Summertime Sweety

Sliced strawberries, grapes, cucumbers, lemons, and tomatoes work wonderfully as  natural toners to tighten skin and shrink pores.   Strawberries make an excellent cleanser, moisturizer, and skin-softener. They are rich in healthy-skin vitamins A & C and have a neutral PH so they are mild. Grapes can reduce wrinkles, even skin tone, moisturize, and reduce the  appearance of scars. The high water content in cucumbers hydrates and cools your skin, and the natural oils in help soften your skin. Lemon juice and water can be used to lighten dark spots on your skin, and reduce shine caused by oil on your face. Tomatoes contain gentle acids which will help to cleanse your skin while removing dead skin cells and clearing black heads. Pick the one you think wold work best for you, slice, and apply directly to your face.  Comment below and let me know your results if you try this out!

Makeup: blush or bronzer lip gloss or lipstick eye liner or mascara foundation or concealer neutral or color eye shadow pressed or loose eye shadows brushes or sponges Nails: OPI or china glaze Long or short Acrylic or natural Brights or darks  Flower or no flower   Body: perfume or body splash lotion or body butter  body wash or soap Lush or Bath and Body Works Fashion: jeans or sweat pants long sleeve or short dresses or skirts stripes or plaid  flip flops or sandals  scarves or hats studs or dangly earrings  necklaces or bracelets  heels or flats  cowboy boots or riding boots jacket or hoodie  Forever 21 or charlotte russe  Abercombie or Hollister Saks 5th or Nordstrom Hair: curly or straight bun or ponytail bobby pins or butterfly clips hair spray or gel  long or short  light or dark  side sweep bangs or full bangs up or down  Random: rain or shine Summer or

Did you know you could use Lemon and Apple Cider Vinegar as Shampoo? Neither did I! But apparently it's possible... They have a similar acidic level to hair so they are safe to use and will remove build-up You Will Need: 1 Cup of Water The Juice of 1 Lemon  OR  2 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar Directions: Mix together and comb through your hair while you are in the shower. Rinse and Condition an usual! 

Ok... we all know that there is technically no such thing as "Safe Tanning", but there are ways to tan that are safer than others. Here are some tips that will help you get an amazing (and slightly more safe) tan this summer. 1. Exfoliate The key for an amazing tan is to exfoliate your skin! If you don't exfoliate, your tan will end up patchy, you will peel, and will altogether be a very unattractive situation... Try to exfoliate every other day or at least once a week while you are on vacation, and use a hardcore intense exfoliator before you leave and after you get home. And don't forget your lips and face! But remember, to exfoliate your lips and face you will need to find a exfoliator made specifically for each of those areas. 2. Put sun protection Put sunscreen on at least 30 minutes before you head to sun tanning. Some people say at least a minimum af 30 SPF, but personally I use 15. As silly as this sounds, pay attention and read your sunscreen b

A baking soda hair wash can cleans out excess product, remove impurities, and cleans your hair better than many of the expensive products on the market. It can also used for absorbing oils, so it is ideal to sprinkle on your and use as a dry shampoo. But for this we are making a Clarifying Shampoo, so... You Will Need: Your Favorite Shampoo a small amount of Baking Soda Directions: Mix into your favorite shampoo and carry on with your normal hair routine! This will Clarify your hair and, over time, make it more manageable.

Lighting You could try filling glass lamps filled with seashells If you you are going for a surfer vibe, hang brightly colored paper lanterns along the ceiling.  For a more whimsical touch, use strings of lights in the shape of palm trees or Flip-Flops. Maybe frame the headboard of your bed with them and use it as a reading light at night! Seashells One way to use seashells when decorating is to cover the border of picture frames or mirrors with them. Find shells of various colors and sizes and glue them on the frame or mirror using a glue gun. You could also do the same to a plain plant pot or pencil cup. If you have collected shells on previous trips, display them in glass jars. If they aren't full yet, don't worry, you can add new shells each time you go to the beach!  Shadow boxes are another way to display shells you have found or purchased on your travels. Hang the finished box on the wall, and... you're done! I think my favorite way to display seashel

Because Aspirin is used as an anti-inflammatory, it can also be used to reduce redness on the skin. Bonus? It can also reduce pimple size and rid your face of black heads! You Will Need: 5-8 Crushed Uncoated Aspirin A few drops of water Directions: Add only enough water to make a paste. Smooth over the skin and leave on up to 15 minutes. You can use up to twice a week but overuse can irritate, dull, or dry out your skin.

I thought this would be a good way to end the short lived "Be Mine" series, by answering some personal questions about my past present and future Valentine's Day's. If you liked the series comment below and tell me why (or why not) so I can learn for next year! 1. What are your thoughts on Valentines Day/Why?  I loooooove Valentine's Day! Even if I didn't have a boyfriend, I would love it because it is just so lovey dovey and sweet <3 ...and i like chocolate ;) 2. Have you ever had a valentine before?  Yes, this year and 2 years ago... same guy ;) 3. What is the cutest thing that you have ever experienced/seen a friend experience on Valentines Day?  I'm not sure... What do you all think? Leave your ideas in the comments below! 4. What is your favorite Valentines Day candy?  Chocolate!!!! Yum :) 5. Do you have a valentine this year? Yes :) On Valentine's day we will have been together 7 months and 1 day 6. If you were to get a gift

So if you are one of the lucky girls who did get asked out on a date this Valentine's day, and you get to dress up to go with this lucky boy, then I have put together the perfect outfit for you! First of all... the dress Heart Cutout Scuba Skater Dress This adorable skater dress has a heart cutout on the back and rhinestone buttons. Fits with a v-neckline, pleated skirt and zipper closure.  $29.99 at  www.charlotterusse.com And if it is still cold where you live... Pamela Mann Je t'aime Black Seam Tights These sexy but subtle nude tights feature a black back seam which spells out the words “Je t’aime” ("I love you" in french) at the ankle. $12.50 at  www.alexblake.com Shoes... we can't forget the shoes! If you like the heels, try... Crisscross Stiletto Sandals Faux suede stiletto sandals featuring a crisscross vamp. $29.80 at  www.forever21.com Or if you can't stan

Bananas, which contain vitamins A and E, are great for treating the flakiness and redness that caused by the cold winter air. The heavy cream in this mask also contains elastin, which will leave your skin feeling soft and supple. You Will Need: 1 Banana mashed well 2 Tablespoons heavy cream 1.5 Tablespoon honey 1.5 Tablespoon flour 1 Tablespoon of water Mix this into a nice mousse. Add the water last—a little at a time to get a nice consistency. Apply to the face; leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse. Credit to:  http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/tips/diy-beauty-treatments#slide-5

Apply a dollop of toothpaste to the pimple overnight. The clay and mint in the toothpaste helps to shrink and dry up the offending zit, without causing irritation or scars! Credit to:   http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/tips/diy-beauty-treatments#slide-3

Just Because you don't have a boy toy this Valentine's day, doesn't mean you have to mope around and feel sorry for yourself all day!! Gather all of your Single Ladies and have a girls night! Mock Date Ok, so you don't have a boy to go with, but you can still have the typical dinner and a movie  date with your bestie! What To Do: Pick a place you both love eat! If they have a Valentine's Day special order it! Make this Dinner fun, just because it isn't a real date doesn't mean you are allowed to cry into your untouched food all night... And don't forget to shamelessly make fun of all of the sickeningly (not) cute couples being all lovey dovey!! ;) After Dinner it is time to pick a movie. Try to find something funny! It's not going to end up well if you burst out crying during the kissing scenes... What To Wear: We have a few option here... If you are a Happy Valentine's Day celebrator go festive and wear all pink, red,

I just found these pictures from my trip to the Outer Banks this Summer, thought you might want to see them! :) Extreme boredom in the car...  But who doesn't love the Sandlot? :) Cape Hatteras Lighthouse  Corolla Lighthouse  The Whalehead Club  A Blow-fish at the Roanoke Aquarium  Personally I like the touch tank :)  A Crab hiding in his shell at the Roanoke Aquarium  Beach Toys! A Seahorse :) Our Epic Sandcastle!  But some of us would rather make Drip Castles...  ...or lay in the sand  Penguins at the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium   Nimbus, the albino turtle at the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium, he has many many issues...  At the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium  A Lion Fish at Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium  An Octopus (taken with the flash) at Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium  Real Seahorses! At Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium Pungo/Nuese/Eno the otter (I'm not sure which one) t the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium