Admin Walk-Through during Virtual Classes

 Today was the first day that we had virtual visits from the administrators at our campus. Since the beginning of the school year we learned that they were going to do this. Our district is implementing a 90 minute model, where the students are active with us for 30 minutes, 30 minutes of independent practice, and 30 minutes of independent work. However, how much can you really connect with the students if you do that? You see them for 30 minutes and are there to answer questions but...that doesn't really feel like a class now does it? 

I don't teach in a 90 minute cycle if I can avoid it. I also don't lecture more than 30 minutes. I break it down into mini cycles. I know some of my students have a hard time writing and listening at the same time. So I give them 20 minutes to write their notes, and I go over them in the next 20. Then I provide a mind map, an AVID strategy, or even a practice worksheet for us to do. I show them how to do it, go over a few parts of it with them and then let them work on it. 

For me, every class is different, and part of being a good teacher is to know your students and how they learn. Not one of my classes is conducted the same. Some have more time to do certain things, some have modified assignments, ect. Not one class is the same even if it is the same information. Anyhow back to the admins. 

The walk-through for both admins today were just so strange. Admin A walked in during the independent practice, as my students were completing a mind map. Admin A didn't say a word. I noticed because I was looking at the attendance list. Admin B on the other hand, introduced herself/himself. Of course, my students know how to control the PowerPoint on their own already, they already know how to do Cornell notes, and they already know how long they have. I had to let this admin know the kids were taking notes and that they could control the PowerPoint on their own....he/she called it "magic". 

I have come to the realization that we don't really know what to expect when an admin walks in. There could be a lot going on in your class behind the screen...but all they see is a PowerPoint. Both times I freaked out. Not because my lesson wasn't good, but because the truth of the matter is....the admin only saw a PowerPoint and silence. I never thought it would feel so strange. But to my teachers out there who are feeling overwhelmed. It is okay. Trust that the magic is happening outside the screen. That the magic is happening as they are listening to you speak, as they are trying their very best to learn in a world that is very different from anything we have ever lived before. Be patient and remember that kids know you care. 

KISS True Volume Natural Plump Eyelashes Review

Today's review is on this really pretty set of eyelashes I got. I think they are so cute! I am not a frequent user of fake eyelashes at all. I use them only on really special occasions such as my graduation or a very important party. This particular set I was sent courtesy of Influenster which is a company that sends you products to try them. Anyways let's get to the review part. :)

These lashes claim that, "True Volume looks fuller yet natural at the same time. It gives the perfect Vavoom with a natural plump."
Yeah I had a weird reaction to the word vavoom too.


The ends of the lash is tapered. Which is what is supposed to give them the natural look. The particular set I was sent was named Posh. The lashes are actually very voluminous and long. Not exactly something you would consider "natural". Looking at the band that holds them together I thought they were going to be extremely fragile. As it turns out they are not fragile at all. The band holds together really well and the texture of the lashes is so thick. The putting them on was actually really easy because they have a good shape. They are a little long but they could easily be cut. I just prefer not to. Once they are on they don't feel heavy or too long. They actually fit quite perfect in my opinion. Overall I think these are worth the price at 2.98 at Walmart.

Overall Rating: 5/5

*Product Courtesy of Influenster for testing purposes only*

Premier Protein Bar Review

I was sent this protein bar in the Fiesta VoxBox courtesy of Influenster for testing purposes only. All opinions expressed here are mine only.

I have to say that I was really excited to try this protein bar since I am always on the run in the mornings and I thought it would be a good bar to take on the go for breakfast. I want to first mention what is supposed to do. This bar has 30g of protein and is very low in calories, sugar and fat.This is also supposed to give you energy somehow. Here is my review on it.

My breakfast for the most part is just a coffee. I feel satisfied for the most part with just the coffee, but for testing purposes that morning I decided to eat this as a breakfast along with the coffee. Flavorwise its alright. It isn't the most delicious bar I have ever had but it is pretty good. The problem came after eating it. It is quite a bit of protein and I think that is what made me feel so heavy and sluggish throughout the day. Also it didn't crave my hunger, the exact opposite by the time I usually eat I was almost starving which doesn't happen when I just have the coffee. I do like the size of the protein bar. It is quite big. I felt so sluggish throughout the day and hungrier than usual as well. Because of the fact that I didn't have a good experience with it, I would rate it 3/5 stars. The reason why is because for the size of the bar I would pay 2 dollars, although instead of the protein I would just have the fiber bar instead. Not my cup of tea and not something I would repurchase often. This would be more of a I really don't know what to eat type of thing.


Overall Rating: 3/5

#PremiereSelfie  @PremireProteinbars

Wet n Wild ColorIcon Singles Review

I went shopping a while back and the Wet n Wild Color Icon singles were on sale. I was so tempted to buy the one named Nutty. My friend told me she had it and that she didn't use it so she gave it to me. It was practically new. I started using it and let me tell you...I love it!! I will review it since I have been using it quite a while. On another note I do have to mention that the glitter color Icon is a different formula. Let's begin! :) 

Packaging

I find that the packaging is so compact and cute. You get a lot of product on these singles. It doesn't seem like it would break easily and this is so travel friendly. 

Formula

I find the formula on these to be amazingly good. It is so soft to the touch. Almost like a silky feel. These are also amazingly pigmented. It does have shimmer but it is so small that to be honest you really can't see it. It just makes it have this almost metallic color. I wish I could describe it but the color is just so pretty. This is my every day color. I feel the color is so pretty. I also have to mention that depending on how the light hits it it might look like different shades. This comes in handy when doing a one shadow look. I actually find that this is decently long lasting. I say that because I do find that even with primer it does crease a little bit if it is really humid outside. Of course I do have greasy lids so that doesn't quite help

Price

These are .99 cents. 

Overall I think I would give this a 4.5/5 because the color is gorgeous, the formula is great and for the price this is really worth it. 

Don't forget to subscribe, comment and share :P 

Daily look of the day using this eyeshadow :) 

Driving Practice

I have something to confess. I suck at driving and I didn't quite enjoy it at first. When I was 16 my dad attempted to teach me how to drive. He made me get on the freeway on a just bought brand new car and I was freaked out. I decided I didn't want to learn with him. So I settled for not driving. For a really long time I have been taking the buses because of that. 

Don't ask me how but somehow I manage to look like I'm awake at around 5:30am. Who knows. Yet, I am restricted to where I can go between a certain time frame and a certain distance. Now that I am older I decided to give driving another try. A good friend of mine decided to teach me and here I went trying to learn to drive. I have to say that I have finally succeeded. I was super afraid of driving with my dad again because as a teacher...well....he kinda sucks. But I managed to impress him today which is a very good thing. Now I can't wait to get my license and be able to drive my baby. A 2003 GMC Envoy. Not the newest model but it is my baby nonetheless :) 

Centennial Plaza

Today's blog I want to show you guys some pictures of the university I attend to. This is now known as the Centennial Plaza. I feel like it was such a nice addition to the campus. It is actually located in the middle of campus. The idea behind it was to have an area of campus to remember that the campus has officially turned 100 years. Well it did in the fall of 2014 when the construction was supposed to have been done. Yet, I feel like the result was well worth the wait. I am definitely not an outdoor person, but having such a beautiful area on campus, I have started reading and relaxing there more than the union.

The only thing I guess I could complain about is that the trees are very young and because of that, there isn't much shade around so be ready to get a tan. :)

Overall I think I am blessed to have the opportunity to study in such a beautiful campus. For those that ever come to El Paso, Texas, visit UT El Paso. It is a beautiful campus.

My journey

Today I decided to do a very personal blog entry. The reason behind it is because today I saw a girl get bullied by some guys at UTEP because of her weight. They were giggling and making fun of her behind her back and I overheard them. I want to share my journey and my story in hopes of changing people's perspective. 

When I was 16 I was diagnosed with PCOS. PCOS stands for Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome. For those who don't know what it is,  PCOS is a syndrome in which you develop Ovarian cysts and a hormonal imbalance due to insulin resistance. Thankfully I didn't develop the cysts part but I do suffer from the hormonal imbalance. Some of the symptoms include acne, hirsutism, infertility problems, ovary cysts, not having a period (amenorrhea),  weight gain and inability to lose weight. This of course isn't much fun to have. It takes a toll on your body.  For the majority of my teen years I thought that if I took the medication like I was supposed to that everything would be ok.  I was a busy student and never really had attention towards my health. The problem is that the older I get the more I realize that all the bullying due to not losing weight,  acne and societies standards of beauty I was left vulnerable and feeling like I wasn't worth it.  It hurts even more when the people around you don't understand the internal struggle you are going through and unconsciously judge you. 

 My biggest problem is my weight. I won't lie that I have such a hard time losing weight and because of that I became very defensive and had very low self esteem.  I hated how I looked.  I didn't feel pretty despite being told otherwise by many different people. Until one night having a conversation with a very close friend, she opened my eyes for a big reality check.  So what if I didn't have the perfect body??  So what if my hair wasn't as long and pretty as that of the girls on TV?  What if I didn't have perfect skin? She made me realize that those things I believed were "flaws"  were a part of me that I had to embrace.  She then turned around and told me that just like the good things about me like being smart, loyal, sincere and empathic (which I didn't believe was me) were a part of me,  so we're my flaws there to make me unique... To make me who I am. After that night I started to embrace who I truly was. I love being me.  I also realized that the lifestyle I had taken where I didn't take care of myself wasn't what I wanted for my life. So I attempted to lead a healthier lifestyle. 

Since 2013 I have taken better care of my health. I've had ups and downs and succeed at certain things and failed miserably at others. I have to admit that I lost weight for a while and after a year I gained it back. But then I realized that I hadn't failed. I was still 3 sizes smaller than what I started despite the fact that I had gained the weight back. Since I had started swimming, my body was becoming stronger. 

 At first I thought I sucked because I could only swim freestyle and only 25 meters at a time. So when I gained the weight back i thought to myself that I had failed. But in January of this year I started swimming again only to realize that my endurance and my body were stronger than ever. I can now swim 100 yards for a warmup and do about 2 hours of interval training in almost all strokes. When I couldn't do a single push up now I can do ten,  which you might think it's a small number but it is a victory for me.  

I have never been a quitter and because of that I am trying again to lose the weight not to look better but to feel better.  I want to start taking care of myself because I have so many plans and dreams that I want to achieve.

 Anyways, the reason for this post is for people that are struggling like me and that feel like you are on your own you are not.  For those who don't feel "pretty"  or like they are "enough",  you are beautiful and you are enough.  Love yourself for your flaws and your strengths.  It's time that we change our perspective of beauty and start loving ourselves. It is time to stop being so judgemental and become more supportive with one another. You are pretty and you are enough.  

With much love,

Sam

Moda VoxBox 2014 Overall Quick Review

Hey guys I know I take forever to post but I promised the reviews for the Moda VoxBox 2014 and here is what I thought about the products. Enjoy!! :D

The first product I want to review is exactly the product that I finished first. The Resource Water.

I actually ended up taking this to school. It turns out that even on a warm day this water will actually keep you very well hydrated. Flavor wise, it has a flavor that is slightly different than any of the waters that they do sell here in the US. Despite that I didn't really see the huge difference at least for me, when it comes to comparing it to other waters. The bottle is actually pretty big. I would recommend it if they sell it in your area. At least where I live they don't really sell it here.

8/10

The next products I will cover is the Rimmel London products I was sent.

Lip Liner
Darn this product is a miracle in a little pencil. I was never the type of girl to wear a lip liner, it just wasn't for me. I felt like i was too much drama having to match a lip liner to your lipstick. This comes clear therefore there is no color to match. One little pencil and you're done!! It is very moisturizing and just plain out amazing. It does help so that your lipstick doesn't smear so much. It keeps it in place. The only thing I don't like is that you don't know how much is enough since you can't see it. But I love it.

8.5/10

Moisture Renew Lipstick
The lipstick shade I ave is the 505 Red Alert. They are very moisturizing and you don't really feel like you are wearing something heavy on your lips. Love it so far. I have also sed their old version of the moisture renew line, in the coloor 300 rose blush. The colors are decently pigmented. Lasting time though i find that they do come off pretty easily and have maybe a 4 hour staying time. Still I believe they might be worth it for the price.

7/10

Rockin' Curves Mascara
I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this mascara. Recently I had been using the Lorac Cobra mascara and this might as well be a dupe for that one. The volume it gives you is great, the length is just amazing and no clumping! It has a very good staying power. It just doesn't fall off. No flakes. And I don't feel like it is heavy on your lashes therefore your curl stays up. Recommended to a friend and she loved it. The only thing about it is the wand is a little too big for people like me who have small eyes. But you learn to work with it. Overall a great mascara. '

9/10

Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer

This moisturizer dries up fairly quickly. It really moisturizes well and it lasts you forever. I did notice a significant difference on my skin ever since I started using it. It seems to be the perfect moisturizer to use during the winter time. I don't suffer from extra dry skin but this moisturizer is just so good that my skin feel so soft. I would absolutely recommend it.

9/10

Clairol Hair Food 
This product is absolutely worth its price. It turns out that I was going to dye my hair. I decided to prepare my hair by using this product a few days before. My hair got really soft. After coloring my hair, I realzied that it wasn't as damaged as it usally is after coloring it. I decided to use it a few more days afterwards and it turns out that the damage was almost completely gone. I love this product! It will not weigh down your hair. It leaves it smelling wonderfully! A bit pricey though.

9/10

Swiss Miss Cocoa
There is not much to be said about this one. Smooth, flavorful, I can't ask for more. Love it!!

10/10

Puffs SoftPack
These little things come so in handy. I love how soft they are and absorbent. The pack is just so cute!! And it is very resistant despite being so soft. I think they might be a bit pricey.

9/10

Influenster Moda VoxBox Unboxing

Hey Guys so here is a video I made of the Influenster Moda VoxBox I got in the mail. :)
Disclamer: All the products mentioned in the video are courtesy of Influenster for testing purposes.

Don't forget to comment, subscribe, tweet and all that cool stuff :)

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

The first thing I think of when I read the name is of these lip stains is just some apple colored lips that someone would just want to bite. :) Anyways, here is my review on the Revlon Lip Stains.

Firstly, I have to add that when I picked this up at the store, I thought it was going to be something like a lip gloss but in a crayon form. I was wrong. The color in these lip stains is crazy! The colors that they come in look gorgeous. The one I picked up at the store was called romantic. It is an apple red color and just the way it looks is the same color you are going to get on your lips. I have not tried the matte collection, or the glossy ones but this original collection is just the perfect combination between color and gloss and hydration.

Another thing I like about it is that it doesn't have a flavor and it is odorless. When it comes to staying power though, it think it could do better. It does leave a little bit of a stain once the gloss is gone but it comes off too easily for the amount of color it has at the beginning.

It is a balm and because of that I am looking for some hydration out of this product. I find that hydration wise it doesn't give me super soft lips but it does hydrate them, even if it is 100 degrees outside (which is the usual weather where I live).

I have to say that although in staying power it is not the best, the colors, the texture and the hydration are very good.
I would rate it a 4.2 out of 5 and would totally recommend it to anyone.

Write in the comments below your experience with this product or if you would try it :)

Godzilla Movie Review

I went to watch Godzilla last night and I have to say that it was nothing like what I expected. I kept thinking to myself how are they going to tie the movie to life how it is today and I was shocked to see how awesomely connected this movie is to real life.  Let's start with the basics.

Rating:  PG-13

IMDb Rating:7.7/10

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 72%

I actually liked the movie a lot. The effects that the movie has are worthy of such a character like Godzilla. Although very playfully my friend told me that Godzilla looks, "a little on the chubby side." and I agree but then again I think he is proportional for how old they make him see. 

The actors do an awesome job at making you believe this could actually happen. Although I still keep thinking why Ford would sacrifice his family like that. (I won't go into too much detail so I don't spoil the movie.) 

Overall I think that this movie is one of the best movies that are going to come out this year. I think it was completely worth going to the movies to watch it if that is what you were wondering. So if you have no idea what to do this weekend, go catch this movie. And it is children friendly as well. By that I mean there is no nudity or any of that stuff. Unless you think a fight between two ancient monsters is something that can scar children then don't take them...this could be a movie you could completely watch with your kids I believe.

Please if you have already seen it comment below what your thoughts are :) 

My rating is an 8.2/10

Godzilla Movie

A friend of mine and me are going to go watch this movie tomorrow. I have seen the originals and I have to say I am not a big fan of them because they look so fake. (I know they are old but come on!) :)
I went on a little research project and found one of the original posters from Godzilla.
I am excited to go see this movie and I will post here tomorrow about my impressions on the movie.

If you have any comments on the originals or would like to post on the impressions of this movie don't forget to comment below!!:D

Review: Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation

This is a very different type of foundation that I have come to love very much in the last month. I have used the one specifically for oil/combination skin and I have to say that I love this foundation.
Here is what to love about it:
 For starters this foundation is medium to full coverage, something that is really hard to find in foundations. It feels very lightweight even though its a full coverage type of foundation allowing your skin to breathe under the makeup. The color variety they have are really good and that makes it a very easy to use foundation on any skin color. The idea that there is a normal to dry skin version of this foundation is something that I love because everyone can use it. The texture of it is liquid but not too runny.

Things to look out for:
Although this foundation is really liquid it does dry pretty fast than other foundations I have used, so I find that I have to work faster.

Overall it is a great foundation for those that need a little extra coverage or just that are looking for an overall good foundation. It leaves your skin with a good texture.
I combine it personally with the ELF High Definition Powder in sheer and it looks really nice and sets the foundation very well.
Overall I give it a 4.9 out of 5

Review: Elf Eyelid Primer

I was introduced to the Elf Eyelid Primer about a year ago by a good friend of mine. At that point I had struggled to find a solution to my eye shadow creasing and running during the day. I found the Elf Eyelid Primer in Sheer for a $1 at Target. I bought it thinking, "Oh well its just a dollar." And I completely fell in love with it.
Here are my thoughts on it.

The things I really like about the primer is that it does what it supposed to do. Your eyeshadow will stay in place and will not get all over the place compared to not wearing a primer at all. I really like the texture of it because it is really lightweight and it is really easy to blend it in. You don't need a lot of product therefore it will last you for a while before you have to buy another one. It works really well with any type of eyeshadows and it has a nice handy wand to make application easier.

The things that didn't work so well for me is that it won't last you 24 hours. It will last you maybe 10 without creasing so the time it just depends on the weather and your eyelids, whether they get kinda greasy or not. Another thing that didn't work for me is that the only way you're going to find variety is if you go to elf.com instead of the store. I found out that Sheer is not the only color but not all stores sell the other ones.


Overall I give it a 3.7 out of 5 because it really does help out to make sure that your makeup stays where it is supposed to be.

 You make up will last you even at a concert!! :D

 Or in the heat and humidity of New Mexico!

Holiday VoxBox 2012 Courtesy of Influenster! :)

I am part of this community called Influenster, and they usually have different types of programs and they send you different products to try out. This year I was able to be part of the 2012 Holiday VoxBox and I am really happy because some of these are products I wouldn't actually go and try out on my own. Here is a picture of what they sent me! :) I made a video of the un-boxing of the products! :) Hope you like it!!

NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshine

@nycnewyorkcolor / #LiquidLipshine

Kiss Nail Dress

@KissProducts / #KissNailDress 

Goody Quikstyle Brush

@GoodyHair / #QuikStyle

Quaker Real Medley Oatmeal +

@Quaker / #RealMedleys

Montagne Jeunesse (we know it's funny, but there's no "e" at the end of the Twitter handle!)

@MontagneJeuness / #FaceMasque

SoleSociety

@solesociety / #PerfectPair

EBOOST

@EBOOST / #naturalenergy

Review: Maybelline FIT me! Liquid Foundation

When the semester started in late August I bought the Maybelline FIT me! Liquid Foundation in 110 which is a porcelain color. I have to say that I had really high expectations for this product since it is from a really good brand. I tried it for about 3 months and here is what I thought of it.

First off, the product itself is really good. I like the texture that it leaves on your skin and I like that it doesn't feel cakey or look like you are wearing too much makeup. The color fit me perfectly and I really liked the fact that when you're putting it on it feels like you are putting a really light cream. I feel as if you don't have to work as fast to blend it in like with other types of foundation and that makes it a great product for people who are barely learning to wear foundation and how to blend it in.

In terms of what didn't really work for me its that if you have acne prone skin it more than likely make you break out and that is because I don't believe that it is oil free. Therefore it made me break out. It didn't last me all day like I hoped it would and the coverage is more of a light to medium so if you have acne scars or anything like that it won't cover it as good.

I think overall I would give it a 3.5 because although there are a few things that didn't work for me I was able to last with it for 3 months.

I would recommend it for people with dry skin.

Review: NYX Lipsticks

I have to admit I did not want to try NYX at first because it seemed very cheap and thought wouldn't work well. Against my better judgement a year ago I bought and NYX lipstick in 513 Electra. It is a very blood looking red color. At first when you start wearing it it feels incredibly soft and lightweight. The color does not change from what it looks like when you first buy it. These are the best lipsticks I have ever tried. At the time I bought I want to believe they were $3 dollars. I loved them so much I bought another one in 503 Medusa. Which is a plum color but it is really dark. Not exactly the best color for my skin color but loved it none the less. It will last you all day without having to retouch at all. Even when you eat. They have them in a lot of shades making it really easy for you to find one you like. Overall I would give it a 4.7.

*TRICK* As a trick I blot my lips on a Kleenex just to remove the excess product.
*TRICK* Use some pressed powder on your lips before applying to stop the lipstick from sticking to your teeth. It's a very useful trick. :)