♡ Spring Dreaming ♡

If I could skip through winter to springtime when we can wear sun dresses with light cardigans, shorts and cardigans… capris… sandals… Oh how I'm dreaming!

Let's have a Spring Tea Party!

First we will need some beautiful tea set all set out with scrumptious miniature sandwiches and desserts. Then we will need cream, sugar, lemon, tea options, a kettle of hot water… Of course you need good decor, roses and other flowers, possibly candles and other things if it is themed tea.

Love this! I love pink!

 Next we all will need pretty tea dresses or for the guys nice slacks and a button up...

Tea is special. It has had a role in society for ages, and now it seems we only enjoy it if we are sick or in need of herbal healing. It is time to make it part of culture again. Put down the electronics and have a good conversation with some old friends.

Enough for tea now…
Love,
Andrea

Culture in Review

I was on Facebook browsing when I saw a link that caught my eye. I clicked on it and read Why Men Aren't Really Men Anymore by Paul Hudson. 

Honestly, I'm appalled.

How can someone write such an article? We can't expect to men to be Gentlemen if women aren't Ladies anymore either. Let's take a look at what a Gentlemen or Lady is defined as….

gen·tle·man (n.)

1. A man of gentle or noble birth or superior social position: "He's too much a gentleman to be a scholar"(Aphra Behn).

2. A well-mannered and considerate man with high standards of proper behavior. See Usage Note at lady.

3. A man of independent means who does not need to have a wage-paying job.

la·dy (n.)
         1. A well-mannered and considerate woman with high standards of proper behavior.

          a. A woman regarded as proper and virtuous.

          b. A well-behaved young girl.

When I think of true ladies and gentlemen, the best example I can think of is Downton Abbey (the t.v. show if you all haven't seen it, you should check it out! It's very addicting!)

 Ladies had poise and would carry themselves with respect and clarity. Until the society started changing (while women's place was still in the home) they lived with their families until they were married and respected their family. Men were the head of the household and you were either working class or had a social position. Obviously there is so much more than that, but this isn't my point.

The problem with our society isn't the lack of ladies or gentlemen, even though that does make up a good portion of it. The problem is that everyone feels entitled to the best of everything without having to earn it.

Honestly, I fear that Generation Y is going to run our nation in the ground. I was standing in line at CVS and there were two guys standing behind me that were about the same age as I am. One was saying to the other how he had no aspirations in life and was going to get "some girl" pregnant so they could live off of the system. That is a HUGE problem. Men aren't aspiring to be carpenters, plumbers… We have transitioned to people just playing video games, taking pictures online for whoever to see, and we no longer have to cook for ourselves because meals come prepackaged and are microwavable. No one respects each other or trusts each other ever. Women and Men both have this problem.

Everyone in Generation Y needs to work together to change the people around us. We can be better than this. We can revert back to proper social nature and be Ladies and Gentlemen. This is a beauty that comes with proper society and we can gasp it if we want.

Beauty Blessings

Christmas is the time for giving….

And apparently I was not the only one in my family with the spirit of giving this year. I am truly blessed! But I do want to share what I am particularly excited about…. my beauty products!!!

I got everything I really wanted and more! I guess it pays to ask for things that are useful.

 

I think I was pretty behind since I barely got the Naked Basics Palette, but at least I have other nice Urban Decay Palettes (That I have purchased myself). Now I am wondering what type of foundation to try out next. I have a mac liquid foundation along with a powder, and I have a Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer…. I'm considering trying:

A Flawless Complexion from Korres

Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Liquid Foundation

Anyone have any suggestions?? I'm just going to have to go check them out at Sephora!

Love, 

Andrea!

Sunny California L♡VE

There is something about a cool and sunny day in Southern California…

Farmers market, delicious coffee, and a stroll through our favorite plant nursery…

All the pretty fruit trees

Pink Lemonade Lemons… They smell just like pink lemonade!

I think that about sums it up… What a beautiful day!

Love,
Andrea

Where did we go?

You may wonder…
These girls just started a blog, and now where did they go?

Well there was Thanksgiving, FINALS, work, christmas parties, christmas events, nights out with the friends, dates with the boyfriend, sleeping in….

Anyways plenty more to come.

AFTER CHRISTMAS….

It's Andrea by the way;
As for now, it is almost 1 AM on Christmas eve and I'm sitting here watching the very first episode of Friends in a house that is not my own… I'm house sitting and their doggy is sleeping on the couch next to me.

Random thought: Hasn't the holiday shopping been crazy? People are being unsafe all over the place. And please don't make a mess in the stores… it makes it very hard for me to find my size if it's even possible.

Goodnight World! Happy Holidays! (Mainly Merry Christmas lol.)

Love.
A&A

Thought in OUR minds (Quick Post)

Every January 1st millions of Americans swear they are going to live THE life. They are going to:

1)Eat Healthy and work out regularly

2)Save money

3)Document their life and be thankful for what they have.

And then BAM! Two weeks role by and it's back to their old ways.

It's nearing the end of November now, and I have a different thought...

Why can't we end a year the way we start it?

If it takes 21 days to form a habit that means that you had to start by Decmeber 10th in order to kick a habit or start a new habit by 2014!

As for me (andrea), it's on 5 and I've already begun...

Today I made lunch instead of buying it so I hit two birds with one stone (saving money and eating healthy). 

We have 15 days until we start a new year so let's get it started!

We want to hear what your end of the year goals are!

-A&A

The Importance of Physical Fitness

It is extremely important to work out to keep your metabolism up, blood flow good, and sweating helps toxins evacuate the body.

Another important thing is to drink lots of water.

• water is good for your skin
• to stay hydrated on a normal basis you need to drink 1/2 your weight in fluid ounces 
• If you weight 140 lbs. you should be drinking 70 oz. of water a day
• If you work out you need to drink that much plus more to replace what you sweat out

It's not always easy to be or stay active...
We like to:

• Do workout videos
• Walk the dog
• Go jogging
• Take a cardio class

Today is cyber monday! If you have the money, it's the perfect opportunity to order some new gym gear whether it be new sneaks, one of those awesome sweat-wicking tops, a new water bottle, gym bags...

The list can go on and on. There are so many good deals out there but it really depends what you're into.

Cyber Monday Deals:

For the Health Nut

Fitness Gear 25% off

Fitness Equiptment

Nord's Very Very Nice Gear

Original Work Out Tanks

Happy Monday!

Love, 

A&A

Gifts We like to Give $25 and Under

The Holidays have arrived!! 

Here's a little help if you are stuck on what to buy the ladies on your life while sticking to a budget.

#1 Too Faced Glamor to Go Palette at Sephora

This brand continually has great palettes which are great to give to any chica that wears make up. The packaging is beautiful and it's great for on-the-go!

This pick is $18 (on sale) at sephora.com

#2 Victoria's Secret New! Make Up Bag

A couple things we always love is the color pink, polka dots, and bows, so we definitely love this bag!

This beauty is $18 and available online and in stores at victoriassecret.com.

#3 Warm Vanilla SugarKiss, Sparkle, and Scent Gift Set

If you're looking for something for the office gift exchange this is great for the co-worker you don't know well. Warm Vanilla Sugar is a great classic scent that is well loved and a best seller, Marshmallow Fireside is a cozy scent perfect for cuddling up in the living room, and a lovely lipgloss.

This set goes for a sensible $21. Find it at bathandbodyworks.com

I might just get this set for my coworker!

#4 Tarte Thoughtful Treasures Deluxe Best-Seller Set

• The limited-edition set features:
• deluxe pure maracuja oil
• deluxe Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in limited edition thankful (golden pink)
• deluxe LipSurgence skintuitive lip tint in energy
• (A $36 value) Only $19

Amanda absolutely loves tarte! If you are looking for a nice beauty gift for someone who loves tarte or long wear make up this is a fun choice!

Available at Macy's and macys.com

#5 AEO Bow Toe Necklace & Stud Set

This is a simple and fun set. Again we love bows and anything sparkly. This is available at ae.com and probably in stores.

Price: $15.50 

These are our picks for Gifts under $25, but other wonderful suggestions are fashion scarves, a travel size make up brush set, nail polish sets, roller ball perfumes and so much more!

Tell Us:

What are your favorite gifts to give under $25? What do you give to people you don't know well? And what are you favorite gives to receive?

Comment and share.

Love,

     A&A 

Favorite Designer: Lauren Conrad

This is Andrea.

Right now I am LOVING Lauren Conrad's line LC Lauren Conrad from Kohl's. I got a couple pieces from her line on eBay last year or the year before because cash was tight and I really liked a couple of her blouses and couldn't bare to live without them. Now that I've discovered "Kohl's Cash" and the wonders of Kohl's Coupons I have no reserves of stepping into Kohl's and finding LC Pieces I absolutely love.

What's Great About LC?

Basics:

• Basics in great colors that are either trendy or totally in right now.
• Basics in cuts that are flattering for a young woman's body.

Jewelry:

• Find Basics like Bows and Studs
• So many pieces that aren't like what you would find at F21 or Charming Charlie's, these pieces are quality, grown up yet darling, and not overly fashionable.
• However, sometimes it's hard to find what you know they have in every store.

Shoes:

• Classic and Preppy Flats with a twist, heals that are sassy and yet classy.
• Again with the high quality.
• I have my eye on some cute nude flats I'm waiting for a sale... I'm probably wasting time and should be checking now since it's officially holiday sale time.

More on LC Later <3 

Love,

A.

A&A: We Do What We Love

We are A&A

Andrea & Amanda

We go to Community College but have big dreams for ourselves.

Cousins and practically sisters, we have a lot in common, but a lot of differences also.

Andrea is an aspiring Fashion Designer who is always busy, most the time you can catch her rocking a pair of Skinny Jeans and a t-shirt but her taste is nothing to compare to that.

Amanda is an aspiring Music Teacher, specifically Vocal Music, she loves to sing and she often pushes herself to the limit the amount of classes she can take.

Between us two, many hours of sleep are lost in order to complete everything they we do.

Currently Andrea is a full time student, works part-time and has had many house sitting gigs this year.

Amanda is not working but is taking her first semester of college very seriously with 17 units of studies.

Something we have in common is our love for all things beauty and fashion. We often compete and argue in this department, luckily as time goes on we are starting to define ourselves with different brands, favorite stores and passed times which makes our lives more interesting and less competative.

We are starting this blog as a place for everything we love and to share it with others.

We strive to be honest and real, and how could we not be? We are just 2 college girls having some fun.

Look Out for all the fun that we have to share...

Love,

A&A