Valentine's Day Makeup, Inspiration and Day #11

MY INSPIRATION!!!!
Okay... Here is my inspiration!!!
Zuzana Light and her husband Fredrick Light

 They are so down to earth and real. I enjoy listening to their "Coffee Talks."

I mean, come on, look at those abs!

She is my inspiration for working out... And my motivation. She has her own blog: http://www.bodyrock.tv. It's basically all about working out and nutrition. All of her workouts are done at home and with very few equipment. They are hard core workouts.

She isn't my inspiration just for working out though. Her personal story is amazing. She did an interview with a German magazine and she laid everything out on the table. She is truly an amazing individual and she is so strong, physically and mentally. Read her story here.

This would be my makeup for Valentine's Day (minus the red lips). Very non-traditional and very sweet. It was inspired by the lead singer of Fireflight, Dawn Michele.

To: A Deceased person I wish you could talk to
Papaw, I love you and I miss you so much. You were my most favorite grandpa. I keep comparing the others to you, but they don't even come close. I think I should stop doing that because it only makes me miss you even more. I know you were upset the last time I saw you because I didn't sit on your lap. I was so scared I would break your legs because they were so thin. I still remember the last time I spoke to you and I hold onto that memory will all my strength. I am sorry I didn't believe you. You would know what I mean by that. I'm sorry I got mad at you for that. I really am. I regret getting mad at you. And now I cannot apologize. I love you so much and I miss you beyond words. I plan on carrying on the Rice Tradition you started without knowing: owning Corvettes. Every single time I see one I think of you. I'll own one eventually. I love you.

Erin

Faith and Day #10

Okay, this video is about my experiences in the gym. It's not meant to make fun of anyone or to berate them. This is just a vlog about the gym. =)

Lately I have been really getting into my faith. I have come to realize that no one is ever going to be there for me like God will. It has been such a long and enduring journey. I have been hurt by those closest to me and I am still working on forgiveness. However, I am now really trying to put myself into my faith. God will always be there. Others in my life might not be.

I found a new band... They are a christian rock group and they are amazing. They toured with Skillet on their Awake and Alive tour. They are just amazing. They are called The Letter Black. I did a tutorial on the lead woman's makeup. Her name is Sarah Anthony and she is beautiful with an amazing voice... The song is called Hanging on by a Thread.

Here is my tutorial. It's not meant to be as dark as her makeup, but it is very similar.

To: Someone I don’t talk to as much as I’d like to
I don't really have anyone I wish I talked to more... I take that back. God. I wish I talked more with Him. I know it sounds bad, but sometimes I forget to pray or forget to tell Him about my troubles, even though He already knows. This is something I am going to be working on in the near future. Everyone has something they need to better about themselves, and that is just one of many things I need to improve upon.

Erin

Videos and Day #9

Okay, so lately I have taken up fan fiction writing again, which has taken up most of my time the last three days. I am sorry I haven't updated my blog in a while. I have a few new videos... =)

It is a pretty simple tutorial on three ways you can tie a head scarf. I bought them from headcovers.com.

Gym tips and my experience with the gym is the topic of this video. I'm not trying to bash people, but this is the full out truth and what I think when I go to the gym. Plus, there are some tips meshed in the video in between rants and stories. =)

Okay, this video was emotional for me. Forgiveness is something I have been working on for almost two years. It is really hard to forgive people who have hurt you deeply. I think I am close to the emotional state of forgiveness for one of the people, but the other will take much more time. What they did has been strung out over a years time and when someone hurts you as deeply as this person has hurt me, it's hard to forgive. So I have been working on this for some time. It is a long and enduring process.


To: Someone Who I Wish I Could Meet
God, I want to meet you. Of course, I will meet You when my time for Judgment comes, but I would like to meet You before then. I want to know what I need to do. I want to know how I have done in the 19 years I have been alive. I know I haven't done my best, but I would like to know. Sometimes I don't understand why You do the things you do, but I trust you. I know You have been here for me through everything. Sometimes I don't feel You, but I know You are there. I want to become closer to You, but I do have trouble. You know I do. I want nothing more than to be as close to You as possible. I love You.

Erin

Curls and Day #8

I've been sick because of allergies today. My face hurts and it's puffy. I did a scrunching tutorial. If you have harder to scrunch hair, I suggest braiding your hair in multiple braids first, letting it dry, then scrunching it.

Okay, so, I have decided to really get on the ball with my food and stuff. I have the hard work down (going to the gym), but now, I need to get the even harder work down. I have an inspiration. Her name is Zuzana and she runs a fitness blog with her husband. It's called BodyRock.tv and it's awesome. She is just amazing. So she is my inspiration.

To: My Favorite Internet Friend
I don't really have an internet friend. All my friends are real life friends, whom I've known in real life. Out of those, you know who you are. We've known each other since 6th grade. You were my best friend when we lived in Minot. We played games and made our own little world within the Air Force Base. You are just as awesome now as you were back then. We haven't seen each other since 7th grade, but eventually I will get enough money saved up and go visit you. You're only one state up, so it shouldn't be bad. You are just awesome. I love how we can not see each other in... 8 years... and we can still never miss a beat. I miss you "Sammy" and so does my family.

Erin

Random and Day #7

So, I have been bored out of my ever lovin mind all day. I have tried new hair styles, played with my makeup, and taken random pictures.... OH, and did a YouTube video...

A childhood friend of mine is getting married in March. I just can't believe it. I still remember her as Mandi, the girl I played with when I lived in Minot. Now she is getting married. It's amazing. I see some pictures of her and her fiancee and I am so excited for her. I know the feelings of utter joy she is going through. I wish her the best in life and in her marriage. I'm still in shock (even though I've known about her engagement for some time now).

To: My Ex-Boyfriend(s)

I don't really regret any of the relationships I've had in the past. They have just brought me to where I am today. I never regretted saving myself either. I am glad everything turned out the way it did. Are you glad too? I know at least one of you are. You never really liked me. At all... You know who I'm talking about. But, hey, whatever. I'm married. I may not be having the time of my life right now, but I'm still happy with where I'm at. Peace, brothers!

Erin

Curl Your Hair and Day #6

The picture has absolutely nothing to do with the blog or my video. I just like it a lot. I don't usually curl my hair with a straight iron, but when I do, this is what I do. I kept saying "curling iron'' instead of flat iron throughout the video. Why? I don't have any clue.

I think I'm going to post my personal Vlog soon. I don't really know what to talk about. Another thing I've been thinking about is getting certified to be a Personal Trainer. I love working out and I work out almost on a daily basis. Why not get certified? I could use it, other people could use it, I could get a job with it. Why not? So, I'm going to save up for classes and stuff like that to get certified. It's going to be awesome

To: A Stranger
I don't know you. You could end up being my best of friends or worst of enemies, but I will treat you like you will become my best friend. I enjoyed meeting you (hopefully). I'm out going, as you saw. I hope I didn't offend you with my big mouth, though if I did, I really don't care. You were, hopefully, awesome.

Erin

Hair, Hauls, and Day #5

I did a nice little video on how to spice up your straight hair... All you need is a flat iron, heat protection, and hair spray.

I also finally, FINALLY, received my products I bought from Sephora and ELF. It's not their fault that they came late, it's Mother Natures fault for going all menstrual and dumping snow on the east coast.

ELF:
The Beauty Encyclopedia in Basic Eye
Eyebrow Kit in Ash
Eyeshadow Duos in Olive and Black Licorice
Eye Widener in Pearl White
Feather Proof Moisturizing Lip Liner in Natural Blush

Sephora:
Samples- Pangea Organics Eye Cream Turkish Rose and White Tea, Sephora Smoothing and Mattifying Primer, and Stila One Step Primcolor
Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette
Jonathan Dirt Texturizing Paste

I also bought a wolf necklace from http://www.cherokeejewelry.com. It is carved into gorgeous Opalite.

To: My Dreams
Don't run from me please. I want what everyone else wants: success. However, unlike a lot of people, I am willing to work HARD to achieve you. I try my damnest not to slack. I want to be happy with my life and with the work I want to do. I just need to get there. So, please, don't run from me Dreams. Please give me a chance to fufill you. Please.

Erin

Blue Green Smokey Eye and Day #4

So, I did a smokey blue green look using Maybelline, Revlon, and Cover Girl colors. It was pretty freaking easy. All you need is a shimmery white/off white highlight color, a neutral skin tone color, gray, a blue with more green in it than blue, and a midnight blue... Oh, and eyeliner and mascara... It's pretty freaking easy.

I am going to be moving around my room today so I can see if anything is lined up perfectly for lighting and what not. I really want to start zooming in for makeup tutorials, but right now I can't because of the lighting. So, today, I am moving around my room to see if I can find a place where the lighting is better for zooming.

To: My Siblings

B.J.-
You are the sibling I've had for the longest time... We're only like 20 months apart (or something like that). I wish we were closer, but you are a turd. DO NOT GO INTO THE CORPS! DO NOT BE RETARDED AND GO MARINE. Why won't you listen to me and Andrew and mom and dad? Why won't you do better in school? Because, when you get out, you will wish you did better. Why are you such a turd? I love you though.

Shelbi-
I miss you sister. And in April, you will be half my age. I'm glad you are doing well in school. And I'm glad you stand up for yourself. Just remember: bullies just do it because they are empty inside and they really just need a friend. Keep standing up for yourself and keep fighting back when some kid calls you "white trash."
 You go ahead and call them "black trash" right back. It doesn't make you racist if they said it first. I love you.

Hannah-
I miss you Sissy. You are growing up so fast. You are the more outgoing between you and Faith. You love to pick out your own clothes and God forbid if someone does it for you. But it's okay. You are definitely a little individual. Between you and Faith, I don't think I can take your little questions anymore. I hate it when you two ask when I'll be home. I hate being away from you two. I love you.

Faith-
My youngest sibling. My youngest sister. We have a little bond going on here: oldest sister and youngest sister. I love that you are attached to my hip whenever I'm home. No one else but "Sissy Erin" can do anything for you and I wouldn't have it any other way. I enjoy you being my little mini-me. You are my little companion and, believe it or not, my little rock. I hate it when you and Hannah ask me when I am coming home. It's usually you who ask, but Sissy asks too. It tears my heart out when you two ask, because you two don't understand what's going on quite yet. I hate this age because all you two know is Sissy Erin is leaving. You two will get to a point where you understand and you won't cry so much. I love you.

Erin

Slacking Off and Day #3

ALRIGHT! =) I know I have been slacking off with my blog posts lately, so here is the gist of what has been going on:
Got my hair cut and colored it

Talked about my four legged children

That's really about it. Unfortunately, my life isn't all exciting and all that jazz... I'm waiting on my orders to come in from Sephora and ELF... I bought my last bit of makeup for a while. I'm going to start focusing more on my hair so it will get healthy again.
 My poor hair...

To: My Parents
I love you so much that words cannot explain. You have been there through EVERY THING! Every single thing. You have given me advice and been there to hear me cry. You have given me comfort and a way out. I might get pissed off at you at times, but when it comes down to it, I am lucky beyond words to have you. Not everyone is blessed with parents who care so much and who will do anything for their children as you. And I'm not just talking about Mom and Dad. I'm also talking about Barry and Lynnette. Step parents are just like real parents and, again, I am lucky to have step parents who care for me as their own. I know stories of step parents who are horrible to their step children solely because they are not blood, but you two treat me like your own. We might have our differences (God knows we do), but I am extremely grateful to have you in my life. Barry, I am grateful that you were there when we were going through hard times. And, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have my little hellion sister, Shelbi. Lynnette, I am grateful for you changing my dad and being there with him. And, if it wasn't for you, I would have my twin sisters, Hannah and Faith. God, I miss them so, especially my little Faifers. She's my little hip attachment when I'm back home. I love you all (all four of you) with all my heart. I cannot say how grateful I am to have you.

Erin

Vibram FiveFingers and Day 2

My new gym shoes. They are amazing. That's really all I have to say...
Not really. These shoes help strengthen your feet and lower leg muscles. Man did they ever. They have really worked my calves. I ran 1.5 miles Saturday and my calves are still so sore. They allow you to land on your forefoot instead of your heels. This is different than other running shoes.

To: My Crush
Too bad I don't have one. My crush is my husband. But if I did have one, I would tell them I have a crush on them... Do you feel the same? I sure hope so. Because it would suck if I told you my feelings and you didn't feel the same...

Erin

Eyeshadow De-Potting and Day 1

I FINALLY LEARNED HOW TO EDIT MY VIDEOS!

Now that I have that out of the way, I have a new video. It's all about de-potting eyeshadows. Please people, use patience and caution!!!

So, I've decided to add a few things onto the next 30 blogs or so I do. It's this thingy I was tagged in on FaceBook. You have a list of people (the best I can explain) and each day you write a few things you would say to them. That's the best way I can explain. If you still don't understand, just keep tuned and you will eventually. It's hard to explain. =)

Day 1 — Your Best Friend
Day 2 — Your Crush
Day 3 — Your parents
Day 4 —Your sibling (or closest relative)
Day 5 — Your dreams
Day 6 — A stranger
Day 7 — Your Ex-boyfriend/girlfriend/love/crush
Day 8 — Your favorite internet friend
Day 9 — Someone you wish you could meet
Day 10 — Someone you don’t talk to as much as you’d like to
Day 11 — A Deceased person you wish you could talk to
Day 12 — The person you hate most/caused you a lot of pain
Day 13 — Someone you wish could forgive you
Day 14 — Someone you’ve drifted away from
Day 15 — The person you miss the most
Day 16 — Someone that’s not in your state/country
Day 17 — Someone from your childhood
Day 18 — The person that you wish you could be
Day 19 — Someone that pesters your mind—good or bad
Day 20 — The one that broke your heart the hardest
Day 21 — Someone you judged by their first impression
Day 22 — Someone you want to give a second chance to
Day 23 — The last person you kissed
Day 24 — The person that gave you your favorite memory
Day 25 — The person you know that is going through the worst of times
Day 26 — The last person you made a pinky promise to
Day 27 — The friendliest person you knew for only one day
Day 28 — Someone that changed your life
Day 29 — The person that you want tell everything to, but too afraid to
Day 30 — Your reflection in the mirror

To: My Best Friend
You have been there for me for the past... Geez, almost 6 years! You are my rock when I need one, you are my ear when I need someone to listen, and my mouth when I need advice. You have helped me through some incredibly harsh times and listened to me bitch and moan when things don't go my way. I thank you SO much! Even though we are like 2,004 miles away (yea, you let me know the exact amount) and we haven't seen each other in a year and a half, you have remained my best friend. Thank you so much. And even though I have said that so many times, I can't say it enough. Thank you.

Erin

Frosty Pink and Brown

I was looking through my eye shadows today and I came across some colors I haven't used in a LONG time. So, I decided to take them out and examine. First, I did a tutorial (below) and then decided to "de-pot" all the colors so I won't forget them again. Well that was a journey. I found it's pretty easy to de-pot Almay, L'Oreal, and Clinique shadows (but not Clinique blushes). However, IT IS NOT EASY TO DE-POT COASTAL SCENTS! For the sake of your eyeshadow, do not try to de-pot anything Coastal Scents. I am going to try to find a way to, but for now I just destroyed one eyeshadow (not one I use, thankfully).

Frosty Pink and Brown

In the video, my husband is playing with the dog. He probably would have disturbed the video more if he didn't come home with a migraine. You can't really tell by the way he was playing with Chewy, but his head hurt pretty bad. I made him eat some Advil and take a nap. Luckily, he got rid of it.

As for today, I tore my muscle again. A few weeks ago, when we were working chest at the gym, I tore my right deltoids where it meets the triceps. I thought I gave it enough time to heal, since when we worked arms the other day it didn't hurt. Well, I thought wrong. Today, I felt a slight twinge, but it was nothing. My right side kept giving out (which is abnormal because my right side is dominate) and I should have taken it as a warning. While doing dips I felt amazing pain through my right shoulder and triceps. I tore it again. So next time we do arms, I'm only working biceps, and when we work chest, I'm going to do cardio. Hopefully, I give it enough time to heal this time. A torn muscle sucks badly; not only because it hurts, but also because it keeps me from working those areas.

Erin

How To: Rock a Top Knot

So, I decided to make a tutorial on a pretty simple way to make a top knot bun. For those who don't know what that is, it is a bun on the top of your head. I don't normally wear this hair-do, but I thought I would try it using a bun technique I used when I was in JROTC. It's pretty simple, but it can take some time to get use to. You can also do a sock bun instead of the way I showed in the video.

How To: Rock a Top Knot

How To: Rock a Sock Bun

I have been waiting on my head scarves to come in. I'm pretty excited to get them and try them out. I've always thought women who wear head scarves looked gorgeous, so I went online and bought some from headcovers.com (who normally cater to those going through chemotherapy) . This site gives a wide range of beautiful head scarves, but they also have wigs and other head coverings. I did not find another site with scarves that looked so good and had such a wide range of styles to chose from. I bought a scarf gripper (a head band used to keep scarves from slipping off the head) and two oversized solid scarves (one in cappuccino and one in black). If I like these, I plan on buying more from the site.

Erin

First and Formost

Okay, so I'm really trying to figure out how to do the blog thing. I guess I will start out with what I have been up to lately.

Lately, I have just been working out a lot. I have made major gains in the gym. For example, I now squat 185lbs., press 270lbs., and I can do dips on my own. I enjoy working out so much, it's like my little addiction. I will soon be uploading a video about women and weightlifting. I feel it is important to get it out there that women should not be scared of weightlifting.

I have been dreaming up some ideas for YouTube videos. I knocked two off my list (Redo: Underarm Care and Quick and Easy Tattoo Concealing). I never thought it would be so hard to think of video ideas. I'm not the greatest with make up yet and I have a limited imagination when it comes to hair. When I get into the rut I am in, I usually fall to the informational videos, but I don't want to be known for them specifically. I want to be able to make a wide range of videos. My last couple of videos were filmed on my new Nikon Coolpix camera, courtesy of my best girl, Trish (shown above).

 Redo: Underarm Care

Quick and Easy Tattoo Concealing

Other than that, I have just been focusing on my school work and finding a 9-5 job. Because I don't have a lot of experience in the field of Law Enforcement, not a lot of agencies want me. I'm focusing more on smaller jobs, like alarm monitoring and dispatch right now, just to get my little foot in the door. My husband and I are going back home in March, so maybe I can do little videos of my home back in Louisville. I still haven't quite figured out the whole video editing thing yet, so I don't know how that will go down. We will have to see.

Erin