Cup of Thoughts

Do you ever wonder why the shampoo you are using just isn't working for you? Or maybe you liked it at first, but after a couple of weeks, you start to notice your hair is reacting to it differently. Why it is important to listen to your hair! Your hair goes into different phases that are caused by seasonal changes, dietary changes, maturing, over-processing, chemical services, and medical reasons. Which makes it SO IMPORTANT to listen to your hair!  What kind of shampoos are there? Here are some types of shampoos that I will explain further in detail.  pH-Balanced Shampoo - for color treated or lightened hair Conditioning Shampoo - for dry hair Medicated Shampoo - for dandruff or other scalp conditions (not recommended for color  treated hair) Clarifying Shampoo - for excessive buildup or before a chemical service ( not recommended for  color treated hair) Balancing Shampoo - for oily hair Dry Shampoo - (used...

Oftentimes we look for beauty in all the wrong places. What defines beauty? This might become a deep topic but bear with me. I googled ' beautiful people ' because I was simply curious about what the world defines as beautiful. Here is a collage I made with the images I found. I'm sure you may have found beauty in the pictures above. And yes, they are all beautiful. But what makes them all beautiful? Is it their eyes? The way they are staring into the camera lens? The way they are photographed? Is it merely their looks? Recently, I've been chasing after beauty like it's a cure for the way I look. Beauty is not a cure. We all want to be  that girl . The girl who doesn't have to wear makeup to look beautiful. The girl who laughs as if there is no worry in the world. We want to be the girl who has a witty sense of humor to impress other people. We want to be as skinny as the girl beside us. We want to have a better physic. We want to be in a r...

I found this cute little cosmetic bag at an outlet store. I really needed a Bible case to hold and organize all of my Bible study tools and journals. I bought it intentionally for that specific purpose, but if my Bible didn't fit I would just use it for makeup or beauty accessories. I am thrilled to show you that my Bible indeed fit, along with all of my other tools and journals! And look, there's room for more! Vera Bradley/ / Tropical Paradise  design is only available in factory outlet stores. Here are some makeup/skin care products I purchased at a couple of the outlets. A girl's gotta shop during vacation, right? Sometimes I find the best products on trips! Clinique Pep-Start HydroRush Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 / / $29.50 Gives skin a healthy-looking glow and UV protection against the sun’s aging rays. Wear it alone, or under foundation as a prep for makeup. Fortunately, I purchased this the day after we arrived at o...

I know we've all had that lecture before.  "You need to wear longer shorts." "Put some leggings on!" "Go change that outfit." "You're not going out of the house like that." Most of the time our answer is, " but everyone else is wearing it ," or " it's in style. " It's so hard shopping for modest clothing as a girl, I know. I've wandered around Forever 21 trying to find something that will at least cover my belly button. Even though it's hard to find, it's worth it. Trust me, do not conform to the world's average. Because the world's average is wearing party clothes and attracting sin wherever you go. The world says, " wear what you want to wear, nobody cares ," " if you have the body, show it off ," and "the more skin you show, the tighter your clothes are, the more guys will chase after you ." Don't believe those lies. People do car...

This morning started off with carriages and English tea. I woke up before my alarm even went off, I was so eager to watch the Royal wedding. I've been looking forward to this for a month! You can say I'm a bit obsessed with the Royals. Her dress was gorgeous on her. At first, a little plain, but you could tell that she didn't need anything frilly or extra to be beautiful.  The veil, (which was 16-feet long) was absolutely stunning. I would definitely trip or end up rolling down those steps. Kudos to Meghan! Here are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after the ceremony. By tradition, male members of the Royal family receive a title from the monarch on their wedding day. The title of Duke of Sussex has always been regarded as the most likely choice for Prince Harry. Her eyes were the main beauty focus. She wore a smoky gray eyeshadow and bold, fluttery lashes, with brows that were outlined to fit her face. Not only did I get to...

Ever wonder what to give your mom on Mother's Day? Here are a few things that are UNDER $25 that would make the perfect gift for your mom! Earrings   Because how many moms do you know that don't wear earrings? Giving her a pair that she doesn't wear all the time will show her that you appreciate her and she'll take it to heart that you notice the little things! Lipstick Buy her something that she wouldn't buy herself! I know my mom, and I'm sure yours is the same. Treat her with an item that you know she wants but never gets. Body Butter  You can never go wrong with a body butter or her favorite lotion!  Wallet How pretty is this wallet, by Kelly & Katie ? It has plenty of space to store everything you need in a wallet! Purses and wallets get so torn up, by everyday usage. Upgrade her necessities! Makeup Brushes Who can have too many makeup brushes? I am addicted to getting new ones!...

I'm the first to say that matching colors is not my thing. So I researched a few trendy colors for this Spring and most of them were colors that I found on my nail polish rack (+basket and cabinet, yes I don't have enough nail polish)!   O.P.I  To Infinity & Blue-yond , is a beautiful sky blue that screams Spring! This color is bright and opaque. I only needed 2 coats!  Julep Maddy , is one of my go-to pinks. I love the feminine side of this color. The brightness of this pink is perfect for any girly gal! Essie Cute as a Button , is a gorgeous shade of pink that adds warmth to any look! The reason I chose this one is because of the name (how adorable!) , and the glossy coral color.  ♡Anna

Springtime is one of my favorite times to try something new! Here are a few outfit inspirations that can inspire you! Florals are perfect for Springtime (and anytime, really) ! I love the way this blouse can turn a look into such a girly outfit. If you're wanting to enhance your feminine side, try out some floral prints! Maybe you're really laid back. Easy to please kind-of-gal. This look should catch your eye. It's stylish, yet very relaxed with a button tee and skinny jeans rolled up.  Comfy and cozy are the two perfect adjectives for this look! The cardiga n and sneakers combined make the look effortlessly classic. A plain sweatshirt can look so much different paired with an elegant scarf . Whether you're running errands or going to your favorite bookstore, this look is very cute and stylish! Perhaps you want to try something even bolder? Trench coats are perfect for adding to any outfit! This look is very trend...

What? Anna's finally doing a shopping haul? Yes, I am! Here are a few different things I have purchased in the last month or so. I am all for deals. There's this consignment store near me where my mom and sister go pretty much every time we're in town. I love it! The last couple of times I've been in I've found some awesome deals. One of those being these super cute dusty pink jeggings  and a coral vest that I absolutely love. I get in trouble every time I go into Hobby Lobby. My last trip was no exception. I ended up finding all kinds of stuff. Thank goodness my mom texted me a coupon! I found a really affordable felt board that I can stick letters on to make my own sayings. My chair at Beauty School is looking rather dull at the moment, so I need something new. This board will be perfect for just that! I'm so excited. Now I just have to come up with sayings to put on there... I also found my favorite  pens to study my Bible with, as well as wash...