New Bedroom Renovations/Lights

I recently rearranged/organized my bedroom and wanted to share some pics, since I'm quite proud of the way it looks:)
The last pic is my new favorite movie, which is the cutest, most romantic film:) and my these Febreeze downy-scented spray that I'm digging right now!

My Lovely Trip to Columbus+ New Cosmetics

Hello loves & welcome back! I've been insanely busy the past month and half, so I haven't had as much time to blog. I got two jobs, one as a waitress at a Pizza Place and just a couple weeks as a cashier at Panera Bread! I'm really excited and loving it so far and have met a lot of cool, nice people! I'm still trying to adjust and perfect everything and have been working a lot of late nights. So I haven't given as much time to the blog. Anyway, today, I want to talk about my amazing two days I spent with my grandma in Columbus, Ohio.

If you haven't already been there, you need to check it out! There is so many quaint, interesting shops, cafes, and amusements you can explore. While staying a few nights, my grandma took me to the German Village, where we had brunch at this cute coffee-shop and then adventured in the most fun bookstore ever! It had 44 rooms just stuffed to the brim with every possible book you could want, pretty much heaven to my story-loving heart:)


We also saw this beautiful garden that a sweet, retired guy has been maintaining for years- it was so impressive! He even offered to show us around to see the pretty blue pots he keeps his flowers in. After that, we had some of the most delicious ice cream at Jeni's, which is one of the most unique ice cream shops you'd find! The colors of the restaurant were so bright and cheerful, and there was so many original ice cream flavors to choose from. From there, we went to a small park downtown where we enjoyed seeing bushes carved into people! It was cool to admire the creative talent and time put into these sculptures. A large part of these three days was definitely the various yummy food we tried. My grandma treated me to Greek cuisine my last day there, which I now adore. We just had a light lunch of pita bread, with creamy cucumber and spinach dip! It pretty much fed my soul:)
And we also had some healthy, scrumptious pizza at the California Pizza kitchen, with arugula and gouda cheese.

Another highlight of the trip, which I was so excited about, was finally getting to go to Sephora and Burberry stores! Even though I usually don't buy such expensive products, I thoroughly enjoyed myself looking around in makeup & hand-bag paradise! I did however purchase some Elf illuminating eye cream(officially obsessed, hello?!) and some Revlon pink lipstick from Target.
More on those awesome beauty products below.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience. My grandma and I had been planning this trip for years and never got around to doing it, until now. I also used my new "You First" Lea Michele journal to gain some extremely interesting insight into my Grandpa's amazing life! I found out that he has literally worked 30 different jobs/skill sets and started 2 of his own businesses. To see has ambition and has accomplished a lot would be an understatement:)

The last night I was there, I went out to dinner with his friends, older gentlemen he sells cars with. We had BBQ, mac & cheese, and salad and enjoyed a lot of good laughs! 

To go into more detail on my new cosmetics, I'm going to share some pics first. Lately, I've got all out with makeup and don't use hardly any other products but Elf's! I love how affordably priced they are for the average consumer, but how they're super good quality! They stay on all day long and don't smear or rub off on clothes. Right now, I'm digging the Elf Illuminating Primer, which makes your skin so soft and gives a healthy glow and color. I put it on before my foundation, to keep in place. Then I use Elf's Foundation Serum, which works wonders on pale skin! I'm also currently loving their  colorful bronzer palette, which comes in four different shades.

I use the lightest one, to again add a bit of tan to my white skin:) Then I use a natural- looking, light pink blush from their line on my cheekbones. To clean my foundation and eyeshadow brushes, I use their brush spray, which only costs $4.00! All of their products can be found at Walmart/Target and most cosmetic stores, such as Ulta or Sephora/Sally Hansen ranges.

The final and newest beauty product I've been using religiously is their illuminating eye cream. I find that I've always had a problem with dark, unattractive circles under my eyes from stress/lack of sleep etc. I couldn't remember the last time my skin didn't look twice as pale from this annoying problem! But this eye cream is certainly doing it's job well. Every night, after I wash my face I put a little dab of it under each eye and a little on the crease of my eye-lid. It smoothes out the skin, as well as hydrating it and giving it a bit of a pretty glow.

The final makeup product is Anastasia Beverely Hills Dipbrow (in chocolate) which I am in love with! This stuff is probably the best quality eyebrow makeup I've ever used- it's such a dark pretty color and stays on all day and night! Trust me, this stuff is the real deal! It stays put through a long, sweaty shift at my job as a dishwasher/chef;) So, it's definitely heat/water proof as it professes to be.

Then there's my other faves, my Jennifer Aniston perfume I purchased from Tj. Max- only $15.00! If that isn't a bargain( for something that's normally $55.00!) then I don't know what is. I love the smell- it's so reviving and feminine! I also recently purchased some Calvin Kleins from Marshalls (another deal $7.99, they're normally $18!). I must say these are literally the most comfortable underwear I've ever worn! They're also cute because they're pink and ideal for sleeping/relaxing in on a Sunday afternoon. Right now, I'm searching for a matching bra to get with them, for the ultimate sleepwear. Next, there's my new Elf bronzer, which comes in a palette with so many rich, golden-brown colors. It's so pretty! I've only recently started using bronzer and usually put it on my cheekbones and forehead before I apply my blush. This one only got $4.00 and can be found at Walmart/Target, or any cosmetics store. 

Book Spotlights: And although I know this is a makeup/beauty blog, I wanted to quickly talk about the books I'm currently enjoying. Right now, I'm reading the classic novel "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton. I've watched the movie several times and loved it! I relate so much to Ponyboy- let's just say he's everything I ever wanted in a boyfriend! He's so sweet, sensitive, and thoughtful; plus the overall story-line is really good and inspirational. There's humor, sadness, tragedy, and an intriguing tale that keeps you turning the pages. This is a MUST read for sure. 

And last, but certainly not least, is my "You First:Journal Your Way To Your Best Life" Book. This journal, written by my girl, Lea Michele had inspired, encouraged, and helped me in countless ways! Not only have I been eating and exercising more and written out so many goals/dreams/plans/ thoughts I never even knew I had!; but I've also learned so many things about my family heritage that I'm tremendously proud of. If you're like me and struggle with being self-motivated, this journal is the answer to your prayers! It's divided into a series of exercises, designed to prompt thoughts about what you really want out of your life. There's one for family, ambition, exercise, diet, relationships, charity +giving back and so on. I learned so much about myself, by Lea asking me questions I won't normally ask myself.

I was challenged and pushed a bit out of my comfort zone, by being completely honest about my dreams and hopes, however embarrassing/ unrealistic they many seem to others. I can't wait to look back on this journal with fond memories someday and see what I've accomplished by then! It's really assisted me to do everything I can to make my dream of being a singer and releasing an independent record come true someday. Right now, I'm focusing on being the best co-worker/ friend/ and waitress I can be and not being hard on myself, when my goals take longer to achieve. Lea Michele is such a beautiful, amazing person and gives some of the best advice on life in general you'll ever hear!

Some of my favorite excerpts from the book include the following: On Romantic

relationships: "The time before a big relationship that might result in marriage and a family is sacred time- it is you time. Use it well. Guard it. Treat is as the precious thing that it is. Really spend time with yourself and understand what it is that makes you sad, and what are legit deal breakers for you. Understand what behavior disappoints you: understand the relationship dynamics that you really admire. this is not about looks, professions or bank accounts- this is about the qualities of a person. Think about the qualities that you really want. You have to learn to be honest with yourself, in order to be honest with the person you're soon to love. If you suppress who you really are in order to "be" someone you think someone else will love, then you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of acting and a lifetime of feeling like the person you've invested yourself in doesn't really know you. From what I've observed, that can be devastating. Life is not a play. You want to be empowered to be yourself, warts and all." 

I'm so grateful that Lea is teaching me these things now and that I don't have to learn them on down the road, later in my life( after I've made these mistakes). Right now, I'm trying to be content just being a good friend to a boy and getting to know him(without fantasizing about a dating relationship happening straight away!). although it's certainly difficult not to wish someone liked you that way, it's better to build a solid foundation of trust and respect and not force a romantic friendship instantly. 

That's all for now. I hope you enjoyed this post and were somehow enlightened/encouraged. Please check out these same products and visit Columbus when you get a chance! Let me know if you use any of the same ones and what you think if you do experiment with them!

Much love and have a nice rest of your summer!

Poolside Essentials, Inspired By Danielle Peazer

This post is inspired by the lovely Danielle Peazer. Check out her Poolside Essentials below:)

http://www.daniellepeazer.com/blog/

For my poolside essentials, I usually just go for a black Xoxo sports bra, my favorite pair of Danskin blue shorts( the comfiest things in the whole world, I might add!) and some waterproof mascara. I don't wear a lot of makeup on vacation, just a bit of concealer or face tanning spray to use presentable and pretty. Then I go in with a couple layers of Clinque Waterproof Mascara, which is the bomb! If you haven't already, you NEED to invest in a good waterproof mascara. It's a great thing to have around, during the summer for minimal, lazy makeup days or when swimming/at the beach.

4th Of July Modeling Shoot!

Today's post is a modeling shoot with my dear, friend Niah on her sweet 16 birthday:) I hope you enjoy and have a lovely 4th of July loves!

Alyssa: shorts: Jennifer Lopez top:Kohls. shoes: Kohls
Niah: Blue shirt: Rue 21. Pants: Target: Shoes: Rainbow- Red Jacket: thrift shop

Blue Mountain +Cynthia Ryley Summer Blues

This outfit is one of my first go-to's in summer. It's comfortable but stylish at the same time. I love the color blue and if you were to go through my wardrobe, you'd find more than 5 outfits with this color! When I found this Blue Mountain shoes at Kohls, I was delighted to match them with my blue top and skirt. 

Alyssa: Skirt: Cynthia Ryley, Top: Leanna Outfitters

Heels: Blue Mountain 

Workout Must- Haves & Fav Videos

I absolutely LOVE working out! It's my ultimate go-to when I'm tired, moody, or feeling depressed, or anxious. It makes me feel so good and strong, and so much more ready for my day. I've been working out for over three years now; and the loads of different videos I've done have completely transformed my body. I've gone from feeling bloated, exhausted, and looking fat to feeling amazing, strong, and looking toned. In particular, I enjoy doing Danielle's dance workouts, as well as her squats and abs videos. Check them out above:)

I love wearing Reebok sports bras and shorts and my trusty pair of Perform Tennis Shoes have been with me for quite some time. I don't normally wear makeup during my workouts, as it causes pimples and is really bad for your skin. No one wants to have their bright pink blush mixing with sweat and running down their face-yikes. If I've having a day where I want to look pretty, I'll just wear a bit of concealer, mascara, and lipstick.

4th Of July Nail Art + My New Pedi Products

Hello loves! I'm super excited for 4th of July, how about you? We are planning to have a BBQ and do fireworks here with our friends. And I have the perfect patriotic outfit, some

jean shorts, white sandals, and blue and red American t-shirt. I will post pictures of this tomorrow! But for now, although it's not officially 4th of July, I'm going to share my nail art for this special day. I never realized how much I love red nail polish until I finally used it yesterday. I usually tend to go for light, neutral colors and light blues. So, it was fun to switch it up and go for a bit more of a bold nail look. I used NYC long wear Red-orange nail polish and some sparkly red, white, and blue nail polish from Walmart. For my toes, I painted a light blue first and then put the sparkle color on over top, after it had dried.

And also I'm going to share some about my new Pedi products from Essie.  If you know anything about me, you know I've struggled with rough,cracked heels for like forever. Well, since I've started using this Pedi file and their foot cream, my feet have been so much smoother and softer. I also love using my scrub I mentioned in an earlier post before the lotion. Then I put on some fluffy socks and climb into bed, waking up to soft, sexy feet in the morning:) If you have similar problems, you MUST check these products out. They're very affordable and good quality.

Chat later- much love!