Angeleno Femme

Fitness Friday

Some of my favorite fast, healthy recipes + recent tech-savvy discoveries after the jump.

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$$ Tuesday $$

Hi readers,

As a 23 year old, I’m usually tight on cash. I’m feeling the financial strain especially after a trip to Vegas (cha-ching), and spent today contemplating the funds (or, uh, lack thereof…ps: thank you Rio hotel for letting that $100 security charge go through, I look forward to pinching pennies till you refund it later in the week -___-). Anyways, in spite of feeling like I should only eat sandwiches for the next few days, I’d like to share with you two things that I tried for the first time today and that I am a big fan of already…these two things can help cash-strapped youngins like us pick up some extra money and budget our spending better. Cheers :)

Buffalo Exchange

I already knew about Buffalo Exchange since I went to high school in the same neighborhood as one. I always saw it as a trendier thrift store, but decided that today I’d give the selling option a go. Basically, most of us will give away old clothes to places like Salvation Army or The Goodwill, which is super bueno. But, Buffalo Exchange offers another option for those of us who’d like to do some shopping in exchange for our old digs. I brought in one grocery bag with a few tops, pants, purses and shoes that have been taking up space in my closet. After the Buffalo Exchange buyer sorted through and priced everything, I was offered either $61 cash or $85 Buffalo Exchange spending money. I took the cash and bought groceries with it at Trader Joe’s, even though I kept noticing SO much cute stuff in Buffalo Exchange (amazing statement earrings and Ray-Bans) that I wanted to buy. I’m definitely going to dig through my closet for more stuff to take back to Buffalo Exchange so I can trade in for some awesome new accessories :)

Click here to see if there’s a Buffalo Exchange location near you.

Mint.com

LUCKY ME I decided to update my iPhone software today and managed to lose all of my contacts and apps!!!! I’m so smart sometimes, guys. Anyways, my friend and fellow blogger buddy Anastasia texted me today saying that she tried Mint.com and I decided to add it to my new app arsenal and give it a shot. The app is touted as one of the best finance management apps available for the iPhone/iPad…and it’s free! I tried it out, and it’s REMARKABLY easy to use. You just plug in your bank info (for me, I logged into my Bank of America online stuff via the app) and BOOM, all of your money info is suddenly available in this beautifully streamlined and now organized app. You can add multiple accounts so that it’s all in one place.

Here are two screenshots that are from the net:

So, it shows you what your total cash and debt is given all of your accounts, and allows you to set up budgets for each month, as well as showing how much you’ve earned or spent for the month. But the cool thing for budgeting is where you can go see how much you’re spending on different categories of expenses (last screenshot). If you click on “Merchant” you can see how much total you’re spending at each place, arranged from most spent to least (for example, I spent $40 total at CVS this month — which breaks down into a $31 purchase yesterday and a $9 purchase monday). Definitely a streamlined way to see where most of your money is going!

[[Edit: please click here for my response to concerns about the safety of using Mint.com]]

That’s all for now, Tumblr world.

<3

Stuff I Like - March Edition

It’s been awhile since I posted about all of the lovely beauty knickknacks that I’ve purchased, especially since my birthday came and went which you knooow means I did damage at Sephora and basically confirmed my status as a “VIB” member in merely one shopping trip (oops).

Anyways, here we go:

Fresh Sugar Rose lip balms

I will always be a Jack Black lip balm kind of gal, but I nabbed this in my cute birthday gift from Sephora along with the plum toned one and really dig it. It doesn’t absorb the way the JB balm does, and doesn’t have the same consistency. But, it does feel moisturizing and offer a bit of color to the lips, like they’ve just been bitten or you’ve been making out with someone for awhile. Plus a hint of shine. The full sized balms are a little pricey, so if you can get your hands on the sample size ones (perfect amount of product), I’d recommend doing so.

Diorshow Blackout

My mentality: “it’s my birthday, I’ll buy expensive mascara if I want to.” No but seriously. I applied Diorshow and remembered why people trip over this mascara. It is a quality product. The color is rich, it doesn’t clump your lashes unless you’re doing 3+ coats, it holds a curl pretty nicely. The only weird thing is that if you sleep in it, your lashes can get clumped together into like, two or three mega lashes, which (if you’re like me) you then spend half an hour mindlessly picking at (BAD!!! I TOTALLY RIPPED A FEW EYELASHES OUT!!!). Anyways, I’ve plugged Diorshow Blackout in as my mascara of choice right now. I’m sure once it runs out I’ll drag my ass back to drugstore brands, but for now, I’m enjoying the luxury.

MAC Sheertone Blush in Blushbaby

I don’t know. I just like this blush. I could wear it everyday. It doesn’t have any shimmer in it, so I like to layer over it with products like…

NARS Orgasm Illuminator

Oh man you guys, I finally went out and got this! And I love it. I’ve already been a fan of the NARS Orgasm blush (who isn’t? And note, I didn’t say *Super* Orgasm because that color blows). This is like a cream-liquid (somewhere in between) luminizer that has just enough color to add to your cheeks. My skin looks really healthy after applying, and a little goes a long way. I like to apply it after a little bit of blush (the product goes on smoothly even if I powdered my face [like a dumbass] beforehand). It doesn’t look shiny, just creates a nice healthy glow on the skin. I think this (and possibly the other Illuminator shades) will be perfect for summer when you have totally sun-kissed skin and don’t need much makeup. Just apply this on your cheeks and maybe a fun, glimmering eyeliner and mascara with a tinted balm and BOOM you’re ready for a party.

MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study

On a similar note, I bought this Paint Pot on a whim after seeing my friend Anny absolutely murder her makeup looks (I mean that in a good way) with some Paint Pots. What I like about Bare Study is its versatility. The color is a pretty, pearly peach-gold that leans into beige. It doesn’t look shimmery or glittery. Just a nice glow. It’s beautiful as an eyeshadow, and perfect for highlighting. I like to apply it after I’ve used the Orgasm Illuminator. I swipe it under my brows, on the inner corners of my eyes, and then I tap and blend it (lightly) on the top of my cheekbones. Then, my face subtly catches light when I’m out. I don’t look shimmery, I just look warm and…I don’t know, the effect is sort of like a candlelit deal? I see this as being a staple in my product arsenal. Could also dot on your lips to make them appear fuller. And again this is the kind of product that will be indispensable come summertime because it will accentuate a tan beautifully.

Okay that’s all for now :)

Xo

*MAC Paint Pot photo from somethingsuperbeautiful.blogspot.com

Anonymous asked: I've been seeing a guy for about 2 weeks. I found out he thinks that women are below men in society/is completely against gender quality 'cos "women are always the fuckups in history!" I never saw any sexist tendencies in him, and he actually has a lot of female friends, so this took me by surprise, and I was offended. I disagreed, and he didn't seem upset by it, nor did he try to argue with me about it, but it's been really bugging me. Is it really that big of a deal, or am I just overreacting?

Was he joking? I hang with a lot of guy friends and when I’m dating a guy, I can always handle the whole “Why aren’t you in the kitchen making me a sandwich?” shtick. It doesn’t bother me, because I know that the men I associate with aren’t women-hating dudes, and I also am a really strong minded female that is, for lack of better words, not to be fucked with. I actually dated a guy for awhile that I really cared about who loved to make sexist jokes. I don’t take myself too seriously, so I always rolled with the punches mostly because I can take it, but I can also dish out to a guy pretty hard. He knew that, I knew that, and I let the jokes slide with a sarcastic comeback and a wink because at the end of the day, I knew we were equals. Anyways, good for you for standing up for yourself and disagreeing, since it sounds like this situation is different.

But, I am a firm believer in the notion that red flags emerge early when dating someone — like during the first date, first week or first month. If this is something that he stated with a serious tone that you think he believes, that’s a big time red flag and he’s not someone you want to be dating. If he’s saying shit like he’s completely against gender equality and standing by his words, yeah, he sounds like a misogynist and is probably best to be avoided. Also, having a lot of female friends doesn’t mean he isn’t in some ways misogynistic or a supporter of gender inequality — friendships have loose boundaries and aren’t as serious or emotionally thick. You really learn what type of person someone is once you’re dating them. That tends to be when their “issues” come out, if they have any (in my opinion). If a dude is saying he thinks women are below men in society, you can bet that relationship isn’t going to be all flowers and puppy dogs once you’re really in it. That’s not a “normal” mindset with most guys, especially in today’s younger, more liberal generation.

Anyways, since you’ve only been seeing him for 2 weeks, it’s a pretty painless separation compared to breaking things off after a few months, much less a few years (should you decide to do so).

Since I don’t know the dude or your dating situation, you just have to go with your gut on this one. I can’t judge if you’re overreacting or justified, since I can’t sense if he made a passing joke to ruffle feathers or said this to you in a serious conversation with sincerity. If he’s making you feel wary on this topic, I’d jump ship. There are plenty of awesome guys out there who want to treat you like a frickin’ queen, not someone who is subservient or unequal. Healthy relationships are built on equality. If you do end things with him, just throw that into the pile of “avoid in the future!” And as I always say, GO WITH YOUR GUT.

Let me know how things go!

Xo

Anonymous asked: !EYELINER ETC. ETC. QUESTION! Okay, first, I'd like to ask if you use an eyeliner stick, liquid eyeliner, eyeliner gel and/or black eyeshadow to create your cat eyes? AND if you could suggest the best of each for me to use, please. I usually just purchase the stuff you can get at your local pharmacy just because I've been doing that since my teen years & now that I'm a lady I've realized this stuff is crap & it's my time to graduate on to bigger and better thing. thank you!

HI FRIEND!

I vary the eyeliner I use based on what I have near me and how lazy I am (true story).

Most of my recent pics with my “signature” cat eye have been done with pencil eyeliner. For that, I have a few go-to drugstore pencils. Right now I really like L’Oreal Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil Liner in Black. In the past, I’ve used Dolce & Gabbana liner. Generally, though, I think you can get a decent pencil liner at drugstore — it’s just a matter of picking one up that isn’t insanely dry (that tugs at your eyelid when you apply) and that isn’t greasy and shifting on your lid throughout the day. The L’Oreal one is dope and has a rich color.

Gel is more of an investment because it tends to be more expensive and you need to get a good brush. I still swear by Bobbi Brown (some prefer MAC fluidline) though the issue is that some people find it to be greasy and that it moves during the day. I always alleviate this problem by either letting my liner dry out a little or setting it with powder, but again, it’s not for everyone. I like using pencil because once I finish the outer edge of the cat eye, I can use a knuckle to smudge the edge a little so that the line blends up and into my skin, almost imperceptibly. Can’t do that with liquid (at all) and can do that only sparingly with gel.

I rarely use liquid to create a cat eye. In fact, I rarely use liquid in general. I find the finish is often too matte or too glossy, depending on the brand. Also, I don’t like how ANY flaw or misstep in my application process is, like, screaming on my eyelid. Liquid offers very little room for error and takes time to be a pro at. That’s why I recommend gel — it provides the intensity of liquid but with less stress when applying.

However, sometimes I want that liquid precision. What I do then is apply my basic liner “shape” with pencil, and then go over it in liquid. Free-handing liquid liner for a cat eye is difficult, so it’s nice to have something to trace over.

In general, I use shadow to “intensify” whatever cat eye look I’m doing. If I find that the liner doesn’t look punchy enough or defined enough or if I notice that there’s some separation between the liner and my lash line, I snag a thin, stiff liner brush and fill in the gaps/intensify the look with black shadow. Always be careful though (blow on the shadow brush, etc.) because the black shadow could flake under your eyes and create unsightly darkness or shadow streaks.

Good luck!!!

thegirlsfromlastnight asked: Fucking greatest child in the world! And I have a cosmetic question. What's a good lip exfoliator? Preferably something natural. My lips get so chapped and when I put lipstick on it get all clumpy and gross. Maybe it's my lipstick? No clue. You're my cosmetic guru so I though you would know <3

I have a weird lip fixation because I pick at my lips (awful habit) so I’m oddly informed on this topic.

Firstly, your lips may be chapped because they’re dehydrated. When I’m sick or I’ve been out partying and drinking a lot (which dehydrates your skin), my lips are usually in pretty bad shape. Also, winter weather (if you girls are in a cold climate) can dry out your lips as well.

Some recommend using a toothbrush with, say, Vaseline or something to exfoliate your lips. I personally found that to be tres awkward so I stick to exfoliating them with a wet wash cloth and then applying a thick layer of Jack Black lip balm before bed (which I reviewed the shit out of right here).

In the meantime, just remember that the skin on your lips tends to reflect your level of hydration so chug water/make sure to use a rich lip balm if you’re gonna drink.

Your lipstick probably doesn’t have anything to do with it, though the matte-r the lipstick, the more “drying” it can look and feel on your lips. I always pat everrrr so slightly a bit of lip balm onto my lips before applying lipstick just to keep things in order.

Hope that helps cure your lip problemos a little! Let me know how it goes.

graceandlight asked: hello pretty. I have questions so I came to your tumblr. sometimes when I do my cateye (and by that I mean like, on the daily, and I'm quite happy with that), I end up with a little bit melting on the ends. I use a black gel liner with a brush, and the MAC paint pot as a base often, but it's not completely awesome... Any other suggestions for prevention?

I always suggest (and some may disagree with me) to leave your gel liner pot open for just a LITTLE to let it dry out some so that it isn’t so inherently greasy. But, some don’t want to do that, and I only discovered this method after lazily not covering my pot one night. My other tip would be that you need to set the liner after you draw it on with, say, black powder. Think of it like your foundation or cover up (liquid, creme): when you apply that, you always apply powder after to set it and make sure it stays on your face. If you’re having your black gel liner melt a little, try setting it with black eyeshadow.

Hope that helps some! <3