Blogilates Transform Your Body in June!

Hello everyone! I get out of school next week and I wanted to jump into summer with a fresh new start after the school year. Also, I would like to look fantastic in a swim suit, I'm not gonna lie. That's why I am going to be doing the Blogilates Transform Your Body in June Challenge. Basically, it's a challenge to loose 4% percent of your total body weight in the month of June. The weigh in is this Saturday! So if you want to join me, decide soon! I've been doing Cassey's (the Blogilates instructor) workouts for about a month now and they really do work! They are really fun in a torturous kind of way. :P She has a variety of videos that target specific body parts that include many different moves and time lengths.

My goal is to have legs like a kpop star! (This is Miss A btw)

I just want to feel more comfortable in the clothes I'm wearing in the summer time. I don't want to worry if my thighs look chunky in shorts or whether or not I can wear a bikini to the beach. Another reason is because I would like to be healthier. My house is filled with junk food and it's been making me feel gross lately. I'm the only one in my family that really watches what they put into their body so I might get a little out numbered when it comes to what we are going to eat for dinner. Since Cassey makes clean-eating recipes, too, I can eat food that has nutrition and actually tastes good!

If you are looking to get healthier and loose a bit of weight, come join me! Let's do this together! On Cassey's website, you can actually bet money here which might give you a little motivation. I, personally, am looking forward to how I handle pushing myself to stick to my goal and achieving it. 

Liebster Award Take #3

Hello everyone! I was nominated by the beautiful Misa to do the another Liebster Award! I think I say this every time I get nominated for anything, but I really am grateful that she thought of my little blog and I to do this. This award is for bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

The Rules
1. Each blogger should answer the questions the tagger has set for you.
2. Choose 11 bloggers to pass the award onto and link them in your post
3. Create 11 new questions for the chosen bloggers.
4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.
5. Each blogger should post 11 facts about themselves.
6. No tag-backs!

11 facts about me
1. I read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen every year.
2. My uncle bought me a giant pirate flag for my birthday and we hung it up on our wall.
3. I'm currently in the process of growing my hair out extra extra long.
4. I've been really good about keeping up my healthy lifestyle and I've already lost 5 pounds!
5. When I draw, they're usually portraits of cute boys. ;)
6. I'm a daydreamer.
7. I don't have a nice camera. I wish I did, but I don't.
8. My favorite animal is a tiger.
9. If I could have lavender scented everything, I would.
10. I hate it when people have bad table manners.
11. I used to be in love with Tarzan when I was little.

1. Do you play musical instruments?
-Yes! I play clarinet and I'm hoping to pick up the guitar again this summer since I can't fit any more music classes into my scheduled.
2. What's your daily morning routine?
-I get up at the butt crack of dawn. Usually around 5:30 a.m. or 6 at the latest. I'm not a morning person but I've been turning into an early bird. It's usually because I need extra time to study. Then I shower, drink green tea, get ready, go to school, and study or do homework before class starts.
3. Your favorite song? 
-This is always the hardest question to answer. If you asked me a few months ago, I would have said Mr. Right by A Rocket to the Moon, but lately my friends got me addicted to kpop and some of those songs have already made it to my top 25 most played. Right now, I love B1A4's Beautiful Target and Baby Goodnight and there's no way my day can be complete without listening to Big Bang's Fantastic Baby.
4. What's your favorite lipstick?
-I actually don't own any lipsticks right now. It's kinda sad but I've been using Etude House's Shini Star lip balm in the grapefruit flavor (a.k.a. Jonghyun). It makes my lips a subtle choral color.
5. Do you have a phobia? What is it and why?
-Aliens! I watched one of those late-night paranormal shows when I was little and the alien episode made me so scared I cried myself to sleep.
6. What's your favorite TV show?
-I don't watch TV. I grew up with rabbit ears where we could only get about 6 channels because we couldn't afford cable or satellite. I guess it's a thing you have to be into at a young age.
7. What's the yuckiest food you ever tasted?
-Lutefisk, and no, not all Minnesotans like it! I've never met anyone who does. Fish should not be dipped in lye in any way, shape, or form!
8. What do you do when you're home alone?
-Blast kpop and dance around the house or workout. I don't like people watching me while I work out.
9. What's your favorite drug store?
-Target, they sell makeup for a cheaper price than the other drugstores.
9. Where would you like to travel if you had the chance?
-At this point, anywhere that's not in the Midwest. It's still cold here and it's almost summer.
10. Your dream hairstyle?
-Either perfect beach waves or a cute shoulder-length bob.
11. Who's your inspiration in blogging?
-My followers! I know that's a cheesy answer but it always makes my day when I see a new person who follows.

People I nominate
1. Chibi
2. PetitDerriere
3. Chee
4. Abbey
5. Rachel
6. Ivy
7. Charlotte
8. Hunny
9. Camilla
10. Firebrick
11. Jennifer

My Questions
1. Who's your celebrity crush?
2. What's your favorite genre of music?
3. If you had to describe yourself in only three words, what would they be?
4. What is your holy grail skin care product?
5. What is your favorite childhood memory and why?
6. Favorite junkfood?
7. Name some things off your summer wish-list.
8. Heels or flats?
9. Name three things you like in a bf/gf.
10. Would you rather be able to go back in time or into the future? Why?
11. Do you like warm or cool temperatures?

NOTD- Peachy Keen

Hello everyone! I went to Sally's yesterday and I got a discount on some new nail polishes. This is actually my first China Glaze polish I tried. My collection mostly consists of Sinful Colors polishes but they aren't the best quality because they're so cheap. Anyway, I wanted to try out some different brands and get some new summer colors.

I was going to do some fancy nail art again, but I couldn't bring myself to do anything. This color is just so fun and I think it will look fantastic on darker skin tones. Stay tuned for more NOTD's because I got another China Glaze polish and an Essie one. See you next time! XD

What's your favorite summer nail color?

Product Review- Mint Julep Masque

Hello everyone! Am I the only one who loves face masks? Hopefully not, I'm the only one in my family who does them and they always say it's weird. If it makes my skin feel nice, I don't care. 

Recently, I've been using the Mint Julep Masque. It's a clay mask that you leave on your skin until it's all dried up and hard and then wash it off. The thing is with clay masks, it's hard to move your face with it on. 

This mask claims to help with acne, blackheads, and large pores. Since I've been using it, I haven't seen a huge difference in my acne, and I can't tell you if it gets rid of black heads because I don't get them. But it does shrink my pores. I found that it does last for a while (about a full day after I use it), which I was really surprised about. Most masks leave my pores shrunken for a limited amount of time. 

If you are sensitive to scents, then I definitely do not suggest this because it has a very strong mint smell. I, personally, find it refreshing because mint wakes me up and my skin has no problem with scents. It's just something to be aware of. 

What I love about this mask is the price! I got this for about $5! I've used clay masks that cost up to $30 and this is just as effective in shrinking my pores. You also get a lot more product because the tube is almost twice the size of most masks provided by other brands.

Me with my hair pulled back and in my pj's. The perfect time to do a face mask! 

Pros

-Cheap!

-Shrinks pores

-Long lasting

-Refreshing scent

Cons

-Doesn't help a lot with acne

-Can be irritating for some skin types

Overall, I think this is a fantastic product for it's price. I'm no longer going to spend three times the money on a clay mask when this one works just as well.

Family Camping Trip

Hello everyone! Yesterday I got home from a family camping trip with my dad, his girlfriend, her grandson, and my siblings and I. That all added up to six people in one RV. I know, staying in an RV doesn't really count as camping, but my dad wanted one really badly. Honestly, hiking up a tent and sleeping in there is so much better because RV campsites are basically trailer parks. But that didn't stop me from trying to have some fun!

We went to a national park to go hiking by the river, and these were some stairs leading down to the bank. You can really tell that we've had a pretty brutal winter, the grass is still fighting to grow.

We always have a tradition to go to Tobies Bakery for some snacks. Their caramel rolls are absolutely amazing and I think I've gained a pound just being in their store. (They give away free samples, too! They are trying to make me gain weight!)

Here's what we all got. Mine was the one with nuts on top. My poor brother's sugar donut got a little deflated. 

 My sister and I each got these little mice that are actually chocolate covered cherries!

Did you guys know they had these? They're flat marshmallows to make the perfect s'more!

Summer Music!

Hello everyone! This is my first music post! I've mentioned that I play the clarinet but you guys don't know what kind of music that I listen to out of music class and carry along with me in my ipod. First of all, I listen to a wide range of music, like a little bit of everything. But something that really catches my attention is something happy with a steady beat. Music is like coffee to me, if I don't listen to it in the morning, you better run away because I will not be pleasant to be around.

My dad got me these amazing new ihome headphones!

Male Singers

Most the music I listen to is sung by guys. I don't know why, maybe it's because musicians are sexy. ;) I remember being younger and refusing to like a song that had a boy as the main vocals (girl power!). Oh, how things change. . .

Island In The Sun- Weezer. This is the kind of song that I associate with the beach, soaking up the sun. My friend said the same exact thing when she found it on my ipod.

Hey Mama- Mat Kearney. Just a cute love song that gets stuck in your head. I love the rhythm in the background that sounds like clapping. It just gives it a more organic feel.

Restless Heart-  Matt Hires. This a song that I picture playing in the car on a road trip. Again, it's a cute love song, but this one is a little bit bitter. A really great heart-breaker induced tragedy.

Live Like A Warrior- Matisyahu. As it gets warmer, I get more into reggae. Don't worry, it's not crazy reggae. This particular song is just very motivating. You know those songs that makes you forget about what people think about you? Yeah, it's one of those songs.

Female Singers

Only one this time. I told you I'm not really into female singers.

I Love It (I don't care)- Icona Pop. My sister and I like to blast this in the car. Yep, we're those people. I don't really know why I like this song other than it's really fun.

Kpop!

You guys can thank my friends for this category. (If you guys ever find this, Hey! XD) I was recently introduced to B1A4 and I'm addicted! Their songs have been on repeat ever since.

Beautiful Target (Japanese Version)- B1A4. I don't know what it is about deep voices, but when I heard Baro, I knew I was going to love this group. In my opinion, the Japanese version of this song is better. The music video is more playful than the Korean version

What's Happening- B1A4. I found this music video because of Eat Your Kimchi. At first, I thought the Barbie and Ken masks were creepy, but the dancing kept me coming back.

Jeon Won Diary- T-Ara. Yes, they are a girl group, but they are one of the few exceptions. Another friend showed me the music video (the one where they're on a farm, not the dance version) and I thought it was catchy.

What do you guys think about kpop? Yay or nay?

Those are all the songs that I only recently listen to. I have a ton other songs that I absolutely adore but we don't have a lifetime to talk about it. Hope you guys liked this! Should I continue to do these posts every once in a while? What kind of music to you listen to?

Product Review: Etude House Pink Powder Spot Treatment

Hello everyone! I just got done with the biggest test I have ever taken. I'm just so glad it's over with and I can relax again. And of course, with the added stress, I got a few new breakouts. It's a good thing I had my Etude House Pink Powder Spot treatment in the sample size. Are you guys sick of my Etude House reviews yet? Don't worry, I'll get some reviews from different brands soon.

Sorry for the weird shine

First of all, this sample in the picture is on it's last limb. Usually, the powder will sink to the bottom and there will be this clear solution floating on the top. You want to use a q-tip and pick up the powder in the bottom and apply it to the blemish and leave it on overnight. Try really hard not to shake it because you need to have  the powder separate from the solution. I was a little set off when I heard this, it kind of reminded me of a science lab experiment in some odd way.

For my skin, this significantly shrinks the blemish and reduces the redness. In a few days, it's completely gone. But I did experience some peeling if I used it on one specific area too much, but I just exfoliated that away. It didn't feel irritated or anything like that.

Pros

-Extremely effective

-Works really fast

Cons

-Not available in US

-Description was kinda scary

-Slight peeling

Overall, this worked ten times better than my dermatologist-prescribed cream! I will have to order a full size product of this ASAP. Very glad I got to try it in sample form before I got it.

NOTD- Another Gradient

 Hello everyone! Long time no nail post. Lately, I just have not been doing my nails. It's just been a plain, coral color polish for the past three weeks. So yesterday, I wanted something fun and bold. The only polishes I have at the moment were nudes and glitter polishes. So I used a slightly glittery nude polish underneath, and used a chunky gold glitter polish to make this gradient effect. You can do this by just dabbing a blob of nail polish with a makeup sponge, a bundled up ball of saran wrap, or a q-tip.

You guys will have to excuse my gross cuticles, it's still pretty cold here and it's not kind to my hands.

My awkwardly long hands

This did get a little messy and I had a lot of glitter on the side of my fingers, but that's not something I care about. See you next time! XD

Product Review: Etude House Red Spot Balm

Hello everyone! I know I've been reviewing a lot of Etude House products lately, but I bought a lot in my Etude House Haul a while ago and I've been trying to space out reviews so I can still have constant updates until I get a job and buy more products. I'm going to start applying this weekend and hopefully I can get something fast.

Let's get started on the review, shall we?

First of all, let me say that I have suffered from acne scars throughout adolescence. The acne itself is not a problem for me, a single zit usually goes away in about a week. What does get me are the dark spots that are left behind. Even though the pimple will be gone for months, the pigmentation will still be there, making me look like I still have that pimple. I've gone to my dermatologist about it, but like everyone else, they think it's acne, even though I specifically said acne scars. My prescriptions have not been working for my spots and so I got the Etude House Red Spot Balm to see if this will work because Asian products usually work really well with my skin.

First of all, this product comes in a little jar, which I'm not a fan of. They do supply you with a little spatula that you can use if you keep track of it. I loose things easily so I have to dig the balm out with my fingers.

Here's what it looks like. Basically, it is just a white balm. It is a little heavy and it does not spread well. You kind of have to pack it on your face. It doesn't really soak into your skin, it just sits there. If you touch it, it will come off in your hands. That is something I'm not a fan of, I like products that seep into my skin nicely.

The thing is, this is probably the only product that I have found that helped fade my acne scars faster. I've been using this a little less than two weeks and I've already seen improvement. I've used a could dark spot faders before and they didn't do crap. The fact that it's been fading the spots I've had on my face for six months makes me forget about how it feels on my skin.

Pros

-Fades stubborn acne scars!

-Comes with a spatula

Cons

-Not easy to spread

-Doesn't soak into skin

-Comes off if you rub it

-Have to use your fingers

If you are like me and you're frustrated with red spots, then I do suggest this product. If you don't need it, then I wouldn't. Because of it's effectiveness, I am able to look past it's cons and use it daily.

What do you guys think? Would you still use it?

Product Review: Nivea Lip Butter

Hello everyone! I know I'm a little late on the bandwagon, but I just recently got the Nivea Lip Butter at my local grocery store, and now I have a review!

The only flavor that was in stock was the Raspberry Rose Kiss, which is fine with me. I had originally wanted the vanilla flavor but now I'm in love with the raspberry. It's not an overpowering taste like some lip balms where it's like candy you just lick off your lips. 

The formula is super moisturizing and leave my lips soft and healthy. If I don't drink enough water, my lips get all cracked and gross. This really does replenish them really quickly and effectively. Just be warned, you want to use a small amount of this in public because it can leave a white cast over your lips. The first time I used it, I packed it on there and I looked like I was dying because all the color in my lips was gone.

This product is great for overnight lip conditioning. When I wake up, they are still soft from the night before. Also, I used this for a DIY lip scrub because I'm too cheap to buy an actual lip scrub.

Pros

-Very hydrating

-Smells great

-Very light

-Little goes a long way

-Great for DIY lip scrub

-Long Lasting

Cons

-Can take color out of your lips

-Have to use your finger to apply

Overall, I love this stuff. When I'm at home, I don't care that I look sickly if I put a lot on because it just feels so nice and soft, but at school, I make sure to go easy on applying it. I've been using this in the morning, night, and anytime in between for the past two weeks. Can't wait to try the other flavors. See you guys next time!

Leibster Award Take #2

Hello everyone! I've been nominated by the amazing Chermaine to do the Liebster award. I am so happy and grateful for this nomination! Since this is my second time doing this, I'm not going to nominate anyone but you can see who I nominated the first time around here.

11 Things About Me:

1. I've played clarinet since the third grade.

2. My favorite color is a mix between red and orange.

3. I keep a Protector Against the Evil Eye amulet that my uncle got in Jerusalem in my purse at all times because I'm scared I'll get into a car crash.

4. Sometimes my birthday falls on Thanksgiving, so I get a feast, cake, and presents.

5. I can make a face that looks like Grumpy Cat.

6. One of my favorite movies growing up was Ferngully. I'm not sure if anyone else has heard of it, but it was about fairies. 

7. I love anything to do with mermaids or the ocean. Sadly, I live in a landlocked state in the US. :(

8. I am terrible at keeping track of lip balms and chap sticks. I always need to buy more because I loose them.

9. I wish I had the courage to cut my hair short, but I'm afraid I'll regret it. I think curly, shoulder-length hair is super cute.

10. My hands are literally the size of a man's.

11. I'm a huge bookworm! Reading is one of my favorite things to do. 

Questions Asked by Chermaine:

1. Where is your dream destination?

-It changes every year because I'm interested in different things. Right now it will probably be Seoul, South Korea. Or Greece, Jamaica, and the Caribbean. I'm kind of indecisive.

2. If you can meet anyone, who would it be and what will be your first question to that person?

-This is so hard! I want to meet so many people I can't choose just one, or the first question I will ask. Everyone? Does that count? No? Okay. . .

3. What is the most daring thing you have done?

-Honestly, I haven't done a lot of exciting things. The most daring thing I've done is probably flying on a plane alone. I was going to visit my grandma in Florida when I was twelve. 

4. What do you like the most about yourself?

-My eyes, when I'm outside they get really green and pretty. Most of my makeup is trying to emphasize that.

5. Why did you start blogging?

-I didn't really have anyone to talk about makeup and skincare with because all my friends aren't really into that kind of stuff. Plus, I've been watching makeup gurus on youtube for a while and I though blogging would be a good way to share the things I liked without having to put myself in a video to do it.

6. Can you recite any tongue-twisters perfectly? If so, which is it?

-No! They are so hard. Being born to a Scottish-American family, talking regularly is hard to do without mumbling and slurring all my words together.

7. What is your favorite quote?

-"Let us not underestimate the power of a well-written letter." -Jane Austen. My grandparents actually met because my grandfather accidentally got letters from my grandma to a man with the same name. They started to write to each other and the rest is history. My grandfather died two years ago so I'm very attached to that quote.

8. Pick one. Do something that you may regret later, or don't do something and regret later.

-Probably do something and regret it later. Everyone needs to make a few mistakes every once in awhile.

9. If you could only buy one cosmetic product, what would you buy and why?

-Right now, probably a new BB cream, because I'm addicted to BB creams.

10. Salmon sashimi or cooked salmon?

-Salmon sashimi, I've never had cooked salmon.

11. Did you have a security blanket or toy as a child? If yes, what is it and do you still have it?

-I don't remember having a special blanket as a kid, and most of my toys were broken by my brother or sister. The rest of them I broke on my own. We were very rough children.

There you have it! You guys should definitely check out Chermaine and her blog and the other people she nominated.  These awards are always so much fun to do and a great way to discover new blogs. I'll see you next time! XD