Flower Power Nails

If you noticed on my Instagram this week, [if you didn't, follow me @mashasmumbles ;)] I've been dabbling with some nail art. So, here is a nail art design that is easy to do and even if you don't have a steady hand, it'll still look decent! I went with a nude base and neon flowers because I think it's perfect for the summer. You can of course choose whichever colors you like! I used 'Bare Bones' as the base, 'I'm Wired' as the stamen of the flowers, and 'Slime' as the petals. Don't forget to let your nails dry a bit between each step unless you want to end up with a bit of a mess. Let me know if you have any questions and if you like this style of post!

The Legendary Bioderma Cléaline H2O

My wonderful best friend surprised me with a bottle of Bioderma she brought back from her trip to France! The beauty lover in me squealed with joy (actually I outright squealed) when she handed me the most perfect bottle of this majestic French "water". I know most of you are tired of hearing of how fantastic this makeup remover/cleanser truly is, but I wanted to throw in my two cents anyway. The reason why this is one of the most beloved cleansing waters on the market is because it is so simple and gentle. If you read my post on the Mac Cleanse Off Oil, getting rid of my mascara is one of my biggest makeup battles and Bioderma has won the war! It does not irritate my skin and no scrubbing is required to take off a full face of makeup. I just pop a bit on a cotton pad and start by wiping off my face makeup. Then I conquer my stubborn eye makeup by gently pressing two cotton pads against my eyelids for about ten seconds. It really does do the job! Bioderma works closely with dermatologists to create products that mesh well with various skin types. Most cleansers I've used in the past have made my face feel raw but with Bioderma, it feels like I'm just washing my face with water. However, I do still wash my face with actual water after using Bioderma because I do not want any residue remaining on my face no matter how hypoallergenic the cleanser claims to be. Fragrance free, gentle, and great for sensitive skin? I must be dreaming. Bioderma has made its way from France to the UK so maybe someday it'll journey over to the states as well. Till then, I will have to resist from using it nonstop or resort to the unreasonably expensive Amazon prices. Have you tried this product or anything else by Bioderma?

The Beauty Battle // Make-Up Setting Sprays

About a fortnight ago, I finally ran out of my Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray and found myself searching for a new, less expensive setting spray. I tend to use setting sprays in the summertime to avoid makeup running down my face and to control my oily T-zone, but I have to admit it isn't exactly a necessity. That is probably the reason why I decided to go for the NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray which is a fraction of the price of the Urban Decay spray. If you happen to be in the market for a setting spray, here is a condensed comparison of the two that may help you deduct the winner.

Rimmel // Mini Haul

So I went a bit ballistic today. Why didn't anyone inform me that the Rimmel Apocalips finally made it over the pond? I popped into Walgreens today and made a bit of a scene when I spotted them. I immediately grabbed about four and had to restrain myself. I ended up getting 'Big Bang' and told myself I could always go back for more. I am already in love and am afraid that I will be making a trip tomorrow to get more. I also noticed that we now have the Rimmel 60 Second polishes, and since they're only $1.50 each, I grabbed three. I had recently done a clear out of my nail polishes and I am so happy that I once again have a mint and lavender in my collection. They are essential for the summertime. I will be sporting 'Mintilicious' and 'Lilac Yo' for the next couple months. The other polish I bought is a beautiful mossy green called 'Sage All The Rage'. The polishes do streak a bit and you need 2 or 3 coats for a nice opaque look but the pros do outweigh the cons. The polishes are inexpensive, have thick brushes, there is a big color range, and they do dry quickly. In the picture above, I quickly applied 3 coats each [sorry about my cuticles but I was just too excited to wait]. I do think a top coat would make this look a tad better. All in all, it is great to have a bit of the UK here with us in the states. Less things to beg my friends to bring me over from London. Have you tried any of these bits?

NYX // Mega Shine Lip Glosses

Beige, Tea Rose

As I have mentioned previously, I don't have the best relationship with lipgloss. I feel like someone embedded in my mind long ago that lipgloss = child and lipstick = adult. The point I'm trying to get to is that I have found a rage of lip glosses that I love enough to put aside my adoration for a matte lip. The NYX Lip Glosses with Mega Shine have conquered my heart [or my lips] with their thick consistency, artificial cherry smell, and long staying power. I have been able to eat a whole meal and still look as if I just applied a fresh coat. It must be magic! However, I have heard some rumors that not all of the lip glosses in this range are made with the same formulation so you may have to be careful when purchasing them. So far I haven't faced this dilemma, probably since I'm only two lip glosses in. My favorite out of the two is 'Tea Rose' because it adds a significant amount of color to my lips and my overall complexion. 'Beige' is also beautiful but I fear I'm not the best at pulling off nude pinks. The test to see if I actually love a range of lip products is if I have two or more from the collection. So... it must be true love. Have you tried any lip glosses in this range? In what colors?

Let's Talk Fitness // 1: Introduction

This post has been without a doubt been inspired by the fact that I had my first session with a personal trainer yesterday. I have always been interested in health and fitness and the nutritional science overall. Since being healthy and happy both mentally and physically is a large portion of being confident and beautiful, I thought that my blog would be the perfect place to share my exercise routine and some healthy recipes. Now keep in mind that I am just a college student attempting to stay fit and not a professional.

Okay, let's start off with a bit of history. I was always involved in many athletic activities as a child: I danced for six years, I swam, I played tennis, did karate, and ran track. Unfortunately when high school came around, I became less active. I would go to the gym now and then and try out diets that I was curious about (nothing too drastic). I was never overweight but I wouldn't classify myself as skinny by any means. I have long muscular legs, broad swimmer shoulders, and then I got myself a big bootie and boobs. Also, I am almost 5'7". I guess some would classify me as curvy but I don't believe I fall into that category because I do not have very wide hips. I've maintained pretty much the same weight all throughout high school until senior year when I lost about twelve pounds. I must admit I'm not all sure as to how I managed to accomplish that because I wasn't try to lose any weight at that point. I assume it was because of extreme stress.

Me in January 2013

I'm sure all of you know about the infamous 'Freshman 15'. Luckily, I don't fancy beer so I did not gain that much weight, but I did gain weight from poor eating habits. The major problem was that my schedule was all off and I would end up eating dinner very late at night. Even though I began going to the gym regularly and began going to boxing and yoga, that late night Jimmy John's was making an appearance on my body. Also, I come from a pretty healthy household where we rarely have juice (too much sugar) and mostly eat whole grains. The transition from that to college definitely influenced my eating habits. When I came back home in the beginning of March for a weekend visit, my mom informed me that I had visibly gotten bigger.

I must admit that this upset me and I did get a bit obsessed with losing all that I had gained during the second semester. I ended up going to the gym almost every night for an hour to two hours and I started a food journal. I would burn anywhere from 500 to 800 calories a night. I know that isn't the healthiest mentality to have but it's been four months and I lost the weight and I kept it off. My next goal is to get more toned and get down to the weight I had at the end of my senior year. I don't want to be skinny, I want to be fit and healthy.

I know that this is more of an introductory post but I promise I will post more about food and specific exercises. Let me know if you guys enjoy this series! xx

Lush // Grease Lightning

I begun the search for the perfect spot treatment. I don't have many troubles with spots on my face but I must admit that the problem is with my back. I do have a few spots that completely ruin open back shirts and dresses. I do not have a large amount of experience with Lush products but Ingrid mentioned good things about this particular product for acne-prone skin. I know Origins has an amazing spot treatment but unfortunately my budget is not that vast. I have been using Lush's Grease Lightening for a little over a week now and I have seen some difference. I tend to apply a little bit of the tea tree cleanser on the spots in the morning and before I go to bed. In my experience, the cleanser dries out the acne and this is supposed to speed up the process of getting rid of the troubled area. This isn't a miracle product but if you keep applying it routinely, it will make a difference. Have you tried this cleanser?

Highlighter Line-Up

L-R: 'The Luminizer', 'Rose Pink', 'High Beam', 'Soft and Gentle'

When it comes to highlighters, I tend to stick to the well-known ones such as Benefit's 'High Beam' and Mac's 'Soft and Gentle'. This is probably because, compared to other face products, I do not have as much experience with highlighters. I love the dewy effect they create but a highlighter is not a staple in my every day make up routine. However, in the summer, I love to apply a bit of 'S&G' on the high points of my cheeks or mix in some 'High Beam' into my foundation to give myself that fresh glow. The first highlighter I ever bought was Sephora's 'Rose Pink' and I have to admit that I don't reach for it that often. 'Rose Pink' is a beautiful pink full of gold shimmer that looks beautiful against tanned skin. I really should start to wear it more because the formulation appears to be just as lovely as 'Soft and Gentle'. In fact, the only apparent difference between the two is that 'Soft and Gentle' is yellow toned. Another favorite highlighter is one I received in a Birchbox. The Balm's 'The Luminizer' is also a beloved highlighter among make up lovers. I must confess that I typically wear this as an eyeshadow because it reminds me of Stila's 'Kitten'. It does look wonderful as a highlighter as well but I think for now I will stick to using it on my eyes. What's your go to highlighter?

The Liebster Blog Award

The absolutely lovely Grace from Grace of Beauty nominated me for the 'Liebster Blog Award'. If you didn't know 'Liebster' is German for 'dearest' so this is quite a sweet award.

To participate after being nominated you'll just have to complete the following:

1. Share 11 things about yourself
2. Answer 11 questions provided by the nominator 
3. Nominate 11 blogs [under 200 followers] that deserve the title and let them know!
4. Think of 11 questions to ask the nominees
5. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog 

11 Things About Me:

1. I can eat a jar of pickles in one sitting. Ick. I know. 
2. I have two younger brothers. 
3. I was born in Russia and am not yet a citizen of the United States.
4. I was president of my high school's drama club. Nerd alert. 
5. I spend money I don't have on things I don't need. 
6. I learned English by watching Seinfeld. 
7. I have never had a single pet and that makes me sad sometimes. 
8. I have lived in three different countries. 
9. I don't like cupcakes but cookies are a very different story. 
10. Sarcasm is my friend. 
11. I want to learn to speak as many languages as I can in this lifetime. 

Nominator's [Grace of Beauty's] Questions:

1. When did you start your blog? I started this blog about a month ago after sharing a blog with my best friend for a few months. 
2. If you could start all over in life, would you change anything? I wouldn't change many things. Perhaps I would study more in school and not befriend certain people. 
3. What are the best five words that would describe you? Organized, stubborn, lazy, silly, compassionate. 
4. Neutrals or bright colors? Depends. Probably neutrals because I prefer more classic looks.
5. What inspired you to start your blog? Why? Other peoples' blogs inspire me all the time. Blogging is an outlet for my creativity. 
6. What are three things you are grateful for? Food, family, friends. The three 'F's. 
7. What is the latest trip you went on? I just returned from California a week ago. 
8. How did you come up with your blog's name? I wanted my blog name to be an alliteration and contain my name. Mumbles was the only word I could think of that was somewhat synonymous with talking.  
9. The latest beauty purchase? NYX lipgloss in 'Beige'. 
10. Are an organized person? I used to come over to my friends' houses to clean their rooms for fun. Does that answer your question?
11. Your favorite blogs [pick 3]? 'Milk Bubble Tea', 'The Dauphine', and 'From Roses'. 

My Nominations:

andkatie.blogspot.com

laurens--journal.blogspot.com

thelastsouvenir.blogspot.fi

moiraparton.blogspot.com/

beautybabbles.com

erstwhilefelicity.blogspot.co.uk

citywhisperss.blogspot.com

Questions:

1. What is the first thing you do when you get home from work/school?
2. Drink of choice?
3. How old were you when you went on your first sleepover?
4. Do you play any instruments?
5. How much time do you spend on your blog?
6. Do your friends and family know about your blog?
7. What is your favorite perfume/scent? 
8. Do you prefer to wear dresses or pants?
9. What's your dream handbag?
10. If you had to eat only one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
11. How did you come up with your blog's name? 

Mac // Lipstick Collection

T-B: 'Girl About Town', 'Rebel', 'Chatterbox' 

Unlike many beauty bloggers, I do not have a drawer full of Mac lipsticks. Thus said, I present to you ma petite collection of lipsticks by the legendary Mac Cosmetics. I began my relationship with Mac less than a year ago at at the ripe age of eighteen. 'Rebel' wandered into my possession just in time for autumn. This beautiful deep berry lipstick is definitely my favorite out of the three. 'Girl About Town' joined 'Rebel' a few months later. This bright fucsia can be found on my lips when, you guessed it, I'm about town. This might be silly, but I swear this lipstick transforms me into a party girl and makes me feel more confident. I bought 'Chatterbox' at the end of spring break to wear during the spring and summer. Light pinks typically don't flatter my completion but 'Chatterbox' has a bit of coral in it so it looks pretty damn good [if I do say so myself]. I'm not really looking to buy many more Mac lipsticks because there are so many other brands I would like to try and they aren't exactly cheap. Don't get me wrong, I adore these lipsticks but I have to be frugal sometimes. I would love to add a red to my collection though... What Mac lipstick are you most fond of?