How to: Light Writing

       My biggest passion in life is photography! So, I am incredibly excited to be able to share this awesome tutorial with you guys! My friends and I took this picture on the Fourth of July when we were able to get a hold of sparklers. Isn't this just amazing?? You can always use flashlights if you cannot get sparklers. I am so happy with how it turned out, and I wanted to teach you all how I achieved the writing! (I'm not very good at explaining things like this, so hopefully you all will be able to understand. Haha!)

      It is important that you take this photo in a dark place and set your camera on a tripod or steady surface. You will need a camera with which you can adjust the f stop and ISO settings. To my knowledge, you cannot adjust these settings precisely with a point and shoot. So, you will need to get a hold of an slr camera. Make sure your camera is set to Manual or Aperture Priority (A for Nikons, AV for Canons). For this photo, I used a Canon Rebel XSI with a 55mm lens. If you cannot seem to figure out how to change your settings correctly by my explanations, you can always just google "How to change the f stop on a (insert camera type here)". That should bring up a guide for you!

       Near the shutter release is a dial that can change the f stop. An f stop is the opening that brings light into your lens. It was almost pitch black outside, and I set my f stop to 5.0. Next, we have to adjust the ISO settings. Your ISO indicates the light sensitivity of the camera’s imaging sensor. The higher the ISO number, the more quickly the camera reacts to light. There should be a button clearly labeled ISO. Change the setting to 400. I had my friends and I stand perfectly still and only move the arm that was writing, because any movement will be blurry. We began writing before the picture was actually taken just to make sure there were no unnecessary lines/movement.

       Keep in mind that you may have to change these settings to fit your surroundings! This is just what worked for me. It may take a few tries to get this just right. Hopefully, though, this post has given you enough knowledge to be able to adjust these settings on your own. If you have any further questions, feel free to comment down below. I will try to answer them as best as I can!

Nail Tutorial: A Pop of Floral

     I don't think obsessed can come close to my feelings about this nail look! Ah!! It's SO cute! The other day, I could not decide between french tips or a floral pattern. I thought to myself. "Why not both?" And I came up with this!! It's so easy to do once you get the hang of it. For those of you who cannot paint french tips free handed (I'm still trying to master it myself), Here's a great video from one of my favorite Youtube beauty gurus to teach you how it's done. As for the rose pattern: I painted a base coat with Loreal "Club Prive", the base of the roses with Loreal "Charmed, I'm Sure" using a dotting tool (you could also use a bobby pin), the detailing of the roses with Loreal "Tangerine Crush" using a small paint brush, and the leaves with Loreal "Safari Chic" also using a small paint brush. If you haven't noticed, I am utterly in love with Loreal nail polishs. I find them to be just as good of a quality as Essie or OPI. However, instead of spending around eight dollars per bottle, I spend five dollars. I cannot get over how adorable this pattern is. I'm definitely going to be wearing

this all summer!

How to: No Heat Beach Waves

       I had mentioned in a previous post that a trend which seems to come back every summer is natural beach waves. However, it seems that every tutorial I have come across on how to achieve this look requires some sort of heat element. I, myself, don't use heat on my hair during summer. So, I was struggling with finding a way to achieve the same look without damaging my hair. I have discovered a few tips and products I use everyday in order to get these soft beach waves that I'd like to share with you all!

1. I rinse my hair after washing and conditioning it with cold water to increase the shine.

2. While it is still damp I use a sea salt spray. My favorite is Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. However, if you can't afford it, Mix one tsp. sea salt with eight oz. of water to make your own.

3. Lastly, I use a towel to scrunch my hair. This will absorb any extra water and scrunch the hair better than using your hands.

4. If your hair does not have any texture on it's own, you could use a light hold hairspray to keep the waves intact without getting that gross crunchy texture.

And that's it! So easy, right? This is perfect for summer. I am definitely going to be rocking this look everyday!

Ten Beauty Products to Get You Through the Summer

Mascara: Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express
     This mascara is one of my all time favorites! I love my lashes to be long and voluminous. This product does that so well. Here's why I love it so much for the summer: it does not smudge. I can wear this mascara all day, and it will not budge. I'm not one for waterproof mascara simply because it's so difficult to remove. However, the waterproof version easier to take off than most of the waterproof mascaras I have tried.

Blush/Bronzer: Nars Laguna and Orgasm
     This combo is one of the best selling makeup products for a reason. Together, they give an amazing bronze, glowy look to the skin (which is perfect for summer time). I've yet to try a blush/bronzer combo that I love more than this one!

Primer: Makeup Forever HD Primer
     With summer comes two of makeups worst enemies: heat and sweat. This is why it's so important to prime your face before applying your foundation, concealer, etc. Although this product is quite pricey, you get your money's worth. You only need about a peas worth to cover your entire face. Thus, it will last you quite a long time.

Foundation: Covergirl Natureluxe
     The natural look is a trend that comes back every summer. I love this foundation for that reason! It's just enough coverage to allow for a natural look that still hides any small imperfections.

Hair Treatment: Hyrdrating Macadamia Oil Intesive Moisture Mask

     After many winter months full of heat styling, my hair needs to be nourished. After one use of this product, my hair was twice as shiny and soft! This is one of my favorite treatments to use in order to combat those hot, damaging summer days.

Hair Product: Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray
       Another trend that seems to makes its debute every summer is soft beachy waves. I myself, as many other beauty addicts, set aside the heat stylers and let their natural locks loose. A sea salt spray emphasizes any waves you have as well as de frizzing them. This particular product is an investment, but it lives up to the price! However, you can make your own sea salt spray with one tsp. sea salt and eight oz. distilled water.

Eyeshadow: Maybelline Eyestudio Color Tattoo in Too Cool
     It's time to put away the dark shadows and go for a bright eye look. I love, love, love, to put this eyeshadow in the inner corner of my eye! Combining this shadow with a white eyeliner on the lower lash line really opens up and brightens the eye. And Because it's a cream shadow it stays put all day.

Lotion: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

     Summer is the season to break out the daisy dukes and tanktops. Along with those, comes soft and smooth skin. There are many lotions that work great. However, I find that when I use this product my skin is just as moisturized when I put my pajamas on as when I first applied the lotion in the morning. That's just what I want in a lotion!

Nail Polish: China Glaze's Pool Party

     This polish is a bright neon pink that is the same color on your nails as it is in the bottle. Some nail polishs can be quite dissapointing in that manner. When I buy a neon nail color, I want neon. This color is neon and then some! It's definitely my go to color and I get compliments everytime I have it on.

Lipstick: Maybelline Fifth Avenue Fucshia

     My favorite trend for the summer is bright colors, and I love to bring that trend to my lipsticks! Fuschia is a color I generally save for the summer because it is so bright. What I enjoy most about this color is that it looks incredible on every skin tone! I love this lipstick in particular because it's a triple threat: smooth, moisturizing, and pigmented!

DIY: Body Scrubs

         I am absolutely in love with these body scrubs! My friend, Alyssa, made them for me as a birthday present, and I had to share the recipe with you all. Most of the ingredients, you can find in your kitchen or at the local market. They're very simple to make and are the perfect gift for a girl who loves to pamper herself. She bought mason jars and hot glued a lace fabric around them. They're tied with bows and tags with the name of the scrub on the front and a list of ingredients on the back. They will last for about six months. (If you're crazy enough to not use them up before then!) Here's how to make them:

Sugar Body Scrub:

     1 cup fine white sugar

     1/3 cup (approx) sunflower oil

     30 drops vanilla essential oil

     In a glass or ceramic bowl, add essential oil to sugar and stir thoroughly. Add sunflower oil gradually, stirring continuously. Stop when the scrub reaches the consistence of moist sand.

Coffee Body Scrub:

     1 cup ground coffee
     1 Tbsp salt
     1/3 cup (approx) sunflower oil
     1 tsp ground cinnamon
     1/4 cup fine white sugar
     20 drops sweet orange essential oil

     Mix coffee, salt, sugar, and essential oil in a glass or ceramic bowl. Add sunflower oil slowly, stirring continuously, until mixture reaches the consistency of moist sand.

Summer trend: Dainty Rings

         Summer is almost here! I am so excited for the warm weather and all the trends that come along with it! One of my favorites is stacking, specifically bracelets and rings. I purhased these rings from Target. Forever 21 and etsy are also great places to shop while looking for the perfect set. I'm not one for mixing my metals, so I love to spice things up by mixing patterns. I strongly recommend this. Now, I just hope to find the perfect infinity ring.

And by the way, the nail polish I am wearing in this photo is Club Prive by L'oreal.

Changes in Hello Sunshine!

      I have some sad but exciting news! Alyssa is going to be studying abroad this next semester!! I am so happy for her because she has been looking forward to this for so long. Here is the sad part, she won't be able to update for the next few months. :( However, she will be sending me a few guests posts to share with you guys throughout her journey. Let's all wish her safe travels and good luck!

      As for me, I apologize for the absence. School has become quite stressful and busy. On the brightside, I just have dead week and finals before I am finished for the summer! I may not post much (if anything) these next few weeks. I have to focus on doing well on my exams! I will be back on track with many ideas after, though. If you have any suggestions for posts let me know!

      And for those of you in college who are nearing the end, stay strong! I know it's tough, but you'll be able to breath a sigh of relief once you are over and relish in your accomplishments! Thank you for being patient with me! Talk to you all soon!

Book Review: Delirium

Spoiler Alert!!

They say the cure for love will make me happy and safe forever.

And I have always believed them. Until Now.

Now, everything has changed.

Now, I'd rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second

than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.

       I am a huge fan of the book series The Hunger Games. I just finished reading through the trilogy for my fourth time. This being said, I love books that take place in a futuristic dystopian society.

       Delirium takes place approximately 63 years in the future. The government has diagnosed Love as a disease, and at the age of eighteen every Amerian has a procedure that eliminates all love and any feelings that go along with it. The story follows a girl named Lena as she nears her procedure. Here's the catch, there are people who resist the "cure" and live in the wilds outside of Portland (where Lena lives). It's quite obvious, but Lena meets a boy who has decided against the cure, and they fall in love. They then must find a way to esape the procedure and live together in the wilds.

      Delirium is like no other futuristic book I've read in that the author takes so much time describing the society and why the people believe love is a disease. The way she writes the story makes me think that if I were to live in this society, I would be just like the rest of the people who have been convinced by the government.

      This book had we screaming, laughing, and crying. (However, I tend to this with many books. Haha!) I absolutely adore this book! It is definitely one that you will pick up and not put back down until you are finished. I found myself wanting to be a part of each of the characters lives. The only thing that frustrated me was the last three pages of the book. Biggest cliff hanger I have ever read!! I guess that just means I will have to go purchase the sequel next time I am in the bookstore. I love Lauren Oliver and her other book Before I Fall. I very much recommend this book to everyone!

      If you have read Delirium before, let me know your thoughts about it in the comments below! And if you have any recommendations for me, let me know those as well!

Colorful Heart Cards

by Alyssa

Who doesn't love to receive a handmade card? I like to make my own cards because they are so much more meaningful to give and fun to make. One problem with making your own cards, however, is that it can take a long time! These pretty little heart cards only take about 20 minutes to make all three, and you probably already have the supplies to make them. Next time one of your friends has a birthday or you want to give a thank you card, consider trying one of these designs, or maybe make all three to have some extras on hand!

All you will need to make these cards is white paper, colorful scraps (construction paper is okay too), scissors, a glue stick, and a sharpie. Ribbon is optional.

Cut your scraps into even squares. This will help you make the hearts the same size. If you want to make a bunch of cards at once, just cut more squares!

Fold all the squares in half.

Cut a heart from each folded square. You could also just freehand cutting the hearts, but I like to do it this way so the heart is even.

Finish cutting out all of the hearts and now get creative with how to arrange them on your card! Here's a couple ideas that I used, but be creative and do whatever you think looks good.

I hope this inspired you to make some handmade cards! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by our blog :)

Gratitude Journal

by Alyssa

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to write five things that I am thankful for each day. The idea of having a gratitude journal was actually recommended to me by one of my professors last semester, and I'm really glad I started doing this. It has been a wonderful reminder for me to stop and count my blessings every single day, even if I'm in a bad mood and don't feel like doing it.

 

I write my list each day in this pretty purple journal that my sister bought me. I love the quote on the front because it reminds me to remember each moment that I am thankful for! I write down anything that comes to mind when I think of what I'm thankful for - sometimes it's people in my life, sometimes it's just some silly little thing that made me smile that day. 

Even though I've only been doing this for a couple of months, it's already fun to look back and see what I was thankful for on certain days. I would highly encourage everyone to start something like this; it really helps remind you how much you have especially when you're having a bad day!

"Gratitude is the heart of contentment. I have never met a truly 

thankful, appreciative person who was not profoundly happy."

 -Neil Clark Warren

Ombre Glitter Nails

by Alyssa

I am obsessed with glitter nail polish! I usually have a bright solid nail color on four fingers and glitter on one accent nail. I was excited to change things up a big and try out some ombre glitter nails. Getting pretty nail polish and creating fun designs is a fabulous way to add style to your look without spending much money. As a college student, that is always something I'm looking for! Here's a tutorial for this super fun and easy manicure.

As always, start with a clear base coat to protect your nails. Add two coats of any solid color polish. I love the clean look of this Essie polish that I used!

Wait for the first two coats to dry all the way, then add a VERY thin coat of glitter polish on the whole nail. Make sure you don't use too much!

Carefully paint a thin coat of glitter polish on the bottom third of your nail, then let it dry completely. Add one more stripe of glitter at the very bottom of your nail, then finish it off with a clear topcoat. And there you are! You have beautiful ombre glitter nails.

The colors I used were Sally Hansen Invisible, Essie Sand Tropez, and Color Club Take the Stage.

Hello Weekend

by Alyssa

Don't you love weeks that are just so relaxing? I only had class 3 days this week and barely any homework, which is very unusual. It was a welcome break from my last few crazy weeks. On Friday, Brianna and I went on a little hike with some friends. The weather was beautiful and we snapped this picture as the sun was just starting to set. See those beautiful colors in the sky? That would be smog...oh the joys of living in SoCal! At least we have gorgeous sunsets here because of it. Here are a few more fun pictures from the week.

 

Some unique necklaces I spotted at a flea market - aren't those owls adorable?!

 

Sorry for the blurry picture, but I thought I'd share this since it made me smile. The barista at Starbucks spelled my name right AND added a smiley face to my iced coffee! It definitely brightened up my Business Law study session.

I hope you had a wonderful week as well! Happy weekend everybody :)

Operation Beautiful

by Alyssa

We hear so many negative messages from the media, our peers, and sometimes even ourselves. It is really easy to get caught up in external beauty and forget that inner beauty and strength is far more important. I came across Operation Beautiful about a year ago and I was so inspired by what I read. Caitlin, the founder of Operation Beautiful, started the blog as a way to end negative self-talk and remind everyone that they are beautiful.

The idea is simple – she encourages readers to post anonymous notes in public places for others to find. These notes will hopefully brighten the day of whoever finds them and remind them that they are beautiful just the way they are. I love this idea, so I decided to post some Operation Beautiful notes around my college campus. Here are a few of them!

On a random mailbox.

In a library book waiting to be found!

Women's bathroom mirror.

On a bathroom door in the coffee shop.

We want to challenge you to post your own Operation Beautiful note today! And remember…you are beautiful!

Kony 2012

by Brianna

I'm sure everyone reading this has either a son, daughter, younger sibling, cousin, niece, nephew, or knows a young child. What I want you to do is picture those children. Now imagine them being abducted in their sleep. The girls being forced into sex slavery and the boys being handed rifles and taught how to kill. Sounds inhuman, right?

In Uganda, Africa, over 30,000 children have been abducted by a man named Joseph Kony. What's his motive? He wants nothing more then the feeling of power. Right now, the US has sent a small group of soldiers to Uganda to aid their army in the capture of Kony. However, since it is not in the interest of the US government, they are threatening to take back the soldiers by the end of 2012 if Kony is not captured and arrested. You can watch a video about this here. 

Here's how you can help arrest Joseph Kony. We want the US government to know that it in the interest of the US citizens to bring justice and save these children. We're doing this by making Kony famous. Spread the word to your family and friends, post it on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Be a part of "Cover the Night" on April 20, 2012.

You have the power to bring justice and save over 30,000 children. Use that power.

Visit the Invisible Children website to learn more about how you can help capture Kony.

Switch It Up

By Alyssa

With cold temperatures outside, workout options can be very limited!  I know from experience that going to the gym several times a week gets really old after a while, or it can just be a hassle to get to. Also, if you’re anything like me and have basically no upper body strength, it’s a little intimidating to be surrounded by athletes bench pressing ten times more than me!  

So what can a girl do to still get a good workout in? Workout DVDs! 

I first discovered my love for workout DVDs this semester. During Christmas break, Brianna informed me that I would be joining her and her sister Chelsea in doing P90x this semester. I was a little intimidated by this since 6 days a week of working out seemed like a lot for a busy college student! But I have to say, I have loved this program and it has been a lot easier to stick with than I anticipated. 

No matter what level of fitness you are, I would highly recommend trying workout DVDs. There are SO many benefits – you can work out in your own room, it’s a lot quicker than driving all the way to the gym, you can do it with friends, there are a lot of options so you won’t get bored, and you can have fun and not worry about looking dumb since you aren’t surrounded by buff athletes in the gym!

Here are a couple of tips that I’ve found to be helpful this semester:

Tip #1: Workout with friends. This has been the biggest motivator for me! When you know there are other people counting on you to work out with them, it pushes you to not be lazy or make excuses. Also, it is just way more fun! We are usually laughing about half the time during our workouts – at ourselves, at each other, and at the people in the DVD. It makes the time go faster and laughing is good for your abs, right?!

Tip #2: Have a plan and stick to it. College life can get insanely busy, so I think it’s crucial to set specific days and times that you are going to work out. It doesn’t have to be the same time every day, but setting specific times forces you to prioritize and plan your homework/social time around that. Of course, sometimes things come up and you won’t be able to stick to the same time, but that is no excuse to not make any sort of schedule!  

Tip #3: Try something new.  Be open to new workouts when you’re selecting a DVD series. You never know what workout you might fall in love with! I had never really tried yoga before P90x, but I discovered that I absolutely love it. Also, I re-discovered my love for kickboxing with the P90x Ken Po DVD. Look for a DVD series that has lots of variety in the workouts. P90x is great for this, and I know many others are as well. 

Tip #4: Consider working out in the morning. I know it can be hard to get up early, but it is a great feeling to get your workout done at the start of your day! Plus, it will jump start your metabolism. 

Tip #5: Keep moving! Even if the moves in the DVD are too tough for you, don’t just stop. Modify the moves if you need to in order to keep your heart rate up the whole time! 

Workout DVDs are definitely worth a try.  P90x has worked great for me, but I know it’s not for everyone. I’ve had friends who have done Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred and loved it. There are a TON of great options out there, so go find one that works for you!

Baked Apples

By Brianna

I have quite the sweet tooth but do not enjoy all the sugar and calories packed in most treats. If you are the same way, I think you will enjoy these delicious baked apples. This is a simple recipe. Most of you probably already have these ingredients lying around in your kitchen. If you try these out, let me know how you like them! ( I apologize for the poor quality photos. The only camera I had with me was my Iphone.)

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 cup brown sugar

8 same-size Gala apples

8 teaspoon-size pieces of butter

1 cup apple juice

6 sprigs fresh mint

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Combine cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar in a small bowl and Set aside.

Core apples, making sure not to puncture a hole in the bottom of the apples so that the juices will remain. Remove skin from around top of apples at the opening. Fill each cavity with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Top each apple with a teaspoon of butter. Place apples in casserole dish and pour apple juice around them. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake for approximately 45 minutes to an hour. Remove from heat, garnish with fresh mint, and enjoy!