Naturally, because of this interest, when I was fourteen I stumbled on "beauty gurus" (I don't really hear them called that much anymore?) on YouTube, and my love of watching makeup videos bloomed and never went away.

One thing I have always had an issue with was getting my makeup to come out the way that so many girls were doing it, and I couldn't figure out why. Am I just inept? Is it my tools? What am I doing wrong?

It was only a couple of years ago that I learned that it was because there are so many different eye shapes, and what works on one may not work on another. I have slightly hooded eyes, so there are adjustments that have to be made to make things work on that type of lid. I started trying to watch more women that had hooded lids so that I could properly learn how to apply makeup to them, and these are some of the lovely ladies I've found.

1.) Bubzbeauty — Bubz is one of the two first beauty YouTubers I discovered back in 2008, the other being Michelle Phan. I've always found her so endearing and bubbly, and since those were the days of webcam videos, her quality has only gotten more lovely with time.


2.) Carly Humbert — I've only been watching Carly for about a year now, but she has some of the prettiest makeup looks. I wasn't really aware that people with hooded lids could pull off so many variations of things, but she does it so well, and that inspires me to try it.


3.) Tanya Burr — Tanya Burr seems to be a cult favorite these days, and it's well-deserved. Her looks are always so simple and pretty, and she has a very sunny personality that makes her enjoyable to watch.


4.) Bronte Jones — I've only just started watching Bronte recently, but most of her makeup tutorials are geared specifically towards hooded eyes, and she has some really pretty looks and tips!



And who are some of your favorite YouTubers? (Beauty-related or non, I just love YouTube!) Tell me in the comments! And alternatively, if you make videos, feel free to link your channel and I'll check it out!! You can also tweet me or message me on tumblr!

I mentioned in the previous post I made in this series that Ami was my favorite Scout growing up. I don't remember paying much attention to the other girls, really. I mean, of course, I didn't pay much attention to plot or anything either, considering I couldn't watch anything in order, only what happened to be on TV, so most of my impressions were formed much later than when I first fell in love with the show at six years old.


When I was older and started watching it again, I immediately gravitated toward Usagi. She got so much flack for crying too much and being childish, but she stayed true to herself no matter what. I kind of prefer the Usagi we see before she gets together with Mamoru, though, honestly. Don't get me wrong; I absolutely love their relationship, but sometimes it can be fraught with so much unnecessary drama—which, hey, when you're reincarnated soulmates from different planets, that's totally understandable—but not really my thing, currently.

I guess that's where Rei came in. Headstrong, fire-y, relatable Rei. She's adamant in her beliefs and opinions, she has a quick fuse, she's sometimes a little irrational, and she's a really good friend, through and through.

And when that happened, is when the idea for this drink came to me. A drink that looks like fire.


And also, completely on accident, a little bit like planet Mars itself. Huh.


Rei's Raspberry Flame

• 1-2 raspberry tea bags (depending on desired intensity)
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• Honey and/or agave syrup (or sweetener of choice)
• Milk of choice
• Whipped cream
• Red & yellow food coloring

1.) Add 1/4 cup of boiling water to a mug holding raspberry tea bag/s.
2.) Add a teaspoon of honey + a teaspoon of agave, or whatever sweetener you'd prefer, until desired sweetness is reached. Set aside to cool.
3.) I made my own whipped cream using heavy cream & a mixer, but you can do whatever you'd like! After it was whipped up, I stirred in food coloring until I got the shade of orange I wanted, then put it in an icing tool.
4.) Put ice in a cup, pour the tea over it, and fill up the rest of the way with milk. Stir to combine, then swirl the whipped cream on top!


I used to drink these all the time during Summer a few years ago, sans the whipped cream, and using vanilla coffee creamer instead of almond milk. It's really good with a variety of fruit teas, (maybe even regular tea, though I've never tried it) and just a very refreshing drink for anytime! Let me know if you try it out!! 

I've always been very prone to overthinking. A blessing, and a curse, I suppose, but mostly it can just get annoying. Learning to deal with it and finding ways to get out of my head for awhile and just chill has been a long process, but it gets a little easier all the time, and these are some things I try to make myself do on the regular that seem to help.

WASH IT OFF —

Take a shower or bath, whatever you're into, and get all nice and clean. Pull out all the stops + really take the time to pamper yourself, whatever that means for you. Shave, do a face mask, apply copious amounts of moisturizer on your body, go wild!


DO THINGS YOU ENJOY —

Whatever that is for you! Cooking, baking, lounging with your favorite show, reading a book, browsing tumblr, anything! Set aside time to just do what you love.


SET THE AMBIANCE —

Clean up a little bit if your space is messy. It really improves your mood! Light a candle, turn on some fairy lights, turn on some of your favorite music and some rainy noises and let the chill seep in.


And if you aren't sure where to start, here's a list of things that I find soothing that maybe you would, too!

• Cooking/baking
• Candles
• Curling up with a blanket and movie/tv show
• ASMR videos (!!!! and if you don't know what ASMR is, click here!)
• Guided meditation
• Snuggling with a pet 
• Playing an instrument
• Doodling
• Writing (your thoughts, emotions, poetry, songs, stories, anything!)
• Tidying up
• Browsing the tumblr tag of something you love (my current fave: the autumn tag!)
• Listening to music
• Playing dress up/playing with makeup (sounds silly but it works!)
• Reading a book
• I don't usually take naps, but I do hear that they make some people feel better!
• Dance around to your favorite song 

I hope you find the time for yourself to unwind and that maybe some of these tips helped you a little!!

Have I mentioned how much I love the Holidays yet? No?

Well, I've had Halloween playlists on repeat since like... Way before was probably appropriate, if that tells you anything. So, I decided to make one of my own with all of my most favorite ~spoOoOoky songs~

Disclaimer: best listened to on overcast, rainy days with an autumn-scented candle lit and fairy lights on, cuddled up with a soft throw blanket + a cup of tea.

Or you know, anytime, really.


What are your favorite spoopy halloween jams?! Please do share away!! I hope you all have a fun-filled, cosy Halloween!!! And feel free to tell me what you have planned! :D

If it wasn't already abundantly clear, I am NUTS about any and all holidays.

I used to only be so crazy about Christmas, but within the last year or so, I've broadened my holiday-horizons. So, to celebrate my joy over the spoOoOoky month, along with posting Halloween related things on here, I'm gonna be posting some spoopy song covers on my YouTube channel! *throws orange and black confetti everywhere*

I'm super pumped about it, and if it's something you'd be interested in, you can click on over and subscribe to stay tuned for them! (If you do, you're a sweet lil pumpkin baby and I love you for it.)



x Alyssa
bloglovin | tumblr | twitter | instagram | lifestyle channel | music channel

The first time I saw Sailor Moon as a kid, Ami (or Amy, as it was in the '90s dub) immediately stole my heart. She was shy like me, she liked reading, and she had blue hair, which just so happened to be my favorite color as a kid.

Solid reasons, in my six-year old mind.

A drink idea for Ami was surprisingly hard to come up with; the first thing that came to mind was vanilla, and I was afraid that it would seem too boring, too predictable of a choice for her character. But genuinely, she just strikes me as someone who would like vanilla over chocolate!

And so, a vanilla frappucino it was.

Easy, mild, but also complex and flavorful. Kind of like Ami herself.


Ami's Vanilla Frappucino

1 frozen banana
1/2 c vanilla creamer (I made some using my own variation of this recipe!)
1/2 c milk of choice
2 tsp vanilla extract or some vanilla bean

Put it all in your blender and whirl it up! Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

For Mercury's symbol, I melted some white chocolate with a few drops of blue food coloring, and drew it on top with a squeeze bottle, then added ice crystal sprinkles. 


I really loved how this turned out. It had such a nice flavor and creaminess to it, like the kind of thing you could drink every morning and not get tired of it too quickly.

Next up.... It's time for F I R E. ♂

I think it's something that every creative person thinks about a lot, whether all of their ideas will one day just... Dry up. Stop flowing. Gone forever.

Which, y'know, sucks, because it kind of just stifles you more. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I've been going through a lot of ups and downs lately in the creative venue of things, and these are some things that have helped me pull myself out of that rut.

SEEK INSPIRATION //

Accept that there will be times when things aren't flowing as naturally and you may feel "blocked" creatively. It's going to happen. It's just how the creative process works, and you're just adding extra pressure on yourself when you worry about whether you'll never feel inspired again. Take a break, do some things you enjoy. Let it come.

LET GO //

Stop hoarding your ideas for the fear that you will run out. I don't know if anyone else does this, but I am so guilty of it, and I'm steadily realizing that it doesn't help you at all. You get sort of afraid that if you start making or putting out all of this content, all these ideas you've stored up, that the well will dry up and you'll have nothing left, but I'm starting to think maybe it's the opposite. I think when you stop worrying so much about whether that will happen—not even entertaining the idea—they start flowing much more easily.



RUN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE //

Sometimes, you just don't feel inspired and nothing is coming to you, and in that case, take even the smallest grain of an idea you can muster, and engage it. It will probably suck for awhile, but just push through it, and maybe it'll knock some other ideas loose. Even something as simple as writing down your thoughts, or a stream of consciousness, can help get the ideas flowing!

How do you keep the creative waters flowing? Feel free to share in the comments! :)

I've loved the idea of fictional-inspired foods for as far back as I can remember, starting with Disney films as a kid and moving on from there. The idea of combining various forms of media with things like fashion, food, and beauty is something I've always been so enchanted by, and most of the reason I started this blog.

So, I was sitting around one day, and the idea for a drink came to me that would be the perfect embodiment of Rei (coming soon!), and the idea for Sailor Moon inspired drinks just snowballed from there.

I am aware that a Sailor Moon Cafe is a thing that exists, but unfortunately, it's only limited to Japan, and there's little chance I'll be getting to go there any time soon. So, I thought, why not make my own Sailor Moon themed drinks? I tried to embody one of two things: the character's physical design (color scheme/powers) or (as is this particular case) something to do with the character's personality + interests. Usagi has a particular fondness for all things dessert, so naturally, I had to go that route.

I may do another for Usagi at some point that's more inclusive of her color scheme + abilities, but for now, I figured I'd go with something that Usagi herself would very much approve of.

SAME, USAGI. SAME.

Usagi's Chocolate Overload Milkshake

1 frozen banana
1 c milk of choice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp dark chocolate cocoa powder
brownie pieces of choice
chocolate syrup
whipped cream

1.) blend together banana, milk, vanilla + cocoa powder until creamy
2.) add in brownies and blend just slightly
3.) garnish with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and brownie pieces


The nice thing about recipes like this is that it can be easily tweaked to your liking; ice cream instead of frozen banana, regular cocoa instead of dark, cake instead of brownies... Endless possibilities!

If you try it, let me know how you like it!! Stay tuned... Our lovely resident girl genius is up next!

Sometimes, you watch a show and you're like, "I love how [insert character here] dresses!"

Sometimes, you like it so much that you'd wear it, if given the option. Enter, casual cosplaying.


If you've never heard of casual cosplay (or closet cosplay), you're in for a treat. It's basically like covert dress-up for adults. Like, could anything be better?

(This video explains the concept really well, if you're more into listening than reading!)

For me, I don't even remember hearing about regular, full-on cosplay until I was probably about sixteen or seventeen. I didn't know that was a thing people did. What I did know, was that from the time I was six years old, I was doing basically the same thing in a much more lowkey way. I wanted to emulate my favorite characters, so I'd find clothes I already had that had similar shape, if not color, to who I was emulating and I'd wear it around the house and play pretend or I'd try to do my hair like theirs, and as I got older, it extended into playing around with makeup.

I started it back then, and kind of just never stopped.

As weird as it may sound, I can actually bookmark phases of my life by what fictional characters I was most interested in at the time, and how it shaped my style.

When I was a kid, it was all about the animated heroines; the girls from the Final Fantasy games I'd gotten the chance to play, the senshi from Sailor Moon, and Lara Croft. I was constantly pestering my mom to braid my hair as a kid just so it would look like Lara's.



In my early-mid teens, there were too many to count. I was delving into beauty in a big way around this time, and soaking it up like a sponge. I took bits and pieces of style from every character I liked, noticing any trends that popped up a lot—which at this time, apparently, was minimal makeup, effortless waves, and an easy, casual wardrobe that consisted of jeans, pretty tops, and florals.


More recently, especially around Autumn-time, it's been Sally Albright from When Harry Met Sally, and the girls from Sailor Moon... Again. (Hello, serious wardrobe envy!) I've been really into all things '90s, and these are kind of the epitome of that.



All of these things have shaped my overall fashion sense, and currently, most of the things on my fashion wishlist are because of a fictional character.

The appeal of it for me was that it was somehow like putting on armor. If I'm trying to emulate a character that I admire, I feel more confident.

I think my closet represents that; I don't know who I am or who I wanna be, so I flit from person to person. I still love playing pretend. I don't really have one defined style, but since I pull inspiration from everywhere, my closet is kind of whimsical, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

So, have you ever tried casual cosplay? Is it something you'd be interested in? Geek out with me over on tumblr or twitter, I'd love to hear from you!!

It's Summer, which means I'm finding myself drawn to lipstick over eyeshadow. Humidity = oily lids. Not a cute look. I have pretty naturally oily lids anyway, but when it's hot, even primer has a hard time keeping creasing at bay, so I tend to forego shadow.

Only last Summer did I finally—finally—hop on the lipstick wagon, but I've worn it enough that I've picked up a few handy tricks along the way. As many tips as I had read and seen in YouTube videos before I plucked up the nerve to wear it, I didn't really get the tips I needed.

Maybe my trial and error can help someone else who's just starting to venture into lipstick land.

1.) If you're nervous about dabbling into such strong color on your lips, start with sheer lip tints. If you can't quite work up the nerve for dark colors, I promise this helps. I started adjusting to the idea of something other than plain ol' chapstick on my lips by using Baby Lips in "Cherry Me" and later, a nude lipstick. Starting on the milder side helped me work up to reds and berries. (Wearing it at home a few times rather than in public helps get used to it, too!)

Another option? Try a gradient lip. Since you're only working with the inner part of your lips, it's not quite so loud, and a little less intimidating.

2.) Exfoliating is so important. I know, I didn't believe it either, but if you're wearing lipstick, it does matter. You can just use a rag and scrub lightly at your lips, or go as far as buying/making a sugar scrub, but if you don't have smooth lips, application's not gonna be such a breeze.

3.) Lipliner is not necessarily required. It's all personal preference, and it depends on the texture of the lipstick you're using. I find that the kinds of lipstick that I've come across in my journey so far don't feather much, even the really dark ones. If you want to have one on hand, a good option would be a transparent lipliner, so it'll go with every lip color you have.

4.) Q-tips are your friend. Unless you're some kind of inhumanly perfect person, application may be a little sloppy until you get used to it, or if you're like me, forever. It just makes things look a little more crisp if you clean up the edges with a damp q-tip when you're finished.


5.) When you apply it, make sure you blot with a tissue, and stick your finger just on the inside of your lips to wipe off the lipstick there. Ending up with lipstick on my teeth and walking around all day not knowing was one of my biggest lipstick-related insecurities. This trick is a relatively sure-fire way to make sure that you don't have that issue.

What about you long-time lipstick wearers? Any invaluable tips to share with us newbies?

And hey, if you really wanna wear lipstick but have been too nervous to try it out: ease into it. You're probably gonna love it, though. ;)

I think a lot about certain feelings that I like. Namely, whenever I'm not feeling those feelings.

There's this particular kind of contentedness that I've been chasing for as long as I can remember, and I see it so clearly in my head, and I can almost feel it lingering on the edges of my fingertips, but it just isn't there most of the time.

It's that feeling you get when you think about your favorite memories—childhood moments, that fleeting Christmas magic, time spent with the people you love—when you think about feeling happy and free in this way that permeates your entire being and makes your chest feel simultaneously warm and fluttery.

It seems harder to feel that way as you get older. It comes occasionally, springing up out of nowhere and leaving with quickness that almost gives you whiplash, and then you're grey again.

It got me thinking about whether there was a word for the feeling, and luck of all lucks, I stumbled on the closest thing I could hope to find. But, then I started thinking about all of the other wonderful things I love, and whether they had been encapsulated into a word.

(Hello, and thank you, Google.)

These are twelve of my favorite things & feelings, in a word.


1.) PETRICHOR - a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.

2.) SONDER - the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

3.) ETHEREAL - extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.

4.) ARTICULATE - having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently.

5.) AMELIORATE - to improve upon.

6.) CATHARTIC - providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions.

7.) LILT - a characteristic rising and falling of the voice when speaking; a pleasant gentle accent.

8.) ZEPHYR - a soft, gentle breeze.

9.) SERENDIPITY - fortunate happenstance.

10.) HALCYON - happy, sunny, carefree.

11.) HIRAETH - homesickness for a home you can't return to, or a home that never was.

12.) INEFFABLE - too great to be expressed in words.

What are some of your favorite feelings, or words? Or both? Another fun word: Logophile - a lover of words. So let's get sharing some neat feelings and words!

It's such a simple, easy thing to fix up. I just wash a cucumber, peel it, and slice it. Mix up some tuna salad, however you like to make it, and then scoop it onto the cucumber slices like you would crackers. Also, a lil tomato on top is a nice addition.

CARROTS AND HUMMUS


Confession: I actually hate raw carrots. The texture of them is just... Ugh. But for whatever reason, as long as I have some sort of dip for them, I don't mind. Ranch is usual my weapon of choice, but I've been really into hummus lately.

BANANA ICE CREAM



....Or "nicecream," as it's been affectionately dubbed. I LOVE this stuff. It's so perfect for those days that are so hot you don't even feel like moving. Cool, creamy, and completely customizable. Or, alternatively, add more liquid and make it a smoothie!

GRANOLA BARS


FRUIT SALAD


I never used to be much of a fruit salad person, but my grandma loves it and has made it a few times recently, and I find that I'm much more fond of it now that I'm older. It's great because you can mix whatever kinds of fruit you like best together, and it makes a cold and delightful treat.

What are your favorite summer snacks?? Tell me 'bout 'em!

Pet-names are so endearing.

I don't know what it is about them that I love so much, but I've always been someone who doles them out in spades when I'm comfortable with someone, and enjoys getting called them in turn.

Growing up, my parents would call me "Lyss" or "sis," and my dad took a particular liking to calling me "monkey."

Most times, I even like being called "sweetie" or "darlin'" or something generic like that, as long as it isn't done in a patronising manner.

Honestly, none of that is really relative to this at all, just something I've been thinking about. And, y'know, I'm calling this outfit post "sweet pea," so maybe it's sort of relative?


Anyway, I really love these colors together. I find that lately I'm trying to pair things that aren't really my first thought to pair, making more of an effort to mix different colors and patterns.

I'm fully blaming it on the fact that I've been watching too much Sailor Moon. How the wardrobes of a bunch of fourteen-year old girls is so pretty and cohesive is beyond me. Sure, there's a little bit of an unmistakable cringe nineties flair to some of the outfits, but for the most part, they're cute. When I was fourteen, I was wearing jeans, tee shirts, sneakers and a hoodie, without fail, everyday.

I'm so glad I'm not fourteen anymore.


Something about this outfit is so sweet and cute to me; the soft pink and pale green combo somehow immediately makes me think of a garden.

Speaking of Gardens, I'm playing Final Fantasy 8 again. I say again, because I've been playing it off and on in spurts since I was like, 8, and still have yet to beat it. Soon, soon.






I don't really know how this post turned into a weird stream of consciousness, outfit photos and rambling, but there you have it.

Feel free to ramble back at me about yourself, somewhere; tweet me, message me on tumblr, comment here, whatever. I hope you're having a beautiful week so far!! (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) ♫･*:.｡. .｡.:*･