Thriftshop Diva.

Okay - so I have a few posts I'm planning to put up, I haven't really made much time to blog, even though I said I would... {I know, I know, I'm terrible at being consistent!} Anyways, I thought I'd share a few of my fashion-related IG posts from the past week. 

I've  been dying to go thrifting. It's always been one of my favorite past times.. even before Macklemore made us all think about standing out without the hefty price tag: 

 side note, I totally have the pajamas with the socks on the....!

There's something that sparks my creativity as soon as I walk through the door & start browsing the racks. I'm planning to improve my seamstress skills so I can take things apart and reconstruct them to my liking. Once I have some more free time {hopefully sooner rather than later} I'll be posting up pictures of my finds & designs! I promise. 

& now... some
FASHION FILLER:

Vintage fur & suede jacket paired with a blue & red striped body-con dress and my new tan Vera Wang peep-toed tassel oxfords {they match my skin tone PERFECTLY & were on sale}

Not the first time I've rocked the Christmas fur.. circa 1991.
Check out those boots, though!

My nightstand & my absolute favorite crystal, stud, and spike adorned mary-janes!

Preview of my NYE outfit - sequins sequins & more sequins!

 That's all for now! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas & are preparing for a happy & healthy New Year!! Stay tuned as I'm currently up to my eyeballs in fruits & vegetables and can't wait to share my New Year's resolutions & the recipes that go along with it!

Stay Lovely!
xoxo

Inspiration: Words to Live By..

I always try my best to see the inspiration in everything around me.. lately I've been thinking I could use a little inspiration given I've fallen into the "R" word: Routine.

I crave change; new challenges & adventures. As blessed as I've been in my life, I know that I want so much more... that's the human condition, isn't it? When I say more, I don't mean in a materialistic sense, per say.. I'm speaking more on a level of personal growth, success, physical fitness, and artistic expression. 

I thought I'd share a few of my favorite sayings & things that inspire me.. perhaps they'll do the same for you. 

So in love with who I am & who I'm becoming.
The key to unconditional happiness!

Don't forget to remember when to let go..
it doesn't mean you're giving up, it just means
you've accepted something better is on it's way.

Never give up on what you love.

I've learned this the hard way!

Never settle for normal, never be boring.

Literally so true: I have a severe case of wanderlust.

I absolutely adore his style!
Fashion illustration has a big place in my heart!

{Fashion Illustration of Hayden Williams}

I certainly wasn't.

Be whomever you feel you were meant to be
& only that person!

& that about sums up what I need to hear right now to make it through; who I am.. a free spirit who can't wait to dig my hands into whatever life has coming for me next! It looks like the very near future will bring major tests of my patience, as well as my ingenuity, but I'm not looking at it with anything but excitement! These moments, when we feel like our entire universe is shifting and uncertainty is looming, are the very ones that help shape and define us. Everything I've been through has been leading up to this time where I hold my head high, put on my most fabulous pair of heels and show life who's boss {hint, it's me!}


Stay Fabulous, Lovelies! 
xx

Survival: Cold & Flu Season..

    Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm a total natural health/supplement junkie! 
This in part stems from years of working for a herbal product company, but most of it is my general curiosity toward remedies & health!
 I've grown from my days of chicken nuggets & orange soda into a young woman who tries to find the health benefits in food & herbal products wherever possible. 
I suppose you could say I'm rather creative in the search to treat and prevent ailments..
{& no I don't smell of patchouli..}

In any event, as my poor father sniffles and sneezes away, my grandmother fights off a dry cough, and my poor mother battles an upset stomach, I've somehow *knock on wood* avoided illness! Now part of this could be due to the fact that I'm rarely home for much else other than sleep as it's all my schedule allows, however, I wanted to share a few things in my cold & flu season arsenal that tend to work for me.
{Keep in mind I'm not a doctor, nor a medical professional & I'm a big advocate of doing your own research as well as consulting someone with much knowledge of health before making any major changes to your diet/routine.} 

1. Sleep - Although I'm horrible at this one, sleep really is so important to staying healthy & keeping your immune system strong during cold & flu season.
2. Yoga / Exercise - Regular exercise, even if it's just going for a walk every once and a while & getting your heart rate elevated, helps raise your immune system. Yoga & stretching as well as certain breathing techniques help reduce stress {which produces a nasty little thing called cortisol that wreaks havoc on your immune system and your waistline}.. so, if you're taking notes - Exercise = a win/win situation. Get up off of that thing..
3. Massage - No seriously, go get a massage.. it can help reduce your cortisol and help you relax!
4. Oil of Oregano - Perhaps you haven't heard of it, but this supplement has helped me through many a cold! Make sure you do your research or ask your local health food store for their recommendation/instructions before taking it.The stuff is powerful {try to find a brand with a higher concentration of carvacrol}. I swear by it. It claims to be anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral.. yep.. anti-viral!
   Amazing, right? I said sign me up as soon as I heard & have been using it religiously during cold season ever since last year.
5. Colloidal Silver - It may be slightly controversial, but colloidal silver has been said to have anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties as well! I'd suggest researching this one too, but I swear by it! I know that American Biotec Labs produces a liquid colloidal silver supplement that won't turn you blue even if you drink a bottle a day - worth looking into!  
6. Fiber - You may think I'm joking, but keeping your system running properly & removing waste & toxins from your body is über important! Make sure you're taking a supplement that provides both soluble & insoluble forms of fiber! Staying regular is a must if you're going to let your body stay healthy! 
7. Probiotics - Give your system the good bacteria it needs! Do it! 
8. Tea - I swear  by tea! Tea tea tea - the more the better. I actually have over fifty different types of loose leaf tea.. {Personally I think I should be sponsored by a tea company, but they just haven't caught on yet to my enthusiasm}. I've turned so many of my friends, family, and probably even complete strangers - due to my rambling - onto loose leaf. The benefits vary by the type, but there's definitely something to be said for savoring the scent of a freshly brewed cup.. really any type will do for me! I usually try to stick with a herbal tea in the evenings {see No. 1} but I encourage anyone to find your local tea store & treat yourself! 
9. More fruits & veggies, less processed food - I know this one is a no-brainer for most of us, but it has to be said. I eat a strict pescetarian diet which I feel allows me to have more opportunities to include veggies & fruits. If you feed your body properly, you'll have a much better chance at fighting off those nasty bugs! Try to keep up your recommended amounts of Vitamin D & include berries - they're delicious & full of antioxidants that can help with free-radical elimination! 

If all else fails and you end up with that nasty flu/cold, try to keep in good spirits. Laughter is definitely like medicine & endorphin release can only help your situation! Find a nice warm blanket, grab a bunch of pillows, a box of tissues, and put on a movie. If you're like me, the classics are where it's at. When I do get sick {maybe once a year} I like to put on a classic film, brew a cup of tea, relax & wait things out. I can't tell you how many times Ginger, Aubrey, Cary, and Marilyn have gotten me through a cold! 

{Thermal shirt Victoria's Secret; Cropped leggings Lululemon; Sequin boots Ugg Australia; Ebony faux-fur throw Target; London Calling candle Bath & Bodyworks; Winterspice Blend tea Harrod's}

Hoping all you lovelies stay healthy & fabulous through the season! 

xx

Lusting After: A New Location...

So as some of you may know, I currently work two jobs that have me six days a week. 

The majority of these days consist of twelve hour shifts. Watching what I'd barely call 

snow fall this afternoon, I couldn't help but day dream  about being somewhere else...  

with enough money that the only two jobs I had were writing & designing. 

What I wouldn't give to be in New York. 

I've never been, but it's definitely in my near future! 

My day dreaming led me to do the only thing that comes natural to me - question.. 

"What would I rather be wearing if money was no object?" 

Here's what I came up with: 

{Deco embellished silk blouse Temperley London; Felted cable sweater Rag & Bone; Denim shirt Helmut Lang;
Crystal cocktail ring Lanvin; Leather pants Sly 010; Studded leather handbag Valentino;
Leopard print wedges Giuseppe Zanotti; Crystal embellished suede boots Giuseppe Zanotti}

As a true Gemini I often have a hard time making up my mind, so I decided to pick pieces that could be worn together no matter what.. mix & match! 

I'd love to hear what you think! 

❤

So.. I guess I'm a Blogger Now...

So here I am.. 

Attempting to start a blog and I can hear the: 

"Why didn't she do this sooner?"

{Okay, maybe just from my lovely friend, Tairalyn over at Little Miss Mama}

For those of you who know me: my updates, tweets, and posts, I'm hoping this can be a way to collect those moments I've made a smile cross your face, or an "oooh" or "aaah" escape at a posted photograph of my latest fashion lust! 

My life's gotten quite hectic - I've decided I'm going to attempt to keep a log of my life in a more organic & intentional way.

A compilation of the things I love, 

find interesting.. my thoughts & adventures
the artwork & the photos I collect..
things that inspire me. 

So here goes - the musings of a girl with a big imagination, heart, & dream!

Hold on to your high heels as I let you into my mixed up, wonderful, ironic, & most of the time hilarious life.

❤