Back To School What's In My Backpack

I cannot believe it's been a year since I last wrote a back to school post. Back then, I was a year younger, less experienced, and a tad more immature than what I am now. The start of a new year means a new chance to be you. A new chance to do what you want and be who you want to be. You start from zero, academic-wise and relationship-wise, at least in my case. This year I am looking forward to making the most of the time my friends and I have left together (a total of two years until it is time for us to leave our good old high school for good and enter the world of college).

{What better way to start a new school year than with brand new, shiny, and girly materials? (Target)} 

{Rainbow colored pens, highlighters, a glue stick, giant clips (Target), mechanical pencils, lead, sharpies, and a beautiful pencil bag (Francesca's Boutique).}

{I honestly cannot live without a cosmetic bag. I usually carry a hand sanitizer, a mini hand cream, and a mini body splash (Bath and Body Works), deodorant, a mini toothbrush and toothpaste, Clean and Clear blotting papers (Target), Listerine tabs, gum, and an Eos lip balm.}

Dressing Up While Dressing Down

Once again, I owe you, dear reader. a little fashion show. As you see, the title of this post is "Dressing Up While Dressing Down" which simply translates to looking pretty without trying too hard. I swear if I could live in a dress, I would. I love wearing dresses and skirts, but the tricky part is changing something casual into something dressed up, like something you would wear to a quick lunch with friends to something you would wear for a night out. Usually, I add make up and pretty accessories to dress up an outfit. Both of these outfits work both ways; however, I wore each of these for day events this summer.

{I wore this outfit for a family Sunday lunch. This is a Wet Seal cropped top, and Michael Kors handbag. In addition, I wore pearl earrings, a white watch, and a pearl bracelet, which are not shown in this picture.}

{I wore this outfit for my brother's graduation followed by a family lunch at Olive Garden. This is a Shasa little black dress, H&M pumps, ALDO handbag, Forever21 necklace, Fossil watch, and vintage earrings (which are not shown in the picture).}

Shoes, Bags, and Books

When a pair of high heels or a hand bag catches my eye, I can't contain myself. Being the only daughter in my family, people think I should be influenced by the manly environment my brothers give. However, my mom did a pretty good job of raising me into a girly and preppy young lady. Now, don't think I'm a spoiled brat. I'm pretty much the complete opposite. I work and save up money to buy the things I want, and I also search for deals and bargains wherever I go. When you find a sale that's at least 50% or more of the original price, it's so exciting! I bought all of the pieces below on pretty amazing deals. This was my first time purchasing a Kate Spade bag which I am completely enamored with. If you haven't noticed, I am so obsessed with Michael Kors as well. Finally, fashion and accessories are nothing without a little brains, hence the books. 

{The cutest Kate Spade handbag found on sale at the Premium Outlet Chesterfield Mall in St. Louis, Missouri. I can already picture myself wearing this on a night out with friends when I don't want to carry much with me.}  

{A beautiful navy blue Michael Kors handbag I bought at Marshalls in St. Louis, Missouri}

{Being the book worm that I am, most of my baggage consisted of books.}

10,000 Cupcakes Barnes and Noble

If I Stay Wal-Mart

The Alchemist Barnes and Noble

The Book Thief Barnes and Noble

Four (A Divergent Collection) Wal-Mart

{Gorgeous high heel booties in a beige/creamish color. I bought these on 45% sale at ALDO at West County Mall in St. Louis, Missouri.}

{Small gray Michael Kors clutch. I bought this on sale at Marshalls in St. Louis, Missouri. This is perfect to fit credit cars, some money, your phone, and a lip balm on a quick grocery trip or frozen yogurt stop.}

{Last, but not least, my gorgeous pink, beige, and gold pink clutch I bought on sale at ALDO at West County Mall in St. Louis, Missouri.}

Little Things

The past few weeks have had their ups and downs. But while all good things come to an end, they always open up new doors and new possibilities. Nevertheless, I have a little desire in my heart to explore what the world has to offer. In the meantime, I am planning to take things step by step and work my way to the top. But, first, I must catch up on my beloved blog. These are a few of my currently favorite things...

{Awestruck with the beauty of a cold yet sunny day}

{Spencer Hastings (from Pretty Little Liars) inspired outfit of the day. Nine West ankle boots, A'GACI jeggings, GAP knit sweater, Forever21 white button-down, Louis Vuitton handbag}

{New discovery: a delicious Italian restaurant called Pazi Pizza in the city. It truly is a hidden gem}

Little Things

The reason I started this blog was to create a safe haven for any teenage girl that can relate with the ups and downs, beauty and ugliness of adolescence. Many things have changed my perspective since my first post, but thankfully my hopes and aspirations have not changed. As the year has gone by, I have come closer to the realization that under any circumstance, as it was with the miracle of my uncle being cured from cancer, God never leaves my side. Even if I am so fed up with hormonal periods or sophomore year stress, setting my eyes on God gets me through the day with a thankful heart and a peaceful smile. As Thanksgiving approaches, and Christmas gets closer, the time to reflect on one's life is completely essential. 

{My mom spoiled me with one of my favorite seasonal treat: Hershey's white chocolate with mint candy cane}

{Honduran pride: the gorgeous Basilica de Suyapa} 

{Delicious breakfast before a typical Monday at school: Yoplait vanilla greek yogurt with kiwi, chamomille tea, and a slice of toast with peanut butter and jelly on the side} 

{Friday night out's hair-do: a classic half braid}

Preppy and Pink

{Forever21 bracelets, and LOFT earrings}

Fridays are without a doubt the reason behind my motivation to end every week on the right foot. After a long, stressful, tedious, tiresome, long, monotonous, long, and-did I mention long?-week has passed, the best way to finish the week is by going out and acting like the teenager that I am. As a bonus, this Friday was a day off from school, and I was invited to two different events-a quinceañera (15th birthday) party and a "congratulations you graduated and have to face the tough reality of life, but, oh, I'm glad you're home" celebration. Don't get me wrong, I had a blast at both events and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Finding an outfit that matched both occasions was a little challenging, but as I was hastily searching for something to wear through my closet, I encountered this gorgeous dress that I haven't worn in a while. I bought it at a small boutique at the mall and it is definitely one of my favorite components in my wardrobe. I decided to pair this dress with nude platform heels, a sparkling necklace, a nude handbag, jingling bracelets, and a simple night-time make-up look.  

{Da'Lila (a boutique in Honduras) dress, ALDO shoes, Louis Vuitton handbag}

{Forever21 collar necklace}

{Make-up: foundation, blush, purple eye-liner, mascara, liquid liner, and lilac eye-shadow}

Casually Polished

Being a sophomore and turning sixteen seemed like decades away. Now, sophomore year has begun and so has the birthday season. One of my life-long guy friends turned sixteen a couple weekends ago and I decided to wear this outfit. The weather was the perfect excuse to dress down my girly outfit with a classic denim jacket. I still can't grasp the fact that in a few weeks I'm gonna be the next new sixteen year-old sophomore. 

{Maybelline The Falsies mascara, LANCOME foundation and lipstick, L'OREAL True Match neutral blush and Espresso-colored eye-liner}

{Forever 21 tank top, skirt, and bracelets, H&M jean jacket, ALDO heels and necklace, ZARA handbag, vintage earrings}

Back To School: Cosmetic Bag

I am a bit of a control freak. I like to always be prepared for anything, get things done ahead of time, etc, etc. So as you can imagine I already prepared my cosmetic bag for the first day back to school. All of these things make life so much easier for me at school. The solution to a sweaty P.E. class, a bad cold, bad cramps, a bad hair day, and even a bad breath can be found in my beautiful Forever21 cosmetic bag. 

My back to school cosmetic bag consists of the following: 

• Hand moisturizing cream {Bath & Body Works Cherry Blossom}
• Splash {Bath & Body Works Cherry Blossom}
• Hand Sanitizer {Bath & Body Works Vanilla Berry Sorbet}
• Lip Balm {Burt's Bees Natural Beeswax Lip Balm} 
• Nail Files {Forever21}
• Bobby Pins
• Hair Ties 
• Blotting Papers {Up&Up Oil-Absorbing Sheets}
• Ibuprofen Pills {Advil}
• Kleenex Carry-Along Pack
• Breath Mints {Altoids}
• Gum {Eclipse}

{Lip balm, hand moisturizing cream, splash, hand sanitizer, nail files, bobby pins, hair ties, blotting papers}

 

{Ibuprofen, Kleenex Carry-Along Pack}

{Breath Mints & Gum}

Summer Farewell

I am devastated to inform you that school is sadly right around the corner; I can count the remaining days of my summer with one hand. The moment I was dreading, the last weekend of the whole summer, finally came. This Saturday consisted of spending quality time with my family, just like usual, followed by an amazing night out with friends. The get-together with my friends was full of smiles and laughter. It felt so good to see all of the familiar faces I haven't seen in two and a half months. I guess going back to school won't be as bad as it seems after all. 

I decided to wear a mint peplum shirt with skinny navy blue pants, and dressed it up with a chain collar. I also decided to go low on the make up and only applied a layer of foundation and a bit of blush. Then I applied a lower lash line with a pencil eye liner, a semi-winged line on the upper lash with a liquid eye liner, and a layer of mascara.  

{Forever21 peplum shirt, necklace, and handbag, H&M navy blue pants, ALDO shoes}

{Semi-winged eyeliner, lower lash eyeliner, and a layer of mascara}

But the party didn't end on Saturday night's bash. The next day, Sunday, was full of more quality time with family and friends. We celebrated my brother's 21st birthday at home with a delicious tipical Honduran meal ("pinchos" or beef and pork skewers, refried beans, fried plantain, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese, guacamole, salsa, and corn tortillas). We were so stuffed, but as I always say, "there is ALWAYS room for dessert." We sang "happy birthday," my brother made a wish as he blew out the candles, and we enjoyed an exquisite vanilla cake with dulce de leche filling and frosting (my choice, of course) from my favorite bakery. I decided to wear a pair of mint pants with a tucked in blouse and cream-colored flats. Today I also decided to go low on make up and just added a layer of foundation to cover up the bags underneath my eyes from the day before and a layer of mascara to make my eyes pop.

{H&M mint pants and blouse, Nine West shoes, Forever21 handbag}

Little Things

This week I came to the conclusion that I am deeply and truly blessed. I realized that sometimes our worries are really insignificant and yet we feel like the world is crashing down on us while in reality we have a million reasons to be thankful. Having a family that loves and cares for me, a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, food to eat, and even waking up every single morning with a brand new opportunity are some of the many things I am thankful for. Despite everything, I am so thankful that I have a family that sticks together through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, and so on. Having only two weeks left of summer vacation, I am so excited for this weekend. This weekend I will be having a little getaway road trip with my father to surprise my cousin (who lives miles and miles away and I hardly see her) on her birthday. I can't wait for my aunt's homemade exquisite Arab food, babysitting my angel-like yet mischievously adorable cousins, and spending one-on-one time with my daddy.

{Target $1 reminder notes}

{Essie Bahama Mama nail polish}

{Homemade Chicken and Spinach Lasagna}

{Forever21 LOVE ring}

Braids for the Summer

Summertime-a time where the days are old and the nights are young (literally, the sun sets at about 9 PM). From the classic side braid, to the braid Lauren Conrad wore during almost every episode of The Hills, I've always thought of braids as a MUST for summer days. Braids make me feel fresh, girly, and somehow pulled together.

 The Beauty Department blog by Lauren Conrad: Rope Braid Chignon

Teen Vogue: Celebrities are going bananas for braids!

*Personal favorites: Anna Sophia Robb and Claire Julien's**











Cupcakes and Cashmere: Fishtail Braid
**Click image for video tutorial!**

Cupcakes and Cashmere: Braided Bun

Classic French Braid made by my lovely mommy