Le Recessionista
The college girls guide to fashionably surviving recession
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About: ONCE UPON A TIME, I ATE CREAM CHEESE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE CONTAINER.

It was one of those desperate nights in the dorms where there was absolutely nothing to eat. I was broke, without a job, and I had just eaten my last cafeteria stolen bagel that morning. So, dinner was cream cheese and dessert was a painful stomach ache. As students, we struggle on a daily basis to stretch the little money we have from one semester to another. In coping with this painfully crappy economy, everyone is clutching their wallets a little bit tighter and thinking a little bit harder about exactly where their hard earned dollars are going. This is a blog dedicated to feeding your passion, getting more for your money, and looking fabulous while doing it.
Salt Glitter 
Mix 1/4 cup of salt with a 1/2 teaspoon of food coloring in a small bowl until the salt is uniformly colored. Spread the mixture out in an even layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake in the oven for ten minutes. Allow your homemade glitter to cool before using it or storing it. And that’s it!:)

Salt Glitter 

Mix 1/4 cup of salt with a 1/2 teaspoon of food coloring in a small bowl until the salt is uniformly colored. Spread the mixture out in an even layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake in the oven for ten minutes. Allow your homemade glitter to cool before using it or storing it. And that’s it!:)

(via numinousnegrita)

fitnesstreats:

Handbag workout
No equipment? Accessorize your workout with stuff you already have! Use a handbag and put heavy things in it, like for example packages of rice (I put 4kg -8.8 lbs). Books and dictionaries will also work too, no excuses!  

Here is a suggestion for a glute-targeting circuit:

1- Squat trust & lift
2- Pass-through lunges
3- One-legged bridge on the right leg
4- One-legged bridge on the left leg
5- Squat press
6- Donkey kick right leg
7- Donkey kick left leg
8- Froggy glute lift 
9- Back lunge push-out right leg
10- Back lunge push-out left leg

15 repetitions per exercise, perform circuit 3 times. It takes about 10 minutes to complete the circuit one time. 

NB: this is not a real Louis Vuitton bag, it’s a fake… If I had a real expensive designer bag, you bet I’d not use it as workout equipment! ^_^
Exercise descriptions can be found on my wordpress-blog: www.fitnesstreats.com/2012/05/handbag-workout

(via fitnessgifs4u)

Free Documentaries streamed online

super-eklectic1:

scribemo:

A library of free documentaries online. Educate yourself.

(via palatial-bear-messages)

ps-imadethis:

The timeless and playful polka dot gets its name from a dance, so what better way to sport its fun & flair than on a pair of cute dancin’ shoes. Vionnet stepped it up this season with colorfully embellished sandals that bring new meaning to the term eye candy…now it’s your turn get inspired and dip into some dots!   
To create, find the perfect pair of blank ballet flats. Follow the curve and lines of the shoe as you use puffy paint to dot a design.  Step out in style as you DIY your way into your own personal dotted heaven! 

ps-imadethis:

The timeless and playful polka dot gets its name from a dance, so what better way to sport its fun & flair than on a pair of cute dancin’ shoes. Vionnet stepped it up this season with colorfully embellished sandals that bring new meaning to the term eye candy…now it’s your turn get inspired and dip into some dots!   

To create, find the perfect pair of blank ballet flats. Follow the curve and lines of the shoe as you use puffy paint to dot a design.  Step out in style as you DIY your way into your own personal dotted heaven! 

More Free Textbooks and Courses Online

newwavefeminism:

mehreenkasana:

It makes me so happy to know that whenever I share these links on free education, books and resources online, people not only learn a lot from it but are often generous enough to share it with their friends and other folks online. It goes positively viral. That’s the beauty of learning: Passing it on. So let’s see what I have this week on more book-sy, academic stuff.

We all know that a student’s budget doesn’t allow extravagant book-shopping. This is why the internet is here to help. I’ve compiled a short list of websites that offer free textbooks in PDF and other forms. This summer, don’t let your tight budget ruin your chance to gain more knowledge. Here are some places to go to for help.

Happy learning, folks!

I sure do love free

(via ethiopienne)

Avoiding Split Ends – 8 Tips and Techniques

    1. Get your hair cut or trimmed regularly. Not trimming your hair regularly is possibly the main cause of split ends. Prevention is better than a cure!
    2. Use professional hair care products that are designed to seal the splits temporarily in order to catch any splits that are shorter than the length you want to cut your hair to and to allow your hair to grow a little longer before you trim. I recommend Redken Nature’s Rescue Cooling Deep Conditioner
    3. Deep condition your hair every week, if possible and especially if your hair is prone to splitting, chemically treated or treated by ceramic straighteners. Conditioning is mandatory every time you have a chemical.
    4. Rinse and (if necessary) shampoo your hair after a workout or strenuous exercise. The salt from perspiration will erode your hair. If you work out a few times per week, consult your stylist for your particular needs.
    5. Protect your hair from extreme weather. Wear a hat on sunny days and keep hair well moisturized in the dry winter months.
    6. Avoid using heated hair appliances as much as possible! If you are using them anyway, make sure to protect your precious locks with a protective product.
    7. Excessive backcombing will definitely give you split ends!
    8. Elastic bands and all sorts of other hair accessories can damage your hair. Avoid using uncovered elastic bands since these often pull out hair when being removed. Other accessories will damage or weaken the ends of the hair.

(Source: blackgirllonghair.com)

fallenintothedoldrums:

YOUNG HOLLYWOOD 2012 - ZOE KRAVITZ COVER SHOOT (by NylonMagazineTV)

The Oil Cleansing Method

First and foremost, this is typically done in the evening, prior to bed. There should be no need for deep cleansing in the morning if you’re waking up with skin cleansed the night before. In the morning, a quick wipe with a warm washcloth should suffice. We don’t want to overcleanse our skin as this will serve only to irritate and cause more oil production. The objective of using this method is to deep clean while balancing our skins oil production at the same time.
  • You’ll need a soft washcloth, your oil blend, and hot, running water.
  • Pour a generous puddle of oil into the palm of your hand. Roughly, the size of a quarter, but more is acceptable. Rub your hands together to warm the oil and smooth over your face.
  • Begin massaging the oil into your face. This will remove makeup, dirt, and other impurities, so there is no need to use a makeup remover or wash your face prior to the massage. I’ve found that this removes even my stubborn waterproof mascara and concealor.
  • Using slow, firm motions across the skin, massage the oil deeply into your pores. Take your time and focus on your problem areas. You want the oil to work into your pores so that blackheads and the like can be dissolved and steamed away.
  • As you’re massaging, let your mind drift off to something calming and breathe deeply. Take this time to relax and release some of the stress that your body is harboring. Sit down, breathe deeply, and take your time. Give the oil enough time to work on dissolving the impurities in your pores and give yourself enough time to unwind. Picture what your face would look like if it were completely clear and free from blemishes. Focus on that image and know that it is attainable. Trust that it is attainable. Accept that it is attainable. You can have clear skin, free of blemishes and you will have clear skin, free of blemishes. Focus on perfect skin and breathe deeply.
  • Once you’re satisfied that your pores are saturated and you’re feeling calm, pick up your washcloth and soak it in clean, steamy water. We want the water to be warm enough to open your pores and remove the oil. Cool water will not open your pores, nor will it remove the oil efficiently. We’re not scalding our skin, we’re steaming to coax our pores to release the oil carrying the impurities. We’re essentially steaming our skin as an esthetician would, but without the luxury of a steam machine.
  • Hold the washcloth to cover your face. Allow it to stay until it cools. You will feel your pores releasing the impurities. Wipe the oil gently away and rinse the washcloth well in hot, running water. Hold the washcloth to your face again, allowing it to cool. Wipe gently, rinse well, and repeat two or three more times. Avoid any temptation to scrub, as you’ll find it’s completely unnecessary and your skin will be soft, smooth, and free of flakes without the additional manual exfoliation and irritation that will result. Impurities, dead skin cells, and bacteria will be gently swept away.
  • Have no fear of the oil, as the steamy washcloth will remove it. The Castor Oil, though it is an oil, will help with the removal of the other oils, as well. It is our main cleansing oil and is easily removed with warm water.
  • If your skin feels tight, take a tiny drop of your oil blend, rub it between your clean, damp palms and pat it onto your damp skin. Gently massage any oil residue into your skin so there is no film of oil left sitting on the surface. Your skin should now glow!

(Source: http)

Healthy Skin Regimen: The Oil Cleansing Method

heyfranhey:

I’m not much of a mixtress and haven’t really found any interest in becoming the DIY type. I have my staple products (finally) and enjoy being able to buy them, use them and keep it moving! However, i’m starting to understand that the true definition of being “all natural” is having a better understanding of your body and its needs, without the seemingly never-ending quest to “find” a product that will “hopefully” take care of those needs. My goal is to breakdown the ingredients my hair & skin respond well to and gradually start trying to whip up my own products to cater to those needs. How fresh (literally) would it be to never have to buy a product again? I’m with it!

On to my first project: The Oil Cleansing Method

I’ve been hearing about this for years but couldn’t, for the life of me, understand why someone would put oil on their face! It’s like someone telling you to chew sugar cubes to heal cavities. I did my research and began to understand that water does not dissolve the natural oils or wastes coming from your pores. In science, “like dissolves like”, so oil is truly the only thing that will naturally dissolve oil! The products we buy over the counter are usually loaded with harsh detergents that not only dissolve your oils/wastes but also suck the living life out of your skin. Apparently, the oil method is a lot gentler and equally as effective when it comes to cleansing.

They recommend using Castor Oil as the base of your mixture (50%), since it has the best healing and detoxifying properties. Then the oils you use on top of that are dependent on your skin type. If you have sensitive or acne prone skin, you may want to stick with lighter oils like Grapeseed and Jojoba (which is most similar to our natural oils). Adding a few drops (12) of an essential oil, like Lavender, will help with toning and blemishes. If you have dry skin they recommend Olive Oil or Avocado Oil, since they’re a lot richer and thicker. Chamomile is the suggested essential oil (12 drops) for dry skin because of its calming properties. What if you have combination skin? The suggested oil is Sweet Almond Oil with either the lavender or tea tree oil as the essential. Remember, these are all recommended mixtures. Def do some research on youtube/google and read up on other mixtures and reviews, if you’re anxious.

Up for the challenge? Here is the process: http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com I bought the oils above (Castor not pictured) so I could mess around with different concoctions and see which one my face responds to best. I started last night and my face felt amazeballs! It even looked like I had a tan, cause my face was clearly back to it’s natural moisture level! I mixed the 50% Castor base with 25% Grapeseed and 25% Jojoba. I added 12 drops of Lavender essential on top. Then I threw in some drops of Neem and Flax for their healing properties. I’m excited :) If you’re down, let’s do it for the entire month of April and share our results at the end!

P.S. The lady at Whole Foods (who was wondering why I was buying so many damn oils) told me Grapeseed Oil is an incredible moisturizer. She suggested using it on my face after the cleansing method. I did and it was IT! No more store bought moisturizers.

Dying to try this. Has anyone used oil cleansing before?

truebluemeandyou:

DIY Cut Off Jean Lace Shorts. Another easy and pretty tutorial from Clones & Clowns here.

truebluemeandyou:

DIY Cut Off Jean Lace Shorts. Another easy and pretty tutorial from Clones & Clowns here.

(Source: liliecup, via tierracita)

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2013 | Oscar dela Renta

Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2013 | Oscar de la Renta

by Elizabeth Messina for Claire Pettibone

Style Profile: Zoe Kravitz

folkandfeather:

My personal style zeitgeist hovers somewhere within the spectrum of quirky feminine sensibility (a la Ms. Carolina Issa) and funky, boho chic.  For me, the latter is embodied in actress/model/musician  Zoe Kravitz, who effortlessly toes the line between cool hippie wear and edgy, daughter-of-a-rockstar looks. Her style philosophy is less about fashion and more closely linked to her outlook on life, summarized neatly in her quote from May’s issue of Nylon:

“The cool thing about fashion is that if you do it right, it’s an art form and it’s a way to express yourself, but if you try to look like everyone else, you’re not expressing anything apart from the fact that you want to be accepted. I don’t think anyone should dress like me, but if people take anything from the way I choose to look, it should be to express yourself. Be individual. Be comfortable, funky, loud—just do whatever you want.”

//betsy

truebluemeandyou:

DIY Inspiraton Victoria’s Secret Beach Coverup. How hard can this be to figure out? Cotton jersey rectangle with straps?Experiment with towels/fabric first to get the cut right. $49.50 from Victoria’s Secret here.

truebluemeandyou:

DIY Inspiraton Victoria’s Secret Beach Coverup. How hard can this be to figure out? Cotton jersey rectangle with straps?Experiment with towels/fabric first to get the cut right. $49.50 from Victoria’s Secret here.

The Perfect Platforms Search = Complete!

Urban Outfitters Kork-Ease Ava Sandal, $135

JCP Arizona Sadie Platform Sandal, $30

It was pretty much a no-brainer.

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