Weekly Favorites

Posts/Sites:

• Take me back to Montauk - Bonnie's swimsuit/overalls combination is adorable!
• Blue Note - Loving the look of blue mascara right now. It's more subtle than using any other vibrant color, but still makes your look bold and playful.
• Jewelry Travel Roll - Tangled necklaces are the absolute worst. This DIY is so practical and cute.

Movies/Television:

• Orphan Black, guys. Orphan Black. This show is so amazing and complex. Tatiana Maslany upstages every actor you call your favorite when she flawlessly plays the part of seven different clones... And then these clones impersonate each other... and man, oh man. This is acting at its finest.

Laguna Beach

I took a trip to Laguna Beach last week and thought I would share some photos I took. Everyone needs to look at some phone-quality beach photos at least once in their life.

I stopped by a store called Fierce that had the most gorgeous dresses (which, as the sales girl was eager to point out, have been seen on Miss Universe, Katy Perry, and Selena Gomez). There was a turquoise crop top that I came so close to buying - it had a lace back and beautiful beading on the front. Very mermaid-like. Plus it was less than $50 and totally worth the splurge. 

But why didn't I buy it, you ask? The second I tried it on I realized the color wasn't going to work with my pale skin tone. Completely washed me out and made me look even pastier! Total bummer.

I really loved the store though, and I hope I can make it back sometime. If you're ever in that area I suggest you pop in. It's lovely!

Eyebrows 101

Eyebrows are something many people forget about when they're doing their makeup, but they're so important! They frame the face, draw attention to the eyes, and play a role in facial recognition. It makes a huge difference to the overall appearance of your face when you fill them in and shape them. 

If you're interested in shaping your brows and cleaning them up, but you've never done anything to them before, I wouldn't recommend tweezing. 

It takes too long if you have a lot of hairs to get rid of, and you could end up going a little tweeze-happy and getting rid of a chunk of your brow.

Getting them professionally waxed is probably the better option, but make sure the salon you go to is hygienic and uses new wax applicators for each customer. You don't want to have your eyebrows waxed with a utensil that was previously used for a bikini wax... ew.

Waxed, tweezed, or just left natural, go ahead and fill in your brows with a light-colored matte powder and finish off with your choice of a clear or tinted brow mascara or gel.

Here's a link to Maskcara's Brow School series. Make sure to read all of the posts, they're very informational and she includes before and afters of people with their eyebrows done. You can really see the difference!

You Have Holes In Your Head

I recently got my cartilage pierced to go along with my double lobe piercings and I'm having so much fun trying out different earring combinations. Something about it is so much less intimidating than layering necklaces, bracelets, or clothing, because there's so little room for error.

If you only have a single lobe piercing (or don't have your ears pierced at all), you can fake your way to the layered earring look with ear cuffs.

Here are some earring combinations I'm loving.

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Collage Mirage

I can't get enough of collages. You try telling me you don't want to make a collage after staring at these lovely pieces of art. I think I may make some to hang on the walls.

I'll share them on the blog if I go through with it. Enjoy!

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Get the Look: Giles Spring 2013 RTW

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Adoring these Giles Spring 2013 RTW looks. The striped shift and sequined collar in the first photo are amazing. I really like the gathering and cut-out skirt in the second. What I'm most inspired by is the way that these two dresses were styled: simple with a punch!

It's so easy to put together an outfit inspired by these two. Throw on a dress (I picked a shift with an eyelet/cut-out pattern - a combination of the photos above!) and pair it with a collared necklace, statement sunnies, Oxfords or creepers, and a bold lip!
 By the way, everything below was under $50 - click the photo to see where they're from!

Stealing Street Style #1

I've come up with a new series that I'm pretty excited about. When I'm out, I often see people wearing amazing outfits, but I soon forget about them because I didn't capture a photo. I've decided to start documenting the specific outfits that catch my eye, and I'll recreate them here with similar items to inspire both you and myself.

The girl who was sporting this outfit caught my attention with the jacket. I've been wanting a similar one for a while now, and I'm always curious to see how others style them. 

Now I know the use of leggings as pants is a pet peeve of many. If that's you and you're not down with the leggings, substitute them for black skinnies.

I think this is a good lazy day outfit, what about you?

Weekly Favorites

Posts/Sites:

• Multicolr Search Lab - This search engine lets you search for images by color. Oh my goodness, I am in love.
• 12 Yoga Poses To Practice On An Airplane - I travel a lot. I'm also really into yoga, and I love trying to squeeze it into my busy days. This is a routine you can do anywhere - at school, the office, etc. (and it'll just look like you're stretching)! 
• Lesson in Layering: Summer Dress - TMR shows us how to layer a piece that many wouldn't consider adding more than a jacket to. It's great inspiration and makes me wonder how I can change up the look of the summer dresses in my closet.
• Moon Phase Shirt Tutorial - Kinsey is a DIY queen. This shirt is amazing and reminds me how far you can get with a tee and some fabric paint.
• Building a Wardrobe Series: Part 2 - Defining Your Style - I always say I'm going to completely revamp and organize my closet. Ask me how many times I actually go through with it. This series makes me want to clean out my closet now.

Movies/Television:

• Vegucated - It's a documentary about three people who decide to go vegan for six weeks. It's truly enlightening and makes you think about where your food comes from. I'm not vegan, or even vegetarian for that matter, but after seeing this film I've been making better choices and being more mindful of what I eat. You can find it on Netflix.

5 DIY Natural Beauty Remedies

I love making my own beauty products. It reminds me of the days in elementary school when my friends and I would make "potions" with household items and soak our feet in them like we were at the spa.

As it turns out, finding your own alternatives to everyday products can have healthful benefits. Natural beats store-bought chemicals any day!

Sunscreen - Skip the chemical-ridden sunscreen and go the natural route: coconut oil. Coconut oil has skin-protecting qualities and was the original ingredient in most sunscreens - before they became overrun with chemicals. Bonus: it smells really good!

Hair Mask - Put coconut oil or olive oil on the ends of your hair (only on the ends to avoid greasy-looking locks) and leave in for at least 45 minutes. You can put the oil on the stove before using and make a hot oil hair treatment, and you can also add bananas or avocados for extra moisture. Add lemon juice or honey to lighten your hair, essential oils to make your hair smell how you like... The possibilities are endless here. Rinse out all of the oil and go about your usual routine with soft, healthy-looking hair.

Acne Spot Treatment - Dab lemon juice on those offending pimples and leave it on overnight. Avoid sun exposure during this time.

Teeth Whitener - Baking soda + hydrogen peroxide + water! Brush with this mixture for whiter teeth. Just be sure not to swallow it, and don't do it every day (especially if your teeth are sensitive).

Face Scrub - Mix baking soda and water into your palms until you create a paste. Gently exfoliate using circular motions and rinse. Your face will be left baby soft!

If you're interested in making more switches to homemade recipes, check out Crunchy Betty's blog! I find amazing new things to try out there, and the good news is that I'm not spending money testing them.

What kind of products do you skip buying and make instead?

My Post-Swimming Haircare Routine

Oh, the pool. How nice is it to cool off after a very hot day?

Here's the thing about me and pools: I cannot keep my hair dry. A lot of girls will put their hair up in top knots and stay in the shallow end to protect their hair, but if I am in the water, I am fully in the water.

And let's just say my hair suffers.

Tangles.

Knots.

Dryness.

Frizz.

Impossible to manage.

After a few summers of getting really sick of this, I've come up with a routine that minimizes the frizz, detangles, smoothes, and softens my hair.

1.  Get out the excess chlorine water - After getting out of the pool, I gently squeeze the water out of the ends of my hair.

2.  Rinse - I hop in the shower and rinse my hair with cold water.

3.  Condition - This part I actually do outside of the shower. I squeeze the water out of my hair again, put a quarter-sized amount of conditioner in my palm (this actually turns into the size of three quarters for me, oops) and rub it all throughout my hair, focusing on my ends and any tangles.

4. Comb - I have to remind myself to be really gentle here, even though I have tangles galore at this point. It's really damaging to brush your hair while wet, so here's how I do it - I comb the last two inches of my hair until it is completely tangle-free and the comb glides through it, and then I move up and do the next two inches, and continue until I get to the roots of my hair and can run the comb down the entire section with ease.

5. Leave it - I don't rinse the conditioner out of my hair after I get all the knots out. I feel like it benefits my hair more if I leave it in. My hair drinks up the conditioner like it's starving, so my hair never looks greasy after this. But if your hair is prone to looking greasy, leave the conditioner in for an hour or two and then rinse it all out.

Summer Feet

Crush (my tortoise) and I are enjoying friendship anklets, toe rings, and bare feet this summer.*

It's an ode to my childhood. I feel like summer is the one time people can get away with wearing childish things on their ankles, painting their nails crazy, mismatched colors, and walking around barefoot.

And anyway, accessories on your feet keep things interesting. Don't let your hands steal all the glory!
*Crush couldn't care less about foot accessories. He just really wanted to bite my toes.

Finish What You Once Started

How often do we start something with so much enthusiasm, only to give up or forget about it soon after?

I recently found this blanket I started to crochet when I was nine and decided to continue it. I mean, what better a time to make this little patriotic blankie than July 4th? Not many 18 year-olds can say they know how to crochet these days. I kind of forget how to do it, and I may decide to turn it into a scarf or a headband instead, but oh well.  It's trial and error, baby. 

It feels really gratifying to work on something I once gave up on. I think that's a good thing to keep in mind.

Today, I challenge you to finish something you once started.

Happy 4th to my fellow Americans!

xoxo, Jen

15+ Ways to Wear Head Scarves

Do you ever buy bandanas and head scarves thinking you're going to wear the crap out of them, only to find them at the back of a drawer three months later?

I'm guilty.

Or maybe you're just looking to get more use out of the scarves you wore to keep warm in the winter.

Guilty again.

Here's a little inspiration if you're in a head scarf rut like I am.

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Basic bun + head scarf combo. Check out the lovely Keiko Lynn's tutorial on how to tie it.

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Gather hair into low ponytail. Pull some fringe out to frame the face and then tie the scarf at the base of your neck.

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Go for the rockabilly look with pin curls, a bun, and a bandana tied in a knot at the top of your head.

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Here Emma tied her scarf in a knot over her hair tie and let the ends hang over the sides. Go for the messy pony like she did, or make it sleek and straight for a preppier vibe.

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Brigette Bardot's updo is given a boho twist by tying it straight back from the forehead.

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To get Nicole Richie's head scarf look, put you hair in a messy half-up bun. Tie the scarf at the base of your neck and let the ends hang free.

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This head scarf is wrapped around the head many times and is finished off with a sweet rosette pattern. Click the link above to find out how to tie it. If the rosette isn't your thing, just tie it in a knot.

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Solange Knowles ties her scarf into a turban. Shirley B. Eniang has a great tutorial on how to tie a scarf similar to this, it's at about the 7:40 mark.

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The turban headband look is adorable and can be worn so many ways. Hair down, hair up, bun, ponytail, braid. Anything goes! Tutorial is in the link above.

And if that wasn't enough inspiration for you, Free People has two really great videos that you may enjoy.

How to Style Scarves by Free People - my favorite is the scarf incorporated in the side braid

Ways to Wear Scarves in your Hair - the first one is really unique and pretty, so make sure you check it out

Get the Look: Mermaid

I have been fascinated by mermaids for as long as I can remember, so it isn't really a surprise that I've embraced the look of beachy hair, flowy clothing, and light ocean blues and greens.

Some mermaid-spiration for you:

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Beachy waves are a necessity for any mermaid look. If your hair is already wavy you can just wake up and spray it with a salt and water mixture. Some of us aren't so fortunate. Here are two youtube tutorials I've found helpful for creating perfect beach hair: curling wand and heatless. For a little something extra, add some well-placed mini braids throughout your hair. Don't be afraid to pull them out a bit and make them messy!

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Check out the colors used on these two Alberta Ferretti beauties. Seafoam green and a light blue, almost periwinkle. Think sheer, flowy fabrics and sequins.

As far as makeup goes, natural is key! Use a tinted moisturizer or BB cream (I use this) and keep your eye makeup simple. Skip the lipstick and go for a clear gloss or balm. Add some bronzer to your cheeks for a sun kissed complexion and you're good to go!

For an easy read by the pool, pick up a copy of Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown. It's a twist on the typical mermaid tale and I flew threw it last summer. I still find myself thinking about it. Give me all the killer mermaid stories.

Leave me a comment if you have any mermaid-related book/film recommendations!

July Inspiration

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Hello There

Welcome to AE, my humble internet abode! I'm Jen and I'm obsessed with all things artsy.

Here you'll find many things that will satisfy your lust for beauty and creativity like fashion, DIY, makeup/hair, and tons of inspiration.

A little bit about me:

- I'm obsessed with Netflix
- I have curly reddish/brown/blonde hair, yet sadly no Ginger freckles
- I love everything about braids
- Warm chocolate chip cookies are my weakness

- I believe in body positivity and self love

I've planned some fun posts for this week to celebrate the start of the blog and I'm excited to share them with you!
xoxo, Jen