Banana Mango Tangerine Smoothie

Hello lovelies! It has been a good long while, but I have decided it is time for a blog post. Today's blog post is all about SMOOTHIES! I love love love smoothies to death. Also, they are fun to make because you can do so many different mixes.

For this smoothie I made for dinner this evening I added one whole banana, a handful of mango chunks, 1 tbsp of black chia seeds, and filled up the rest of the blender with vanilla almond milk. I have been feeling a tad bit under the weather, so last minute I decided to throw in a tiny tangerine to give me a vitamin C boost. Sorry it is not pictured, but you get the just of it ;)






To the left here I provided a pre-mixing picture. I first add in the chia seeds at the very bottom so that way they can get mixed easily throughout the entire smoothie. Then I put a handful of my frozen mango chunks in the cup. Next came the whole banana that I just broke up using my hands. I then peeled my tangerine and broke it apart so it would blend easier before throwing it in there. Last but not least, I added my almond milk and filled up to the top of the ingredients. My Hamilton Beach small personal blender makes this so easy to make! I bought this when I first moved to college and I love it because its simple and quick. It also does not take up much space which is a major plus when you share an apartment with a couple other people.





Ta-da! The final product is a pretty orange color and also very delicious! Please share any of your smoothie recipes/combinations in the comments section. I would love to try combinations that I have never thought of myself.

Another chapter begins when one chapter ends

Wow, I feel like much apologies are needed here. I have been pretty much M.I.A for the past two months and there is no excuse for that. Well, I could make up plenty like for instance, I AM DROWNING this semester. Not really, but I am on the struggle bus and graduation is so near. I just cannot even believe that I made it through my Undergrad education and now I am here. I know this is not really a beauty post or anything that probably interests any of y'all, but I felt like this post is needed.

I have missed blogging oh so much! It just has been terribly hard to find the time to make posts and I lost motivation while getting back into the groove of school. Hopefully my spirits are back up and I feel more free to post. I just need more time and that is not something I can just create out of thin air. Now, I do know we all feel this way every once and awhile, so I commend you for being able to continue on with providing words of wisdom for all of us lovely bloggers!

This is a short post, but I just wanted to say that yes, I am still here and I will try to be more faithful to my dear ol' blog.

Until next time,
AmberandLace

Mani Thursday

Here is my weekly manicure update! This week I went with a new color for me. I do not think that I have ever used a polish this shade before and I am loving it! It is a great winter color that isn't too dark but has just the right amount of lightness to it. We all know that I love Sally Hansen nail products, so of course that is who makes this gorgeous polish. I purchased this particular color almost a week ago at my local CVS. The application was really smooth but it did require two coats. I think this is because I didn't wait enough time to apply the second coat. This polish brand is really a great bang for your buck!

To apply the polish I began with my normal routine of applying a base coat. Like mentioned before, this just ensures that you start with a fresh nail surface and paint applies smoothly.

This shade of polish is called Plum's the Word (280). That is an adorable name! This color is a perfect spokesperson for plum! It is a nice purple brown color. So in love! I want to buy more polishes that are in this shade before the winter season is over.


What are your favorite winter polish colors? Have you tried any new shades recently?

Until next time!

-AmberandLace

FOTD: Casual Winter School Day

Now that school has started I decided to share how I do my makeup on days that I decide to actually wear it. I do not always wear makeup when I go to class, and it really just depends on what time I have class. Usually I get up and just throw my hair in a bun and go. I know what you're thinking, "What a lazy bum!" Hah! I cannot help it though, some days I just do not have time for life! No but really most people do not wear makeup to college classes, so that is why I keep it pretty simple.

As you can see in the picture of my make up I do not use too many products. I use the basics such as: eye shadow, lipstick, concealers, blush, foundation, mascara, and a bronzing powder. Most of these products are drug store brands. I do not prefer to use my higher end products when I am just going to class. It feels like a waste.

I pictured an in-car selfie, totes cute I know. For my hair I just blow dried it and usually when I do that my hair turns out to be pretty straight. I keep my outfits pretty casual. Here I am wearing a tank top, sweater, and leggings. That is my usual attire on school days because it is almost like going to class in your pajamas yet not really.

How do you do your makeup for school days? What are some of your favorite everyday makeup products?

Until next time!
-AmberandLace

Hello there final semester

Wow what a big day today was! It was a bittersweet day to be honest. I started my last semester as an undergrad seeing as I plan to graduate in May. School is so important to me and I am actually quite sad that it is almost over. I thought I would just share how I like to unwind after a long day of classes and work. The campus I attend school at is very large and requires a lot of walking which can be pretty tiring especially if you have to run from class to class. Currently I am anxiously awaiting crawling into my covers and drifting off to sleep.

One of my favorite things to do to unwind is pull out my agenda and see what is coming up. I am always over-prepared when it comes to school and looking at my agenda makes me feel at ease. Most people probably have started using their phones for this task, but there is something so comforting about having my agenda to hold in my hands. I am a pen addict and I have all sorts of pens. Colorful pens make this task even more enjoyable. I personally love Sharpie pens and the Paper Mate pens you see pictured above. The Pilot Easy Touch Fine point pens are my absolute favorite when it comes to note taking or assignments that I have to turn in for a grade.

Getting on my computer and blogging, looking around at other blogs, and getting on Pinterest really soothes my brain as well. It is always nice to write and just allow my mind to be free when blogging. Looking at other people's blogs helps because I love seeing what everyone has to say!

I usually like to drink tea while performing all of these activities. Tonight I chose the Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea by Celestial. I am not sure how I honestly feel about this tea. I love the Celestial brand of teas, but this one in particular is not my favorite. That is okay though because it is still warm and comforting.

One final thing that really helps me unwind is my apartment. My apartment is so warm and inviting. My roommates and I have decorated it so nicely and it is very homey-feeling. I enjoy being home after a long day of running all over town trying to simply deal with life.

What do you do to unwind? What are your favorite relaxation tools? Let me know in the comments so maybe that way I can learn new ways to relax at home!

Until next time!
-AmberandLace

Kat Von D - True Romance Eyeshadow Palette - Saint

So the story of how I obtained this palette you see pictured to the left is a little interesting. It actually happened by pure coincidence that this baby fell into my hands. My boyfriend was on a mad search for the Naked 2 palette right before Christmas and was unable to find it. The sales associate at Sephora showed him a few palettes that would be comparable to the Naked 2 palette and this is what he came up with.

I am so happy with this palette and it is the palette I cannot stop reaching for. I did not know too much about Kat Von D's makeup line, so I wasn't too sure about how I would like this product. The only thing I could remember about her makeup was that my roommate owned a blush of hers and said it was super pigmented. This got me excited to test out my new gift!



The palette contains eight beautiful colors that really do not differ from the same tones you would find in the Naked palettes. The names for the colors are super fun as well: Heavens, Enjoy the Silence, <3, Downtown, Sunny, Pray for Me, Bookworm, and Caravaggio. The palette also includes a black eyeliner pencil, but I have not used it yet because I prefer liquid liner.

I have included a picture of the palette and swatches of all the colors to the right. When looking at these pictures the shadows start with Heavens and end with Caravaggio.

You can see from the swatches that these colors are indeed super pigmented. I think that is what draws me to this particular Kat Von D palette so often. You barely need to touch the eye shadow brush to the palette in order to get loads of color. The color applies flawlessly as well. Like seriously I want to buy more of her products just because of how wonderful this particular one has been. I will try to create a few looks with it to share with y'all!

This product is listed at $36.00 on Sephora.com which is a steal if you ask me. This product should last for awhile since it does not take much eyeshadow for a perfect look.

Have you ever tried this palette or any of Kat Von D's products? Let me know in the comments your opinion. Also, what are some of your favorite palettes?

Until next time!
-AmberandLace

Falling for Friday

FYI: Falling for Friday: Posts that will occur on Fridays that will feature weekly products that I have recently "fallen for." AKA new products I have tried that I love ;)

The first falling for Friday post ever is all about this gem right here! This is probably familiar to most of us Youtube addicts seeing as everyone always raves about the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque. Well I am jumping on that train of supporters right this very moment. Oh my goodness this stuff is just pure bliss! 

I will admit that I used this product once and almost regretted buying it, but that was because I was being too stingy with how much I applied. This afternoon I showered up and pulled this bad boy out because I just knew it had to be me and not the product that caused for a less than average experience. Boy am I glad I tried it again. This time I applied about dab that fit nicely in the palm of my hand when before I just applied an amount about the size of a dime. I should have known better. Instantly I could just feel how soft my hair was becoming and not to mention this product smells so clean and fresh. It is really to die for! This product will most likely become what I reach for whenever I need a deep repair treatment because it really works wonders.

I couldn't help but share with y'all just how great my hair looks right this very moment. Normally my hair is a little frizzy and wavy, but nope not with this stuff. I wrapped my hair loosely in a towel for approximately 30 minutes before blowdrying it. The brush ran easily through my hair while I dried my hair. This normally is tough for me to do because I suffer from a serious case of the tangles. With the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque I found minimal tangles, thus making styling a breeze.

Normally this product can run pretty pricey at Ulta and other retailers, so that is why I have not shelled out the money to purchase it until just now. I really got a great deal though on this product. At my local JcPenny salon I saw a Christmas box set that had the Deep Repair Masque, Healing Oil Treatment, and Control on a after-Christmas-sale for $11.99. My heart skipped a beat I was so dang excited to finally get my hands on some Macadamia Oil. I have yet to try the Healing Oil or Control (which is a hairspray), but I am very much looking forward to testing the other two items out. You can bet I will be spending the big bucks to purchase the Deep Repair Masque when I run out of what I have now because it is worth every pretty penny. 

What new products did you happen to stumble across this week? If you have tried the Deep Repair Masque let me know what your opinion of it is!

Until next time!

-AmberandLace

NOTD: Blue Dreams

 It has been rather gloomy here where I live, so I decided to paint my nails with colors that remind me of better weather conditions. I love winter and all, but I just prefer brighter colors in most cases.

For my desired look I used all the polishes pictured on the left. You should be using some kind of base coat on your nails because it is a major life saver. The base coat allows for your nails to be super smooth and thus the paint goes on effortlessly. I used almost all Sally Hansen nail products. Sally Hansen polishes seem to dry quickly, which is why I seem to reach for them constantly. The blue glitter is from Spoiled polishes.

I have also provided for the names of all the nail polishes just in case you were wanting to create a similar nail look. The names of polishes are just too cute! The picture on top is the name of the corresponding image on the bottom. I bought all these polishes at CVS, but I am sure they could be found just about anywhere Sally Hansen is sold.


Ta-Da! You have made it to the big revealing! The look below is my final product. I chose to paint four of my fingers with the Mint Spring. For my ring finger, I painted it with Mint Sorbet and Use Protection. Painting your ring finger a different color is a quick but subtle way to spruce up your nail look and I cannot get enough of it.

What are some of your favorite ways to brighten up a gloomy day? I also love to enjoy reading and a nice cup of tea when the weather is kind of dull. Nothing is more comforting in my opinion!

Until next time!
-AmberandLace

Healthy Meal: BBQ Chicken Pita Pizza

I made a delicious meal this afternoon for lunch and I just had to share! The recipe actually came from my best friend/roomie, so it makes it even more fun. We are both embarking on this weight loss journey together. It will be so much better to have someone to help keep me motivated.

Anyways, this recipe is actually incredibly low-cal and also really yummy! All we use for it is chicken (I used pre-cooked frozen strips from HEB), BBQ sauce, spinach, whole wheat pita bread, and mozzarella cheese. The dish cooked decently in the microwave. The chicken is easily heated up in the microwave, and while that was cooking I assembled the rest of the dish. Then I added the chicken and put the whole plate in the microwave for an extra 30 seconds. Surprisingly enough the cheese melted all the way. I entered in all the items on Myfitnesspal and the calories came to a total of 340 calories. That is not a bad amount at all, and this makes the meal all that much more delicious.

I decided to add a small side of champagne sweet tomatoes to my meal. In order to spruce these up a bit, I added a little lime juice, garlic powder, and pepper. I love to eat tomatoes with my meal or even as a snack. Tomatoes to me are like candy!

Until next time!
-AmberandLace

Hello there 2014: Resolutions

I have been a little slow to start this year. This must be due to how quickly Christmas came and went. I might or might not still have my decorations up...oops! Taking those down will be my first task of the new year. I have pondered over what I want to try and accomplish in 2014 and well here it goes:

1. Graduate college
This will not be too big of a task seeing as in just a few short days I will begin my final semester of school. Well my final semester until I pursue graduate school in the future. That is so nerve racking though. Wow, did time fly by! All I have to do is pass a few more classes and bam they will be handing me a degree as I walk across the stage come May. This will probably be the biggest moment of 2014 and I am looking forward to it. It is crazy to think that soon I will be all grown-up...haha yeah right. Really though, number one goal this year has to be this.

2. Lose weight
I am not going to set any actual pounds loss goal because I do not know what I am capable of. For Christmas I received a Fitbit Flex, a new water bottle, new workout clothes, and head phones made for running, so you would think that I have all the motivation needed to get my butt in gear! I have been a total slob when it has come to eating these past few years in college and that needs to change. Luckily my super sweet boyfriend happened to get this girl an awesome juicer that I CANNOT wait to use! I plan to attempt some juicing cleanses once I prepare my body for them. Also, I plan to register for more 5Ks and a mud run before the temperatures get too hot here.

3. Blog more
Well I just started this blog, but I have attempted other blogs in the past only to give up quickly. I lost motivation and it was not working out for me. I am starting this year fresh and even more determined to blog efficiently. There is still a lot for me to learn as far as, well everything goes, but I am willing to make sure that I have time to learn new skills. It would be wonderful to also try and get a YouTube page up and running. I have wanted to record videos ever since I started watching back in 2010, but I get too discouraged right when I get all pumped up to start. 2014 will be the year of creativity!

4. Get a job
My fourth and final resolution would have to be obtaining a job upon graduation. I am ready to grow up and dive head first into the professional world. My time throughout school has really prepared me and taught me a lot about who I am as a person. Obviously, I do not know everything about myself and I am still finding out more every day. I do know that I cannot wait to introduce myself to the world!

Here's to 2014 and all the wonderful things I hope it brings along!

What are your resolutions this year?

Until next time!
-AmberandLace

Winter Holy Grail Product

This is my MUST HAVE winter product for sure. I have had such an issue with horrible dry skin this winter season. The reasoning behind this dry skin is a mystery to me, but either way this has been a cure for it. I use this mainly for my face, although I have put it on other dry areas like my shoulders and feet. It is definitely a multi-purpose product.

The Cetaphil moisturizing cream can be found at most likely any drug store like CVS, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and/or Target. I specifically bought this one at a Neighborhood Wal-Mart for around $10.

I read reviews over the product before purchasing and the main complaint I saw was that the product was too greasy and too thick. The cream is thick but what do you expect when searching for a heavy duty moisturizing cream. I have not had any issues with greasiness at all though. This product should last a long time because it does not take much to work efficiently.

In order to apply, I just rub a little dab, smaller than the size of a quarter, between my fingers and apply all over my face and down my neck. I make sure to rub in thoroughly in order to eliminate any likeliness of my face becoming oily throughout the day. I then apply a little to any other trouble spots I am having.

I have super sensitive skin and this product has not bothered my skin at all. The Cetaphil has only seemed to improve the way my skin feels. I have not decided whether or not I will use this product up through the summer because that will just depend on how my skin is acting then. I definitely will be repurchasing this forever for the winter months because it works wonders. All dry spots I had were completely eliminated.

Leave comments on your must have winter products! I would love to see what everyone else enjoys during these colder times.

Until next time!
-AmberandLace

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