Friday, February 13, 2015

Gracias Por Nada (I'M BACK!)

After a painfully long hiatus, I'm finally back! Sorry for the lack of notice, everyone. Thanks to my boyfriend (who checks on this blog every day), I'm inspired to start writing again. My college applications are all done, so I finally have time!
Let me start off this post with one of my favorite subjects: art!

This week I went to the opening night of a local art show, Gracias Por Nada.  It featured art about skate culture,  including art on skateboards themselves and art by local tattoo artists.

Wish I had more content for ya, but for now, have some photos!!





This piece was done by Captain Todd, a local LA tattoo artist.

Look at this little taxidermy baby! I wanted it so badly.


This piece was just perfect.



This painting is an actual depiction of me attempting to skateboard.


This last piece was a huge mural that took up the whole wall; I was completely mesmerized.

Talk to y'all soon!



Monday, October 6, 2014

Get That Style: PREPPY

Hello, all!

Today I'm going to give you guys some tips on how to achieve that good, old-fashioned "preppy" style. I channel inspiration from this style so often; it just seems natural for me to do a post about it.

For those of you that are unaware of what this style is, think of the generic, Catholic schoolgirl look mixed with a country club and a Shetland pony. I don't know how to make it any clearer than that.

Without further adieu, let's get started with necessities for the Preppy Girl style:

Plaid
One of the main, if not the most popular, prints associated with preppy style is plaid. You can't go wrong with the classic red, but feel free to add your own twist by using different colored, or even multi-colored plaid. Plaid is mostly seen in skirts and pants, but I also see it in shirts, dresses, accessories, and sometimes outerwear.

Plaid - Preppy Essential
Pleated Skirts
What's a preppy schoolgirl to do without her pleated skirt? These are seen in both plaid and solid colors (I happen to have both in my own wardrobe!). I love seeing them paired with knee-high socks and Mary Janes for that authentic school uniform look.

Pleated Skirts - Preppy Essential
Cable-Knit Sweater
If you live in an area where the temperature is usually hot, like god-forsaken Los Angeles, this staple may not be practical for you. However, some brands do make thin sweaters that still have a cable knit texture to them. Get your hands on those rarities while you can!
Sweaters - Preppy

Collars
Perfect with your cable-knit sweater, an item with a nice collar is definitely a preppy necessity. Depending on what climate you live in, get yourself either a long or short-sleeved collared shirt. Collars also come commonly on dresses, like mine below. I can't get enough of collars; there are so many options to choose from, and they all just happen to look adorable!
Collars - Preppy

Oxfords and Mary Janes
The two essential shoe styles for preps are oxfords (which look like lace-up jazz shoes) and Mary Janes (flats with a strap). Every prep owns one of each. Every. Single. One. I happen to have two of each, no big deal.
Shoes - Preppy
Marni galaxy shoes (leopard)
Mary jane (pink)

I remember when I went through my ~dark~ phase in middle school, I would always make fun of preps and what they stood for. This post is kind of in dedication to me evolving into a more tolerant, rational human being.




Sunday, October 5, 2014

5 Basic Beauty Tips

Hello, all!
IT IS OFFICIALLY OCTOBER DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW EXCITING THAT IS?!

I haven't done a beauty post in a while, so here are some simple rules that I think everyone should follow:

That's my handwriting! I know, it's almost too exciting.

1. Never pop your pimples.
This one seems pretty self-explanatory, but I admit that I'm guilty for it pretty much every week! I hate seeing acne, and I sometimes can't help but pick at my blemishes. But it's a bad habit to have, since popping zits only irritates the skin more and increases the amount of time it takes for them to heal. This is a reminder to you and me both to stop popping pimples!

2. Wear facial moisturizer with at least 15 SPF everyday.
Even on cold or overcast days, the sun always strikes your skin when you're outside. That's why we have to protect it with sunscreen! Many moisturizers (and even foundations and powders) have SPF, but you should still check to make sure. I would even take this one step further and say that you should wear sunscreen on your body everyday, but perhaps I'm just a tad overzealous when it comes to skincare.

3. Always take off your makeup at the end of the day.
I'm guilty of breaking this rule too, but it's so important! Before you go to bed, even if you're too lazy to wash your face, at least take off your makeup. You don't want to go to sleep with all that dirt and excess oil on your face. Not taking off your makeup irritates your pores and makes it more likely for you to get pimples.

4. Exfoliate your skin once a week.
Exfoliation is great for your face; by removing your dead skin cells, you're allowing your skin to repair more quickly, leaving silky-smooth skin. You can purchase facial scrubs and exfoliants at beauty stores, but I always use the DIY method of mixing olive oil and sugar! Massage your skin with a scrub for about a minute, rinse, and apply your regular skin regimen. Exfoliating just once can do wonders for your face.

5. Don't wash your hair everyday.
Many people already know how important this is, but for those of you who are unaware, washing your hair strips it of its natural oils. You need a moderate amount in your scalp to keep your hair soft and smooth. Most hairstylists suggest you should wash at most every other day. You can always substitute a dry shampoo for the days you skip washing your hair; I typically put my hair up or curl it when it's dirty. Still not convinced? Not washing your hair everyday saves the planet! By saving the water you would've used washing your hair, you're saving about two gallons of water. In short, dirty hair saves the world!








Tuesday, September 30, 2014

The Blog

Hello! I hope everyone's been having a good week so far. I am BEYOND EXCITED for October because Halloweentime is my favorite season!

I wanted to make a quick post today about a tumblr blog I am being featured on every day: The Blog. My darling friend Ashley Morales is taking OOTD photos of me and three of our friends every day in school, and you can see our photos on the--blog.tumblr.com!

She only started it this week, but I think it's a great idea, and I can't wait for it to take off! Please take the time to check us out. :)

As always,




Saturday, September 13, 2014

September Lifestyle Challenge

Hi everyone!

Today I want to take the time to address stress. Everyone experiences it, and it's completely normal (especially if you're about to go into college, like me)! However, just because it's a natural human tendency, doesn't mean you have to suffer through being stressed out.

That being said, this month's lifestyle challenge is:

    relax.


Take the time this month to do whatever it is that calms you down: listen to soothing music, take a nice bubble bath, do some light yoga, or read an easy book. It's important to take a break from whatever you're doing and just calm down for a little while. Your body and mind will thank you!

Feel well, everyone. And remember: life's good.






Saturday, September 6, 2014

A Day at Downtown

Happy September, everyone!

I spent a day in Downtown Los Angeles with one of my dear childhood friends. Let me give you a tour of my city!

The first spot we visited was Grand Central Market (upper photo), which showcases great local eateries. Along the street on the way to GMC was a sign that said "Decide what to be and go be it," which is a saying by which I live my life! 


The middle bottom photo is from one of the glass elevators at the Bonaventure Hotel, which showcases a lovely view of the city from the 32nd floor.

The two corner photos on the right are from Grand Park, which has a rather--wait for it--Grand fountain. Usually the floor around the fountain is open for people to wade in; unfortunately, it was closed when we got there, and we were forced to take a selfie with boring, dry floor in the background.


My favorite place in downtown is definitely The Last Bookstore! It's the last independent book store in the United States, and I love it so much. They have a whole floor dedicated to books on sale for $1, and they also sell local art!


Last but not least, we visited the Los Angeles Public Library Central Branch, which has such gorgeous architecture; the photo doesn't do it justice. The left photo was taken on a bridge leading to the library, taken only to feature the sculpture in the background.

Here's my outfit from that day:



Hat: Vintage
Dress: Nordstrom
Belt: Bettie Page
Bag: Vintage


Have you ever visited Downtown LA? If there are local spots that I need to visit, please let me know in the comments!