Thursday, September 11, 2014

My Morning Routine

“Morning is an important time of day, because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have.” -Lemony Snicket


I try to make the best of my mornings and create a positive and healthy attitude when I get ready so I can make the best of my day. I start off by turning off my alarm clock and check my phone to catch up on last night’s events and make my bed. This helps me slowly wakeup without rushing into getting ready. I then wash my face and put my contacts in. I recommend using a light cleanser to wash your face in the morning to not only help you wake up, but clean off the oils trapped in your face from sleeping and your pillow. The one I currently use is the Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser, which smells great and gives me a good wakeup call, but also cleanses my face. I then figure out what to wear and get started on my hair. And depending on how much time I have, I would either straighten, curl, or leave my hair natural. I don’t like to put heat on my hair everyday so I try to leave my hair natural as much as possible. Once my hair is all done, I get started on my makeup. My makeup routine is about the same everyday. I start off by using a face lotion to moisturize my face and then spray on a makeup setting spray. The one I currently use is the Urban Decay All Nighter makeup setting spray; this setting spray not only keeps your makeup on all day but also gives you a nice dewy look so your foundation doesn’t look cakey. Then I apply my foundation and concealer, and if I’m in a hurry I will only apply concealer to save time. The foundation I’m obsessed with is the Maybelline “Fit Me” foundation, this is great for girls who want a good coverage foundation that can last all day! The concealer I use the Sonia Kushiuk “Hidden Agenda” Concealer palette, this is by far the best concealer I own! This concealer is great at covering up acne and blackheads, plus a little goes a long way. I then set my face with powder and start on eyebrows. Drawing in your eyebrows is crucial for finishing off that structured face look. I like taking a brown powder and fill in sparse areas and then use the Bobby Brown "Gimme Brow" eyebrow gel to keep them in place. Once my brows are done, I apply some mascara (my favorites are the Maybelline “Falsies” and the Covergirl “Clump Crusher”) and head to breakfast. After I finish my meal and watch a couple minutes of Good Morning America, I head off to school and finish off my morning!

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Homecoming 2014

Homecoming is one of the most memorable moments of a student's high school career. The cute Homecoming asks, Homecoming spirit week where everyone dresses up in a specific theme, the Homecoming football game where the queen and king are crowned, the fancy dinners and pictures, all leading up to the dance. But the best part (in my opinion) is the dress. My favorite part of Homecoming is going through Instagram and looking at all the dresses everyone wore. Every girl wears a beautiful dress, yet everyone’s dress is still unique in itself, showing off the girl’s style and personality. Finding the right Homecoming dress can be a bit of a challenge, but have no fear. Today I'm going to talk about the best stores to buy Homecoming dresses from, online and locally, and how to work around your budget!

If you are struggling to find a Homecoming dress, don’t worry! There are so many stores that sell dresses and specifically homecoming dresses, you just have to look a little harder. If you are uncomfortable ordering a dress online, I advise you go to a dress shop or a bridal store. In Iowa, there is Hope’s Bridal and Le Chic Prom and Pageant Boutique that sell name brand homecoming and prom dresses that will for sure have what you are looking for! These stores specialize in events like these so all of these dresses are perfect for Homecoming and Prom. I will say, these dresses are a bit on the pricer side of the spectrum (usually ranging from $200-$600).  If your going to your senior year of homecoming and want to splurge a little and find a one of a kind dress, go to these stores for that perfect dress! If you are looking for something cheaper, I advise you to go to Dillards or VonMaur. These department stores not only have cheaper homecoming dresses, but also have a wide selection you can choose from. The dresses sold at these stores are usually knock off’s of the designer dresses sold for $500 so you would be getting the same style and look, just for much cheaper! These dresses usually from $50-$100 and many times the dresses will be on sale. 

In my opinion, I would order the dress online because you have such a wide selection you can choose from. Though many argue that shipping is a hassle and you might get a wrong size, just always be sure you have a back up dress and that you order ahead of time in case you need to ship it back for a new size or shipping took loner than expected. My favorite website to buy a homecoming dress is http://www.newyorkdress.com/ this site has prom and homecoming dresses from all the dress designers in America. The website catalog aids to everyone’s price range and style. If you’re looking for an elegant, expensive dress, just click the name brands or the “red carpet” section. If you’re looking for a cheaper, yet still stunning dress, just click on the lesser-known designers or the clearance section. I’ve purchased several dresses from this website and had no problems with shipping and all came within the 7-10 day range. If you’re looking for more vintage style dresses I would defiantly advise you to check out http://www.modcloth.com. This website has the best vintage style dresses for amazing prices too, around $50-$150. If you’re looking for pretty and simple Homecoming dress, check out http://www.lulus.com . This website sells simple, but stylish dresses for around the same price as Modcloth.


These are just a small sliver of stores where you could purchase Homecoming dress. There are so much more websites and stores where you can find a dress that matches your style and personality. The websites and stores I just mentioned are the ones I personally like the best. But whatever the store or website you purchased your dress from, make sure you love your dress so you can feel confident in what your wearing. Have fun at Homecoming this year!