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