No one has new ideas

I heard it once said, that Shakespeare covered every story line that ever could be and today's movies and books really just try to interpret them in different ways. The more I think of it the more it seems to be true, no one has new ideas. People like to think they have something new to say, but everything is really just recycled with different vocabulary or euphemisms to appeal to their generation.
If you look at something long enough, anything, you can make it seem new or trendy with different ways of describing it. Lets take an ash tray and build its character; the crude ashtray, no too common... The outspoken ashtray... Again common.... The unabashed ashtray the Brazen ashtray the non- disconcerted ash tray, the farther we drive our vocabulary from our present generation or tone, the more interesting the character becomes. So again I state there are no new ideas, just different ways of stating them. I challenge you to find a storyline based not following a basic principal of a Shakespearean play. We only recycle ideas with different words to make them our own.

The lazy fashionista

Fall is my favorite time of year for fashion, and it's so obvious why! The weather is cool enough to layer, not cold enough for a full on parka, scarves boots and pea-coats are back, and every neutral color is in full swing (which, if you know me, you know I LIVE in neutrals). However there is a sad, dangerous half of fall fashion. Yes my dear readers, many have the temptation to throw on sweat pants and hoodies and *shudder* ugg boots every day. I admit, I am guilty, I hate myself for it. But for those of us who are super lazy and want to be bundled up in a mess of sweat shirt material all day, fear not! I am the laziest of them all, but I have learned how to disguise it.

When it comes to clothes, although sweats seem like a good idea, let me give you some just as easy-just as lazy alternatives.

1. Leggings, Leggings, Leggings!

My Staple for fall wear. They feel like pj's, they match everything, you can wear flats, boots, whatever you want with them. Get a couple pairs of black leggings and you will feel like you are running errands in sweats, but look a heckofalot better!

See; THIS

Is just as easy and comfortable as throwing yourself into an outfit that only basketball players should be seen in. 

2.Scarves

Maybe I'm the only one with this problem, but when fall comes around and my skin doesn't see the sun as much, my foundation is a little too dark and my neck doesn't match as well, ugh! However, if you don't want to take the time to dust bronzer on your neck (and I KNOW no one who is reading this would ever DREAM of getting in a human microwave known as a tanning bed...) just throw a scarf over your neck and voila! A gorgeous, fun, cozy accessory that covers how you woke up 30 minutes late. 

Another great use for a scarf;you can throw your hair into a messy bun and look totally chic with a big cozy accessory around your neck, and it looks more deliberate than one of those ugly-as-hell athletic headbands girls insist on wearing. 

3. Boots

Boots are one of my favorite things on this entire planet!!! If you know me, you know I wear them all year round, appropriate or not. I don't care if it's 104 outside, I'll be rockin boots. Accept it. Fall comes around and it's finally ok to wear them day after day! Pair with black leggings or skinny jeans, and you look put together and cozy. PLUS you can wear ridiculous warm socks underneath them and no one will know! Flat boots are super comfortable and warm for every day, and boots with a heel are my favorite, and for those of you who don't wear heels often, are way easier to walk in.

Hair&Makeup for the lazy  

Lucky for all of us late risers, natural hair texture is super trendy right now! And thank goodness, in the summer my hair melts and gets frizzy, but in the fall, as long as you condition, you can just sleep on it and go! Or sleep in braids. Also, like mentioned before, pair a usually-unflattering messy bun with a fabulous scarf and you're golden! Hats are another friend to the lazy-fall-fashionista! Make sure you try on a hat before purchasing it, and have a friend show you a picture of all angles so you don't look like you were just throwing it on (even if you were)

Makeup can be a little heavier this time of year (yay!) but it doesn't have to be. No time to do your face? Slap on some mascara and a dark lip color and you look *fabulous* with basically NO effort. Dark lip colors are popular in the fall, and can make your face look deliberate, instead of lazy. 

Hoodies

I know, I know, hoodies are given a bad rap. But I still live for them! However, be careful how you wear them so you don't look like a teenage girl (even if you are, come on, you're better than that!)

Go for a hoodie with a good fit, bigger & longer with leggings, tighter and more t-shirt like with jeans. PLEASE do not put ugg boots with either of these. It just makes me sad.

Maxi Skirts/Dresses
Obviously when fall rolls around, I refuse to shave my legs every day, rub bronzer on them, or anything that takes time that I had to do all summer. I LOVE maxi dresses for this reason! First of all, it feels like you're wearing a tent, secondly, they look chic, if plain and (obviously) in a neutral color.

This is also JUST AS EASY as sweats! Actually, It's EASIER because it's ONE piece of clothing! *also notice the lazy girl's hat!* This took 5 minutes, I promise.

If your as lazy as I am, you give yourself about 10 minutes to get ready for the day. Make good choices, people! Fall is the BEST time of year for fashion, don't abuse it!

How to be a broke-fashionista 101

A lot of people are astounded when I tell them "this purse was $4 on clearance" Or yes, these Abercrombie jeans were $10. I have "worked" years and years at perfecting my bargain hunting strategy, and after a lifetime of slavery to fashion, I am telling my secrets to you!

First of all, keep a list of the things you see that you reeeallly want. A lace dress, a denim jacket, black skinny's, the things that are staples in your closet. I am attaching a checklist of basics every girl should have. There are some things that I will splurge on, but by splurge I mean pay full price for, not splurge as in over $40 worth.

 

The best places to find bargains are pretty obvious, Forever 21, Target, Wet Seal, the stores that jump out as regular places to check. But learning the system of sales and decoding the clutter of second hand stores will assist you greatly!

Always buy one season ahead for trendy items, and one season behind for staples. Before what you crave becomes wildly popular. When stores introduce something new they usually have ridiculous sales on the items, and no one wants them yet. Why buy shorts in March? Most people ask. But not you, because you are savvy. I remember when boyfriend jeans first came out I saw some cute outifts in Vogue and decided to pick up a pair from Pacsun. They were not in the front of the store, and on sale so I paid $12 for them. 2 months later, a  few of my college friends wanted them and they had the price back up to $45! And every other store too! So I looked like a trend setter, and paid hardly anything. Boom.

When it comes to buying staples, wait until exactly what you want goes on mega-clearance. In the winter (late November-February) buy jean shorts that fit you perfectly, short plain dresses, skirts, sandles, etc. When you buy neutral colors and basic cuts they will NEVER go out of style and you can find what fits you perfectly for super cheap.
In Spring, buy peacoats, jeans, boots, and sweaters. Summer is a great time to check out the second hand stores, because people are cleaning/moving/getting rid of crap. When navigating through a second hand store, just remember that you HAVE to dig to find treasures. Some second hand stores have a  "just in" rack, which can be good, but picked over. A lot of times things are put in the wrong sections, so always skim the children's and men's department. You can't just confine to your department, search the entire place. I have found some of my favorite blouses in the kid's section!
If you are going to splurge, splurge on basic bootcut jeans, white t's, black t's, neutral skirts and dresses, pea coats, trench coats, things that we have seen since the 60's. When it comes to trendy items and accessories, GO CHEAP! It doesn't matter if it was $6 at Forever 21, that color and style will be done by the time you wear it out anyways. If you buy basics you love, you can wear accessories to show your individual style.

Now, here are some of my best secrets;

Women's clothing and accessories at Target go on clearance on Thursdays.

TJ Maxx gets new shipments on Tuesdays and Thursdays (most the purses come Tuesday)

Forever 21 has cheap versions of almost EVERY style they sell (for real, I asked a manager once) so if you see something you love in the front of the store, look next to where it is on display, or in the back.

NEVER shop in the front of the store first, head to the back and work your way forward.
Check in stores you wouldn't think of for your style of clothes, I have found some gems in Hot Topic, Dillards, and Ann Taylor.

If you are buying jeans, we all know they warp after washing and a little wear, so TRY to find them second hand! Plato's closet is my favorite because they are current, and very picky about what they buy. Plus you can always find buckle jeans, Abercrombie Jeans, etc. for $30 or LESS.

When buying bras/panties/beauty products from Victoria's Secret. Hit up their semi-annual sale about a week after Christmas!!! You will find RIDICULOUS deals! I load up on beauty and panties for the entire year. Also, make SURE you sign up with Pink Nation. They will send you coupons for totally FREEEEE panties once a month, or MORE depending on how much you go in. And ALWAYS entire your email address when you checkout! They will send you more FREE stuff! Their coupons are amazing. I went through 3 years of college, wearing only Victoria's secret panties and NEVER paid for a pair! I still have about 30 pairs, some with the tags still on them. All 100% free.


I hope this has helped all of you broke-fashionistas! Probably will have more to come soon, but here's a start to your savvy-shopping!

The spirit of youth is captured by those who live how Rock&Roll makes us feel.

It’s terrifying to me to think that these days won’t last forever. These days of being young. The late nights, free choices, and lack of true responsibility will one day come to a close, probably sooner than I think. I can’t stand to think of what those days will look like. I want to live like this forever, with a little more money of course. I want my body to stay the same, without taking care of it. I want to fit in wearing all black and ripped up jeans. I want the messy, grungy feeling of too much eyeliner&leftover hairspray.

I love waking up still in my makeup, the stench of the night before on me, going and drinking a strong cup of coffee at noon, only to repeat the process again and again. I don’t want the party to end. I want to live how music makes us feel forever, with my best friends beside me.

"Urban Therapy"

Sometimes I find the best way to clear my mind is to go join the hustle&bustle of a city. You don’t even have time to think about what’s in your own head, there are so many other things to think on! The people walking by, the hippies on the benches, the rich ladies the poor venders and everyone chatting and walking with a purpose.
No one there knows you’re only there to be distracted for a few hours and drink as much coffee as possible.

 I never realized what a vital part of my quarter life therapy the city was until I moved to West Plains, oh goodness how I miss it!
Putting on a warm trench coat and a pair of heels;to see no one in-particular, walking, shopping, sitting and watching until I had my fill. The best part of “Urban Therapy” is the more you walk around, notice and soak in, the more you realize the World is so much bigger then where you are right now. There are millions of people to see! And you realize how young you are! You feel stronger, like you don’t need anyone else besides bunches of aimless faces. Life just gets bigger and better the more people you let open your eyes.

Well....here it is folks!

I haven’t been single since I was 18 (and I’m 22). I mean, not really. I thought I had found the love of my life, not once, but twice. They ran so closely together (literally, like a week) that I didn’t give myself any time to learn how to stand on my own 2 feet (stupid of me, I know). Now for the first time in my adult life I am completely unattached and it’s a huge change. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t scary. I have always thought of myself as strong and independent, but the truth is I was strong on somebody else’s arm. It’s so hard not to have anyone to say goodnight to, or to make plans with, or to say I love you to. And the worst part is that I have never learned how to have my heart-broken so when the guy I loved so much (was practically ready to marry) decides it’s over out of nowhere, without warning, and moves on like a normal person does, it’s hard for me to understand.
But the best revenge I can think of is to be stronger than I ever thought I could be.
I am still going to go the places we used to go together, I am still going to talk to our mutual friends, I’m finally going to learn exactly who I am and I’m going to be pleasantly surprised at how powerful  I really am.

I forgot about me!

When you are first with someone, every moment you have with that person is the best part of that day. There is so much to learn about your love, their thoughts their musical opinions, so many new things to laugh at together and yes, lots of kisses. But as you move on in the relationship it becomes slightly more routine, not in a bad way but there is naturally a break in the excitement. Even though my boyfriend is my best friend, and I am more and more crazy about him each day, it seems that a little space makes a huge difference in staying in the "honeymoon stage" or become stale. Derived from the second Sex and the City movie, Carrie and Big said they could make their own rules in their marriage and take a day or two a week just to themselves and that made them so much more happy when they were together. This is a powerful lesson that I am starting to learn,
I forgot about me!
I forgot I need time to sit around and drink coffee, I forgot I love to watch pointless tv and just walk around singing all by myself. I love being my own best friend once in awhile, and who made up the rules for dating anyway?