Beauty: My Skin Regime

I've recently realized how important it is to take care of my skin. After all the stress, all of the proactiv use, and years of being a smoker,  I knew that I probably wasn't seeing the affects now, but that I would later. My ma told me recently that she started using eye cream when she was twenty-four, and I was like, "well dayum! Momma knows best because she looks GOOD!" So I listened and bought myself some eye cream!

This is generally what my weekly face-regime looks like now: 

2 Days: Proactiv

2 Days: L'oreal Revitalift & NARS Moisturizer

2 Days: Proactiv

1 Day: L'oreal Revitalift 7 NARS Moisturizer

One day last winter, I was walking around Nordstrom and they were giving away free makeovers at the NARS cosmetic booths. I'd never done it before, and I don't like shopping with other people unless it's my mom; so this was my chance! At the end, I of course, felt like I needed to buy something and wasn't really in the market for much other than a nice non-oily face moisturizer. Fifty-eight dollars later, I am still a very happy consumer. This product is absolutely amazing, and the jar lasts over a year, because you're supposed to use only a corn kernel-sized portion. I've been a user of Proactiv for many years and adore their product. Yes, it totally dries my skin out if I use it too much, but the moisturizer works like a charm as an anecdote. The skin around my nose-piercing also often gets dry, so this product has been useful for that trouble-area of mine. As for the Revitalift, it works for now. I mean, I'm 25, I don't need to be buying the top of the shelf, but I can totally see a difference! Might I also add that my skin has never looked better with this regime that I have going up here. It works like magic!

 Make sure you enter the giveaway for a Sperry Top-Sider scarf! 

Product Review: Very Jane

I'm going to start this off by saying that I haven't been paid by Very Jane to do this review. I was just so excited about this little discovery, that I feel that I'm obligated to share! So a couple weeks ago, Bri from Breezy Days, shared a little website called Very Jane. I RARELY click on links unless they really intrigue me, and I was intrigued… Once I clicked on the link, I was impressed. It almost feels like a Groupon-type website, but for just random cute things including jewelry, accessories like bags, scarves, and watches, maybe a skirt or cute top here and there. It's pretty awesome. 

And I ended up with this beauty after maybe ten minutes of surfing the daily deals. 

It came with matching earrings, but I'm not the type to wear jewelry that matches, BUT I absolutely love the necklace. I spent seventeenish bucks including shipping, which was freakin' stellar. And on top of that, I have a necklace that looks as good as something from J.Crew. 

Just do yo silly ass a favor and visit Very Jane!

Real Life: The Real Woman

The past couple weeks have not been my best. The man that I hastily thought was going to be a huge part of my future, may very well not be. I rarely share personal notes on this blog, but it seems that I must write a little to help with the healing process. I saw a post on Miss Indie - she shared a quick photo of  a new barbie doll that was created artist, Nickolay Lamm. 

She created a 3-D rendering of the original Barbie, but used "real woman" proportions according to the average American 19-year old. When I first saw this, I thought to myself, "wow, that actually looks like my body." I've never had that thought looking at a barbie doll, as I'm sure the rest of you haven't either. We look at these images of women in Vogue and whether we have body-image issues or not, we will always question whether those images are accurate or not. I struggled with body-image issues just like the regular American teen, but it seems to be just getting worse throughout the years for all these girls. The media will push healthy, organic eating all it wants, but what about all the rest of the images that are being poured into our psyches? What about the reality t.v. shows that just glorify these petite housewives who have even more issues than the rest of us? What about the shows on MTV that are filling our young tween's heads with garbage?

The larger percentage of women in America put all our worth in what a man thinks of us and our bodies.We constantly judge ourselves while looking in the mirror, and wonder "why don't I look like that girl I saw today?" For the past almost-week, I've been asking myself "what did I do wrong?" Crying out to God and asking Him for wisdom is all I've been able to do. But God said something so clearly to me, "let him go and then I'll be able to do my work." I didn't do anything wrong this time, except believe this man and what he was telling me. But guess what, I am a beautiful woman who is beloved by God. I am a child of His, and no matter what the future holds, I do know that it holds a lot of exciting changes coming up, including a very big move to Nashville. 

Women, look at that representation more closely. The doll on the right is, physically, is what average women look like. We have bigger feet and our torsos don't actually create a ridiculous pear shape unlike the 2 percent of models across the world. We are real. We have real desires. We have real dreams. And it is up to us to catch them. 

Style Icon: Jessica Chastain

This woman is a bombshell. I'm a redhead wannabe sometimes, and she's truly my hair-envy. Wow. 

Gah! I love it when redheads wear red lipstick. And that hue is pretty perfect. Bravo to her make-up artist. 

This dress above, I died a little inside because I wanted it to be mine so badly. 

Rockin' the semi-casual look. 

Just flawless. Jessica Chastain, well done, girlfriend!

Real Life: Collective Creatures Art Gallery

I am privileged enough to know a pretty talented group in the Boston area. This past weekend was an art gallery opening that a dear friend of mine had work being displayed at. A lot of her friends were involved and when they all put their creative juices together (in a non-weird way) it it always pretty epic. 

And of course Rach and I had to go all out and have her co-worker, a pseudo make-up artist, come over and do our eye make up beforehand. 

The three amigas (minus the third blood-sister that's in Texas.) 

Style Icon: Joan from Mad Men

Did you know that I'm obsessed with Mad Men? Well, now ya do! I think I bought season 5 on dvd the day it became available? Yeah… Girl needs some more hobbies.

Anyways, I think Joan is my favorite female character. She's so modern, so strong, yet so flawed at the same time. She's the perfect depiction of the independent woman of the 60's. And I think every woman will agree with me in that it's about time we have a realistic, curvaceous, and voluptuous woman on t.v. I mean she's a freakin' bombshell! 

And boy, does Jonie know how to dress herself. She uses her womanhood to her advantage!

Nail Tutorial

I got a little "Pinsperation" a couple weeks ago to do a french manicure. SUPER freakin' easy, guys. Check it out: 

I forget what these things are called, but I just got them in the school section on CVS. Paper things? 

1. Put paper-things/stickers on each nail. Place exactly where you want the french to be.

2. Put a couple coats on of the color you choose. I prefer neons right now.

3. Wait 20-30 minutes for it to dry and then rip off quickly.

They came out quite well! BUT make sure you use higher-quality nail polish, otherwise it really doesn't work. I learned that the hard way… 

Enjoy!

$20 Giftcard to SkincareRx, Skinbotanica, or Apothica

Hi Everyone! Hope you're all having a lovely July 4th week! 

Today I'm going to be sharing another giveaway with you. One of my sponsors:  SkincareRx, Apothica, and Skinbotanica are hosting, and will be giving away a $20 e-giftcard to one of these three sites. Because I've gotten into the whole essential oils and organic products, I've gotten a face mask and wash through Skinbotanica. (They sell only natural and organic products.) Right now, I'm using these two products, which I am just loving! 

Here's how to win! 

Main Entry (one comment for both below): 

+ Must be a Tales for Karina Marie follower via GCF

+ Leave a comment below telling me which product you would buy with your e-giftcard

Extra Entries (one comment for each below): 

+ Tweet about the giveaway using a link to this post and @emilyhavi

+ Follow me via Twitter

+ Follow me via Pinterest 

Tips on How to Grow Your Hair Out

Since I was a kid my hair has been about thirty different styles.

For years I had a mushroom cut...

Thanks Mom.

Eventually we grew my hair out to longer cut with fringes.. And then we would cut it off... Again. Probably the more popular cut throughout the years has been a pixie cut for me. And let me tell you, with my small head, it looks adorable, but boy does it suck to grow back out! I could show you some REAL awkward photos, but I'm not!

The number one thing to remember when you're growing your hair out from a very short-boyish cut, is that there is not just one awkward phase. Your hair is probably going to go through up to five different awkward phases. Have fun.

So in order to not get too frustrated and just cut it all off again, here are some of my tips for growing your hair out.

1. Don't look in the mirror too much. You're going to hate the way you look, and probably rightfully so! There are several different mullet phases at different lengths and you just have to embrace it!

2. Use lots of bobby pins and head bands. Put it up in whatever way you can get it up! You're not going to be able to use elastics for a while, so just buy bobby pins in bulk! Get creative. See what looks good, even if you haven't seen someone else do it. Maybe you'll start a new fad, who knows?!

3. Get your hair cut every 6 weeks. Yes, maybe it's a little expensive, but find a hair stylist you love and you won't mind spending that money as much! I've been going to my hair stylist in the city for three years, and I can't see myself going to anyone else. We understand each other. I let him do things that he probably doesn't get to do with some of his other clients, so it's fun for the both of us! He always tells me when I'm growing my hair out, "don't stop coming. You hair is used to being cut every six weeks." It will slow down the process, surprisingly enough, if you stop going. Plus he can cut and style your hair in ways that look more natural in each phase rather than the damn mullet that's forming on your skull! Your hair will also turn out healthier if you get it cut often.

4. When you do look in the mirror, remind yourself that it'll be longer soon. No awkward phase lasts more than 3-4 weeks, so don't let yourself get down. Before you know it, your hair will be longer!