A Thousand May Fall At Your Side...

Psalm 91:7
What does this mean to you?
We might all interpret this scripture differently but the way I see it, it means God's there, always, protecting you. Even though people all around you are failing, dying, having bad days, God is there protecting you, like He should be. You may not know it now, but He's there and He's always been there. He's just waiting for you to seek Him first.

We all have our own lives, our own schedule, and our own problems that life throws at us. If you're like me, you're in school, trying your hardest to maintain good grades and stay focused on what's important, but sometimes, life will throw you a curve ball every now and then. Something that you never would've thought in a million years would happen to you. And you're sitting there, thinking where are you God? Why are You letting these things happen to me? Well folks, let me tell you something, HE isn't LETTING anything happen to you. HE is there, waiting, for YOU to seek Him first. That's all it takes and then you'll realize that whatever may have happened today wasn't that big of a deal. Whatever has happened, you can get through it. And God's there, waiting, for the day that you approach Him and just cry out.

I know these things because I struggle with doubt and negativity every day. And most of the time it's not from anyone else but myself. My own mind telling me that there isn't enough time to study for a big exam (Which by the way, that's what I'm supposed to be doing right now, studying. But for some reason I'm here, writing this for you). I promise there IS enough time to get the things you need to get done, done. Whatever that may be troubling you now, a month from now, a year from now, will you even remember it? Will it still seem THAT important? If not, then don't worry, just pray and ask God for the time, patience and strength that we all need.

I hope this helped you. Whoever you may be, if you're in my situation or not, we all need an uplifting word every now and then. Here's to a great rest of the week!!

xoxo,

Grace

Sephora/Urban Decay Haul

So for those of you who know me, I'm a pageant girl... Or was a pageant girl.. Not sure how you want to say it but I have competed in the Miss New Mexico Teen USA competition and since then I was hooked on watching beauty gurus on YouTube to learn more about how to do hair and make up flawlessly. Ever since I competed and did my research I learned a lot about different brands of makeup and hair tools and styling techniques. So of course when my family and I went to Las Vegas for Christmas I had to go to Caesar's Palace because I knew there was a Sephora store at the forum shops!!
For those of you who don't know what a Sephora store is, it's make up heaven!! They have so many different brands of make up and hair products. So you could guess that when I walked in, I was content to stay there forever! But since I couldn't I picked up some Urban Decay products that I had heard about and wanted for a while now.
First up is Urban Decay's Naked 2 eye shadow palette!

There are 12 different eye shadow shades and if you can't read them they are, from left to right, Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, and Blackout!
I just love the names of these shades! My favorite combo right now is Tease/Suspect (on eyelid) Snakebite (in crease) and Bootycall (under eyebrow as a highlight).
This 12 shadow palette was $50 and for those who think its expensive, I'm right there with you but let me tell you, I absolutely LOVE this palette and wouldn't give it up for anything. It's my go-to shadow right now!! I've had it a couple weeks now and it still looks new so I'm guessing the shadows will last me a while!

The second thing that I'd been seeing on a lot of YouTube videos was the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Perversion. This eye pencil was roughly $20 and it was worth every penny!





I've seen this exact eyeliner used by Kandee Johnson (www.youtube.com/user/kandeejohnson) and also by the Queen of Blending (www.youtube.com/user/QueenofBlendingMUA
). If you haven't seen Kandee's or the Queen of Blending's videos check them out! I love the difference in their make up styles.
Anyway, for as long as I've had this, I've loved it. It lasts long and, doesn't smudge and glides on easy! It's like the perfect eyeliner for those long nights out.

The third item I bought was Urban Decay's, Big Fatty mascara, also $20! I've been looking for a mascara that lengthens lashes and curls them and I'm glad to say that I've finally found it!! Just as a warning, if you're one of those who puts on coats and coats of regular mascara (like me) you don't need to do it with this mascara! I absolutely love it!

The next item I bought is also from Urban Decay and its their Brow Box in Brown Sugar and this nifty box was around $30.

This Brow Box includes a pair of small tweezers, a small slanted brush and two colors (dark and light) depending on which color palette you buy. I have seen a video where the girl used wax to do their eyebrows and when I saw this at the store I wanted to buy it to try it out and I LOVE it! I wasn't sure if you we're supposed to put the wax on before or after you put the color on your eyebrows but I've done it both ways and I don't see much of a difference. The only thing that I could think of is if you use the wax before putting on the color it'll tame your eyebrows more.

Another Urban Decay product was their All Nighter setting spray (mini). A friend of mine bought the regular size bottle but this 1 oz. bottle was on sale for around $10 (orginally $14) so I picked it up! It helps your make up set and last all night (hence, the name)! I absolutely love it and most likely will be investing in a regular size bottle next time I visit a Sephora store!

So to all you make up fanatics like me, next time you go to a Sephora store I recommend these products! I'm also still kind of new to this whole blog thing so if there's anything you'd like to see more of (or less of) please leave me a comment and let me know!

xoxo,
Grace ❤

NEGU-Never Ever Give Up

NEGU 

Never Ever Give Up

Dedicated to JR Burnette, a boy who Never Ever Gave Up.

*Soon after JR passed away, Hot Springs High School in Truth or Consequences, NM had as many kids as they could wear blue or their Team JR t-shirts and organized this! See JR, you made such an impact on these kids’ lives! What an amazing guy!!

When you go through struggles in your life, do you push through to get to the other side? Or do you give up and hope everything turns out for the best? If you answered no to the first question and yes to the second I’d like to share with you a story. Even if your answer was yes and no, I want you all to read this blog with an open heart and mind because this is a story of a very special boy that never ever gave up. So please, read on, and share with your friends because this boy made an impact on not only my life, but in every single person’s life that he was apart of. This is a story about a boy who fought for his life. 

Now we all know what cancer is right? Well if you don’t, I’ll tell you. Cancer is an abnormality where cell division just does not regulate well and over produces cells in a certain area causing tumors. Some cancer is not that bad and can be controlled but some cancer takes lives. Let’s just say it, cancer sucks. I’ve now lost two people who were special to me because of cancer. See now about this boy, he was 13 when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. The doctors had to amputate on the infected arm but the cancer had already spread to his lungs and brain. Regardless, this boy never gave up and fought through the cancer. He went through several rounds of chemotherapy and tried his best to live life as any normal teenage boy would. JR Burnette touched so many lives, including mine.

JR had such a great outlook on life! Whenever they diagnosed him with cancer, he never felt sorry for himself. JR always tried to look on the bright side of things and always encouraged other to never ever give up. Over time, that saying, never ever give up (NEGU), has become a slogan for our community. 

*This is a screen shot of what someone put on Instagram a couple days after JR’s passing. It really warmed my heart to know that these kids really did care for JR. These words are so true. 

I encourage you all to take JR’s positive outlook, even after things go awry, to never ever give up, because JR never did! I hope this story inspires you to never ever give up! Though we all go through rough times in life, I believe that certain people are put on Earth to encourage others and use their own life to set an example to others and I believe that JR was put on this Earth to do just that. He encouraged others and set such a great example to everyone and anyone he met!

JR, you will never be forgotten! You may have be gone, but you will NEVER be forgotten! You never ever gave up so neither will I! Just for you buddy!! 

Remember to Never Ever Give Up!

Always,
Grace Baquera

Everything Happens For A Reason

Hey everyone,
This is my first blog post! I hope you enjoy it!!
This past week has taught me a lot. See I was going out with this guy, and let's just say things didn't work out. It taught me that in order for a person to happy in a relationship they have to be themselves, and no one else. The entire relationship was great. I was always so happy, but I left one thing out.. I forgot to keep God my number one priority. I wasn't happy with just myself... I needed this boy to make me happy. See if people do this, then their not complete within themselves and end up relying totally on their partner for happiness. I made this boy my everything...Then it ended.. I was devastated.. I was on the verge of breaking. I couldn't eat or sleep and yet, I somehow made it through the days. Now a week from the break up, I can finally say that I am totally okay with my life and what has happened. I still think about it and wonder if there was anything I could've done to prevent it, but there wasn't because everything happens for a reason. I turned to God, family, and my closest friends to help me through all this. My friends all told me that there'd be someone better in college and it'll be a lot better once school starts. My family, well let's just say they're not too happy with him anymore...But God is the most important one that really truly matters in this situation and He has been more of a comfort than anyone or thing. He is always there when I need him. He comforts me when I need it. So with that being said I'd like to invite you to listen to some of my favorite praise and worship songs...

• Fill Me Up-Jesus Culture
• Break Every Chain-Jesus Culture
• Sing My Love-Jesus Culture
• Show Me Your Glory- Jesus Culture
• Holding Nothing Back-Jesus Culture

These are just some.. If you'd like to know ALL of my favorites, just let me know :) Well I guess that's it for now.. My first blog post is about to live in three... two... one... 

XOXO,

Grace