How to win at the game of travel

As the holiday season is approaching, it almost vacation time! Time to get out of the house, out of the work place, and out of school to relax and take some much needed time off. What you don't want to do is spend your entire trip hauling around a suitcase that weighs as much as a car, or that's bigger than your closet itself. Its important to save space, whether that means leaving a few items behind that you don't really need, or getting creative when it comes to packing the things you can't live without.
One thing you can try is rolling your clothes instead of folding them to take up less space. This trick it super easy and will allow you to pack more clothes, without wrinkling them or shoving them into your suitcase or bag. For an added plus, throw in a dryer sheet to keep them smelling fresh.
Pack your dirty shoes in a shower cap so dirt doesn't get on your clothes and thread your necklaces through a straw to stop tangling along the journey.
Next, don't worry about saving space for your iHome. You can turn any cup into a speaker for your phone by dropping it in and letting it echo on the sides of the cup. Dance party, anywhere.
If you are traveling to a different time zone, chances are your sleep schedule will take a toll on you. If you want to avoid jet lag, try exercising a lot the day before you travel. Then, once you land, get lots of fresh air, especially if you are in high altitudes. This wears your body out if its not used to it naturally. I like to go for a long run a few days before hand, and if I do a lot of walking, try to get extra sleep during my trip.
If you tend to get chilly on the plane ride, try packing a light weight scarf in your carry on. Use it as a little blanket or pillow on the ride and once you arrive at your destination, you have the perfect accessory to add to any outfit.
When it comes to bringing makeup and face products, this tends to be my biggest hassle. Most of them are too big to fit in my bag and if I'm flying its not even regulation to have anything over 3 ounces. Contact cases make great storage for on the go. Just squirt some of your favorite foundation in the case, a little goes a long way, and screw the cap on. Good to go.
If your are going to a place where pick pockets are a problem, you want to put your extra cash somewhere safer than a wallet. Empty out an old chap stick container and roll up the bills to fit inside. Perfect hiding place. I mean you've probably already filled your contact case with lip balm, so keeping money in the empty lip balm only makes sense.
Happy traveling!

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The right blush for your skintone

We've all seen it. Someone who overdid it just a tad on the blush that morning and ended up looking more like a clown than a girl. It happens to the best of us, but its an easy fix.
Sometimes how blush looks on the skin has less to do with the amount you apply and more to do with finding the shade that is going to compliment your skin tone and give you the radiant look you desire without looking ridiculous. One thing is for sure, putting blush on is one of the best way to instantly radiate your skin and give a glow that makes you look more cheerful and happy.
Your gut instinct may be to go with the color you like the best or the one you think looks like the one "everyone else wears," but just like we all wear a different clothing size, we all have different skin tones and different color compliment them differently. Whether you prefer cream blush or powder, finding the right color is the most important, second to application. Keeping it light is the best way to make sure you won't have a blush catastrophe. You can always add more, but its almost impossible to remove what you've already done without having to completely start over with your makeup. And when it comes to getting ready for school, time is of the essence.

For fair skin, its important not to go too dark. You don't want to overpower your beautiful porcelain skin. Stick with a light peachy pink and a light application for more of a glow than a "blush".

For medium skin tones, just like fair skin, peaches and pinks are your best go-to, however you may want to take it a step further and go a shade or two darker. A rich pink or even mauve will provide
you with a lasting glow, without being too much.

For darker skin tones, deep shades of red, orange, and brown look best. Pink colors will tend to leave you looking more washed out than flushed.

Keep the blush focused on the apples of your cheeks for daytime wear and bring it up the cheekbones for a nighttime look. If you want something more dramatic you can always use contour shades with darker bronzier colors and a lighter highlight shade on the top of your cheekbones. However when it comes to contouring, especially during the day, like grandma always said, less is more.


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Fall 2014 "Life Hacks"

Autumn has arrived, and with the new season comes new ways to make your life easier, so here's a few "life hacks" that you can feel free to take advantage of that put old things to good use.

Old candles? New storage!

If you're like me, I love burning candles, especially during the fall. When the candle has been used up, don't throw away the old container, put it to new use. Freeze the jar for a few hours, then remove the remaining wax and wick. Rinse it out and you are left with a handy glass jar that you can multi-purpose into a container that can hold Q-tips or cotton balls. If you're feeling festive, take some Mod Podge and some glitter and turn it into a decor piece as well.

Coffee Ice Cubes?

If you're not into watered down coffee, an easy solutions awaits you. Fill an ice cube tray will coffee mix stirred with water, and pop it in the freezer. Next time you need some quick caffeine, just throw 4-5 cubes into a glass of milk or extra coffee and you're good to go.

When they melt, they won't water down your delicious drink.

If you ever need a pair of leg warmers and don't have time to go shopping, just check your closet. Chances are you have a few old sweaters laying around that you haven't worn in ages. It's not hard to turn these old clothes into something new and wearable. Just cut the sleeves off and fold over the ends to create a brand new pair of leg warmers! Leg warmers are stylish and functional, especially for the fall season!

Then if you still find yourself in the mood to DIY, you can take the torso of the sweater and make it into a scarf with a few more cuts.

Another easy trick I use during the fall season, especially when I get too busy to hang up all of my washed clothes, is using my straightening iron to tidy up my wrinkly shirts before school. It takes less than 2 minutes and saves you from dragging out the ironing board.

Hope you enjoyed these fun fall do-it-yourself hacks. Enjoy the new season and the upcoming fashion and makeup trends.

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