Hello all! I know it has been a rough couple of weeks, but over this past weekend, I got the amazing opportunity to travel all the way from Chicago to "the happiest place on earth"--Walt Disney World. It was a very well deserved trip that my entire highschool marching band had earned. If you're new here, I am was on color guard for three years and I have been truly blessed to have been with a great family of amazing friends. It has been one heck of a year and a high school career for that matter, and I couldn't have asked for anything better.
My marching band was invited to march in Epcot's day parade and we were to travel a 20+ hour bus ride (ugh) all the way to Florida. While I have to say, it really wasn't that bad being on a bus with all of my friends, it did start to weaken as we came back home (it smelled like pee lemme just tell yuh). Besides the little things I remembered, like our insane bus driver that we loved (shoutout to ma boi Terry), our dope bus ("Bus #1, yaw yaw yaw!), or just giggling at the most randomest whale jokes, the journey was not as amazing as the destination. We were there from Saturday until Monday (March 24-26) at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and then Universal Studios.
Day 1: Magic Kingdom
I was there with all of my band and color guard friends and on the first day, we went straight from a 20 hour bus ride to a 20 hour marathon of walking and riding. I was the most excited for Magic Kingdom because it has been about 6 years since my last visit and I was feeling the nostalgia a lot once we got there. So many things I remembered and so many new things I had never seen before like Belle's castle or the new Dwarves ride that I ended up loving.
We got fastpasses to three things; space mountain, splash mountain, and to meet Rapunzel and Tiana. I had never done any of those things because when I was little I was in the "weenie club", my mom would taunt at me...then I'd just get ice cream and everything would be fine. Ah those were the good ol' days.
Day 2: Epcot and the Parade
Epcot was one of my favorite parks when I visited a very long time ago because I loved all of the world showcases and different countries to go and explore. Plus, it was mostly shopping and I never really liked rides. In the morning, the band and I had time to kill and do some stuff before the 3 pm parade, so my group and I did Test Track twice with out fast pass which was one of the smartest ideas. I love that ride so much because it takes you through a test drive and you go almost 600 miles an hour. Whenever my dad would drive really fast or recklessly (I do not condone), he would say that we're in Test Track.
After that ride, we headed to all of the showcases and explored the countries. We also had a fastpass to go meet Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy! It was really funny because Mickey left me to go grab Minni from Goofy and it I was Mickey's new Minnie.
Probably the most epic part of the trip was marching. It was one of the most fulfilling moments I had ever felt throughout my entire marching season. When they announced our band twice in the park, I nearly teared up because it was such a great feeling to be there in Disney doing what I love with the people I love.
We performed Thnks Fr Th Mmrs by Fall Out Boy and, while I didn't really approve of the song as a marching song, it was still a really fun song to perform to in Disney. I just can't believe that it's finally over. The last hoorah that many former band members never got.
After being in our hot and sweaty uniforms in the beautiful, 80 degrees and sunny weather (as opposed to Chicago's 40 and rainy) we changed and received a golden Mickey award for marching! We also got Disney performing arts hats that I ended up embroidering and getting signed by Mickey himself.
Day 3: Universal Studios
I had never been to Universal before, but at this point in the trip, we were all pretty exhausted and ready to head back home if you could believe it. However, I was most excited for Harry Potter World and had to keep my energy up to enjoy it--because I really did.
Of course, here's me with the $7.50 butterbeer that everyone needs to get when they're there. It was just like a coffee or butterscotch frappuccino with a marshmallowy foam on top. So sweet, but super delicious. I wasn't feeling too great that morning, but I did go on the Hippogriff ride which was really fast and awesome. We also went around to Dr. Seuss Land and Jurassic Park Land to explore the other rides. We ended up getting completely soaked on a Popeye raft ride and I was so ready to get on the bus and change into my warm sweats.
I know this post might not be as detailed as you might have hoped, but I want to just remember the things I want to remember and save the memories. I am probably running on only 6 hours of good sleep, but this morning I slept in until 11 and could have slept until 3 or 4. It was all so worth it and I wanted to thank my parents for helping me go on this trip and supporting me with flags for the past three years, my coach, Mrs. Riley for sticking with me and helping me become a better flagger and performer, my band directors, Mr. Riddle and Mr. Pavlik, for dealing with everyone and making this the first Disney trip our band has gone on, and to just all of my friends and supporters who have also helped me along this one hell of a journey through my high school career. I hope to remember this for the rest of my life and I am sincerely grateful and glad I got to be a part of this experience and marching band.
We brought Terry home! #bus1 #yawyawyaw #whalejokes #JuilaMccoy
<3
I have been loving liquid lipsticks lately, however, the problem of dry and cracked lips always ruins the look. I have seen all of the scrubs and oils, but I wanted something handy that I could just easily and conveniently use to scrub my lips before I applied my favorite liquid lipsticks. The E.l.f. Lip Exfoliator in Mint Maniac has been a game changer and really has made my routine a whole lot easier.
For many of you makeup lovers, liquid lipsticks are probably a staple and dry or cracked lips are totally not. It's safe to say that I have probably found one of the best solutions out there. Forget the messy and oddly flavored Lush lip scrubs, Elf knows where it's at! With six other flavors, including pink grapefruit and coconut, elf has created a convenient lip sugar scrub that's totally edible and easy to use before using your Kylie Lip Kit. For only $3 dollars, you can have the most soft and kissable lips out there. Who doesn't want that?
These lip scrubs are infused with vitamin e, Shea butter, avocado, grape and jojoba oils to smooth and help protect your lips. All pretty safe ingredients to me! I like to wet or lick my lips before applying it because it can be harsh on dry lips. Then I either lick it off my lips or wipe it off with a tissue and apply my lip balm or lipstick. I just find it so easy because you don't have to abandon your makeup routine to go into the bathroom to get your fingers all messy while scooping out your bubble gum lip scrub. If you aren't a diy fan and don't feel like making your own sugar scrub, I would really suggest purchasing this amazingly inexpensive one. It's so convenient to just bring along for quick fixes.
I have been so impressed by Elf lately and love all of their products. They really kill at making great quality and affordable makeup. I know sometimes Elf can be overlooked because it's too "cheaply priced" to be good. You just have to try it because there are some really great products.
I know I am posting a little late on here, but you gotta do what you gotta do when a research paper is due in two days! I just wanted to come on here and sort out some goals that I would like to achieve this blooming spring season. A lot has happened to me and my family lately and I thought that I could sort some things out on here and try to make a fresh start into the new season up ahead.
While it is still around 40 to 50 degrees in Chicago, this upcoming weekend is my spring break. I know many people have already been on spring break or have yet to even have it. I have the amazing opportunity to go to Walt Disney World with my high school's marching band. I am uber excited because the last time I was there was about 5 or 6 years ago. What a better way to end my high school year with a Florida trip?! I can't believe how far this year has flown by already and I graduate in the next two months.
With graduation in mind, there are a lot more things I need to do before I graduate. First of all, for anyone who thinks senior year is the "easiest" and "most laid back", it's really not. You're finding out about colleges, worrying about prom, getting graduation invitations sent, finishing your final projects and trying to pass your classes so you can graduate, and being asked about everything you don't even know about yet left and right. It's been insanely stressful and I feel like the ACT tests were not on my main lists of things to worry about junior year at all. Hopefully, with all of these happier things, I can move on and just enjoy the last quarter of senior year. Wow.
I just hope that whichever direction I chose, collegewise, is a good one. And all of the colleges I did apply to are all great choices and options that I have and I know that I will be in good hands no matter where I choose to go. It's just a matter of time and waiting to find out from scholarships that has been holding me back.
I also hope to just clean out everything cuz SPRING CLEANING!! My ocd this season has been pretty on edge and I have been trying to get my room situated and tidied up. I already have a pretty clean room, but my closet needed major help. I took out all of my shoes and cleaned out some bins I had filled with crap. I feel like tidying up your space really helps tidy up your mind and it's made me a bit more calmer knowing that my space is organized.
Also, speaking of clearing minds, I have still been doing yoga if any of you have been wondering. I have been keeping up with it and sculpting almost three to four days a week. I really love it and I feel like I can see my body changing and getting incredibly stronger. If you are wondering about joining a yoga studio, I would definitely recommend it. Many yoga studios have free trials and you never know what you might find to end up loving. It's one of my favorite ways to stay active.
I'm hoping this season will bring more happiness as it starts to get warmer and things pick up around my house a bit. It's been tough, these past couple of weeks, so I'm ready to move on and start a new chapter. Sorry about my later posting!
Photos courtesy of Ellaby Rohde.
Over the past couple of weeks, I have picked up a few new things to try out and experiment with. I was kind of in the mood for new makeup and needed a couple replacement products for things that I have used all the way up. Since it's almost spring, I have really focused on getting things that will actually be something i'll use and not waste or end up hoarding in my makeup collection. I love to clean, but I hate wasting product.
I went to a few places over the past month like Sephora and Target, and have been impressed by the newer things that are becoming available. I love trying out newer things and I have heard many great things about these products that I just bought.
I had just bought these two Too Faced products on a fashion field trip I took a week ago. I'm always going through primers and thought it would be best to try a newer one out for the new season. I bought this Too Faced Hangover Primer, which I found to be incredibly moisturizing and hydrating. It doesn't cause oily skin even though it's infused with coconut water. You can read more, here, but I have really been reaching for this on my more natural makeup days.
I also picked up the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. I have heard raves about this across the web and have hesitated to try it because I already love the Maybelline Lash Sensational. It does a great job at curling the lashes and really gives them more volume. It gives the illusion of butterfly lashes and is so pretty on anyone.
I also wanted a lip scrub, but I hate lip scrubs. Haha. So, I found this Elf Lip Exfoliator in Mint Maniac and I love it! It's basically a lip scrub in a tube of lipstick. It's sugar based and has great, moisturizing oils in it to soften your lips. It has really changed my lipstick and liquid lipstick application a ton. Plus, it's only three dollars!
I happened to be looking for a new highlighter at Target and I literally strolled right in front of an Essence kiosk! They have Essence at my local Target and I didn't know about it?! Apparently Target has acquired many new brands like Essence, Zoella Beauty, Soap and Glory, Boots, and more UK brands. The Essence Pure Nude highlighter has become a favorite! It's a warm, golden highlighter and the pigmentation is phenomenal. For the size of it and being only about five bucks, it is so worth it.
I was also looking for a new, springy nail polish and fell in love with this pinky taupe color. It's a very subtle rose shade and I love the way it pulls together any spring outfit. It dries insanely fast, too. I'm impressed with Sally Hansen right now and wonder why I never really got into any of her nail polishes before.
I hope you guys enjoyed my quick little 5 to try post. I enjoy reading and writing these posts because they aren't as long and I love to see what people have been trying out and using lately. What makeup have you been using recently?
I am sort of getting back onto my feet after a couple weeks of pain and sadness, so bear with me. If you'd like to know what happened, you can read about it all here. I'm not gonna get into any of it because I want to slowly get back into writing and I also found some great products over the past couple of weeks that I have been using a lot and am really impressed with.
I have been running out of my Laura Geller Spackle face primer and my fashion merchandising class happened to be going to a fashion show last week and then to a mall straight after to shop and eat food before we headed back (awesome field trip amirite?). So I was just strolling along with my friends and we happened to make our way to Sephora...oh gosh. Yeah I tried to resist the urge to buy anything, but I was like, "I'm here, I don't wanna come back for a while, and why the heck not?". So, I gave in and bought a couple things from the ever-so-thoughtfully placed travel items kiosk right in front of the cashiers. I have heard tons about the Too Faced HangoveRx Primer and a Better Than Sex mascara.
This primer is actually really nice. I have had a thing with primers lately and I think I've just never used makeup without using a primer. My skin is so combo-oily that it's hard not to use foundation without a base underneath. I didn't find this primer to be blurring per say, it felt very hydrating and kind of acted like a serum that you put under your foundation than an oil-free base, which it isn't. If you are extremely oily, I wouldn't recommend this. However, it's great if you have drier to combo skin because I noticed that it makes my skin look healthy and glowy. I usually put a BB cream on over it for a more natural look.
I noticed that it really smoothes out the skin and doesn't leave it looking slimy and shiny. I mean, that's gross, but no one wants that! This is also perfect for using instead of a liquid foundation; just blend a little bit in the trouble areas and apply some powder on and you're good to go. I was intrigued by it because it has coconut water in it and it really smells like coconut. I also loved the fact that it's a pump, which is really nice and appreciated. I need to keep using it more, so I will keep you all updated!
I noticed that it really smoothes out the skin and doesn't leave it looking slimy and shiny. I mean, that's gross, but no one wants that! This is also perfect for using instead of a liquid foundation; just blend a little bit in the trouble areas and apply some powder on and you're good to go. I was intrigued by it because it has coconut water in it and it really smells like coconut. I also loved the fact that it's a pump, which is really nice and appreciated. I need to keep using it more, so I will keep you all updated!
Then I bought this mini sized Better Than sex mascara, which I knew I would love. I reminds me exactly like Maybelline's Lash Sensational. It really does an awesome job at curling the lashes even without using a lash curler. I did notice that it can smear easily, so you want to be careful when touching your face or other things. I personally like the mini, travel-size mascaras because I find that I can use them up more instead of the full tube that dries out too quick.
As I gradually make my way back on schedule and into the swing of things, I just want you all to know that I am okay and life will move on. I don't want to stop doing what I love, so I'm happy to be back on track. What have you guys loved from Too Faced?
It's hard. It's insanely hard.
There's no way I can fully describe the way I'm feeling because there are just so many things going on in my brain. I'm trying not to shake as I type this and I'm trying to swallow back tears as I stare at this picture while I write. I thought that I would document this time of my life because I want to remember all of the good times I've had with my buddy. It's not everyday you get to wake up and snuggle next to a furry lug, but these past 12 years have been truly amazing with him. I hope this post can help those of you who have lost their furry friends or who have very old furry friends looking for someone to talk to.
There's no way I can fully describe the way I'm feeling because there are just so many things going on in my brain. I'm trying not to shake as I type this and I'm trying to swallow back tears as I stare at this picture while I write. I thought that I would document this time of my life because I want to remember all of the good times I've had with my buddy. It's not everyday you get to wake up and snuggle next to a furry lug, but these past 12 years have been truly amazing with him. I hope this post can help those of you who have lost their furry friends or who have very old furry friends looking for someone to talk to.
For those of you who are new, my golden retriever, Rigly, has been mentioned a few times on here. He's been with me for so long and we got him back in 2005 when I had just moved into my current home. You don't think that your pet is ever going to leave you until that day without a tail wag, or a bark to welcome you home. I've had some great memories with Rigly and my family; we go on annual camping trips which I have blogged about in the past and he absolutely loved the new scents since he was a very domesticated (and spoiled) city dog. Being in the wilderness was his favorite. My family and I had a secret sand dune that we would watch the sunset on over the lake and we would try to push Rigly up it since dogs aren't made to go up steep, sandy dunes anyway.
Rigly was never a bad dog. We got him from my aunt who lives out in Oregon and she actually brought him over on an airplane, if you could believe it. My family and I decided on getting the "runt" of the litter and wanted the puppy who didn't jump on or bite everybody. In fact, when we first got him, he would immediately hide under a chair. Over the past years, there has never been a time when Rigly has bitten or growled at any of us. He was so protective, yet lazy and tired at the same time. He was my lump. My lug-nut. My loaf. My beached whale. "Poop", my Dad would call him. It's funny because Rigly was so mellow that I would just lay stuff on him for no reason and he would just lie there and not care. But he did care. A lot. About all of us.
I remember Freshman year when I broke my ankle in softball, I would come home from a long day of crutching along and I would plop all my stuff on the floor and lay on the couch. Pitter patters later, came in Rig and he just layed his head on the couch right next to my face. That's when I knew that he knew. There have been many times when Rigly would comfort us. Normally, he would trudge around the living room and hop onto the couch with my mom and just blatantly stare at her--and then lay right on top of her legs. I also remember a time when my dad had a terrible chest cramp and no one was around to notice. Rigly was lying right next to him with his cute box ears and would look worried because he knew that his "master" was not the way he normally is. He was a great dog.
Over the past couple of weeks, we knew that something was up. He had a growing mass near his abdomen and we knew that it wasn't right. Overtime, we just ignored it and was told by the vet that it was just from old age. We enjoyed our time with him, but it got worse when his back legs gave out on him and his mass got even bigger. He was tested and got diagnosed with liver disease. We think he was suffering from liver cancer, but it was too expensive to get surgery on him to fully tell if it was cancer.
His appetite slowed and it got to the point where we were giving him chicken fries from Burger King and chocolate donuts because that's all he literally wanted (and yes chocolate is bad for dogs). He kept drinking, which was good. I couldn't bear to see him starve. From Monday to Friday, he ate nothing. Zip. We couldn't force food into him and stress him out more. It was already painful to see my Dad carry him in and out of the house just to pee.
Sorry I just broke down a little and now I'm cleaning tears off my keyboard. UGH.
He would throw up nonstop and he actually had a couple accidents in our house which made it smell even worse. We had blankets and carpets everywhere to help him get up and sometimes we would just push him across the hardwood floor to move him. His mind was saying something totally different than his body was. He wanted to eat and play, but his body failed him immensely. We thought it was best to put him down and as I'm writing this, my parents are at the vet with him and he's at peace now with his puppy mom and dad.
He lived a very long and happy life. He's been through a lot of good and bad parts of mine. We've experienced a lot with him and I'm giggling at the time when he somehow got out of our house and ran straight across a busy highway and somehow survived because he was the little stinker that he was. Oh god, I hate talking about him in the past tense; he was just here.
I want him to be happy and he made me happy. It was probably one of the kindest things (besides giving him a ton of people food and love lol) that we could have done for him; to release him from his pain and suffering. I will never forget him and I will wait until we meet again. I love you Rigly.
<3
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