Checking In- New Years' Resolutions

Hey everyone,
So today, I wanted to check in with New Year's Resolutions. I think that it is good to refer back to your resolutions from time to time, and see how you are doing. We are 4 months into 2012! I can't believe it! I have been in Germany for 3 months, and it has been an amazing experience so far.

I feel like I have done a pretty solid job with maintaing my skin. I have been taking really good care of it, and rarely missing things like removing makeup before bed. I wish i would have better known how to care for my skin years ago! I feel like I am doing well trying new things. I have tried tons of new foods and I am learning a new skill slowly- speaking fluent German! I have also done well with experimenting with makeup. I have tried several new looks that I really love!

Okay, so I am slacking with fashion. I have had the body blues lately, and avoid certain clothes that I perceive to make me look "fat". I need to quiet the negative voice in my head, and just go for it! I also need to spend more time being involved with a cause. I think it's easy to slip  up because we get so caught up in our daily lives, that we forget our resolutions, etc. Don't give up! We are 4 months into the year, there's plenty of time to change!

How do you feel you have done with YOUR resolutions?

X's and O's,

Amanda

Manda Likes: Mario and more!

Hey Sunshines!
I realized I haven't done a "Manda Likes" Post since January! Yikes! Today I wanted to fill you in on some of my current favorite things- not all beauty related!

Clinique's Moisture Sure Extended Thirst Relief Facial Spray

Other than its super-long name, I am in love with this product! I love using facial sprays throughout the day to keep my skin hydrated. I usually use just a simple water mist, but I really feel like this spray goes the extra mile to beat dry skin.

Venus Purifying Mask:

I  love this mask. I use it about twice a week to help rid my skin of toxins, etc. My skin feels so relieved when I use this mask. It also gives me peace of mind!

Super Mario Brothers for Wii

Blast from the past, right? I loved this game as a kid, and my fiance' and I are addicted! It's pretty much the same, but you can do some cool actions by shakinf the Wii remote, etc.

Hot Pink Nails!

In addition to the hot pink lip trend for spring, I am loving electric pink nails. They are so bright and fun! They also make my engagement ring pop! teehee :)

Last but not least : Baths!
I have literally taken 2 showers in the last month. I totally prefer baths! I think they are so relaxing. A few times a week, I light tea light candles around the tub, and turn the bathroom lights off! Total bliss:)

What are a few of YOUR favorite things?
X's and O's
Amanda

Happy Easter!

Hey beauties:)
So I wanted to make a quick Easter post for everyone today. First of all, I wish all of you a very Happy Easter! I hope that you get to spend quality time with family, and that the holiday is safe (and delicious) for you!

In the US, my family and I dye eggs, search for plastic ones filled with goodies, search for baskets, and have a huge meal together. This is my first Easter in Germany, and it's a little different here! Here, we had a bonfire Saturday night, searched for chocolate this morning, and no big Easter dinner. It is a relaxed holiday here. I do miss my family and pastel colored American candy this year.

I also wanted to thank every single one of you from the bottom of my heart. It means so much that my blog is growing so much, and I couldn't have done it without you! Thank you so much. I am glad I can share my passion for beauty with you all, as well as having you all to chat with about my new life here. Moving to Germany has been a huge adjustment, and I couldn't have done it without all of you, so thank you ! What are YOUR Easter traditions?
X's and O's,
Amanda

Spring Makeup Trends!

Hey Beauty Babies!
Today, I really want to talk about Spring makeup trends that I am just loving! Spring is definitely my favorite time of year: the blooming flowers and trees, the awesome weather, and of course, fashion and beauty!

My number one favorite makeup trend this season is the Bright Pink Lip. I can't get enough of this look! I finally got the guts to purchase a bright pink high-shine lipgloss about a month ago, and it is my favorite! I think it is really pretty for spring. Another cool thing is that when rocking bold lips like these, you can( well, you should) keep the rest of your makeup simpler, so that the lips stand out. I love being able to keep the eyes to a minimum, then throw on the hot pink lipgloss! A bold lip makes you look like you put alot of effort into your makeup; it's the quickest way to look more done-up. I like to wear brown shadows and eyeliners while sporting these lips. It really makes the color pop!

The other trend I cannot get enough of is the pastel colors for eyes! Especially shades of lavender. I really think it compliments most eye colors really well. It is soft, but gorgeous, also perfect for spring. I love wearing the purple shadows with a dark brown liner. It looks nice for a night out, and I am sure I will wear purple eyes for my upcoming Spring wedding!

What are YOUR favorite spring trends? Comment below!

X's and O's,

Amanda

My Aires interview: music of the month!

It has often been argued that one of hip hop's newer faces is one of, if not the best, underground artists in

the Northwest. And exactly who does that statement refer to?

We are talking about Aires. Aires began releasing his music to the public just over a year ago, but has more recently started something much bigger. His fan base has grown over the globe, with a large fan base in Europe- particularly in Germany and France.

His youtube channel is growing, and fans are constantly writing fan mail and sending him fan photos. He has a handful of projects as well: A new album, a documentary, music videos, a radio show, a website, a clothing line. It's safe to say the guy doesn't sleep much.

That being said, it is almost suprising that Aires takes the time to respond to all fan mail personally. He is sincere and grateful, something that has been lost on mainstream artists. His success has not gotten into his head- he still resides in Billings, Montana, his home town.

He doesn't flash his money around, and he is a bit uneasy when people approach him in public. No, he's not being unfriendly, he's just a little shy about being recognized.

His goals are what really stand out. Aire's goals are not about selling albums, or getting a million twitter followers. His goals are simply to tell his story, and restore the value of hip hop in the industry. As he has pointed out many times, today's mainstream

hiphop, as well as other genres simply glorify money. Artists have entire albums out about how much they can spend on cars, etc., but the meaning of music has long been lost. Aires wants to change it around, and hopes that people will start writing from the heart,

and stop writing about green paper. For him, it's about the things that money simply cannot buy, and for that, he has gained the respect of thousands. Although his lyrics are called 'dark', Aires is real to the core. He writes about his life changing experiences. He writes

straight from the heart, and you can hear it in every beat of his music.

I had the honor of interviewing Aires a few weeks back. I'll admit, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I can sincerely say, it was an amazing experience. He was kind and honest. I am so priveleged to have been able to interview him, and so without further ado......



Q: Firstly, what inspired your name?

A:The poetry in Greek mythology, i fell in love with it as a kid and i liked the name Ares, so i took it changed the spelling to Aires.

I noticed I had a good side and a bad side to me so i use the ''god'' as the good part of me, and ''war'' as the bad side of me ...god of war.

Kinda like a personality battle with in my self.

Q: How do you feel in a "personality battle" with yourself?

A:I argue with myself between the things i learn in life, it's like seeing something, then looking at it in a different point of view and trying to decide whats right and whats wrong and what I should live by.

Q: Do you have any words in particular that you live by?

A:No, mostly basic morals,what i have trouble with is understanding other people, how we have built society, thats basically what I think about when I try to decide.

I sit back and study learn things and I try to look it at all angles...I do this for my own entertainment and now im starting write about it.

Q: That's really interesting. So let's get into the music. When did you decide to being your own label and record an album?

A:I started writing, and it came out better then i thought it would after the ''great depression'' mix tape, i knew i had something powerful. Before the mix tape ,I was with another label and it turned out to be a scam that's why i started lost entertainment.

what made me start writing altogether was poetry and once i realized hiphop was poetry with a instrumental it became music.

Q: People gravitate towards your honesty. What can we expect to hear in "War of One"?

A:Basically, ''War of One '' reflects the battle with in myself a little more then the Great Depression. The Great Depression was the personal issues and i wanted to make it more relevant to the things going on in the world today so i set it up like a big message after the great depression was a war ''war of one'' so not only is it a personal battle with in myself its a message that history is repeating itself



Q: When the album is finished, what do you want people to get from it?

A:Basically there's a bunch of little messages in the songs, and one big message for every mixtape or album i will make,everyying has meaning so basically its a collage of messages,but what i really want is for people to wake up and realize the way we are living needs to change and first we must start with art and the information that people are getting from it because no matter what artists say, we have a responsibility as artisst to tell people wha'ts real.

And Aires ended our conversation with this:

"Hip Hop in America has changed for the worst it has became even more materialistic and money should never be glorified in art,so i see it like this we take the root of what made hiphop in the 90s genre and its message we make it better more like anti materialistic and then we glorify the heart and sole instead and of whats in peoples bank accounts."

I would love to thank Aires for taking the time to chat with me! He is a huge inspiration to me, and I look forward to more conversations with him to share with you guys! I've linked his youtube, but you can follow him on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/#!/AiresRapper

Hope you all enjoyed, this was a true honor for me!

Glitter Mani:)

Hello Cupcakies!,

So today, I wanted to talk about a manicure idea!

I can't really remember what inspired this, but I had the idea to paint clear polish over my bare nails, then sprinkle cosmetic glitter all over them. You know I can't resist glitter ;) I tried this with pink glitter, and I am obsessed with the way my nails look. Here's a quick how-to:

1. Start with clean fingernails. Groom them according to your personal preference. I like to buff and shine my nails after I file them :)

2. Paint a clear base coat over each of your nails, and let this coat dry.

3. Paint another layer of base coat over your nails, and sprinkle glitter over them before they dry. I find that this step works best one hand at a time, and painting and sprikling 2 fingers at a time.

4. Paint a clear top coat over your nails to seal in the glitter, and you're done!

I didn't want my nails caked in glitter, so I sprinkled the glitter using a light hand. Almost like you would sprinkle fairy dust.

This manicure gives a really pretty touch to your natural nails, and is not too overdone. It is also low maintenence!

What touches do you addd to your mani?

Watch later today for my interview with Aires!!!!!!!:)

X's and O's!

Amanda

Closet Essential : The Perfect Jeans. and other stuff:)

Hey Sunshines:)

So today I am getting back in the swing of things with the blog. As you can imagine, it is somewhat difficult to plan a wedding on such short notice! So today, I will tell you some things that have been going on, and we will talk about my second favorite closet essential, the perfect jeans.

Another reason I have been slow on updating is that I hurt myself last week :( Andre and I were barbequing with some friends, and the next thing I knew, we were at the hospital :( My knee had gone completely out of place, then back in, but it was very painful! I dont remember how it happened, but the pain was something fierce. I have been wearing a brace, using crutches, and have had to give myself daily injections in the stomach so I don't get a blood clot in my leg! :( I did have an MRI last Friday, and my appointment with the knee specialist is tomorrow morning, so I will keep you guys posted. I am hoping nothing serious is wrong, and that I can start walking normally soon! The weather turned around to Spring just as I hurt myself, and I can't wait to start running around outside:)

Closet Essential:The Perfect Jeans

My second favorite closet essential next to the LBD, these jeans are really magical. They fit you perfectly, and flatter your figure. They can be dressed up or down, and worn in any season. These are perfect jeans.

Jeans are such a versatile item. The same pair of jeans can reflect 10 different girls' styles. It's all about what you pair them with. Every woman should have a pair of jeans that fit her like a glove, and save the day, anyday. When looking for these jeans, I suggest taking your time. First and foremost, these jeans need to fit well, perfectly. These jeans need to be comfortable, and look awesome on you. Your figure should look awesome, no matter what your size! Ask sales associates to help you find your perfect size and fit. Don't be shy if you need to go up a size, either. I know too many girls who are only concerned with the size on the tag. For instance, if you are a true size 6, but squeeze yourself into 4s because it is a 4, you're not going to look a size 4. You're probably not even going to look a size 6. You will only make yourself look worse. Plus, you'll likely be pretty uncomfortable! When your jeans fit, you will look slimmer and flattered. Another tip I have is the style. The goal with this particular pair is to have a more classic wash and style. Sure, distressed denim looks awesome, but you can't really dress it up. Denim without holes or flashy designs, however, can be dressed both up AND down. I suggest a pair without holes, studs, and other designs. I also suggest a medium to dark wash. This wash is more flattering, and in my opinion, looks much better dressed up than a lighter wash. Also, it is okay to splurge on this item. The perfect jeans may be pricier, but when you calculate how many times you will turn to these jeans, it is worth the price! If you find a pair at an awesome deal, super! But don't skip the perfect fit or style because another pair was cheaper. The splurge is an investment, I swear!:)

Okay, quick wedding update! I found my dress already! I am completely in love with it. I really can't go into many details, because I want my fiance' to be suprised. I don't want him to know the details of what it looks like, or worse , see a photo. I promise I will have pics up shortly after the wedding. Also, we will have a wedding website up soon, and I will link that so you can all check it out! Do you guys have any food ideas? We are making some of our own, and we'd like your ideas! I am making tuxedo strawberries and heart shaped brownines, but we'd love more suggestions!

Lastly but not leastly, I am releasing my interview with Aires Wednesday! I also just noticed I forgot to link his youtube channel in my last post, so :

http://www.youtube.com/user/aires552

Please check him out, and subscribe!

Until tomorrow!

Amanda