Trends I am over & Styles you won't catch me in. The alternatives I would rather see.

Let me start this off by saying in no way am I wanting to offend anyone with what I am about to post. I have seen these styles and trends on others and I do see them pull it all off. However, they do not settle well with me and I do not want to sport them.

       Fishnet tights! fishnet tights? I have rocked these in my early years. By early I mean EARLY. I am talking my gothic phase in elementary and middle school. Purchased in the adult section with the help of my mom or at Hot Topic. I mean... Here is my sister and me years ago. I was in 7th grade. My sister and I are wearing them as shirts and have worn the tights as well.  They are just not for me anymore. I have done them, I did them often. I am over it.


     I would say the alternative to this trend of tights under jeans would be a simpler tight. I really enjoy how girls are pressing flowers under nude tights. It is so romantic and pretty. God forbid you had to pee in public and rearrange those delicate flowers, but it just looks gorgeous. Definitely not practical. Another alternative is beaded or sparkly tights. It adds detail and interest without looking too young.


     I like the look and all, but again, this just brings back memories of adolescent awkwardness I do not ever want to relive.

     Never will I ever sport this upcoming trend. Sorry Rihanna. Not even your iconic fashionista-self can not change this dead-set mind.


     Camouflage is another of those styles I relate to childhood or simply what it was made for: hunting. I find it unattractive. I have tinkered with this look a few times. I had one jacket my sister and I both got. It was okay, but every time I wore it I felt out of place. It is not my style.


     An alternative I would rather see pop up is watercolor fabrics. I compare the two together due to the collision of colors randomly placed. Water color is much more appealing to the eye. It is fluid where it collides verses camouflage are divided and cut-out.  Aka *cut it out* with the camouflage and bring in the watercolor!

     This one might sound harsher than intended. I can not find any better term to describe this fabric I just can not stand. Floral fabric that looks cheap. Often used in cheaper brand stores such as Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe. It is cutesy and I can see where that is appealing to some girls, but for me I can not stand a cheap floral fabric.


     Cheap floral fabric to me are the ones with wide set flowers. There is little to no detail in them and/or the colors are too bright. They look too feminine -- in a bad way. A great floral is usually full of detail and the color hues go well together. As above you see a vibrant blue and pink. They are pretty colors but do not compliment one another. Verses the orange skirt with orange/white/red/black tones really flows well.


The alternative is just simply invest in a better fabric. Do not go cheap on a dress because ultimately you will look more put together with the better print.

    Here is just a little piece of fashion I never thought
    I would touch: wide leg pant. Not sure if these are
    classified as coulettes as well? Whatever. I would have
    never in all my years thought I would wear anything other
    than tight pants. These are flowy, elongate your legs and
    thus you look slimmer. I have a pair I plan on photographing
    soon. They are so comfortable and flattering I am so mad
    at myself for not discovering them sooner.

What do you think of my choices? 

Think I am nuts? 

Comment below and let me know what yours are!

Outfit on a Budget.

I am not a saint when it comes to buying clothes. I used to buy over $400 worth of things per month back when I was an idiot. I have learned to overcome my shopping addiction slowly but surely and now I perhaps spend under $40 bucks per month!

The outfit I am wearing is very basic yet fashionable. I am wearing what most people can find in their own closet. The difference between most and mine, however, is my outfit is under $15. Yep. This including: free sweater from yard sale, $1 shorts from Goodwill, $5 sunnies from local shop, hand-me-down belt from my mama, $5 yard of string (for choker) from Jo-anns and a genuine leather COACH purse for only $3 at a yard sale.

I am not the biggest fan of shopping only name brands. I think a lot of rags could and can be made into riches ;). The first thing I overcame was looking in my massive collection of clothes and realizing I wear the same thing over and over and such expensive articles of clothing go to waste! I would buy something and never wear it. But I HAD to have it...

I am the biggest fan of thrift stores. And no, not just LA ones. LA I find good peices, ones I never could think would be so cheap! It is a dream what I find out there sometimes. But what comes with LA is a lot of overpricing. I love to find back alley thrift stores that sell items for cheap. For example, Goodwill is widely popular but the shorts I am wearing were only a dollar! A damn dollar and they are exactly the trend.

All I would like to finish out with is an outfit should not wear you, you should wear the outfit. You can make literally anything look good if you give it a try and style it correctly. No need to empty those bank accounts!

My Beauty Regimen Practices and Products

• fresh seaberry moisturizing face oil

What it is formulated to do:
Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil is a precious blend of pure oils—seaberry, cranberry seed, camellia seed, grapeseed, and sweet almond—packed with restorative omegas to maintain a youthful appearance. The lightweight formula absorbs quickly for a boost of vital moisture, while vitamin E works to maintain the skin’s elasticity and smoothness. This powerful antioxidant protects the skin from aging free radicals, leaving your complexion soft, smooth, and refreshed.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates 

This is my go to favorite beauty product I own! If I had to choose between mascara and this seaberry oil it would be a close call. My face is unique. No I am not talking about beauty-wise ;), I am speaking on terms of my skin oil/dryness. I tend to get very dry around my T-zone. My nose and between my eyebrows usually are what gets flaky and dry. The rest of my face, perfectly fine! I can never find any products that don't  leave my face completely oily or as if the product is caked on. Impossible.

Then my friend bought me this oil unintentionally knowing I was in dire need of some help (she probably saw the dryness haha jk). After cleansing, you lightly massage one to two drops onto the face. The natural oils take care of my dryness but have never given me an oily or shiny feel! My skin has never looked better since using this product, and has even allowed me to go out make-up-less!

Buy it here from Sephora! Two sizes available!

•  keep a chapstick in my makeup pouch

 Chapstick is so important! Yet, I can never seem to grasp the concept of pulling it from my purse and applying it to my lips when I feel a tad dry -_-. My lips suffer from extreme dryness and peeling. I would love to experiment more with lipstick, however, it just makes my lips look more like the a crackling desert.

My trick to always remembering to apply chapstick - leave one where I know I will never miss it: my make-up pouch! I wear make-up 5 days of the week. Whether I am just applying a bit of mascara or some coverup. My chapstick is always in there and before I grab the desired product, I have taught myself to apply the chapstick first.

Not a huge practice to most, but to me this is essential. I always forget to use it on the go, so leaving an extra in a space I know I won't miss it has really turned around the quality of my lips.

•  tanning lotion

 I am a very white girl. I long to be an tan exotic queen, but alass, I have the genes of bleach. My body refuses to tan, and when it does, it is actually all my freckles clustered up into a "tan" mass around my shoulders. Don't get me wrong, white skin is very beautiful, juuuust I want to be tan (we are never happy with what we got).

I started using the Sun Goddess Tanner over a year ago. It works well for a quick job. I have stopped buying it because it just does not stay on long enough and stained my white bed sheets. I still have about 5 bottles. I never finish my current one when they send out the next month's worth. I have now only been using it on my essential areas: my face mixed with a 2 to 1 ratio of face lotion, my chest and neck, my legs, and my torso. Wait that is everywhere? Yes but no. I do not use it like the product says to - three times a week or so. I just do a thin layer to give myself some color.

Interested in trying this out yourself? Maybe you can master it better than I can! Check it out on the Sun Goddess website. Or check out some reviews on youtube!

• Skin  Exfoliation

 You may be cleansing, moisturizing, and slathering on the sunscreen—but if you’re not exfoliating, your skin isn’t as healthy as it could be.

What is Exfoliation?
Exfoliation refers to the removal of the dead skin cells on the skin’s surface. Exfoliation can be performed mechanically, by using abrasive scrubs on the skin or chemically, by using scrubs that contain special kinds of acids that dissolve and remove the dead skin cells without scrubbing.

Why is Exfoliation Important?
As we age, the process of cell regeneration slows down. This means that the body is slower to shed skin cells and generate new ones. When old skin cells start to pile up on the surface of the skin, it can leave skin looking dull, rough, and dry. Furthermore, the build-up of dead skin cells can result in excess oil and clogged pores, leading to blemishes and acne.
Proper exfoliation removes the barrier of dead skin cells clogging the skin and uncovers fresh new cells below. This opens the way for moisturizing products to penetrate more deeply into the skin, which makes them more effective. In short, a regular exfoliating routine will leave your skin looking fresh and healthy.

 Courtesy of A Woman's Health

Exfoliation is another of my must haves. I did not understand the difference until I started using the Sun Goddess product. I noticed it would not apply properly. I researched and watched youtube videos on it, and a lot of them were saying to make sure to exfoliate! Why? The dead skin build-up (gross I know) caused my lotion to stick to that instead of my actual skin. Resulting in it appearing smudgy or it would come off a lot quicker.



 

• hair products

 This one I am going to keep short as I am no hair expert. My choice of hair products, especially after dying my hair grey, are Wen Hair Conditioners, Redken Extreme Strength Builder, and to tone out any brass tones I use Pravana Brightening Shampoo.

I choose to use it in my own order. Wen (to condition and remove any tangles) > Pravana (to tone out any unwanted brass tones) > Redken (the final conditioning to really make your hair feel soft and healthy). This Pravana purple shampoo smells so gooood and doesn't give my hair that elastic/barbie hair feel other purple shampoos have given me. When using Wen, you can smell the natural cleaning when the steam mixes with the product. A lot of people say it makes their hair greasy, but you just need to research their specific products better. They even have live chat on their website for any unanswered questions. I loved the Cucumber Aloe they had, but it was discontinued. So the live chat operator suggested this Lavender and it works almost as good as the Cucumber. The most important product I use on my hair is the Redken. My hair has been dyed, tortured, boiled, etc for far too long yet this product makes it feel anew. My hair dresser, Davis or Naomi Smalls ;), recommended this product to me and I can not believe the difference in my hair.

For more tips on hair, visit this beautiful lady's website!

• Face Cleansing 

What it is formulated to do:

This purifying lather gently yet thoroughly purifies, refines the look of pores, and leaves skin feeling fresh and comfortable. Botanical amino acids, hydrangea leaf, green tea, and geranium offer natural complexion-protecting and perfecting benefits for smooth, hydrated, clear skin..

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates

As the Boscia brand says in their bio "You don't want preservatives in your food, so why would you want them in your skincare" No. This product contains no preservatives and is great for all skin types. I am going to admit someting very gross... I do not wash my face as often as I should. I go to bed with my makeup on 90% of the time... When I do wash my face, this product really makes up for my mistakes. I use it with the Konjac Cleansing Sponge

What it does:

As the leader in botanical science, boscia continues to innovate with Japanese heritage in mind. Using only the purest, highest quality ingredients, they have successfully created the new standard for cleansing. The efficient boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge is made from 100 percent preservative-free konjac root from the pristine, idyllic Jeju Island in Korea. Konjac root is an Asian-cultivated, root-based vegetable that the Japanese have traditionally used as a detoxifying dietary staple, and as a calming, exfoliating sponge for delicate skin. It is naturally alkaline and balances the acidity of the skin’s impurities and oils while being enriched with protein, carbohydrate, iron, phosphorus, copper, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and folic acid. Gentle enough for the most sensitive skin types, this naturally deep-cleansing, pH balanced sponge can be used throughout the face, neck, and even the very delicate undereye area.

 I found this sponge odd when my friend Christina showed it to me. After using it the first time I will never go back to just using my palm! Its spongy texture alone is so fun! I did feel the difference between using just my fingertips vs this sponge.

Buy both products from Sephora!

My 7 Outfit Tricks to Looking Slimmer

 1. BLACK SHOES, BLACK PANTS. One of my rules I have had my whole life is to always match my shoe color with my pant color. The only exception is heeled sandals. Black is super slimming, and when you tuck in your pants to a pair of matching boots it elongates your legs in result making you look taller. Which always makes you look slimmer.

 2. FLARE PANTS. Skinny jeans draw attention to your hips and upper leg. To balance it out wear a pair of flared pants. The straight leg trend came in and flared pants were out. I even noticed the thinning effect once when I was younger but I love (and still love) straight pants. I couldn't get out of my comfort zone. They have made a comeback and for obvious reasons: get the right fit and it makes magic. It draws your eyes downward and the flare tends to hide the shoes, which makes you look taller.

 3. HIGH WAIST JEANS. The most slenderizing item is a pair of high waist/slim-fit pants in a dark denim or straight black. Tuck in your top or wear a cropped top with them to show off the elevated waist. Your waist is the smallest part of your upper body. Suck your belly into them and draw attention to it. Buy a pair with a bit of stretch so a muffin top doesn't occur. American Apparel's jeans tend to do that to me. The best brand I am aware of is BDG sold at Urban Outfitters.

 4. LONG COAT. For obvious reasons, a trench coat or long cardigan is also a slimming trick. It creates an illusion that your body is thinner than it really is by covering your two widest parts of your body (or mine at least): your ribs and hips. It then draws attention down to your legs. Pair it with a high waist bottom to make yourself look even thinner!

 5. ONE TUCK IN THE FRONT. I personally like to only tuck in one part of my top into my jeans. The tiny part of my shirt I tuck into my jeans creates great depth perception - your tummy looks flatter. The rest of the shirt falls at your hips, covering them with a triangular shape that is very flattering (as you see in my photo above). Chunky sweaters are the best with this trick.

 6. TIED AROUND YOUR WAIST. Tying a sweater/flannel/jacket around your waist helps direct the eye to the narrowness of your waist if worn with a looser dress. Tying it around your hips also gives the same affect as the long coat. It helps hide your upper leg making it look slimmer.

7. V NECK. A v neck dress or shirt that is cinched at the waist once again shows off your tiny waist. The open, upside-down triangle (again a triangle shape is slimming) pulls the eyes away from the midsection and gives the illusion of a longer, slimmer upper body.

PHOTOS OTHER THAN MINE PROVIDED BY PINTEREST

Preparing for FYF: What's in my Bag

What is in my bag? I am bringing a small backpack this go-around. The tiger head seemed a bit too inconvenient and also too big. My main possessions coming with me: iphone, chapstick, wallet, hair ties, lipstick, sunnies, iphone lenses, and a camera.

 I am bringing my cute green leather "wallet/purse?" I bought this at a yard sale. It has loops on the back so you can wear it on your belt if you want to. I use it to store my money and ID card. It says you can never have too much cash, but if you don't have somewhere safe to store it, leave it all at home. The second photo is of the Tenorikuma coin purse. It will hold any hair accessories in case it gets too unbearablly hot for my hair to be down. An ex-friend of mine gave this to me. But not going to lie, she probably stole it. That bitch stole all my shit.

 They are greedy and do not allow you to bring in SLR cameras. I am bringing a disposable camera and my iphone with its detachable lens. They only bad thing about these lens is I have to take off my phone case. I am very prone to dropping my phone, so ladies make sure you have a great case as well!

Lastly in my bag, a great pair of sunnies! They say it is better to not wear a pair of sunglasses rather than a pair with no-UV protection. I bought these at Urban Outfitters two years ago. I just fixed the and they are ready for tomorrow. Nothing is worse than trying to watch a performance and it is just ruined due to squinting. I would rather not watch. In this photo you also can see my Maybelline lipstick  Electric Orange. I will also be carrying my MAC Pink Plaid lipstick and some chapstick. The heat kills me, I need to take care of all my skin.

 First time for me to go to FYF! Is it just FYF or is it FYF Fest.... whatever. I heard it is hot, dusty, but it is so close to where I live! So Lyft is going to get some money out of me. I am most excited to see The Stokes. I have been a huge fan (they are my ultimate favorite band) since they started. I found them when I was in elementary school. I am 21 now so that is commitment. 

Can't wait to see everyone there! <3