Be the Best You

Wow. Life comes at you fast and without mercy. As you grow up, you find that time is the most valuable currency in the world, and every moment counts. I've come to realize that you should dedicate your most valuable asset to the greatest passions in your life. This past year, I was extremely busy with and focused on work and school. I buried myself in my books, research and projects, and while I received excellent grades and recognition, I was feeling a void in my life. And then BOOM. It  struck me. While striving for success in one aspect of my life, I was almost completely ignoring the passions that excited me and sparked my creativity (aka trying to blog and draw!). Yes, it is important to have goals in terms of academics and a career, but I think it is even more important to cultivate your inner creativity and innovation through whatever activities and hobbies bring you joy. It is striking the balance between the two that I have struggled with for the past year, but no more! I think I started to become intimidated by the thought of blogging and putting my thoughts online for the world to see. Perhaps I was afraid that my words would fall short of eloquent, and my pictures lackluster. But then I realized such fears are completely misguided and irrelevant. I believe a blog is meant to be cathartic, a personal diary that just happens to be online. It's original purpose is not for it to please anyone else's eyes but its creator's. Blogging consistently is a goal of mine, even if nobody ends up reading my words or seeing my pictures, I enjoy doing it for me. 
With that thought, I applied this notion to my entire life. For far too long, I have worried about what other people think about my appearance, my personality, and my ideas; it's no surprise that I was miserable and anxious. I started to think, why? Why do I care so much about what other's are doing with their lives and what they think about me? Wanting others to like you is completely normal, but to live your life constantly thinking about how others perceive you is not. My new favorite saying is that "You are you, and you're the best you that there is!" Isn't that a wonderful thought? That there is absolutely no other you in the entire world? Every time I repeat that thought to myself, I feel amazed. It encourages me to live my life to the fullest and focus on my strengths and qualities I like about myself, rather than ruminating on things you wish you don't like or wish you could change.Thanks to social media, we are constantly bombarded with the details of others' lives, and it can be difficult to resist comparison and envy. And while you may feel like your life falls short based on what you see from others, you must remember that your life is no less valuable, regardless of how much money you make or how many pairs of shoes you have, whether or not you're stick skinny, have curves, or fall somewhere in between, or have perfect skin. These are simply the things that society has told us matter, and it leads us to misplace our attention and forget about what truly matters. Focus on making the most of what you have and what you've been given; you are in charge of your own happiness, and you can appreciate everything for what it is. Live in the present and love without abandon. Work hard and be kind to people. Do what makes you happy. And do it for you and no one else. I promise you it's easier than you think.

KCFW

Hey guys! Sorry I know it's been a long time since I last posted, I've just been super busy since school started and it was so hot out that dressing up was almost impossible!

Anyways, with the start of fall, I'm planning on being more consistent with posts because the perfect weather is prime time for great outfits.

On Friday, September 26th, I had the awesome chance to attend a meet and greet with Project Runway designers, as well as a fashion show in Kansas City!

Early Friday evening, me and my fellow Textile and Apparel Management Majors gathered at Elements inside the Kansas City Power and Light District to meet and take photos with six former Project Runway designers: Laura Kathleen, Joshua McKinley, Althea Harper, Anthony Ryan Auld, Carlos Casanova and Michael Drummond. Students enjoyed talking to the designers, eating food and drinks and also perusing vendors that were present at the event.

(My friends and I with the PR designers)

After the Meet and Greet, the ATAMers departed for the Kansas City Union station, the venue for Kansas City Fashion Week 2014.  The event featured designers from Kansas City as well as the midwestern region, to present their Spring/Summer 2015 collections. The students were decked out in their best, fashion forward ensembles for the show, and took advantage of the numerous photo ops, such as the red carpet.

(The venue! KC Union Station)

(Me on the left and my friend Caitlin on the right)

Attendees then took their seats, ready for the show to start at 7:30 p.m. The show was kicked off with a married designer duo, John and Christina Moncke, who labeled their line Architexture. Next was Nataliya Meyer for Lucia’s Sarto. Tomboy Design Studio by Laura McGraw, who was voted the Best of Kansas City, featured mod prints and colors, like retro polka dots in bright reds and yellows. 

Following a brief intermission, the show started back up with the impressive collection of Kate Walz, a 17-year-old designer from Nebraska. Her collection featured aesthetically impressive techniques in all her dresses; gathers, ruching, and appliques were all used effectively.  Next in the show was a collection called Little Shell Designs by Michelle Kleineweber; her pieces were in browns and yellows, and featured many risqué low necklines and cutouts.  The only resort wear collection in the show followed: Alicia Janesko Caftans and Resort Wear. Each model wearing her garments, which were caftans and cover-ups in sparkly, bright and textured fabrics, also wore a magnificent headpiece that was ocean themed—like golden coral that looked like pieces of art. She also had an electric violin player accompanying the models on the runway for the duration of the show. The last designer of the evening was Heidi Herrman, whose collection featured pants, shorts and tops in cool blues and pale yellows in easy moving fabrics. 

Overall, this little excursion was such a fun experience! I can't wait to attend more local fashion weeks and hopefully one day make it to the big leagues! NYFW here I come!

Pursue Your Passions!

With 2015 already in full swing, it's important not to lose sight of your goals! I encourage you all to create and establish balance in your life: school, work, social life, physical and mental health, it's all important. 

That being said, make room in your schedule for downtime where you can focus on doing something that makes you happy. Pursue and develop your passions!

For me, those passions are fashion, writing and art. This blog serves as a creative outlet for my fashion and writing. As for art, I'm trying to do more sketches. It's been awhile so I'm a bit rusty, but practice always helps!

OOTD: Day 2

Tank: Forever 21

Shorts: Forever 21

Sandals: Sseko

Bangles: Betsey Johnson

Watch: Michael Kors

Everyday Makeup!

Day to day, I usually keep my makeup look the same, unless there's a special occasion or I just feel like switching it up! I gravitate towards a lightly defined eye with a rosy lip for everyday; it's so simple and pretty!  

To start: I apply my favorite foundation (Smashbox Studio Skin) and then use a highlighter (Benefit's Watts Up) on my brow bones and cheek bones. I then use my fingers to apply a rosy peach cream blush (I use Clinique's cream stick in Rosy). I then lightly fill in my brows with powder and curl my lashes. My favorite eyeshadow for everyday wear is Covergirl's Tapestry Taupe. Then I line my top lid with a coppery brown liner (Rimmel's Scandaleyes in Brown). To top it off I sweep multiple coats of black mascara! My fave right now is Maybelline's the Colossal Volum' Express. Finish the look by filling in your lips with a rosy stainbalm. My favorite is Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable in Smitten. Now you have the perfectly pretty summer makeup!

Chicago!

I'm going to be in Chicago for a few days for a little summer fun with the fam, so I'm going to be posting more OOTD's! 

Tonight's outfit!

Tank: Forever 21

Shorts: Forever 21

Wedges: Steve Madden

Watch: Michael Kors

Headband: Forever 21

(Clearly I like Forever 21)

Think Pink

Summer is the perfect time to go out of the box with your makeup routine. Trying out a look that you've never done before can be so fun, and you may find yourself falling in love with the look! 

My basic makeup routine usually consists of brown liner on the eyes and a muted rosy lip, but I've recently decided to try something I've never done: bright pink lipstick! 

The thought used to make me cringe; bubblegum pink or anything bright on my lips would have me emulating the 80s, but not in a good way. However, I started warming up to the idea of pink lips when summer started. The season is bright and fun and playful, so I decided my makeup could be all those things too!

I decided to look for a nice beginner pink and ending up buying the L'Oreal Colour Riche lipstick (the best drugstore lipstick) in Wisteria Rose. The color is very pigmented, but in such a nice and feminine pink that isn't too little girly. 

I paired my bright lips with some black liner on the top lashline with lots of black mascara.