How to Deal With Negativity

  Hello, friends! We live in a world where people are put down (emotionally) for thinking with a positive attitude. No one should be happy. Ever. Right? Wrong. To be happy, it's important to maintain a positive attitude. Not only will this help you deal with things that suck, but also give people some hope, too. To have this positive, we need to do a couple of things. Number one: get rid of the negativity. How do you do that? Follow me.
  Start by getting all the crap and bad stuff out of your life. If someone has repeatedly been a bad friend to you, let them go. You don't need that in your life. If you are living with people who make you unhappy, find a way to change that. If you can't, you're better off without them. Surround yourself with people that make you happy and make you feel like you can be yourself. Don't set your expectations too high, though. Nobody's perfect.
  As far as social media goes, do a cleansing. Maybe there's one twitter account that constantly complains about life and it's been getting on your nerves. Unfollow them! You don't need to deal with that. Maybe someone sent you a hurtful text or you had a bad text argument with someone. Delete the messages. Delete them. Send them away. You know you're going to keep looking back at them, so save yourself the trouble. Know that you don't have to deal with negativity if you can get rid of it. Surround yourself with positive energy and inspiration.
  Another way to get rid of negativity is to simply block it out. Rise above it. Did I write a post about that? Yes I did! Go look at it!
  I know that this was a really short post, but I just wanted to add my bit about maintaining a positive attitude. I tend to write when something has happened that I have learned from, and I want to share with you guys. I hope you enjoyed this post. I will see y'all next time,

-Love Ling

Rise Above It

  Hello, friends! Today I'm going to talk to you about the importance of being the better person. I know that this is a concept that we are all told to maintain, but it's very hard sometimes. Believe me, I know. We are all tempted to go the easy way and give in to negativity or doing something hurtful. However, it is important to rise above it. Not only will this put you in a position of growth, but it will strengthen you, as well.
  Sometimes, we are just put into crappy situations. I know that I've had my fair share. For example, there was this one fight that I got into with a friend. We just weren't seeing eye to eye, and it would have been so easy to pick a fight and argue. There is a certain thrill one gets from a heated text argument. However, when I was at conflict with this person, I chose to be the better person. I tried to fix this wrong, even though I was pretty sure I was right. This does two things: drives the other person crazy and makes you into a better person. Always choose the higher road. When you're fighting with some, just apologize. It's like ripping off a bandaid. It sucks, but get it over with and move on.  
  I always talk about inner beauty on this blog, and choosing a higher path is a way to make yourself appear beautiful on the outside, and be beautiful on the inside, as well. 
-Love Ling

Real Techniques Brush Review: Core Collection

Hello, friends! In my most recent "My Day" post, I mentioned going to Kohl's where I picked up some Real Techniques brushes to try. Through this entire week, I've been testing each brush out and I've come to a few conclusions to share with you today. Let's get started!

  The product I picked up was the Real Techniques: Core Collection. This set comes with four different brushes and a case/stand. It retails for about $17-20, but I purchased mine with a coupon for $13. You can find these brushes at your local drugstore, Target, Kohls, or Ulta. I'm sure other places have these brushes, as well. This product claims to give the face an airbrushed look in any lighting and to have ultra plush bristles. 
  I really like the packaging. The stems of the brushes have a matte, metallic orange color and seem to be very light. I was extremely impressed with how light these brushes felt. Overall, the bristles seems to be very soft and cushy. I also haven't noticed any fall out. After I cleaned them, I noticed that they dried rather quickly, indicating them to be mostly synthetic.
  The first brush the kit comes with is the "detailer brush", which can be used to spot conceal or to apply lipstick. The brush seems to be sturdy, useable, and does its job without any hassle. It's not especially magnificent, but it works.
  The second brush is the "pointed foundation brush". This can be used with liquid foundation. I find the pointed brush to be a tad to pointy-almost to a point where it hurts to use it. It could definitely be a lot softer. I also notice that for a foundation brush, the actual brush head is tiny. It's better suited for concealer that foundation, as it doesn't cover large areas of the face.
  The third brush in the set is the "buffing brush". This is supposed to be ideal for full coverage application of powder and mineral foundation. This brush seems to be a better fit for liquid foundation than powder. I used this with my foundation, and it blended the product flawlessly and seamlessly. I did apply powder with this, and it worked okay, but I'd rather use a bigger powder brush. 
  The final brush the set comes with is the "contour brush", used to apply high liter, blush, or bronzer. I find that it works well for all three, but it works especially well for applying concealer in large areas of the face. I'm sure it would work well for foundation, as well, because the bristles aren't too dense and can blend products well. 
  As for the case, it's well made, but I don't think I'll get much use of it. Overall, I really like the brushes and I'm happy I made the investment in these. I have favorites among the kit, but I think they're really good quality overall. If you are in need of new brushes, I would recommend getting these. You will definitely get your money's worth.

-Love Ling

Beauty Tips Part 2

Hello, friends! Being the beauty blogger I am, I have acquired some tips that will make your life so much easier as far as beauty goes. Let's do a bit of show and tell today. I did a post like this one a while back which I will link right here, if you want to go see it. 
  Know that I'm not an expert, but I have learned some things over the years that have helped me with my beauty routine, and hopefully they will help you, as well.

1. Wet your beauty sponge before applying foundation. This prevents the sponge from absorbing too much product.
2. Wash your face in the shower last. Notice that when you shampoo your hair, the shampoo runs over your face when you rinse it. This can clog your pores and break you out. Wash your face last in the shower to remove all of that residue.
3. Blot then powder your face. When doing a touch up on your makeup, blot the excess oils before powdering. This will give you a cleaner look, while also keeping you matte longer.
4. Don't smile too big when applying blush to the cheeks. Smiling while applying blush can actually make you look older.
5. When doing your brows, applying a lighter brow shade to the front of the eyebrow and a darker shade towards the tail. This makes the eyebrows look more natural. Don't forget to run a spoolie through them to blend out the powder.
6. When doing an elaborate eyeshadow look, do that first, then apply face makeup. Any fall out from your eyeshadow will be masked underneath the makeup, so you don't have to worry about that dirty look. When applying eyeshadow, you can also place a tissue under your eye to catch fallout.
7. Apply Vaseline on your wrists and behind you ears before spraying on perfume. This will help the perfume last longer.
8. No lipliner? No problem! Use the tip of your lipstick to carefully rim your lips before filling them in as usual.
9. Exfoliate a couple times a week to remove any dead skin cells that may have built up on your face. This doesn't need to be done every day. Start in your T-Zone and work the product out to the rest of your face.
10. Remove your makeup and exfoliate after working out in makeup. Your sweat combined with the makeup will cause you to break out. You can look done up while working out, just take care of your skin.

-Love Ling

My Day!

Hello, friends! I would like to apologize for not posting for a few days. The past couple of days have been crazy busy, and I haven't had time to sit down and blog. It's bad, I know. Today's post is going to be a review of what I did today, so let's get started! 

  I woke up a 9:30, as planned, but unfortunately fell back asleep. When I awoke, it was 12 o'clock and I was mad. I hate waking up late on the weekends. It feels like missed half the day! After waking up, I drove out to the grocery store to pick up some ingredients to make sausage balls for church tomorrow. This was the morning when I decided that I wanted to dress fashionably to go to the grocery store, so I got some weird looks from sneaker-clad moms as I strutted down the aisles in my sandal wedges and Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses. Sometimes you just have those days. 
  After going to the grocery store, I drove out to Taco Bell and got myself some lunch. I was ecstatic to finally be able to go there. I've been craving it all week. If you are wondering, I got the Crunch Wrap Supreme, which was absolutely amazing. My philosophy with Taco Bell is that as long as you don't think about what you're eating and you don't look at it, it's fine.
  I spent the rest of the morning catching up on the Carrie diaries and eating my crunch wrap. At about 3 o'clock, my best friend, Savannah, picked me up for a day of bonding and shopping. Our first stop was Plato's Closet, a consignment shop where I was able to sell some dresses. I ended up buying entirely more than I planned to, but I did need summer clothes. A summer clothing and beauty haul shall be coming your way shortly.
  After Plato's, we went to Kohls where I had some shorts to exchange. There, I got some makeup brushes and a dress for my sister, spending the entirety of my Kohls cash. By that time, the shopping was getting to us and we stopped at Starbucks for a little pick-me-up. I got a Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher and Sav got a Caramel Flan Frap. That place just gets us.
  Savannah dropped me back off at my house and I spent the rest of the day chilling and lounging around. Towards the evening, I made those sausage balls, which turned out to be quite delicious. They were difficult to make, though, because I had to mix the sausage, cheese, flour, and water with my hands. Let me tell you, that stuff was cold! My hands were freezing the entire time!
  The rest of the night, I worked on some work and hung around the house. It was a pretty un-extraordinary day, but I did find that I had a lot of fun getting to hang with my friend and family.

-Love Ling
  

You Are Enough

Hello, friends! I hope you all are doing well today. Today's post is going to be short, but hopefully inspiring and motivating. I have a quote for you that is going to be the main theme of this post: 

"You are enough. You are so enough, that it's unbelievable how enough you are." -Sierra Boggess, Broadway star

I am a person who spends a lot of time in front of people, talking, and performing. Wanting to be the center of attention is something that I love and something that I have accepted as a gift. Whenever I am the center of attention, though, whether on stage or in front of people, I do tend to get nervous. The quote mentioned above always helps me through any situation I'm in where I have to present myself or something. It reminds me that I am enough. I don't have to prove anything to anybody. I don't have to try to impress people, because who I am already is enough. This quote always gives me reassurance when I am anxious about singing onstage or giving a speech, because it erases all the fears I have about not being good enough. So friends, if you are in a situation in which you feel nervous or inferior, whether you're talking to someone new or talking in front of a large group of people, know that you're enough. You are so enough, that it's unbelievable how enough you are. Have faith that you will do great things, because I know you will.

-Love Ling

First Date Tips

Hello, friends! I'm sure that sometime in your life, you are going to encounter that wonderfully spectacular, yet horribly awkward moment known as your first date. This may be your first date in forever or with a new guy or girl, but we can all say that dating can be intimidating. Now, I'm not the love expert, but I do have some tips that I've collected from experience in dating and from other people that I would love to share with you today. 

1.  When going on a first date, you want to look presentable, yet simple. Wear something that you feel good in, that's slightly classy, and super comfortable. If you don't like heels, don't wear them. Don't torture yourself for vanity. That being said, I wouldn't recommend bumming it. What you wear can be a reflection of who you are and you don't want to off put your date by wearing something too casual. A cute shirt, jeans, flats, and an accessory are my go to for casual dates. For something more dressy, I would recommend a dress and comfortable heels or flats. As for guys, I would recommend khakis or jeans and a nice shirt. Try a polo or a button down shirt.
2. Girls,it's also great if you keep makeup to slightly above what you would normally wear. That being said, let's try not to go too over the top. Guys don't like it when you wear too much makeup. They think you're beautiful just the way you are. If you do feel the need to wear makeup, however, go for light foundation, a neutral eye, blush, and lipgloss. Guys, do with that what you will.
3. Wear deodorant and some fragrance or cologne. You don't want to be smelling bad on your date!
4. Keep your breath and teeth in check
5. When on the date, don't check your phone to often. Even though you may be nervous, being on your phone when someone else is with you is not only rude, but shows uninterested in the other person. It shows that what ever is on your phone is more important than the date you're on right now.
6. Guys: expect to pay. Chivalry is not dead. Be polite, courteous, and treat her like a princess.
7. Just breathe. If you have any feelings of nervousness, that's completely fine. Expect some awkward silences. Just know that your date is probably just as nervous as you are. Be kind, friendly, and yourself. 

Alright, guys! I hope you enjoyed these first date tips and that you found them helpful. Above all of these, just remember to be yourself and that dates are meant to be fun. Get to know the other person! Enjoy!

-Love Ling

Truth: Sometimes, People Suck

  Hello, friends! You guys know, I love people. I love looking at the nuances of life and seeing how people work and what motivates them to do things. Sometimes, I'm just sitting in the car and looking out at all the cars around me thinking, "God, I love these people!". However, we can all admit that occasionally, people suck. Not all the time, but there are things that I find the general population tend to do that aren't the greatest things in the world. Sometimes, these things can make you shout out "God, I hate people". To help you avoid saying this, I'm going to give you a bit of perspective that may change your mind about the human race.
  I find that a major leading cause of frustrating behavior in people is mere ignorance. Don't take that harshly. I mean that sometimes, people aren't aware of what's going on around them. We all have a lot of thoughts going through our head all the time and sometimes we get distracted by all that we're thinking of. We're in our own little world and we don't see what we are doing. I know it can be really frustrating walking behind someone walking really slow or a group of people stampeding through the streets, but just know that they don't know the effect of what they're doing. So the next time you feel like kicking someone because they're walking too slow, remember that they probably aren't aware of what they're doing.
  Something else that can be really annoying is when people refuse to acknowledge that you're there. For example, when people sit in a circle and don't leave any room for you in it. That really sucks and it feels like a punch in the face. Though it's hard, remember that they're focused on themselves. A lot of people don't see anything that's going on, because they're trying to make sure they're getting attention and saying the right things. Let's face it: people are insecure. They are so insecure. People want to secure immunity for themselves and aren't concerned about anything else. It's a fact of life. There's not much more you can do other than not be that sucky person. Include people don't make people feel left out.
  I'm not really sure what I accomplished in this post, but I hope that there's some catharthis release here. I'm sure you can identify with what I'm saying here. Just know that people are wonderful, and though they may sometimes do things that just...suck, most of the time it's not intentional. Anyways! I hope you enjoyed this post, and I'll talk to you later!

-Love Ling

Being Yourself

  Hello, friends! Yes! I mean friends! Just a little reminder that you are enough. You are so enough that it's unbelievable how enough you are. You are loved. You are beautiful.
  Today's post is going to be about being yourself. Now I know that this is a very difficult concept to grasp, but hopefully I'll help you get a better understanding of the importance of just being who you are. We all go through different versions of ourselves, trying to figure out who we really are. That's completely normal. Figuring out who you are is frustrating, difficult, and takes time. However, once you have discovered what you like and don't like, what your opinions are, and what you choose to believe, maintaining them is key. Being yourself doesn't mean be boring, don't talk to people, and say what you feel, no matter what it is. Being yourself is being comfortable with who you are, being true to yourself, and knowing that no one else is going to change that. 
  If you feel like you are forcing yourself into being someone that you're not when talking to someone or trying to be friends with them, then you're probably not hanging out with the right person. Some people aren't meant to be friends. That's okay. You don't need to have all the friends in the world. Just keep people around you who accept you for who you are and love you for you. You don't need to constantly impress people. Remember: You are enough. Being friends with someone means that you both are comfortable acting the way you want to, without having to worry about what the other person thinks. Now, that takes confidence, and again, it does take time to gain. Once you gain it, though, you are opened up to a world of possibilities. 
   If you still feel like you are struggling with being yourself, just breathe. Don't think about it too much. Just live, but live with love and kindness. Everything else will fall into place.

-Love Ling

New Hair?!

  Hello, friends! You heard it right! I chopped my locks! For the sake of my anonymity, I will not post a picture, but for your sake, I will describe it to you. This was a totally spontaneous decision. Great Clips was having a $6.99 haircut sale, I went in,asked to have my hair cut up to my shoulders, and there it was! Previously, my hair was relatively long and about four inches past shoulder length. It was also really layered and I found it to be dry in the layers. I just got tired of it and decided to get it refreshed. Now, it's one length, at my shoulders, and I'm so happy with the result. I've noticed that it's really easy to take care of, looks really healthy, and is still stylable. I've also noticed that it frames my face better and compliments my face shape. I'm in love. If you would like a "shortish" hair styling post, let me know!

  If you're contemplating that summer haircut, just go for it! Change is good and doing something bold like that will give you an amazing boost of confidence. Don't be afraid to try something new, beautiful. Besides,hair grows. I hope you enjoyed this announcement about my hair! Twasn't it fascinating?

-Love Ling

Mini Target Haul

Hello, friends! Today, I have a haul for you guys, all the way from my favorite store, Target. I just picked up a few new things to try and I'm very excited to show them to you! 
Disclaimer: Am I trying to brag? No.
Am I wanting to show you what all is out there? Yes. 

 Alright! The first thing I purchased was this baby blue sweater from the clearance rack, which I just thought was adorable. I thought it would be awesome for spring, because it's very breezy and the color is just gorgeous. 

To the right, you will see a couple of beauty products that I hauled. Starting at the far left, we have the ELF glitter primer that I've been dying to try! My eyelids are hopelessly oily and  I figured that if it could hold down glitter, it could hold down eyeshadow on my lids. 

Next, I bought the Organix argan oil, which I haven't heard much about, but I really wanted to see what it was like. It's supposed to add softness and hydration to the hair without weighing it down and making it greasy. I just smelled it, and it smells like perfume!

You guys know about my Sinful Colors obsession, and this coral color is gorgeous! It's called "Havoc", and I can't wait to wear this for summer.

The last item I got is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, which I've heard rave reviews about. I figured that it would be super easy to use, and it's really cheap, too.

Alrighty, guys! That is all I got from Target. I hope you enjoyed this haul and I will see you in my next post! 

-Love Ling

April Beauty Favorites

Hello, friends! As April is coming to a close, it is time for me to put forth the products I loved all month long. I hope April was a good month for you! I can't even remember if it was for me...it went by so fast! Summer is almost here, you guys! I can feel it! Let's get on with my beauty favorites for April!

Simple Makeup Remover Wipes: I know, I know. You've heard my speech about why baby wipes are the way to go for removing face makeup. I was totally anti makeup remover wipes for a long time, but I wanted to take a gander and try these. I must say, they're pretty awesome. They don't burn my face, take makeup off like a dream and leave my face without a trace of foundation on it. I really like these.

Revlon Translucent Pressed Powder: I really love using this powder to set my face makeup. It's translucent, so it doesn't change the color of my foundation and mattifies my face longer than any other powder I've used. The formulation is really amazing, as well.

Maybelline "The Falsies" Mascara: I love this mascara so much. It makes my lashes look amazing. It volumes them and flares them out, making them look like movie star lashes! I love it!

Loreal Crayon Concealer: I used this product a ton in April. It's really easy to apply, because it's in stick form and you can just swipe it on. All you have to do apply it, blend it, and you're good to go! It's perfect for those early mornings when I don't feel like applying anything heavy.

Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter: Glowy skin has been a must for me this month and this highlighter is amazing for making my skin look dewy, but not discussing. I love applying this to the tops of my cheek bones for a radiant look. It also is in stick form and can be applied and blended easily.

Rimmel Nude Liner: I just recently purchased this nude liner from Target and I love it! It really adds that pop to my eyes and makes them appear wider and more awake. 

CVS Brand Wax Strips: My eyebrows are insane and need a lot of  upkeep. I find that having to get my eyebrows done every few weeks really adds up, so lately, I've been using these wax strips from CVS and I really like them! They're so easy to use and get the job done! 

Alright guys! I hope you enjoyed my April favorites! Now let's go have an amazing May!

-Love Ling