Holiday Madness (Warning: Rant)

I've been really busy with school and work at the moment so I haven't written much because I haven't had much free time with my laptop. That and I have been procrastinating loads with watching YouTube videos and laying on my floor contemplating life and everything else that comes with it. Today is a whole knew day (currently its night time but it'll be midnight in about two minutes so it still counts). Today, or more like Wednesday, my job had a little event for a few of us who had done a good job during a previous sale we had a few months ago. As I was waiting for everyone to get there, my boss tells me that for Black Friday this year we will be opening up at 7 p.m. Now if you don't know what Black Friday is, it is either one of the most hated or the most loved shopping events. In the olden days, people would have dinner on Thanksgiving night and the next day at 4, 5, or 6 a.m. would go out shopping for the "holiday season". There were and are sales pretty much anywhere. Now I participated in these shindigs as a kid because I thought it was exciting getting up in the morning and buying presents and such, although I didn't like mobs of people very much. As time has gone by, these sales have been getting a bit crazier by the year. Stores are opening right at midnight and other stores are opening earlier than those good old 4,5, or 6 a.m. days. How are you suppose to have dinner with your family if you are out shopping or working at 7 p.m. ?!

Now it is argued that many of us who work the retail system are aware of this when we first apply and get hired. That we know what we are signing up for and to be honest, yes we do. I'm not saying that we don't realize that people are going to be out shopping or that we voluntarily give up time to be with our families to go to work. We all know this, but when your store goes from opening at 12 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thanksgiving night, it becomes a little absurd. It is not even Black Friday anymore!? its just a dumb time to be opened. This is a growing argument when Black Friday comes around because a lot of people find it unfair. Personally, I think it is unfair but on the other hand I do work retail and unfortunately I have to miss diner with my family to go to work. I don't mind it in the least but there are people who take family much more seriously than I do. I'm not saying I don't love my family but they understand that I have to go to work and they are OK with it because they go out shopping as well and they see me at the store whilst they are shopping. Other families may think of it as the worst thing ever. Some people who work retail have kids and a wife or husband and I suppose I can see how the perspective of it all can be changed.

This is where I get a bit down and dirty. A lot of people go out shopping on Black Friday because they think they will get the best deals of the season. They struggle amongst many to get the latest video game system, the best clothes, the cheapest home appliances, etc. Some people get really aggressive about it all and even end up in jail. One year, a lady got a bit wild and pepper sprayed people so she could get an Xbox. AN XBOX!? I'm in no way, shape or form against good deals but when people get aggressive like that all I have to say is "Honey, you have to bring it down a notch." People don't realize this but many stores don't have amazing sales as people like to think. There are a few bits and pieces that are on sale that might be worth it but stores strategically only have about 50 pieces of that clothing item or appliance and even sometimes less. Last year, I saw the same sale prices on the floor as I did two weeks before Black Friday. I know this because I worked almost every day. I also work with pricing and I didn't see amazing deals. I saw about 10 things in the store that were worth being called a Black Friday Sale. It is not worth staying up late at night being out with wild people and risking yourself getting hurt for a pair of $10 boots. If you absolutely must go out and shop make a plan and do as much as you can but don't go "Mortal Kombat" on people.

A little advice from an associate, don't treat associates inhumanely. I know we aren't branded or treated like animals but people have such cruddy attitudes towards us at times that it makes us feel really bad or get really angry. Please realize that your cashiers are moving as fast as they can to get you out of there but there are sometimes really stubborn and rude customers that we can't just push them out the door as much as we want to. Treat people like you want to be treated. Don't go crazy with the clothes. There is plenty of sizes and you don't have to destroy a whole pile to get your size. I cannot tell you how much we all complain about people going through each and every size until they see one that might or does fit. If you know your size get that and if it looks a bit big or small get the next size up or down.  It is more likely that you will have a lovely shopping experience if you stay calm and don't treat us like crap. Sometimes we are more likely to give you what you want if you are nice to us and we won't resort to calling management or someone else to help you out. We will personally make sure that you get the help you are looking for. Do control your children and also keep and eye on them. I cannot state how children can get lost in large crowds. One year a little girl fainted and people were walking everywhere so if your kid is sick don't bring them along. Its all common knowledge that people ignore because of the excitement of buying cheap items. Trust me, its not that amazing once you've worked retail and notice how prices aren't really different. OK, I think I've ranted for quite a bit.

xx

Annoying Little Spots

Hello Everyone!

Recently I've been having a bit of breakouts around my cheek area and I've been trying to get rid of them for some time now. Its a bit depressing knowing you have a spot on your face. All I can imagine is this little pesky thing that has a life of its own and won't leave my face because its found it quite comfy. As far as I can remember, I've had spots/acne/pimples (I like the word spots because it doesn't sound so gross) since about seventh grade. They would come out around my forehead, and luckily for me I didn't have bangs back then (sarcasm). I thought it would be a brilliant idea to grow them out but that backfired. I tried about everything I could and/or afford at the time. My mother would put so many masks on my face that sometimes helped but none gave me the results that I wanted. I even got facials for some time that, in my opinion, made it worse. I would come out looking like I had sprouted chicken pox again. It was really awful back in the day; puberty hit me hard.

After my two years of bad acne, they started clearing up once I moved onto high school. My skin wasn't exactly perfect because I had scarring or pigmentation on it because of the spots. I chose to ignore it until I was allowed to wear a bit of makeup. This didn't happen until about my 11th year. After high school, I started looking at other things aside from the over the counter products. I've tried Clearasil, Neutrogena, and Clean & Clear, just to name a few. I actually think those are the most common acne products in the US. I started trying Murad, Clinique, and Origins. Some of these products worked a bit and some didn't. I absolutely hate when a product dries out my skin, and some did exactly that.

One of the things I definitely changed was the things I ate. I don't think its necessarily greasy things that you eat that make you break out but a combination of diet, exercise, and products you use. It gets annoying to deprive yourself from the sweet and delicious delicacies the world has to offer for clear skin. Who wouldn't prefer clear skin to eating a donut? I know I would. At the time when I entered college, my mother had gotten really into healthy diets and green drinks/juices. If you had a problem my mother had a juice for it or a vitamin/supplement. That's when my mother started giving Biotin, Complex B, and Omega-3 supplements along with green juices and healthier meals. My face got more clear than it had ever before and even the scarring was starting to come off. Its possible that scarring doesn't come off by my forehead has no sign of previous spots, unless you count the ones I've gotten so far now. I really recommend Omega-3 because unless you eat a lot of fish or avocado you don't necessarily get a lot of it. It is amazing for skin but you also have to be careful on the brand because some brands use a capsule that isn't so good to digest, or something along those lines. Biotin is also really good for skin, hair, and nails. That little supplement, its quite small, makes my nails grow super fast. I find it annoying but some people might find it a blessing.

With my Recent breakouts I have revisited some products from Clinique and Murad that have helped a bit. I also started doing masks on my own that are quite simple because as a university student I don't have time to mix and find all the ingredients for different masks. I also don't have the brains cells to remember the recipes. I usually do an oatmeal mask that helps out with scarring and redness. I usually take a little oatmeal in the palm of my hand and wet it with a bit of water until its moist (sorry if some of you don't like that word). I squeeze it and let the white powdery liquid drip onto my other palm of my hand and then dab it onto my skin. I take the oatmeal, a little bit at a time, and massage my face with it so it kind of exfoliates. I leave some bits of the oatmeal on my face concentrating on the scars and the spots because I feel like this focuses more on those areas. I leave it on for about 10-15 minutes or until it is dry. If you feel like you can't laugh or smile then its time to take it off.

Another mask I use is a honey mask. I don't put anything else with it just pure honey. The trick to this is using pure bee honey. It has to be the most natural honey ever! It helps with spots and some scarring. I haven't really seen a difference with scarring but with spots I have. One reason I know this works is because my sister had a lot of spots on her cheeks and she tired so many things, as I did, and nothing worked. If it did they would just come back. She used the honey mask and I swear, her face has cleared up so much. There is no spots on her cheeks anymore and she feels so much better without them. So if you have spots and scarring give these two a go and see if they work for you. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results that day. After doing it for a few days you will see a difference and you will sassy snap those spots away.

xx

Student Life

If there is anything I like ranting more about in life its about school. Its possibly one of the most stressful times when you are trying to figure out what to do and what your career will be in the long run. You scramble around trying to find what will be a better choice but everything is super confusing. I haven't felt so overwhelmed before until now. I know what I want to do for a living but I feel like its going to take ages to actually get there, let alone the amount of debt I will eventually accumulate. Today at work a coworker of mine asked me what year I was and I simply didn't know what to answer her. I feel like I've been in school for so long that if feels like I'm a Super Senior! The way some programs work is totally misleading because they tell you its a four year program and it turns into five, six, or seven years. The university doesn't tell you that some classes may not be available for you or that you will have to struggle to get into some because of the demand on the class. Its completely insane! Another thing that gets to me is the way some advisers work with you as a student. They tell you the classes you should take, and sometimes take the liberty of making your class plan for your future semesters/quarters, without taking into account how much it actually costs to take all those classes. If you plan on going to college or a university make sure you have someone guide you through what needs to be done. Make sure that its someone who cares at least a little about you, as student, and they are not just there to do their job and get paid to punch in the hours. Well, this is all I have to say today. This is my little rant on college and trust me this made me feel loads better.

xx

Real Techniques Brush

Hello Everyone! 

Everyone who loves makeup or wears it knows about different brushes and ways to apply your makeup. There are the huge labels or brands like MAC that sell really expensive brushes. I think out of all the brushes I own, which are not many in my opinion, I own but one MAC brush. I try and opt for more affordable brands that do the exact same thing at a much cheaper price. You may think that since they are cheap they are falling apart but no! It is all in how you take care of your brushes. If anyone is interested I can do a blog about how to take care or wash your makeup brushes. 

I've recently purchased a new brush because I have lost my foundation brush and I cannot find it. I had heard a lot of good reviews on the Real Techniques makeup brushes but was put off because I thought it was something completely pricey. To be honest, I had never checked the price because I just assumed they were over my budget. Since I really needed a brush I drove to ULTA and was browsing around for something to replace my old brush. They have a lovely section of makeup brushes that range form all sorts of prices and brands. I spotted the Real Techniques brushes and as I looked at the price and I was really surprised at how affordable they really are. A single brush ranges from $5.99 to $17.99 depending on what you are looking for. 

Right here I have the Expert Face Brush and I have to say it is amazing! It blends perfectly and its super soft. The handle is perfect for you to have control over the brush and you can use any kind of motion you want to do your makeup. I think I am in love with this brand. I haven't had the pleasure of trying all the other brushes but when I do I will make a review on them. 

If you are looking at trying these brushes I would suggest you order them from ULTA right now, if you don't have one near you. They are having a B1G1 50% off sale. Your other option is going to their website and buying them from Real Techniques. They also show you how to use your brush if you are a beginner in makeup using or just want to know more on how to use your brush that will exceed your already good looks. 

Nike Air Pegasus+ 29 Shoes Review

Hello Everyone!

Today I will be reviewing the Nike Air Pegasus+ 29 running shoes that I bought about three weeks ago. They only come in this color so I didn't really have much of a selection to choose from. Now to tell you a little about my background on running. I was never a runner. As a kid and all through my teens I was very much a couch potato. Once I started to run, I figured I needed appropriate shoes to run in. My first pair were not Nike's and I'd love to tell you the name of them but I cannot recall it for the life of me. I made the switch this summer to Nike because I was in dire need of new running shoes as my old ones were tearing away. I always like a good deal and seeing as back to school sales were approaching, I planned to go out to the outlets and get me a pair for a decent price. These shoes retail for $89-$100 depending on the store you purchase them at. I bought them for $60, which is still pricey, but I really needed them.

So far, I really like them. They add great support to my arch and heal. They are light enough to run in and super comfortable. I also like the fact that I can jump around and I don't feel the impact as much as I did with my old running shoes. This is super important to me because I sometimes do Insanity and with all the jumping I get pain in my knees. Overall, I would definitely recommend these shoes. Even if you just use them for training or walking they are great. I wish they would carry more colors but if you don't mind mismatching your running shorts with your shoes then you should be perfectly alright.

I really hope this helped anyone who is looking to purchase a new pair of shoes. Please feel free to comment or ask me any question regarding the shoes. Have a fantastic day!