August Birchbox!

Hi everybody!

Today's post is about my recent birchbox! I'm not entirely sure what the theme is for this month, since I didn't get the info card (it must have found it's way to Narnia). I think the theme might be something along the lines of hair care, or rejuvenation after a long summer! :)

The first product is by the company Number 4, and it's the Lumiere d'hiver Reconstructing Masque. So fancy! I've already tried this out once, and I must say it's pretty fabulous. It's very smooth and creamy, and is infused with soy protein to deliver ultimate moisture and silkiness.

This is also by the company Number 4, and it's the L'eau de Mer Hydrating Shampoo. It haven't tried this yet, but it's a generous sample that I should get a few uses out of, even with my thick hair. It's contains vitamin B5, and is also free of sulfates and parabens.

Next we have a Zoya nail polish in the color Pandora. I'm ecstatic over this, because I love Zoya nail polish! Also, I waited months to get a nail polish in my birchbox! It's a very nude pink color, that has shine, but not shimmer.

The next product is by Caudalie, and it's the Premier Cru The Eye Cream. I have yet to try this sample, but it seems very extravagant. I tested a bit on the back of my hand, and find that it smells a bit odd (at $95 per .5 oz bottle, it must be the smell of wealth and fortune!).

The last sample is by FIX Malibu, and its the Wish Wash Exfoliating Powder Wash. It's a powder that you simply mix with water to create a foamy exfoliator. I love the clever idea of having a powder wash, since that means you can carry it without hassle while traveling, and still comply with pesky TSA rules (I know the TSA requirements are for our safety, but it can be difficult to find travel sizes of our fave products, and even those sometimes get thrown away!)

Finally, we have our Birchbox extra. It looks like a ribbon, but it's actually a hair tie designed by Twistband, and is supposed to keep hair in place without leaving creases. It also looks cute when worn on the wrist!

Okay, so that was my entire August birchbox! I hope you all enjoyed it! Until next time,
<3 Lucero

August Jewelmint Haul!

Hi everybody! Today I have a Jewelmint haul! Yay! I have 5, yes, 5 pieces to show off!

This is the Sweetheart Ring. It's a re-release, and I actually purchased this in late July but didn't get it in time to include with the other July pieces. It sold out really quickly, but I was able to snag it. It's a very flirty, feminine piece that catches the eye with the 2 tiny crystals. It's gold plated, and very light; I hardly ever notice it on my finger when I have it on.

This next piece is the Sealed With Love Necklace. It's actually a small stamp placed on a long, 27" rope chain. I love the story behind this necklace, and the idea originates from when people sealed their letters with wax! The bottom of the stamp has "With Love" engraved, and it can really be used as a stamp. This was my favorite piece, and it gives off such a cute, antique vibe.

This next set is the Tailor Made Earrings. It comes with four pairs of gold plated studs inspired by tools found at a tailor's workshop. It includes a pair of scissors, a pair of zipper pulls, a pair of gold bars, and a pair of gold nuggets. These are perfect for using to polish an outfit, or for mixing-and-matching to give off a funky twist.

Next, we have the Bella Flora Earrings! The name was thought up by a Jewelmint fan who won a facebook contest, which I think is pretty cool. They're a beautiful pair of earrings that have very summery colors. I love the feminine look of the flowers with pearls, it's so girly! I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of dangly earrings (even these are a tad heavy for everyday use) but I just had to get them!

Last, but definitely not least, we have the Lost Treasure Bracelet. The piece gives off a very medieval feel, as it appears to be made with old coins put together. The 7" chain is perfect for my tiny wrist! It's held together not with a clasp, but with super strong magnets. This is quite interesting, and I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it!

And that concludes my Jewelmint haul! Since each piece is regularly priced at $30, it can certainly add up. However, I have a tip for anybody wishing to join Jewelmint: there's always coupons! I've only paid full price once, and that was when I first started. At any given time, with a little searching, you should be able to fine at least a $5 off coupon. I also recommend Groupon, since I bought a coupon for two pieces for only $25! That's a $60 purchase for only $25!

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and haul! Until next time,
<3 Lucero

All photos taken by me, with a Canon Powershot G12

Pet Peeves!

Hi everybody!

Today's post is on my top  pet peeves. A pet peeve is something, usually an action, that really annoys you. I generally don't like to dwell on things that bug me, but there are certain quirks that really get to me. So here are my pet peeves, from mildly annoying to drive-me-insane agitation.

6. Space invaders. Like most Americans, I like my space. However, being exposed to different cultures has shown me that not everybody gets the memo to stand a decent distance away from me. If I can smell your breath, you're most likely too close to me. It's not anything personal, I just like to breathe my own air.

5. Grabbers. This annoyance ties into the previous one. I strongly dislike when people are comfortable using my stuff without asking. If you ask politely to see my iPod or something, I'll gladly let you see it. But please don't yank it from my hand and play with it the whole time we're together. Also, don't go through my purse. It holds my belongings, and if I wish to show you anything, I will.

4. Excessive noise. I'm not that great at canceling out noise. So, if the radio or television is turned up very loud, please lower it and then speak. Don't try to talk over it, because it just makes more din! Also, if your 5-year-old is yelling, just because you can ignore him/her, doesn't mean I can! I really can't focus if there is too much noise, it overwhelms my mind.

3. Debbie downers. I can't stand when people complain too much (which I know sounds hypocritical as I'm listing my top annoyances! :P). I understand if you've had a bad day, but when you complain about every little thing that goes wrong, I lose interest. Instead of making mountains out of molehills, look at your  problems from a different perspective, and I promise they won't seem as bad.

2. Food smackers. This one I'm not too annoyed by, as I am grossed out. Even when I was little, I could not stand to see or hear people chew with their mouths open. If your food is already chewed up, I don't want to see it! It honestly makes me gag, and I have come very close to losing my meal in the past.

1. Grammatical Errors. This exasperates me the most! I absolutely hate it when people don't obey grammatical laws of the English language. One common mistake is switching around "your" and "you're". They have entirely different meanings, though the sound is the same. I also don't like when people purposely talk "w!tH cR@zyyy L3Tt3r$". It makes reading so much more difficult, and I find it very unnecessary. Seeing someone write so informally, even through text lowers my intellectual expectations of them.

So, that wraps up my top pet peeves! I hope I didn't seem too angry or judgmental, I promise next post will be much more up-beat!

Until next time,
<3 Lucero

PREP!

Hi everybody!

A little over a week ago, I graduated from PREP, which stands for Prefreshman Engineering Program. It's an extensive 7 week program that focuses on engineering, and logic. This was my first year, and I am extremely happy with my overall experience! I made lots of great new friends, and the curriculum was fun and challenging. I'm proud to say that I graduated with an A+ Outstanding, the highest honor which requires an average of over 99.00 (in fact, I was the only person from my campus to receive it!).

Now, I find myself missing the days spent at UTSA Downtown with my friends. Some of the wonderful amigos I made at PREP include:

Daniela, a fellow blogger and fashionista (here's her link!). She's incredibly gorgeous who shared a love of YouTube with me! She, along with Marina, a stunning shortie, created a dynamic duo. They always paired up for projects, though that didn't always result in success (some may even say it was "scraps"!)

Ursula, a lovely girl who was always reading a book, or writing one! She has high hopes of becoming an author/animator and teamed up with me for the egg drop project. Ursula is dependable, and always there to talk to.

Josh, a funny guy who always had food on hand was either picking on somebody in a playful manner, or laughing at them! He had retorts for any questioned asked, though his favorite line was "your mom". Ramon often joined him, with his comical sayings (usually in Spanish).

George and I often had long discussions about time travel, Stephen Hawkings, and whether or not Magenta from Blue's Clues was a girl.

Blanca, Amanda, and Chasity were an inseparable trio who were found in the back of the auditorium, giggling and texting.

That's only the beginning of the list of wonderful people in my group, the Gummi Bears! I loved PREP, and hope to see some familiar faces next summer!

Until next time,
<3 Lucero