Happy Halloween!

Hey everybody!

Hope you all have had a wonderful Halloween! My brother and I went trick-or-treating, and I must say it was quite the success! We brought in a lot of candy!

I was a dead-zombie-pirate-angry face.

Look at all the amazing candies! Woo!

And that, officially wraps up Blogtober! It's been a wonderful month, and has gone by way too fast! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did!
<3 Lucero

Lecrae Concert!

Hey everybody!

Today, I went to the Youth Festival Jam 2011, featuring Lecrae! It was an amazing time, and there were so many inspirational speakers and musicians there. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take too many good pictures, because the lighting was weird, and people's heads were constantly in my shots. Sometimes being short is a total pain. But either way, here are a few highlights of the evening!

First up we had the band Creepy Puppets open up the event. He was very enthusiastic to say the least!

After a few songs from Creepy Puppets, a spokesperson from the organization To Write Love On Her Arms(TWLOHA) talked about the organization and his experiences. TWLOHA is a non-profit organization which specializes in helping people with depression, self-injury, and addiction. They directly help people by donating proceeds from t-shirt and wrist band sales to rehab treatments.

Next, we had a speaker come up and perform a monologue. It was a story about a man dealing with substance abuse who finds the meaning of life, Jesus Christ.

Shortly after, a pastor came on stage and performed a few songs, including Coldplay's "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall".

Finally, after hours of waiting, Lecrae started performing! Lecrae is a Christian hip-hop artist who raps about his experiences in life and with Christ.

Hope you all enjoyed!
<3 Lucero

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Hey everybody!

As most of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I think it's important to spread awareness and donate to charity, because this is a very important cause. I recently picked up a bracelet from Lilly Pulitzer, and this company has pledged to donate a minimum of $10,000 from the bracelet profits to breast cancer research. I'm actually going to be gifting this to my grandma who is a breast cancer survivor for Christmas! :)

It came in a lovely little blue pouch.

The bracelet itself is gold-plated, and measures 7 inches long.

Though this bracelet is no longer available for purchase, here are some more products you can buy to donate to breast cancer research.

• Joico K-Pak Intense Hydrator Treatment for Dry, Damaged Hair
• Aveda Hand Relief Creme 
• Estee Lauder's Elizabeth Hurley Pink Ribbon Set 
• Tweezerman Pink Ribbon Slant Tweezer Special Edition

Even though October is coming to a close, I hope you have a chance to do your part and help donate even just  a few dollars to breast cancer awareness and research. Until next time,

<3 Lucero

Picasa Vs. Photoshop

Hey everybody!

Today I'd like to discuss the differences between Picasa and Photoshop. Both are great tools when working with pictures, and both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Photoshop
One of the great things about Photoshop is that a wide variety of edits and manipulations can be made to the pictures. The options are practically limitless! Want brighter eyes? It's easy! Slimmer legs? You've got it! Perfect skin? It's a snap! If you're tech savvy, or willing to spend time learning the software, this is a great option.
However, one of the downfalls is price. It costs hundreds of dollars, and not very many people can shell out that kind of money on something like an editing software. Even I don't own a copy of it! All of the experience I have had with it comes from my time at computer camp. With my time working with photoshop I learned that it's not an easy little project to pick up, it actually takes time and skill to learn how to use it. But once you get the hang of it, using all of the tools becomes second nature.

Picasa
I think the biggest advantage to Picasa is that it's completely free! It's owned by Google, and is available for download at any time. It's also easy to pick up. All of the tools and buttons are labeled, and easy to access. It's also great for beginners or people who don't have enough time to learn a complex editing software. In fact, I edited my new header using Picasa!
One of the downfalls is that the number of editing tricks and fixes is infinitely smaller than on Photoshop. Most of the generic, basic, edits are available, such as cropping, blemish- corrector, and so on. If you wanted to edit your photo to make you look 10 years younger and 20 pounds lighter, Picasa is not for you. But if you just want to have fun and make cute pictures, then Picasa is a fabulous, free, option!

I hope this helped for anybody wanting to try out either of these softwares! Until next time,
<3 Lucero

I'm Blue

Hey everybody!

I have a few pictures taken outside my house. I filmed a YouTube video today, with the theme of blue accent pieces. Here are pictures of my two favorite outfits!

Hope you enjoyed!
<3 Lucero

Christmas Cravings!

Hey everybody!

Here's my Christmas wish list for this year!

• Michael Kors shoulder handbag 
• A very dainty, feminine watch, like this or this
• Tiffany jewelry, perhaps a necklace or bracelet
• Makeup, like NARS, Inglot and MAC, especially from their holiday collections. But especially Inglot. 
• Clothing gift cards to Forever 21, Zara, or other stylish, young brands 
• iPhone 4s
• iPod Classic with plenty of space for my music
• CDs such as Regina Spektor, Coldplay, Vanessa Carlton, Neon Indian, and Lecrae
• Aviator sunglasses, particularly in funky colors
• Nail polishes, such as Deborah Lippman and Butter London
• DKNY perfume in Daisy (not entirely sure if it's still available)
• Goodies from Bath and Body Works 

I hope this helped, particularly if you have a teenage daughter, niece, etc. Hope you enjoyed!

<3 Lucero

October Birchbox 2011

Hey everybody!

Today I got my October birch box, and this month's theme is "Prep and Finish". I was really excited to open it, and this month definitely didn't disappoint.

First we have the Clark's Botanicals Intense Radiance Mask. This is a clay mask designed to detoxify pores, clear blemishes, and calm irritations. This sounds perfect for my acne-prone skin! (1.7 fl oz | $72)

Next we have the amika Obliphica Hair Treatment. this is a hair oil infused with argan oil to help smooth tresses, and add glossiness and shine. I love hair oils, and this will definitely be put to good use! (3.38 fl oz| $34)

This is the Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer in Bronze. It helps foundation last all day, while adding subtle glow. I love Laura Geller products since I first tried their products in a previous Birchbox! (2 oz | $25)

Here is the Anastasia Beverly Hills HydraFull Gloss in Bellini. It's a plumping lip gloss that adds peachy sheen. I've already tried this one, and really adore the formulation! It's very moisturizing and non-sticky. My only concern is the color, it doesn't seem to work on me. But, I'd definitely give this a shot in a different color! (0.7 fl oz | $21)

Finally, we have the Birchbox extra, which is The Laundress' Wool & Cashmere Shampoo. Yes, that's right, this is a detergent! This will really come in handy when I'm washing my cashmere scarves.

Hope you enjoyed! Until next time,
<3 Lucero

Expiration Date for Makeup

Hey everybody!

As an aspiring makeup lover, I've learned a lot of things I never would have guessed about makeup. For example, makeup, just like food, has an expiration date! Some products come with nifty little symbols that tell you how long they're good for.

However, not everything has it written on the packaging. So, I have a few general guidelines to help you know how long everything should last!

Eyes

Eyeshadows generally last up to 3 years, but only if they're powdered. Cream eyeshadows last only about a year to a year and a half, because the liquid in the products can store bacteria.

Eyeliners last up to 1 year in pencil form. Pencil liners will usually harden or crumble after they've expired, so that's a good indication. Gel or liquid liners last around 3-6 months.

Mascara lasts anywhere from 2-6 months. It's best to discard them after they start to flake, dry out, or if you develop an eye infection. Also, avoid "pumping" your wand in and out. This allows air to come in, and bacteria to breed inside the tube.

Face

Foundations last from 12 to 18 months, depending on whether they're water or oil based. Oil based foundations tend to last longer. Also, foundations stored in a tube or pump last longer than those stored in jar, because exposure to the air brings in more bacteria.

Concealers last the same amount of time as foundation, from 12-18 months.

Powders, including blush, bronzer, and highlighter can last up to a year, while their cream counterparts only last around 6 months.

Lips

Lipsticks can last up to 2 or 3 years. You can make them last longer by sticking them in the fridge! The cold environment helps slow the production of bacteria.

Lipliners are much like eyeliners, they last up to 1 year and tend to crumble when they're expired. Lip glosses last about 12-18 months, and pumping the wand should be avoided here too.

Nails

Nail polish lasts up to 2 years. After a polish has gone bad, it tends to become thick and gooey. Separation of the oils is normal, especially if it's been stored for a while. However, if the oils don't mix again after being shaken, it's time to toss.

While you don't have to immediately discard something once it reaches its expiration date, as the product gets older its best to look out for signs that it's gone bad. If a product starts to smell, change color, or have a different consistency, it's best to play it safe and get rid of it.

Hope this helped! Until next time,
<3 Lucero

Bike Ride Around the Green Community

Hey everybody!

Today, my brother and I went on a little bike ride around our community. I jumped at the opportunity to bring my camera along! So, here are a few of my favorite pictures from around the neighborhood.

Hope you all enjoyed! Until next time,
<3 Lucero