Snack of champions

Hello my lovely internet friends! This afternoon I made myself a tasty snack of fruits and yogurt and I thought I should share it with you! Hope you enjoy. Xoxo

1- Pomogranate Yogurt 

- High in Calcium 

- Low in sodium 

2- Pineapple

- Contains Bromelain (anti-inflammatory/ anti-cancer) 

- High in vitamin C 

3- Granola & Sunflower Seeds 

- High in Iron & Magnesium 

4- Coconut Strips 

- Boosts Metabolism

- Prevents tooth decay

5- Stawberries 

- Helps burn fat 

- High in fiber

What are your favourite fruits and ways to eat them? Have any cool recipes that you'd like to share? Email me up top or comment below! (: 

Color Outside the Lines

Hello my Dears! So this morning for my university fashion class I got to spend my time at the local art museum. I'm still a kid at heart where I find them interesting for ten minutes and then I'm ready to go home but today's trip was a bit different. While I was there walking around trying to find my "favorite" piece of art I came to the conclusion that my favourite pieces were the ones that colored outside the lines; the ones that where unique, the pieces that I'm sure right when it was done, the artists parents were like "oh hon, don't quit your day job". Ha just kidding, (I hope your parents wouldn't tell you that, maybe just think it.) But anyways, you get my point. My favorite pieces were the ones that were beyond unique.

 I feel like every single person is born beyond unique but then society gets ahold of them and all of a sudden we are all the same. We stop doing what we love, to conform to the world.

A young man came into my old workplace and I managed to strike up an interesting conversation with him. He told me that he was passionate about being a musician, he'd made a couple CD's that had done alright but he gave it up to please his parents and go to school to become a doctor. That. Is. Unacceptable. This story is familiar to me and to a lot of the world I'm sure, and it's heartbreaking. There is an epidemic going around to fit in, while we were all made to be our own unique selves and to colour outside of the lines; to leave our unique fingerprint on the world. Our lives are short, we don't get much time here and before we know it we are grown up... and then it hits you like a ton of bricks. "I'm forty-five and I haven't done anything that I've longed to my whole life". I don't want that to be me. I refuse to have that be me.

I am a very spontaneous person, I always have been and I'm sure I get it from the father, the gypsy who has lived and travelled in every single country he has ever wanted. But when I'm bored at Starbucks (which is 24/7) I always think of random ideas in my head and usually share them with the baristas who are near me at the time. Like when I first started at my new store, I told my friend and barista that I had randomly decided to go to England for a while. She told me about how she had studied abroad there and had wanted to go back. We talked about it together for a couple weeks after and I would like to think that I helped convince her to take her sporadic trip to England, and as I write this, she is countries away, enjoying the culture of England and all that is has to offer.

A few days ago I informed my friend and barista Jessie that I had decided that I was going to move to Australia before I turned twenty-one, Jessie of course enjoys teasing me about my random fantasies of travel, but the next day, she told me that I had given her the inspiration to visit Europe with her husband before they settle down and have kids.

I. Love. Being. This. Person. My daydreaming, travelling desires, as well as outspoken talkative personality has helped inspired these girls to do what they love and to colour outside of the lines. I have yet to take any of the trips I plan in my head, but I have sent these two on trips that they will remember for the rest of there lives.

I apologise that this post if all over the place but if you take anything from this post, I hope that it is to:

1- Do what you love to do.

2- Do what makes you happy.

3- Don't let society conform you to the world.

4- Take a sporadic trip, it won't kill you.

5- Lizzie likes to rant.

Please please please, tell me what you think. I want to hear all of your beautiful unique opinions. Xoxo

Mini M.A.C haul/review!

A few days ago, my roommate Paris and I did a mini Mac haul at Nordstroms and we came back with some amazing products! I'm awful I know, but it was my first time at the makeup counter (I usually buy online) and it was a really fun and unique experience... I highly recommend it. 

So originally I had gone in for a good eyebrow pencil but at the end of the day I left with no eyebrow pencil at all, but lipstick and foundation instead. 

MAC Up The Amp Lipstick 

I am not a very bold person, I tend to want to blend in and be more natural, so when the artist pulled this out for me I was hesitant. Bright pink lipstick would never be my thing. Or would it? 

Long story short, I tried it on and instantly fell in love! This shade is AMAZING. I have dark brown hair (yes I dyed it again) and pale skin and the lip color just added so much. I definitely would not hesitate to buy this product again. It applies nicely and lasts all day long. 

MAC Studio Tech Foundation 

I am a picky person when it comes to foundation. Before I purchase any type of foundation I will look up reviews weeks ahead of time and compare because a good foundation is really hard to come across, at least that works good with my skin. 

However, I took a leap of faith with this foundation because Paris could possibly be an expert in the area of makeup and she recommended I give it a try because it is her favorite. The Studio Tech Foundation covers up uneven skin tone and leaves a flawless, airbrushed look. Seriously. That's what nearly every foundation brand guarantees but this one really does do the trick. I highly recommend this foundation if you want a wonderful airbrushed look. 

What are your favorite makeup products? Tell me in the comments below! (: 

19 facts for my 19th birthday!

It is approximately 10:58pm as I write this. That means my birthday is in an hour and two minutes! It is absolutely mind blowing to think that I am turning nineteen years old! Ahh! I feel like such an old lady! 

In honor of my nineteenth birthday, I thought I would do nineteen facts about myself (: 

1- I am 5'5.5 ( the shortest in my family. My Dad is 6'7 and my Mom was 5'8.) 

2- I prefer cold pizza over hot... Any day!

3- Writing is one of my many passions, I sit and write stories, songs, and dialogue during my free time along with my roommates who also have share the love. 

4- I am obsessed with the composition and format (can't think of the actual word for it) of music. When watching movies or listening to music in the car, I will start to dictate the music in my head. 

5- My very secret guilty pleasure is I am actually quite addicted to One Direction. shhhh I only play it in the car when I'm by myself with the windows rolled up. Dead serious. 

6- I have been to 47 states, 23 of them were before I was even 3 years old. I literally grew up on the road. 

7- I wasn't super studious throughout high school, but hey! I'm getting better and I graduated with a 3.5!

8- I have the cutest and sweetest boyfriend on the planet.

9- Sushi sushi sushi. I could eat it for every meal. Sushi runs are a must at least once a week. 

10- Surfing is one of my favorite things to do even though I don't live very close to the beach. 

11- I love hearing stories. I ask my coworkers at Starbucks to tell me stories over the headsets when it's slow and I'm bored. 

12- I hate cake. Especially with frosting. Weird right? 

13- I have an anchor tattoo on my foot in memory of my mother and I love the bible verse Hebrews 6:19. 

14- I have a dimple on my chin and a freckle to the side of it. 

15- I am always cold! I'm that person who wears a sweater in 100 degree weather.

16- I am a barista at Starbucks and have been for a year but this is my last month. Bitter sweet. 

17- I have a light-up Disney princess backpack that I take with me on all my flights. 

18- I used to play guitar and sing at restaurants and coffee shops in St. George and Las Vegas. 

19- I just want to blog for a living. Ha 

What's a random fact about you? Tell me in the comments below! Xoxo 

The lovely and talented McKail Seely!

Hello lovelies! This weekend I had the opportunity to interview my good friend and incredibly talented musician McKail Seely! McKail has been an experienced musician from a young age and has been living in Los Angeles, California recording and playing shows to pursue her gift even more! Below are her answers to the interesting questions I posed for her, as well as links to connect with her over all over social media. Thanks for the interview Lovely! Check out her amazing Youtube Channel Here: http://youtube.com/mckailseely1

What is your number one favorite thing about being in the music industry and playing shows?

My favorite thing would probably be the freedom that I have. Being an artist in the music industry is challenging at times but, I'm glad that I don't have set hours. I can be my own boss. As far as performing goes, my favorite thing is moving people through my music and storytelling. 

What is your least favorite?

My least favorite thing about the music industry is "the game" that many people say you have to play in order to have "success". My least favorite thing about performing is promoting the shows. 

Who inspired you to get into songwriting and music all together? 

Too many people have inspired me but, I guess I was the one that chose music all together. 

When was it that you decided you wanted to pursue music whole heartedly?

It was after a music camp in Los Angeles that I attended at age 14 that I decided music will be my path. 

If you weren't a musician, what career would you want instead?

To be truthful, I haven't thought about this much. I guess I would have to say...I would pursue being a full-time booking agent/event organizer and have my own agency. 

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

I see my self being a well-developed artist on tour throughout the world and having a successful non-profit organization.

Who is on your playlist right now?

Linda Ronstadt, The Neighbourhood, and Jason Mraz

What other musicians (if any) do you look up to?

I mostly look up to Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, and Jack Johnson. They have all done a lot of good for the world. 

What is the best advice you've ever received? 

The best advice anyone has ever given to me is to keep a positive mindset throughout my musical journey and musical practices and to understand that it's the journey that matters most, not the outcome.

Do you have any future plans for your music? Such as a new CD release, shows...etc?

I am currently working with a producer to release a new CD in 2015. Also, I'm going to be posting a new YouTube video every other week starting in September and my next show is Aug 23rd at The State Social House in West Hollywood where I'll be opening for an incredible band named, Bonavox! 

Check out: http://mckailseely.com

Follow:  http://twitter.com/mckailseely

Like: http://facebook.com/mckailseelyfanpage

Subscribe: http://youtube.com/mckailseely1

Comment below and tell me what you think! Who are your favorite musicians? xoxo

Where in the world am I?

Today after getting off work, I went on a very unnecessary adventure, one that I didn't plan on going on or doing but here's what happened. I. Never. Work. On. Sundays. So of course my brain naturally was like "oh you worked today Lizzie it's not Sunday", so I went in search of a bank to pay my car payment. That being said, I drove around downtown for quite a while, found the bank, went up to the door, and turned right back around when my brain was finally like "it's a Sunday ya fool". 

Anyways, I drove around and decided that I live in a really pretty city. I have always disliked where I live because The majority of my life, Ive lived in the same city. I'm sick of the same roads, same people, same scenery, like get me out of here stat! But today it wasn't awful, besides wasting gas, I got a nice view of my surrounding area! I'm going to post a couple pictures and you guys can guess where in the world I am! Here's a few hints... 

1- I live in the heart of a major city. 

2- High School Musical one and two were both filmed literally right up the street from my house. 

3- We are famous here for having "the greatest snow on earth."

Comment below and tell me where you're from! (: 

Liebster Award!!!

The Liebster Award

I am beyond thrilled to have been nominated for the Liebster Award for the first time! Thank you so much Helena from http://uniqueniceoriginal.blogspot.com/. 

• RULES •

1. Post eleven facts about yourself. 
2. Answer the eleven questions provided by the person who nominated you and then create an eleven-question set for the next group of nominees. 
3. Choose eleven people to nominate and link them in the post. 
4. Let your nominees know they've been tagged - and no tag-backs
5. Nominate blogs under 200 followers.

• 11 FACTS ABOUT ME •

1- I have two roommates, Conner and Paris and I love them both to death! 

2- I have been to every state in the United States except Maine, Alaska, and Hawaii. 

3- My favorite snack is frozen raw cookie dough. 

4- My car is a 2002 Subaru Forester. 

5- I have a small tattoo of an anchor on my right ankle. 

6- My birthday is in 8 days! I'm going to be 19 years young! 

7- I feel like a complete workaholic. 

8- Frozen is my favorite movie. (cliche I know)

9- Surfing is one of my favorite things to do. 

10- I played lacrosse in high school and was a defender. 

11- I have two brothers and a sister.

• Helena's questions for me •

1. What is the most embarasing thing you have ever done?

I shake off embarrassing moments pretty easily so it's hard for me to think of something. Though a few times I've sent texts talking about someone, to the person the conversation was about... and that was extremely embarrassing! 

2. You prefer sunrise or sunsets?

Do I really have to pick one? That's so hard! I love them both! 

3. What are you afraid of?

I really really really do not like flying in airplanes and I do it so often too! It's terrible. I don't know how I'm going to survive my upcoming flight to London.

4. What is your favourite song?

Right now I've been obsessing over Chandelier by Sia. It is such an incredible song! Either that or Waving Flag by K'Naan. 

5. If you could have any animal what would it be?

I would really like to have a friendly alligator. It that even possible?

6. Are you hungry?

Not at the moment, I just had a really good sandwich. 

7. What word could describe your life?

INSANE

8. What is your favourite part of your clothes?

I love my clothes because I love nice brands (I know, it's kinda snobby) but I do. I find a lot of discounted places that sell nice clothes and so I get lots of good deals!

9. How tall are you?

I am 5'5.5. The shortest one in my family.

10. What is your favourite country and why? 

Well I do enjoy living in the United States so probably the US. I've never lived in another country before so who knows? When I go to England I might just change my favorite.

11. If you could back to any moment from your past what would it be?

Probably just my childhood so I could enjoy it more and take advantage of the time I could be carefree. 

                                             • My questions •

1- What is your favorite brand of clothing?

2- How old are you?

3- Winter, Summer, Spring, or Fall?

4- Why did you start blogging?

5- What is your favorite movie to watch?

6- Do you have any siblings? 

7- If you could go back in time to any event, what would it be? 

8- If you could meet any famous person you wanted, who would it be?

9- Do you live by the ocean?

10- Do you play any instruments?

11- What accomplishment are you most proud of?

• I NOMINATE THESE BLOGS• 

*I'm not sure who has been nominated before but here goes...

letsdochocolate.blogspot.com

stoerensexy.blogspot.be

stylesunrise.blogspot.co.uk

febgirl.co.uk

amourpixie.blogspot.com

journal-of-style.blogspot.com

strawberryess.blogspot.com

agirlnamednydia.com

trend-mae.blogspot.com

crunchycheeseme.blogspot.com

casuallystyled.com

Cheapskate haul!

Today my roommate Paris and I decided to trade in some of our old clothes for cute new outfits at Uptown Cheapskate. Uptown Cheapskate is probably my favorite place to shop because 1) it is all used designer clothing for ridiculously cheap prices, and 2) They buy your old clothes and either give you cash, or in-store credit, and if you choose in-store credit then they give you 25% more than they would of have you picked cash. So that's what we did and we both came back with some super cute things! 

This glitter sweater top from Ann Taylor: Loft was 7.99$ 

This cute animal print top (it didn't have a tag for the brand) was only 7.99$ too! 

When I found these darling Tiger leggings I completely jumped on them! Especially because they were only 6.99$ from Shosho. 

Leggings are probably one of my favorite items to buy, so when I saw these adorable galaxy leggings for only 6.99$ as well, I had to grab them! 

I (Heart) CocoPPa!

Coco puffs? no. CocoPPa.

CocoPPa is thee. coolest. app. ever. Basically, it turns all your boring unoriginal app icons into cute and  fun icons. If you are bored of your phone looking exactly the same as everyone else, then CocoPPa is the app for you!

Downloading: I believe the app is available in the app store as well as the Google Play store, however, I've only used CocoPPa on the iPhone 4, 4s, and 5s so I'm not completely sure it will work on android. But anyways, the app is easy to find and is pink with a heart and a C in the middle of the heart.

Using: To browse through all the different app icons, go to the right hand corner magnifying glass and search and in "Keywords", type in the name of the app you are searching for. (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat i.e) From there, hit search and scroll through the endless cute app icons available.

Once you've found the one you want to use for, say Facebook, click on it and hit download. Hit the corresponding Facebook icon once it pops up, and then click "ok".

Here's where people get lost. So on the exact webpage that you are on at the moment (after clicking "Ok") hit the button on the bottom of your screen with the box and the arrow pointing up. Once you've clicked on that, hit the "add to homescreen" button and there ya go! It should appear on your homescreen!

FYI: Do NOT delete the original app icon, it will not work if you do. (It's a little annoying but I just put all the original app icons into a separate box so they are kinda hidden and use the cute icons)

Also, notifications will not appear above the CocoPPa icons, just the original ones, and the CocoPPa icons just redirect you through the original icon.

Yes, that's a tad annoying but I still think it's worth it because it makes your phone look unique and cute. Everyone that I've shown this app to (nearly every person that looks at my phone) has LOVED it and wasn't bothered enough by it's flaws to not use it. (I mean worse case scenario you just use the CocoPPa icons for show and use the original ones for browsing if it's that irritating.) Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this app as much as I have. Below is a picture of my screen using the CocoPPa apps. There are tons to choose from, those are just the ones I picked. xoxo

Makeup for glasses.

I wear both glasses and makeup in my everyday life and I assume that quite a few other people to do. Wearing a bunch of eye makeup and glasses together can be a tricky task though, as sometimes it can make your eyes look very tiny. Here is the way that I do my makeup to hopefully make my eyes pop more and look bigger. 

1- Moisturizer. I use Vaseline Intense Care, Aloe Soothe. It is great stuff and very light. 

2- Foundation. Revlon 24 Hours Colorstay. Natural beige 220 is the product that has fit my price needs and my makeup needs. 

3- Concealer. I love the Bare Minerals, light 1. I have pretty pale skin and that is the color that blends in the best. 

4- Powder. For the powder on top, I use the Bare Minerals light powder. Bare Minerals has yet to disappoint me with their products. 

5- Eye Liner. I line the upper lash line and the lower lash line (lightly) with L'Oreal espresso line gel. I've used a lot of is different types of eye liner but there is nothing quite like the gel. It works so much better than the pencil or liquid liner. 

6- Eyeshadow. Most of the time I go without eyeshadow but if I want to get all fancy then I use just a simple brown Revlon Colorstay eyeshadow in the outer corners of my eyes and lightly underneath my eyes to soften the liner. 

7- Mascara. My favorite part! So far my two favorites for mascara have been Bare Essentials Big Tease and L'Oreal Voluminous Original. Both of those work wonders! 

8- Eyebrows. I love fixing my eyebrows up a little and the best product I use for that is the European Wax Center Milan Eyebrow Blend. It looks natural and just adds a fuller look to thinned out brows. 

9- Bronzer. Last but not least, the best makeup trick of all. Bronzer is great because it takes so little to do so much and even the cheaper bronzers work great. I just use New York Color Sun n' Bronze. Super cheap at Target and is amazing. 

Five online stores that you'll wish you'd found sooner.

I have an addiction. Online shopping. It wouldn't be such a problem if I actually had money to spend shopping online, but I don't. Therefore, it is a problemo.

However, there are online stores where you can buy nice clothes for decent prices, so when you do have the urge to get your credit card out, it won't completely break the bank. (I mean if it's a continuous problem then you will "go broke saving money", which is about where I am right now. But it's not impossible to be a smart online shopper... unless you work at Starbucks like me... anyways...)

Swell

Swell has recently become one of my favorite online stores. I used to surf a lot and live closer to the West Coast and as of late, those memories have only been taunting me with a big massive city and no ocean for miles. So, as a result, I've been stuck on my old "surf fashion" and this store is a HUGE help.
Not only do they have ridiculously great sales almost every single day, but it is all nice brands like Ripcurl, Roxy, Sanuk, Dakine, Oakley, Hurley, Ugg, and RVCA. If dressing like a surfer is something you fantasize about, then Swell is the place for you.


Nasty Gal

Nasty Gal is a great place to shop if you want a more diverse arrangement of brands and clothing styles.  Honestly, a good portion of their stuff I wouldn't even look twice at, but the stuff that I do find and like from Nasty Gal, I don't just "like". I LOVE. They don't sell as many brands but some of my favorite from the site are, One Teaspoon, Vans, Converse, Motel, and Cheap Monday.

ASOS

This. Is. The. Place. ASOS is seriously incredible. Not only do they ship free to the US, (They are UK based), but they have very reasonable pricing. You can purchase nearly any sort of garment you want from ASOS and they have a broad range of styles, prices, brands, and pretty much everything. Brands include (but are certainly not limited to) Gucci, Lacoste, Dolce & Gabbana, Junkfood, and Quiksilver.

Rent The Runway

Every girl's dream in one website. When I found this website, I went nuts. It isn't exactly online shopping, more like online renting, but if you have prom coming up or a wedding or some event that you want to look fancy for, then this is where you should look. You can rent designer dresses for cheap. Seriously. I saw the labels and started fangirling because I'm a poor barista who is obsessed with fashion and nice clothes. The next big event I have, I will use this website because the Vera Wang dress that Mischa Barton was just wearing, you can rent for 40$. Vera Wang isn't even close to the only brand either. Versace, Oscar De La Renta, Kate Spade, D&G, and DKNY are there too, just to name a few more.

Choies

Choies is a great place to go if you are looking for that very unique but somehow extremely fashionable french-fry sweatshirt, or something flashy and iconic. Their sweatshirts are my favorites, they are so interesting and stylish. Not items you see everyday and not to mention, super affordable, and even better, FREE shipping to the US!

I hope you liked my list of online stores! Comment below and let me know some of your favorites! xoxo

August Fashion Favorites

I am absolutely in love with fashion, there isn't a whole lot that I love more than putting together outfits and catalogs. So while I was cleaning out my closet this morning I decided to share some of my summer favorites! Xoxo 

1- Turquoise Sweetheart- neckline sheer tank. Mine. 17$ Nordstrom Rack 

2- Pink Off-the-shoulder cutout shirt. Free People. 40$ Nordstrom Rack 

3- White Roxy Surf Hat. Roxy. 7$ TJ-Maxx 

4- Pink and cream embroidered cut-off tank. Chloe K. 15$ Nordstrom Rack 

5- Pink and purple striped light dress. Everly. 10$ Uptown Cheapskate 

Going... Going... Blonde! (Review John Frieda, Sun In, & Quick Blue)

Recently I took a gigantic leap of faith and dyed my brown to blonde ombre-d hair, a beachy blonde. It was something I'd wanted to do for a while now because I have such a hard time sticking to one solid color. I love change and certainly welcome it, as long as it's not platinum blonde or purple. (Some people can pull it off, but it's just not for me) anyways, I thought that while I did my experiment I would document the results in case anyone else was wanting to take the same leap of faith.

First off, I started slowly because I was terrified of negative consequences. So instead of going straight blonde, I began using Sun In: Hair Lightener. It smells amazing and brings out subtle blonde streaks. It's perfect if you don't want to go completely blonde, and it's gentle on your hair. I didn't see any extra damage (extra, because my hair is already slightly damaged after the ombré) during or after any use and I played around with it numerous times, not to mention, a bottle is quite cheap. 3-5$. 

However, once I'd used quite a bit and didn't get the desired dramatic blonde results... I began to search a bit harder.

Next I came across John Frieda Sheer Blonde Lightening Spray. This product was a bit more what I was looking for. After the first use, my hair was noticeably blonder. It does however, give a warning not to use on natural brown hair or darker shades of hair, as well as platinum blonde hair. As for myself, I have never been a natural born rule follower and I felt the urge to pursue it even though my roots are natural darker brown. To be honest, I saw no harm in using it afterwards and I have used it numerous times since and my hair hasn't suffered. Also, I will tell you, the lightening doesn't stop the first day. My hair continued to change colors over the couple days after use, so don't give up the first day. Also, this isn't super expensive either. 8-12$ 

After using both of the products quite a bit, I realized that I wanted to go even lighter, maybe even have a few nearly platinum highlights... And so that's what I did. I went to Sally's Beauty Supplies and told the lady about my predicament and she recommended using Loreal Quick Blue. And I know what you're thinking... I told her I wanted to go blonde not navy, but she responded saying the blue is the base color so it doesn't turn orange, it stays colder instead of warmer because a yellow base would turn it orange. (I don't know if that makes sense to you guys, I don't explain things very well) but I agreed to give it a try and I did! 

The first time I used it my hair was dry and I just wrapped the coated strands in the special foil and waited about half an hour.... Zip. Nada. Zero. Nothing. I washed it out and I was disappointed that my hair looked exactly the same. Then, a few days later, I tried the same process but with my hair wet. (It specifically says NOT to do that but I was getting desperate. Another leap of faith) and that was when I say a DRASTIC difference. I left it for the same amount of time but I actually had results following, and they were what I had in mind. Another good thing is that this product isn't very expensive either. With the packet and the primer (I cannot think of the word for the life of me) it's about 10$. 

I realize that if there was a place such as Hair Hell, I would be going there for the torture I put my locks through, but I must say, my hair was a champ. I wouldn't recommend doing it on a regular basis but once in a grand while it may not be as awful as you've heard. My hair is a bit more dry but I've been using good conditioners and coconut oil on it and it has helped immensely. It's all about how desperate you are to dye your hair. 

*results may vary, use at your own risk.

Before 

After 

The power PB&J

You're probably wondering how I can make a PB&J without bread, but the answer is simple: The Ezekial tortilla's are made only from grains and beans so there is no flour used in the process... I mean maybe it's cheating a little, but it's worth it if you have a craving for the classic sandwich.

Here is my favorite twist on the typical PB&J.

Summer lookbook part II

Shirt: 30$, BATOKO.COM. Shorts: 17$, POPCOUTURE.CO.UK. Shoes: 135$, FORZIERI.COM. Bag: 7.97$, Tilly's. Belt: 11$, ACCESSORIZE.COM. 

Closing the gap.

Unfortunately the summer as we know it is beginning to come to a close and the dreadful school year is beginning to creep up on us... The feeling is familiar to most people, suddenly the ads on television are back-to-school oriented (we hate you), paperwork is getting filled out, and you are signing up for classes once again. Yikes! I'm even upset to admit, the topic of this post came to me while I was sitting in my school office waiting for them to print out my student I.D card and parking pass. Bleh. I'm sorry.

However, it does get better. This is a list of fabulous last minute hurrahs before we get too overwhelmed with all of the back-to-school nonsense. Number one...

- Glowstick night hike. Yes please. I've coordinated these a few times and they have NEVER disappointed me. There is nothing quite like trekking through nature in neon. It's quite fulfilling. Just be careful.

Expert Tip: Go with a big group. The more the merrier.

- Camping trip! It doesn't matter if it's a location ten hours away or in your backyard, it is always a good time camping with a bunch of friends.

- Beach bonfire. Okay, to be honest, I've never coordinated one or even been to one but I highly doubt it could be awful.

- Zoo adventure. The zoo is a great place to go to get some exercise and to get a little more education. I dare you to try and sneak into one of the animal cages...

- Midnight bowling. Most bowling alleys have cosmic bowling where all the pins and bowling balls glow in the dark. Not only is it a bit more challenging but it also makes a simple activity, a little more interesting.

- Amusement park trip. My roommates and I just put in our time at Lagoon Amusement Park and it was a fabulous adventure. I dare you all to go on at least one ride that you have never gone on (if any).

- Pennyboard/skateboard/longboard through the mall. A couple years back we got a big group to see who could make it to the opposite end of the mall while riding any of the above choices... I'll be honest, I chickened out about 1/16th of the length, though I wasn't one of the many who got banished. Ha 😉

Expert tip: Go with a big group, security can't tackle fifteen people at once... Hmm? Hmm?

- Sporadic road trip. These most often seem to be more fun than the strategically planned ones. Let the wind take you!

- Play on the playground. This really truly might be one of my favorite things to do, ask any of my friends. Anyways, lots of new parks open up and it seems like playgrounds just keep getting bigger and better!

Expert tip: Newer elementary schools is where it's at!

- Do something that YOU want to do. Do something for yourself, take the dance class you've been wanting to (even if it's just once), or buy a sporadic plane ticket to that country you've been dying to visit. Cross at least one thing off your bucket list.

I'm sure you all are a lot more creative than myself but these are just the ones that I could come up with from my experiences. I hope you all are having the best summer yet. Good luck. Xoxo

Summer lookbook part I

Much to my amusement, I recently stumbled upon my old Polyvore account. For those of you who don't know what that is... Polyvore is basically my favorite waste of time (though, the time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time 😉). Fashion has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I believe I am the only person who took Fashion Merchandising twice in the same school year. Ha. Anyways, Polyvore is a website where you can go and create outfits called "Sets" and make an online collage. (Check it out!) I have a ton of "sets" that are just sitting there on my old page, rotting away, so I decided to post my favorites on my blog. I know I've already posted twice today but I just love it so much! Bear with me.

The outfit I'm posting now is one that I can be caught wearing quite frequently in the summertime! Though I don't own those exact items, it's the style that I go for.

Sweater: 455$, THEOUTNET.COM. Romper: 27$, Quiksilver. Shoes: Toms, 58$, TOMS.COM. Necklaces: 50$, 1928.COM 

The perfect and healthy dessert smoothie!

I hate having a sweet tooth because there really aren't a bunch of options in the world that are healthy and still do the trick. This smoothie however, is my secret, and it does wonders for your sweet tooth while not completely ruining your diet or meal regimen.

- 1 banana (I use 2 because I love them in smoothies)

- 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder

- 1 teaspoon of honey

- 2 tablespoons of organic creamy peanut butter (it's my favorite)

- 1 cup of nonfat/soy milk

- 1/2 cup of raw oatmeal

- 1 cup of ice

- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil

- 1/2 cup of almonds (optional)

Enjoy. Xoxo

The finest consigner

Who doesn't love Gucci, Chanel, Louis V, or Prada? But the better question is, who can afford them? NOT ME! While Starbucks is a decent job, it does not pay for the luxurious life I sometimes dream of having... However, that's when consignment stores come in handy.

Con•sign•ment

/noun/

1. a store that sells secondhand items (typically clothing and accessories) on behalf of the original owner, who receives a percentage of the selling price

Source- www.google.com

English: you take your nice clothes/accessories in, they give you money for them and sell the items at a discount.

I'm not completely sure where all my blog traffic is coming from (country-wise) but I know it varies. For west coast USA, here is a short list of some of my favorite places to shop, where the once hefty price tag, is no longer.

- The Finer Consigner

- Name Droppers

- Uptown Cheapskate

- Plato's Closet

- Cassandra's Closet

- Coyote Exchange

Those are just some of my favorite around where I live, but consignment stores exist all over the world.

Below are some of my favorite (authentic purchases) in the bag/wallet department.

Stay crafty my friends

If you haven't already noticed from other posts, I love being crafty and unique.

Personally, my favorite room in my house is my own bedroom and that is because I've invested time to make it a space that I love! I've gotten a couple emails (thank you so much! I'm glad my blog is getting viewed!) wanting more posts for girly bedroom ideas and so I decided to share with you some of my own! Enjoy! Xoxo

1- I had too much fun making the kiss board. All I did was put on lipstick and practice my kissing. Simple and cute!

2- The poster was actually my uni communications project and it turned out better than expected. Plus, It scored an A!

3- Another school project with happy results. I made this in high school for my fashion class and I use it to store important papers! It was easy to make and super cheap using packing tape as a laminent and random magazines for a collage on construction paper.

4- My mirror is probably one of my favorite objects in my room. I'm not sure where I picked it up from but it is about seven feet tall, four feet wide, beveled, and vintage. Doesn't get a whole lot better than that.... Besides the Christmas lights! There is nothing more relaxing than coming home and just having that gentle lighting! They are perfect and add so much to my bedroom!

Healthy Eats

Eating healthy is a chore/hobby of mine and even though I know the benefits are worth it... It still can be difficult to find and prepare meals. For the last two months I've cut out bread and soda from my diet, along with minimal sugars and it has definitely been a struggle. So hopefully I can help you guys out if eating healthier is something you want to pursue. Here is a small list of what I've been eating for meals, in hopes to give you all some ideas!

Breakfast:

- organic vanilla bean yogurt with coconut chips and a slice of pineapple.

- organic sugar free applesauce with Evolution Juice's Super Greens.

- breakfast smoothie: 1 banana, 1 cup of Trader Joe's Power to the greens, 1 cup of pineapple juice, tablespoon of coconut oil, and sometimes I throw in a few carrots for good measure. 😁

Lunch:

- Sandwich salad: lunch meat, pepper jack cheese (or whichever you like the best) and a handful of Trader Joe's Power to the greens.

- Sauteed portobello mushrooms with melted cheese on top.

- Spaghetti O's... Not healthy but come on.

Dinner:

- tuna fish, celery, mayo, and onion powder on cucumbers. (Sub for bread)

- mozzarella cheese, pesto, and kale on sliced tomatoes.

- chili on a baked potato.

Bread alternatives:

- Cucumber slices

- Tomato slices

- red pepper slices

- spinach tortilla

- lettuce leaves

- portobello mushroom slices

Benefits:

Since I've gone without bread and soda I have had so much for energy! I don't feel sluggish or drowsy and my energy level is consistent until bedtime! Not to mention, the benefits over time are endless.

Warnings:

Whenever I go out to eat, I usually get people questioning why I don't eat bread and most of the time they think I'm trying to lose weight, which is followed by "but you are already thin you don't need to give up bread!" But that is not the case, I'm not trying to lose weight, just be healthier. So be prepared to get asked and when you do, use it as an opportunity to spread the word about clean eating! 😊

Here is a picture of my sandwich salad from today. It was superb.

Candles candles candles.

At our house we have a major obsession with candles and all good-smelling things. It helps completely that our roommate works at Bath And Body Works and supplies our casa with everything we need!

So far our favorite combination for our house, which is known as the Surf Hut, is Bath And Body Work's Tiki Beach and Island Waters candles! They are amazing and we burn them all the time. 👌🌴🌊

ThE mAkInG aNd ThE mOrNiNg

I have a fabulous obsession with D.I.Y's, especially if they make my room look better and interesting. So coming across something similar to this gave me a splendid idea, and Bam! Another one of my loner activities.

Step Uno- find a quote, one you preferably like and want others to see... (Self explanatory)

Step Dos- find a magazine, maybe not your mothers gardening magazines though I know it's tempting. (I used an ancient Victoria's Secret catalog)

Step Tres- have at it! Cut the letters of the quote you want and have fun doing it!

~ my quote is Mumford And Sons lyrics and carries a lot of inspiration for me because when I am out of luck, I have to give it to Jesus. ➕

Also, my placement is right above my bedframe. I'll add another picture for an idea.