Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Little Acorns Version 2.0

Hello! So it has been quite some time since I last posted. Life has been all over the place for me. I've had some ups and downs, been insanely busy, had a few adventures, and I've spent a lot of time twiddling my thumbs, doing nothing. But, I'm back on the wagon, and ready to get back to my blog.

I've done quite a bit of soul searching the past year, and I'm not the same person I was since last we spoke, dear readers. Trust me, this is a good thing. I'm still a small girl, lost in a big world, but I have a much better understanding of what is important to me, and of what I want out of life.

I've always been a bit of a hippie. I love animals, I love nature, I care about the earth and the people who inhabit it. But, it's taken me 23 years to fully embrace this. These days, I can honestly say I've become quite the Eco-activist(OK, armchair activist but still). I've spent countless hours researching toxic chemicals, reading up on climate change and fracking, testing gratuitous amounts of natural cosmetics, and I even applied to attend the Greenpeace Action Camp(they said no). The point is, I've realized what I'm passionate about. I want to bring that passion to my blog, and share it with whoever wants to read it.

So stick around, this is gonna get good!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Ohai!

Hi there. So, it's been about 4 months since I last posted, even though I had previously promised to start posting on my blog more(ha! That worked out). I had good reasons though, I wasn't just being lazy. I started a new job working for Clinique in January, as well as a new gig teaching dance classes to small children, so I haven't had a lot of free time as of late. Furthermore, my work dress code requires me to wear all black. This was originally supposed to be a blog about my own personal style, and the restrictive nature of my work wardrobe doesn't really allow me to do that.

I definitely want to start blogging more because I really do enjoy it(even if no one actually reads this thing), so I'll try and find more time for it. Though some of my posts will be in the same vein as my old ones, this blog will probably be heading in a new direction. It may not seem like it, but there is a lot of work that goes into making an outfit post, and I just don't want to work that hard on a hobby that's supposed to be semi-relaxing. That's not to say I might not go back to them eventually, but at this point they'll be on the backburner, and the main content of the blog will become a bit more random.

And with that, I leave you with this adorable picture of a panda photographer. Enjoy.

I love pandas

Monday, February 6, 2012

Music Monday/So let's set the world on fire

Come my tan-faced children,


Follow well in order, get your weapons ready,
Have you your pistols? have you your sharp-edged axes?
Pioneers! O pioneers!




For we cannot tarry here,
We must march my darlings, we must bear the brunt of danger,
We the youthful sinewy races, all the rest on us depend,
Pioneers! O pioneers!





O you youths, Western youths,
So impatient, full of action, full of manly pride and friendship,
Plain I see you Western youths, see you tramping with the foremost,
Pioneers! O pioneers!



Have the elder races halted?
Do they droop and end their lesson, wearied over there beyond the seas?
We take up the task eternal, and the burden and the lesson,
Pioneers! O pioneers!





All the past we leave behind,
We debouch upon a newer mightier world, varied world,
Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the march,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
We detachments steady throwing,
Down the edges, through the passes, up the mountains steep,
Conquering, holding, daring, venturing as we go the unknown ways,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
O you daughters of the West!
O you young and elder daughters! O you mothers and you wives!
Never must you be divided, in our ranks you move united,
Pioneers! O pioneers!





Till with sound of trumpet,
Far, far off the daybreak call—hark! how loud and clear I hear it wind,
Swift! to the head of the army!--swift! spring to your places,
Pioneers! O pioneers!



[1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9] 


Fun.- We are Young

Monday, January 16, 2012

Music Monday/It's hard to dance with the devil on your back

Music Monday is back! See, I really am making a conscious effort to stop neglecting my blog. I heard this weeks song on the radio for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I'm not really sure why, but I've been a little obsessed with it. Mayhaps, the reason is because it's a damn good song.

Florence+The Machine- Shake it out

Thursday, January 12, 2012

California Winter

Oh hey! Hello there. How's it hanging blogoshpere? Long time, no see. Due to a combination of me being very busy at a new job, holiday madness, my penchant for extreme laziness, and a very spotty internet connection(I'm looking at you Verizon), it has been quite some time since I last posted. But fear not, dear readers. I've made a resolution to stop ignoring my blog and start communicating more, so that we may rekindle our relationship. We'll see how it goes.

So my sister and I decided to go to Santa Barbara a few days ago for some shopping fun. I thought I would share some pictures from our day with you. Be jealous of our gorgeous California weather(71 degrees in the middle of winter? Hell ya.)!

 [if] is a local skateboard company started by some of my former co-workers. Check them out here.





This guy was totally dancing on his roller skates...like a boss.


I kept squinting, so my sister made me wear her sunglasses.

                                                Skirt, Shirt, Wedges: Forever 21 Bag: Ross

So there you have it. The first of(hopefully) many more blog posts to come in 2012. Have a good one people!

Monday, November 28, 2011

mark. Beauty Review

Alrighty, as you may or may not know-probably the latter-I am a mark. Beauty rep(woo hoo). And, since I am not one to promote things I know nothing about, I bought a few of their products a few months ago to test them out. Here are my reviews!


First up: That's Deep Purifying Gel Cleanser




This cleanser features sugar maple to help exfoliate and black willow bark to provide a deep cleanse. It's basically your typical cleanser, but it leaves a nice tingly feeling after you rinse(deep cleansing perhaps?) and it smells nice. However, it was a bit drying, and if you are breakout prone, this product will not do much for you.

Conclusion: If you have normal/combination skin, go for it.

  

Help Wanted Anti-Acne Exfoliating Cleanser

This product essentially speaks for itself; it's an anti-acne cleanser. Sort of. This cleanser boasts apple and cinnamon as it's powerhouse anti-bacterial, moisturizing duo, combined with 0.2% Salicylic Acid. It also had some exfoliating beads for extra cleansing power(Warning: they are not very gentle). Again, this is a pretty typical cleanser. Though it does help fight blemishes, it does so very poorly. Also the smell is a strange combination of apple, cinnamon, and cucumber which I can only describe as odd(it does grow on you). And don't let the tittle fool you. This is as much of an exfoliater, as I am a three-legged dog.


Conclusion: If you are looking for a scrub, keep looking. If you need an acne-fighting cleanser, move along. If you hate odd smells, look elsewhere. If you want a slightly-exfoliating cleanser, and you don't have sensitive skin, go for it.

For Goodness Face Antioxidant Skin Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30


 First off, I would like to say that this product smells delicious! Seriously, you're going to want to eat your face off(please don't). This is a wonderful moisturizer, featuring blueberries and dark chocolate as natural antioxidants. I really don't have anything bad to say about it, other than it can be greasy. But, really any moisturizer with SPF is going to be greasy so that's to be expected. Just don't use a harsh cleanser or exfoliater with this, because the sunscreen will sting.

Conclusion: Unless you have severely oily skin, this is for everyone.



Break Out Plan Anti-Acne Gel Lotion
This product is a companion to the Help Wanted Anti-Acne Exfoliating Cleanser. It features the same funny smell and does not really fight acne. But while the cleanser actually does cleanse, this product does not moisturize. I was using it as part of my night routine and I felt like I had to keep piling it on in order to feel any sort of moisture(I eventually started layering products, then completely giving up on this one). However, this is partly my fault for not using a toner. When I started using a toner again, I did notice a big difference in how my skin absorbed the moisture. But the main reason for my disappointment with this product is that there are hundreds of tiny shards of what I can only assume is plastic(?!). I don't care how great a moisturizer is, that is a deal-breaker.

Conclusion: Don't bother.

Save The Day Anti-Acne Concealer Stick




This is a very nice product. It has a creamy texture with a powder finish, gives good coverage without feeling heavy and has 0.2% Salicylic Acid. Though it won't get rid of blemishes by itself, paired with another acne fighting product it helps keep them under control, and cover them up.

Conclusion: I definitely recommend it.



  Light Bright Lighten and Depuff Eye Gel

 I love this product! It really works well for me, and does what it's supposed to. The results aren't dramatic, but I have noticed a difference in the way the skin under my eyes looks. I use it every morning and night, and it has gradually lightened up my dark circles. On mornings when I wake up really tired, I put this on and immediately notice a difference in the way my eyes feel, and they are definitely less puffy. My only complaints are that it is way too small, and kind of a pain to get out of the tube. Though it can't replace a full nights sleep, for 8 bucks, it's a damn good product.

Conclusion: Highly recommend it.



And that was my review. I hope someone found this helpful, or at least slightly entertaining. Obviously I'm not a beauty expert nor am I a dermatologist, but I've spent years searching for the perfect product only to waste tons of time and money on crap that didn't work. If I can help someone else avoid that, I'll be a happy camper.

If you want to read other user reviews, the product description or full ingredient list, I've provided links to all of the featured products. If you want to browse through the entire mark. collection and website, the link to my store is on the upper right corner of this blog.

Happy Cyber Monday!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Music Monday/You are my sweetest downfall

I love Regina Spektor. She may not be the best singer, but she does crazy things with her voice, has interesting lyrics, and always has awesome music videos.

Regina Spektor - Samson

P.S. I'm still working on that new content I spoke of last Monday. Be patient with me. I'm lazy and one heck of a procrastinator.