Everyday-Brood

I found this Ted Talk video on YouTube. When I first read the title, I laughed to myself because I could immediately identify with it.

The man speaking in the video has a refreshing outlook on life. He is smarter than most educated people will ever be. He is wiser than those who build and invent and create. He embodies the confidence and security that people ought to strive for. And most important of all, he asks the questions that most of us choose to ignore.

When I starting watching this video, I lost track of the minutes and was completely absorbed in the man's speech. In my opinion, this this video is both valuable and applicable for people of all walks of life.

I was never really a flowers kinda gal, but recently, after receiving flowers from my Dad, I have finally realized the marvelously enthralling beauty they possess.


When fresh and new, flowers add a certain carefree, cheerful atmosphere to any room. Their mere presence seems to brighten up the dark little nooks and crannies that would otherwise be cast aside and forgotten. Not to mention, the blooming blossoms have an effortlessly chic vibe that adds a simple elegance to anything they're situated around.



After receiving the flowers, I decided to place them in a vase and strategically position them on my plain, clean-cut desk. Well, the flowers certainly did the trick by adding pops of bright orange, girly pink and mysterious red to my simple, white worktable. All of a sudden, my once meek desk gained a cool yet classy character.


Although the blossoms looked great when they were lively and spirited, they seemed to grow in elegance as they aged. They reminded me of those unbelievably gorgeous celebrities that seem to miraculously grow more and more beautiful as the years pass (AKA Meryl Streep). As the days went by, I noticed the bright and cheery roses turning into tastefully muted versions of their former selves. This realization made me finally understand the aesthetic appeal that flowers cast in our society.

Needless to say, I have garnered a new love and appreciation for flowers. They encompass the breezy elegance that I one day hope to posses, myself.

This post is some what of a realization post.

So, recently I bought this sleek, new, "clinically proven," expensive face wash called Peter Thomas Roth Beta Hydroxy Acid 2 percent Acne Wash (well I technically got it for my sister for her birthday, but we share everything so I used it too). Although this product was supposed to be a spectacular panacea for my skin, it turned out to be a complete and utter NIGHTMARE!


Before using the acne wash, sure I had some pimples here and there, but I definitely didn't have any major breakouts. When I started using the face wash though, BAM the zits just kept coming. On top of the unexpected breakouts, my skin was sooo dry, which is extremely surprising in itself because I have naturally oily skin. Being positive, for once, I decided to keep using the product thinking that the breakouts were just temporary. Safe to say, that didn't work. So here I am, typing away and feeling sad about my skin. Even though I'm devastated at my results after using this supposedly "miracle" product, I guess I do have some good hindsight, which I will address later in the post in order to end on an upbeat tone.

Well, after having a sudden panic attack at the realization of what was most likely causing the breakouts, I've decided to go back to my old face wash and do a two week test. The two week test is nothing official, so don't expect to find any real results by searching it on Google; it's actually something my mom created. Basically, for the test, I am going to resume my old face care regime with all my old products and see if the switch makes a difference, which I am fairly confident it will. I'll probably do a post on the results, so keep a lookout.


As previously mentioned, I will know tell you what I have learned through this depressing and traumatizing experience.

What I've come to understand is that just because a piece of merchandise may have a certain brand name or a large price tag, does not mean that it's going to work miracles. I know that many people would find this realization obvious at first glace; however, I don't think people truly acknowledge the tremendous importance of this idea until they actually purchase something expensive that is not only ineffective, but also worsens their situation. Regardless, researching the acne wash mentioned above, I found out that it was supposed to be AMAZING at clearing up zitty skin and when I say AMAZING I mean people were just praising and raving about this so called "god-sent" face wash. The undeniable praise paired with the elaborate packaging and substantial price, assured me of the face wash's magical powers. In hindsight, I can safely say that my previous drug store products worked just as well (and were way cheaper), if not better than this high-end face wash. So, was it all worth it? Yes and No (mostly NO!). I will admit that the purchase was worth it because it made me understand that a certain brand name or a big price tag doesn't guarantee a product's effectiveness. I also realized the immense differences and discrepancies in skin types. Even though this product may have worked for numerous, fortunate people around the world, doesn't magically guarantee that it's going to work the same way for me. Overall I think the bottom line is to not buy into ridiculous prices and assume that products will work miracles for you just because you shelled out the big bucks for them. This may seem somewhat cynical but hey, it's the truth! (At least in my experience)


In closure, I just want to make it clear that I'm not trying to deny the legitimacy of the Peter Thomas Roth Acne Wash because it clearly worked for countless people. I'm also not trying to discourage others from buying the product because, hey, you never know, it may work for you! All I'm saying is that the product didn't work for me and that although I'm upset about the results, I've managed to learn a valuable lesson that I certainly won't forget!

All in all, I'm sad about the current state of my skin, but I know that it will get better. I've also learned a good lesson and therefore I can't complain. After all, there are other people out there who have MUCH bigger problems than my petty, little struggles.

As always continue to experiment and always remain fearless, but remember to never set high expectations for products based upon their luxuriously high prices!

AND NEVER FORGET...

So, today's the day...the day you show your undying love and affection for another person. Today is none other than Valentine's Day. In honor of such a magical, heart-warming time, I have put together some of the best Valentine's Day cards out there. If you're looking for the right card to express your eternal passion for that special someone, then look no further.


Since by now you're all probably just dying to see the the most amazingly spectacular cards to ever have come into existence, here they are:

Yesterday I watched The Imitation Game which, needless to say, was epic. The movie was so touching that I actually shed a few tears in the lasting scenes (At least I wasn't hysterically balling like the lady sitting in the front row). I will say that the ending was kind of tragic, but I'm definitely into the whole tragic hero motif, so I really enjoyed the movie regardless. If you know anything about me, you should be aware of the fact that I practically NEVER cry watching movies or reading books. Out of all the movies I've seen, which is a lot considering I go to the movies like every weekend, the only other time I've cried in the movie theater was when watching The Fault In Our Stars, which I don't even know why I did because it wasn't sad. The only time I actually full out cried while reading a book was after finishing A Thousand Splendid Suns (BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD). Therefore, it should be dully noted that I, a tragic movie and book junkie, do not usually cry after reading a book or watching a movie; however, this movie was definitely an exception.

Anyways, aside from the heart-rendering, yet beautifully constructed movie mentioned above, I also finished Looking for Alaska by John Green, today. Although, I can't say I loved the book, towards the end I did start to appreciate it a bit more. As a totally unrelated side note, I think the fact that I did amazing on my Calculus quiz definitely evoked some pretty riveting emotions.

After all of these emotional roller coasters, I've been feeling lots of well...feelings. Therefore, I decided to put together a list of the truest, most cool-looking, inspirational quotes from none other than...PINTERST!

So, let's take a journey to self discovery through the help of various procrastinating pinners (myself included)!

Lately, I've been getting really tired of the freezing winter weather. Not to mention, yesterday, I almost fell THREE times due to ice! I'm no warm weather junkie either, but lately I've been dreaming about those sweltering summer days when your dripping with sweat the moment you step out the door. (Just as a note, I'm never content with the weather, so on those humid days I'm typically hauled up indoors, hoarding all the fans in the house, googling pictures of snow.) But anyways, to get through this year's "winter wonderland," I have compiled an A-Z list of memorable things about winter, thus far.

Asphalt that turns roads white (for some reason I really like this, yet I simultaneously hate it)
Blogging...obviously
Candy-canes
Discovering the world of Buzzfeed
End of Morning Health Class
Fuzzy socks
Growing out a horrible haircut (although this is not good, it is certainly memorable and I will remember it enough to never do it again)
Hot Chocolate...YUM!
Indoors
Joseph's Birthday! (the only other person I know w/ a winter b-day besides my sister)
Kulsoom's Birthday! (can you guess who this is?)
Laziness
Mittens (not gloves)
No School
Overcoats
Positive vibes (as part of my New Year's resolution)
Quilts
Rampage pinning (Pinterset reference)
Snowmen (and women)
THE MINDY PROJECT
Untouched snow
Various intense laughing sessions
Wearing two pairs of socks
Xoxo (haha...not)
Yogurt and granola obsession
    And last but not least...
Zoning out...

As previously noted, I am never content with the weather. Therefore, although at the moment, I hate the cold, I know that in the dead of Summer, I'll be yearning for the wind chills. Anyways, hopefully you've thought of some of your own memorable moments about this year's wintery Eden, thus far!

I have a slight obsession with nail polish, but then again who doesn't. I consider it to be the most perfect, subtle accessory. There's no fear of anything falling off or irritating your skin. Ok sure, I'll admit that your nail polish might chip here and there, but in my opinion, a quick touch-up takes no time at all. Plus, you can buy a top coat that prevents chipping, keeping you oh sooo glamorous for longer.

My nail polish journey/obsession began in the 5th grade. I always wore the sheer, glittery colors. The colors that retain a natural feel yet simultaneously give your nails a glow similar to those of a mermaid or fairy. Later in middle school as I progressed in my nail polish craze, I began experimenting with  bright, overly-cheery colors. You know the ones I'm talking about. The florescent colors that are sure to make a statement. Now that I'm a junior in high school, I think I have finally found the color pallet that suits me.

Nowadays I prefer darker colors which often reflect my mood. They have this amazing edgy yet sophisticated vibe. I also like nude colors because I think they're just so classy and elegant. Typically I buy L'Oreal nail polishes because they dry SUPER fast, which is good because I can't stop using my hands for more than like 10 minutes. Also, L'Oreal nail polishes are pretty cheap but still have a good quality to them. Let's be honest, spending ten bucks for a tiny bottle of nail polish is ridiculous!

So without further ado here are some of my nail inspirations!