The Little Things: Feeling Confident

There are days when I feel like I have lost all hope, where everything I do goes wrong. My foundation isn’t blending in smoothly. My wings are uneven. I have nothing to wear. Whatever the case may be, there are some little things I do to make myself feel just a little bit better. It can be anything. Listening to my favorite song, applying a bold lipstick, or spraying on some of that sweet smelling perfume that I love oh so much!

Confidence can originate from many places. Some of us are naturally confident no matter the circumstance. Others find confidence in their intelligence, preparedness, looks, or even material possessions. Whatever the case is, everyone finds inspiration and belief in oneself in a number of ways.

The Little Things That Make Me Feel Confident

* Killer shoes (i.e. thigh high boots, Louboutins, or some funky Jeffrey Campbells)

* A bold lipstick (i.e. ColourPop’s ‘Creature’ lipstick)

* Actually doing my hair

* Amazing lashes (thank you falsies!)

* Threading my eyebrows (Gotta have a strong brow game!)
* Being prepared (i.e. For that big math test or for a night out)

* ODESZA, Beyonce, Kanye, Lana Del Rey

Although these little things make me feel confident in the way I look, I have to remind myself that this is only one tiny part of confidence. Confidence is such a huge topic and after meditating on this, I realized that there are a million of other branches of it. You could be the best looking person in your college, but if you are not confident in yourself to achieve academic success, you won’t go far.

Whatever it is you’re trying to achieve (academic success, feeling good about yourself, getting that promotion, etc.), do so with confidence. Believe in yourself and do whatever it takes to do so, because if you don’t have confidence in yourself, who else will?

Grey

outfit

Sweater: Forever21 | Jeans: Frame | Boots: Seychelles | Bag: Louis Vuitton 'Neverfull' | Sunglasses: Kaitlyn | Lip Color: MAC 'Cherry' Lipliner

Music On Repeat (5)

Finals week has definitely come into effect. I have given up on looking nice and dedicated myself this week to lecture notes and math problems. Music is still essential to attending to finals week protocol, though! 

* Purity Ring - push pull

* ODESZA - Say My Name (Markus Schulz Remix)

* Lana Del Rey - Big Eyes
* Vagabond - Her (Petit Biscuit Remix)
* Petit Biscuit - Right Now

I hope everyone has a productive and successful finals week! 

Two Outfits feat. Plaid

Plaid has never really been a staple in my wardrobe, but I recently purchased two new pieces from Zara and I love them! Both outfits are pretty simple, but I feel like plaid is a statement on its own so they didn't really need much styling. Either way, I'll probably be wearing these pieces to death this autumn/winter!

No. 1 

Black and White Checks

outfit 

Flannel: Zara | Jeans: Topshop 'Leigh' | Boots: Seychelles | Hat: Forever21 | Bag: Alexander Wang | Sunglasses: Michael Kors 

No. 2

The Flannel Dress

outfit 

Flannel Dress: Zara | Tights: Urban Outfitters | Boots: Urban Outfitters | Bag: Alexander Wang | Sunglasses: Michael Kors | Gold Necklace: Urban Outfitters

November Beauty Favorites!

Lush Roma Water

            I normally have oily skin, but because of the weather change, I have been experiencing some dry patches on my skin. The Lush Roma Water helps hydrate dry skin, which is why I was drawn to it in store. I use this every night before applying moisturizer as well as in morning. I definitely have noticed a difference in the way my skin feels and pairing this with a rich moisturizer will definitely help with any dry patches on the skin. This Roma water also smells like lavender, which is a huge plus!

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

            With the new season, comes a new moisturizer. Since I was struggling with some new dry patches on my skin, I decided to change up my skin routine. The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is formulated for very dry skin, which kind of put me off for a while, but because I was focused on hydrating my skin, I gave it a try. This has an extremely thick consistency so I would recommend using it before bed to really let it sink into the skin. Also, if you have oily skin and are trying this moisturizer out, it does leave your skin feeling a bit oily so I would avoid applying a thick layer before applying makeup. This moisturizer leaves my skin feeling so hydrated in the morning and my dry patches have disappeared! Because I love this so much, I started mixing in a pea-sized amount into my foundation for some extra hydration! Mixing it in with a foundation gives my skin a radiant glow, but after a couple of hours, my skin does start looking a bit oily. I don’t mind though because a bit of powder can easily fix that!

Anastasia Brow Wiz & Maybelline Brow Drama

            I put off purchasing the Anastasia Brow Wiz for so long because I was already in love with the Dip brow Pomade. But, I made the purchase at the Sephora VIB sale since it was 20% off! I absolutely love this product! The pencil itself is really thin so you’re able to create soft, hair-like strokes, which make your brows look so natural. I love full, defined brows and this pencil makes filling in my brows so easy. To set the brows, I have been loving the Maybelline Brow Drama. The brush itself is different from any brow brush I’ve ever used. The tip of the brush is too large for my brows so I end up getting product on my skin but, the formula of the gel is my favorite. If you don’t like the feeling of superglue eyebrows, then this is definitely for you. The product holds your brows in place, but doesn’t superglue them down. I can still brush through my brows even after applying this product, which is something I couldn’t do with my other brow gels.

Chanel 'Soleil Tan De Chanel'

            I’m a huge fan of bronzed skin, but with my recent dry skin problems, I have been put off from using powder bronzers and blushes on my skin. I recently reached for this long time love of mine and rediscovered how much I really love this bronzer! It has a super lightweight formula that blends seamlessly into the skin. I apply it where I would normally bronze my skin and it gives me the most radiant, healthy skin glow!

80 Degree Day

The weather in California has been really weird lately, but I was able to wear an outfit similar to something I would wear in the summer! This is a super basic outfit, but it's still really comfortable and I had to wear my new Adidas (thanks bae!) If you live in a colder area, you can always swap the dress for a white t-shirt and jeans! 

outfit

T-shirt Dress: H&M | Denim Jacket: Forever21 | Shoes: Adidas 'Samoa' | Bag: Louis Vuitton | Sunglasses: Michael Kors | Watch: Casio | Necklace: Tiffany & Co.

Outfit of The Day (6)

Music On Repeat (4)

* VASH - About You
* Broadcast - Tears in The Typing Pool
* Shakka - When Will I See You Again (AMTRAC Remix)
* Flume - Intro 

* HWLS - 004 (Noah Breakfast)

Neutrals

Outfit of The Day #5

Three Outfits feat. Hats

If I ever have an excuse to wear a hat, I will take it! Hats literally give me life, especially in the autumn and winter seasons. If you're having a bad hair day, throw on a hat! If you feel like your outfit is looking boring, throw on a hat! If you want to look a little more Coven, throw a witchy hat on! 

Look no. 1

The Wide-Brimmed Hat

Out of my entire collection, this hat is my favorite! It's the perfect shape and style for me. It has a wide brim, but it's not stiff. It flops a little when you wear it so it can be extremely casual. I feel like this hat takes my outfit to the next level. It adds a sort of edge to a plain outfit. 

look no. 1 

Hat: Forever21 | Tank: Topshop | Jeans: Frame | Boots: Nordstroms (Seychelles) | Bag: Louis Vuitton | Sunglasses: Kaitlyn 

MAC Lipstick Collection

Let's flash back to the beginning of the year. I started off with 2 MAC lipsticks and before this year, it was rare for me to wear lipstick! Now, my MAC collection has reached a total of 7 lipsticks! That might not seem like a lot, but considering how I started off the year, it's a significant increase. 

I realized through my collection that I am drawn towards the neutral lip colors. Lately, I have been obsessed with Brave and Twig! I find that these colors really complement my skin tone and the finish is definitely my favorite (Satin)! 

Overall, I love MAC lipsticks. They have a large color selection and have numerous finishes so you can really experiment. I find that satin lipsticks have great color payoff and are moisturizing. I will have to reapply a lipstick throughout the day, but since satin lipsticks aren't drying, I don't have a problem with the application and feel. 

I'm pretty sure my collection won't stop growing, but for now, I'm happy with it! 

1. Bare Again (Sheen Supreme) 2. Twig (Satin) 3. Brave (Satin) 4. Velvet Teddy (Matte)

5. Rebel (Satin) 6. Styled in Sepia (Matte) 7. Viva Glam VI (Lustre)

Styling My Short Hair

I've had long hair for a while now. But, when I decided to make the big "chop", it was surprisingly easy for me. No, I did not break down and cry! Chopping my hair was necessary for a fresh start! 

I thought that styling my hair was going to be tough, especially since I'm really lazy with it! But, I also thought I was going to be limited by the length of my hair. I was so wrong! I found inspiration and the perfect style for my hair.

Step One:

         I usually start off with clean hair. If I have to blow dry my hair (which I usually do), I will apply some Moroccan oil to protect my hair. Protecting my hair from heat is a crucial step in this process. I love Moroccan oil because it makes my hair feel healthy and gives it a beautiful shine. 

Step Two:

         After blow drying, I will start to curl sections of my hair with the Milani Triple Threat curling iron, which comes with 3 interchangeable barrels! I use the 1" barrel to give my hair a wavy texture. When curling the hair, I make sure to curl 1" sections in both directions (away from my face and towards my face) for a natural wavy texture. The Triple Threat curling iron is so convenient because of the three barrels. It also heats up to 430 degrees in less than a minute! Because it's so easy to use, I get my hair curled in 10-15 minutes.

Step Three:

         Once I've finished curling my hair, I take the BigSexyHair "Powder Play" (a volumizing and texturizing powder) and distribute it though the crown of my head. Apply this product where you want volume and texture. This product does make your hair feeling tacky, but it gives you so much volume and texture without teasing the hair! 

I usually won't wash my hair for two days and although the "Powder Play" does leave my hair feeling tacky, I find that it is still really manageable the following day. I usually have to reapply some powder into the root of my hair and I have an instant lift and more texture in my hair! 

Advice To My Teenage Self

I have one last year dedicated to being a teenager and I'm not about to waste it.

I struggled a lot with the conventional teen problems--from my appearance, to boys, to creating new friendships. But, I realize now that all my struggles molded me into the person I am today.

Advice to my teenage self: 

No one is too good to be your friend 
Talk to everyone. Make friends everywhere! Don't be held back by the fear of rejection. 

You can't control the outcome of everything 
You do not have to fix everything. Focus on being a kid. 

Focus on being mentally & physically healthy
Get healthy for yourself and no one else. Do things the healthy way. Don't hurt yourself. 

Don't let anyone tell you how to plan your future 
Don't let anyone manage your life. Follow what you truly want to do. 

Don't get so attached 
Life changes all the time. And it changes without your permission. Cars, houses, friends…They can come and go. 

Friends come and go
Be careful who you trust. Make sure you know who your real friends are.

Growing up isn't all that great
Sure you have more freedoms, but being an adult is tough. You have more responsibilities and you have to think long term. 

Music-Inspired Outfits

There is no doubt in my mind that fashion is inspired by music. After VAGABONDYOUTH created a tag on Youtube dedicated to music inspired outfits, I had to take on this challenge! I like how different this tag is and I was definitely inspired. I based this around bands/singers that I love and bands/singers that I believe have amazing style. 

A$AP Rocky

  A$AP's style is beyond amazing. When I was first planning out this tag, I knew I wanted to recreate an A$AP outfit. His style is heavily inspired by his music, but there are times when he decides to wear something chic and edgy. For my outfit, I decided to recreate one of A$AP's more urban-inspired looks. 

outfit

Jacket: Urban Outfitters (bycorpus) | Jeans: Urban Outfitters (BDG) | T-Shirt: Rag&Bone | Gold Chain: Forever21 | Boots: Timberland 

Photo Courtesy of Pinterest

G-Eazy

I haven't been listening to G-Eazy long, but when I saw him live, his style definitely stuck with me. G-Eazy's style is pretty laid-back, but he adds an old school twist to it (just like his music!). I love how he wears the most simplest outfits, but then throws on a leather or varsity jacket to spice things up a bit! I decided to recreate a classic G-Eazy look with a stripped t-shirt and leather jacket. 

outfit 

T-Shirt Dress (worn as a shirt): Brandy Melville | Jeans: Urban Outfitters (BDG) | Shoes: Vans | Jacket: Zara 

Photo Courtesy of Pinterest 

Kanye West

This was a no-brainer for me. Kanye West has amazing style, so I had to recreate a look! He incorporates many basic pieces into his style, but then adds an edgy piece to his outfit… Like a basic white t-shirt with some leather pants! There were so many outfits I wanted to recreate, but I really liked this specific outfit. He's wearing basic pieces with this outfit, but he still made it look so chic and stylish. 

outfit

White Blazer: Foreign Exchange | T-shirt: Rag&Bone | Jeans: 7 For All Mankind | Boots: Gucci 

Photo Courtesy of Pinterest 

The Perfect Everyday Bag

I'm not usually picky when it comes to bags. Some days I see them as accessories and other days I really need a functional bag. This oversized tote bag has literally saved me and I can't stop wearing it. It's perfect for school because I can stuff everything in it and it's still comfortable to wear.

The bag has two shoulder straps and it comes with a longer (detachable) strap so you can wear it cross body. It also comes with a smaller pouch inside so you can keep small things together. This tote is also reversible(!!) so you basically get two bags in one! 

This is the most practical bag I own and it was so worth the money. Although it's a bit on the large side, it's so comfortable to wear so you don't feel like your bag is bothering you or overpowering an outfit. 

tote bag | Urban Outfitters 

Outfit of The Day #4

outfit of the day

T-shirt dress: Zara | Tights: Urban Outfitters | Boots: Doc Martens | Purse: Louis Vuitton | Sunglasses: Michael Kors | Watch: Oris | Bracelets: S'be NYC & Rose Bowl Flea Market