Time for a video chat ... technology is awesome!

Did you know that China is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Standard time? Well my boyfriend and I are experiencing that time difference right now. He is abroad for work and I'm home in the US but the technology of our culture has made this world small!

There are many options out there such as Skype or FaceTime for video chats and WhatsApp, Viber, TextPlus for texting. We chose Skype and TextPlus. Results? So far it's great! We are able to stay in touch each day, sharing what's going on and encouraging each other. He has one week left of his three week trip. Of course I am looking forward to being in the same time zone as him. It's so odd to say good morning to him when it's nighttime here!

The first time I went out of the country was very different. In 2006 I went to Oxford University for the summer to take two courses with an organization called Academic Study Associates. I remember my mom purchasing a calling card for me to be able to call home from the one phone in the dorm room hallway. My family and I exchanged letters in the mail too. Yes I mean the actual mail a.k.a. snail mail, not email. (I miss getting physical letters in the mail though)

It's crazy to think that was less than 10 years ago. Technology is rapidly expanding ... maybe even exponentially! Just think of cellphones ... they use to be the size of bricks and now they easily fit into your pocket.

What do you think the next greatest technology invention or enhancement will be?

The infamous red lipstick

As most of my girl friends could tell you I'm not one for wearing a lot of makeup or really any at all. But recently I have become a fan of red lipstick. There's just something about it. It's fun to make the loud statement and let those lips pop!

And the best part about red lipstick? True red looks great on any skin tone! So you don't have to worry about finding the right shade, just go for RED. But then the problem becomes, which brand and what type of lipstick do you get?

Lucky for you I made the investment and searched high and low for the best lipstick out there! I've found three that are must haves!

Revlon Colorburst (Color: Matte Balm - Striking and Lacquer Balm - Provocatuer)

This is my #1 lip color choice. It combines the best of all worlds. Deep pigment of lipstick with the glossy texture, shine of lip gloss and comfort of chapstick! I have it in two shades listed above. This lip color is easy to put on quickly and is medium-wear. You will need to reapply it after eating a big meal or half way through the day. This is what I like to wear to the office.

CoverGirl Outlast Lipcolor (Color: Ever Red-dy)

This is the best long-wear lipcolor out there. You can put this on in the morning and the pigment stays all day. You can just use the gloss stick to keep your lips feeling soft and glossy. It's a bit hard to get off so I just use some of my homemade lotion (the oil dissolves the pigment) and wipe it off. This also means you need to take your time applying it so you don't go off your lips as it will be hard to fix. This is great for a long day at the office that transitions to an evening out or to an event where you are eating.

Maybelline Color Elixir Lip Color (Color: Scarlet)

This is the one that really POPS. It is definitely a heavy pigmented lipgloss but will come off easily if you eat or drink. It would be good for an evening night out or event but not all day long at the office. 







So ladies, what do you think? Do you like red lipstick?