Choose to be beautiful!

Over the years, I have picked up a bunch of awesome, easy beauty/fashion tips that are just too good not to share! So, enjoy girls!

1) Did you know Pantene Pro V makes your hair thinner? It has a certain vitamin in it that over time creates significant hair loss.

If you have thick hair, use it once a week to chill your hair out. If not, here's what to do: Buy the Pantene Pro V conditioner and shave with it. It causes hair loss right? Well, what's better then losing hair on your legs! My hair dresser gave my this tip, she said she has a ton of clients who do it & it cuts their shaving time into almost half! Worth it.

2) If you tan, shave and exfoliate before hopping in the bed. This causes your pores to open giving you a way better looking tan and making your skin silky smooth! Do the same even if you use self tanner! Also if you use self tanner, I've found it's most effective and way less streaky if you mix it in really in really well with a regular non scented lotion. I use Jergens and I'll give it a couple pumps of my daily lotion and mix it around in the palm of my hand before putting it on. It makes the tan look WAY more natural and last longer too!

Secret tip within a tip: When exfoliating use a sugar exfoliant, salty scrubs can cause really dry skin! I like the Neutrogena sugar scrub.

3) Everyone is always on the search for the best shampoos and conditioners out there, but the one's that I've had best results with are Biolage. Although it's more expensive than other shampoos, it is SO hydrating and worth it. I have really corse, thick hair and it does wonders! Anything from biolage I trust, because they are made with really great ingredients that don't go down in the drain!

4) There are so many great perfumes out there (I can't stop obsessing over Flowerbomb), but sometimes I feel like I spray them on and they don't actually stay on. In order to help this problem, hop out of the shower, lotion up within 5 minutes, and spray on your favorite scent. The hydration of your skin keeps the smell lasting much longer than without it!

5) The best candles I've ever had are a little more expensive (sold at Spice and Sironia in Waco) but are my FAVORITE! Tyler's candles are the best smelling candles ever and your whole house ends up smelling like them. My favorite scent is Dolce Vita, it smells like heaven mixed with vanilla, mmm.

6) My hair naturally super curly and thick, so I am constantly applying heat to it, between blow drying it and straightening it, it can get damaged. The best thing I have done for it is to STOP USING A REGULAR BRUSH when it's wet. I get out of the shower, put my hair product in it and use a pick, yes..like a pick.

Your hair is most suceptible to damage when it's wet, so using a regular brush will pull it flat but it make it super frizzy when it dries. Also, try putting Kerastase serum (the best hair product in the world) in it before you brush it to detangle. My hair dresser swears by it.

7) Stop.Using.Foundation. I see so many girls walk around campus with a make up line from their neck to their face and it's because they use foundation all over their face. If you have a break out, or dark circles, use concealer (& always dab, never rub). Foundation is for women in their 40's who need to hide wrinkles. Show your youth, and your skin. Please!

8) If you have a problem with eyeliner staying on, which I do, I once heard a make up trick from Kim Kardashian's make up artist which was- stop using eyeliner gels and pens. They end up warming up to your body temperature and melt off! He recommended getting a eyeliner brush, or just a thin makeup brush, dipping it in water, and then either rubbing it across your favorite black or dark brown eye shadow. The dryness of the eyeshadow will help it stay on your eyes longer, and help it not smudge as much!

That's all for now-hope you learned something!!

xoxo.

Victorious.

Call me whatever, it doesn't matter. What it all boils down to is when the day is over,

I'm still walking away with what it is that I came in there to get.

(Audrey Hepburn)

(Elle Wildhagen Photography)

Never wish you were somebody else because there

are people out there envying you for who you are.

Sometimes i think i am a genius. Then i realize I've already seen this episode of jeopardy.

I've lived,

I've laughed,

I've loved.

Maybe not in the ways people would appreciate,

but it's been more than enough for me.

Before I criticize someone, I walk a mile in their shoes. That way, if they get angry, they are a mile away and barefoot.

I do it for the joy it brings, cause I'm a joyful girl. 'Cause the world owes us nothing, we owe each other the world.

I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.

Energizer bunny arrested, charged with battery.

Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson

but darling you are the only exception.

God can't hand you something new until you let go of what you're holding.

Just because the road ahead is long,

is no reason to slow down.

Just because there is much work to be done,

is no reason to get discouraged.

It is a reason to get started, to grow, to find new ways,

to reach within yourself

and discover strength, commitment, determination, discipline.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

- Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech