April 19, 2018

Your Makeup Starter (or refresh) Kit

I happen to love makeup, hair & clothes. Makeup specifically. Similar to playing w glitter crayons & sequins as a kid; I now play w makeup. So I buy a lot of it, whenever there’s something new, pretty, or interesting; I try to add it to my collection. BUT, I know that’s not for everyone. I spent a lot of time on YouTube copying & learning from all the real makeup artists while I was in Dubai – but I’m fully aware ain’t everybody got time for that.

This list is a makeup starter kit OR it can be a makeup refresh kit. So if you’re not totally into makeup, but want to have your basics covered, this list is for you! Or, if all your make up is 37 years old & in desperate need of a refresh, this list has you covered! Full face, start to finish, products. I thought about this a lot. I had trouble in the beginning of my makeup journey because I would buy all the glittery & colorful eye shadows (they’re the prettiest, so obviously). But I could never make a full face come together. Or I didn’t know what product goes where. I either looked 198 years old or 3 years old. Needless to say, it wasn’t working. I wasted a lot of money. Which is why I came up w this list! I would’ve found it helpful before the dozens of glitter pink, purple, and blue purchases I made in the past.

I also didn’t want this list to be too expensive or overwhelming. Anything that is a little more money, is simply because I think it’s worth it, for your starter kit. You feel me? It’s the same things I would save my precious pennies for while I was in Dubai, so trust me, if I could do it then – you can do it now.

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April 17, 2018

How To Go Backless & Low Cut w/Support!

Ting tangs are the subject for today! Wonderful ting tangs! (But are they actually wonderful? Thoughts?)

Whether or not you’re in denial, backless & low cut clothing have been all the rage for a few YEARS now. I denied it for a long time, because I don’t have the option of going free willey w my chesties, but the envy has taken over!

I tried everything, over a period of years, to go backless. It all started in Dubai with a beautiful backless gown I had to wear to a wedding. I went hunting & found those silicone bras that stick to the front of your chest & don’t wrap around. These are a decent option, you can find them: here. BUT, they aren’t the best because they pull your tits down. SoOoO if you’re ok sagging a little, they’ll work in a pinch, but not ideal. Although I do keep them handy.

I’ve also transitioned to these Gel Petals from Target. You’d be surprised how well these babies work, they really lift! Stick on the bottom, pull up, stick to the top. You’ll get it when you try it. I actually really love these, also super cheap. They’re never in stalk, so I know I’m not the only one that’s found them as a secret trick. If you do find the Gel Petals, get a few so they’re always on hand! The other nice part of these is they’ll work for any cut – backless, low cut, almost nude, whatever! I also like them because they’re pretty much summer resistant. Meaning, if you sweat, they’ll stick. Even with these little guys, sometimes – you want more…

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April 12, 2018

5 Tips For A New Home Buyer

For anyone that doesn’t know – I work with Wafiq in Residential Real Estate. My history in real estate goes as follows: I assisted several people through multiple positions with commercial real estate after college, when I moved to Dubai I worked in residential real estate because they don’t separate commercial from residential, and now I’m assisting Wafiq in residential real estate in Austin. HE IS SO GOOD AT IT. I just wanted to cut to that point. There is nothing better than coming home to someone who is happy in their work everyday. It makes the worlds difference to our everyday happiness, relationship, and goals. SO MUCH BETTER than complaining about work. And he thrives, it’s the most fun to be a part of it!

We are both of the mindset that life is short & we should spend every day figuring out what we love doing – and do it.

Since working in Residential Real Estate in the U.S. we’ve met several first time home buyers (& the experience is much different than it was in Dubai). We have a few tips that we see w almost all our first time home buyers in the market right now. I was overlooking sharing this here but it finally clicked for me, this is some good info if you’re trying to make your first BIG purchase; a home. Once you have these 5 things figured out – you should have a smoother & smarter process.

5 Tips For A First Time Home Buyer
Don’t be Afraid of Multiple Offers: This is a tough one to get people to believe, but it’s true. All you can do with a multiple offer situation is put in your best offer & see if it works. If it doesn’t, it wasn’t meant to be. I KNOW that sounds very cliche but I have proof! In almost every deal Wafiq did in the summer – the clients lost homes in multiple offer situations, and were obviously bummed. BUT 100% of them ended up closing on a different home saying “I’m so glad that other offer didn’t get accepted, we love this one so much more.” Guys, I’m not lying to you. Trust the process, trust you’ll find what’s right for you!

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Daily Outfits

April 10, 2018

Let’s Discuss; Food & Alcohol

Have you ever tried not eating or drinking? Since my allergy attack I’ve cut out almost everything. Any complicated food & all drinks besides water + topo chico. I had one allergy doc tell me I was fine to eat anything & another recommended sticking to basics until my results come back – but I chose to stick to basics, where I know every ingredient I’m consuming.

I don’t like the idea of risking another allergy attack, and for me – food & alcohol isn’t worth it.

I think I had an emotional attachment to food you guys. When the attack first happened I was almost depressed thinking about not eating french fries & nachos anymore. I have an anxious mind so I’ll blow up any idea I can, and in my head I was cutting out all my favorite snack worthy foods & wine – for life. I felt a best friend leaving me, food.

But I saw this basic ingredient diet of mine as an experiment. Remember when I did the Master Cleanse? I view this allergy attack, and my new diet, the same way. A challenge, and I live for challenges. I want to re introduce ingredients to my diet one by one to see how they make me feel. Having this approach to food after my allergy attack is better than fear & anger, right? I’d rather create a challenge out of the whole debacle than sit around being scared of it.

So, I’ve also stopped eating at most restaurants.

And let me tell you, this is the most challenging part. I’m 100% fine w my new “constrictions” because it’s part of my challenge. In my mind, I adjusted from being depressed about food, to tackling it. I have my main foods, that I absolutely love eating, and am full every single day. + I love cooking at home.

The challenging part? Everyone around me. I get a lot of teasing about not eating because “oh yeah! You’re allergic to everything (eye roll)” and “try this! try this!” and “why can’t we just meet at a restaurant, you can find something to eat, or just sit w me” OR the best one – while putting something up to my face “don’t you just want to eat this?”

FML.

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April 5, 2018

4 Albums To Download Now

I recently downloaded a ton of new albums because I needed a total refresh of the music I have on my phone. Pandora & Amazon music stations were absolutely not cutting it anymore. There’s not enough variety! Am I right? No matter where I am, I feel like I’m listening to the same things over & over again.

And music is important to me. Like I’ve said before, I listen to different genre’s for different moods & can always depend on music to give me the perfect lift. & I like to dance. The deal w downloading an entire album rather than a single, is that you get the full story. PLUS, the radio stations don’t play full albums soo – it’s all new new new.

New music was a must. These albums below are the favorites from my downloads, if you’re needing a refresh too – go try them!

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April 3, 2018

A Wardrobe Staple: The Blazer

What a perfect Tuesday thought! BLAZERS.

I remember I had this New Years Eve moment w a red sequin dress & a black blazer that I was pretty happy about – but that was the extent of my Blazer history, until recently.

A few reasons I’m bragging about this current wardrobe staple:

Professional: I hate professional because I’m bad at it. I’m always too tight, too short, cheap or uniform. I prefer sparkle, shimmer, pink, fluff, short, tight, creative. Without any effort, a blazer makes you look professional the second you throw it on, pretty much no matter what you’re wearing under it.

Easy AF: I loooooove easy. Love love love. A Blazer WILL make you look put together w zero thought. No matter where you’re going or what you’re doing.

Smart: People talk to me smarter when I’m wearing a blazer. Almost like I’m a little more business intimidating? Ha! Try it, you’ll see.

Rich: Maybe it’s the buisness-y look? The idea that suites are expensive? But even a cheaper blazer makes you look $$$.

Skinny: The structure of a blazer kills compared to a heavy jacket or baggy cardigan. You gonna look gooooooood girl.

Grace: Do you watch Grace & Frankie on Netflix yet? I have major wardrobe envy from Grace; blazers, popped collars, beautiful scarves – they’ll all be staples soon. Work in progress…

Versatile: You can wear a sequin dress under a Blazer for a night out, or throw on your blazer over a shirt + pants for work. Any place, any combo – a blazer keeps you looking put together.

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March 30, 2018

Why You Need To Get To Know; & Other Stories

You’ll probably NEVER guess my favorite clothing brand & place to shop. You’ll never be able to guess because I only recently discovered it & claimed it as my favorite – now I’m sharing the deets.

Last time I was in Dubai, it was the Dubai Shopping Festival. Which means: SALES. EVERYWHERE. There couldn’t be more glorious news for me to hear.

The Dubai Mall has SO many amazing stores, but lucky for me I stumbled into & Other Stories. I’m telling you, everything. And I mean literally everything – was perfect. The range of styles, the customer service, the gorgeous dressing rooms, the fabrics, the pricing, the smells, the fucking lighting. SPOT ON. I grabbed a stack of clothes, as one does when they step in a new store not knowing sizing, and every single item fit like a glove. The experience was magical. Don’t tell me that wouldn’t tickle your pickle.

The only issue? I tried on way more than I was expecting to actually buy, assuming something wouldn’t fit or I wouldn’t like it. But when everything fits so perfectly… you have to buy it all! Right?

Here’s the deal, not only do the pieces fit perfectly. The fabrics & quality are incredible. A simple T-Shirt has quality & detail like no other. At a decent price.

Also, prior to my trip I was willing to spend hundreds/thousands/millions of dollars on a new pair of jeans because I could NOT find any that I loved at an affordable price & became desperate. I’m extremely picky when it comes to jeans & was searching for years you guys, YEARS! I finally decided I’d throw down a lot of money on a pair, because more money has to mean a better jean. I order several popular brands, assuming one had to be amazing, but returned all of them. I hated them. Every single one.

Fast forward to my experience in & Other Stories, I bought 2 pairs of jeans! (Big deal for me.) And this brand will be my go-to jean going forward. They’re the only ones I own right now. Again, they fit like a glove. EXACTLY what I was looking for. And a fraction of the price compared to the other popular brands. If you’re looking for a real jean, I found them for you.

I hate to say perfect so many times throughout this post but everything about this place is – perfect.

Of course I quickly made sure they had an online store, and fantastic news, they do. And free shipping to the U.S. They also have a few actual store locations throughout the, WORLD. I believe there’s one in L.A. & obviously Dubai. But I think also throughout Europe.

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March 27, 2018

10 Ideas To Help Shake Away Anxiety or Depression, Because No Thank You

I’ve been wanting to share my ideas to shake away anxious or depressing moods for a few weeks, & I think it happened at the perfect time! My list was recently tested since the big ol allergy attack & now I’m pretty confident in it. At least one of the ideas below can get your spirits lifted, because there’s nothing uglier than a bad mood or ANXIETY.

DISTRACT, DISTRACT, DISTRACT. That’s kind of the ultimate goal. Distract your mind. Typically, I’m trying to steer clear of sadness, anxiety, stress, or worry.

When I graduated college, I listened to gangster rap 24/7 – afraid of the other radio stations. After receiving a college degree & barely getting an interview at Starbucks, I was having a rough time. And gangster rap had it’s special way of keeping my mind in a “fuck you” spirit, which was better than sad pop or country songs pushing me closer & closer to a quarter life crisis.

I suggest, starting with one idea & moving to the next if it doesn’t work. And when you find one that does work – milk it for awhile.

10 EASY WAYS TO CHANGE YOUR MOOD
1. Talk to Yourself: A loving dialogue. I learned this from Yoga. Have you ever tried telling yourself nice things?? WAY more difficult than it sounds. Be nice to yourself, tell yourself kind things: “I am happy. I am brave. I am strong. I am healthy. I’m doing the best I can. I’m powerful. I am ok.” Try it!

2. Podcasts: Podcasts basically cured my anxiety. I can 99% depend on them to relieve anxiety. I listen to Joe Rogan when I need a distraction or Juicy Scoop when I need background noise & a quick laugh. All of my Insta Stories at the park? I’m ALWAYS listening to a podcast. I bring my headphones everywhere & pop them in w a podcast – waiting rooms, shopping, when I’m getting ready, cleaning, working…

3. Music: Even if you’re around other people – at work, next to your boyfriend, at the park. Put your headphones in & find music that makes you feel good. Try a few different genres, even if you’ve never heard of them. i.e. Rap, when I need a confidence boost. Country, when emotional. Kygo Station when I have anxiety. Pop, for a distraction. Explore.

4. Shop: I mean don’t get addicted here, but if you’re stressed – browse at the store or online. Buy something that makes you happy or that you’ve been needing. Even if it’s super small. You’ll feel accomplished. (Enter >> Amazon.)

5. Driving: Take a break. Go for an easy/no traffic drive. With music.

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March 22, 2018

A Peek At My “Allergy Attack”

If you follow my Instagram account you’ll know I experienced an allergy attack (aka Anaphylactic Shock) a week & a half ago. I don’t use that horrible technical term because I WILL FREAK OUT – so I’ve been calling this incident an allergy attack & I’m sticking to it.

I was eating at a restaurant downtown. My first meal of the day, & on the way back to the car we stopped in a little boutique shop. I started feeling my stomach cramp, ran outside, my ears started itching, decided to go home to get an allergy medicine, but on the way to the car noticed my throat hurt & I started coughing. When I got to the car my eyes, tongue, and face were swelling fast. Then my feet started itching & full body hives. I knew that was bad & different from my regular allergies. We rushed to the urgent room – 4 min away according to the GPS. And I was injected with EpiPen. From the first symptom to the EpiPen, was probably 10 minutes. So that’s fucking scary.

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