The ultimate dynamic duo of PUBG

The end result of
the PUBG duo match I just played.

I am starting to really love and appreciate PUBG Mobile. Not only is it engaging, but I feel like I am getting a life lesson in navigation, which is essential when playing any kind of strategic action game. I would say this is my best game; however, due to lack of kills, it is not. I still really enjoy PUBG.
I decided to get on my phone and play with my friend Billy Housh in a duo match. And for those of you who do not know, Billy and I have been friends for over 10 years. He is known for his comedic videos on YouTube as well as his live streams (mainly gaming) via Twitch.

The duo match was held in the Erangel map where we both played the game via Classic TPP (Third-Person mode). We decided to play the Asia server, which had a relatively high ping number (and for those of you who are unaware, this equals extreme lag) but was fun nevertheless.

For not killing anyone, I still managed to receive 1,234 BP. I also gained 551 in experience. My total rating was +55, with most of the points being from survival where I garnered +53 points. I received a +7 kill rating for not killing anyone. I think that is excellent for not killing anyone.

The final player (LucTienSinh from China) ended up dying in the actual kill zone (out of the circle) so we ended up winning the famous chicken dinner at the end of the game, making us the winners of this particular match.

Remembering Etta James

Etta James was one of the greatest singers to have ever lived and one of my favorite singers of all time. She was a storyteller who sang the blues, not because she wanted to but because it was who she was. James exuded so much soul she sold you the moment she would open her mouth. 

I remember hearing her sing for the first time and thinking how amazing she was. The power and projection she possessed was impeccably pristine. Imperfectly perfected, she epitomizes what singing your heart out really is. When she sang, I believed every word she would sing. It was 7 years ago today that Etta James died. At the age of 73, she passed away 5 days before her 74th birthday (which was on January 25th.) 

In late 2017, I joined Smule. The first song I ever recorded on the app was in late November. The first song I ever recorded on the app At Last by Etta James. It speaks so many volumes for being under three minutes and tells a story that many can relate to. 

To listen to my rendition of At Last, simply watch the video above. If it doesn't play, just click here right now. 

A woman with a voice and a message, Etta James will be remembered forever. 

President Trump offers 'Dreamers' Deal

As you many of you are already aware, president Trump is definitely not hiding nor zigzagging around any issues with his latest proposal in exchange for funding the wall. A 1,000 mile wall that will cost a staggering $5.7 billion. As Trump continues to promise a safer America by creating a wall to border South America, the 45th president has made quite a few demands.

And for those of you who do not know, there are millions upon millions of undocumented, illegal immigrants which enter the land of the free and the home of the brave every year. You can read more about this here. Almost four million of them are under the age of 18. In short, president Trump has offered protection for individuals in which is referred to as "Dreamers" who are undocumented immigrants age 18 and under. Our president also made the promise not to harm any of the children. This was recently revealed in a 13-minute speech by the president earlier this afternoon.

"$800 million in urgent humanitarian aid, $805 million for drug detection technology to help secure our ports of entry, an additional 2,750 border agents and law enforcement professionals. 75 new immigration judge teams to reduce the court backlog," Trump shared in his speech earlier today. "A mechanism to allow Central American minors to apply for asylum in their home countries" he added.

“The radical left can never control our borders. I will never let it happen.”

“Liberals care more about illegal immigrants than they do about our own citizens. It's time to put America First,” Trump shared in a recent ad. Marking day 29 (four weeks and one day) since Trump shutdown the government, I think it is very clear our president is not going to allow anyone to disprove his plan.

Although a lot of democrats say Trump is throwing a temper tantrum and is acting immorally by shutting down the government, I truly believe it is both Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi who are being quite egotistical and immature. Refusing to accommodate with the president's request for funding the wall, after both politicians originally had the same interest in funding the wall, proves they glorifying their own ego and self righteous thoughts on the issue. Here is an interesting video featuring Schumer back in 2009 and here is Pelosi several years ago proving why she agrees with Trump on border security.

Creating only polarization and backlash, I think it is very clear both Schumer and Pelosi dislike Trump, as it is also evident they will not compromise with his request, making it difficult for hundreds of thousands of government workers and their families. The truth is, this is not a manufactured problematic issue which Pelosi, Schumer and their supporters believe, this is an ongoing matter and will only continue if they repudiate it. In addition, these people demanding so much from Trump.

What is wrong with this picture? Why are they ignoring our president and treating him this way? Especially when he wants what is best for our nation. What is the reason Pelosi and Schumer want to continue to reject the president's efforts and initiatives? Is it because Schumer negotiated with Trump last year regarding the wall and it fell through? Why is Trump being punished for listening to his advisors? He cares about the people, not just himself.

It is clear both Pelosi and Schumer share the same views, so why are they refusing to acknowledge Trump's requests for wall funding? These are the same people who are accusing him of using the lives of youth as bargaining chips when they clearly shared the same thoughts on immigration years ago.

Not only does our economic and labor market suffer due to illegal immigrants entering our country, both poverty (this archived article by Giorgio di Pietro is a good read) and overpopulation are increased immensely. This also creates a divide and a high risk for war and asylum (this archived article is a good read regarding this) for these people. These problems exclude drug trafficking, human trafficking, kidnapping and rape, which are modestly baffling and occur as a result. Now I am not saying every undocumented immigrant promotes crime nor is a criminal, but they do make an impact on both the economic and labor markets, as they do increase poverty, promote overpopulation and create polarization and segregation. And when I refer to immigrants, I am referring to those who are here illegally.

Why is building a wall such a big issue? Instead of attacking Trump, why not question him and his motives. Why not address ongoing issues directly to him? Why waste your energy hating him? Sure he can be a loose cannon, but this problem is extant and should never be overlooked. With that said, compromise should never divide this country.

Separating fact from fiction, I commend president Trump for wanting to enforce the immigration issue and proposing a solution and a positive resolve for the American people. The United States is the country of life, of liberty and of happiness. It is the melting pot of the planet. I believe everyone has the right to come to America, as long as they do it legally.  

La Nuit Tresor by Lancome

La Nuit Tresor by Lancôme

Lancôme is one of the biggest and best beauty brands in the world today. As one of the largest lux makeup brands right now, this prestige brand also creates the finest in skin care, body care, nails and fragrance. In fact, I have tried an array of perfumes from this fabulous French line and recently, I had the opportunity to try and wear the La Nuit Tresor parfum from the brand.

Launched in 2015, this classic staple is described as Lancôme's first fragrance of its kind, as the brand refers to this as the first "gourmand woody floriental" but has been compared to the original Tresor which was released in 1990. Love at first smell? But the real question is: what did I think?

PROS

What I loved originally about this fragrance was the packaging, as it embodies a black diamond. This symbolizes both mystery and elegance, which I really find intriguing. I really love how the pink depicts an expression of love. The black ribbon with the Lancôme brand logo definitely adds character to the packaging. The bottle alone tells a story. Although this fragrance doesn't stand up like your traditional scent holder, it is aesthetically significant as it stands out among other fragrances. It can definitely decorate the space it invades.

And speaking of invasion, the silage of this fragrance is incredibly powerful. It is very concentrated compared to other fragrances, as a little goes a very long way. A lot of powerful silage smell staples tend to have an alcoholic undertone due to the heavy alcohol used in them, which I do not like, but this fragrance still stands after hours of wear without that strong smell. The staying power is definitely a reason to both love and appreciate this fragrance too as this will last hours upon hours.

The top notes of this fragrance are described as being pear, bergamot, and tangerine. The middle notes include: vanilla orchid, black rose, passionfruit, and strawberry. The base notes of La Nuit Tresor are patchouli, vanilla, papyrus, caramel, praline, licorice, coumarin, litchi, coffee and incense.

When I first smelled this fragrance, I notice the praline and caramel notes first. The very notes that are evident are the gourmand notes (praline, caramel, vanilla, coffee, etc.) followed by the patchouli which holds this lavish Lancôme addition together. I don't really smell the bergamot that much in this fragrance and although the balsamic note is there, it doesn't take over the fragrance at all. If you were to combine Armaf's Signature fragrance with Vera Wang's Princess Night and Juicy Couture's limited-edition Gold fragrance, the result would be this one.

Lancôme does not test on animals. If you are one who embraces the cruelty-free concept, you will not only appreciate this product, but value it that much more.

CONS

I love sweet fragrances; however, as of late, I am really enjoying the gourmand scents paired with the floral and earthy notes. The notes in this fragrance tell a story that is sultry, seductive and edgy. If you are into lighter fragrances, you will not enjoy this. This is a very potent perfume that is heavily concentrated with a plethora of notes. If you are into clean scents, this fragrance is also not for you.

This fragrance does not smell like candy or your favorite sweet treat, so if you love fruity things you may not find this one to be your favorite. This is a fragrance I would not recommend to a child or even a young teen. As La Nuit Tresor is a heavy fragrance, I wouldn't recommend wearing this perfume to your 9-to-5 job, unless you intend to use just one spritz near your palm and your neck.

If you are into organic and natural fragrances or fragrances that are free of chemicals, you are not going to find the La Nuit Tresor appealing. Although they are cruelty-free, there are several lab created ingredients in this product including multiple dyes. If you are sensitive to ingredients such as: alcohol, diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl, ethylhexyl, gerianiol, and methoxycinnamate, this is not a fragrance for you. For the full list of ingredients, go here.

Would I recommend this fragrance? Absolutely. Would I use this fragrance again? Yes. For more information about the La Nuit Tresor fragrance, please visit Lancôme today.


FTC: Honest review of the Lancôme La Nuit Tresor fragrance. All opinions are my own. No affiliate links used.

Harry Nilsson has been dead for 24 years

I remember being a very musically intrigued young girl listening to Harry Nilsson. I remember his beautiful voice and thinking I wished he would have lived a little longer, as he was just 52 years old when he died. In fact, he died when I was only 13 years old. Nilsson died of a sudden heart attack. 

It was quite tragic, as I remember hearing stories he tried to create more music shortly before his passing. One of things he did do was try to push his music label to release a special limited-edition box set. It was as if he knew he didn't have many years to live.

To honor his life and him, I decided to share my recording from Smule of his classic "Without You" a beautiful love ballad introduced in 1971 by the rock crooner. Written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger, this was Harry Nilsson's song. He recorded the song in a single take, which proves why I believe this was truly his song. Kind of like "I Will Always Love You" being Whitney Houston's.

To listen to my recording of Without You watch/listen to the video above. If it doesn't play, simply click here right now. 

Rest in Peace Harry Nilsson (June 15, 1941-January 15, 1994)

PUBG: Duo win in Erangel with Billy Housh

If I had to choose a favorite mobile app right now, it would definitely be the PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (also known as PUBG). This game is literally one of the most adventurous, digital escapisms I have ever experienced. As strategic as it is, this fascinating game is about survival, kills, damage, supplies and support. Each one is as unique as the player who embraces them and together will determine your overall rating of each play.

Completing missions is also quite an incentive when playing this game. And the elite royal pass is definitely worth the splurge, as you can complete quite a few more missions and gain a lot of great items in the process. I first heard about this game through my boyfriend Sumit, who has been playing since the game started last year.

Tonight, I decided to play duos with my friend Billy, who I have known for over 10 years. He's always been a gamer and streamer, so it is always fun playing with him because he is a safe yet destructive player that can kill and camp according. With that said, I just achieved my first "chicken dinner" (which is basically what you receive when you win the game) with Billy in a duo match on the Erangel map in classic mode.

I killed a total of 5 players in addition to the final player (luisdonal94) to receive the big win at the end. I received a total of 720 BP for my win. With 708 in experience, I had a kill rating of +74 and a survival rating of +59 for a total rating tonight of +73 which isn't that bad. I was also able to achieve both the "chicken master" and "medic" titles.

Amazing right?

This mobile game is literally too fun. And although I win some, I also lose sometimes too. Most of the time; however, I find myself in the top 10. I tend to join squad matches most, but I love to play duo and solo from time to time also.

With that said, if you haven't played PUBG, you truly need to.

Lady Gaga defends victims of R.Kelly

As many of you are aware, Lifetime aired a six-part documentary series featuring R&B superstar R.Kelly. The series aired from January 3, 2019 until January 5, 2019. The series itself tells true stories about Kelly including graphic details of the abuse from his victims and raises many red flags in the process.  

I know this is getting off the point (I have to interrupt myself), but I knew something was off when R.Kelly was involved with Aaliyah. Aaliyah considered him to be her mentor in the early 90s and many credit him for the reason she was famous. When he got involved with her, I do believe she was only in her teens. I don't even think Aaliyah was of legal age when they were engaged and I believe he married her illegally also. Then, shortly after he married his backup dancer, Andrea Lee.

Fast forwarding to 2002, there were allegations of him and child pornography. I do believe the actual video of this surfaced which prompted an immediate investigation. What I found disturbing about this was it took over 6 months just for this case to be tried in court. He was found not guilty on 14 counts which I thought was extremely odd. No doubt some of those jury members were paid off. Part three of the documentary titled "Sex Tape Scandal" discussed this and did not censor the harsh reality of it.

Then, years later more women came forward with similar stories even going so far to say he intentionally infected them with sexually transmitted diseases and abused them. One woman made a claim in early 2018, but Kelly of course denied it. Some people question what happened to certain women, as some have even went missing. Others even believe some women were locked in rooms while Kelly worked, hence why some of his employees were forced to sign non-disclosure agreements.

The speculation does not end there. It has been said that some of the rooms in his studio were locked and women would knock on the doors asking to use the bathroom or for food. According to this article published last year by the Washington Post, the allegations only rise as this article raises many questions. I don't believe in spreading fake news nor supporting it, but the premise of the article doesn't sugar coat the commentary behind it. I believe with more people coming forward, R.Kelly will share a similar fate to Bill Cosby, another predator who was overlooked for many years.

Disturbing right? With so much proof to support the claims and allegations, many outlets including Spotify and Apple refuse to even promote and play R.Kelly's music anymore. I also believe that Pandora will not play his music either. Can you blame them? I definitely cannot.

Well, tonight Lady Gaga took to her official Twitter account to release a statement about R.Kelly at 9:43 PM MST. Here is the statement made by Lady Gaga regarding R.Kelly:



Lady Gaga's official
statement regarding
R.Kelly.

 

Lady Gaga is truly a class act. As most didn't know what to expect from the world class superstar, she made it clear that she was aware of what he has done, admits to working with him during her "dark" time, regrets it and shares support of sexual assault victims and survivors. She made it clear that she will never work with him again shortly before stating she will remove her collaboration of the song "Do What You Want (With My Body)" with him.

 

I am absolutely appalled and disgusted by R.Kelly and his actions, as I am more disturbed by anyone who defends him and supports his flagitious actions. And to think there are people who simply refuse to believe he has destroyed these innocent women's lives is beyond baffling. And after hearing his song "I Admit" (which I can't tell if this song is legitimate or he's trolling us) regardless based on this song alone, I think he's trying to make a joke of his own actions as well as manipulate us into believing he's the victim, which is even more vile.

 

As beautiful as R.Kelly's voice is (think Sam Cooke meets Donny Hathaway with a hint of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye), I am so shocked at what he has done, that there is no way I can continue being a fan of his. In fact, I will never listen to his music ever again nor support his music in any way. That song is now garbage and my cover of his songs (including my two covers of "If I Can Turn Back The Hands (Of Time)" will be deleted from my Smule.

 

I think it is time to take a stand and support every woman of sexual assault and violence. Stop blaming the victim and praising the perpetrator. Stop spreading lies because you have never experienced sexual assault and cannot relate. Stop attacking anyone who defends the victim just because you refuse to do so. Stop silencing the truth because you refuse to believe it. Support those who have endured violence. Support the victim. Listen to them and if they are no longer with us, be their voice. It is time to #MuteRKelly.

I just won for my entire squad on PUBG

So, tonight when playing PUBG on my iPhone, I found myself being on the only surviving player for my entire team. As two of the players died early on, one of lasted quite a while before they also died. It is quite hard to play solo in a squad match, as most teams tend to stick together and the chances of you getting ambushed by 3-4 people is relatively high.

Tonight, I took one for the entire team and brought home the chicken dinner in my quest, when playing the Erangel map. With the last remaining player being Lork, I was able to shoot them by simply running directly at them and just shooting, as they attempted to shoot at me. I killed a total of five players in this particular PUBG game.

For winning the chicken dinner for my squad, I was able to garner a total of 677 BP. I also gained 760 in experience. My total kill rating was +70 and my survival rating was +40 with a total rating of +56. In addition, I achieved the chicken master title for shooting the final player in the game, winning for my entire squad.

As my squad for this evening consisted of mamo6767, KRALYOZGATLI and BigBoss852, it was fun playing with them. KRALYOZGATLI killed more players than me and withstood for quite sometime before he was killed. Regardless of winning or losing, I always have a fun time.

Starbucks walks into Winter with the Cinnamon Shortbread Latte

The new Cinnamon Shortbread Latte.
Only at Starbucks.

Starbucks is one of my favorite places to go, especially when I am working. It is close to where I work, so it is convenient and ever since they started offering the rewards program, I find myself gravitating there daily.

The holidays have sprung and Winter has begun. In fact, the snow falls have been hitting all us here in the United States with full force. Today Starbucks introduced an incredible seasonal beverage: the Cinnamon Shortbread Latte.

Combining the richness of brown sugar, butter and vanilla, this warm delight is topped with some of the finest gourmand spices which embody the holiday season, nutmeg and cinnamon. This drink tastes a lot Cinnabon. As most of Starbucks seasonal offerings rarely disappoint me, this flavorful addition joins forces with those that are simply amazing.

I will admit, I prefer cold coffee (iced coffee and/or frappes) to warm coffee drinks, but this drink is the perfect pair with Starbucks wonderful old fashioned glazed donut.

And in addition to this fantastic latte, Starbucks is introducing quite a few wonderful things. It is has been one year since Starbucks had the blonde espresso on the menu. The blonde espresso is a robust coffee drink which is modestly smooth and a little sweet. Today, Starbucks is introducing two new drinks to complement this type of espresso. These drinks include the Starbucks Blonde Flat White, which consists of a blonde espresso shot made with whole milk and the Iced Starbucks Americano, where espresso shots are topped with water to produce a natural crema effect and served over ice.

Starbucks is also adding two new drinks to complement their signature espresso. first drink is the Iced Caramel Macchiato, which combines Starbucks' signature espresso with vanilla syrup, milk and ice as well as a caramel garnish. The second drink is the White Chocolate Mocha, combines the essence of white chocolate and steamed milk. This drink is then garnished with whipped cream. I enjoy both of these drinks with almond milk and/or coconut milk.

The world-renowned coffee house will also make the morning bun a permanent item in their bakery items, which I find to be fantastic. It is one of my favorites on the menu right. And the new Red Velvet Cake Loaf is to die for. It is definitely one of my favorite bakery items they have out right now.

I don't know where you will be, but I know where I will be today during my breakfast, my lunch and my dinner. Starbucks, I hope you are waiting for me.

Get the Hair: Lady Gaga at 76th Golden Globe Awards

Lady Gaga at the 76th annual
Golden Globe Awards
on Sunday, January 6, 2019.
(Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage)

Today is the 2019 Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton located in the heart of Beverly Hills. So much is going on this evening as many talented people are up for quite a few awards including, Lady Gaga who has been nominated for several tonight. The talented and beautiful actress, singer, songwriter and producer stunned the red carpet wearing a pastel blue Valentino gown inspired by Cinderella. As mother monster's makeup looked amazing, most of us could not get over how glamorous and chic her hair looked.

Tonight Lady Gaga's hair was styled by the world-renowned, celebrity stylist Frederic Aspiras who used quite a few products to make her hair shine for the star's biggest night.

Aspiras shared with me, "First, I used the Joico Blonde Powder Lightener to create the brilliant blonde look." In addition to this particular product, the celebrity stylist shared that he used the Joico Color Intensity in both 'Sky' and in 'Rose' mixed with a clear mixer to create a Cerulean Blue, which complemented Gaga's Valentino dress.

As the world-renowned stylist continued, he used the Joico Blonde Life Brightening Veil throughout the star's hair. Then, he continued by combing through her hair. "I took the ghd detangling comb and combed through her hair. Then, I used the ghd natural bristle radial brush in size 1 and did a full blow-out using the ghd air hair dryer." Using high heat, Aspiras, then ran the ghd Platinum+ Styler through Gaga's locks before applying the Joico Body Shake Texturizing Finisher throughout her hair.

Using the ghd oval dressing brush, the celebrity stylist put her hair into a ponytail before wrapping her hair into a partial half bun, leaving her hair parted to each side of her hair. Then, Aspiras curled the ends of the hair using the ghd soft curl iron.

To finish the look, the Aspiras applied the Joico Humidity Blocker Finishing Spray.

 Will Lady Gaga win tonight? I don't know about you, but if 'Shallow' doesn't win the Golden Globe Award, I don't think I would trust this awards show.

Congratulations! You have just re-created Lady Gaga's hair look for the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards. #GoldenGlobes

Get the Makeup: Anne Hathaway at 76th Golden Globes

Anne Hathaway at the 76th annual
Golden Globe Awards on Sunday,
January 6th 2019.
(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Anne Hathaway always looks amazing when she hits the red carpet. Although Hathaway is not nominated this year, the Golden Globes winner knows a thing or two about the Golden Globes red carpet where she stunned and shined earlier this evening. Wearing a leopard-print styled glam gown by Elie Saab from the 2019 Spring collection, the beautiful brunette looked uniquely chic. As her hair looked fantastic, her makeup really stood out. Courtesy of her talented makeup Beau Nelson.

“Anne’s stylist chose the most exquisite leopard print dress for the carpet so we did modern clean beauty with the hair and makeup. I gave Anne a softly sculpted eye anchored by a liquid black line and soft feather lashes paired with a soft peachy pink lip and cheek. Classic modern elegance.” – Beau Nelson shared with me.

So, is it possible to re-create Anne Hathaway's makeup look? Absolutely.

First and foremost, Nelson prepped Hathaway's skin. Using the Armani Beauty Crema Nera Supreme Recovery Oil, the celebrity makeup artist applied this product to the stunning starlet's face focusing on the jawline and the cheekbones. Performing a very subtle lymphatic massage, he then, applied the Armani Beauty Crema Nera Light-Reviving EyeCream under the eyes where he used a gentle tapping motion.

As the world-renowned makeup artist continued, he applied the Armani Beauty Light Master Primer on Hathaway's face. Then, he applied the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation to any all areas which were necessary using shade 2 in the inside part of the face and shade 4 on the outer areas, blending seamlessly with a foundation brush.

Then, the celebrity makeup artist dabbed the Armani Beauty High Precision Retouch in 2 under the eyes to brighten. He used a thin brush applicator which he further blended by gently tapping the area with his finger. As Nelson continued, he used the Armani Beauty Compact Cream Concealer in Light-Medium which he only applied to the redness areas of Hathaway's face including any blemishes.

Next, Nelson applied the Armani Beauty Neo Nude A-Contour under the cheekbones and jawline to give dimension to Hathaway's face followed with a swipe of the Armani Beauty Neo Nude A-Blush in 30. Using a fluffy powder brush, the celebrity makeup artist used the Armani Beauty Neo Nude Compact Powder Foundation in 3 on the beautiful brunette's "t-zone" area.

The eyes are what really stands out in this look. For the eyes, Beau Nelson Beau used the Armani Beauty Eyes To Kill Eye Quattro Eyeshadow in 2 Avant-Premiere and applied
it softly to the crease just before blending it slightly, sweeping upwards. As he continued, he used the Armani Beauty Eyes To Kill Proliner (limited edition) in Black. To finish the face, he applied several coats of the Armani Beauty Eyes To Kill Classic Mascara in 1 Black along with a touch of Armani Beauty Smooth Silk Eye Pencil in 12 on the inner rim of the eye.

To complete the entire look, the celebrity makeup artist applied the Armani Beauty Smooth Silk Lip Pencil in 4 to define the beautiful star's lips just before filling them in. Finally, he used his finger to pat on Armani Beauty Rouge Ecstasy Lipstick in 303 Dragee for a soft peach lip.

Congratulations! You have just re-created Anne Hathaway's makeup look for the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards. #GoldenGlobes

Charlize Theron 2019 Golden Globes Look

Charlize Theron at the 76th annual
Golden Globe Awards on
Sunday, January 6, 2019.
(Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Charlize Theron looked absolutely gorgeous this evening on the red carpet in her black and white gown courtesy of Christian Dior and jewels courtesy of Bulgari. Nominated for her role in Tully, this blonde beauty proves why she is at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards tonight. As her makeup looked amazing, her hair did also. But the real question remains - is it possible to re-create her entire look at home? The answer is: Yes.

SKINCARE

In order to create an amazing makeup look, it is very important to start with a great canvas to work with. For this particular look, it is essential to use Dior Beauty products, as Theron is one of the official models for the brand. For this look, Dior Beauty personally recommends the new Dior Capture Youth New Skin Effect Enzyme Resurfacing Water (or solution) to exfoliate and tone the skin. To moisturize, Dior Beauty recommends Dior Capture Youth Intense Rescue Age-Delay Revitalizing Oil Serum.

MAKEUP

Priming is essential when creating any makeup look as it prevents your face from fading, flaking and melting. To prime the skin, Dior Beauty recommends using the Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin Advanced. To re-create Charlize Theron's look, the brand also suggests using Dior Diorskin Forever Perfect Foundation to even out the skin.

Contouring works to sculpt, shape and even enhance your features. To re-create this look, the Dior Backstage Contour Palette in #001 Universal was used to do just that for the 43 year stunning starlet.

For the eyes, Dior Beauty recommends applying the Dior Backstage Eye Palette in #002 Cool Neutrals. Charlize Theron's eyes really popped this evening and one of the reasons why is because this gorgeous glammer loves her Dior Diorshow Mascara in #090 Pro Black.

To finish the makeup look, Dior Beauty recommends utilizing the Dior Backstage Lip Palette in #001 Universal Neutrals.

HAIR

Charlize Theron's hair.
(Photo by Adir Abergel)

Charlize Theron's hair was styled by the talented, world-renowned celebrity stylist Adir Abergel. Abergel went with a very timeless yet edgy style to complement her Christian Dior dress. For the inspiration behind this hair look, he shared, "The color blocking in the dress inspired me to create complimentary contrast in the hair with the half up style. I played with dual textures; high shine in the back with soft texture through the front."

For this particular hair look, the celebrity hair stylist created a deep side part using the ghd air hairdryer to blow dry with a brush. Abergel, then, used the ghd platinum+ styler where he flat ironed the blonde beauty's hair into sections.

As he continued, he applied a de-frizzing cream smoothing from Theron's roots all of the way to her ends. Taking a clip, he clipped Theron's hair away from the top and side swept the rest of her hair away, creating a very timeless yet modern look.

To complete the hair look, the celebrity hair stylist took sections of the Tully star's hair and secured it from just the crown with an elastic. Then, Abergel used a black thread and needle to lock the hair into place. To hold the look, he applied a generous amount of hair spray.
 Congratulations! You have just re-created Charlize Theron's makeup look for the 2019 Golden Globe Awards. It wasn't so hard was it? #GoldenGlobes

Get the Makeup: Emily Blunt at 76th Golden Globes

Emily Blunt at the 76th
annual Golden Globes on Sunday,
January 6, 2019.
(Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

The beautiful and talented Emily Blunt is up for a Golden Globe for her role as Mary Poppins. I don't usually enjoy remakes; however, I loved Blunt as Mary Poppins. As I know no one can replace Julie Andrews, she is as close to the role as it gets. Earlier this evening, the beautiful starlet shined on the red carpet wearing a gorgeous Alexander McQueen dress. Her makeup look was created by the talented Jenn Streicher who was heavily inspired by the beautiful actress's dress.

"Emily's beautiful look was very much inspired by her dress which had incredibly intricate, medieval-inspired embroidering. I wanted to create a very 'Joan of Arc' or something quite 'warrior-like' but still beautiful and soft using metal tones against dewy skin," Streicher shared with me. "I brought a lot of dress metal tones into her makeup."

So, is it possible to re-create this look at home? Absolutely.

First and foremost, the celebrity makeup artist prepped the Mary Poppins actress with the Dior Capture Youth New Effect Enzyme Resurfacing Water (or solution). As she pressed this product into Blunt's skin, she applied the Dior Youth Intense Rescue Age-Delay Revitalizing Oil Serum followed by the Dior Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Eye Treatment.

To prepare the skin, Streicher applied the Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin Advanced before applying the Dior Diorskin Forever Foundation in the shade #1N. The world-renowned makeup artist then applied some drops of the Dior Youth Intense Rescue Age-Delay Revitalizing Oil Serum to the foundation as she wanted the application to be very fluid. "I like to paint the foundation onto the skin and blend it using a Beautyblender," Streicher shared.

As the celebrity makeup artist continued with the makeup look, she applied the Dior Diorskin Forever Undercover Concealer in the shade #010 Ivory to Blunt's face where some areas needed a little extra coverage, which were around the eye and nose area. Then, she applied the Dior Backstage Contour Palette in #001 Universal on the apples of the beautiful starlet's face before adding the Dior Diorskin Rosy Glow in #002 Lolli'Glow also. To finish the face, Streicher used the Dior Nude Luminizer Lolli'Glow in #008 Pink Delight.

So, what about the eyes?

The world-renowned makeup artist started the eyes with the Dior Diorshow Mono Professional Eyeshadow in #554 Minimalism. Using a brush and water, Streicher applied this all over the beautiful actress's lids and some below the lash line. Taking a crease brush, she blended the product into Blunt's crease. To create the stunning silver glam, Streicher used the silver shade from the Dior Backstage Eye Palette in #002 Cool Neutrals directly into Blunt's crease.

As Streicher continued on with the makeup look, she applied several coats of the Dior Diorshow Maximizer 3D Triple Volume Lash Plumping Primer directly onto Blunt's lashes before applying several coats of the Dior Diorshow Mascara in #090 Pro Black. She ended the eyes using the Dior Diorshow Bold Brow in #011 Light. "I like to brush the brows up and lay them in the right direction. This allows the brows to be coated, creating a fuller brow look," Streicher shared.

For the lips, the celebrity makeup artist used the Dior Lip Sugar Scrub in #002 Raspberry just shortly after applying the Blunt's skincare. This was to prep her lips for color, as Streicher says this will create a very smooth canvas to work with. It is also great for easy application too.

To finish the entire look, Streicher created a custom lip for the Mary Poppins star using the Dior Backstage Lip Palette in #001 Universal Neutrals where she utilized both the pink gloss and beige gloss shade in the palette.

Congratulations! You have just re-created Emily Blunt's 2019 Golden Globes makeup look. #GoldenGlobes

I don't want to get out of bed

Me today.

I don't want to get out of bed. Currently, I am waiting for my boyfriend Sumit to call me. Have you ever had one of those days where you just want to basically not do anything at all, but sleep the whole day? I have quite a few things to do today and I literally feel like I am meant to be in bed all day. I don't want to move let alone get up and do anything. 

Perhaps this is just the result of working long hours Monday through Friday or the fact that I am stressed, a little depressed, and find sleep to be extremely peaceful and liberating. Having enough is vital after all. I try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, but sometimes that is inevitable. I probably should get to bed before midnight so I can be up early. 

I find myself gravitating towards caffeinated beverages such as energy drinks, tea and coffee, but there are days where I just don't want to consume them let alone anything with any caffeine in it. I find myself being more tired when I am mentally drained versus physically exhausted. If I go to the gym and workout for an hour or two, I don't feel as tired. I feel like I am so much more exhausted from working my 9-to-5 job. On a softer note, can you believe we are five days into 2019? It's like we just said goodbye to 2018. 525,600 minutes went by so quickly. 

Today, I have quite a few things to do including grocery shopping. My original goal was to go to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Albertsons, and WinCo. I also wanted to make a stop at the Boise Co-Op, the India Foods Market, the Idaho Capital Asian Market, the European Delicatessen and the Meridian Co-Op. Additionally, I want to go to The Village to do some shopping as I have to buy a gift for someone I work with. I feel compelled to rush so I know each trip will be in-and-out, although I could probably spend an hour (or more) at Whole Foods. 

All I want to do is sleep. Yes, sleep. It is cold and gloomy. I just want to stay under the covers, bundled up in blankets. I guess, I will just talk to Sumit. Then, get myself out of bed, get a shower, maybe some breakfast/brunch (because I probably shouldn't go grocery shopping on an empty stomach) and leave to go shopping. 

Have a wonderful Saturday! 

Boscia Luminizing Black Charcoal Mask

It is official, I am completely obsessed with the Boscia Luminizing Black Charcoal Mask. This peel-off powerhouse makes my skin not only feel amazing, but look it much more so. My skin not only feels clean after using this face mask, it feels softer also. And I love the radiance my skin exudes after using this too. 

My skin is combination and tends to lean towards oily in the Spring and Summer climates (hotter temperatures) and dry in the Fall and Winter (colder temperatures). And sometimes I suffer from the sporadic breakout, my acne is very minimal at the present. Although my skin is a product of my environment, I do what I can to improve it daily. This face mask definitely works to improve my skin's texture, which I love.

Infused with charcoal, jojoba, calcium clay, and willowherb, this cruelty-free, vegan-friendly staple really is a holy grail in the world of face masks. This gluten-free gem will leave your skin feeling flawlessly fresh. 

Although I do recommend avoiding your eyebrows, I have used this product on top of them  (as you can tell in my photo) and never had any issues with losing mine; however, the product itself adds a disclaimer not to use this product on your eyebrows. 

I have used this product three times a week. If I have a breakout, I like to use it five times a week. It is truly one of a kind and one of my favorite masks right now. I highly recommend to anyone, as it is great for every skin type.

For more information about the Boscia Luminizing Black Charcoal Mask, visit the official website today. 

Auld Lang Syne by Sarah Afshar

It is so hard to believe it is 2019. I felt like 2018 flew by so quickly. I remember celebrating the New Year last year and it felt like only yesterday. 

As much as I want to list my goals here, all I can say is that I am happy and content right now. I do have a few bucket list goals, but I am not sure if I want to share them now or wait until I accomplish them. 

On Smule, I recorded Auld Lang Syne. This song is special in many ways; however, what I love most about it is that it was created from poem from Scots language. The history behind this tune really tells a story. 

To listen to my rendition of the New Year's classic Auld Lang Syne simply watch the video above. If you cannot hear it, just click here right now. 

With that said, Happy New Year!