a very wise woman once told me...

The hardest part of having someone visit is knowing that they're eventually going to have to leave

I recently had family visit from California for about a week. This was well overdue because we don't really get a chance to see each other too often. It was a good excuse for my extended family get together which is something that, nowadays, doesn't happen as much as it should. I had the week off of work so I was able to show them around downtown and just chilled with the family as much as possible. I think they had a good time and I appreciate that they were able to travel to Chicago.

Now it's back to real life...

sharing an ipad / brothers / aunts and uncles / skyline / dinos at the Field Museum / Reef being silly / Chicago River / bean / Millennium Park beer garden / classic bean picture / playing in the water / Reef having fun / cousins / the youngins holding hands / my basting stick / pig roast in the backyard / adults and johnny / ipads for everyone / the great-grandma / my cousins with our grandmother / Edmyr and Reef

crosses

I bought this plain white blouse from a local thrift store for somewhere around $1.50 because I really liked how the buttons looked in the back.  I later decided that it was a little too boring so I stamped on some crosses with puffy paint and a stamp that I carved out of a potato and hacked off the sleeves.  The paint was a little messy, but I love the end result.

Urban Kayaking

Jeff and I recently got a chance to use our Groupon for urban kayaking that we purchased a while back.  We chose to take a historical tour down the Chicago River via tandem kayak.  It was a nice opportunity to see the city from a different perspective and learn a little bit about the buildings that I see every day.  

The tour was about two hours long and consisted of pedaling up the river a few miles and then back down again.  Every so often we would stop and gather so that the tour guide could tell us a little bit about what we were seeing.  Throughout, there was a good mix of information on both architecture and history given by the tour guide who was very friendly and personable.

Something to note is that more than likely you will get wet even if you are extremely careful.  That just comes withe the nature of paddling.  The river is not the cleanest so you just have to be okay with dealing with that.

 You share the river with tour boats, police, and even geese so the water can get a little choppy at times. The tour is meant for everyone, including beginners, but those kayaking for the first time can feel a little stressed at the beginning. However, I am pretty sure at the end of the tour everyone felt comfortable inside their boat.

It was a great experience and I definitely recommend it if you are looking to try something new and a little bit outdoorsy. I learned a few historical facts and had a good time while doing so.  HERE is a link to the website if you want to check it out. They also offer different tours including a sunset tour and a firework tour if history isn't your thing.

driving away from the day

 I just got back from a graduation party
I always forget how much I love driving home in the middle of the night during the summer with my windows down and great music playing in the background. It's one of the many reasons I love summer.

 Today was incredibly hot  so I tried to wear minimal clothing without being too scandalous...

 white boyfriend tank: forever 21

navy printed skirt: goodwill

brown and cream weaved belt: urban outfitters

 gucci handbag: from my mom

Ralph Lauren sandals: from my mom

Skincare Lessons Straight From Pharmacy School

I've gone through one year of pharmacy school and I feel like I still know nothing about drugs.  But what I can tell you is that aspirin makes one of the greatest spot treatments for acne around because it is dirt cheap and highly effective.

A little bit of science for you:
Aspirin is also known as acetylsalicylic acid with salicylic acid being its main metabolite.  Sound familar? That's because it is the active ingredient in many toners and acne medications.  Salicylic acid is an oil-based exfolient that works to rid of dead skin that can clog pores.

What I like to do is add a little water to a tablet and wait until it dissolves in order to form a paste.  I use a cotton swab or brush to dab that lightly onto any problem areas and let it sit overnight.  This can be very drying so I recommend using it only for a small area at a time.

All Used Up: May

I have gone through quite a few products this month, mostly because I was holding on to several half-empty bottles both at home and at my apartment.  Let's take a look...

Jergens Original Scent Lotion: This is my all time favorite lotion and I am constantly repurchasing it. In fact, I have a brand new bottle in my bathroom right now.  Its not too thick, makes your skin feel hydrated, and and I can never get enough of the cherry almond scent.

Jingle Bellini Bath and Body Works Shower Gel: I got this product for Christmas, and I didn't really care for this it too much.  Although it worked well and lathered well, the smell reminded me of cough syrup.  You can find products of similar quality for much cheaper that have a more pleasing smell.

Equate Strengthening Nail Polish Remover: This is just your standard nail polish remover.  It's cheap and gets the job done.  It does, however, have acetone in it.  Also, it claims to be strengthening which I can not really vouch for.

Big Sexy Hair Root Plump Plus: I am always trying ways to get more volume into my hair. This works really well and I continue to purchase it because I have yet to find anything better. It has a mouse like texture that I work into my roots before I blow dry my hair.  Even though I get it at a discounted price from Nordstrom Rack, it does tend to get a bit pricey so I have cheaper options for school and work and such.

Clean and Clear Morning Burst Facial Cleanser: I left this at my house and just rediscovered it when I got back from school.  I really like it.  It gives you a tingly sensation that makes you feel more refreshed when you use it so that you are under the impression that it is working well.
Mane n Tail Conditioner: My mom has been buying this shampoo and conditioner for years now.  She loves it.  It was formulated for horses but, obviously, can be used for humans.  Many people make claims that it makes their hair grow quicker.  Although I can say that I feel like my hair is stronger when I use it, I am not convinced that it is growing quicker. One downside is that this does not really have a nice scent to it and I prefer for a shampoo scent to linger in my hair throughout the day.

My mom has been gathering Clinique products from the gifts that come free with purchases since I can remember.  I am trying to make a conscious effort to use up the ones that are just sitting in a bag in the closet.  Just off the bat, these are made for sensitive skin and none of them are scented.
7 Day Scrub Cream: This scrub works great.  The beads are the tiniest that I have felt in a scrub but are packed together so that I still feel like it is working.
Rinse-off Eye Makeup Solvent: This remover is just okay.  It gets most of my makeup off.  However, it does not get rid of waterproof mascara so I would probably not consider purchasing the full sized product.
All About Eyes Rich: This is an effective moisturizer although I do prefer the original all about eyes which is more of a gel consistency.  I do not think that it did anything for dark circles or puffiness but it is hard to tell from just a small amount.
Rinse-off Foaming Cleanser: This cleaner works well on my skin.  It leaves it feeling clean and gets rid of some of the oiliness.  I have not complaints.

Softymo Nose Pore Strips: These are my favorite pore strips.  They get the job done well without making it feel like I am ripping my nose off.
Pur-lisse Pur-protect Essential Daily Moisturizer: I got this is my glam bag.  It's just allright.  I don't have much to say about it really.

A couple of samples from Lush
Vanishing Cream: This moisturizer is nothing extremely special to me but it felt light and worked well.  It is good  for the warmer months although I love my clinique and am not really willing to swap it out for this one.
Tea Tree Water: I really like this toner.  My impression from the sample is that it worksnwell without the burning alcohol sensation that other toners have.  I am considering buying the full bottle next time I go to lush so that I can develop a fuller opinion about it.