Shop HBH.Design Studio on Etsy

Thursday, May 25, 2017

A while back ago, I was sent a cute little package of beautiful samples from the wonderful ladies behind HBH.DesignStudio. They have their own Etsy shop in which they make custom morse code bracelets. I don't know about you, but it's been a while since I've heard or seen something so unique.

The bracelets range from $5-$14, making them the perfectly unique, and affordable as an accessory or gift. The bracelets can be customized from the saying, to the cord, down to the spacer beads! They even have 24K gold in them.

The morse code detail was my favorite part , until I found out that they are MADE IN NYC!!! I was sent 4 bracelets: one that said NYC, Brooklyn, Stregth, and even one with my name. That one to say the least was my favorite because it was an unexpected little touch. It also happened to be in one of my favorite colors- purple. How did they know?

The feel nice and light on the wrist, and are adjustable too. You can wear them alone or even stack them up like I did.

I write to you today to tell you this: Shop locally. Support your local business owners. Support the time, effort, and creativity that comes behind a product that was made with love. Support your local businesses because they are entrepreneurs with passion. Shop locally because it's so much harder for people to track down the cool stuff you own because it isn't available everywhere- making it exclusive. Keep this all in mind the next time you're at a local flea market or market in general. With that being said, check out Sara & Michelle's Etsy shop for more of their bracelet designs and product offerings. (Now they've expanded to earrings as well!) They have over 400+ 5 star reviews, and it's due to their cute product, timely shipping, and personal notes with purchase.

All photo's were taken by Gabriela Hnizdo,The location was a little Australian owned cafe in Chinatown called The Good Sort.

Tangerine Swirl

Monday, May 22, 2017

Cha Cha Matcha. Never a time after mid-day where the line isn't racing out the door because EVERYONE is trying to snag something off their matcha-everything menu. I mean, the place is picturesque AF - matcha in everything from your coffee to soft serve, and its got the cutest decor. I feel transported to another world. If I had my pick, preferably at a time in the 80's. Which is what inspired this look.

One of my favorite pieces about the 80's were those rad windbreakers that came in all these funky colors. (Still waiting on the day where I can find a really old one myself, and not a modernized version of one from Forever 21, but this works too.) 80's style is definitely making a comeback as of late, and I am not one to complain about it. I'd rather the 80's trends making their debuts into our world of Yeezy's and the same damn Gucci belt that every chic blogger and their mom seems to own. Nothing wrong with either of the two, but when it's exposed everywhere, it just becomes so generic and it loses its original appeal of being new to the market and fresh to the eyes. But what am I saying, it's the same exact thing with a trend. Once it starts everyone hops on it, it gets old, and the next best thing takes its place. It's just how it is.

Last week, I had the pleasure of working with Gabriela Hnzido. I had met her earlier that week for a second after having spoken to her through text a few times. I always get nerved racked both reaching out to people I've never met before and when I meet to work with them for the first time. As a blogger and content creator, communication and collaborating are two things I definitely have to get used to.

Working with Gabi was like hanging out with a close friend. It was fun and effortless. Very rare are the occasions when you meet someone for the first time and are able to connect in such a way. We bonded over our Matcha-Tangerine soft serves, which was the first best decision we had that morning instead of shooting at an art park. The second best one was shooting in the bathroom.( Cue the announcer voice of : " previously on my attraction to neon lights".)

Outfit Deets: Basically, almost everything I'm wearing is from Forever 21 with the exception of my satin dad cap and limited edition platform Vans which were both from Vans. No longer available online, soz. Shopping at Forever in store and online is basically a game of hide and seek. You never know what you're going to find and where you're going to find it.

Sex, Blogs, Rock & Roll

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Twice in the same week, not intentionally planned, did I end up at an ice cream shop. But who am I to really complain about that. If you're as observational as I am, you would notice that my hair and makeup is done the same way as in my "Seeing Success" post. Not because I'm gross and slept with my makeup on, (which I occasionally do to save time in the morning) but come on ladies, have you ever been too exhausted to take it off, and rock a grunge messy makeup look the next day? This reminds me of one of my favorite sayings from Jac Vanek, "last nights winged eyeliner can be todays smokey eye if you believe in yourself." Excuse me while I silently laugh to myself.

Anyway, back to the subject, both of these looks were shot in the same day. Right around the corner from each other actually. Hella convenient. This look really wasn't planned either. I had ordered a medium in this tee from Hips and Hair, and it fit me like a dress. It would have been far too visible to shove all the fabric into my mom jeans and wear it to my liking, so fuck it, I decided to wear it as a dress. Something I've never done before. So this was an experiment of sorts.

The looks I got that day. Normally, I am not one to wear dresses. I sent far too many years of my childhood life wearing them as a part of my school uniform, along with itchy stockings and black Mary Janes. After those 9 years in Catholic school, rare were the occasions in my life I ever wore a dress after that. It got really hot that day. Underneath my busboy hat I was sweating like a man, and my legs were getting sweaty from my knee highs too. But my thighs, exposed to the light breeze...they were chillin. Just like the eyes of everyone that had passed me by that afternoon. People that stare always annoy me. It's rude and it makes me nervous. Especially while shooting. I try my hardest to pay it no attention. After those moments, what are the chance of me ever seeing them again? And the chances of me remembering it at all? Exactly. I try not to linger on irrelevant things like this anymore. I don't want to feel like I'm refraining from being able to live my life to the fullest because I'm too focused on what others are thinking. That's just a waste of time, and honestly, when most people think, they really don't think much at all. (insert upside down smiley emoji)

Around the corner from Cloak and Dagger is Davey's Ice Cream. Whether or not it was was good as the long lines on people's Instagram posts implied, I'll forever be curious. It was a really cute and quiet place. Kind of made me forget what neighborhood I was even in. It gave off such old school vibes. Like something little kids would do in the 80's after school. Go to the local ice cream shop, sit and talk for a while, and just be kids. Not like today at all. Kids today are pretentious little fucks with no respect that try to age themselves before their time. Just this morning at work I had a kid (he seriously had to be about 8, he was so small) take a size sticker that was an xxl and put it right on his croch area. He then asked me if I liked it. As I was shipping out seasonal transfers, this totally caught me off guard when I looked up. I hate kids. No, I didn't like it. Please go home to your mom, watch some PBS, eat some dunkaroo's, and never come back to my job again.

Outfit deets: hat from Urban Outfitters, shirt/dress from Hips and Hair, and thigh highs from Bershka. You can get this Free People mini backpack here. My amazing photos taken by Kieran. Looking at this outfit choice now, it doesn't seem to make sense, but it's fashion. Does it really scream "sex, blogs, and rock & roll" just by saying it? No. But, it was fun look. Fashion and styling should be a way to channel and express your creativity. SO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. Maybe I'll do it again sometime, and you all just might get to see it.

Seeing Success

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Lately my Facebook feed has more to offer than the typical Insider Food video or some corgi meme's. Recently, most of the people I went to high school are graduating from college and landing jobs at major companies... meanwhile your girl can't even pass statistics for the second time around. While it's amazing to see people achieving their success and telling their stories, I can't help but wonder, when will my time come?

I don't let this get me down though. Everyday, I'm constantly on the move of getting where I want to be. I've let my dream remain a dream for far too long. Yet with every move I make, the same questions still haunt me. "Will you really be successful at this?","What makes you special compared to every other blogger out there?","It's only a number, yet you won't be considered anybody unless you have a lot of them behind you." and so on. It can get really depressing and motivational at the same damn time.

It's exhausting. Being the manager that works full time, with two internships, finishing up a degree, and with all of that, only 2 days off to live a life. Not including scheduling shoots, scouting the perfect pieces to complete my outfits,waiting for online deliveries when I have ZERO patience, and finding the perfect locations that go with my looks. It's all a process, and I love every single second of it. That's how I know it's my passion. It never feels like work and I want to do it 24/7. It's combining two of my favorite things in one online platform: my love for shopping and styling, along with writing.

All dreams and success aside, let me tell you a little about the day of this photoshoot. For starters, it was drizzling. So I had to have high hopes that it wouldn't "rain on my parade," or suede boots that is. Then I would have been fucked and stuck with gross smelly heels. There were train delays and I was running late to meet my makeup artist. For some reason she accidentally mixed in an eyelid color with the wrong brush, and I ENDED UP WITH TWO DIFFERENT COLORED EYES. Strike 2. Now I was annoyed that this shoot might not even happen and the fact that it was visibly obvious that I was wearing two different colored eyelids that clashed with everything, I was in fumes.

Lastly, now we wouldn't have as much time to shoot as we both had class in an hour and a half, and I had no designated spot. I was antsy and nervous. I like knowing the game plan in advance and all of this... just felt like a game. A game that I didn't look like I would be winning. Luckily the train stop was right by ELF Cosmetics and I had a really nice girl not only do my makeup, but also hear me rant about how I had the most miserable time in China the week before. When she was finished, she really skilled this look, and I gave her my business card so that I could credit her on here. But maybe she had heard enough, or lost it. Shrug. Huge thanks to the girl whose name I can't remember, I appreciate you and your artistry!

Now for this location... as Kieran and I were randomly walking down the in village, my eyes stopped on a neon sign inside of a shop that read "CUTESHIT," in bright neon pink. I had to go in. I love neon, I don't know what it is about the florescent lighting in tubes that I find so visibly appealing, but it gets me every fucking time. Before I run to the sign I ask the girl at the counter if we can take a few pictures. Which completely caught her off guard, because I recall her mouth opening and a few seconds later the words "sure" popped out. Thank you kind girl. But what a gem. After we took a few of these, the counter girl was on the phone, where I left my business cards and took one of hers. Cloak and Dagger. The cutest boutique for the most bad ass babes. FINALLY, A BUSINESS CARD THAT SPOKE THE TRUTH. This boutique was hella cute. Everything from the pineapple wallpaper, to the cute apparel selection, obv the neon sign, and just the vibe. It was such a lucky find. 10/10 encourage every badass babe to go and check them out. You can find them on 334 East 9th street.

For the outfit deets: My wool hat is from Urban Outfitters, my new favorite muscle tee is from Hips and Hair, the corset jeans are from Forever 21, and the suede booties are from PacSun.(These are the same brand/style but not in Suede.) Special shoutout to Kieran who made my day today by sending all of these pictures over. I love shooting with her. I get to show her around the city, we have a great time, and she captures and creates these amazing pictures for me. I can't wait till the day I'm big and can afford to hire you full time as my photographer.

And for everyone else. I'm working on making this dream come to life. And you ALL are going to watch me do it.

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