How To Fix a Bad Day in 4 Easy Steps

It happens. We all have those days. Maybe something bad happened. Maybe you have so much to do that you can't find the motivation to move at all. Or maybe it's just Monday.
I'll be honest: it happens to me a lot. Sometimes I wallow in it, and lay in my sweats all day eating candy and feeling sorry for myself. Other times I follow these steps to have a better day. It may be a weird system, but if I follow through, I always feel better. Even when it is raining!

1. Turn the Music UP!
Pick something upbeat and turn the beat up. It's ok to dance a little. If you are stuck in an unfortunate situation where this behavior is frowned on, just get out your headphones. Eardrums aren't supposed to last forever, right? Just be sure you don't accidentally make yourself feel worse by playing sad, slow music.

For instance Justin Timberlake's new album has some seriously amazing songs, including this one called "Let the Groove Get In". You can't not dance to this:

2. Wash Your Hands and Feet. Yes, Seriously.
Ok, I know that sounds a little strange. But wait! I have a logical explanation! Hands and feet get the worst of it. Unless you're sleeping, you're probably using your hands, feet, or both.Your poor little fingers and toes have to do everything all day long. So maybe you don't feel like taking a whole, long, relaxing bath. Just perch yourself on the side of the tub and grab a loofah. Show your feet some love. There's something so relaxing about it, and it is so easy. This is why women pay $25 and up for a manicure or pedicure! It's not because we can't paint our own nails. Trust me. Afterward you have nice, comfy, clean hands and feet. It's even better if you apply a generous amount of lotion and let your skin get super soft. Just be sure to take your time with it. Besides, it's sandal season, and cute toes don't look good with dry, sad, tired feet.

So fresh and so clean.
Sandals from Ross $14

3. Put on Something that Makes You Feel Amazing.
They say the better you look, the better you feel. This isn't always true. What matters is if you feel like you look good. That's it. So put on something that makes you feel like you look amazing. Old prom dress? Muscle tee to show off the guns? Tiara? Go for it. Even if you're butt naked. Maybe it's just perfume. Maybe it's lipstick, even if you know you aren't leaving the house. Maybe it's those heels you bought and just can't find an occasion for. Whatever it is, put it on. Try to avoid putting on something just because it's comfortable. This will encourage you to lay around and indulge in your sad state. Besides, most of us don't look in the mirror in baggy sweats and say "Damn, I look hot. Now I feel like accomplishing things!"

Pink lipstick with glitter and my boyfriend's T-shirt. I feel amazing. 

I doubt I'd leave the house in this, but I feel great wearing it!
Leggings and crop top from Forever21. Homemade tutu :)

4. Create Something!
Whoa, hold on. You said this was easy? It is. Now that you have clean comfy hands and feet, and you're jamming out to 80's music wearing nothing but underpants and a tiara, you get to be creative. This doesn't mean you have to draw a picture, but that's certainly an option.
Here are some ideas:
Decorate a wall or small area of your house
Cook something delicious
Write a poem-no one has to ever see it!
Write a plan to do something (like make a new product or take a trip)
Paint- it doesn't have to be great. It will make you feel good though.
Put together an outfit
Do your makeup totally crazy
Make a collage
Make up a new song
Start a blog!

There are about a million different ways to be creative, but the point is that the process of creating something is rewarding. If I watch a movie, or look at stuff on pinterest all evening I come away with a sense of loss wondering "where did my time go?" But if you create something you can look at it and know that you accomplished something. Even if you aren't 100% happy with the end result, the process is inspiring, and will push you forward to cross the things off your list that seemed insurmountable before. You may be surprised what you can do. Often times my mini projects turn out better than expected!

Some fabric I hung on the wall. Just happens to look a lot like a heart!

A drawing I made for my boyfriend's birthday. I felt so accomplished afterwards. 

I had a brochure for an art show which I cut up and framed. Recently I added some editorials around it.
Inspiration!

So there you have it. Those are the 4 steps I take when I have a bad day. They can be done in a very fashionable way, or the not at all. I hope they work for you too!
Thanks for reading.
XOXO

Emerald City Inspiration

I spent the day in Seattle. Capitol Hill. Downtown. Inspiration comes from around you if you choose to look. Talk to people. Listen to what they say.

About the Look

Where feminine meets its dark side. A pretty top with pops of soft and bright pink and a pair of combat boots. When these worlds collide people will let you know how they feel about it. Just watch. 

Boots: Steve Madden-Nordstrom Rack

Leggings: Ross

Leg Garter: DIY (post coming soon!)

Shirt: Forever 21

Accessories: Various- Nordstrom, Forever 21, Burlington Coat Factory, Hot Topic, vintage, and more.

Thanks for reading!

Xoxo

Newspaper Nails DIY

This might just be the easiest nail tutorial I've done yet.

What You'll Need:

• Fingernails
• A light nail polish color of your choice
• Rubbing alcohol
• Q-tips
• A newspaper
• Topcoat

What To Do:

• Paint two coats of the light color onto your nails and let it dry. 

• Select an article or section of the paper and tear off a small piece.

WWD (of course)

• Use a Q-tip to apply rubbing alcohol to the surface of your nail.

• Firmly press the newspaper against your nail.

• The ink will transfer onto your nail like this:

• Add a topcoat and you're done!

SO EASY!

Enjoy :)

xoxo

Paint Your Own Graffiti T-shirt Tutorial

Inspiration comes from everywhere. The inspiration for this project came from a combination of 2 things: working for a company that specializes in screen printing, and coming up with ideas for shirts that I don't have the capability to make. Until now.

Now I am not about to start tooting my horn about my artistic powers, because honestly I am not an artist in the conventional sense. I am not excellent at drawing, painting or sculpture, although I dabble for creative satisfaction. But this was something I knew I could do. 

Here's how I did it. 

What You'll Need:

• Fabric Paint-available at most craft stores. I actually picked this up at Walmart.

• A shirt of your choice. I used an old one I had laying around. 

• A piece of paper or cardboard- I used a paper bag from fast food. Classy, I know. 

Kitty!

• Brushes and a pallete. I used a plate covered with saran wrap. I would get chalk too, but I didn't have any.

What To Do:

• Figure out exactly how you want your design to look. Make sure to have the design handy so you can look back at it as you start your brushwork. 

My design. 

• If you have chalk use that to map out where you will be putting the paint. I didn't so I just had to be careful. I did a once over with very thin lines instead of chalk. 

• Go for it! It will probably take two coats to cover all the thin spots. Just be careful. Move slowly and steadily. 

• Let it dry overnight and wear it out for everyone to see! 

How I wore it. 

About My Design: 

You may be wondering how I decided on the design I chose. Well, my boyfriend is a graffiti artist, and he has taught me a lot about the specific art form, as well as the culture associated with it. It's all very interesting, but as someone who is motivated by the way things look (fashion!) I find it to be especially pleasing aesthetically. The entire topic of graffiti is an interesting one because as a whole, popular culture loves graffiti for it's aesthetic pleasures. Graffiti is highly glamorized in photography, fashion, and art. But when someone paints on the side of a building, everyone hates graffiti, and it is seen only as a crime. Like I said, it's interesting, because graffiti isn't about painting in a controlled environment, or even selling it for money. It's about spreading art in a rebellious way. I think our country could use more art, but there's a fine line between artwork, and just vandalism. If you're going to paint on something, make it look good! 

Anyway,  I chose a graffiti font for the letters because I find graffiti interesting, and fun to look at. But there is more to the story. I made the letter 'A' into an anarchy symbol, and the 'O' into a sad/sick face. This is obviously not because I have a poor view of fashion. Moreover it is because fashion is chaotic. It is a monster that consumes so many, especially those that try to resist it. On the inside of my left arm I have a variation of a quote by an American essayist and poet Logan Pearsall Smith:

"She who goes against fashion is herself its slave"

The quote really spoke to me, and I felt it was a perfect fashion tattoo. The meaning is that if you try to go against fashion, you have to know what is fashionable. This ideology played into the choice of the letters on the shirt as well. All in all, I'm happy with the way the shirt came out. I know the message is not clear to the person who just sees the shirt. It just looks like an oximoron: a fashionable girl wearing a fashionable shirt that appears to condemn fashion. But you and I know what it means ;) It can be our secret.

Thanks so much for reading!

Xoxo