Holiday Sparkle

Ever have one of those days when is hard to find the sparkle inside? It's been a rough couple of days but today has proven to be most difficult. Sometimes dreaming can make this worse and thinking what could be or what has happened just gets in the way of moving forward, but remember there is always a star that shines bright in all of us... we just gotta find it. 

Lights are up and people are either happy with joy or down with their luck every winter season. It's hard to find those just muddling in between, or perhaps they're everywhere and people are too busy to notice. It's all about making time. It's about making sure that we don't forget about the little things and the people or the parts in our lives that add meaning. Sometimes finding that sparkle and creating it around you will make a big difference and an even more gratifying outcome than searching for it in places that don't exist. We only have control over ourselves and with our own spark, you can make anything shine bright!

I took some much needed love for myself and took 2 of my beloved nail polishes and layered them together. I found the best way to do this is by first applying the glitter coats then applying confetti on top. The mix of glitter and large confetti helps the glow from any angle. Also make sure that the two colors enhance each other but are not the same. The glitter pieces are very fine and pink while the confetti pieces are bold and bright gold. Most importantly, have fun with your creations! 

Take the smallest time and make an effort for the little things that maybe we forgot were a part of our daily lives. Be your own light and others will follow in your footsteps. It all starts within ourselves. 

Shine bright Mee Lovelies!

Leopard Love

Release your inner animal. Everyone's got it, which one's yours? 

For me, when i was younger i was in love with the black panther worth its sleek black and threatening appeal. I loved the color black even though i was told countless times to wear more color. The black panther then grew to become the leopard as i was infatuated with it for a grade school project i did. As i drew in the intricate patterns i realized there was so little difference between the look of the cheetah and the leopard but somehow the leopard i was more fond of. I think it's probably due to the feminine flower-like patterns on an animal so strong and fierce. Understandably, i grew up liking the mix of masculinity and femininity in one look. They provide the perfect balance. 

Reminiscing the above shots when i was working with LM, i wanted a modern day retro/vintage feel so i crossed the ties around my neck in a bow tie fashion around the front instead. This can accentuate the lines you want to achieve but also be so simple with the fabric already there. 

Find your mark by looking at some simple alterations. What animal will you set free today? 

Hope

Time for those darn socks u need to pull out during those cold days. Not sure why my feet get extra cold compared to my body but i don't mind wearing socks as long as my feet stay warm and NOT sweaty! I love these since they give me the love and comfort i so desperately need.

This is gonna be a short post because i assume no one really reads anymore, hah. I just wanted to let those of you who've been struggling know that if you put your mind to it, you can make your own path. I've been in all sorts of ups and downs and have been greatly impacted by the support I've received through out my struggles. I wanted to give up many times and doubted myself. But here i am speaking to anyone who wants to listen. You are not alone and I'm here to share my story and creations with u.

During the wee hours of the morning i find myself creating these little things that make me happy or enter that world where i can center myself in a place of serenity. Make your dreams come true by finding your own path and listening to your heart. Don't be afraid because you can accomplish great things with that fear.

I hope that one day I will fully finish one of my long time projects to share with u all. There is hope. You just have to teach for it and never let go. 

BEWARE!!!

 

BEWARE!!! Recovering from a boy-man cold.  Yes. I call it the boy-man cold because I sound just like that. Sometimes I want to call random places and hear if they'll answer me with Sir or Ma'am. I'm feeling much better than a couple of days ago, but the slight pressure remains inside my head and chest. Although the weather around here has been fluctuating, I still remain cold from the procrastinating winter air.  So back come on the socks!  I love lounging around in knee highs or have them bundled around at my calves.  I've always been a fan of leg warmers too.  I guess my love for the 80's will always remain a part of me no matter what happens. 

 

 

 



Bohemian Summer

Ugggh feeling mighty ill either from the drastic temperature change or the people around me getting sick.  Who can blame us?  Winter already officially ended but tomorrow is another chance of snow and freezing temperatures.  I know I've been talking about weather lately, but I feel like it's keeping me on my toes.  The changes are so drastic that the other day I thought it was actually summer. 

I decided that maybe I could make my sick self feel better by using the last bit of energy I have to post some stuff I did a couple of days ago because I had trouble sleeping.  At the time, I thought to myself, I'll just bring the warmth to me... Well, I did just that and the heat built up in my body. Oh sick me, just hopefully I won't get any worse.

CAPTURED

One of the most demanding things about photo shoots is the ability to withstand cold and hot temperatures without looking as if the environment has any impact on you at all.  I know it doesn't seem like much, since some of us choose to go outside with no coats or maybe forgot a jacket on a cold breezy day and may even love the heat during the summer time.   However, some shoots require extreme temperatures like the current issue of Sports Illustrated.  Alaska in a bikini?? 

 

On this particular shoot, the temperature was quite cold, although not in Alaska, I was at least able to cross my hands... luckily...

 

I especially love emotive and mood photography.  Unlike fashion photograph,y where lines can be exaggerated, dramatized and even surreal; photography capturing the moment, mood and emotion take on a different meaning.  Behind the lens, one has to make sure the audience receives the captured message and meaning.  The feeling must be portrayed even if there is fashion involved.  In reality, I think it's more so of the feeling you are experiencing, or feeling from the image itself, or maybe the moment you are currently experiencing.  Sometimes it's hard to put into words or even know how we really feel at any given moment. 

 

As we transition out of winter season, here are some of my favorite captured images that continue to inspire me regardless of season and temperature.

 

 

 

Simplistic and casually styled, these images go beyond just everyday feeling, emotion, and outward presentation.  How we carry ourselves and what we create through the arts are exceptional ways of making your own mark.  What will you do today? How will you feel? How will you carry and present yourself?  What will you leave behind?

 



Winter Reminiscing

Winter in mid March... does this confuse anyone else?  Maybe it's just me but this snow storm that came through unexpectedly earlier this week really got me thinking: where am I??



Outside with inches of snow already on the ground and snowflakes falling on my sleeves.

 

I walked outside and the snow flakes were flying in all directions and so white!  Diagonal snow left and right, all hitting my face at rapid speed.  It was the kind of snow that when looked at closely, you could see the details.  I became oddly happy with the color white.  Is that why they use white padded walls for rooms of seclusion?  hmmm...  

 

With the colors I was wearing that day, I reminisced of a retro winter and the 80's.  I also remembered a couple of things... 

 

 

These are my dad's shoes that I usually forget he even has until I see him wear it.  Does it ever surprise you when you see something stylish from your parents or family members?  Sometimes I go places and there are people's shoes laying at the foyer or door.  Immediately, my mind goes to thinking who's wearing those?  Where did they get them?  Are they comfortable?  For some reason it called to me to take a picture of my dad's shoes because of his stylish gold toe and heel black trouser socks hanging over one of them.  I didn't move the shoes or anything and they already looked like they were set there on purpose for some editorial or magazine.

 

Then comes the other stylish footwear...

 

 

 

In love with my little niece's warm booties!  Every time I see them I just think: such hairy feet.  Haha no, I actually think they're so adorable and that I wish I could fit them.  I think I actually put it on my toe once... but only to explain that they had to be worn on the feet.  Or was it actually to measure the largeness of my feet???

 

  

 



 

 

 

Nail Polish Gem

So I've had this ring that disappointedly lasted for only a couple of days until a gem fell off!  I understand I only paid a mere morsel for it, but I was hoping it would last me longer. A week perhaps?? 

 

Regardless I still wore the ring around and realized that yes, I could DIY another gem on it or... as my lazy, cheap self could do... paint in a color! I was thinking of things that were accessible to me and something that I didn't have to pay any extra dollars on. So behold! My ring that looks almost as good as new:

 

I used a very glittery, snowy blue nail polish color to fill in the oval. Did you find it? From far away it looks as if the original gem was there and it sparkles just as good.  So don't just stop wearing your rings, find a suitable solution until you're able to come up with a permanent one.  Knowing me, I probably will just leave this blue color on it until all the gems fall off!

WINTER BRIGHTS

Growing up I never really wore bright clothing or outfits with lots of color.  I was the awkward, shy kid with grungy clothing. I didn't want to stand out, I just wanted to blend in or at least be unnoticed. My niece still swears that I only wear dark colors, although it's interesting that she only mentions it on the days that I wear dark outfits. Nowadays, I've grown to appreciate color and texture, but mainly because I can use them in ways that suit me.  I use to think you have to be this bubbly person and smile a lot in order to wear colors. period. Boy was I wrong...  An outfit can still look edgy or grunge if you play the color cards right and on the flip side you can even look like a princess... if you wanted to.  Just remember it's all about personal style, so shine through! 

Bright colors shouldn't be left only for the warmer seasons. It's odd how mood really does change according to what colors we perceive. This patterned dress was warm enough for the chilled air, while also showcasing a pattern suitable for the winter season.  Paired with a textured hat and a bright blazer, I was ready to go.  Complete the look with your favorite long-length coat with some boots and smile away :) 

Casual Sayings

It's nice when your outfits can say what you want to tell people without you having to actually tell them. Yea, I'm that lazy sometimes :)

Front

Back

 



Fall in Winter

Seems like the weather has been changing constantly, from being unbearably cold to insatiably warm. Supposedly a short winter was predicted by an animal that we let out to see if it could see its own shadow. I'm not sure how well that's working so far, but each day it's like waking up to a "Magic 8-ball". Today it'll be "outlook not so good" or tomorrow it might be "signs point to yes".

 

Somehow, although this season has given us snow and ice, fall leaves are randomly still about and everything recently has reminded me of Fall.  The skies, the weather, the sepia tones...

 

Here's my sister and I waiting in what looks like Autumn, but truth be told it was pretty cold.

 

 

 

 The vintage autumn feel suits me though and it goes well with red accents.  It's good to have some change every once in a while so that my fingers don't fall off from the bitter cold.  Hmmm... maybe that groundhog was right after all... 



 

 

 

MINKPINK + WILDFOX + NYLON Inspired Nails

Lately I've been catching up on my MINKPINK + WILDFOX + NYLON craze.  I don't know why, but they always go hand in hand when I start my search.  I just love the their style and image.  I guess they're all sort of similar in the color and pattern play, which would be a great universal photoshoot if they had one all together.  I really didn't want to have a billion inspiration boards and I just left it up to those 3 to inspire me on color, design and styling... but... yes...

 

I added several new inspiration boards for "cotton candy", bright colors/neons and even wild-like themes.  Oh boy oh boy...

 

So I figure, why not create some nails that will go with all of these outfits, since this week I'll probably be uplifting my spirit with more color during this drab winter weather???  Who cares if it's not summer.  It's definitely summer in my head!

 

 



I was too tired to wait for them to fully dry and I don't really care if they're not perfect but the idea is definitely there.  The other hand has polka dots on them but... again... maybe the winter weather is making me lazy :(  On a brighter note, hopefully these nails will hold up for whatever color and style of outfit I plan to wear.  Even PJ's  *Crossing my fingers*

Retro-Inspired Nails

No need for special equipment or paying a fortune for manicures! 

I'm no professional, but I do admit I find nail art very therapeutic even if you're just fooling around with nail design. I don't have any special equipment and I don't use anything other than the brush that already comes with the nail polish itself.  Part of my reasoning is that i'm just plain lazy!  Sometimes I just need the time and patience of nail art to think through what I need to do or de-stress from obstacles that I come across.  Here are a few designs I found myself creating ... 

Sparkled-Retro Style




Mixed-Patterns Style




Simple-Retro Style

They're not perfect by any means, just a means of me tracking what I've done.  I think perhaps my favorite styles stem from retro and vintage inspirations.  Looking closely, I've only used 3 basic main colors and the rest are accents.  One is a creamy baby pink color, the second is coral, and the third is a saturated red.  These three colors can be combined in any way and still go with each other.  Go ahead, see what you can do!

 

Happy nailing :)  

Mee Photoshoot

I came across one of my latest photo shoots that inspired me.  I was fortunate to have been able to do a quick session in between the craziness and stress I was going through at the time.  Here's a behind-the-scenes look at Mee...

 

Fringes and pigtails.  I would never have thought I would come back to a pigtail style but... I like it with a boho, grunge, or even vintage-like concepts.  The emotion was there that day so hopefully it turned out well in pictures. 

Enjoy!

 

Gloomy Day Grunge

 

The forecasters called for a nice weekend, but it ended up being mostly gloomy.  The clouds blocked what little sunshine I thought was coming and the fog only lifted barely during the day.  Luckily it wasn't freezing and I opted for a layered approach instead of a heavy duty coat.  In my eyes, I could feel a vintage grunge inspiration coming on... 

 



Leather jacket
Ralph Lauren denim button up
Green boat neck top from Wet Seal
Sheer black tights
Pleated leather Skirt from Wet Seal
Belle suede boots in black
Guess bag

I needed to keep my feet and legs warm because I chose to wear thinner leggings, thus the boots.  It's hard to tell here, but my inner shirt below the denim is actually a shade of green.  Comfortable and easy to wear wherever I ended up, all I really needed to do was take a chance and clean out my bag!  *Sigh*  I still haven't cleaned it but I feel like it's my "pick-up-and-go" bag.  Everyone needs one in case of emergencies.. or maybe that's just my excuse! hah. 

 

I heard somewhere on the news one time that your bag should really not be anything more than 5 lbs.  Yup.  I know some of you have more than 5... way more! I'm kinda tempted to weigh mine now :)   

Price of the outfit??  $0.00!!!  Well..., at least for me it was.  Yup, all items were gifts to me collected over the years.  Scrounge your closet and see what you got before you donate or throw them away.  Who knows, you may be able to pull off a priceless outfit :)

So simple, so lovely - fresh sugar perfection

I'm in love with one of the gifts I received for Christmas!!

Thanks to my lovely sister, I have been using this product and it's addictive.. beware..

 

There large red and white floral patterned one is a container that held 2 parts:
(1) polish: sugar lip polish
(2)lip treatment/sunscreen: sugar passion lip treatment that provides sunscreen and a lip tint in a deep rouge color, but it's very sheer.

I absolutely loved the smell when I first opened it, so much so that I actually didn't notice I was being video taped haha!  There's a sweet but not overpowering smell that makes them seem almost edible.  My lips feel so much softer and is it possible that it even feels more plump?!?  The lip treatment lasts on your lips too, which is great because when you need a little color without the fuss of lipstick, this works as a great alternative.  On top of everything, there's sunscreen protection and they're extremely portable!  I'm so pleased at how so much power exists in this small yet large gift :)  Beauty and health all in one package, while meeting all my checkmark requirements. 

Kissable lips... that's all I gotta say :)

 

Starry Night

Hey Guys!!

It's been a while, I know!  2013 is coming and I wanted to get a post in real quick before the new year.  I hope everyone is having a great holiday season so far.  I was ill for this one this year but I still enjoyed every bit of it through surprises, friendships, family love, gifts, and more! 

 

Wellll... get ready cuz the new year is coming and fresh start here we go! 

 

So while everyone is focused on what they're going to wear or which shoes to party in so that their feet don't swell, while still looking great in that insy winsy dress, i'm here to remind you NOT to forget about your nails!!  There's no need to go all fancy to get a mani/pedi, all you need is something glitzy for the holiday season. 

 

I came across this nail polish while shopping in ... you'll never guess.. Wallmart.  it was less than a dollar and I have used it on various nail designs.  It's inexpensive, quickly dries, and layers perfectly over any design.  It's also great to use alone for a clean, glamorous, chic look.

 

It was hard for me to really capture this image due to how the silver sparkles ended up looking a little blended in with my nails, but you get the idea.  So sparkly and not too heavy.  It quickly dries so layering is simple for those who want some heavy duty glamor.  I'm almost out since I use it for different designs so you better hurry and get some!  It's definitely in my NEED list.  What's also great is that the smell is not that potent either.  Some nail polishes have a distinct odor that just appalls me.  So have fun guys!