Trender Bender - My Favorite Trends

The longer I attend school at CU, the more I realize just how fashionable Boulder truly is. People from all over the country come to Boulder in pursuit of a first-class college education, and with them come a wide variety of fashion influences. Kids from the coasts and big time cities tend to set the trends around campus; however, Boulder natives stand their ground as their hometown offers an a number of stylish boutiques and upscale chains. Sprinkle in the kids between the coasts that know a thing or two about fashion and you have one ecclectic and fashion forward campus! HOWEVER, being a poor college student makes it a bit more difficult to stay on top of the newest trends and styles that seem to be constantly changing.

All that being said, with a new semester of school fast approaching, I've been on the look out for some trendy, yet inexpensive pieces to spice up the ol' wardrobe. I enjoy trying new styles and putting forth my best effort to keep up with all of the fun and often times quirky new trends. Today, I turned to Forever21 in search of some fun examples of the trends I will hopefully be getting a chance to try out this semester.



1. BUTTON-DOWN BLOUSES. I adore this look! These blouses always look clean and classy. There are a number of different variations of this look: solid color, pattern, high low, cropped, tie front, etc.! Different styles allows for more opportunities to flaunt this look.

2. EMBELLISHED COLLARS. Collars of all styles are making quite the comeback! From traditional tailored collars to youthful peter pan collars, collars are everywhere! COLLARS! When bringing things back into style designers generally alter some part of the garment to make it fresh and exciting! In this case, collars are being embellished for a quirky and unique style to make your own!

3. BLACK & WHITE. The contrast between black and white has never been more exciting! This trend seems to slip in and out of style quite frequently, and this spring it's most definitely in! If you are bored of the contrasting color block look, try a piece with a black and white pattern.

A New Year Calls for New Goals

Humanity has done it! Through all of the ups and downs of the past 365 days, we have officially made it to the year 2013. As we all know, a new year gives everyone the opportunity for a fresh start. That being said, it's time to get to work on drafting up the latest list of resolutions. I'm hoping that my top 10 resolutions will not only guide me in making the right decisions this year, but also help me to make this the best year yet! Bring it on, 2013!

ONE: Learn to focus more on the positive side of things and less on the negative.

TWO: Eat healthier; it's as simple as that. Less snacks, fast food, and desserts!

THREE: Take advantage of the fact that I live with a personal trainer. I need to work on listening to my brother's exercise advice.

FOUR: Work on becoming a better Christian.

FIVE: Learn to recognize and be thankful for everything I have rather than fixate on the things I think I want.

SIX: Try to save more money!

SEVEN: Cook more meals at home and go out to eat less. This should help me achieve number six!

EIGHT: Work on keeping in contact with the people that I love.

NINE: Blog more often, as writing and reviewing are pretty much the essence of my major.

TEN: Embrace the "forgive and forget" mantra - no more holding grudges.

A Little Reflection

After seeing a friends facebook status made in reflection on the past year, I thought it would be interesting to do a similar post on my blog! This last year has been a whirlwind of change; successes as well as failures, happiness along with the briefest of sadness, and times of excitement along with periods of calmness. Although some events were welcomed and much needed, others took me by surprise, for better or worse. The following is a compilation of what happened to me throughout 2012. I sincerely challenge you to think about the past 365 days...as even the smallest of miracles or mishaps can change your life in ways you may never have thought possible.

x. I was officially accepted as a transfer student from Metropolitan State University of Denver to Univeristy of Colorado at Boulder.

x. With a great deal of nerves, I began my first semester as a CU Buff in the spring of 2012.

x. I have made absoultely wonderful friends from all over the country. Friends that will soon become roommates!

x. I have lost touch with a number of close friends.

x. I was accepted to the Journalism Program at CU - a dream of mine since I was a junior in high school.

x. I have been given the opportunity to host several of my friends out here in Denver and have been able to show them around the place I now call home.

x. I witnessed my first true double rainbow...all the way across the sky!

x. I have been blessed to have made several trips back home to enjoy the land of 10,000 lakes.

x. I have lost one of the most beautiful and loving kittens.

x. I stood outside in torrential down pour and wind to see a less than stellar performance by Smashmouth, and had a great time with some amazing friends.

x. Spent several weeks boating, tubing, waterskiing, and playing sand volleyball with great friends and family in Minnesota and Wyoming.

x. Endured several trials and tribualations of heartache with people very close to my heart.

x. Took several road trips across Minnesota with my best friends.

x. Welcomed a new baby cousin into this world.

x. I voted in my first presidential election.

x. I've missed a great deal in the lives of my closest friends back home.

x. And most of all, I've learned that things don't always go as planned, but everything truly does happen for a reason. Patience is a virtue.

"Clothes are your uniform for the battle of life" - Karl Lagerfeld

Hey all! I just recently got my hands on the newest issue of Glamour, and as always, I'm head over heels about every last thing they've decided to share with us little people of the world! This issue is the "Fashion Edition" which, in my mind, incresases the excitement factor for all women and men (?) that care to indulge in the fashion tips and advice provided by the best professionals in the business. Speaking of the best professionals in the business...another reason this issue ups the ante? Their guest editor for this September issue is Victoria Beckham! You know, the ultra posh (get it?) fashion icon with one of today's most sought after clothing lines...she definitely knows her stuff. I hope my previous ranting and raving got you encouraged to go out and get a copy of your own. BUT if for some odd reason it did not, I'm going to share a few of my favorite fashions from this issue in an effort to get you as addicted to the mag as I am. :)
Every season, fashion trends change and adapt. In general, fashion is all about being new and fresh!However, some ideas and concepts within the fashion industry are recurring or repeated throughout time. So, a couple of your favorite pieces from a few years ago could very well have another 15 minutes of fame headed their way.  All that being said, I want to show you some of the brilliant and fun ideas and pieces I will totally try this fall -all thanks goes to the fashion experts at Glamour!

1. Baroque embellishments.
Throughout the magazine, I noticed a number of embellished and embroidered tops and dresses. "Baroque" style can be very diverse depending on designer, colors used, ect. All in all, SO CUTE!



 2. Pull Over Sweaters

Fall calls for comfortable and cozy pull over sweaters. You may have a couple of these stored away from a year or two ago!

3. Patterned or Printed Pants
I've been seeing these every where and I LOVE them. You've got to work the confidence factor in a pair of these!



Just a few of the ideas that I found myself going back to throughout the magazine. I've officially decided that my wardrobe needs a make over... There are a million different styles to try out this fall and I can't wait!

make-up must-haves

If you are at all like me, you tend to look like a lost puppy the minute you step up to the make up counter at Macys. You wander the aisles or display cases having no clue as to why you even decided to take your chances here in the first place. There are so many products, so many colors, so many choices!

Take foundation for instance. One would assume this has to be one of the easiest products to buy, as all you THINK you have to do is match your skin tone. However, there are many more things you need to take into consideration before you drop the big bucks and make a purchase. (Quality make up is NOT cheap these days...) For example: What is your skin type: dry or oily? Do you want liquid foundation or powder? If you want powder, do you want pressed or loose? Do you want an application brush? If so, do you need the liquid application brush or the powder application brush? What brand do you want? The same goes for mascara, eye shadow, eye liner, blush, EX CETERA. It may be one of the most overwhelming shopping experiences a woman will ever go through. So maybe I'm being a bit dramatic, but make up products have seriously not done well by me, so I have a right to hold a bit of a grudge.

Nonetheless, I've put together a post that lists my favorite products that I have been lucky enough to discover prior to spending hundreds on random beauty products just to realize I have bought the wrong shade...and I've already opened it so there is no chance of a return.

If there is one thing I've learned about make up, it's that quality matters. If you want make up that lasts an eight hour work day AND that doesn't make you look like you have eight pounds of make up on, then you have to be willing to pay the price. You cannot get by using the cheap purple N.Y.C. eye shadow you bought in the the seventh grade. Don't even try. My two most coveted make up brands are Clinique and Mary Kay. I like to think that each of these brands sits right in the middle of the road in regards to pricing; not as cheap as CoverGirl or Revlon, but also not as spendy as Estee Lauder or Lancome. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of quality products you can purchase from the less expensive brands, I just wouldn't make a habit of it. So, here are my favorites!

Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer 

I love tinted moisturizer in the summer because it is light and airy. You definitely don't feel as if you have a heavy layer of foundation plastered on your face. Another plus is that there aren't many shades to chose from, leading to LESS confusion as to which will look best with your skin tone. This particular moisturizer also has an SPF of 30 to protect your skin from harsh sun rays! 

Clinique Blush - 108 Cupid

I love Clinique blush! This is the same blush my grandma used to have and I loved using it, so I got my own! It stays on all day long without any issues! If you look a little sleepy, a small amount of bright blush will make you look a little more awake!

Clinique Eye Shadow - 101 Buttermilk & 84 Twiglet

Clinique eye shadow is awesome for a number of reasons. First, it is very soft and smooth. Second, it's light weight AND long-wearing. Plus, all of their shadows have been clinically tested for even the most sensitive eyes.

Almay Liquid Eyeliner - Black

I use liquid eyeliner because it's much easier to apply, leaves a cleaner line, and stays put through a long day. It looks like a really tiny bottle because it is, BUT it lasts and lasts. Almay is a pretty nice brand as well! Very user friendly :)

Clinique Lash Power Mascara - Black Onyx

I have never been able to find a mascara that stays on my lashes from morning until night. I don't rub my eyes or cry on a daily basis, so I didn't know why nothing would last. Then I came upon the long-wear formula from my beloved Clinique. It is the only mascara that I have EVER used that literally stays put for an entire day. Plus, it comes with a tiny little brush to get great extension and volume.

Mary Kay Lip Gloss

You just need the tiniest bit of this gloss for your lips! It definitely adds a little pop of bright color for a summer face!

Well, that's all I've got! It's not much but it's definitely a start! Each one of these products is awesome and I highly recommend them for anybody looking to try a little something new! ALSO, the ladies at the Clinique counter are usually incredibly helpful. So, if you go there looking as lost as myself, you'll be most likely be in very good hands. Oh, and if you have any advice you're dying to share about your make up must-haves, post a comment!

 

Summer TO DO!

Good afternoon blogosphere! I have officially finished my sophomore year of college at CU Boulder and with all this extra time on my hands I hope to channel my focus and energy into my blog! So, here it goes!

As most of my close family and friends know, I am an avid list maker. I LOVE lists. I also love being able to cross each item off with a sense of great accomplishment. I like to think of each list as a series of goals that can help and/or better me in any which way. I mean, without goals how are you supposed to have the necessary determination and drive to accomplish anything in life? Take that deep life lesson and run with it...

Okay seriously though, my post today is a list of "to dos" for this summer. I'd like to make this summer the best it can be; milk it for all it's worth. To do that, I tried to think of a few things that would not only make this a summer to remember, but also take a majority of my time off to complete rather than a few simple tasks that can be finished within a day or two. Here's a list of the top 5 things I hope to achieve for the summer of 2012!

1. Learn to cook - Maybe I'll buy my very first cookbook after wandering the foreign aisles of Williams Sonoma or Peppercorn. Or, say I'm feeling quite adventerous... I could take a cooking class?! The possibilities are endless. And since I'm starting from scratch there's so much to learn. It will most likely take me all summer to gather my patience and learn the very basics, but you've got to start somewhere!
2. Get in touch with my crafty side - This summer I plan to put Pinterest to the ultimate test. I continuely find adorable and creative ideas to pin to my "Things to do" board (that's another list entirely in itself). I hope to take the time to attempt a craft or two...or 20! Stay tuned! I'll definitely post my adventures throughout the summer!
3. Explore Colorado - I realize that this is a fairly vague concept. It could mean anything... and it does! There is so much to see and experience in Colorado! Festivals, art shows, concerts, farmers markets, sight seeing, national parks, museums, famed local restaurants, and the list goes on. I want to see it all, try it all, do it all! It's an entirely impossible idea, but it's worth a shot to at least discover what I'm missing, right?
4. Go on solo hikes - One of the best features of Colorado are the mountains. They are one of the most beautiful sights a person may ever experience, and being IN the mountains is a whole other story. The peace, serenity, and high of making it to the top are incredible feelings that just might allow me to accomplish this goal. It may be the toughest thing to get myself to do, but in the end it will be worth it!
5. Immerse myself in music - The music scene out here in Colorado is unlike anywhere else. The variety of genres, musicians, and venues is truly boundless. I've been told that one of the most unbelievable places to see a concert is at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. It's this amazing venue built into the giant red rocks of Morrison, CO. To make things even better and all the more enticing, the line up for this summer is pretty impressive!

This seems like a very short list to last me the entire summer, but when you think about it, each one of these aspirations encompass' a great deal of activity. I can hardly wait to get started and I hope you will keep checking back for updates as the summer continues! In the mean time, what are your plans for the summer?

getting closer!

The first day of spring has offically come and gone, and out here in Colorado it seems as if we are getting closer and closer to the lovely weather that accompanies such a beautiful season. So far, temperatures have reached the upper 70s with all kinds of warm sunshine. With this kind of weather, I can't help but get antsy to do all sorts of fun seasonal shopping!
Last post, I filled you in with the details of skin tone and complemntary colors in an effort to excite you about wardrobe updates! However, no wardrobe is complete without a killer pair of shades. I am currently in the market for some new sunglasses as the continued abuse to my trusty Fossil glasses has finally gotten the best of them. After much consideration, I hesitantly decided that it's time to invest in a pair of "big girl" sunglasses. Considering I usually tend to lose, ruin, or break sunglasses more often than not, this decision to invest is fairly significant. That being said, I did a bit of research on which glasses would best frame my face before dropping a load of cash on the first pair I set eyes on. Afterall, when purchasing a pair of $100 shades, you expect to look stylishly chic, right? Well, in an effort to keep myself and you all from looking foolishly passe, I've decided to share the valuable tips I've discovered when on the search for a new pair of trendy sunglasses.
While shopping around, one of the most important things to keep in mind is your face shape. Typically there are five major face shape categories:  round, heart, oval, square, and oblong. Each face shape is complemented most by specific frames of glasses.
ROUND: if you have a round face, like mine, you will notice there very few angles in your cheek bones and jaw lines. The lack of definitive angles allows for the width and length of your face to be measurably similar. Frames that best complement a full, round face, are glasses with hard angles such as square or rectangular frames. It would be in your best interest to avoid round or oval frames as they add a look of fullness to your face.
HEART: those of you with a heart shaped face generally have a wide forhead, high cheek bones, and a pointed chin resembeling an outline of a heart. Since the upper part of your face is broader than the lower, you want to look for shades that are wider at the bottom of the frame to balance out your proportions. Try to steer clear from smaller frames, as that will accentuate the width of the forehead and the narrowness of the jawline.
OVAL: the lucky ones with oval faces can wear just about any frame they please and look stellar while doing so. Oval faces are nearly perfectly proportioned. The only thing to keep in mind is to match the proportion of your face with the size of the frames.
SQUARE: individuals with a square face are characterized with a broad forehead and prominent features from the cheek bones to the jawlines. A tip to keep in mind when looking for glasses is to stick with round or oval frames that soften the pronounced angles on your face.
OBLONG: you have an oblong face when it is longer than it is wide. Look for particularily wider frames to balance width with your length. For example, shades with detail on the temple can give the illusion of a wider face.
Well, there you have it. I invite you to take advantage of this information so as to look knockout gorgeous this season. For more information on face shapes, ideas of specific glasses that would look great on you, or a quiz to find out what shape your face is, go to the site I used by clicking here!
Until next time, dare to be remarkable and rock your shades with confidence!