A Not So Silent Sunday: Happy Easter!

This ANSS Sunday is once again going to be short and quick, because its EASTER and I'm running all over the place!  Here's the schedule for today:

10-11-We had some family friends in from Auburn, so we had a HUGE breakfast/brunch feast ! I wish I had taken pictures!
11-11:30- My dad and his buddy kindly created an easter egg scavenger hunt for all the kids with surprisingly witty and tricky clues. The clues led us to the easter egg baskets filled with Easter candy and gifts! Then, of course, your traditional easter egg hunt :)
11:30-12- Our family friends hit the road back to Auburn :(
12- 2:30: Cleanup and cook for the fam bam to come over for Easter Lunch/Dinner (whatever you want to call it)
2:30- 4- Visit my Grandma and Grandpa.
4-7- Easter Party with the entire family!
7+ - See the boyfrannn before I leave to LA tomorrow!

Thats just a quick summary :) Easter hold a special place in my heart because for many years its allowed the entire family to come together again and celebrate. Although there are less little kids and less members of the family still living in California, the day is still filled with easter egg hunts and laughter. I hope everyone is having a great day whether you celebrate easter or not!

xoxo,

     Jess

Sunday Surplus:

• Just a heads up! Next week I'll be in LA touring colleges! So posts will be less frequent, but I'll definitely fall right back into habit as soon as I get back :)
• I'm so excited to break out the high-wasted shorts, crop tops, and bikinis 
• I'm wearing so much mint green and turquoise right now it's laughable hehe.
• How would you guys feel about a Haul?
• It's literally so hot in my room right now....
• I'm seeing all these college decisions on instagram and facebook.... I don't know how I'll ever decide!
• lalalalala!
• bye!

Weather Confused : Transitioning Winter Pieces into Spring

Sometimes transitions suck. It's a period of change that sometimes seems to drag on and on and on. When looking at fashion that means trading in you winter boots for bright sandals or that scarf for a chunky floral necklace. But hey! We can all be fashion rebels right? Who said we can't bend the rules now and then? This winter, one of my obsessions was my fur vest, but now spring has come and I sadly stuck my vest in the back of my closet.... or did I? Here's how I styled this fur vest for spring!:

 {Tip: Pair a heavy piece like the vest with a looser more "flowy" top to balance out hard and soft}

{Tip: Roll up the sleeves of a long sleeve shirt for a more casual look.
Oops! my bag was backwards. }

 { Tip: Use a bright necklace to pull more color into a look. This necklace also ties back in with my floral oxfords}

               {These shoes are my go to shoes for spring and totally "spring-ify" any outfit}

{ Unfortunately by the time this was posted I already messed my nails up :( I love the geometric shapes with the pastel colors. I was too lazy to do all of my other nails :P}

{ A Jimmy Choo purse?!!? Nope. It's a knockoff from the Philippines :) Shhh! }

Accessories:

      Watch- ESPIRT (I actually found this on the sidewalk in LA...}

      Purse- Jimmy Choo (knockoff... hehe)

      Pearl Earrings from the Philippines

      Jade Necklace- My mom's :)

      Shoes- Forever XXI

      Belt- Thrifted

Outfit:

     Fur Vest: XXI

     White Blouse: Forever XXI

     Dark Wash Skinny Jeans: Forever XXI

     White Tank Top (under blouse): Forever XXI

     ( I was all in Forever XXI.... weird....)

Makeup:
    Nails: Go Go Pink by China Glaze (All)
             Mint Sorbet by Sally Hansen
             Blue Nailpolish (It doesnt have a name) by Kiko ( got it in Italy!)
    Lips: Visionary by Lancome
    Hair: please ignore it... it's in it's natural state haha

xoxo,

      Jess 

PS. The funny thing is... I bought the fur vest two years ago for a costume. I was the bird in Little Mermaid and I was trying to find the ugliest fur/feather thing at Forever XXI. 

PPS: I'm still trying to work on the photo quality! Hopefully it will get better in time :)

Makeup Mondays: Maybelline Eyestudio Color Tattoo 24H Eyeshadow Review

Another makeup review with another Maybelline product! I picked up Maybelline's Color Tattoo Eyeshadow earlier this month due to the incessant amount of talking about the product. I myself have never tried wearing an eyeshadow base before (I'm usually ok with just a primer) and the makeup shelf seemed to be calling my name. The reason I purchased the product (besides not have any self control) was specifically because I wanted something I could swipe over my lids if I was in a rush. So I grabbed Number 20 in Barely Branded from the Metals collection:

 

Price: At my Walgreens it was priced at $6.99. Which I find ridiculous for a single shadow.

     RATE: 2/5

Color Pay Off: The color swatches so beautifully. It's VERY pigmented and highly reflective so it stays true to the "metal" collection. It's buildable and can definitely be sheered into a highlight for the brows or cheekbones or layered into an opaque reflective shadow. Barely Branded is the perfect champagne color to use as a highlight on the face, browbones and inner tear ducts (my fave). 

      RATE: 5/5

Texture: Has a very creamy yet dense texture and can be easily blended out. Maybelline called it a cream gel and rightly so. Even though its says it's a gel, it doesn't feel heavy or wet! Yay! However, I learned that you cannot leave the pot open without a lid for long period of time because it will begin to dry up. When that happened the consistency of the "top level" of the shadow changed where it was not at all creamy and produced chunks of product when swatched. I had to rub off the exposed layer for the product to go back to its original state. Also, I've noticed that to get an even and opaque finish on the eyes you do have to apply a few coats. However, I tend to sheer it out anyway.

     RATE: 4/5

Smell: I don't detect any smell!

     RATE: 5/5

Lasting Power: Now on it's own I wouldn't say it last 24 hours (which seems ridiculous anyways... Who wears makeup for 24h?) but under a powder shadow the base does have a very long lasting power. From what I've noticed it lasts up to 10 hours! Job well done Maybelline! By itself it still lasts for a surprisingly long time, but not quite as long. I wore it today to test it out but I sheered it out a bit more than usual. It seemed to have lasted in perfect condition up to 6 hours and that was with a light application!

     RATE: 4/5

Packaging: I love how its in a glass pot, however I wish the cover was more than just plastic. But it doesn't make a huge difference to me.

     RATE: 4.75/5

Average Overall Rating: 4.1 out of 5!

Would you Repurchase? 

Yes! and I plan too! I find that this is a perfect on the go shadow for a quick eye pick-me-up and also when I'm just in a rush. I also think it'd be absolutely perfect to wear in the summer for a long lasting look that appears almost waterproof (I'd have to try that out). I plan to get Bad to the Bronze and Tough as Taupe next! As for Barely Branded, I cannot be more please with this color choice. It's the perfect champagne color that is so versatile and looks so effortless on the eye.

Hope this helped!

xoxo,

    Jess

A Not So Silent Sunday: Senioritis and Spring Break!

I have three more days until my spring break.... just...three....and I can  hardly wait. As a senior in high school, I am already counting down the days until I get to graduate, and quite honestly, it's not coming fast enough. I feel like seniors are so bipolar about graduation though, as if there are phases in your senior year:

Phase 1: "It's First Semester so I need to do what seems to be 10000 college apps and still manage to do well in school just in case colleges check my grades again (when, let's be real, they don't). Graduation seems so far away!"
Phase 1/2: "I can't believe it's senior year! It's all gone by so quickly! I'm going to miss everyone. "
Phase 2: "It's second semester so I'm not going to care at all.... like AT ALL. PEACE"
Phase 3: "Homework? Tests? What are those?"
Phase 4: "I'm sick of all you people."
Phase 5: "Get me out. Graduation could not possibly come any slower"
Phase 6: FREEDOM.

That basically sums it up.
Senioritis is quite literally like a sickness.  I mean just look at me now, I should be doing some homework but I've been successfully wasting my time watching Gossip Girl, making milkshakes, and writing this post. And we all know that it's after spring break that it's not going to get any better. We might as well just not show up to school :) But hey, to me it makes sense that if you worked hard for 3 1/2 years than you deserve a little break. Anyways, my spring break will be filled with more college tours and just relaxing. So with that being said I will be gone after next Sunday and will probably be posting less frequently. I may pre-write some posts before hand and then set a time and date so that they come a bit regularly, but who knows!

Sorry this post is so short. I guess I didn't have a lot on my mind this sunday :) I'm just waiting for this short week to end.

xoxo,

     Jess

Sunday Surplus

• It's Palm Sunday in the Catholic church! I am proud to say I created 10+ crosses out of palm leaves. 
• I'll be posting another outfit post from today later this week!
• Check in tomorrow for another makeup monday!
• So last night I painted my nails to perfection.. and, of course.... they're ruined now. How does this even happen?!
• Tomorrow I get to sleep in until 9 on a school day...So. Pumped.
• Song of the day: Stay by Rihanna. 

DIY: Face Mask for Acne-Prone and Scarred Skin

So new fact about me: I have oily/combo skin, and it SUCKS. Because of my oily skin I am also subject to acne and with that, acne scarring. And like any normal teenage girl I have fallen into some pretty bad habits.
1. I apply waaaayyyy too much acne medication. Even when I don't really need it I find comfort in applying more and more and more... So my skin sometimes becomes so dry it's literally peeling off my face... not cute.
2. Yes, I am one of those people who pop pimples. It's like an addiction that I can't seem to stop. Even the smallest zits I find myself poking and prodding at until my face is all raw and red. And then, of course... here comes more acne medication! It's a continuous cycle.

So yes, my skin isn't perfect, but I have luckily found a few DIY recipes to help fix up my damaged skin:

THE HONEY MASK

This is a very popular face mask that is by far my favorite mask I have ever done. I do it once or twice a week and it literally produces the best result by far. 

What you will need:
1 Tablespoon
Measuring spoons
1 bowl 
Optional: Foundation Brush

Ingredients: 
1 Tbs Honey
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 (or more) Extra Virgin Olive Oil

How will it help my skin?

Honey: has natural anti bacterial powers, is an antioxidant, and is extremely moisturizing. It helps draw out any impurities locked into the skin while killing the bacteria that cause acne to grow and spread. It reduces redness and inflammation while reducing any damage done to your skin.

Cinnamon: helps dry out acne and brings blood and oxygen to the pores to help open pores and kill bacteria and oil. It also helps reduce redness and inflammation.

Nutmeg: A natural exfoliator that helps take off any dead skin. It's similar to an acne treatment like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide but is much gentler and safer. It too, reduces redness, inflammation, and kills bacteria on the skin. 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The best natural moisturizer around! And it won't clog pores!

Of course, like anything else be sure to do a patch test before trying this out! Just to be safe :)

Steps:

1. Place the ingredients into a bowl. You can add as much olive oil as you think is necessary for your skin. However, I recommend the 1/4 tsp amount for those with oily/combo skin like me!

2. Take any utensil and mix mix mix! When you're done it should resemble a chocolate paste, like this:

                                              {Ok, I know that looks very unappetizing...}

3. Next, Apply to your entire face with your fingers, a utensil, or a foundation brush and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. 
WARNING: Try to apply a thin layer on your face. The mask is very thick and when left on for a long period of time it may begin to drip if there is too much caked on. 
PS. If any of the mask falls on your lips don't be afraid to just lick it off! It's all natural and just tastes like honey!

4. Wash off and feel your super smooth and radiant skin!

So there you go guys! I literally swear by this. My face afterwards feels like a baby's butt and my acne and acne scarring looks 20x better than it did before. I HIGHLY recommend you try it out! It's a great recipe for all skin types and it's sure to have you skin thanking you.

Good luck!

xoxo,

      Jess

Spring Stripes

 There is a time in California when you don't know if it will be hot or cold, rainy or sunny, foggy or windy. That time is called..... Spring.  I wore this outfit to school(minus the shades) as my first attempt to transition from the cold winter fashion into something a little more "springy". Now, I know its not all bright with florals and neons, but stripes are a big trend this season and I was anxious to try it out! (Clothing information below!)

{Tip: Another spring trend is  black and white, a trend in which you can easily incorporate into your spring wardrobe by throwing in a pop of bright color! I love this sea foam green maxi because it contrasts and balances out the darkness and heaviness of the dark color}

{Tip: Use a belt to sinch in your waist when dealing with more "flowy" and oversized pieces. I love this studded belt because it instantly gives an outfit some edginess}

{Tip: Don't be afraid to mix different textures! A knit vest is great for layering}

{It started to rain :( }

{Tip: Layering necklaces is a great way to showcase more of those accessories! Plus the layered effect draws attention to your waist line and elongates your neck.}

Now if it were to heat up I would definitely take advantage of this adorable 90's style crop top! The knit cardigan vest nicely balances out the sliver of skin showing from the crop top.

Accessories:

    Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

    Studded Belt: H&M

    Necklaces: 

          Tiffany's infinity necklace

          Triangle necklace- Urban Outftters

          Jade Stone necklace- My uncle made this in high school! 

    Ring: (I know, you can barely see it but its on my thumb :p) from Italy!

    Pearl Earrings from the Philippines!

Outift:

   Striped Crop Top: Forever XXI

   Knit Cardigan Vest: Kohl's

   Sea foam Green Maxi Skirt: Forever XXI

   Sandals: ( haha you can't even see them....) I don't know unfortunately! I've had them for years.

I hope you enjoyed my first fashion post! I know the picture quality isn't superb and I left out photos of certain parts of the outfit but I'm working on improving it! :) 

xoxo,

     Jess

Makeup Mondays: Maybelline Color Whisper Review

So I have a little something to tell you guys before I go on with this review... I hate lip products. I don't know what it is or why really but I never have been  fan of lipsticks and lipgloss (especially lipgloss ew). I figured it was because I'm just too darn lazy to actually reapply throughout the day. I mean, how tedious does that sound? And I'm always a big advocate for natural beauty or "less is more" sorta thing, so why wear red lipstick everyday to school when you can wear chapstick and save the color for a special occasion? Am I right? Now, don't get me wrong I do have some lipsticks and whatnot but its just one of those things that sits in my drawers rarely used (and if used, it's only for special occasions).
However, with that being said recently I've had some strange disease come over me that is making me obsessed with lip products. So obsessed that I actually went out and BOUGHT a lipstick rather than steal them from my mom's makeup collection. Crazy...I know. With a $2 off coupon in hand I went down to Walgreens and purchased a Maybelline Color Whisper Lipstick in "Go Nude 05":

{sorry bad photo... )

Price: At my Walgreens it was priced at $7.49. yikes! (luckily I had a coupon!)
     RATE: 3/5

Color Pay Off: I know the swatch is quite light, but on the lips it gives you the most gorgeous light nude/pink sheen. Its sheer enough that it doesn't make you look like a ghost but has enough color that it does give a nice tint to the lips. My lips are naturally very dark so the lipstick naturally lightened the color for a nice "nude" look. Being that I never have owned a nude lipstick because I believed it would wash me out, I was pleasantly surprised with the color.
      RATE: 4/5

Texture: Has a "dewey" after gloss. Very natural and not sticky or goopy. It's very "light" on the lips and feels as if I'm just wearing chapstick. It's also, SUPER moisturizing!
     RATE: 5/5

Smell: Has a fresh yet sugary smell to it! I absolutely love it.
     RATE: 5/5

Lasting Power: Being that its not necessarily meant to last all day it does not have great lasting power, so I do have to reapply when wearing it. But to be honest, I'm ok with that!
     RATE: 3.5/5

Packaging: Super cute! Very sleek. However, color of the tube does not match color of the lip product.
     RATE: 4.5/5

Average Overall Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5!

Would you Repurchase? Yes, I would repurchase this product in various colors! Maybe it's high time I get on that lip product hype.

xoxo,
 
      Jess

Ps. If there's any other products you want me to review let me know! :)

A Not So Silent Sunday: Junior Prom

Hey guys! So recently I decided to pick one day out of the week where I can just talk about anything that doesn't relate at all to beauty or fashion. I chose Sunday. I don't really know why, and I wish there was some significance but their isn't :). This to let all of you get to know me a little better and for me to have a little fun talking about whatever comes to mind. Please keep in mind that these are just my opinions and I don't mean to offend anyone. Anyways, I'm still trying to think of better name titles for this Sunday blog post but for now I'm really liking the "Not so Silent Sunday" idea (though if you have a better name comment below!)

(Awkward transition time)

Ok so Prom.
Yesterday night was the junior prom for my high school. Now me, being a senior, I got to slowly watch the night unfold in various edited pictures and instagram shots. Call me a cynic but I am still just as confused as I was last year when preparing for my own prom. WHY? Why is prom the way it is? Why is it such a big deal? I understand its an American tradition. And I'm not saying I myself didn't get all dolled up and take five gazillion photos. But can someone PLEASE explain to me when did prom turn into a time where girls can throw down 5,000 dollars on a dress, shoes, limo, hair, makeup, nails, tan etc etc etc. When did prom turn into some showcase where a fake tan was absolutely necessary? And those dresses that are in style now........ hi, did a fairy throw up on your boobs? Then why are there jewels EVERYWHERE?!
I'm sorry, I suppose I question the taste in those types of dresses. And some actually look better with a bit of bedazzle and glitter. If thats your style then go for it! I guess it's less about the dress for me and more on how the preparation for this one dance turns into a race for girls. I mean, for my school at least, all it is is another high school dance with the exception that dinner is provided and it's in a room much nicer than our smelly gym. And I'm not saying prom is bad or wrong, I went to prom myself! I just don't get the hype. All what seems to be happening is girls struggling to find the "perfect dress" thats "one of the kind" (jk they all look the same...) and the guys struggling to find a date and ask them in that "perfect" way.
But regardless of that complaining, prom is still a time to have fun with friends. I still had a great time at my own junior prom (minus the food sickness) with or without the added stress of a dress and everything that came along with it. For those who are preparing for you own just remember that you don't have to spend a fortune to have a good time! You can do your own makeup or have a friend do it! get a family member to do your hair! And girl, you can paint your own dang nails. It's not like people judge you on the state of your nail painting ability:

For example:
Girl 1: OMG look at her nails. They do NOT look cute
Girl 2: I'm pretty sure no one gives a flying F#&%.

Haha but in all seriousness, everyone's just trying to have a good time and are too busy worrying about the state of their own nails or whatever to even care. But trust me, it saves so much money when you learn that things don't all have to be professionally done. And  regardless, you still are going to look beautiful.
So be safe and know that if you think you look beautiful that's really all that matters.

       { Here's a picture of me at my junior prom last year! I'm on the right in black! :) }

 xoxo,

       Jess

Sunday Surplus:

• Just a heads up! I'm trying to post three to four times a week :) Two or three times during the week on beauty and fashion and once every sunday!
• Check in tomorrow for my first product review!
• My feet are cold.
• HAPPY SAINT PATTY'S DAY!!! The amount of people hungover tomorrow will be hilarious.
• I'm actually not wearing green.... oops!
• toodles

DIY: Layered necklace (Revamp your old jewelry!)

I have always been a huge Do-It-Yourself kind of person. Why spend a ton of money on things you can make at home right? Well recently I stumbled across a little video online by WonderlandWardrobe (check out her video!! : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dsX_BPnopU)  that inspired me to recreate and revamp my old necklaces. My goal for this project was to spend no money at all and although its not as fancy shmancy as her's I think I did an ok job :)  This is a great way to take old, unwanted jewelry and create something new and modern.

So, Let get started!

You will need:
1. Pliers
2. Jump rings ( I took mine off of necklaces and jewelry I didn't wear anymore! saving $$$ ;) )
3. Chain necklaces/leather cords (basically any type of old necklace chains or cords. I just happened to have some lying around and the chains were already stuck together! but it's totally possible to purchase some and Michaels or Joan's)
4.Old jewelry charms and pendants that you don't like (Hint: try to find some that are all the same metal. For me that was silver.)
OPTIONAL: If you plan to age your jewelry you need:
     5. Nail polish remover
     6. A black sharpie
     7. Q-tips

What to do:

1. If you choose to make your jewelry a little more antique, take the black sharpie and draw "scribbles" on the surface of the pendant you are aging.







2. Then, taking a Q-tip soaked in nail polish remover and lightly rub the Q-tip on the pendant leaving only some of the sharpie visible, creating a dusty aged look:

BEFORE                                                                  AFTER                                                                              

3. Next, take the jump rings and place them onto each chosen pendant using the pliers to close them onto each chain.

4. Begin situating where each pendant and charm will go. Keep in mind the charms weight and length.

5. After attaching each charm your done!! For me I decided to leave the leather cord separate from the other necklace because I wanted to be able wear it separately, but you can definitely attach all the cords together! I also ended up taking off the tree charm for some crazy reason.... spur of the moment decision. 

6. Now you can wear your homemade DIY layered necklace around and get a ton of compliments :). It's one of a kind and super cheap to make!

Good luck!

xoxo,

      Jess

Welcome to Jesabel!

High School Musical.

I've always been "secretly" obsessed with those three movies ever since the first one aired in 2006 (yes, If you are wondering I did have to look that up). I was entering sixth grade and had been anxiously awaiting the so called " MOVIE EVENT OF THE SUMMER." Well, that was never actually said, but in my head that was the title it was given. I had watched the promos, seen the actors, watched the preview, and, of course, swooned over the ever good looking Zac Efron. I had sat anxiously in front of the TV for hours just so that I wouldn't miss the musical that everyone seemed to be talking about.

But, this was only the first movie. Then came two more, and once again I was able to plunge into the make believe world of "Troy and Gabriela." Now, it was expected that as I grew older,  by the time the third movie came around in 2008 I would grow tiresome of the series. There were so many countless times where I laughed hysterically at the random singing, the auto tune, and the not-quite-professional acting.

But I didn't. I couldn't.

Just as I did two years earlier, I anxiously awaited the final Wildcat performance. I, yet again, had watched the promos, seen the actors, watched the preview, and swooned over the ever good looking Zac Efron. And just like two years before in 2006, I loved it.

That's the thing. Yes, I am growing older, and I will continue to grow older until I am wrinkly and am slowly deteriorating into a life of "something-elses." But the things that I truly love now, I will hopefully continue to love then.

So thats what this blog is for. It 's to immortalize a few of the things that I love and love to do: beauty and fashion :) Now, I suppose you're wondering Ok, then why name your  blog "Jesabel" (with a S not a Z!) Well for starters, the title does derive from the name Jezabel, a beautiful Hebrew princess wayyy back in the day. But I had first seen the name on my favorite Lancome lipstick:

I absolutely fell in love with the color and also with the name. Then all I did was switch the "Z" to an "S" (because my name is Jessica ;)) and BAM! Blog title made.

Since this is my first post ever (I knowww it's sooo longgggg)  I've typed out a small list of things I love (in no particular order) to help you get to know me a little better:

1. Fashion and Beauty (duh...)

2. Singing ( Literally could do it until I sound like a frog)

3. Laughing (All day everyday)

4. Harry Potter (of course! What 11 year old didn't secretly wish for that owl to come bursting through their front door with that letter)

5. Track and Field ( but not because I run....)

6. Walking into a hotel room (I have no idea why...)

7. Reading (Literally the best form of meditation)

8. The Beach (It's heaven on land)

9. Candles (the best fricken things ever invented. the end.)

10. Being with the people I love and doing the things that I love.

Simple enough right? So this blog is the "Start of Something New" for me, Jessica.

I can't wait to get started! Enjoy :)

xoxo,

      Jess