Skittles

Coat: Thrifted

Scarf: Unlabeled (from my amazing dad!)

Gloves: Unlabeled (from my amazing mom!)

Dress: Topshop

Tights: H&M

Oxfords: Bass

Hi guys, I have blue hair. 

As the title of this post suggests, I felt a wee bit like a skittle today. You may have already noticed, but I finally dyed my hair blue, which I think turned out pretty awesome. However there are a few things that are not so great about it. 

First off, I had looked everywhere for Special Effects hair dye in the color Blue Mayhem. From some reason this turned out to be an impossible task. This specific dye was literally sold out everywhere. To my annoyance, I realized the only colors I could really find by this particular brand was either pink or red. Now, there is nothing wrong with having pink or red hair, but I really had my heart set on blue. 

Finally, I decided to settle on some blue Manic Panic dye. I had used Manic Panic before when dying my hair purple over the summer, which only lasted about a week and was not really worth the money, but I figured I would give it another try. Unfortunately this blue dye literally stains everything. My ears, my neck, my pillow, the collars on my shirts. I have washed it out a few times now but it is still bleeding on everything. It's even on the sides of my glasses! 

While it looks completely awesome it has rather turned into an annoyance. I wish Special Effects would keep producing blue! But enough of my Manic Panic rant, this week has been going pretty well. I have started up the Insanity program, have you guys heard of this? It is a totally "insane" cardio and strength training video and boy has it been whipping my butt into shape. At the beginning of the new year I knew I needed to make working out and eating healthy a priority again. I sort of let things slide last year... but now I am getting back on schedule and it feels great! It is actually amazing how much better I do feel. 

Other than that just a lot of school and work. Anything exciting happening in your life? 

(It kind of makes me excited hearing about other people's awesome adventures)

Let me know!

Plaid

Headband: Urban Outfitters

Scarf: Uptown Cheapskate

Dress: Modcloth

Belt: Forever 21

Tights: H&M

Boots: Dr. Martens

Today I positively froze while taking these pictures. Being a blogger in the Winter is a lot tougher than I had remembered. In fact, I had to come in and thaw out my hands for a few minutes after, but, totally worth it. Why? Because I love sharing my outfits with you and getting your feedback on them. I also love the idea of inspiring someone else. That is a really amazing feeling.

Anyhow, here are some fun facts about plaid!

• Although I call it plaid, it is actually tartan
• This pattern dates all the way back to the 17th century
• Plaid originally comes from Scotland
• In 1746 plaid was banned by the British for four decades (following the Scottish Revolutions)

Random facts are the best, aren't they? I love whipping them out in everyday conversations and seeing people's reactions. The best is when the other person asks how you know that, it makes me feel like that fact must be a pretty cool one. Am I the only one out there who likes to remember random facts?

Getting ready for my third week of school, and I believe most of you are heading back now. So good luck to you guys! Hope you have splendid classes.

Aerie #Real

Last week Aerie, sister company of American Eagle, released a new ad campaign featuring models of different sizes that are NOT photoshopped. Anything about the model, from moles to wrinkles has stayed in tact. Even their tattoos! 

(all photo's belong to Aerie)

As you can see from the pictures these girls actually look, well, real. I am so overjoyed with this whole ad campaign that I knew I had to share it with you guys. As consumers, we are all constantly bombarded by this "ideal" person. For men it is a tall muscular manly-man and for women it is a stick thin figure with flowing locks and perfect skin. However, all of us know that this perfect person is fictional. Sure there are some people out there that would disagree with me, but none of us are the same. There are so many body types out in the world, yet only a very limited few make it in advertisements that are thrown at our faces on a constant basis. 

All this ad bombardment has really messed with our minds. I remember in high school, after someone had called me fat (wore a size 9 jeans at the time) all I wanted to do was stop eating and work out a lot. Fortunately I found out a day later that not eating was definitely not going to be an option, I really do love food, haha. Still, every time I worked out I pictured these girls in my head, with perfect bodies like the models from Hollister, in their tiny bikini's. While this motivated me to work out, in the end it left me rather frustrated and slightly depressed. I couldn't look like those girls. My hips were too wide. My knees too close together. I could have listed off a million problems I had with myself. 

After some much needed rethinking I came to the conclusion that I only have one body and that I better make the best of it. In the end it was really my family and friends who made me realize this. However, I wonder what it must be like for people who aren't lucky enough to have a supportive structure around them filled with people who really care about them. This is why we need more companies to do things like this! I love it. Or if anyone wants to talk to me, just shoot me an e-mail I would love to help in any way possible. 

Hopefully this post was a good reminder to always love your body. We should all be celebrating the bodies we have not hating them. 

Carry that love with you throughout the weekend and have a great one! 

Rivendell

Hat & gloves: Modcloth

Scarf: Unlabeled 

Coat: Michael Kors

Sweater: Nordstrom

Dress: H&M

Tights: Under Armour

Boots: Dr. Martens

I mentioned a few posts ago that I got two new pairs of Dr. Martens for Christmas. I already posted in the first pair (black), but these are the second ones I got. They are floral rain boot Dr. Martens, which is just so lovely and so practical. As you can see we have got quite a bit moisture on the ground in the North East today so I was eager to head out in the cold and try out the boots. 

I grew up in Southern California so snow is not really what I am used to living with. It certainly has been a new experience over the past four years since moving across country. As you can tell from my facial expressions in these pictures, I love it! The best part about the snow (apart from not having to go to school) is going out right after it has finished and just soaking the beauty of your new surroundings. It is eerily silent after a good snow and everywhere you look is shades of white, blue, and purple. It practically feels like a different world, a more magical one. 

Speaking of magical worlds, earlier today I took an online quiz to see what fictional city I was meant to live in. Before the results were in I was pondering over what city I hoped the results would show me. I was in a strong conflict between Hogsmeade and Narnia, but alas neither city is for me. At least, according to the quiz. Apparently I meant to live in the world of Lord of the Rings, the city of Rivendell to be exact. Something I found slightly ironic since that is practically the only major fantasy series I have not read before. Perhaps it is a sign? 

Anyhow, if you want to take the quiz too, Here is the link. Let me know what you get! 

On a side note, thanks for all the book suggestions definitely going to check them out. :) 

Reading in Style

Dress: Modcloth

Sweater: Forever 21

Belt: Forever 21

Gloves & Tights: unlabeled Christmas gifts :) 

Oxfords: DSW

This past week was a bit more hectic than I had anticipated, but it is nice to be back to school and work. When on vacation I always loose a small bit of my sense of purpose. Luckily everything is back to normal! 

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me"

- C.S. Lewis

With the weather so cold lately it has got me thinking about how much I love to sit inside under a warm blanket with a cup of green tea in one hand and a novel in the other. I am sure I have mentioned this before, but I love to read. I love it so much that I even log all the books I had read and go over the list every once in a while and reminisce about all the lovely books I have read. Sometimes I even decide to reread one of my favorites. 

When I was younger, most of my class mates would complain about reading assignments in literature class, which made me feel like an outcast, I loved getting new reading assignments. Some of the books I was forced to read through school even ended up on my favorites list. Since all my friends would rather go out and doing something it made me feel like I did not belong. I preferred to stay in and get lost in the words of another decade or another world, something I didn't think other people understood, least of all my friends.

One day I ran across a novel that I absolutely fell in love with. You might have heard of this book because it was made into a Hollywood motion picture, which in my opinion was quite terrible compared to the book. The book that opened my eyes was The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillippa Gregory. This novel, which I have now read about five times, taught me that I love reading more than anything and it does not matter if none of my friends do either. Why should I base what I want to do in my free time on friend's opinions? I shouldn't. 

Ever since reading The Other Boleyn Girl my enthusiasm for books has grown to a whole new level. If you like to read as I do then you know how awesome it is to go to a book store. I honestly could stay in any given book store for at least two hours. Sure one might say I seem a bit obsessed, but I believe that would be confusing obsession with dedication. Reading expands the mind and opens ones imagination, how could anyone not enjoy that?

If you are not a natural reader this might be a bit difficult to explain, but I shall try. When reading a good book it is like watching an amazing movie. Except it is longer and you can start and stop whenever you choose. Also, you get to cast the characters in your mind and be the stylist too! I am always slightly disappointed when I have read a book that is made into a movie and they do not wear the clothes I had put them in while reading. But back to why I love reading, It is a chance of escape from the real world into, most of the time, a better and more exciting one. You get a different point of view what is like to be someone else, which makes you realize that every random person you see on the street has their own story, their own experiences and their own life. 

I would like to end this post by encouraging you guys to pick a book on any subject that you are interested in and give it a try! If you are an avid reader, do you have any good book suggestions? I am always looking for new ones! 

Have a great week everyone,

Wish Upon a Star

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Since I am currently trying to save up a bit of money I have been making wish lists of items I would like to buy if I could just head out and purchase any item I admire. Surprisingly this is actually helping with my urge to shop. I suppose going through the "shopping process" is enough to satisfy myself. Or maybe it is the fact that I did a lot of shopping while I was home for break? Probably the latter. Either way, I am having some fun doing this online window shopping thing and I believe I shall continue with it!

Long week ahead of me, but I am going to try and put up some more outfit posts this week. Maybe a DIY next weekend. Until then, have a good one!

New Grunge

{Cardigan: Gift! -- Dress: Forever 21 -- Tights: H&M -- Boots: Dr. Martens -- Ring: Vintage -- Belt: Modcloth}

I am officially addicted to Dr. Marten shoes. I was browsing around Nordstrom's Rack the other evening with my lovely Mom when I noticed they had a few pairs of Docs at half price. I ended up picking up two pairs {this being one of them!}. I've been wanting black ones for a while since they are so versatile and these ones are just perfect. Especially with the awesome eyelet detail they have on the top three lacings. Oh did I mention I now have five pairs of Docs. Believe it or not, I still want more! They are so comfy and amazing, I feel like I would be lost without all my bad ass boots. Hopefully this means my collection will continue to grow! 

Today is my last day back home in California. However, I do not think I am quite ready to head back to the East Coast yet. I am excited to get back to work and school and to see all my friends I have made over the past three years, but at the same time, I am going to miss my parents. I literally could not ask for two better to people to have raised me. My mom is my best friend and my dad always knows how to cheer me up {he spoils me like crazy!}. 

It is strange to me to feel this sad because when I think back on my last year of High School I was practically dying to get away. I wanted to move far away, but I never really thought about how hard that would be sometimes. Sure Skype and talking on the phone helps with most home sickness symptoms that I have, but there is just something missing when I am away. I believe it is a feeling of comfort and safety, but I am not entirely sure if that is all it is. I wonder sometimes where I will be after I finish school, but all I hope for right now is that I will not be too far from my family.

With all this said I shall go out and enjoy my last day here, especially that warm weather!  

Have a great weekend everyone,

I Wanna Be Sedated

{Floral Crown: DIY -- Jacket: Modcloth -- T-shirt: Thrifted -- Skirt: Thrifted -- Tights: H&M -- Boots: Dr. Martens}

Hello hello everyone. I've been getting some use out of my new floral crown, it turned it out quite lovely! I am always a bit shocked when I make something and it ends up looking like, well, like I didn't make it. I really should get into the habit of making more things since I know you guys really enjoy my DIY posts. Hopefully once I get down some sewing skills I can really take off with my craftiness. Which brings me to a question that I was going to ask you all, do any of you have an inspiration journal? I've been wanting one for a while, but I am also uncertain on where to begin. Any tips or advice would be lovely! 

My winter break is finally winding down and I am not really feeling too excited for my next semester. Granted I only have class two days a week it still feels like a ton of stress coming my way. And whether it is my own or my family's doing I feel a lot of pressure to get high grades. I'm certain it is a mix of both, but I am scared of disappointing everyone around me or even worse, myself. I know this stress got the better of me last semester, which is probably why I am feeling so anxious, but I am determined to not let that happen again. I am ready to fight and finally start enjoying my life a bit more. Everyone always says less stress makes a person more happy, so my number one goal for this upcoming semester is to take a deep breathe and keep reminding myself to relax. 

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend and keeping warm