Farewell for Now...

Hello, ladies!  In all reality, those of you who were once my readers have probably given up on me, since I haven't posted in over a year, it seems.  There have been a lot of changes in my life that have rendered it nearly impossible to blog...

College.
Work.
More work.
Lack of camera.
Lack of software.

It's been really hard for me to just see this blog dissolve away, since it was such a large part of my life and my development as a young adult.  I've made the decision, however, to turn over a new leaf in the blogging spectrum.  I'm currently working on the design for a totally new blog - one that will reflect the person I've grown in to in the past year and a half.

The person I was in high school is much different from the person I am today, simply because living away from home forces one to grow up and mature pretty quickly.  Now, don't start thinking that "mature" is synonymous with "boring," because my life has actually become exponentially more exciting, and more in line with what I think was my true purpose, as cliche as that seems.

And so my new blog will be focusing on that - the way I've grown, and my perspective on things as an older and more developed human being.  I'll be adding a lifestyle component, so it won't just be fashion and beauty - and I think this addition is one of the most important changes, since my lifestyle has become extremely important to me.

I  KNOW YOU'RE ALL WONDERING: what is the name of my new blog?

Well, it's going to be called IN THE RAW, with the goal of stripping down conventions and appearances - everything that is solely external - in favor of finding the beauty that lies inside you, which you have every right to express.  Embracing total nakedness - either literally or figuratively - can sometimes be the best way to dress up.

And that's what my new blog is going to be focusing on.  I'll have more description about it in my first post - but if you were a once-loyal follower, please keep your eyes open from now on.

Until you see me on my new and improved and grown up blog, however, this is going to be my farewell to Saltines & Sunglasses.  I've truly enjoyed every bit of what I did and posted, as well as making videos on my YouTube page and Polyvore-ing to my heart's content.  This blog has been sacred to me - and a godsend in many ways - and actually led me onto my current career path.

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to read my ramblings.  I say it at the end of every post and I really mean it: I love you all.  Those of you who have contacted me personally have made me feel so special and I appreciate your loyalty.

So, to all of you wonderful gals: keep being the amazing people you are.

Love you all 

<3

Target Beauty HAUL

Hey hey ladies ;) Here's my first ACTUAL post in a while (haha), I hope you all enjoy.  It's just a few beauty items that I picked up the other day from Target, because I was in serious need of some makeup bag restocking, not only because of my recent and drastic tanning (every year, once I get into swimming, all of my face makeup needs replacing), but also because I was getting bored of a few things and needed to freshen up.  Again, I hope you all enjoy :)

 Essie "No Chips Ahead" Anti-Chip + Shine Top Coat ::: $8.49

I don't know if I've told you all before, but my go-to base and top coats for the last year or so have been the Revlon Quick-Dry versions.  Don't get me wrong - Revlon does a GREAT job with their nail products - but I decided that I would try something of a better quality this time around.  All of my favorite polishes, after all, are Essie (excluding "Monsooner or Later" by OPI), so I decided to get the Top Coat to finish off my collection, of sorts.  I used it on my most recent pedicure, and the shine is beautiful.  Also (most importantly), no chips yet!

 Revlon Colorstay Liquid Makeup ::: Combination / Oily Skin ::: 370 "Toast" ::: $9.99

As I mentioned above, my skin has gotten majorly tan, as it does every year.  I've been gradually buying new foundations (I've built up quite a collection in the last few weeks, as it happens) in order to accommodate my relentless tanning, and this is the latest of the bunch.  I bought it in the color "Toast," which  (I believe) is the fourth to darkest shade in the Colorstay line.  Anyway, I've used it three days in a row and the application is smooth with a medium coverage.  Also, I don't look oily, so I would definitely recommend! 

 Essie Nail Lacquer ::: "Peach Daiquiri" ::: $8.49

As a Hollister employee, I am NOT ALLOWED to paint my finger nails - it's been quite a struggle, but I think I'm getting used to the look.  Anyway, while manicures are prohibited, pedicures are not.  We're allowed to paint our toes any shade of red (that includes pink), so I decided I would make the best of my situation and go bright and springy and beautiful for my pedicure.  As an extra plus, the name of this polish is simply glamorous: "Peach Daiquiri."  I LOVE THIS COLOR.

 NYC ::: Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder ::: Bronzing ::: $4.99

For as long as I've been wearing face makeup, I've used the Physician's Formula Bronzing Powder - it's slightly matte, a good color for my skin, and lasts FOREVER.  It just so happens that FOREVER ended about a week ago, when I couldn't get a single speck of powder out of that case.  So, I went for this one - the colors are a bit darker, which is perfect for my current skin tone.  Despite the intensity of the color on the palette, itself, it looks completely natural on the skin.  Also, the price is INCREDIBLY reasonable for the quality.  I recommend.

L'Oreal Voluminous ::: Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara ::: 695 "Blackest Black" Waterproof ::: $6.59

Don't think I'm betraying my favorite mascaras (the L'Oreal Carbon Black and 24-Hour Power Volume), I'm only trying new things.  I used this mascara for the first time today, and the results were beautiful - no clumping, but still very full, dark results.  I'll continue to use this and maybe do a review later :)

So that's everything, loves

I hope you all took some product tips from this post - make sure to check back, as I'll be posting more often form this point, forward :)

Love you all

<3

I'M BACK: Major Life Update

Ladies, ladies ... WHERE HAVE I BEEN, you ask?  The answer to that is: a lot of places, yet nowhere, all at the same time.  So I'll get started on what's been going on in my life (which leads to why I haven't been blogging lately), things that have changed, and what I plan to do in the future with this blog and everything relating to it ... 

FIRST THINGS FIRST: I haven't posted since the second day of the year, and we are now more than halfway through the second month (I know, pathetic, right?).  So, to start off this post, I'M SORRY to all of you who would have liked to be updated regularly, who might have been missing my writing.

NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF:

1. I'm an adult!  Contrary to my apparent age, listed on the right sidebar (you know, where that picture of me is), I am EIGHTEEN years old.  The reason the sidebar is incorrect, though, is a completely different story.  THE POINT IS, I am now a legal adult in the United States, which means I've had a bunch of stuff to do lately - reliving childhood moments as well as capitalizing on my new-found freedom (example: no curfew), which happens to take up some time.

2. I finished applying to college!  I'm graduating from high school in June of this year, and am (hopefully) off to far better things (don't get me wrong, I LOVE HIGH SCHOOL) in the years to come at a university of my choice.  I'm allowed to be optimistic now, see, because I finished the tedious and stress-inducing process of actually applying, which includes figuring out a major, writing an abundance of essays (and then editing and re-writing, and re-writing, etc.), running around meeting with teachers and school counselors, filling out enough forms to make a person's hands explode, and spending quite a pretty penny (or not-so-pretty) to send in applications and test scores.  

3. My computer had a stroke ... and a heart attack ... and an aneurysm ... This is not news to those of you who used to watch my (now completely outdated) YouTube channel.  Here's the honest truth: I have an iMac, but it is no longer working.  It was old, see?  Like, 2007-old, and it felt the need to retire - and by "retire," I mean "the entire screen went black one day, causing us to buy a new monitor for it, which eventually became useless because the computer, itself, (among other things) ran out of space on the hard drive and just wouldn't turn on anymore."  The significance of this is that, firstly, I had Photoshop on that computer, which is where I've done all of my graphics for this blog (including the right sidebar - see why it's not right anymore?); and secondly, I had iMovie on that computer (can't do YouTube videos the way I like them without iMovie).  These two things put together have set me back a little, but I've been making do.

4. I got a job!  For the most popular, internationally-known bloggers, jobs aren't really necessary - their blogs (and the ads that show up on them) are their jobs.  It sounds like a nice life, but it's not my life (hopefully, one day, it will be).  Therefore, I needed to find a way to rack up some cash in order to support my regular lifestyle as well as my profile as a blogger (can't post a haul without money to buy haul-items).  So, since you're all dying to know, I got a job at Hollister Co., the California-based branch of Abercrombie & Fitch.  If you guys want, I can do a post about all the perks of being a Hollister employee, but for now, I'll just say this: I am loving work - the people are amazing and I get to be surrounded by clothing all the time.  The only thumbs-down-element of being a working member of society is that working takes up a lot of hours - hours I would have used (before) to update my blog and various other pages.

5. Senior year is STILL stressful!  Even after all the college-application shenanigans I went through, I've still had a bunch to do: I recently had finals for my fall semester, have been playing in my FINAL season of varsity basketball, and have Winter Formal coming up this weekend (ladies, you ALL know that school dances are more about the preparation than the actual event).  It's all been time-consuming, yet extremely exciting.

SO NOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN UPDATED ... WE CAN FUTURE-CAST ...

This year has brought a lot of change, and I have no doubt that the change will continue.  I'm going to college in the fall (I have no idea where, at this point), and am going to have to manage my time very well if I'm to keep this up - which I have every intention of doing.  All I'll need is a decent camera I can take with me to school, and a laptop to maybe start up my YouTube channel again :)

Anyway, dolls, that's everything ... Sorry there were no pictures to look at for this post, I honestly didn't have the time or the motivation to go out and shoot (haha).  Still, I hope you enjoyed, and I hope you now have an understanding about why I've been gone.  I'll definitely be more present from now on, since I've adequately adjusted myself.

Love you all

<3

HAPPY NEW YEAR ||| Favorite Beauty Products: 2013

Favorite Beauty Products: 2013 by the-saltine-herself

Hey dolls!  First things first: HAPPY NEW YEAR!  It's 2014, which means there are new people to meet and goals to catch, more posts to post and more lovin' to be done!  Before all of that starts, though, I would like to honor 2013 by featuring a few (eight, to be exact) products that I fell in love with (or re-fell in love with) during the past year ...

1. DevaCurl Products: As you've all read, the Deva products are absolutely amazing for curly hair, but that's all I'm going to say for now - I keep putting this off, see?  Because I promised to do a full-blown review focused ALL on the Deva line of curly-hair products.  Stay tuned!

2. St. Ives Blemish and Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub: So for the first half of the year I was without a good exfoliating scrub, and my skin (which was a very angry thing, at that time) was suffering even more because of it.  I was then introduced to a site called Crunchy Betty, which is completely focused on all-natural, D.I.Y. beauty products.  My favorite mixture was the No-Nonsense Daily Scrub, because it was easy to make.  Honestly, though, we all get lazy - the St. Ives Apricot Scrub has been my solace on off-days, when I didn't have the energy to mix my own facial scrub.  I chose it because it has a lot of natural extracts in it (which I learned about from the Crunch Betty site), and isn't filled with harmful chemicals that might handicap your skin-health in the long-run.  Great product!

3. Bath & Body Works "Twilight Woods" Body Mist: It's a well-known fact that I am in love with this scent - it's perfect (check out my haul for it for more details on the scent, itself) in every way, and I've been using it for years.  

4. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette: The Naked Collection is the best thing that could happen to the eye-makeup world, hands down to the ground.  The colors (if they can even be appropriately called "colors") are so natural and beautiful.  I've used this palette for myself (and all of my friends) for every event this year (formal dances, parties, birthday dinners, etc.), because its perfect - smoky eye, natural eye, top-lid heavy, any look can be done with a Naked.  Another perk is that it seems like the shadows never run out - my palette (which I take care of like a baby, but use nearly every day) still almost looks unused.  Incredible makeup - every woman should own one of these.

5. Essie Nail Lacquer (Pictured: "Stylenomics"): I've always been a huge nail-polish freak, but it was only this year that I figured out Essie was the brand for me.  Awesome pigmentation (even in the super-light pinks and nudes) and consistency (not too-thick like some Sally Hansen lines or too-thin like other drugstore polishes like NYC or Wet-N-Wild) every time.

6. Boots No. 7 Quick-Thinking Wipes: Being a contact-lens-wearer and a girl with sensitive skin, it's difficult to find makeup-remover that wont irritate anything, but these No.7 wipes, which I started buying only because of a giant Target sale, have done the trick.  They're fragrance-free and super gentle, but they remove makeup (even waterproof mascara) quickly, no scrubbing needed.

7. Burt's Bees "Honey" Lip Balm: During my freshman year, I never went anywhere without a tube of Burt's Bees.  But then the e.o.s.-craze began, and I joined in the love.  This year, however, the winds (its a SoCal thing) were especially annoying, drying out my lips and the surrounding skin, and my go-to e.o.s. was not getting the job done, for some reason.  I went back to Burt's Bees and was healed in less than two days.  The "honey" version is especially moisturizing, and feels very natural.  Still love this lip balm, after all this time.

8. Neutrogena Shine Control Liquid Makeup: I started wearing liquid foundation this past year because of my crazy break-out phase, caused by Pro-Activ :(  In the beginning (you can see that post here), I wore the L'Oreal True Match LUMI Liquid Makeup in W6 "Sun Beige," which was an amazing product (looked awesome in photos!), but probably not the best for me - I have oily skin, and the foundation had a dewy finish.  I would highly recommend it for other skin types, however.  ANYWAY, I wanted to find something with a much more matte finish, and so I found the "Shine Control" line by Neutrogena, which I definitely trusted with my acne-prone skin.  This makeup did not clog my pores, gave me a more matte look and awesome coverage with a little amount.  Also, since I've been wearing this makeup (maybe it's hormones, maybe its my prescription, but maybe not), my acne has cleared up significantly.  This foundation can be applied either with your fingers or a brush (I would recommend a stipple or a buffing brush), which makes it very convenient.  Highly recommend, especially for combination or oily girls!

And that's all for now, folks...I hope you enjoyed this post, and maybe picked up a few tips

Happy New Year to everyone! :)

Love you all

<3

What I Got From SANTA ... HAUL

Merry Christmas, lovelies!  It's the most wonderful time of the year - a season of giving and receiving :)  I won't show what I gave (because those things don't belong to me, haha), but I WILL show you all that I received today from the generous and loving hearts around me, including my sisters and parents and, yes, even Santa (just let me feel like a kid, okay?).  While I do hope you all have better things to do on CHRISTMAS DAY than read this, I would still love for you to do so and, of course, enjoy ...

Before I begin, I'd just like to point out that there is no rhyme or reason to the order in which I posted ... I just kind of went for it ;) Oh, and it's going to be a long one - be warned ...

I've been coveting a re-usable Starbucks cup for nearly a year, but I've never wanted to spend my hard-earned money on one.  My mom decided to relieve me of my suffering and gift one - all hail the re-usable VENTI - and I LOVE IT.

 YES, LADIES - IT HAPPENED ... I got the newest Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette for Christmas.  I won't say much about it now (I'll do a full feature later), other than that it is a "GIFT TO ALL OF MANKIND" (quote credits go to my best friend ... Hi, Haley, if you're reading!).

THIS MOVIE ... since my middle school days, I've been a huge huge fan of the Mortal Instruments series (yes, I'm one of those people who actually read the books), so when it became a movie I was STOKED ON STOKED.  Santa delivered happiness with this one ;)

These items (hilariously enough) were in my stocking - I'm actually pretty happy with these, because who doesn't need an extra loofa and hair elastics?  Practical gifts always win with me, haha.

ALRIGHT, SO THESE ARE ULTRA COOL ... You guys all know that I have curly hair, so I use DevaCurl products and get Deva cuts a few times a year.  I've been using a microfiber towel (by Deva) to take excess moisture out of my hair all this time, but its a bit annoying to shape around the hair.  These carry the same concept, but are GLOVES ... Pure Genius, haha.

You know when you don't know what to ask for, so you pathetically stoop to the level of looking up what a [your age here] - year - old  [your gender here]  would like for Christmas?  That's how I found this book, to be completely honest ... I'm so glad I got this, it is literally (just as advertised) the girl's guide to everything - from wearing the right dress to the right party and looking fabulous in pictures to fixing your computer and bargaining at a car dealership.  I highly recommend this to all young women - my sister (who is in college) also received one, and she loves it just as much as I do :)

Yes, this is three sides of the same cube ... A cube of mini nail polish, that is ;)  My little sister (I can't believe she's fourteen, already!), who is growing up to be a major nail-enthusiast as well, got this for me :)  As you can see, it's probably the widest range of winter colors available - and cheap, too!

While I am quite skilled (if I do say so, myself) at doing my own French Manicures with regular white and sheer polish, its always good to have kits like this to make things easier and you, as a beauty-conscious member of society, lazier :P  I definitely plan on using this ... maybe I'll do a review ...

Curiosity killed the cat ... All he wanted was to know what I was doing, so he decided to smell every item thoroughly and impede on my photography-process :p

More complete randomness found in my stocking ;)  Whoppers are my favorite candy (next to Twix bars), so I always get them for at least one holiday.  I'm also a big fan of caramel (hence the Ghiradelli) and am a crazy gum-addict (I admit it).  Also, who doesn't love Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate?

Hello again, Christmas kitty.  Are you enjoying sitting right in my camera-space?  I know you are, you little delinquent :p

More gifts from the tiny sister ... When I took her shopping the other week, I mentioned that I wanted a pair of geometric earrings, and she did not disappoint :)  Also, she got me a cute pair of snowflake drop earrings, which is very characteristic of her - she always gets me quirky things that do not relate to any other piece of my wardrobe or any other accessory I own :p

There he goes again, wanting to be a part of the fun.  His name is Chase, so you can now greet him accordingly :p  ANYWAY, AS FAR AS THE GIFT - I received this same gift two years ago, I believe, but thanks to Mr. Mischief (pictured above), who likes to mark his territory, I wasn't able to use it much.  My mom decided to let me try for Round Two with this gift :p 

ELEPHANT SWEATER!!!  I saw this in G-stage just the other day while shopping for my friends - and on that note, it was pouring rain on that day.  Why the hell was it raining in Southern California, you ask?  For that, I have no answer.  All I know is that living here, where it's 80° with clear skies on Christmas day, has spoiled me terribly :P  ANYWAY, WHEN I SAW THIS SWEATER, I was overcome with desire.  I absolutely love elephants.  Sure enough, Santa came through for me :)

AND THAT IS A WRAP, LADIES ... I'll probably be posting another Christmas haul at a later date, as I still have various parties to attend (where more gifts will be exchanged) with family and friends :)  So stay tuned for that as well as a Deva Review in honor of my one-year anniversary of receiving a Deva cut, a Naked 3 Feature, and possibly a Favorite Products of 2013 to wrap up this year :)  Also, as usual, be looking forward to my regular outfits and updates.  Thanks so much for reading ... 

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

Love you all

<3

The Tiniest BLACK FRIDAY HAUL

Greetings, beauties!  With the Thanksgiving festivities coming to a close, I decided that I would post my purchases from BLACK FRIDAY, although I must say that it was possibly the most pathetic shopping trip ever.  I'm not bitter about it, though - who doesn't love to save money, right?  Anyway, I got a total of four things (like I said, pathetic).  Be prepared as you scroll down, though, one of them is a bit different - a rarity, of sorts, on this blog.  I hope you all enjoy...

White Knit Sweater with Chest Detail ::: H&M ::: Original Price: $29.99 ::: Black Friday Price: $14.95

So, the weird thing is that this sweater is the only article of real clothing that I bought (I know, it's crazy), which leads me to believe that either I'm getting more picky or that the stores need to step it up and get on my level.  Anyways, I'm very glad to have bought this, because it's one of those "perfect" articles of clothing that one happens to find.  It's slightly over-sized (very flattering, not frumpy), so I was able to get a size small with a great amount of comfort.  Also, it's actually warm - functionality and style usually don't come hand-in-hand these days, but this sweater does the job.  I'm very happy with this purchase - and the PRICE :)

Mid-Calf Women's Socks ::: Active Ride Shop ::: Original Price: $6.99 each ::: Black Friday Price: 5 for $25

I absolutely love Active, although it's one of those stores that limits what I buy due to the prices (Obey, Billabong, etc? Come on, now).  SOCKS, however, are always within a jobless teenager's budget!  These are ridiculously comfortable - I have a few other pairs, usually I wear them with boots.  To be honest, I've never thought that there was such thing as a pair of quality socks until I started buying them at Active.  Seriously, get some.

 Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (Paperback) ::: Barnes & Noble Bookstore ::: $15.95

And here's that one off-beat item that I wanted to show you :)  Then again, reading exhibits intelligence, and intelligence is beautiful - so maybe it's not so offbeat on a style and beauty blog as some may think.  Anyway, I'm not sure if you all know, but I've always absolutely loved to read.  Unfortunately, because of school, I don't get the chance to read much for enjoyment anymore, but I've decided that this holiday season will be for relaxing - it will be a time for curling up with a cup of tea and a book.  I've had my eye on Never Let Me Go for quite a while now, as the phrase itself holds a deep, personal meaning for me.  Therefore, THIS will be the book for the holidays.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll even write a review...Or MAYBE I'll make this a lifestyle blog, as well ... Stay tuned ;)

And that's a wrap, lovelies!  Thank you so much for reading :)

Love you all

<3

Black Friday Pre-Game HAUL: Cathy Jean Booties

Hello ladies!  As you all know, the most wonderful day of the shopping-related year is coming, so the stores are gearing up for the big sales :)  Interestingly enough, though, Black Friday ended up falling pretty late this year, so a lot of stores are also extending their sales.  Cathy Jean has been having a GIANT sale for the last week and a half (50-70% off everything), so I felt like I just HAD TO capitalize on the amazing deals, without my life being threatened during the Black Friday trampling-spree.  Anyway, I only bought one pair of shoes - some heeled booties - but I took a bunch of pics so you can all see from EVERY angle :)  I hope you all enjoy...

Okay, so you've gotten an eyeful, now it's DESCRIPTION TIME :)  So, these boots were originally $79.99, but I got them for $40 (well, $43 because I live in California and we have sales tax) because they were a whoppin' 50% off!!!  I love sales :D  Anyways, they have a tiny heel (I think it's an inch-and-a-half) so they are totally wearable for school, but they still look classy.  Personally, I think they're a bit more grown-up than the crazy-popular combat boots, so if you're trying to adult-ify your style, then definitely go for these!  They come in this color (like a distressed taupe - totally beautiful), as well as pure black and a distressed steel-grey.  If you have a Cathy Jean near you and plan on purchasing these, please know that they run VERY large.  I'm usually a size 7 (small feet, I know), but I ended up getting a size 6.5 in these and I still have more-than-enough toe-room, but I wanted to buy them that way since I know I'm going to be wearing thicker socks with these when we get deeper into the winter time.  As far as styling goes, these boots are very versatile - you could wear them with leggings and jeans for the colder months, and skirts and dresses for the warmer ones!  I tend to stay away from shorts and boots, no matter the style, because it brings an image of a hooker from space to my mind :P Anyway, that's everything, I hope you all loved these (because I definitely do)!

Make sure you check back toward the end of the week for a Black Friday Haul and possibly a Friday File (I'll try to get them both up, but 'tis the season not only for turkey-bloated tummies, but also for college application deadlines, so I'll have to see what I can do).  Thank you all so much for reading!  Comment at the end of this post, why don't you?  Oh, and check out my Pinterest - it's so visually appealing right now, I can't even deal.

Love you all

<3