shower - the heat helps open up pores, so they can be easily cleansed. otherwise, just wash your face with water, and dry with paper towels.

place five uncoated aspirin tablets to a shallow plate
add a tiny amount of water
mush aspirin with finger
add honey
apply evenly on clean face
leave on for ten-thirty minutes
rinse off with warm water

remember, you can make your mask either thick, or thin in texture by adding less water, or more aspirin.

also, don't forget to drink lots of water and take your fish oil!
more DIY face masks coming soon.

2010-12-01T20:34:00.000-08:00

brown sugar oatmeal with strawberries and bananas (breakfast)

mini pesto croissant pizza with jalapenos (snack)

tuna wrap on whole wheat tortilla (lunch)

banana yogurt parfait with strawberries (snack)

for dinner i treated myself to a small slice of my father's papa murphy's take and bake pizza. earlier i was experiencing severe pain from an ear infection. thankfully i am finally feeling a bit better. *sigh*
although these meals i've been posting are very simple, please let me know if you'd enjoy a recipe. xo.