Beauty Tuesday: Double-D Recovery to be Double-D Ready

Double D is for …

Dissertation Defense * Dr. Dispo * BiG Day: December 8 ~ Save the Date!

After I passed my presentation with full faculty on Veterans’ Day, I followed my Bestie Evie‘s advice:

Take a Me QT Day.

While I still worked on revising my paper, I also set aside Spa Time this past weekend!

Facial Mask

Based on Fleur De Force‘s The Glam Guide, I used these ingredients for *acne  and **dark spots:

• Banana*
• Honey*
• Lemon***

Manicure

Then I treated myself to an at-home mani with the following gift sets:

• Mary Kay Satin Hands from María Elena
• four-step nail block from my R.E. student
• buffer and shine sticks from my Tita Susan

and polished my finger nails with my own lacquers:

• starting with Sally Hansen 18K Gold Hardener
• painting red for the season and plaid accents
• finishing off with Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

O•P•I Got the Blues for Red & Sally Hansen 18K Gold Hardener + Revlon Orchid & Silver Screen + Sally Hansen i ♥ Nail Art Striper in black

My top tip to achieving a lasting nail paint job:

Run freshly coated nails in cold water and dodge hot water!

• Cold water seals in moisture, while hot water repels and drys it out
• If I hand wash dishes, I wear special gloves
• I also wear gloves during hands-on activity

Massage

My good †Christian† friend and fellow prayer warrior, Lisa, came through again, introducing me

• previously to the rolling pin technique
• plus post-massage detox mocktails
• and this time to Biblical oils!

Thank GOD for these special gifts of blessings and wonderful company!

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.

Beauty Tuesday: HK Edition ~ PS is for …

Mad for #Plaid#🏁 & •Polka Dots•👙 again + Skirts & Sandals + Stars & Stripes + ~O–O~specs~O–O~ for Scholar Mode!

Hello Kitty in the House: Fashion Forward with Sanrio HK tops paired with plaid Esprit skirts {camisoles layered underneath by Express} | Still sporting sandals as we transition from the ☼summer: blacks • plaids • solid shades

Now that 🍎school is in session🍏 (never🚫 🚦stopped🚥 for yours truly the professor and scholar), PS also is for …

📅Planning / Scheduling📆

Which keychain should I hook to this Sanrio Keroppi planner zipper? * Dallas Cowboys * Dallas Mavericks * Luke Bryan * Office Depot *Star* Teacher 🎒🔑🏈🏀🌠

Ever since I was in elementary, I enjoyed organizing my planners📒 & came across several agendas from grade school, junior high & h.s. while spring🍀 cleaning & decluttering📦 ~ including 1☝🏽️ worth saving!

Glamming up with pens: animal prints from when I traveled for my doc research (I was giving them away to participants in my survey ~ male athletes didn’t want to keep them)

I’ve already set my 🍁semester🍂 wardrobe👗 (by listing dates & outfits in my iPhone📱 📓notes) ~ yet there’s something about penning✒️ important 🎓events.

My 1st academic month filled up quick… Yikes! Please disregard my birthday age ~ my brain must be fried from my dissertation focus that I actually entered 1yr older than my real age. #smh 📅💡🍳💫🎉

Since I don’t have much time to hand write📝 everything (or fund$💰 to $pend💸 oodles on a planner), I took the liberty🇺🇸 of typing📲 this term’s items (complete with my endearing 😍emojis) to print📇 from my phone📳 + personalizing each month with 📷photos ~ then I’ll color-coordinate with my gel pens to add anything else!

Thanks to our office stores ~ where I used to go when they held the annual Teacher Appreciation Breakfast ~ we have discount$ & reminders! I’ll be sporting my agenda with my *Independence Day* tote that’s appropriate for all seasons ~ especially when school‘s in sesh!

To-Do Tip: Treat your schedule like a grocery 📋list✅ on the day/week/month (depending on how far in advance you prefer to plan) of your booked📚 priorities & events ~ DON’T add➕ anything else that’ll allot more time unless

• It has to do with reaching your 🌈goal🏆 &/or
• Involves someone you 💝care💖 about

Now I’m also ready with next year’s creative 📆calendar!

FYI: YES, since I’m so fly, I post photos of yours truly … Can’t help being confident + happy & healthy ~ a beauty! #DISPObustAFlow#FoSho

P & S also are for …

• Purrfect Desk Accessory: *Cowboys* Cats pounce on my mouse!

• Sakroots purse in paisley & peacock print from Mami Aya that promotes Peace✌  as its signature

Earth-friendly & good to the environment

+ is perfect to pair with purple & the whole rainbow + my stars tote bag for school 🙂

I wanna feel the air, I wanna feel the breeze {Treehouse leaf keychain}

• Smithsonian pasalubong (gifts) from Nanay

Cherry Blossom earrings bedazzled with Swarovski crystal elements * lucky♣ jade bracelet * collector’s key chain

• Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat to amp the *Staying Power* ~ to seal & protect nail color

I’m topping off my mani with this Miracle Gel by Sally Hansen ~ there were 2 top coat options (I went w/101: the 1 that didn’t specify same-brand gel color)

• Palm Trees & Posies on my Mani from my Auntie

Thanks to my Titas for the birthday gifts: Auntie Yollie for convertible shawl + Auntie Susan for dinner party & manicure! #MaramingSalamatPo #MagandaKaTalaga #ReyesReunion #BirthdayTrip2015 #pasalubong #BackToSchool #BTSmani #BTSready🎈🎁🎂💝🎀💅🏽💃🏻🍎 🌺🌴

• + Convertible Shawl as pasalubong from my other Auntie!

#BirthdayBrunch #SundayBrunch #SundaySelfie w/my #Bestie #BestieBrunch #BestieSelfie #SelfieSunday #SippySelfie #SippieSelfie ¡Muchas gracias, mi querida! #TrueBlue #ALLweatherFriend #DoubleETeam #EasygoingEvie #ExcitedElaine #EvangelistEvie #EducatorElaine #Fajita #Fiesta #NoSiesta #SeñorFrogs #Mariachi #Mojito #KDivertido #DISPObustAFlow 🎈🎂🎆🎇🎊🎉😍💝🎀🎁🌞🍹👏🏽💋🌠🌎🏆🙆🏻🙅🏻🙋🏻💁🏻🙏🏽☝🏽️✌🏽️🐸🎺🎻🎤

• Sunday Brunch + Sunday & Sippie Selfies with my Bestie who celebrated my Bday w/me! #Salud

†GOD 1st, family 2nd, work 3rd ~ Evie Bruno my #BestieO #DISPObustAFlow My #Bestie baked me #BerryGood #BirthdayCake & showered me w/ #BirthdayGifts + sang #FelizCumplé to complete my bday #BusyBees #BumbleBees #daisies #posies ¡Muchas gracias, mi querida! #TrueBlue #ALLweatherFriend #DoubleETeam #EasygoingEvie #ExcitedElaine #EvangelistEvie #EducatorElaine #SundaySelfie #SelfieSunday She’s doing the #LeadershipPractice from my #DocResearch of #EnablingOthersToAct w/ #PhotoAccessories brand new #TiffanyBlue #BreakfastAtTiffanys #QTforTheseBesties #SnapHappy #CamHappy #FamHappy 🎈🍓🍰🎂🎆🎇🎊🎉😍💝🎀🎁🐝🌼💐👏🏽💋🌠🌎🏆🙆🏻🙅🏻🙋🏻💁🏻🙏🏽☝🏽️✌🏽️🎓📊📉📈📖📲📱📷📹🎥👯

•  MORE Posies on the Strawberry Birthday Cake baked by my Bestie-O & Photo Accessories as her gift to me!!!

+ Sleep!!!

Despite my best efforts to hit the sack early during my sabbatical, I spent the week before my bday/vacay staying up ’til 4am working on my dissertation then awoke at 4am on my flight days.

Time for a new routine … Evie to the rescue with this tip from one of our fave artists:

 

22:22 ~ make a Bday/BTS wish!!! ✌

Beauty Tuesday: Spa Days

Happy Belated Dr. MLK Jr. Day!

Tomorrow, my spring semester starts for the speech class that I teach. For the week and-a-half prior, I had my simple spa days:

• got my “hair did” by Geana

Cornrow Care: Bandanas & scarves + dry shampoo ~ including this one from my Birthday/B2S Birchbox and from my fave raves ~ come in handy for my braided hair and Asia!

Mo’ Cornrow Main(tenance) for my Mane: Annie backs me on more bandanas & scarves!

• got my skin care* on

S is for … ☼Sunday☼ Skin Care/Face Mask Selfie ~ Clean in 2015 * NO Makeup * Bare Face * I Woke Up Like This … It also stood for Superbowl-bound ~ until my *DALLAS COWBOYS* were defeated

• got my massage from Lisa
• gave myself a mani-pedi

* Another acne treatment:

Toothpaste!

Both mi comadre y mi amigo suggested this skin care mode for me ~ so I noticed the effectiveness when I spot-treat! When I compared ingredients between my toothpaste and my astringent, it made sense:

Benzoic Acid!

Well, we all need to make time out of our busy schedules to take care of ourselves! In the midst of serving my Church, working on my dissertation, teaching and tutoring, photographing, I must be mindful of my own maintenance in order to keep up my mood and momentum plus stay effective.

CHEERS to ♣Spring♣ 2015!