about

Hello! I am studying esthetics at an Aveda Institute after spending years in retail. I am proof that nothing turns out how you think it will, and that's a good thing. When you think you've got it figured out, you don't. Life would be boring otherwise, right?
Makeup, skincare, and psychology are my passions and I'm also happy to give advice on relationships, particularly for teenagers (so many things I wish I could have told myself a decade ago!) I'm happy to help fellow abuse survivors as well.
I'm a diehard SF Giants fan and also enjoy watching the Sharks and Niners. Addicted to music, especially The Gaslight Anthem. Oh, and my name is Krista. :)

advice

I'm 23/female. I got out of a serious long term relationship recently, and am trying to date, but take things slowly. I don't want to have sex till I'm serious about someone, and I really don't think this is such an antiquated concept

I am occasionally somewhat naieve about men, as I'm bisexual and mostly dated one woman for the first part of my life, and then one guy for a long time.

What I want to know, is it natural for all guys to try and push for sex?

I went on a few dates with a couple different people, and even after I said "We arent going to have sex and I don't want to at this point" as we were kissing, they still try and push it in that direction. I slept with neither, obviously, but both situations got a little out of control, from my perspective of things.

Does it make a guy a jerk to push for that? Or is it just natural? I really don't want to have sex for the first few months of dating.

I'm in a similar situation- 20, got out of a long-term relationship, have been dating for a year and found that pretty much every guy I've gone out with (with the exception of the more 'nerdy' guys) just wants to hook up. A lot of guys our age just really need to grow up. Don't give up though, the nice guys are still out there, just harder to find.

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So my best mate and I are going to be competing in a dance costume contest for this up coming Halloween. We're going to be dressing as Jake and Natiri from the Avatar movie. We've got our costumes pretty much down, but see we're going to be dancing and we would like to be in character as much as possible. Avatars are barefoot and seeing as to how we're going to be dancing on concrete, we need ideas on foot support. A friend of ours suggested duck taping or somehow sticking Dr.Sholl's soles on the bottom of our feet. I'm looking for another alternative, as to they might fall off while dancing.
Looking forward to suggestions and any help provided. Good day to you! (:

They make special dance shoes called half-soles that you could wear- they cover the bottoms of your feet but don't show. These are what they look like from the top : http://www.carriebs.com/DanceAccessoryImages/156-2_sm.gif Check your local dance store, most places carry them.

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im on a 1400 calorie plan and 4 day a week exercise,

qill it matter if every day i eat a 400 calorie pizza? but at the end of each say i have 1400.

i include fruit and veggies and a lot of water just i love pizza so i focus my day around that.

will i still loose weight?

It doesn't just matter how many calories you have, it's also how healthy the food is. Pizza has carbs, fat, etc, so it's not a good thing to eat if you're trying to lose weight.

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How Long does it take for my friend to pass out?
My friend wanted to know.
She is 12 weighs about 115.
I don't suggest this but she hates herself cuz she thinks she is fat.
I just wanna know how many days does it take for her to pass out if she don't eat.

Do you mean that she's trying to lose weight? Let her know that not eating is the worst possible thing to do if you're trying to lose weight. It puts your body into starvation mode, meaning that you will bloat and your body will cling onto any calories it gets, making you gain weight- and then as soon as you eat, you'll get way bigger. If she wants to lose weight (though honestly, at 12, that's ridiculous- you're still growing and your metabolism will change), eating healthy and most importantly being physically active are what matters.

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How old are you? Are you happy with your age? how's life treating you?

I'm 20, and while things are better now, the last year has been super rough. I'm not necessarily happy with my age because I am still at school/living with my mom, and I feel like I want to be out on my own/living in the real world already. However, I am glad I'm not a few years younger- looking back on things I did in, for instance, high school, is embarrassing. Life is treating me ok.

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Did your life turn out different from what you imagined as a kid?

Of course, I'm sure everyone's does. Here's how much things have changed for me:


As a kid, I was a huge nerd/dork, loved reading and loved the performing arts (dancing, singing, acting). Really thought I'd be an actress or something- just wanted to get through school then get famous.
As I got into middle school I was sorta emo, then in high school really screwed up. Partied way too much, had a really toxic relationship, and thanks to a few addictions, ended up almost not graduating from high school. In high school I'd thought I'd live with the guy I was with and not go to college or anything.
I met a different guy that turned things around for me, overcame my issues, started community college, and thought I'd get a degree then go to school to become a court reporter. Was more than sure I would end up with him. A really bad breakup changed everything again.
Now I'm still in college, working really hard at a retail job, and nobody who's met me in the last year or so can believe how I used to be. Saving up for beauty school right now but who knows where the future will take me. If I went back and told the kid I was what was gonna happen there's no way she'd ever believe me haha.

-Krista, 20/f

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Hi everyone, I'm thinking about getiing side bangs and I'm not sure if they get annoying and are always in the way... Are they ever a bother?

If you're not used to them, yes, they are a bother, and it takes getting used to to have them in your face all the time. Also, unless your hair is naturally stick straight, you'll need to straighten them every day or they'll flip out.

That being said, I love my side bangs and for me it's worth it.

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A while back in June, I went through a pretty nasty break-up. And by nasty, I mean argument after argument and weird feeling after weird feeling. I was dating someone much older than I was; I am sixteen, and he (John) is eighteen. He is leaving for the Navy in December, and I had always known that from the first date. We dated for at least a month, and even though it was a short time, it felt amazing to be with him. We had a picture-perfect fairytale relationship. He was respectful, romantic, and so damn thoughtful. He always put me first and made me feel beautiful, loved, and amazing. I never thought we'd end, and I knew we had a perfect chemistry and mutual interests from day one.

Things went downhill fast. John complained I was clingy after he ignored me for a day and I was worried about him. He knew I am insecure and worrisome, but he ignored me and went out drinking and got drunk without me knowing. I was afraid something had happened or I said something wrong. The next morning, we both apologized. I told him I was sorry for being clingy, and I'd work on it. He said, "Oh, no, no, it was my fault. I should've let you know." And that was that. I thought the argument was over, and I swept it under the rug, but he didn't. He complained day after day, and he ignored me. I felt hurt, unwelcome, and uncomfortable. Finally, I thought things were okay when I went to his house for a day, as usual. We hung out and talked, and when we performed some errands for his mother, he complained again and again. "Mind your own business. I can't stand when you look at other people and their stuff," he said, when I laughed about ducttape on a car. He clearly saw I was hurt and tried to cheer me up, but I walked ahead of him into the store. I felt like I was going to burst into tears. He grabbed my waist and hugged me close and kissed my forehead. I wanted to cry so hard and tell him how hurt I had been feeling, but I didn't. He also complained later that day that I am loud and clingy when I hugged him, climbed in his lap and squealed excitedly, kissed him, and told him I missed him after two weeks of not seeing each other, since we live far from each other, I in Pensacola, he in Perdido. We live in Florida. So that day just made me upset. I felt so uncomfortable.

We ended up breaking up. I was "too attached" and it was "never going to work" since he is leaving soon and we wouldn't "be able to make it work". I was crushed. I told him we could, and he was just giving up too easily. But it was over, and I cried for days, and sucked it up. I didn't start missing him until about a week ago, when the realization that he was gone finally sunk in. He personally told me that if I needed anyone to talk to, or if I missed him, he was always there. So day after day I told him I was thinking of him, or I missed him dearly. And always he'd say, "I'm sorry hun." But last night he said, "I miss you too. So much." I was shocked, speechless, and confused. I thought he was playing games and I asked him questions, like when did he realize it, and is he serious. He said he had a few drinks and usually when he is drunk, he thinks clearer. I didn't believe him, so he told me to ask him in the morning when he was sober, and I did so, and he said that he really does miss me. I didn't know what to say. I told him that our relationship went wrong over a dumb reason, and I missed him immensely, and I wanted things back to normal. He said that he'd love to fix it and try to make it work, that I was worth it, and he misses everything we shared. He also said being clingy was a small problem, but he thinks I can fix it if I worked on it hard enough.



Now, I am being extremely cautious. I don't know if I should let him back in. Do you think he deserves a second chance? I want to give him another chance, but supposedly now he has no gas money to come see me, and he is leaving in December. Should I just move on or try again?



Thanks so much!

I see no reason why you shouldn't at least give it a try- at least then you'll know. No point in worrying until you see what happens.

Don't take this second chance for granted- too many of us never get one. Give it your all and if it doesn't work, that's ok, too. Definitely worth the risk for peace of mind.

-krista, 20/f

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I dont know what to do. Im only 14 and ive been in a relationship with this boy for a year, on and off now, and he's been talking about us having a child. Ive been really thinking about this and I really feel like Im ready for something like this. I know its not exactly a walk in the park bringing up a child and that it isnt something i can just forget about if i get fed up of the responsibilities. I do want to have a child with him now but honestly im not sure if I should. I saw what you said to some girls question and just thought youd be able to help. Please reply, Im not sure who else to ask.
Thanks:) x

And how exactly are you planning on paying for this? You're 14, in most states you can't even get a real job.
Do you know how much having a baby costs? Doctor visits, diapers, toys, food, clothes. That baby will turn into a toddler, then a child, then a teenager, and the costs will only increase. The average cost of raising of child from birth to age 18 is $222,360. (Google it if you don't believe me.) That's not including the cost of college. Where are you going to get the money from? Where are you going to live? (Mooching off your parents would be incredibly selfish.)

Having a baby now would be selfish and unfair to it. That child will not be raised the way they deserve- and why? Because you can't wait a few years? You have such a huge window of time that you can have kids. You only get to be a teenager and grow up once. Don't ruin your life and an innocent child's.
I understand your feelings, really I do- it's a hormonal thing- but having a child would be just plain wrong, even if that's not what you want to hear.

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I am taking a placement exam tomorrow, and reviewing. How do you solve an equation like this? Step by step, simplified explantion would be very helpful, thanks!


3v-21= -4 (v-7)

Hopefully you've had some basic math, as this is hard to explain over the computer, but I'll certainly try.

You wanna start with your order of operations- PEMDAS. (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiple and Divide, Add and Subtract) to simply the equations.

The first letter is P, which means you'll want to get rid of these parentheses.

So starting on the right side, you'll multiply.
-4 (v-7)
means: -4 times v and -4 times -7
Multiplying that out, you end up with -4v +28

So now your equation looks like:
3v -21 = -4v + 28

You want to get all your variables (the letters) on one side and all the numbers on the other so you can solve.

So you'll add -4v to each side to cancel it out on the right side and switch it over:
3v -21 = -4v + 28
+4v +4v

That gives you:

7v - 21 = 28

Now you want to make sure all the numbers are together, so you'll add 21 to each side (again, to cancel it out and switch sides.) Like this:

7v - 21 = 28
+21 +21
That equals:

7v = 49

Now remember that 7v means seven times V.
To 'cancel it out', you have to do the opposite of multiplying, which is dividing.

so 7v = 49
/7 /7

v= 49/7

and
v=7


Hope that makes sense.

-Krista, 20/f

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Okay, I really don't want to sound pathetic but this has been bothering me for a while...
Would a guy ask another girl out right in front of me to see if I would be jealous? We had been talking and just asks this other girl out who was near us. I was pretty mad...

He might, guys play a lot of really ridiculous games- I knew someone who would have his friends pretend to be his girlfriend to make girls he liked jealous/like him back. But keep in mind that if he does that, he's nothing but an immature pain in the butt and not worth your time.

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What birth control pills do you use.

I've used Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, which I really liked- no weight gain and cleared up my skin. Unfortunately, I had a 'rare but serious' side effect and had to switch, am now taking Levora and it's okay, but has made me gain a little weight. Usually the doctor doesn't ask what kind you'd like, as they are more educated about it.

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So mother is very judgemental, and ask a whole lot of questions about things I tell her, but I feel very uncomfortable talking to her. I lost my virginity at 13 but felt very guilty so I didnt do it anymore until now I am 16 and has recently start hsving sex again, but I havnt told my mother because shes gonna ask alot of questions. I espesially dont want to tell her I did it at her house which she doesnt like people in. HELP???? Im a female if this helps

I don't think you should tell her unless there's a real reason to, and I don't see one. It's your business, and no point in upsetting her.

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I normally only eat when I am hungry, which is usually once a day. I may snack but no actual meal until dinner time. Lately everything I eat makes me nauseous and I dont know why. Im fine whenever I snack but if its more than three or for bites i get nauseous. I know I need to eat more but with this problem i just dont have the desire to. Does anyone know what the problem could be or what could be causing it? Thank You In Advance :-) 26/f

Are you having any other weird body symptoms besides the hunger? Like are you feeling really tired/worn out? Just a thought, because I had those same food issues when I had mono. (Most people never know they've had it). Even if not, it's definitely worth a trip to the doctor, nobody on here can diagnose you.

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Hey you answered a question for me some minutes ago. Im the one with the brown eyes black hair and médium skin tone and i wanted my eyes to pop and i wanted it a natural look i am wondering if you have any other suggestions and it doesnt have to be a natural look it can be anything i just Want my eyes to pop thanks for your advice i enjoy them!

Well, like I said, purples, silvers, and navy blues are your best bet- so if you're comfortable with makeup, you could try doing a purple smoky eye, something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iQTHThmUZs
(Obviously you can use any purple shadow, not just the ones she says.)
You could also substitute a navy blue.
And I forgot to say it, but there are two important things for making your eyes pop:
- Always line your inner rim (if you don't know what that means: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTry7fUwIS4)
- And always curl your lashes and apply a good mascara to make your eyes look really good. You could even try playing with false lashes.

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I have Brown eyes,black hair,médium skin and wear glasses. I am looking for a natural look that will make my brown eyes pop. Also if you would give me any color suggestions. Thanks everyone!

I have brown eyes, too, and purples, dark blues, and silvers really make them pop.
Since you want a natural look, I'd use a colored eyeliner with neutral shadow. A light, flesh-toned shade from lashline to brow, then a slightly darker shade in the crease. Line your eyes with a navy blue or eggplant-colored eyeliner, then 'set' it with a similar colored shadow.
Here's an example of what I'm talking about, although you could definitely tone down the shimmer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gGpdGticAU

I think a slightly bolder look, like this, would look a lot more subtle behind your glasses to make your eyes stand out more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0rmrbTb7fU

If you have any more makeup questions, let me know :)

-Krista, 20/f

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I feel like nobody's listening. No one cares about my life. Almost like God wants me to suffer. I just don't want to think about life. I live across the street from a bridge. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I threw myself off the bridge. Why do I have to be tortured?

It would help a lot if you could tell us your specific situation and age. But let me just say this: we ALL go through extreme pain and hardship some time in our lives- some of us multiple times. It's what makes us stronger and better. I've been in the same place you are, and I can tell you it doesn't last forever- things are always changing and I promise you they will get better. Every hurt and problem I've had, even though it felt awful and pointless at the time, happened for a reason. If you want to give me more details, just inbox me and I'll be happy to talk to you.

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I'm getting married in 9 months time, the venue has cost more than we expected so we're having to cut costs elsewhere, which means I will be doing my own make up.

I'm 27 years old and I still have no idea about make up, I have very dry skin so I have to put mosturiser on my face, then foundation and it still looks flakey.

This is my main problem so if anyone can recomend any brilliant foundation fo that smooth airbrushed look? I've read about "Primer" too but I have no idea what that is, i'm never used it.

Next i'd like gorgeous eye make up, celebrities wear it a certain way which seems to change the shape of their eyes.

As you can tell i'm completely clueless and desperately need some fab advice.

Thank you

Youtube is your best resource for learning how to do makeup- tons of makeup artists post how-to videos. I learned a lot of what I know on there.

I'll give you some tips and then videos.

First of all, for your face. Do you exfoliate? (At least once a week). If not, now is the time to start. And if when you moisturize, your skin still looks flaky, it just means that your moisturizer isn't doing enough and you need to switch to a more thick, rich cream.

When it comes to doing your wedding makeup, you have two choices: airbrush or liquid.
Airbrush is put on your face using a little machine (sounds weird, but it's pretty easy). It's what's used for most photoshoots and weddings to give that flawless look. It's also good for your skin, waterproof, and very-long wearing. It will require an initial investment and a little time to learn, but I think it's worth it. The easiest to use for beginners is Temptu, which is sold at Sephora.
It's also important to make sure your foundation perfectly matches your skin. Get professionally matched if you haven't already.

If you're going with liquid foundation, not airbrush, you do need a primer- it evens out your skin to make your makeup apply more smoothly and last all day. Too Faced Primed and Poreless is really great. (Again, sold at Sephora.)
The best liquid foundation, especially for when you'll be having your picture taken, is Make Up For Ever HD. (Sephora) It's super popular with makeup artists because it perfects your skin, giving you a glow without looking cakey and fake.
After you apply foundation, you'll want to set it with a powder to make sure it lasts all day. Use a big fluffy brush and a small amount of loose powder- the Make Up For Ever HD setting powder and Laura Mercier translucent powder are both good.

Here's a video on perfect foundation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqwpFfiXmFs

If you have any under eye circles, redness or blemishes, you'll want to cover those with concealer before you put the powder on.

The next step is blush- important to have a glow for your wedding day. Since you need it to stay on all day, I'd go with a cream blush in a soft pink- MAC and Urban Decay both make good ones. Then set it with either a little more translucent powder or a subtle blush powder color.

To look like you have radiant, perfect skin, you should highlight your face. Here's a video on how to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jiGkVCCZL0


For your eyes, I'm just gonna refer you to a video, but here are some tips, too:
- Make sure you use an eye primer. Urban Decay Primer Potion is pretty popular, but for extreme long-wear (it's waterproof) and making sure your shadow doesn't fade, I lovee Lime Crime Candy Eyed Shadow Helper.

- Curling your lashes before applying mascara is a must! Makes such a big difference.

- And for your wedding day, fake lashes are also a must. They make your eyes look amazing. The best ones are Ardell Demi-Wispies, used with Revlon Precise lash glue. You can get both of those at a drugstore or Ulta. Fake lashes do require some practice, so buy a few pairs (they're super cheap) and practice lots before hand! Here's a how-to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_c0LI-gr64

- Make sure you're using a variety of decent eye brushes, not just one of those sponge things that comes with a kit.

- Perfect eyebrows are really important, too. If you're not getting them waxed, then at least pluck them and fill them in a little. How-to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK1LfRjCkEY

- When your makeup is done, you'll want to use a setting spray to keep it in place- Urban Decay All Nighter is really great.

- If you don't have a lot of eyeshadow, I highly recommend the Urban Decay Naked palette- lots of gorgeous, shimmery neutrals that are perfect for your wedding day.

Now, here's your wedding makeup how-to video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjChX9RCkL4

And if you have any more questions or need any more help, please let me know- I love makeup and have been professionally trained. I think the key for you will be lots of practice. Good luck!

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My bf and I have been active for about 2 years. He always wears a condom and I am also on BC. I never have enjoyed intercourse very much, I always finish just by him touching me after intercourse, which I am fine with, but still I would like to both be enjoying it at the same time. It is not that sex is painful for me, just not comfortable enough to be that enjoyable. Anyways, recently we got a little bit... ahead of ourselves and did it without a condom, and it was like... amazing... ha ha. It was the first time that I had actually gotten pleasure out of it. I really don't want to take the chances of doing it without protection but that's the only way I feel pleasure out of it... and I have tried more lubrication with the condom, and that works a little better but still after about 30 seconds of thrusting I just want it to be over with. The feeling is as is if it is not enough friction, like it slides too far in and is too big for me... haha. My bf is great, well he is willing to try anything to make me feel good too but I think he still feels kind of bad that he can't make it good for me. And also we are not ready to be taking our risks with pregnancy. Does anyone else have a problem similar and what should we do? Sorry my english is not so good.

Having sex while on birth control is not 'doing it with protection'- birth control is just as effective as condoms as preventing pregnancy. (Sometimes more.) No reason that you can't keep doing it, as long as you are taking your birth control properly.

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Ok so i wanna die my hair with kool-aid. But i wanna know how lonng ittle last?

It pretty much lasts until your hair grows out...and unless your hair is super light blonde/white, it won't come out the color of the Kool-aid. I have a friend that tried to dye her hair with Kool-aid and ended up with the grossest, uneven dirty green shade that refused to wash out, she had to use regular dye to try to cover it and it took forever to grow out. Wouldn't recommend it.

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