Take Control!

Ladies! Get ready to feel inspired. My goal for this post is to rally the troops to make the world of man/girl interaction a better, more equal place.

Let's face it--things are not equal right now. Think about how much more guys can get away with in a relationship then girls can. I'm not saying we aren't ever hard on guys--God knows we can be, but think about the flirting phase of a relationship. Does the guy not control the game? Do you not have to act EXACTLY the way society tells you to? Isn't asserting yourself not allowed?

I mean, let's be real. There are times when you want to text a guy 600 times asking why you aren't good enough. Yeah, its crazy and counterproductive, but you've had that urge. And why the hell shouldn't you? Because it will shatter your perfectly crafted image of demure subservience?

F*ck that sh*t!

I'm not saying send all the things that pop into your head, because restraining orders won't help anyone, but you know what I mean. Like, if you want to make the first move, make it! If you want to tell a guy you want more from the relationship, do it! If you want to tell a guy that he is a self-obsessed, womanizing douchebag that isn't even that hot, go for it! We can take back the power! We just have to stop being so concerned about coming off as dainty, meek little girls.

You've got an inner beeyatch, and you know it. Let her out to breath once in a while! Find an assh*le, and give him a piece of your sassy, empowered mind.

We always blame our heartbreaks on the guy. And by no means am I saying they aren't at fault. But ladies, we have to stop letting them do that to us! We have to own our love lives and take control of the situations we get into with men. You don't need to have more power than the guy, but view yourself as an equal to him! Because guess what? YOU ARE.



Alright, that's all for my little rant. I hope I got through to someone.

lots of love,

neena

Another Change.

Hey, everyone! It's been over three months since I've written. There are a lot of reasons for that, but basically, I've been changing.

I'm still me--I have the same personality, same friends, same dreams. But I am trying to connect to a more spiritual version of myself. I have made a lot of mistakes in the past year. More than I care to think about. And I've come to realize that I'm on a road to nowhere. Something has to change. 

I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to handle it, but this blog is going to become more devoted to finding yourself in the insane world and less focused on beauty, celebrities, and so on.

As women, we need to be each other's support system. We have to be there for each other. There is no other option. So I am here for you. I am going to open up to you--I'm going to put everything out there. Not because I want everyone to know my dirt, but because I know I'm not the only one going through a tough time. Of course, I don't mean I will give you the dirty little details of my life, but I won't be as reserved as I have been in the past. 

Please, spread the word to your friends and family that might benefit from a place to go and read about other people's experiences with the same issues they are facing.

It can be the difference between...you know.

As always,

neena

Today's Fitness Motivation

The word of the day is:

There is no point in getting fit if you aren't going to be consistent! You can do a super intense workout once every two weeks and I promise you you won't see significant results. You have got to aim high!

You can do it!

xoxo,

OSCARS

OH MY GOODNESS THE OSCARS.

Obviously, a big part of the night is the discussion over what everyone is wearing. These are a few of my favorites that I saw!

1. Jennifer Lawrence in Dior
It is hard not to love JLaw with her intense relate-ability combined with her knack for consistently wowing us on the red carpet. Her dress tonight was so gorgeous, starting out simply enough and then erupting once it passed her hips. Do you know what I loved the most about her outfit, though? The long pearl strand hanging down her back. That was the icing on the cake for me.

2. Sally Field in Valentino
Sally knows how to age gracefully. She has been beautiful through each phase of her wonderful, talent-filled life, and yet I was still surprised by how perfect she looked tonight! That gorgeous red hue was perfect for her coloring, I think, and the bottom of the gown just killed me as it fluttered behind her.

3. Catherine Zeta Jones in Zuhair Murad
Oh my God. This gilded nude dress made me go blind for a minute, and in the best way possible. She looks like an Oscar herself! It had a very 20s-esque feel to it, with the exception of the neckline which was slightly reminiscent of the '50s bodices to me.

4. Maria Menounos in Romona Keveza
THIS BITCH. She always looks perfect. It's those damn Greek genes. Seriously, have you ever met an unattractive Greek? But that is beside the point. This dress makes me want to scream, it is so amazing. The color, the shape, the ACCESSORIES. Ahhhhhhhhh I am legitimately swooning over this dress.

And the Man of the Night goes to....

Bradley Cooper.

Apparently, Kristin Chenoweth got so frazzled at one point before the show that she lost her shoe in the vastness of her dress. Bradley Cooper, being the teetotaler gentleman that he is, bent down, lifted up her hemline, found her shoe, and put it on her foot for her.

CINDERELLA, ANYBODY?!?

In addition, when JLaw fell on her was to accept her award for best actress, Bradley immediately showed up with a hand outstretched to help her back up. She didn't utilize his offer, but still. He wins all the award in my book.

xoxo,

February Wishlist

I'll make this short and sweet: I want things. 

Yes, I am a shameless shopaholic. I can't help it.

Well, I could if I wanted to, but I don't. So.

Here are the things that visit me in my dreams...

1. This ADORABLE bow from ColorDrop on Etsy.

2. Also from Etsy, these killer shades from txpgrove. 

3. Beach Glass Chuck Taylors.

4. Urban Decay's Naked 2 Palette from Sephora.

5. This Mercedes from Heaven...

That is all for now! 

xoxo,

My Tried-and-Trues

I am not one to buy the same product over and over again.

I'm constantly trying out new products, rarely re-purchasing.

But there are some things that I can't deny are simply the best, and I have found myself buying them time and time again!

Here they are, my tried-and-true products:

For my face:

Trader Joe's All-in-One Facial Cleanser. Trust me, I am the last person to expect anything good from a generic, simple facewash, but WHOA. I don't know what it is about this one, but it leaves my skin clean, smooth, and clear! Like, WHAT?

Nelson's Pure & Clear Nourishing Moisturizer for Acne Care. This is yet ANOTHER health foods store purchase! I got this from Whole Foods, and again, my skin feels instantly smoother and clearer. Good stuff!!!

For my hair:

Loreal EverCreme Intense Nourishing Shampoo, Conditioner, and Leave-in Spray. Guys. I hate buying the same hair products. Trust my, I have tried to stray from this stuff, but I keep crawling back. It makes your hair soft, tangle-free, and shiny! For real! Look, I have some really annoying hair--some of it is super kinky and coarse, some of it is super fine, and the rest is in the middle. This line is the only thing that smoothes the kinks, hydrates the brittle ends, and leaves my hair feeling super healthy. Ever since I started using it, I keep getting comments on how healthy and pretty my hair is!

For my body:

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion of Stretch Marks. I started using this stuff a few years ago when I realized that I had stretch marks all over my butt and upper thighs. I had tried Bio Oil and Mederma and just about every other stretch-mark treatment there was out there, but this one worked the best, and the fastest. I still use it to prevent more of those pesky purple lines from showing up, and I have started using it all over my body just because 1) it smells so good and comforting, and 2) it seriously leaves your skin even-toned and glowing. A must-have, even if you don't have stretch marks! And if you do, I have a quick word to say: Don't be ashamed. Our bodies cannot be perfect. Those lines show that you are becoming a woman or a mother. Both wonderful things. They show how hard it is to be a woman, and that you are tough. Love your body, stretch marks and all!

Caress Passionate Spell Body Wash in Passionfruit and Fiery Orange Rose. I originally bought this because I was out of soap and wanted a super cheap one. This one happened to smell really good, so I nabbed it. First off, it leaves your body smelling SO sexy, and also I've noticed that my skin feels even and smooth. It isn't advertised as anything other than a good-smelling soap, but I really think it does good things for your skin!

Other:

Colgate Total Advanced Whitening Paste. Ever since I started using this toothpaste, I've noticed that my teeth are significantly whiter! My smile is brighter and my teeth feel so, so clean. 

A+D First Aid Ointment. Okay, this one goes way back. My mom used to use this on my sister and I for DIAPER RASH. Like, that's 23 years ago. (My sister turns 23 today!) I use it on literally everything. You know how, in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the dad believes Windex can fix everything? That's how I am with A+D. I put it on my eyebrows and eyelashes to make them grow (seriously it works. SERIOUSLY.), on my lips to moisturize them, and on scars to fade them. I literally swear by this stuff. When I die, I want to be buried with two things: my Guns 'N Roses CD and a tube of A+D.

Alright, there you have it! My favorite products of all time. I would not post about them if I didn't believe they are the best of the best. Try them out, let me know what you think!

xoxo,

Layla Hologram Effect Nail Polish in 08 Flash Black

Holy crap you guys.

I am obsessed with this nail polish. I got it on sale at Ulta and and hardcore in LOVE.

Like, it is my valentine.

It is...drumroll please...

Layla Hologram Effect! Usually it is super pricey (I think like $20), but I got it for $6! So I obviously bought two.

Here is my favorite: 08 Flash Black

Look at it.

LOOK AT IT.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

I applied two coats and a topcoat of Seche Vite Dry Fast TopCoat, which is another reason in and of itself to celebrate. It dried so quickly and my nails are super shiny!

So, here is my advice: If you can find Layla nail polish for cheap anywhere, GET IT. It doesn't look very promising in the bottle, but I swear to Chanel it is worth it!

xoxo,

Respect yourself.

Ladies, I have a very important message for you.

It is time to respect yourself.

We talk about self-love and all that good stuff, but I have news for you: if you can't respect yourself, you can't love yourself.

What does it mean to respect yourself?

Know what is good for you, and seek those things out.

Know what is bad for you, and avoid those things.

Allow yourself to feel things fully.

Nourish yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Know that it is okay to be afraid.

Know that it is okay to be different.

Embrace all of your facets: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Once you can practice these things, you can start to respect yourself, appreciate yourself, and, one day, love yourself.

I say all of this, but don't take me for some sort of self-respecting, strong woman. I am so far from respecting myself that its scary. There is a difference between knowing what is good for you and doing what is good for you.

When we respect ourselves, we automatically demand respect from others. When we do that, women, we are a force of nature.

We can be amazing. We just have to take it one step at a time.

xoxo,