5 Things on my Wish List (April 2013)

I've been a greedy mood lately. It's not even necessarily a bad thing though. I see things and I want them and I usually can't stop thinking about them. Sadly for me, I'll have to wait on most of these items. Being a college student rarely allows you to indulge in your wish list. I'm hoping that after working this summer, I'll be able to add a few of these things to my collection.

Here's my wishlist of the moment! Enjoy!

What's on your list? Let me know in the comments below!!

Always,

Emily

5 Things about 16

Today's my brother, Ethan's birthday. Someday I'll do a post all about him, because I think you all would love him. His sense of humor reminds me about Bill Hader from SNL, but he's also really strong in a lot of ways. I love him tons even when we're fighting, and I probably don't tell him that enough.

This is me and my brother Ethan, back in the day!

Anyway, He's sixteen today and that's a really big deal. He was telling me about how getting his driver's licence is only a stones throw away and how he's started to think about college and what he might want to do with his life. When I was sixteen, I had no idea what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be, so I'm really proud of him.

I remember when I turned 16 I threw a party with all my friends. I hung up tiny twinkling white lights in my backyard, lit one million candles,  wore a dress I bought on vacation and my mom made tons of pasta.  I think about how different I am now from that night what I hung up all those lights. I know that I'm not even three years older then I was then, but somehow I feel like I've lived a whole different life since then.

These are five things I wish I would have known when I turned 16.

1. You're a lot younger than you think you are. You're about half way through high school by the time you're 16, so stop putting so much pressure on yourself. You have all the time in the world to fall in love,  wear too much makeup, or make bad decisions. Don't rush yourself in to anything you aren't ready for just because you think you have to accomplish x, y and z in high school.

2. You need your parent's more than you think. Moving to another state to go to college was incredibly hard for me. I find myself calling my parents for pretty much everything. You don't realize that you're going to be the one who refills your contact prescription or shampoo, change the ink cartridge on your printer, shop for food you want or vacuum. Enjoy living under there roof, because the day is rapidly approaching where you will be dying to be sitting at the table with your family.

3. The world is really big and really scary. When I was 16 I was lucky enough to travel to Rwanda, which changed my life in a lot of ways (I'll blog about it soon!). Not many people get to experience something like that so young, so I feel very fortunate that my U.S. bubble was broken. It made me realize the depth of evil and cruelty in the world but also the limitless capacity for hope and beauty. My trip to Rwanda took off my rose colored glasses, and I'm so glad for that. When you're sixteen, you think you know everything about the world around you because you took Contemporary World History sophomore year. Not everyone will go to Africa, but everyone should seek to learn more about the world we live in and realize that there is so much more to explore than your hometown. Most importantly, know you don't know everything yet. That's something to celebrate.

4. Give your best, but not to everything. You'll regret not trying your hardest in all your classes, or not taking a chance to join that sport or club. Try things, savor every minute of getting to figure out who you are, what you like and what you don't. This won't stop after highschool, but you'll have less free time to do it. Don't be afraid to make a mistake or try something and fail, you'll probably end up learning something (or at least have a funny story).

5.  Invest in people who will honestly love you back. In high school , you put up with things you don't deserve and people who aren't authentic with you. The quicker you realize you shouldn't settle, the less you'll end up hurting in the future. As soon as you recognize someone manipulating or using you, drop them like a hot potato. You might have to learn this the hard way for you to really understand how important this is.

This post is dedicated to my brother, Ethan. Happy Sweet 16, the world is yours. I love you.

Always,

Emily

P.S. Enjoy these photos of my 16th Birthday Party!

P.S.S. What was your 16th birthday like? What are things you wished you would have know when you were 16? Let me know in the comments

5 Annoying Things People Said to Me This Week

I promise I'm usually not this mean or this snarky but people were getting on my nerves this week. Small talk does not appeal to me in the least, so I have a pretty low tolerance for annoying people saying annoying things.

Anyway, these are the top five stupid things that people said to me this weak and my real life response. For your entertainment I added what I was really thinking last.

1)  Question/Statement: I hate this rain.
Real Answer/Response: Agh, me too! So gross!
What I really want to say:  Actually, I love the rain. And having my umbrella break from wind. And looking like a drowned rat.

2)  Question/Statement: Can you believe this year is almost over?
Real Answer/Response: I know! Seriously where did the time go?
What I really want to say: I can believe it.

3) Question/Statement: Oh my gosh I still have to write a paper and I have an 8 am tomorrow!
Real Answer/Response: That sucks! I feel so bad for you, but I believe you can do it.
What I really want to say: Stop complaining because it's completely your fault that you procrastinated and you are lucky/fortunate enough to be receiving a college education so just STEP DOWN.

4) Question/Statement: I just really want it to be summer
Real Answer/Response: Totally! I'm so done with school.
What I really want to say: I bet you/every single person enrolled in an education institution do.

5) Question/Statement:You look tired today.
Real Answer/Response: Yeah, I didn't get a lot of sleep because I was studying for my Poli Sci test.
What I really want to say: Wait? HOW? I slept like 12 hours because I'm a college student princess and I always get more then enough nights sleep and I'm never stressed so I think you got it wrong.

Well, at least it's Friday! What are things that people say that bother you? Do you LIKE small talk, or hate it like I do? Let me know in the comments below! WHEEEE

Always,

Emily

5 Things I Miss About High School

This blog is supposed to be how things are easier when grouped in fives and I realized that I could use a some simple right now. Besides writing things about makeup and basketball, I also see myself using this to organize my own thoughts. So today's post is a little more personal. Today was just a day that I was sad. Everything is fine, but I just woke up a little sadder then usual. I've found that when you wake up to one of these sad days, the best you can do is just embrace the sadness and live through it. Everyone has them, (if you say you don't have sad days you're lying). I hope you're lucky like me, and have people who will walk through those days with you.

Anyway, today I think I realized I was sad because I miss high school, my friends, living at home, my hometown, and my church just to name a few. It's just not that I miss being there (I do miss that) but I just had easter break a few weeks ago and I'm making a quick trip home (for less than 24 hours) this weekend. I more miss the life that I had in high school. Things were a lot easier when I lived at home. I think the farther I get into life in college, the more I realize I'll never have that life again.

I thought that when I got to college I would become this super hero version of myself. That I would never miss my mom, never get teary when looking at pictures of my friends, or miss how it felt to walk to school with my brother. This super hero version of Emily was super confident and independent  and fearless and bold. She took all the opportunities that came her way and even sought out opportunities by herself. I'm finishing up my freshman year at college and I wasn't like that at all. It's disappointing to say the least, but I've started to be ok with the fact that I just miss home.

Now, I don't want to make you think I don't like my university or the friends I made here. I just can't keep thinking that I was better and happier when I was in high school. At this point I don't really have a choice but to make the most of where I am now, but every so often I can't help but stop and miss my life in high school.

5 Things I Miss About High School (In no particular order)

1) My church. In high school, if you were looking for me on a Monday or Wednesday night or a Sunday Morning you would find me at my church. One thing you might not know about me, is that in the span of 5 or so years I've lived in 8 different houses, 6 of them in the same town. This made my church really my home, it was the place that never changed for me. My friends there are a mix between my family, my close friends and my soul mates. We traveled around the country and around the world together. I learned so much about God and how He works through people from my friendships there.

2) My group of friends that I did everything with. One of my favorite things we did was driving around with no plans. Some of my happiest memories came from the nights when we all piled into someone's car and drove until we realized we burned through half a tank of gas listening to music and talking.

3) My family. I didn't realize just how close I am with my family until I went to college and saw how other people talk about there families. I'm lucky enough to have four brothers and a sister and we are all teenagers so spending time with them is absolutely priceless. I also miss my parents way more then I thought I would. I just really love my family, drama and craziness aside.

4) My hometown. My hometown is technically not called a town, but a "village",which I always thought was really charming. I wouldn't consider it a small town, but it's definatly smaller than average. I love where I grew up, it was picture perfect suburbia where you knew people around town. For most of my life I lived just a few blocks away from the downtown area. The shops and restaurants and traditions are hallmarks of my life at home. My high school goes in this category too. It looks like a castle and behind it is a small lake and park. It was so incredibly beautiful and I have wonderful memories there.

My high school, Glenbard West.

5) Everything impromptu. When I wanted to meet for Starbucks or desperatley wanted someone to pick me up for frozen yogurt or to meet me at the park down the street. My best friends were for the most part on the same schedule as me. Everyone was in school at the same time, and we did the same activities together and we frequented the same restaurants. I can't tell you how many times I came home from somewhere and found one of friends just hanging out in my room or with my family. In college, if I want to hang out with someone who dosen't live on my floor I have to check my schedule, pencil it in and hope that something else dosen't come up.

At a football game with one of my friends, it just seems like
a sentimental picture to go with this post.

"They say when you are missing someone that they are probably feeling the same, but I don't think it's possible for you to miss me as much as I'm missing you right now” 

― Edna St. Vincent Millay

Sorry if this was weird, or too personal. I just wanted to say that today I'm sad, I miss home and it's ok to feel that way.

Always,

Emily

Top 5 of the Moment: Makeup

I'd like to start a series, maybe every week or so, that talks about my five favorite things of the moment. I'm thinking this will be cool, because my favorites change around a lot and I'm always getting interested in new things! I decided to start out with a topic very close to my heart... makeup! When I was a freshman in high school, I dived in to the world of the YouTube Beauty community, where I pretty much stalked girls (also known as "Beauty Gurus") who uploaded vlogs, reviews and tutorials about makeup.

I understand how makeup can get a bad reputation. I've heard from friends in highschool that they thought makeup  "made you fake" or "If you're really confident you shouldn't have to wear makeup". I understand and appreciate those points, but I've never seen a problem with wearing makeup. However, when I was in middle school, my mother did. Funny story: My mom didn't allow me to wear makeup in until I started highschool, but it eighth grade I walked to a drugstore after school one day and bought an eyeliner and a roll on shimmer eye shadow. I would go to school and run in the bathroom and put in on before class, then after school I would run to the bathroom to take it off before I got on the bus.

This is going to be so cheesy, but I always though about makeup like Cher did in the movie Burlesque. More or less she says that makeup is like art that can go on your face. Here's the clip for anyone who hasn't seen the fine film itself:

I think that's a super cool way to think about makeup. And seriously, who didn't watch their mom in awe when she did her makeup when you were younger? I did. Exploring fun makeup is something I LOVE to do with my mom, she gave me a bunch of makeup the Christmas of my freshman year in high school (thinking she was starting my collection ;) ). Since then we share makeup and talk about what we are loving. I'll even admit I still love having my mom do my makeup. 

So now that I've rambled on and on about makeup, here are the top five products I've been using recently! (P.S. I tried to link to where you can buy these items, if you wish!)

1) L'OREAL Voluminous Carbon Black: I had the original L'OREAL Voluminous, but I adore the carbon black version. I have naturally blonde eyelashes and I love making them super dark, this does the job! It really does add a lot of volume to your lashes too. I was contemplating wearing fake eyelashes to prom but after I bought this mascara I really didn't need to! My mascara tip: apply mascara both on top and underneath your top lashed to add volume.

2) Laura Mercier The Flawless Face Book : This little set has everything you could want! My mom introduced me to Laura Mercier a few years ago and we both use the tinted moisturizer religiously. This palette has a solid of the tinted moisturizer, under eye concealer (I swear by it to conceal under eye circle) a few concealers and a fabulous setting powder. It's great for travel or to try out a few of Laura's products.

3) Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Zero: Probably in my top three eyeliners over all, but I've just been using it a lot recently. I like my blacks dark and this stays super opaque! I like it because it's easy to smudge too. The only down side is that its a pain to sharpen, but push through the struggle because it pays off pigmentation wise. 

4) Essie Good to Go top coat: I'm not sure if this is considered makeup, but it is at least a "beauty product". This top coat is super reliable and will brighten up whatever you put beneath by adding a glossy finish. I've been using it regularly as of late, and I see a difference on how much it chips when I it on have compared to when I use other top coats. 

5) MAC Femme Fi Eyeshadow: This is an eyeshadow from the Neo Sci-Fi collection of 2008 so it's pretty old! I actually probably got it in 2009ish from a CCO (Cosmetics Company Outlet) where you can find retired shades and old collections. If you follow MAC collections you'll know that this is the collection that came out in neon orange packaging! A lot of people criticized it for being to "frosty", but I completely disagree.This shade is my go-to when I want a really subtle look, its a shimmery light beige that is super flattering on most skin tones.

I'm glad I FINALLY got this posted! Thanks for sticking with me :)

Yours,

E