Tips & Tricks Tuesdays | How to Stay a Kiss Above the Rest

What is the secret to kissable lips? A better question is "What is the secret to soft lips?" After all, soft lips make for kissable ones. If you've been suffering from chapped lips or simply find your lipstick flaking away after 20 minutes, try these tips.

• Moisturize! I know this has to be the most obvious tip, but you would be surprised how many people don't practice it. During the day, use a lip balm that has SPF in it to protect them. Your lips are like any other part of your body and are able to be damaged by the sun as well. At night, use a heavier moisturizer. I have tried a ton but the best will always be petroleum jelly. It applies smoothly and will make your lips feel buttery soft by morning.
• Exfoliate. Yes, exfoliate your lips. I know it sounds crazy but I promise it works. You can use a toothbrush to exfoliate your lips using gentle circular motions for about 30 seconds. That's the method I practice. You can also make a lip scrub by combining sugar and either extra virgin olive oil or honey. The purpose? Again, our lips are just like the rest of our skin. Your lips produce dead skin too! Get rid of it.
• Protect. I said this already when talking about moisturizing, but it is important to protect our lips from the sun. Even if you're a lip gloss or lip stick kind of girl, make sure to apply an SPF balm underneath. Your lips, and your love, will thank you. 

Started From The Bottom: My Summer 2013 Goals

Since I have returned home for summer break, I have really been struggling internally. I haven't had a clear focus on what I want to do with myself this summer and not having a clear plan bothers me. I thought I would be able to go with the flow and let things happen as they may, but something tells me that won't reap the results that I want. So, I'm starting from scratch, from the bare bottom. I'm going back to using the most simple method that I was taught as a child from my mom, which is making a goals list. Typically I would just jot this down in my phone or on a stickies note on my Mac, but I thought I would share this with you. Hopefully my foggy start will help us both get a clear direction for the rest of the summer.

• Quit working at Bath and Body Works
• Find a higher paying position
• Spend quality time with my friends
• Visit my boyfriend in Philadelphia
• Go to Puerto Rico!
• Move in with my dad in DC
• Apply for more scholarships!
• Visit NYC, for real this time
• Go to Kings Dominion
• Start a Youtube channel, perhaps
• Convince my mom to let me move off campus*

This list is totally spontaneous. I feel it's better to write goal lists this way because it typically results in more honest, candid answers. So that's it for now! If I think of any other goals I want to complete I will add them and as I accomplish these goals I will cross them off. Feel free to start your own list. I'm sure you'll be surprised how much more you will achieve!

*This one scares me.

Seven Deadly Sins of Beauty Tag

When boredom strikes, right? Just kidding. I thought this would be a really cute and fun post. Surprisingly, it was pretty challenging and really made me think.

1. Greed: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive? Wet and Wild lipstick for $1 and Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette for $50.
2. Wrath: What beauty products to you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get? Blotting sheets because you can't tell what you're going to get. Some are amazing and others feel waxy and uncomfortable. The hardest product for me to get has to be certain nail polish colors by Essie.
3. Gluttony: What are your most delicious beauty products? My True Blue Spa Shea Cashmere body cream literally smells like buttercream icing. I get compliments on it all the time. 
4. Sloth: What beauty product do you neglect due to laziness? Nail polish. I'll be really consistent for a while, then I just don't have the time to care.
5. Pride: What beauty product gives you the most self-confidence? I guess I would have to say my face wash because having clear, glowing skin makes me feel really good. That sounded really proud. Good job, Jordan. 
6. Lust: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex? This question is a bit random but I would have to say an amazing smile. All the guys I've ever liked, including my boyfriend, have a winning smile.
7. Envy: What beauty items would you most like to receive as a gift? Smashbox BB Cream, Real Techniques brushes, Benefit blush in Coralista, or MAC lipstick in RiRi Woo...oh gosh, that was a lot. Again, good going.

Because I had so much fun doing this, I tag all of you! If you decide to do this tag as well, make sure to comment below with a link to your own post. I'd love to see your answers!

Heart Beats | The 20/20 Experience

So I just realized that as much as I love music, I have yet to talk about it! Music is such a huge part of my life that I literally die a little inside if I forget my headphones at home. I die. 

I figured I would share what album is currently making my heart beat and that is The 20/20 Experience by Justin Timberlake. I slept on this album for so long that thinking about the weeks I could have been enjoying this brillance makes me sick. So here's a quick, and extremely bias, review of each song.

1. Pusher Love Girl - Most relatable song to my life right now.
2. Suit & Tie - Typically the first released single isn't my favorite simply because it's everyone's else.
3. Don't Hold the Wall - Physical proof that Justin Timberlake is a freak.
4. Strawberry Bubblegum - My favorite track. I can play a billion times and be content with life.
5. Tunnel Vision - Easily my second favorite and second most played song, which is nothing to sneeze at.
6. Spaceship Coupe - Such a sweet song for you and your special someone when you need an escape together. 
7. That Girl - This has such a smooth, jazzy style that's different from every other song.
8. Let the Groove Get In - Amazing dance track with African and Latin inspired beats (currently shaking hips, by the way).
9. Mirrors - Didn't like this song initially because it sounded like a typical pop song, but it's definitely grown on me!
10. Blue Ocean Floor - Very reminiscent of a Frank Ocean or The Weeknd kind of vibe, so naturally I'm hooked.
11. Dress On - I can just imagine him singing this to Jessica Biel. So sexy and clearly personal.
12. Body Count - The second dance track on the album that reminds me why I love Timberlake/Timberland collaborations.

My point? This album is literally incredible. Every song has a completely different mood and every lyric is relevant to anyone who has ever been in love. You can tell he's in a good place and is happy in his relationship because it comes through in his music. Although I wish this album would have come much sooner, I'm grateful that it's finally here and you can really hear the growth in each track. Pick it up today and be a judge for yourself!

Staples You Should Keep at Your Boyfriend's House

Whenever you decide to crash at your boyfriend's (or girlfriend's!) place, there are certain things that are absolutely essential to have with you. Trust me, I know all too well at this point through trial and error. Why make mistakes when you can just learn from mine?

Fashion
You want to bring over items that can be thrown on quickly. Chances are your boo doesn't possess your awesome organizational skills so at the risk of being late for class looking around for things, make sure you have pieces you can pull on and go. Also, try to avoid items that require an iron. On the off chance that he actually possesses one, it's always easier to not have to rely on it. Great pieces include:

• Leggings
• Sweatshirts
• Slip-on flats
• Cardigan (or other wrinkle-free outerwear of choice)
• Comfy jeans

Beauty

To me, this category is much more important than the clothes you bring over. I mean if comes to it you can always throw on a pair of jeans and one of his T-shirts, but you definitely can't use his deodorant! So, anything that is gender specific in terms of fragrance, make sure you account for that. Also, if you have a specific skincare or hair regimen, don't break it! As difficult as it can be sometimes to stick with it, your skin and hair will thank you. Your boyfriend's medicine cabinet may not, however. Here are a few things I always remember:

• Face cleanser
• Shower gel
• Body cream
• Deodorant
• Contacts (kind of obvious)
• Hair products (account for anything you use while you sleep)

You may look like a bag lady making your way to his place but hey, at least you'll be a well-prepared bag lady!