Only Shade I Get

Essie 'Instant Hot' / / Salvatore Ferragamo 'Bali' Sandals

Brownie Throwback

I was clearing some files from my computer, and I stumbled across old photos from high school. I had some complicated ass hair back then. Like most asian teens, I thought that dyeing your hair brown was the coolest thing to do. I took it a step further and dyed the base shade brown and then had different shades of lighter brown and dark blonde highlights. I think I was aiming for a Jolin circa 2005 look. The good part was that Houston Chinatown hairstylists were so cheap. The bad part was that it would often fade to some brassy orange hue, which looking back, was not at all flattering. Nonetheless, I loved being a brownie, but at 20, I feel that au naturel is the way to go. I think the next time I get my hair dyed will be when white strands start to show up!

The only time I have attempted curly hair

Head to toe A&F *cringe*

My favorite secret place back in The Woodlands

This was my backyard and my two best friends after a sleepover which consisted of eating pizza, stalking our crushes on Facebook, and playing Rock Band. The arch on the trampoline was supposed to be part of the security net, but what you see is as far as my dad got...and building that one arch took him 5 hours lol. 

Wash Me

Aveda Rosemary Mint Bath Bar

This soap makes me smell like a herb roasted rotisserie chicken. I like it.

GLAMGLOW

I received this product as a gift a couple months ago, and I was so excited! The packaging is awesome, and GlamGlow has received rave reviews for their mud masks. I tend to steer away from masks during the winter months in fear it might dry my skin out too much. I completely forgot I had this until I was cleaning my room last night. After showering, I decided to try the SuperMud Clearing Treatment (white jar) and I was very impressed. My skin felt wonderful after using it, and it did leave a subtle glow. Half the fun of this mask is the application. It's really cool to watch it dry and change color. Maybe I'm just easily amused. I normally use Origins 'Clear Improvement' clay mask, but I will definitely be making the change to GlamGlow. I'm looking forward to trying out the YouthMud (black jar) tonight. Supposedly it gives you a crazy tingling sensation!

GlamGlow Gift Sexy

In the middle of transforming into an Avatar

Transformation complete

Don't be Dry

Bite Agave Lip Mask

Impractical packaging; amazing product.

Trying

Clarisonic Opal

The applicator tip is squishy and fun

Squeeze serum into applicator and buzz away

Will let you know how it goes after 2 weeks of consistent use.

Facial Facial

Worth It

Once a month...

Signature Copper Lift Facial

or

Deep Pore Cleansing Facial

Not Worth It

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) 

Did 2 treatments in hopes of eliminating red marks from pimples; no significant results

DermaBlade

Not necessary 

Mona Spa & Wellness

901.683.0048

Ask for Mona

Replenish

Time to add these back in my routine.

Crest Whitestrips Supreme

Favorite

I use mine everyday.

Clarisonic Aria

They make great gifts for men as well as women. Bought a Mia2 for A and my cousin during the holidays, and they are now daily Clarisonic-ers! Love love love...nothing bad to say about the Clarisonic.

Do the Do

I'm awful at styling hair, so I just let it air dry and run its natural course. In high school, I would spend so much time on my hair (dyeing hair, blow drying, heating tools, products on products) and to be honest, it didn't damage my hair that much. I don't know if its because I'm too lazy now or if its because I'd rather spend my time elsewhere, but I think using few products and no heat on hair is the way to go. But I do envy the girls out there who are masters at styling their own hair! Much respect.

I shower at night and am definitely guilty of sleeping with my hair semi-wet sometimes. I find that washing hair right before you go out makes it too fluffy looking. I have been using the same exact products for the past 4 years. This is exactly what I use step by step:

In the shower

                   

      Bumble and Bumble Seaweed Shampoo                Frederic Fekkai Shea Butter Conditioner

Out the shower (use on wet hair)

             

           Bumble and Bumble Styling Creme                    Bumble and Bumble Styling Lotion

Brush hair back with wide tooth comb (it will fall at your natural part as it air dries)

Conair Hair Pics

In the morning

        

                Sally Hershberger Shagg Spray                    Bumble and Bumble Sumowax

The morning products are only used if I somehow manage to wake up earlier than 10 minutes of my first class. Shagg spray is fantastic, it really gives hair a piece-y look that defines layers. I use 2 sprays. Sumowax is great for a non-stiff hold on flyaways or for side bangs to stay in place.

I first discovered Bumble and Bumble back in high school, and have stuck with their products since. Their Sunday Shampoo is a shampoo you use once a week that deep cleans all the residue, hard water minerals, and pollutants out your hair. Brilliantine is a hair polish that gives your hair a piece-y, slept-in kind of look. If you're looking for a high quality hair products that do what they promise, Bumble and Bumble is the place to look.

White

When I was 11, my best friend and I would examine how many teeth each person showed when they smiled. We made the executive decision that to have a beautiful smile, one must have at least 10 teeth showing. Unfortunately, I was stuck at 8, and I spent the summer manipulating my smile so I would show more teeth. This led to a rather painful looking grimace that is present in all my photos from Summer 2004. I soon learned that a genuine smile is a million times more beautiful than a forced one, no matter how many teeth you're showing! 

Although I can't change the number of teeth, I do have control over the whiteness of my smile. Crest Whitestrips has been my buddy for 3 years, and not only is it cheaper than professional whitening, it is just as effective--if not more.

Examine the creepy cropped photos of my teeth below, and you can see Crest Whitestrips really work! 

Thank you Crest Whitestrips

I order from Amazon and use this exact box: Crest Whitestrips Supreme Professional Strength. If you are a first timer, you will see VERY noticeable differences in shade by day 5. I use them on and off, mostly because of laziness. I've found that after around 12 days of no use, teeth start to look a little less white (especially if you drink a lot of Coke or coffee). When I bought my first pack, I used one pair of strips a day for 20 days. I was extremely satisfied with the results and stopped using them for a couple months. My teeth returned to a not so brilliant color, and I figured I would start back on the strips. I used them 5 days in a row, and my teeth were back to sparkling white.

To maintain, I find it most effective if you use a pair of strips at least once every week and a half. Not a huge difference if you go longer, but if you notice your teeth getting yellow it's a good idea to use again. I don't think it's necessary to constantly use them, especially if you are satisfied with your shade. Overuse isn't good for your enamel in the long run, so you definitely don't want to overdo it.

And just for fun.....

Count the teeth: 12! Holy moly, Julia Roberts you win