THERE'S ONLY US WHEN LIGHTS GO DOWN

 Photos by: Daniel Cruz Photography

Outfit:

striped top, denim shorts, black beanie - Forever 21

leather jacket - H&M

black tights - Target

blue scarf - Charlotte Russe

boots - borrowed from Jessica (purchased from Forever 21)

ring - bought at a random store in the Philippines

Living in California you would think that the word 'snow' is part of a foreign language. Sadly for me I don't live near the typical beachy coast with glittering sand, crashing waves, and surfer bods. The desert is where I reside and although it's not something I always like, it will always be home. Since we're so close to the mountains the weather up here is usually colder than our counterparts "down the hill" so we get snow at least once a year and when we do everyone freaks out about it. The other night my boyfriend and I decided to have a mini photo shoot before all the snow melted in his backyard. Although it was warm enough to melt the snow it was still definitely freezing, and by the end of this shoot you could chop my toes clean off my foot and I wouldn't have felt a thing. I also never realized how red my hair was until I saw these photos. I originally had my hair dyed to get that ombre hairstyle everyone is raving about, but after a while it just wasn't working for me so I dyed a reddish brown over it to mask the bleach. I didn't expect the red to be so noticeable though. Anyway, with his sister Jessica helping out with lighting we were able to snap a few photos of my outfit. I've been searching high and low for cute black boots like the ones I'm wearing in these photos, so much that I told Jessica I was willing to buy hers off of her. Haha I guess I'll just have to keep on looking...

MAKE THE MOST OUT OF TONIGHT

 

 Photos by: Daniel Cruz Photography

Outfit:

dress & earrings - Forever 21

For NYE this year we hosted a party with a fun little photo booth. It always helps when your boyfriend is a photographer ;) Check out his website to see more of his work here: Daniel Cruz Photography

I've attached a few of our favorite photos from the night. I had made about twenty little mustache props (5 different styles) to make the pictures a little more interesting. The more arts & crafts the better, I can't get enough. Enjoy!

WHAT'S IN MY MAKEUP BAG?

What's in my makeup bag? Since some of you are curious as to what it is that I slab on my face each and every day, I thought I'd give you a peek at my daily go-to products. Although I tend to keep it pretty basic these are my essentials that I can't live without!

1. Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer SPF 15 - I ALWAYS use moisturizer before putting on makeup. If there is one piece of advice I can give you for great skin it's that you use a moisturizer with SPF in the mornings before anything else. This formula is perfect-- not too oily and gives just the right amount of hydration. Price $9.49

2. Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Loose Powder - I just started using this a couple weeks ago because I wanted to start experimenting with mineral makeup and so far it's met my needs. It does a great job at covering up any imperfections with its mineral magic, but it makes my face look a little oilier than I'd like. Maybe that's just how mineral products work? Price $10.69

3. Sephora Collection Blush Me! Mono in Abricot Plaisir 6 - I totally love this shimmering natural apricot shade. It doesn't make me look too pink or red and blends beautifully with my skin. Price $12

4. Femme Couture Soft Powder Brow Pencil - I picked this up at Sally's after reading a few reviews online, and it's an awesome find! I usually stay away from most brow pencils because they give mine an ugly drawn-on look, but this finishes like a powder. Price $5.99

5. Too Faced Naked Eye Soft & Sexy Eye Shadow Collection - My boyfriend just got this for me for Christmas and it's fantastic! I love the fact that I can get a smoky look without looking too over-the-top, and after purchasing the similar collection for Neutral Eyes (which I've had since around April or May and still haven't run out!) I just had to have it. Next I'll be aiming for the Smoky Eye Palette. Price $35

6. MAC Fluidline Gel Liner in Blacktrack - My boyfriend also bought this for me for Christmas and I have no idea how I've survived for so long without it! My eyes have always been super sensitive and will water at any given moment, especially in the wind. Pencil liners smudge too easily with my oily lids and liquid liners are toast when my tear ducts attack. This gel formula is a Godsend and doesn't budge until I remove it before bed! Price - $15

7. Maybelline The Falsies Volum'Express Waterproof Mascara - I just can't bring myself to buy expensive mascara since I go through it so quickly, and this is one of the better cheap formulas I've come across over the years. Price $5.04

8. Burts Bees Original Beeswax Lip Balm - It isn't a secret how obsessed I am with chap stick and I will literally go nuts if I don't have any within arm's reach. Also, no matter how many times I try to get fancy with lipstick or lip gloss I always wind up wearing this stuff at the end of the day. Price 2.99

9. Palladio Rice Paper Blotting Tissues in Translucent - This stuff is great and because I have slightly oily skin it's a must. Rather than applying more powder to touch up throughout the day I prefer using blotting paper (powder compacts collect tons of nasty germs and you're reapplying them onto your skin every time you use one). So take my advice, use blotting tissues instead of a compact! Price $3.99

So there you have it! Hope it was insightful.

LET'S HAVE A TOAST

With the year coming to a close and a new one ready to begin, I felt the need to finally kick things into gear and start a personal fashion blog. For the past few months I've been drooling over other blogs and becoming more and more obsessed with this form of expression, so I decided I wanted to become a part of the excitement. While I can't guarantee super riveting and mind-blowing posts each and every time, I can ensure that you will get to be a part of the progression I look forward to making. So cheers to a new year and new beginnings! 2011, here I come..