Hello all. Trying to get myself back on the blogging wagon, so bear with me. I wanted to share some moments from the kite festival at Zilker Park here in Austin TX from a few weekends ago.

By Aravind Sivaraj (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

I've mentioned coconut oil on my blog countless times, so I'm obviously a huge advocate for it in all things beauty & health. I've included it in masks for skin & hair, but today I wanted to talk about how it can be used as a wonderful replacement for your cleanser and moisturizer.

You might be wondering how coconut oil actually cleans the skin because that's what cleansers are supposed to do, right? It contains natural substances that disinfect the skin, getting rid of bacteria & unclogging pores. This helps protect the skin from the harsh conditions of everyday life. Coconut oil also contains anti-aging ingredients that retain the skins elasticity.

I typically use unrefined coconut oil as a replacement for a nighttime cleanser/moisturizer. Put a few drops on your hands, rubbing them together to create warmth, so it absorbs better. Massage the face & neck just like a regular cleanser. Use a towel to wipe off the remaining coconut oil because it is tricky to rinse off. It won't completely wash off, so a thin layer of oil will remain, making moisturizing unnecessary. Using it in the morning is great too, but it may make the skin feel oily throughout the day, which is why I prefer it in my nighttime routine.

You're probably worried coconut oil will cause you to break out, which is initially what I thought. Fortunately, for me it has caused less breakouts & is helping eliminate my acne scars. Remember all skin is different, but it is totally worth trying.

Switch to coconut oil as a way of avoiding the harsh cancer-causing chemicals in normal cleansers or because you wanna save money & simplify your lifestyle. Either way, hope you all get a chance to try it out. That's all for now!

Mars ~~

Hello everyone! For a while now I've had a pretty strong obsession with lipstick. I just think it's so fun & classic to wear out & about. In just an instant, it can add tons of style to a look. I tend to go for lipsticks that look vintage or have an old fashioned feel. Sometimes this style lipstick can be tricky to find in the drugstore, so I wanted to talk about a brand that has it all when it comes to lipstick & that's Revlon!

For a lipstick addict like myself the most important thing I look for is price & let me tell you, Revlon has one of the most affordable lipstick lines I've seen on the market. The important thing to note is you won't be trading quality for a good price because their lipsticks are incredible, but I'll get more into that later.



Over the years, I've collected a ton of Revlon lipstick, I'm surprised I don't have them all. Fortunately, it did not break the bank too much. I saw them on sale at my local grocery store the other day for around 3 dollars & they generally go for around 4 to 5 dollars, where other lipsticks can go for 8 to 10 dollars. How amazing is that? Oh, & they have dozens of shades to choose from.

Each lipstick is put into a category to better describe the shade: creme, matte, pearl & shine. I've found myself picking the creme & matte more than the other shades, although they're all wonderful. Each lipstick goes on smooth & lasts for a while without fading. The colors are generally very pigmented & moisturizing, for better application.

The packaging is also very sleek, which is probably another reason I end up purchasing them so much. In order to get a little peek at the shade, the top of the lipstick tube is clear. This way, you don't have to break the seal & take a peek. I think the black & gold is a lot classier than other lipsticks, as well.

Here are a few of my favorite shades:


The shade Really Red happens to be my favorite red lipstick ever. It has just enough depth to appear blood red on the lips. This is coming from a girl who struggles so hard to find truly red lipsticks, so trust me on this.


Searching for the perfect lipstick for summer? Look no further because Coralberry has just what you need. It has a lovely pink undertone that is flattering on anyone. Definitely my top choice for a coral lipstick.


Toast of New York takes the cake for my favorite lipstick of all time. I get asked about this lipstick the most, so it must be doing something right. It's a very deep red with a brownish undertone that makes the lips look fabulous. I definitely can't leave the house without this baby.

Hope you enjoyed learning about my unhealthy obsession with lipstick! If you, too, have this obsession let me know & we can talk about it. #LipstickLoversAnonymous

-Mars

Hello everyone! I hope you all are as stoked for summer as I am! I've already started a to-do list for these next few months, which includes many adventures that'll keep me from the laziness epidemic that is summer break.

For those relaxed nights when I feel like staying in & watching a flick, I put together a list of a few movies that are absolutely perfect for getting into the summer spirit. Nothing says summer like beaches, vacations, vacations on beaches & more! But seriously, if you haven't seen some of the movies on this list, I highly recommend that you set aside some time to do so.

Without further ado, here are some films that will get you into the summer groove!


(Via Tumblr)

1. Fun in Acapulco (1963)

So, imagine Elvis Presley wants to take you on a little vacay to the splendid Acapulco, Mexico. How could you possibly turn that down? This movie is perfect for a night of fun with The King himself. Watch him act as a lifeguard & chat up beautiful women in paradise. What more could you possibly want?


(Via film-cine.com)

2. Beach Party (1963)

This classic will have you laughing as well as singing & dancing. It stars the lovely Frankie Avalon & Annette Funicello, who did such an amazing job, they had to make three more films just like it (which you should also check out.) It really makes me wanna take up surfing or at least invest in a beach house.


(Via Tumblr)

3. Adventureland (2009)

Another aspect of summer: theme parks! This movie encompasses a bunch of young adults trying to figure their life out whilst working a summer job at an amusement park. It reminds me a lot of Freaks & Geeks especially since it takes place in the eighties. Another huge reason to watch it is because it has Kristen Wiig & Bill Hader (oh, & Kristen Stewart).



(Via IMDb)

4. Almost Famous (2000)

I'm a huge fan of music from the seventies and this movie was set in 1973, which was a great year for rock 'n' roll. It kinda gives an idea of what it was like being on tour with a band back then. It also portrays all the struggles of being a teenager at that time, which are plenty.

(Screenshot // Eureka Pictures)

Hello everyone. Can't believe it's almost the end of May & soon summer will be here. I can't wait for this rainy season to be over. I'm officially sick of rain & ready for some sunshine.

The past few weeks have felt quite busy for me & for some reason I haven't been sleeping well for various reasons. It's times like these where my immune system weakens due to all these factors (no sleep/bad weather/stress) & I need a boost. That's when I turn to my trusty friend, the wellness shot.

Even if you're not worried about getting sick, wellness shots can be a great pick-me-up. Here in Austin you can find em at many juice places, but I decided to make my own to save money. This recipe is awesome & will get you feeling like a superhero in no time!

The ingredients you'll need are: ginger, turmeric powder & lemon. All of these ingredients are antibacterial & great for the immune system. The ginger & lemon can help with boosting the metabolism, as well as alleviating nausea or indigestion. The turmeric has many antioxidants and several medicinal properties. For sake of convenience, you can substitute the turmeric for cayenne powder instead. I purchased my turmeric at a health foods store where you can buy it in bulk.

Juice from 1 lemon (1 oz)
Juice from 2-3 inches of Ginger Root (1 oz)
Pinch of Turmeric (or Cayenne)


I happened to pick the most inappropriate-looking ginger root (see above.) I had trouble juicing the ginger since I do not have an actual juicer. To get around this, I tried a few different methods & only one seemed to work. I put the entire root into a blender & added an ounce of water. I blended & then strained the ginger to get as much liquid as possible. This produced about 1 oz of ginger juice, which seemed sufficient.

After squeezing the lemon, I mixed the two together & sprinkled a dash of turmeric on top (which ended up sinking to the bottom.) Make sure you have a chaser of some sort, such as a glass of water & bottoms up! The shot feels a little funky going down mostly because of the ginger, so just make sure you have a chaser.

Hope you enjoy the wellness shot & good luck. If you have any questions don't hesitate to let me know. That's all for now.

Mars

Hello everyone! The past few weeks, I've been stuck inside most of the time due to the nonstop rain that has been effecting central Texas. Even as I write this, there is a major downpour accompanied by severe flooding. Hopefully this rain spell will stop sooner than later so I won't be stuck inside for the rest of summer.

I wanted to talk about a product that I've been using lately & have been loving; oatmeal! Most people have easy access to it & it's super affordable. For the past month or so, I've found dozens of uses for oatmeal & I wanted to share some with you.

This summer is all about saving money for future expenses, so make sure to add oatmeal to your grocery list, if you haven't done so already! I can't stress enough how much money can be saved by using this product in your daily routine.

Incorporate it into your morning routine.

Everyone knows breakfast is the most important meal of the day & sometimes it can be challenging trying to balance this particular meal, due to lack of time for preparation or downright pickiness (like me.) Either way, I highly recommend adding oatmeal to your breakfast because it'll give you loads of energy & it's super healthy. It's just an additional five minutes of your time to add it to your breakfast, which is quite reasonable. It's perfect for adding any kind of fruit, along with a dash of brown sugar. If you need more ideas, here's a few other recipes you can make using oatmeal. Ever thought of adding mango to oatmeal? Yum!

Add oatmeal to your smoothies.

Oatmeal is my favorite ingredient to add to smoothies. It gives the smoothie a perfect texture & adds a sweeter taste, which I love. I add about a half cup to a cup (64 to 128 grams) to attain the perfect blend. Adding this to your smoothie can make it go a long way. It fills your stomach, so you'll be less hungry throughout the day. You'll end up consuming less calories & more protein. (1 cup of oatmeal is around 10 grams of protein.)

Add oatmeal to facial & hair masks.

If you suffer from breakouts or noticeable pores, I highly suggest adding oatmeal to your skincare routine in some capacity. Every few days I like to make my own simple oatmeal scrub using honey, oatmeal & sometimes coconut oil. After applying it to my face, I wait about 10 minutes and scrub whatever is left on my skin. It removes dirt & oil, reducing pore size & preventing acne. Oatmeal also protects your skin from harsh chemicals & keeps it moisturized if you suffer from dry skin. Here's an amazing mask that incorporates oatmeal.

If you struggle with thinning hair or just need a boost, use oatmeal for deep conditioning. Oatmeal replaces many vitamins & nutrients in the scalp, giving life to your strands. If you want more information on deep conditioning using oil, you can find it here. All you have to do is add a few tablespoons of oatmeal to do the trick.

Hope you enjoyed all these wonderful uses for oatmeal. I'm eager to find more ways I can incorporate oatmeal in my life. That's all for now!

-Mars

Hello everyone! This past weekend I partook in one of my favorite events in Austin; Eeyore's Birthday! If you're curious as to what I'm talking about I'll give some background info on it & you can check out my post from last year's celebration here.


Around the last week of April, Austinites come together to celebrate the wonderful day of birth of our familiar pal, Eeyore (AKA Winnie the Pooh's best bud.) People take this opportunity to unleash as much colorfulness & eccentricity as possible in an outdoor festival. All the day's festivities take place around the afternoon, continuing throughout the evening. There's great food, beverages & music. It's also a kid-friendly occasion (my 1 year old niece attended & absolutely loved it!)


As for me, I went with some friends & family. We kicked back on picnic blankets under a live oak tree and listened to drum circles all around us, which there was no shortage of.


No shortage of didgeridoos either!




This fantastic dancer made an appearance in last year's post on Eeyore's Birthday, which shows major dedication. Maybe we'll see him next year too & give him an exclusive interview!



Eeyore's b-day is not complete without some crazy cool accessories & a sunflower dress worn by my soul sister, Tesla.



This should be the unofficial motto of Eeyore's Birthday. Just a bunch of amazing people coming together to celebrate a historical figure that filled our childhoods with love.


And here's me attempting to bust a move with clouds of smoke swirling around. Needless to say, this year's event was super fun & it makes me so bummed I have to wait a whole year for another Eeyore's birthday. You can check out my Instagram [ @marswho ] for more pics of the chaos. That's all for now!

-Mars

Hello everyone! Hope you are all having a fantastic month of September! So I guess it's officially Fall? My month has been super busy & I love it, although I've got a lot of work to catch up on. Anyway, today I wanted to share with you a mask that will help reduce those annoying pores that prevent a flawless finish.

Maybe you don't suffer from noticeable pores, in which case you're very lucky. Keep in mind that doesn't exclude you from having to exfoliate regularly. Exfoliation not only reduces the size of pores, it rids the skin of pesky blackheads & dirt/chemicals hiding underneath the skin.

I personally have oily skin, so my pores happen to be pretty noticeable. I exfoliate a few times a week, making sure I'm not too abrasive. First things first, before you start this mask, make sure you wash your face before, so you have a fresh canvas to work with.


The three ingredients for this mask are baking soda, lemon & clay. Since clay is rather hard to come by, I'm using a mask that contains clay called Mint Julep Masque by Queen Helene. It's okay to make a substitution if you're lacking an ingredient. I like this clay mask because it's super cheap & contains spearmint, which also helps shrink pores.

Baking soda, along with clay & lemon help draw out impurities in the skin & eliminate ba. All three work to tighten the skin, replacing the dirt/chemicals with vitamins to improve the complexion. I like the texture that clay produces because it helps with an smooth coating. Baking soda & lemon also help prevent acne, which is a major bonus for this mask.