Friday's Five

Favorite Dress
{ Geometric Maxi }

Favorite Workspace
{ Glass Desk with Pink Accents }

Favorite Photo
{ Little Divas }

Favorite Way to Travel
{ Blanket in a Rowboat }

Favorite Puppy
{  Stuck in a Cookie Jar }

{ Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }

The Braid That Won't Fall Out

With warm weather approaching, I have been looking for a hairstyle that keeps my hair out of my face and off my neck. Usually, I sweep my hair in a boring ponytail; however, this year I am devoted to finding a cuter alternative. I absolutely love braids, but my layered hair permits me from wearing them. Pieces of hair always fall out, stick out or pop out; I can never get a braid to stay in place.  All of that changed once I read Lauren Conrad's blog where I discovered the braid that won't fall out! Start by separating your hair into three sections like you would for a regular braid. Braid one of those strands beforehand and loosen it up with your fingers, then braid as usual. By doing this you create extra texture and extra hold for your hair. I'll be wearing this hairstyle all summer!

A Night With The Four Seasons

Over the weekend I saw the broadway show Jersey Boys! It is a documentary-style musical based on the 1960s rock 'n roll group, The Four Seasons. The story dramatizes the forming, rise and eventual break-up of the original four members of the group. It is divided into four "seasons," each narrated by a different member of the band. Act One comprises Spring & Summer and Act Two comprises Fall & Winter, where each member has a different perspective on the band and his contribution to it. I went into this show with low expectations, but left with it being one of my favorite shows I've seen to date. Follow the rags-to-rock-to-riches tale of four blue-collar kids working their way from the streets of Newark, New Jersey to the heights of stardom. I was smiling from ear to ear and laughed the entire time! If you want to see a broadway show, then I would definitely recommend Jersey Boys.

What Would You Would Look Like With Someone Else's Face?

Today I spent most of Mother's Day playing Face Juggler! I had no idea what this was until my cousin snapped a picture of us and showed me the end result - my face on his, and his face on mine. The Face Juggler app, available at the App Store, automatically swaps all of the faces in any photo. This may sound boring and stupid to some of you, but I promise it will have you holding your stomach from laughing so hard! Visit the Face Juggler website to see some pictures people have taken!

Keep Calm and Do Pilates

For the past seven or eight months I have been a devoted kickboxing fan; however, my kickboxing classes have been cancelled for the past three weeks. For those of you who workout on a regular basis, you know it's really difficult to stop exercising after having done so for a long period of time. So, in order to keep up with my fitness, I have been going to a Mat Pilates class at my gym! This may seem boring to some people, but trust me that this will take your workout to the next level. Pilates is a resistance exercise that focuses on improving flexibility, strength, and body awareness without building bulk. Two key elements of Pilates are core muscle strength and spinal alignment. During a session, you will concentrate deeply on your core muscles, as well as on your breath, the contraction of your muscles, and the quality of your movements. If you are looking for an alternative to weight lifting or for a resistance exercise, I would highly recommend taking a Pilates class. Even though I don't burn as many calories as I do with kickboxing, I found all of the claimed benefits to be true. After only one class, I felt a noticeable difference in the strength of my core; enough of a difference to convince me to add this class to my regular workout plan. 

Makeup Haul

1. MAC Mineralized Blush in Dainty: I wanted a blush that looked more natural and that gave me a a flushed glow instead of a rosy glow (I had been using MAC's Powder Blush in Dollymix). These blushes have baked minerals that provide extremely sheer and lightweight application. I like to apply this with MAC Brush #168 Large Angled Contour Brush. Dab the product lightly with the brush, tap the excess off, and dab lightly onto your cheeks!
2. Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in Caviar Ink: I have heard how amazing this gel eyeliner was for a very long time, but I refused to believe it was any different than any other eyeliner out there. I haven't been able to find a product that stays on my eyes all day because I have oily eyelids. This is by far the best makeup product I own and an award winning formula for a reason. It glides on smoothly and precisely, giving me a long-wearing, water-resistant finish. It's definitely worth spending a little extra money to get a quality product. 
3. Boscia B.B. Cream: For as long as I have been wearing makeup, I have used Bare Minerals Foundation. With summer approaching, I wanted something that would give me a light coverage but didn't look like I was wearing anything; that is when I stumbled upon Boscia's B.B. Cream. This oil-free "Blemish Balm" acts as a primer and foundation all in one! It contains hydroxyprolisilane, which promotes skin elasticity, as well as beta-glucan, which provides essential moisture  for your skin. Not only does it have SPF 27, but it has a PA ++, which is a grade of UVA protection that provides superior defense against the rays that cause collagen damage of the skin. This specific B.B. Cream comes in a self-adjusting shade that has stayed true to my skin color, even though I have gotten significantly darker in the past two weeks from being in the sun. It does cost a pretty penny for such a small tube, but keep in mind that it will last you a long time. A little goes a long way!
4. MAC Brush #286: The Duo Fibre Blending Brush is made from goat and synthetic fibers that provide a sheer, more controlled application of your select product. This brush is perfect for applying eye shadows or for highlighting the face.
5. Soap & Glory Hand Food: One of the things I can't leave the house without is hand cream. My hands get very dry and I have tried every lotion on the market. While I was in Sephora, I walked past Hand Food and decided to try it out. Out of all the lotions I have used, this formula is the only one that has kept my hands soft all day long. It's non-greasy with shea butter, macadamia oil and marshmallow. The best part is that it's only ten dollars!
6. MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl: This highlighter is extremely versatile. It can be applied directly to bare skin, or layered over your foundation, moisturizer or powder. I would recommend applying this with a brush (I use MAC Brush #286) so you can build up the amount you want to you. I like to apply this to my cheekbones and brown bones for a luminous glow!
7. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef: I love lip glosses but haven't been able to find a coral lip color that wasn't too "coral-y." On one of my many CVS shopping spree's, I found "Coral Reef" by Revlon. This glossy formula combines sheer color and intense moisture that gives you long lasting color with SPF 15. I love it because it brings out the color in my cheeks and matches my skin tone perfectly.

Slope Day

This past weekend I ventured to Cornell for Slope Day! Every year on the last day of classes, Cornell sponsors a barbecue on Libe Slope with live entertainment to celebrate the end of the semester. In the past, Kanye West, OAR, Nelly, Ben Folds, Gym Class Heroes, Drake and Hot Hot Heat have performed. This year, The Wailers, Neon Trees and Taio Cruz took the stage. It was 80 degrees  and sunny and all weekend, so I was able to spend most of my time outside enjoying the beautiful weather. It was the perfect way to escape rainy New York City. I feel refreshed and have the motivation I need to finish my final projects. Less than two weeks until summer vacation!

Chicken Enchilada Soup

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, I thought I would share my favorite Mexican recipe with you all. Normally, I am not a fan of Mexican food because I can't handle spicy foods. However, after slightly modifying a recipe I found on Homade by Holman, I cannot get enough of it! It's the perfect blend of ingredients with the right amount of spiciness. My modified version is below, but if you're looking for the original recipe, click here.


Ingredients:
3 cups of chicken stock
2 skinless, chicken breasts
2 tsp of ground cumin
2 tsp of ancho chili powder
1 28oz can of diced tomatoes
1 green bell peppers, minced
1 large onion, diced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 15oz can of black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups of frozen corn
1/2 cup of tomato paste
4 oz of pepperjack cheese, cubed
Cheddar cheese, grated, add as desired
Tortilla chips


Directions:
In a large pot, add chicken stock and cook over medium heat. Add chicken breasts (I like to marinate already cooked chicken and return it to the soup later), cumin and chili powder. Simmer about 20 - 25 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside. Add tomatoes, bell pepper, onion and garlic to the pot. Simmer about 30 minutes, covered, until tomatoes have begun to break down. Add black beans, corn, and tomato paste and stir to incorporate. Add cheddar cheese and pepperjack cheese as desired, and stir to melt. Return chicken to soup and cook about 20 more minutes until your desired consistency is reached. Serve with crushed tortilla chips and some cheddar cheese grated on top. I hope you enjoy and have a happy Cinco de Mayo!

April Favorite

I have always steered clear of moisturizers due to my oily complexion. In January, I decided to try Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, which hydrates the skin without adding extra moisture. I thought this product was my skin's savior and that I would never want to use anything else. However, it bothered me that there was no SPF, which is something your moisturizer should always have. A few weeks ago, my friend told me about Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer. At first I cringed by the thought of using a lotion on my face, but she claimed that it was extremely light and would even out my skin tone (I had two very dark acne scars that would not go away). Four weeks later, my scars have disappeared and my skin isn't oily, making this my favorite thing of the month! This oil free moisturizer has total soy complex and natural light diffusers. For those of you who don't know, soy contains Vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties that protect your skin. As if this product could not get any better, it has SPF 15, which like I said, is something I desperately wished Clinique's Moisturizing Gel had. Although it is a little more expensive than other drugstore brands, you won't regret spending the extra money.