Beauty Tuesday: Quality Colors

If you’ve ever watched Funny Face that starred Audrey Hepburn, then you’ll remember the opening scene when Quality magazine’s editor, Ms. Prescott made time to rhyme:

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wear pink everyday! {Black & white zig zag chiffon high-low dress + pink houndstooth silk bow blouse both by Kardashian Kollection

Before the iPhone 6s in rose gold was released, I’ve already been on the rose gold fix for over a couple of years ~ including with my watches (except for my Texas Longhorns one ~ that’s in silver with burnt orange detail but I’m showing it to root ’em on this season) #RoseGold #HookEm ^~^

• Think pink [especially for Breast Cancer Awareness]

My M•A•C Hello Kitty limited edition nail lacquers came in handy for my mani!

This Chanel shade from my beautician Auntie from my visit a couple of years ago is sure to be a show-shopper!

• Red is dead
  

  Perfect for the approaching Advent/CHRISTmas season: Pine cones outside my school‘s gazebo that I picked up after I taught speech today! (Fun fact: Last time I scored some was when I went snowboarding with my cousins at Lake Tahoe while I still lived in the Bay Area!)

My polka dotted navy blue fetish has been with me for several decades: as a child (my family portrait) + these Calvin Klein boxers (left) from the ’90s, this Gap cami (right) from the 2000s, & my A’Gaci maxi dress (center) for my dissertation defense if all goes according to plan ~ GOD-willing, †praying✌ & hoping!

DOC the doe can rock these blue gingham & houndstooth numbers on her antlers!

My mini-Fall Haul from CVS consisted of seasonal home fragrances, to-go stain remover & Neutrogena eye make-up with my new find: this Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Liner in Twylight Blue ~ which can counteract the look of redness and enhance the whiteness in our eyes –> just what this almost–Doctor ordered, after investing 12-15h/day☼ & staying up ’til 2-4:30AM lately refining my research (plus can create the purr-fect cat eye), as you can see by these selfies that follow!

• Blue is through [including for my *Dallas Cowboys* plus through blue eyeliner and denim tops]

Gap denim 3/4-sleeves got me through my †Church† duty as photographer for †Confirmation†

My best accessory: this blue-eyed girl, ♥Asia♥ a.k.a. Grad Cat! My Gap denim short-sleeved top is a classic layering piece.

Cheers with my PSL as I focus on tomorrow’s preliminary run-through of my dissertation defense! My Express denim long-sleeved top with snap buttons can go underneath my brand-new Adam Lippes for Target plaid vest special-delivered today!

Mani Monday: 1st paint job this season & still bringing on the ☼sunshine☼ … This teal (Nicole by O•P•I Gum Drops in That’s What I Mint) is a steal (also included Nicole by O•P•I Kardashian Kolor in Disco Dolls for the gold glitter for ☼sun☼ & ☼sunflower)

• Green‘s obscene

Warmly welcoming me home from my vacay getaway (while I wear the teal convertible shawl from my Tita): ♥Sweet Annie♥ my green-eyed girl

Not as warmly welcoming me home from my vacay getaway (while I wear the teal convertible shawl from my Tita): Growl … I mean, Grrrrad Cat ♥Asia♥

• Brown’s too boo

Pine cones to ring in fall & sustain through the winter! Why buy this decor at the store when at work is where I score?

Look what the deer dragged in … Let’s not leave out black & gray + muted tones ~ looking rad in plaid this season: DOC the doe puts on a show with this Adam Lippes for Target plaid sweater vest, my wardrobe’s *NEW* best (and prime photo backdrop for pink nail polish above)!

I beg to differ, Ms. Prescott, because I don’t discriminate against any color … Bring on ALL of the above this season, everyday and always, please!

Bottom line: Fashion rules don’t dictate our lives + we may have pieces in our collection that’ll stay timeless.

1st Friday of Fall Y’all: TGIF

Thank GOD It’s Fall!

Facing east for the moon rise from my backyard garden … Just another West Texas Friday night!

As much as ☼summer☼ is my favorite season (after all, that’s when my birthday takes place), I’m making the most out of autumn ~ especially going outside for crisp, fresh air!

I’m also all about Starbucks seasonal flavors* ~ from ☼summer’s fruitiness to these comfy delights:

• Pumpkin Spice Latte 

My latest Starbucks Gold Card reward redeemed: Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino!

• Salted Caramel Mocha 

My venti cold cup always comes in handy … for a discount & a drink to last me all ☼day!

• *NEW* Toasted Graham 

Apparently, I was my local barista’s 1st customer to order a Toasted Graham Frappuccino! #StarbucksLovers ♥ #trendsetter

Furthermore, football has kicked off into full swing!

I refreshed my ♥heart♥ & ☼soul☼ with ♥Adoration♥ †Chapel† holy hour at †Church† & with this ☼spirit☼ book + my bod with this Graham Goodness! (Even though I’ll cover up more, I’ll definitely still tone up with whatever energy I still can muster in the midst of working on my dissertation!

Here are a few of my favorite things for fall …

Trunk or Treat: ☼Sunshine☼ (my truck) tailgate was decked out with festive decor that featured ♥A&A♥ when we gave candy to my †Church† students last Howl-o-ween!

Nine Fine Fall Flaves

1. Favorite Candle: my Bath & Body Works‘ Salty Caramel that I used to light up my *Dallas Cowboys* jack-o-lantern and Advent †cross† (I’m also all about BBW‘s Pumpkin Pecan Waffles/White Barn‘s Thanksgiving Morning)
2. Favorite Lip Color: toss-up between my red Ardency Inn ♥Love♥ Cat lipstick from Sephora or purple Vera Wang *Rockstar* lip gloss from ULTA (c/o my Bestie Evie)
3. Favorite Drink: please view above {Exhibits B-E}
4. Favorite Blush: the ones from my KleanKolor Double Rainbow palette, plus I think that I’ll try Dulce Candy‘s tip on lip colors in a pill box for cheek colors!
5. Favorite Clothing Item: my birthday gifts ~ specifically the scarf/shawl ~ and my recent online finds plus my Target scores ~ particularly the jeans and booties!
6. Favorite Fall Movie: no new releases, so I’ll go with classic football flicks: Varsity Blues (came out my sr. yr.), Friday Night Lights (with a cameo of my h.s.), Remember the Titans, Any Given Sunday, The Longest Yard (including the original)
7. Favorite Fall Show: Grey’s ♥Anatomy!!! I’ve been counting down for the Season 12 premiere since the Season 11 finale ~ as a loyal fan for over a decade since the very beginning with the previous seasons on DVD
8. Favorite Thanksgiving Food: I’m not going to lie –> my Cranberry Pie #DISPObustAFlow
9. Favorite Halloween Costume: now how about I have y’all pick? My personal faves include when I rocked out my abs live, No. 5 … I won our contest in 2013 as Lone Ranger‘s Tonto and in 2014 as my Nurse Mom who was fine in 1969! Will I make a 3-peat??

Actually, please allow me to add a 10th item:

Sweet Annie

My #1 Favorite for Fall: my ✌two✌ ♥cute, cuddly companions♥ with whom to softly snuggle for cozy comfort plus who keep me company while hard at work and welcome me home after hard at play!

Sassy Asia

CHEERS to this time of year!

Beauty Tuesday: Cosmo Mag Tag

🔨Nailed💅🏽 it, thanks to this mo‘s 👛Cosmo!

Tri-Tone Nails💅🏽

  From 🙆🏻head💁🏻 …

I didn’t just score this H&S shampoo for Sofia Vergara … The Peppermint & Tea Tree entice me! 🙅🏻💇🏻💆🏻🍭🌲

… & face …

S is for … Simple * Sample * Smile (: Thanks to my sample & coupon + CVS ExtraCare BeautyBucks$, I scored this Simple cleanser that doesn’t call for water for practically nada! It removes makeup & oil effectively + is simply refreshing! 💸💰🏆💧💦😅☺️😍

➕ all 💐🌷🌺🌸🌼🌻🌹over! 💟💕💞💓💗💖💝❤️💛💚💙💜

Beauty Tuesday: Drug Store Score & More

As a doc student on a budget, I no longer can invest on high-end cosmetics such as my beloved

• M•A•C (Makeup Art Cosmetics) or
• O•P•I nail lacquers

Yet I don’t mind the beauty products that I find for less at CVS!

Latest Face Craze

I was in search of an eye makeup primer, and Neutrogena has these liquid shadows that already have it built-in with these neutral shades that make for a great *smoky eye* {Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadow in Stay Golden 10 & Lasting Toupe 50} I already dig on Neutrogena products for their skin-protecting features, including their hypoallergenic eye products & SPFs!

Nail $ale

Of course, I can’t resist markdowns, especially on something I’m seeking anyway! {Milani Color Statement in Mint Crush} Close to Tiffany Blue

 

I’m all about the gold … These’ll top nails off! {Sally Hansen 8K Gold Hardener}

Good vibes to yours truly as I meet with my dissertation chair (head honcho professor of my committee) today!

Beauty Tuesday: Desk & Dresser Organization

Happy Birthday, Bishop Mike (yesterday)!

I teach🎤 about and should practice the importance of ensuring that our 🏡environment🚘 reflects on ourselves! Therefore, I still advocate reusing and recycling♻️ the 🌍Earth‘s resources while reducing clutter!

Colors & prints allude to my cheer📢 for 📓work: teal herringbone🐠 & lime green (my fave shade) brighten🔆 my day☀️ * zebra striped stiletto heel👠 tape dispenser is chic & slick * more colorful containers to coordinate with my tools & utensils (Dallas Cowboys🏈 Cheerleaders🌠 Breast Cancer Awareness🎀 cup to store my mini pink bag👛 that holds my hand sanitizer & SatinHands👋 lotion, Wanna Wanna🌴 cup holds my many colored ✒️pens + animal🐯 print pens that I pass out to my 🎓dissertation📜 survey participants)

Since downsizing during my sabbatical (while storing away my home office large L-shaped desk with a bookshelf📚 hutch over my large desktop monitor💻 that takes up two corner walls ~ perfect by a window), I had to get creative🎨 with my 📇workstation, and I followed my friend’s advice to make my area work-friendly.

These trays on clearance 💸 on clearance from OfficeMax📇 (where I’m a Star🌠 🍎Teacher) come in handy for my projects ~ including 💒First Communion🙏 📷photos: completed packages on top (love😍 my cat😻 post-its?) and in-progress on the bottom

At least I didn’t sacrifice my 🌠Dallas Cowboys🏈 swivel chair💺 with wheels!

My 👊sidekick😻 🍭Sweet🍯 🐱Annie🐈 likes to hide out in this 🌠Dallas Cowboys🏈 chair underneath our 🏇Dallas Cowboys🏉 snuggie ~ especially during today’s ⚡️t-storms☔️ for a 📢t-down🏆 😴chill😸 spot! #PURRfectMomentToPAWS 🐾

Also, I had to tighten up everything that I keep on my vanity: 💄makeup, nail💅 care, 👛fragrances, 💍jewelry, etc. Spring🍀 cleaning gave me an ample opportunity to straighten up this space!

Rather than tossing my CVS cotton swab container, I’m storing my eye shadow & powder that don’t fit into my acrylic makeup 💄 & nail💅 organizer! Thrifty + nifty = #DISPObustAFlow 👊

Some of my scents … My newest addition/obsession: Vera Wang💍 🎸Rockstar🎤 from Bday Bestie Evie! Like how you can catch a glimpse of my view on my DKNY🗽 🍏Be Delicious? The Fossil watch⏰ boxes behind my glass fragrance tray stores extra buttons & thread to doctor up 👔clothes👗 & 🎽accessories!

More of seasonal signature scents: Coach Legacy for 🍀spring🐇 & 🍁fall🍂 * 👛Victoria’s Secret👙 Bombshell💣 🌞Summer🌴 Edition * 💟VS🆚 😇Angel👼 Gold for 🎅HOLYdays🎄 ~ all encased in the aforementioned Vera Wang💍 🎸Rockstar🎤 box!

Recently, I found bargains💸 on picture holders ~ another great way to personalize my “world”: with my 😍loved😻 ones!

🎅CHRISTmas🎄 in May: This pic📷 frame 🎁gift💝 set was on clearance (fortunately for yours truly yet unfortunately due to the closure of one of our local Christian stores) ~ I used these for last HOLYday season’s photos but still wish to see them year-round!

Now here’s a sight for sore, overworked 👓eyes: my 😻babes! This inexpensive clear acrylic literature📖 holder (also from OfficeMax) was simply mounted to my wall ~ where I can see my Blogilates💝 vision🌈 board to remind me of my goal🏁 to become 🎓Dr. + the PURRfect fit for my A&A!

Throwback: Birthday Bishop & the Oblates

Soul Saturday: ¡Viva Selena!

Honoring Selena almost 20 years since her death (following my initial visit shortly after this shrine was built)

The end of this ♣March♣ marks two decades since our ☼Mother Earth☼ lost the late great ♥Selena Quintanilla-Pérez♥ …

Selena‘s spirit graces the shores of Corpus Christi, Texas

Yet this †legend† lives on as she leads her ✌legacy✌ through her ♪song♫!

Selena Immortalized

Her eternal beauty and sweet ♫voice♪ plus warm ♥heart♥ have gone immortal …

Selena, although short-lived on Earth, made her mark in ♪music♫ history

Selena‘s iconic style has inspired:

• dark lip color to accentuate smile ~ *besos*
• white crop tops for bare midriffs
• denim vests or leather motos for layered looks
• high-waist jeans and spandex to appear slim and trim
• halter dresses to show off shoulders

Selena‘s single, ♪I Could Fall in Love♫, among other soulful tracks, drew countless crowds to fall in ♥love♥ with her as she reigns from †Heaven†

¡Siempre Selena! ~ Selena always will hold a special place in our ♥hearts♥ ~ she definitely is ♪A Million to 1♫

R.I.P., Selena (April 16, 1971-March 31, 1995)

Spa Saturday: Satin Hands & Lips

Congratulations to the Couple (my R.E. student‘s parents) whose †Church† ♥Wedding♥ where I’m proclaiming the Readings today!

• Old Testament: Sirach 26: 1-4, 16-21
• Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5
• New Testament: Romans 15: 1b-3a, 5-7, 13
• Gospel: John 17: 20-26
  

#1 Hand Softener * #2 Hand Smoothie * #3 Hand Cream

For spa treatment, I must commend María‘s Mary Kay gifts ~ in particular:

DON’T slack on ’em smackers!

• Satin Hands (3-step program at home + travel sizes for at my desk and on-the-go)
• Satin Lips (mask to exfoliate then balm to moisturize)

Beauty Tuesday: Mary Kay Everyday!

My good friend, María, never ceases to amaze me.

Latest Mary Kay from María: Travel Case with Brushes for * Powder * Cheek * Eyeliner/Eyebrow * Eye Color * Eye Crease + Lash ♥Love♥ Mascara & Lash-Lengthening Mascara both in I ♥ Black * SatinLips Lip Mask & Lip Balm * Lip Gloss in Pink Luster (lighter) & Berry Tart (darker) | Nourishine Plus | SatinHands Tote with Satin Smoothie Hand Scrub * Hand Softener * Hand Cream * Trial-Sized Fragrance-Free Hand Cream & Peach Hand Cream + Mint Bliss Energizing Lotion for Feet & Legs * 2-in-1 Body Wash & Shave * Hydrating Lotion

She was generous enough to give me more Mary Kay!

Brush Rush: Ready-to-Go!

 

The reason why she rewarded me with all of these products was because I tutor her grandson, who we rooted on in his basketball playoffs ~ yet I’m the one who’s reaping the rewards.

The compartments keep my cosmetics organized!

All of these will come in handy when I take off for my professional and †spiritual† trip tomorrow!

My fave must-try is the Mint Bliss Energizing Lotion for my lower bod ~ I may lather on before I run on the beach!

 

I’m extremely grateful for these gifts ~ especially because I’ve been so busy with attending to my students and my own studies to bother with enhancing my beauty lately!

Of course, I need cotton balls and swabs for makeup and skin care application and removal.

Therefore, my CVS ExtraCare card came in handy!

Due to the BOGO FREE promo, I bought two of each and spent less than 2 dimes!

Plus, I have another amazing massage lined up today before I leave town!

Beauty Tuesday: Bonita * Hermosa * Linda

While I do my best to pack light and stay somewhat low maintenance while traveling, I admit that I must maintain a grain of vain!

Therefore, during my EP trip, I brought trial-sized travel-friendly products, including:

• Birchbox (birthday gift from my sister)
• Mary Kay Clean Proof pack

Also, I visited A’GACI at Ft. Bliss …

… and ended up with this!

My friend and I represented her husband’s UTEP school colors ~ orange and blue ~ and she got this cute hair-do too!

Check out how to have bow braids like hers here: How to Create a Diagonal Bow Braid tutorial.

Beauty Tuesday: Mary Kay Holiday & Everyday

Happy HOLYdays with Mary Kay on this Beauty Tuesday!

I feel so fortunate to have both my sister and my friend who are Mary Kay 💄beauty💄 💋consultants💋.

My friend gave me this Ultimate Lash Mascara (which must be her own secret to long, volumous, separated eyelashes) and Eye Makeup Remover.

Since my fellow Air Force brat swears by the acne solution, she suggested that I try MK’s, so my friend gave me this 👛trial/travel size👛 pack of Clear Proof products, that have worked spot-on!

Recently, my sister also gave me this MK Mineral Powder with applicator brush that has been perfect coverage for a smooth finish!

As a matter of fact, I featured it in my Fall Faves Tag!

Mary Kay has been known to support wonderful worthy causes, including 🎀Breast Cancer Awareness🎀, plus it gives consultants the opportunity to earn 💸extra income💸 by enhancing the beauty of their clients!