Beat the Frizz: Hair Products

Since I used to suffer with hopelessly frizzy and enormous long hair, I feel that it is my duty to share what I did to tame it. Firstly, I did the keratin treatment at my local salon. A couple of things on this...I used to be really skeptical about it because I had heard negative things about all of the chemicals, but most salons nowadays use a more natural, less harmful version of that early concoction, especially if you choose to do the "express" version (which only lasts half the time). This was MAGICAL. My hair was instantly straight and smooth and had no harm done to it at the end.

The next trick is to find the right products to upkeep it, which is where this blog post comes in. 

I only use three products on my hair: non-sulfate shampoo and conditioner by L'Oréal and an amazing keratin serum by Organix.

This L'Oréal shampoo/conditioner combo was originally just made to smooth hair. It is not specified for keratin-treated hair or anything like that. The only thing that makes it ideal for the keratin treatment is the fact that it is non-sulfate, EXTREMELY important if you want to maintain the smoothness of your hair! Other than that it's simply just a really great product that actually does what it says on the bottle--it makes your hair smooth and helps keep it that way!

This little bottle is a wizard. A dime sized amount of this clear liquid on damp hair is all you need to have the smoothest, most wonderful feeling hair in the world. It smells like fresh coconut and it leaves your hair so shiny--in a good way! I swear by this now and can't say I've fully washed my hair without putting some on in the end. 

If you can excuse my no-makeup face, here's an example of my hair (naturally wavy and SO frizzy). This is a couple of weeks after I got the keratin treatment and right after a hair wash with just the shampoo/conditioner and the serum. It has almost no frizz and, if you can't tell through the photo, is so shiny and smooth. I don't even need to use a straightening iron anymore...ever! I highly recommend all of these products, but let me know if you use any others to help smoothen and straighten your hair!

x 

FOTD: Au Naturale

So because I'm still busy getting settled back into university life after a long break, I figured I'd put a pretty simple post up showing a "natural" look I sported to a Saturday family lunch. I used quite a few of the new products I mentioned in the previous post, so hopefully putting them to use in this one seems relevant to you all! I promise I have some very interesting blog posts once I've got my schedule figured out again x

In the meantime...

Products Used:
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in 'Alaska'
Bronze Booster in 'Light to Medium'
Benefit High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer
Maybelline Fit Me Pressed Powder in 'Buff Beige'
MAC Blush in 'Gleeful'
Revlon Colorstay Overtime Mascara
Sephora Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner in 'Matte Brown 10'
MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in 'Fanfare'

MAC & Sephora Haul

As I get ready to head back to my university soon, I decided I should stock up on everyday make-up necessities (and a few not-so-necessary items, because who can resist?). So I took my sister, also known as my personal make-up guru, on a MAC and Sephora shopping semi-spree. 

We started off in Sephora, which is like a magical candy store. All of the things in there are so wonderful that you wouldn't mind drowning in debt if that's what it took to buy all of them. Yet, we were there with a purpose-- and a list. 

I started off with a nice surprise: a complimentary lip balm pack for my birthday! It comes with a regular and tinted lip balm. I would have shown the tint of the red one, except it was so faint that it barely showed on camera. Even though the color isn't strong both of the balms go on super smoothly and make your lips feel great. Plus they taste minty AND sweet. 

Who doesn't like good tasting lip stuff? 

Nobody.

The first thing I actually bought was the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Alaska (or Light 2).  Especially since I just recently started breaking out a lot more, I was looking for something I could put on my face daily as a nice base that wasn't as heavy as foundation. I heard a lot about BB creams and this cream does very similar things. It's main purpose is to moisturize, which is perfect for me as my university is in freezing temperatures (which produces very dry weather), but it also creates a very smooth base coat with an added bonus of SPF 30. It goes on really nicely and once you've put it on you don't even feel it. I highly recommend it!                                                                                                    

           

Next I thought I would compliment my new base with a highlighter (which I had been dying to get). I went with the High Beam highlighter from Benefit cosmetics. What caught my attention was how it looked like a nail polish! It went on perfectly and blended in really well while still leaving a shimmery residue which I really liked. 

I'm a sucker for eye make-up. Liquid eyeliner is my staple and I had just run out so I bought Sephora's brand of eyeliner. It's great quality, very bright and goes on smoothly. I also decided to get a brown stick eyeliner (also from Sephora) so I could wear that from day to day- remember my main purpose on this beauty haul was to get my set of daily make-up essentials. Again, the color was very deep and went  on great. 

I LOVE blush!! If I could only wear two things for the rest of my life it would be my liquid eyeliner and blush. I got this one at MAC, it's called "Gleeful"and it's lovely. I took two pictures in different lighting so that you could see the different shades. I really like this because it has undertones of orange and gold. I especially love blushes that have gold shimmer because they have a bit of a bronzing effect as well, and that's always a good thing!

Lastly, I purchased what I honestly believe to be the holy trinity of lipsticks from MAC. In descending order they're called "Fan Fare", "Media", and "Russian Red". Fan Fare is one I plan on using for day-to-day. It's a peachy pink that isn't too light; instead it has just the right amount of pigmentation for a really natural finish. Media is a-mazing. I'm obsessed with plum/bitten/wine/vino/however you want to call it shades: dark purple, basically. It's one of my favorite colors to wear on my lips and I can't wait to put it on for a party or dinner. The last one was an impulse buy. My sister was looking for something to buy in MAC for under $20 (the cash she had on her) and of course she went straight to the lipstick station. Searching through some of our favorite beauty blogs we saw the Russian Red lipstick mentioned and I was able to pick it out just by looking at the colors of the lipsticks. I felt like SUCH a pro. When we asked for it they said they only had two left. We looked at each other and knew. This purchase was meant to be. And so that is the story behind the crazily bold Russian Red lipstick that now has a special place in my make-up bag. I recommend everyone leave a space for it, it's too crazy and sexy and awesome not to. 

My final purchase wasn't actually make-up, instead it was a new bottle of my signature scent. I've been wearing "Envy Me" by Gucci for two or three years now. It smells SO. GOOD. I've been recognized by this scent already by all of my friends and people have literally felt me coming from feet away because of how good this perfume smells. It's light, not fruity, and very girly. My only complaint is that I wish it had one of those crazy cool and complex bottles.

Well this post was much longer than expected. Oh well, totally worth it. I got some really great stuff. Hope you enjoyed! Let me know if any of you have gotten some good daily make-up recently!

xx

Camila

Lena Dunham is my new Idol

Not only is she flipping gorgeous in a simultaneously nonconventional and classic way but she's hilarious and talented and a flawless writer and perfect and- ok, I should stop now. My girl crush is showing.

She has my DREAM life. But actually. In college she studied creative writing (similar to what I'm studying, which is English), she then proceeded to write an award-winning screenplay for a film titled "Tiny Furniture" (oh ok, already a winner after one go- casual), and then created the new HBO show "Girls"- which is my jam right about now. Literally the perfect life.

As for her show, it is so ridiculously real and candid; it's not afraid to be controversial. It shows what relationships are really like, none of that fairytale bullshit, and shows how people are far from perfect but how they can still be wonderful, beautiful, and loved while being so imperfect. Past its comedic surface, the show is really inspiring and empowering for women. After every episode I feel my spirits lifting as I empathize with the characters and their crazy antics and mess ups. I feel a little less bad about all the times I've screwed up with boys and friends and just life in general and it makes me much more optimistic, in a realistic way (if that makes any sense), about the future. It's a show about Girls, for Girls, showing the idiosyncrasies of how our brains work (guys, watch and take note).

If you haven't already been following it, please FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD go and do yourself a favor and watch it! It's only a season and two episodes in so there are no excuses!

And if you don't believe this stranger behind the keyboard, the show just recently won two Golden Globe Awards.

Those people know what they're talking about.

Tasty French Food in Miami

As a new student of the French language I always take any opportunity to dive into French culture, whether it's through books, movies, or- my personal favorite- FOOD. Since I'm one of the few college students that hasn't gone back to school yet (we don't start the second term until later in the month), I was left to pretty much my own devices as I searched for entertainment, or at least something new.

In a less-than-sunny afternoon in Miami, my mom and I decided to go out to lunch on Miracle Mile (a strip of boutiques and restaurants iconic to the city of Coral Gables). There, in an unassuming corner of the Mile, we found a tiny French café whose front is decorated with two simple tables with chairs facing the street in a style similar to that of the many Parisian cafés in France itself. Intrigued, we sat down, welcomed by the lovely French native woman who appears to own and manage the place.

I started off the meal with the soup of the day, a delicious carrot and cumin soup- an unexpected mix that worked so incredibly well. The flavors were so powerful I enjoyed every slurp. My mom ordered a typical French onion soup that came decked out with cheesy bread soaked inside the bowl. We were not disappointed. But it was when they brought a bowl full of shredded Parmesan cheese that my heart fluttered and, ever so suddenly, I loved the French more than I ever thought I could.

I regretted the moment my bowl was empty. How quickly my new love and I had to part! But alas, to my joy the despair was only short-lived, because the lovely French café continued to impress with our main course. Being the healthy beings we are, my mom and I opted out of the duck or meat plates and went with fresh salads instead. Although the dressing was a tad bit blander than I would have hoped for, the toppings- good god the toppings!- made up for it. Roasted walnuts, fresh tomatoes, cranberries, and the crispiest toasted bread topped with warm, fluffy goat cheese tingled my tastebuds almost as much as my beloved soup. I love food way too much for my own good. *Notice the cheese bowl is already more than half empty by now*

And of course, what better way to end a French meal than with a coffee and the most magical dessert pastries on the face of this planet (aka MACAROONS!!!)?

None.

Because there is no better way. That is the way. Accept it. Love it. 

The coffee was amazing, but was like a stunt double in importance compared with the leads, the fig, strawberry, and cookie flavored macaroons. The perfect size, three, four bites at most, and melt-in-your-mouth good. After re-visiting my obsession with these beautifully petite French goodies, I am seriously contemplating having a macaroon tower instead of a cake for that day in the far future that people will call my wedding. My husband will just have to deal with it, and if he can't handle it then I'll just stuff the things down his throat until he can't do anything but admit how delicious they are...or choke.

Basically, by the end of the meal, in the middle of Coral Gables, Miami I was internalizing the blood curdling scream of "VIVE LE FRANCE!" 

If you're nearby and want to experience the flavors and cozy Parisian feel of this place just find "Le Petite Café" in Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, Miami. You won't regret it.

Have any of you ever experienced such tasty delights, French or otherwise?

A Few of My Favorite Things

So I decided since I'm still testing out the waters with this whole blogging thing that I would make a post about a few of my favorite things at the moment. I figured that writing about them would help me start getting some creative juices flowing and at the same time help you all start getting to know me a bit better.

I'll start off with this great little book that my mom bought the other day.

My mom has always been a health-freak, and for that I'm really grateful because it's rubbed off on me as well! It's been especially useful now that I've started going to college (or, for some, university) and have had to make food decisions on my own. That newfound independence and all those god forsaken free cookies at every event made the "Freshman 15" an inevitable fact of life. But, instead of wallowing in despair I've decided to take it upon myself to make a difference and start anew on my pre-college healthy lifestyle. So, in part because of this and in part because both my mother and sister are vegetarians, this book arrived at our home. I highly recommend it! Its got great snacks, desserts, and smoothies that can all (as the title insinuates) be made with just raw ingredients. Perfect for anybody in a rush or, in my case, anybody that isn't allowed a kitchen in their dorm room! One of my favorite treats that is so easy to make that I can describe it to you right now is created with dates and walnuts. All you have to do is cut open the date, take out the seed (if it has one) and replace it with a couple of walnuts (which are my favorite type of nut- yes, I know how bad that sounds). It's SO sweet and can really calm your sweet tooth craving by substituting a far less healthy chocolate bar.

Something you should know about me before I continue is that I'm a major bookworm. Ever since I was six years old and my mother handed me a copy of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" I've been in love with words and stories. My room at home is nearly bursting with books and I'm running out of places to put them. One of my favorite Christmas presents was actually a copy of the travel book "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" since it coupled two of my passions- reading and travel. However for this post I want to share two of my favorite childhood books that I read in the 5th and 7th grade, respectively. The first is "The Phantom Tollbooth" and the second is "Haroun and the Sea of Stories".

I recently started re-reading "Haroun and the Sea of Stories" and was so impressed by the level of writing, creativity, and magic that were interlaced throughout the pages, aspects I couldn't really appreciate as a 13-year-old. I could see what my younger self had found appealing about the book, with it's crazy characters and adventurous plot, but I was so happy to know that I could enjoy it in a whole new way as a 19-year-old, and hopefully in the years to come. Similarly, I was more readily able to understand the nuances, jokes, and puns in "The Phantom Tollbooth" the second time around. I just really love these books more than most (even though my all-time favorite is Harry Potter- I am such a nerd for that series) and really recommend them to readers of all ages, because they have something for everyone.

Lastly, I just want to show off my brand new guitar that I just got! I am SO crazily addicted to it. My last guitar was a basic Yamaha nylon string but this new one is a Little Martin LX1 (the same type of guitar that Ed Sheeran uses- aka my musical idol). I've been playing guitar for a little over four years now (most of which I spent in high school playing with the classical guitar ensemble) and I'm moving into learning a lot of contemporary songs that are just so much fun to play. My current goal is to learn how to play Angelina by T. Emmanuel, which is played so beautifully by this YouTuber here. 

And that's it for this post! It got a little long anyways, woops. I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about me and these favorite things of mine. x

Hello!

For as long as I can remember, I have known that writing is something I want to be doing in my life (in one way or another). Blogs specifically, and the communities they inspire, have always fascinated me. I've always wanted to be able to thrive within this type of craft and make friends along the way, simply by talking about things I enjoy. Until now, I was always too shy to publicly post any sort of content, thinking that my musings would be far too dull and, let's be honest, crap for anybody to really take interest in.

But then 2013 rolled around and for some reason I suddenly thought, to hell with it! Let's have at it and see where it goes.

So with that I say hello and welcome to this brand new creative space on the internet where I'll hopefully succeed in not boring you to death with stories about life, beauty, books, music, movies, and anything in between. Hope to hear from you soon!

Camila x