Hair Up, Hair Down: Etiquette

Everyone posts about hair care, hair styling, and healthy hair - but I've never actually seen a post on hair etiquette. It's a little out-of-the-ordinary, but taming your hair and knowing when-to-wear-what is important, too! So, without further ado, here's a list of etiquettes you should always practice when it comes down to hair.

1. Unless you're attending a costume party or culture festival, you should never wear your hair up in an "afro". Afro-like hairstyles scream wild and unnecessary, especially for school or formal outings.

2. Wear it soft, 99% of the time. Soft hair is usually more delicate and looks not only healthier, but also prettier in the way that it's easier to style. It gives the impression that you spent time on your hair and you care.

3. Never leave your hair unattended. When your eating, clip it up. When you're parting, let it down. Everything changes with occasion, but just make sure to never leave your hair unattended.

4. Trim it. A lot. Super long hair (a couple inches above your waist) is hard to attend to and maintain. A good rule of thumb if to measure the inches down from your chest area - 0 to 12 inches longer is fine, while anything after that is a sign you need to go trim your hair
5. Wearing hair straight versus wearing hair curled. A good measure I like to use to determine if I should wear my hair straight or curled is how formal the event I'm attending is. If it's a large school gathering like homecoming or prom, then go for large, soft curls. If it's semi-formal like a big sporting event or concert, wear it wavy. And, if it's just a normal day at school, wear it straight.

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Credits

"Side Braid"
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Pretty Little Scope: Who's Your Favorite Liar?

Pretty Little Liars (Season 3) comes out in exactly one month from today.

Who else is ecstatic?!

Let me know in the comments below: Who's your favorite liar?

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Credits

"Shay, Lucy, Ashley, Troian"; Pretty Little Liars

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Birthday Gift-Giving Guide

I'm always, always good at brainstorming birthday gift ideas - until the birthday actually comes. Today I decided to share a birthday gift-giving guide for any of you that may have the same problem or are just looking to find some little ideas and inspiration...

For "Friends"

My budget: $10-25

The budget may seem a little harsh, but you won't believe what you can get with $10! If your friend likes fashion, makeup, and beauty, I recommend getting her a small bottle of perfume and a $15 dollar gift card to Sephora. For athletic girly-girls; why not get her a gift card to PINK? They have the best yoga pants in the whole world. And for those "in between" girls that aren't quite the "uber glamorous" type or the athletic type - I would recommend getting her a set of pretty ear phones (they have adorable Strawberry ones at Forever21) with a little tin of yummy candy.

For "Close Friends"

My budget: $20-40

You can do wonders with $20 or $30 bucks. I recommend 2-3 bottles of nail polish (more "exclusive" ones like Butter London or Topshop) and a couple of little beauty buys under $25 for the girly ones. If she's more into sports, get her a pair of equestrian boots or ball of hair ties and a cute duffel bag. If she's neither, I suggest getting a couple of candles, lotions, or bath sets from Bath and Body Works or Lush, or if she's a coffeeholic (like me), get a pretty mug - then fill it with $5-$10 sampler gift cards!

For "Best Friends"

My budget: $50-200

The $200 might scare you. But then again, it is your best friend. You've been through so much with them, and they're the closest to your heart. They deserve something, right?

For girls into fashion and beauty, I recommend a cute makeup bag and filling them with little beauty products. You can even go as far as subscribing them to beauty subscription services such as Birchbox, Eco Emi, Beauty Fix, ect. For friends that like staying fit and active, get them a pretty pair of Coach shoes (and if budget allows) a beach bag to go with it. For those amazing "in betwen friends", I like getting them tote bags from Kipling, and depending on the price, fill them up with little goodies. I also recommend pretty phone cases (Elle and Blair for Cellairis has really cute ones!) and cute little knick knacks from Modcloth.

All in all, I like getting all my friends a little pretty handmade card (handmade makes it special!) and a gorgeous little cupcake to go along with everything else. (If you live in the LA area, Sprinkles is amazing. If not, and you're more of the homemade type, try this pretty cupcake frosting recipe.)

Don't forget to tell your friend "happy birthday" from me and the rest of the team at Pinkscript!

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Credits

"Strawberries On Cupcake"; Sephora; Victoria's Secret PINK; Forever 21; Butter London; Topshop; Bath and Body Works; Lush; Birchbox; Eco Emi; Beauty Fix; Coach; Kipling; Elle and Blair for Cellairis; Modcloth; Sprinkles; "Pink Butter Cream Frosting Recipe"

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Morning Coffee

Who else has coffee every Sunday morning? I know I'm guilty of this habit myself. It's not really something I would call "addicting", it's just something that's routine and second-nature by now. You know, lounging-around-in-a-bathrobe-with-your-slippers-on-holding-a-cup-of-coffee-in-your-hand...it's a feeling. (;

Truth is, coffee actually isn't the best way to wake up, nor is it the thing that wakes you up the most. Guess what is? If you muttered "apple", you're on the right track.

Apples and fresh berries are proven to be able to wake you up more in the morning, and are also a lot healthier without the bulk package of caffeine that coffee offers. Now, trust me - I know that substituting apples and berries for coffee is crazy, but being healthy always comes with a price tag.

So, what do you think? To coffee, or not to coffee?


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Credits

"Morning Coffee"
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Order Up: Homemade Dessert Menu

Happy Saturday lovelies! What are you all up to this weekend?

While most typical university students would have been hard at work this past week, I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a couple days with my friend Kaity, who works as a nutritionist and fitness expert at a local health and fitness center. We got to talk a little about food, and with that topic comes the lovely and heavenly thing called dessert.

I thought I'd share with you a DIY Homemade Dessert Menu today to help those who are currently doing the healthy eating challenge that I posted a couple weeks ago with me. Personally, I love desserts - ice cream, brownies, anything and everything! Unfortunately, eating sweets isn't the best way to soothe and cure a sweet tooth...

Kaity shared with me a simple way to stay on top of your desserts and swatch the fatty things for the better!

Enjoy!

1. Ice Cream

Instead of burrying your face into that oh-so-lucious, thick, whispy, and delicious bowl of chocolate ice cream, consider your other options, like frozen yogurt or even traditional yogurt. Not satisfying enough? Go for vanilla (it's healthier) or vanilla bean (if you hate vanilla).

2. Fondue

Fondue is probably one of the best things ever invented, especially when it comes to Friday nights. Instead of store bought or restaurant crafted fondue (which typically contains an enormous amount of fat, oils, and sugars) make your own! Click here for a simple way to make homemade fondue.

3. Nutella

I've probably had Nutella on toast for 9283 days of my life already. Although it tastes like heaven, did you know that it's actually not the healthiest? Try making your own version of Nutella next time you're tempted to spread some hazelnut on your toast. Smitten Kitchen offers a couple of super great (and yummy!) homemade Nutella alternatives.

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Credits

"Chocolate Ice Cream"; "Healthy Eating Challenge"; "Homemade Fondue"; Nutella; Smitten Kitchen; "Homemade Nutella"

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Laundry/Closet Organization and Labeling

If there's one thing about me, it's that I am very, very picky about my bedroom. Everything has to be in perfect order and organized, otherwise I go crazy. Therefore, today I decided to dedicate a complete post to my laundry and closet order.

What I do:
-I separate my laundry into 3 bags: Whites, Darks, and Other. I've had jinxed experiences with washing different color schemes together, so I'm super OCD about what I launder with what.
-When I take something out of my closet to put into my laundry bags, I hang a tag on the hanger to let myself know that the item is currently in the laundry. I label my hangers with what clothing item is on which hanger, so I know exactly which piece is missing. The tags look a little like this:

To make:
1) Copy/paste the above label onto a word document and print out on card stock paper. photo paper, or "stiffer" paper to prevent bending and rips.
2) Use a paper cutter to cut out into the shape of a square.
3) Hole punch the top and loop a piece of string through the hole.

You're done! Happy organizing.

Pink Butter Cream Frosting Recipe

Those of you who follow me on Twitter probably saw my tweet about making pink frosting cupcakes for my friend's birthday yesterday! Well, a lot of you DM'ed me after that asking for a follow up recipe on this blog...so here it is! Ta-da!
(I got this recipe from The Cupcakery!)

You Will Need:
-4 oz./1 stick unsalted butter, softened
-4 oz. vegetable shortening
-5 cups powdered sugar
-1/8 teaspoon salt
-2 tablespoons whole milk
-2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
-1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
-Red food coloring

1) Using an electric mixer, cream the butter, shortening, and salt for about 30 seconds.
2) Add half of the powdered sugar and milk to the butter mixture and beat again until combined. Scrape down the bowl.
3) Add the remainder of the powdered sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat until combined. Scrape down the bowl again.
4) Beat on high speed for 5-6 minutes or until the frosting is fluffy. Add red food coloring, a few drops at a time until desired color is achieved.
5) It is preferable to use the frosting on the same day you make it, but it can keep in the refrigerator for 3 days if tightly wrapped. Make sure and stir the butter cream well before using to get the air bubbles out of the frosting and then pipe onto completely cooled cupcakes.

Enjoy!

Eating Healthy: Diet Planning

It's always been a resolution of mine (and a lot of other people) to stop the fast-food binge and start eating healthier. Unfortunately, these are one of the things that are easier said than done; way easier said than done. I've been pretty good tackling other goals, but this one was just a complete misfit for me. So I decided to take actions into my own hands (instead of my cravings' hands) and create a fixed and strict meal plan for my particular diet.

My Diet:
I don't exercise much; in fact, it's rare that I ever do (my good excuse is that I'm still a student, and a complete busybee these days) so I obviously need less calories than a lot of more active people. I've made an amendment to myself that I would eat more vegetables, and choose fresh fruit and yogurt with granola over candy and cake. I would drink more water, and make it a habit to go to the gym 3 times a week (at least for starters).

The Plan:
For the first month, I'm going to focus on cutting sweets. On a post-it note, I jot down a quick tally mark every time I choose fruit (a sweet-but-healthy alternative). Once I reach 35 tally marks, I'll treat myself to a spa night at home. Hopefully, by the end of the first month I'll be able to cut down most of my candies and fats.

For the second month, I'll focus on vegetables. This is a though one for me, because I hate most green foods. To make it a tad bit easier, I jot down a tally mark every time I eat something green (and healthy) and once I reach the grand total of 40 marks, I'll treat myself to a trip to Ulta to pick up something pretty.

For the third month, I'm going to make it a benchmark to focus on water and sleep. These are two main ingredients to how you feel and how you look. (And nobody wants to talk to an ugly, grumpy monster!) I'll drink 5 average sized cups total through the day; one in the morning right when I wake up, three between school, work, and shifts, and one in the night, right before I go to bed. My curfew this month is going to be 10:30pm, and and bedtime will be around 11:30.

After three months have gone by, I'll focus on one of the toughest aspects of my diet that involves getting fit and staying fit - working out! I'll make it a plan to go to the gym or do some sort of exercise for an hour (like yoga, swimming, ect.) at least three times a week. Each time I do an hour of working out, I'll put a little tally mark on my post-it note. After I reach 20 marks, I'll treat myself to a pair of new sweatpants from Victoria's Secret (my favorite!). And maybe, if I continue this throughout the whole year, I'll treat myself to a brand new pair of track shoes...(;

Hope this helped some of you get inspired to start diet planning for the summer! It's never too early to start becoming a healthier YOU. Leave a link to your blog in the comments section below and tell me three aspects you plan on improving on!

Order Up: Pinkberry!

It's not a secret that Pinkberry is one of my favorite places available for frozen yogurt out there. Here's my take on everything Pinkberry flavored!

For the "base" - the frozen yogurt - I usually either order original or mango (when it's available); I'm not a huge fan of their seasonal flavors.

For toppings, I always, always get mochi and strawberries/blackberries. Then I usually top it with either coconut, some chocolate dibs, and occasionally, gummy worms.

I'm not a big try-gooder, so I usually stay true to my first-picks, especially when it comes to Pinkberry. I definitely recommend my picks above if your a frozen-yogurt newbie, but when in doubt, ask for a tasting - it never hurts!

Happy Sunday!

Ask Essie: On Photography and Cameras!

"I heard you were an avid photographer...what camera do you use?"

So, I have a little confession to make today: I actually don't own a professional quality camera! My friend Kathryn is a hobbyist photographer but is super talented; she uses the Canon EOS for her shoots. Usually, for my photo shoots, I borrow Kathryn and her photography skills with me along for the ride.

When I take pictures of things (around the house and knick knacks here and there) I use my iPad. Bulky, but reliable. I am not a photographer in any way, so the quality (on the iPad 3rd Gen.) is good enough for me! I usually upload them straight onto Pixlr, edit it if necessary, and then email it to myself.

As for vintage-y photos, I use my Diana + Dreamer! You can get the Lomography camera here at Urban Outfitters.

That's it! I don't own an uber-expensive camera, but still love photography and snap pictures as a hobby. Ask me (any) question by sending it to pinkscriptblog@gmail.com or by tweeting me @PinkScriptBlog and you'll be featured in the next "Ask Essie" post!

XO, Essie