Friday, October 31, 2014

Favorites: October


October is coming to an end, so I decided that (since I haven't done one in a while) a 'favorites' post was due. These are just a couple things I have been absolutely loving throughout October, and will probably continue to love for much longer.

#1
White High-top Converse
I wear these shoes pretty much everyday. They are perfect for casual days but you could even get away with wearing them with something nicer like a dress or a skirt...just maybe not too fancy.

#2
Essie Licorice Nail Polish
I tend to be afraid of wearing any nail polish color that isn't black or some shade of blue, so this classic essie color lasts super long (which is great since I am a huge nail biter) and even when it does chip, it still looks pretty awesome.

#3
A to Z
I have recently started to watch a ton of TV shows, like a little bit too many, but one show that I love is called A to Z with Ben Feldman and Cristin Milioti (who I loved from How I Met Your Mother). It is basically a show about the relationship between these two characters Andrew and Zelda, hence 'A' to 'Z', and is a super cute entertaining comedy. You should all start watching it.


#4
Sudoku App
I know this sounds weird but when I was younger, like probably around age 8 or something, I loved playing Sudoku. For those of you who don't know is a logic-based number-placement puzzle game. The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 sub-grids that compose the grid contains all of the digits from 1 to 9. Anyways, I was obsessed with it and would play it in the on an airplane...pretty much everywhere. So a couple weeks ago I decided to get a sudoku app and haven't been able to put it down since. ;)


#5
Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick
in color Courtisane 02

and


#6

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
I was very inspired this fall to try out a darker red lipstick color. This stuff stays on all day and barely looses its color. I only had to re-apply like once through the whole day. It was just really fun to wear, and it made it really feel like autumn outside.
For the eyeshadow, I found that the pink colors worked perfectly for my skin tone and they are light enough that if you want to create a subtle eye look it is easy to do, and also easy to build up for a darker look.



















#7

Madewell
I have recently become a huge Madewell fan. Although the clothing there is super super SUPER expensive, I could spend hours in the store walking around and just admiring everything. Their jeans are amazing, and their sales are actually not half bad. You could get a reasonably priced shirt that is super cute and really high quality, so that price is totally worth it.
#8
DevaCurl anGel
If any of you have curly hair, then you can understand the struggle of finding the right hair product for your type of curls. I began using this product this month and the difference between what my hair used to look like and how it looks now is so substantial that I am never going back. The anGel product is a hair gel but it doesn't make my hair crusty and lasts literally 24 hours. It also works for any type of curl, so if you need a new product try this out.


xoxoxo
Nina



Song stuck in my head right now: Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee 


Friday, October 24, 2014

Helpful Tips: 4 Ways to Wear a V-Neck and Jeans


This post is pretty self explanatory. I designed four different ways that you can style a plain white V-Neck and a pair of blue jeans. 
Enjoy :)






Which style are you most likely to wear? Comment below.



xoxoxo
Nina



Song stuck in my head right now: Distance - Christina Perri


Friday, October 3, 2014

Helpful Tips: Selfie

The word 'Selfie' is now in the dictionary. I am pretty sure that I have never met anyone (other than my dad) who has never taken a selfie before. 
There is now a distinction between a good and a bad selfie, so here are my 'tips' for taking a 'good' selfie.



1. Find good lighting. The light will hide the ugly face your making. 


2. Find the right angle for your face. (Not that you don't spend enough time in front of the mirror already)


3. The less your face is in the picture, the better. 


4. USE A FILTER!! 



Here are some more examples of selfies I have taken in the past. Enjoy!












xoxoxo
Nina



Song stuck in my head right now: Wannabe - Spice Girls

Friday, September 19, 2014

Healthy Habits: Cold Brew Oatmeal




I am always trying to find easy ways to have a healthier lifestyle. I will admit that I am not always the most conscious eater, and I don't love playing sports so I don't exercise often enough. That is why I have decided to tell you all about some fun, easy, and stress-free ways to keep up a healthier lifestyle.

A big part of being healthy is eating right. When I'm packing my lunch for school I can pay closer attention and have better control over what I eat throughout the day. Lately, I have been taking the same thing every day, and that is a cold brew oatmeal. What it is, is an oatmeal that doesn't need to be cooked -- it just sits in milk overnight and then by lunch time it is ready to eat, so this is perfect for school lunches. Then, along with the oatmeal you can add any fruit, nuts or just about anything that you like to eat with your oatmeal. 
So here is how I make my cold brew oatmeal.



Step #1
Put half a cup of oats in a jar
(it can be any amount you choose really, but don't fill the jar up to high or you won't have room for anything else)



Step #2
Put half a cup of the milk of your choice in the jar - I use almond milk 
(or just add the same amount you did for the oats)


Step #3
Add 1 teaspoon of chia seeds
Chia is like one of the healthiest things ever! click here for more details


Step #4
Add 1 teaspoon of flax seed (also super healthy)


What it looks like so far...


Step #5
Add some shredded coconut


Step #6
Add slivered almonds


Step #7
Add dried blueberries


Step #8
Add dried cranberries


Step #9
Add fresh strawberries 


Step #10
Let the oatmeal sit overnight... and then ENJOY!



Remember, what I add into my oatmeal is just my preference and is a suggestion, feel free to either follow the exact instructions or play around with the type of food you like. Anything goes.


xoxoxo
Nina


Song stuck in my head right now: Shake it off - Taylor Swift.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Music Cravings: Lewis Watson - The Morning




Lewis Watson is a British singer/songwriter. His newest album 'The Morning' was released in July this summer. This is his first album, beforehand he had only put out EPs. His voice is a mixture between Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles, but his music style is unique in his own way. 
His songs are mostly acoustic, and since he writes them himself they are about his life and his feelings. Lewis Watson started off by posting a video on YouTube, and soon enough was noticed by the music industry. 
Before his album, his music was bare-boned with just him and his guitar. On 'The Morning' Lewis uses more instruments and layers both the music, and the vocals with more background singers. His album consists of music from his old EPs and new songs. For example, 'Into the Wild' is the same version on the EP. Luckily, even though the production is a step up for the album, It doesn't interfere with Lewis's unique talent. Two of my favorite songs on the album, 'Stay' and 'Halo' are great examples of how Lewis's style has matured and how his talent has grown. 
I am a hug fan of Lewis Watson's, and am FINALLY going to his concert on October 30. I love everything about him. His voice, his music, his lyrics, and...he is pretty cute :)
I really recommend listening to him. He is great. 




Here is a link to Halo and Stay from the new album

xoxoxo
Nina



Song stuck in my head right now: Fall For You - Secondhand Serenade

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Friday, September 5, 2014

Look Book: Back to School OOTD


Summer break is officially over and school is back on track. So, it only makes sense for me to show you what I wore the first week of classes. Everyone knows that when summer ends, it means back to school shopping for supplies and the latest trends. For me, it's just all about making a good first impression. What I wear needs to make me feel confident and express my personality... and I also need to like it :) . 
These are the first week of school outfits that did just that. 
 If there is an outfit you especially like (or maybe don't like) let me know in a comment below. Also, if this is a type of post you like it would be really helpful if you let me know, or you can give me ideas for something you might rather see. 

Anyways, these are my back to school OOTDs. 



Day 1

Shirt - Zara
Pants - Anthropologie
Shoes - Zappos




Day 2
Shirt - Gap
Pants - DIY/thrift store
Socks - J-crew
Shoes (Brand) - Vans




Day 3
Shirt - SOWA Sundays (arts fair)
Pants - Urban Outfitters
Socks - J-crew
Shoes (brand) - Vans



Day 4
Shirt - Target
Pants - Anthropologie
Shoes - Target



 Day 5
Jacket - Urban Outfitters
Dress - Madewell
Shoes - Target




Hope you all loved going back to school!

xoxoxo
Nina


Song stuck in my head right now: Nina - Ed Sheeran 

Friday, August 22, 2014

Life Update: Camp and Growing Up


Hello again internet. Nice to finally see you after two whole months. Why have I avoided you for so long, might you ask? Well, if you had read my last post way back in June, you would know that I spent my summer at sleep away camp. This year had been my seventh year at camp, but unfortunately my last year as a camper (I can always go back to be a counselor) *tear*. 
Camp to me is a place where I get to learn about myself and experience parts of who I am that I may not get to see anywhere else.
This past week was my… 16th Birthday, and when school starts I will be going into my junior year of high school. What this means is that I have to start doing the dreaded. Taking the SATs, touring colleges, and worst of all…figuring out what I want to do with my life. For years, I thought I had my whole life figured out, but now that I really need to know, I have no idea. I know that I am interested in art, but I am not sure if I want to go to an art school or not. I also know that I like music but am not sure if I really want to study about that. I know that a lot of 16 year olds all go through this type of thing, but I just wish I could have it all figured out. 
Camp this summer, was the best possible experience I could have 
had leading into the year. I have learnt so much about myself through the friends I made and the connections I continued. We focused a lot on leadership skills, and figuring out our roles in groups. I don't exactly know what I want to do in college but I am a bit closer than I was before. 
Music is also something huge that I get to do a lot of at camp, and not so much at home. I have decided to post this video of me performing so that I can share another part of me on the blog. The video isn't best quality but I would just really appreciate it if even one person just took the time to listen to me.

Also (just because I always do) here are some pictures I took during the summer.

















and, or course, a few polaroids with my friends

              
                        


So, I am back and actually 16


xoxoxo
Nina


Song stuck in my head right now: I know - Meaghan Smith