Sultra Airlight Hair Dryer || First Impressions/ Demo + Review

Sultra Airlight Dryer

1875 Watt Motor

Price: $149

Buy it HERE

I was lucky to snag a deal and score this dryer for $39 thanks to a promotional deal from the Steals on The Real segment. Unfortunately, this deal is no longer available.

Watch below to see my honest review on this hair dryer (not sponsored whatsoever)

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Things To Remember When You Want To Give Up #MotivationMonday

No one ever warned me how horrible post-grad life would be, I should've seen it coming, considering the Recession took place during my senior year of high school (2008). I figured by the time I was going to graduate college, the economy would get better. Boy, was I wrong! It seems next to impossible to even get my foot through the door.

It's been two years since I graduated college with my Bachelor's degree in journalism. Two years of endless job searching, interviews, failed opportunities and internships that lead to nowhere. I always want to give up and give. I tell myself what's the point? Why am I wasting my time? Perhaps being a journalist is not in my destiny. But I know that's not what I really think. Failures condition us to be hard on ourselves, to feel defeated and to give up. Though that's the natural reaction, it's the worst thing to give up on yourself.

Here are some things I remind myself when I want to give up, and I hope anyone dealing with a personal battle could take these points and apply it to their own situation.

1. I came this far, why turn back now?

I went through everything for a reason. Every opportunity, every hardship. every rejection, every setback- it all had a purpose. It toughened me, it roughed me up, it made me stronger. I know it sounds corny, but it's true. I am so much stronger because I have been broken into pieces in the process of following my dreams. I've come this far, why stop now??

2. I can't let myself down

Giving up is the biggest "fuck you" you can give to yourself. Once you let yourself down, you open the door for other people to let you down. Just think of yourself as your best friend. You wouldn't want your best friend to give up on their dream, so why would you give up on yours?

3. I can't let my loved ones down

It's so important to surround yourself with genuine, supportive people. Whether it be family, friends, lovers or acquaintances that keep you motivated- it's crucial to roll with people that believe in you. Not only will they motivate you to push forth, but they will set an unintentional guilt within you. This guilt will keep you from disappointing these people. I am so grateful to have a handful of people that accept me regardless of my failures but never allow me to give up on myself.

4. I deserve the best

I can't stand conceited or cocky people. I really can't. And I also can't stand people who feel entitled. But I recognize hard work when I see it. I can spot injustice from a mile away and I always feel a discomfort when I see hard working people not reach the pinnacle of their success. I know I deserve more, and I know I deserve the best for myself. I can't and will not stop until I am satisfied.

5. Hard work and rewards don't have set dates, be patient!

That being said, I'm aware that hard work comes to those who wait, and the wait has no set date. Of course, so many rejections and failures make me feel weak and discourage me from trying. But that's the easy way out, and no one ever said life was easy. 

Here's an interesting report on successful people and the number of times they failed before they reached their success.

Source: Funders and Founders

This is not even a full list of people who failed multiple times before succeeding. The point is, they didn't let their failures hold them back. In fact, they worked harder to reach their success. Why shouldn't I do the same?

Just because I don't know when my hard work will pay off doesn't mean that it never will. You have to be your number one motivation, and you also have to be realistic. Success doesn't happen overnight, and it certainly takes time for your work to reflect itself.

Bottom Line: Don't Give Up

Life is about going up the ladder and becoming a better person. Don't let a few slips off the ladder stop you from climbing higher. In a less cheesy sense, don't give up on  yourself. Everyone is a work in progress and you won't reach success or happiness if you stand in your own way. Keep trying and take pride in the fact that you never gave up.

I hope you found this helpful and share it with a friend who needs a pick-me-up. 

Thanks for reading! xoxo

Instagram Hauls: Updates/Reviews

If you follow me on Instagram (@cheesehimablog) you'd see that I do mini hauls to share what products I picked up to test out. Since its been quite a while that I've been using these products, I thought it's about time to update you guys with my honest opinions and final thoughts.

1. Biore Self Heating One Minute Masks

My first mistake with this product was that I purchased it in the summer, which is not ideal considering that it's already hot! But being the impatient product junkie that I am, I tried it anyways. 

How to use: Open the packet and squeeze out the product onto your fingertips and apply all over the face (or problem areas) and you will instantly feel the product heating up on your face. I really enjoyed that part, because to me if a product stings or tingles a little bit- it's working. The instructions say to leave this mask on for 1 minute (as the name suggests), but I feel like that's such a waste. I leave it on for about 10 minutes before washing it off and following with my regular skin care routine.

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this product! I felt as if it was a luxury skincare experience. I really did help tighten my pores and skin overall. I just wish there were more than 4 packets. Also, it was a bit difficult squeezing the product out of the packet, perhaps Biore should consider a squeeze tube method for this type of mask.

Repurchase: YES!

Buy it HERE

2. Wet n Wild Mega Plump Dual Ended Mascara (in Very Black)

A drugstore mascara with wands designed for both bottom and lower lashes? Yes please!

How to use: It's quite simple, the mascara itself has labels for both the upper and lower lash wands. You hold onto the middle and untwist the side you want to use, and the rest is self-explanatory!

Final thoughts: I love the concept of this mascara. It's perfect for those busy days where you just want to load on the mascara and keep the rest of your face simple. I love love love the lower lash wand! It fits perfectly onto my lower lashes without smudging. But I am not too fond of the upper lash wand. The bristles are fat spirals, which cause my lashes to stick together and I do not like the look of that!

Repurchase: Probably not, I am very fond of Wet n Wild's MVP mascara and their Max Fanatic mascara. But this one missed the mark for me, just because of the upper lash wand. Maybe they should just come out with a tiny mascara for lower lashes!

Buy it HERE

3. Wet n Wild Coloricon Blush (in Rose Champagne)

I went on a whim and purchased this blush because A) it's beautiful! And B) a fellow blogger raved about it and I took her word for it!

How to use: Pretty basic folks, use a blush brush and sweep onto the cheeks.

Final thoughts: This is not the blush for me. It doesn't even show up on my skin tone! I was so disappointed because I thought this blush could give me a subtle glow, but it didn't even show on my skin! All I saw were little flecks of glitter. Maybe it works better on lighter people as a blush and darker people as a highlighter, but for us beige/tan folks- it's a miss.

Repurchase: No

Buy it HERE

4. Herbal Essences Cleansing Conditioner/Color Me Happy

As you can see by the picture, I've been doing the herbal! Lol, Herbal Essences is probably my favorite haircare line, so when I saw they made a sulfate-free cleansing conditioner, I had to jump on it!

How to use: First I pump 2x (more than enough) and work it into my roots and give myself a mini scalp massage. Then wash it off, as that's the cleansing portion, For the conditioning portion, I pump 2x again and apply it onto the mid shaft-ends of my hair and let it sit for the duration of my shower, then rinse off.

Final thoughts: I thought I would hate this product, but I LOVE IT! It doesn't weigh down my hair at all! My scalp actually feels clean after using this and my natural curls are so soft and bouncy. Let's not forget to mention the scent! Holy moly, sooooooooooooo good. They say the product has rose extracts, but this smells way better than roses!

Repurchase: Definitely! Though it is 16.9fl so I'm sure it will last a very long time since I use it about once a week.

I got mine at Bed Bath & Beyond!

5. Garnier Whole Blends Repairing Mask (Honey Treasures)

I swore off Garnier haircare products for a while because they didn't do anything to benefit my hair. But when I saw this natural line of products they came out with, I wanted to give it a shot so I picked up this repairing mask.

How to use: Apply a generous amount, focusing on the ends and leave on for 3 minutes. You can leave it on longer and use it as a deep conditioner. You can use it every time you wash your hair.

Final thoughts: I liked this conditioner, but I didn't love it. It has a slight honey scent to it, and it does make my hair feel a little softer when I use it, but it doesn't compare to my Macadamia deep repair masque.

Repurchase: No

I got mine at Bed Bath & Beyond

6. Garnier Skinactive Shine Control Cleansing Gel

Since my Garnier gentle clarifying gel ran out, I decided to pick up this charcoal infused shine control cleansing gel. As you can see, I'm a sucker for anything with charcoal in it.

How to use: Squeeze a pump or two, and lather up on your face. I usually use it at night time.

Final thoughts: Although it does do a good job at washing off makeup residue (after makeup wipes) and it does control shine, I did not like this product. I hate the scent of it, and it dried out my skin. I used to have a very oily T-zone, and now it is so dried out that it even flakes! Perhaps this formula is too strong for my skin type. 

Repurchase: No. Once I use this up, I'll go back to using Garnier's gentle clarifying gel.

Buy it HERE

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That rounds up the products I've showcased on IG and my honest reviews. Please keep in mind that all products were purchased with my own money and I was not sponsored to talk about any of these (though, I wouldn't mind free stuff haha!)

I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful. I think I'm going to do this more often so that I can keep my readers updated on the items that I picked up and if it's worth picking up yourself!

Happy reading! xoxo

Brooklyn Botanic Garden- A Flower Lover's Piece of Heaven

Yesterday was Mother's day- a day which I usually never go above and beyond for. You see, my mother is the type of mom who thinks every day should be mother's day (I'm sure many of you can relate!) so she would get upset if we picked this designated day to show our gratitude.

I always try to treat my mom special every day, but let's be real- that only lasts for so long. We have our ups and downs, but my mother knows she means the world to me. I made it a priority to give her a really special mother's day this year since she's been dealing with a lot of hardships. I actually started my mother's day shenanigans earlier this week but saved the best for last.

My mom LOVES flowers. I can't even describe how hard it is to pull her away from the plants and flowers expo at Home Depot. So when I kept seeing pictures of the gorgeous Brooklyn Botanic Garden, I knew this was something I had to experience with my mom. 

We headed there at noon on Sunday, and the weather was PERFECT. Mind you, it was raining all week up until yesterday morning (meant to be?) and we arrived when the sun was beaming down and the winds were there to keep us cool. It was simply perfect. The rain did cause wilting and some flowers were not yet in bloom, but here are some pictures that I took to share this gorgeous piece of heaven in NYC.

If you're in NYC or planning a visit, be sure to check out Brooklyn Botanic Garden (click here)

Thanks for stopping by! xoxo

5 Reasons You Should Take A Social Media Break

These days, it's so easy to get caught up in social media- it's basically what our lives revolve around. Wake up- check your Instagram feed. Go out with friends- Snapchat the entire thing instead of having a genuine experience. Someone or something pisses you off- instantly tweet a subliminal message to air out some heat (I am guilty of all three!). Unfortunately, this is the modern day world and its hard not to partake in social media, but it's very unhealthy to be engulfed in your phone 24/7.

Every now and then I take a break from social media so I can live in reality, and not just for the internet. It really helps me improve the quality of my actual life and individuality. I want to share with you guys how I benefit from taking a social media break, and why you should try it too!

Here are 5 reasons you should take a social media break

1. Live in the NOW

We get so caught up in capturing the perfect image or video to post online, that we forget to live in the moment. I have been to multiple get-togethers where everyone is so busy taking pictures, editing, thinking of the perfect caption and obsessing over likes that NO ONE TALKS! It is so frustrating to be with a group of people that just spend time on their phones. I guess this whole idea of "if it's not on Instagram, did it even happen?" is engraved in everyone's head. 

Here's a reality check: no one really cares. All these pictures are (sometimes) are people boasting and bragging about their "wonderful" life. Truth is, everyone has problems in real life. Everyone has a struggle that they are dealing with. And we need to keep that in mind when we think we have to constantly keep up and compete with portraying "the perfect life" Everyone has the fear of missing out, so make sure to live in the moment! Memories > pictures.

2. Take the pressure off

Take the pressure off yourself! It gets so overwhelming and stressful when you compare your life to those on social media and think "my life is so boring." That's not true! A lot of people spiral into a depression from living a staged lifestyle (e.g. Essena O'Neill). Not everything you see has truth to it, a lot of it is staged. Don't ever compare your life to what you see on social media.

I was so stressed out because sometimes I felt like I didn't have anything good to post, and that I would lose followers if I wasn't active on Instagram. Then I realized, its okay. It really doesn't matter. What matters to me are the followers, subscribers, and readers that genuinely like my work, and are here for the long run. Its okay if you don't post where you ate or what you wore every day. Unless you're getting paid per post, there's no reason to freak out if your posts have a little gap.

3. Privacy is important

We live in an era where there is no such thing as privacy, and everyone overshares. People even Snapchat child birth!! Where is the pause button? (Pun intended...)

I am a very private person, and I have always been that way. It puts me in a tough place because I really want to be a successful blogger, but I do not want to give away every detail of my life. I am slowly but surely learning where to draw the line when it comes to sharing my life online. 

For example, I don't have to post about where I am every single day because I definitely need my space. I like to do my own thing, at my own pace. I'm not obligated to report about my every move.

I feel like people have forgotten how important privacy is. Your private time is when you flourish as an individual. When you spend so much time trying to keep up with whats trendy on the web, you lose your creative side and individuality. Take this time to indulge in your true passions and interests, without anyone else's opinion impacting your decisions.

4. Focus on improving your life

Take this time away from social media to focus on the important things in life. There's no better feeling than knowing that you are living a quality life and that you don't always have to expose every detail of your growth to the world. A genuinely successful life is better than a picture-perfect social media life.

Focus on your studies or get that project done for work. Go hard at the gym, or spend time with the people that matter. Nowadays, there's no better gift you can give to someone besides your undivided attention. Work on building strong relationships, friendships and partnerships that will help you in real life.

Take some time to plan out your future and set goals. Its totally fine if you want to post this on social media, because putting it out there in the world may motivate you more. But be careful, because not every follower is a well wisher. Remember, if you're going through a rough patch- it's totally fine to go m.i.a. while you get your shit together.

5. There is a life beyond your phone

I feel like people, especially the younger generations, don't remember that there was once upon a time where no one had cell phones. Yes, it's true!

I understand that it is normal for everyone to be attached to our phones, it's just how the world is right now. But let's not forget that there is a beautiful world for us to explore, with so many cultures, landmarks, history and experiences just waiting for us to be a part of. Lift your eyes off your Instagram screen and work towards experiencing all these cool things IN REAL LIFE!

On a daily basis, try taking a mini break from your phone every day to detach for a bit. Go for a walk, read a book or meet a friend for coffee. You can most definitely do all of this without posting it online. Trust me, you don't need to validate your life experience from people on the web.

Final Thoughts 

Social media is what you make it. I found it to be a great tool to share my work and connect with other wonderful, like-minded individuals. Of course with the good, there's always the bad. I get really turned off by the over-exposed, over staged lifestyles that I see everyone trying to attain. Are people really that insecure that they need validation from the internet?

Sometimes we can get caught up with the competition that social media brings. But don't forget, unless you are contracted and getting paid to post (not the case for most of us haha), then you are not obligated to post!

I hope anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or uninspired takes a moment to step back and take a break. Happy reading!! xoxo

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