WHEN IN AVILLA BEACH
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURES
My morning was supposed to start with a flight from Boise, ID to San Jose, CA. My afternoon would be spent on a connecting flight to LAX and then to San Luis Obispo.
Instead, we hopped off of the plane in San Jose, rented a car, and decided to take the scenic route on Highway 101 all the way to San Luis Obispo. Along the way, we stopped to shop.
OK… We stopped every 5 miles.
Stay tuned for more outfits, adventures, and California dreamin’!
HELLO BEAUTIFUL, SCHOOL IS OUT
Finals are over!
I have just completed my third, and final year, at Boise State University, and I will be transferring to Columbia College in Chicago for the fall semester.
But this summer… I’m all yours!
Check back with me as I document traveling, working, and getting ready for my big move all while looking cute and trying to stay stress free!
THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS
| Tank top: Old Navy | Necklace: Forever 21 | Skirt: H&M | Wedges: Forever 21 | Bangle: Swarovski | Bracelet: Urban Outfitters | Purse: Michael Kors |
DIY: EDGY LEGGINGS
We all love leggings! I mean, what’s to hate? They are comfortable, versatile, and light weight. What if I told you that just because it’s starting to get hot outside doesn’t mean you have to ditch your leggings for the summer? Cut up your leggings this season and show some skin while staying comfortable!
Materials Needed:
- Leggings (any color, fabric or pattern)
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Chalk or Graphite (optional)
Slashed Leggings
You can catch these leggings on some of the hottest celebs, like Kylie Jenner. This simple cut will give any look an edge.
1.Lay your leggings on a flat surface.
2. On the sides of your leggings, start at the top and measure and mark with chalk or graphite as many cuts as you would like 1/2 inch apart from each other. These cuts can vary in length or be identical. Do not cut too long of a line because the leggings will stretch and make your cuts longer.
3. Instead of cutting a straight line cut a small carrot shape out. This will show more skin.
4. This is what the leggings should look like after you are done cutting.
Cut & Tie
This technique is a little more complicated than the slash cut, but a little practice makes perfect! Try this on an old T-shirt to master the weaving technique before you touch your leggings. With this style, you can go with large or small cuts. I recommend making larger cuts for a bigger design. If you vary the sizes of your cuts, your design will be one of a kind.
1. Lay your leggings on a flat surface.
2. On the sides of your leggings, start at the top and measure and mark however many cuts you desire 1/2 inch apart from each other. It is very important that your first cut is the smallest. If this cut is too big you will have a large hole at the top of the design. Make the first cut 1/3 inch long.
3. The cuts you make from here on out can be as long or as short as you would like them to be. I prefer starting with short cuts toward the top and bottom then cutting larger slits in the middle. Continue to cut straight across on the marks you’ve made.
4. After making all of your cuts unfold your leggings so that the design you made is in the center of the leg.
5. Slide your finger under the top loop and curl it over and under the second loop pulling the second loop under the top loop. Then pull the second loop over the top loop.
NOTICE: The top loop is being held by my right hand and the bottom loop is being pulled through with my left hand. Let go of the top loop (right hand) and continue onto step 6.
6. Repeat by taking the third loop under the second loop and pulling it over as you let go of the second loop. Repeat this with every loop.
7.When you get to the final loop make an additional cut below then cut the loop you are holding on to.
8. Tie each end to the sides of the new loop you have created.
If you have any questions comment below or email natinthecity@gmail.com
Must Try of the Week: PlumHill
PlumHill Pure Body Essentials
I’m very picky when it comes to the products that I put on my skin. PlumHill pure body essentials offer natural sugar scrubs, cremes, oils, and the amazing Tamanu Oil.
My PlumHill beauty routine: After exfoliating my body with the sugar scrub I moisturize with the Body Creme. This dynamic duo pairs wonderfully together to brighten and smooth even the roughest parts of my skin. The Sugar Scrub is natural, addictive and gentle enough to be used on my face too! After cleansing my face with the scrub I apply the Tamanu Oil which rebuilds skin tissue and leaves my face feeling so smooth and clean.
Show your body some love and get your skin ready for summer with this amazing line of beauty care products! Check out PlumHill at the I Will Journey Women’s Show May 11 in Boise!
Countdown (3 days): Beauty On Break!
How ever could you top off your fabulous style this spring break? Make-up time ladies!
Follow these exciting spring beauty trends! Pulled straight from the runway at Fashion Week, you are sure to look fierce!
Lips: Spring cleaning! Time to rev up our lips with a bright orange and hot pink hue. Achieve a sexy look with a glossy plum wine colored lip. For those looking for a little twist combine pink and orange hues.
Liner: We all love the cat eye look, and thank goodness that it’s here to stay! But it’s also time for a precise line with a little smudge. For a night out or day spent shopping stick to a classic line and dark lipstick. Spring is also bringing aqua blue and green to your eyes. Durring the day go for a playful look with a blue shaddow and liner.
Brows: Bold, beautiful and a little avant-garde – Our brows are getting a huge upgrade this season. Be careful with this one ladies, spring calls for big and edgy but ease into it by filling in your eyebrows with a matching shade to create a bolder look.
Shadow: Smokey eye out, multi-colored in! Embrace spring’s love for the neon shades such as green, pink, orange and blue. Mix and match your favorite colors and top it off with thick lashes and a colored liner on your bottom lash line. Also try lining your upper lid and lower lash line with your favorite color. 
Lashes: Think Twiggy! The mod lash is back in, time to emphasize your lashes. Try false lashes and layering CoverGirl Clump Crusher over them.
Skin: You may have a lot going on as far as eyes, lips, and eye brows go, so keep your skin clean and fresh!
Nails: While the colors of spring are loud and daring, the color of our nails may mellow out the situation. Pale nails are the perfect match to your bright hued and boldly shaded style.
Product
Lip color: CoverGirl Outlast
Lip gloss: N.Y.C. “Lippin’ Large”
Eye shadow: Urban Decay “Kiddie Pool” – Dior “Metallic Blue”
Eye liner: Maybelline “Master Precise” – Sephora “Marine”
Mascara: Maybelline “Volum’Express the Rocket Mascara”
Blush: Wet n Wild “Mega Glo”
Don’t Trip Mint Chocolate Chip!
I have been obsessed with mint everything lately, probably because it’s close to a Tiffany blue and who doesn’t love Tiffany? I thought I would try something different and pair it with black. A little edge and a little class never looked so delicious.
Black: Sinful Color
Mint: L’Oréal
Countdown (7 days): So Many Stripes, So Little Time!
SO many Stripes! by sweetsnobsociety featuring a rose shirt
Aquilano.Rimondi a line dress, $1,715 / Motel cotton sundress, $58 / Opening Ceremony striped t shirt / Warehouse over sized sweater, $61 / Oasis shell top, $45 / River Island black and white stripe shirt, $30 / Rose shirt, $20 / Striped shirt / Crop top, $18 / Plus size blouse / Balmain blazer, $2,565 / Pocket vest, $20 / Raoul highwaist shorts / Tory Burch / River Island black and white shorts, $53 / Stripe maxi skirt / Rare London , $48 / Jane Norman midi skirt, $30 / Penny Loves Kenny yellow espadrille / Cross body handbag, $7.57
Prints of all sorts are calling spring’s name, but one print in particular has fashion lovers, and myself going crazy!
Big, bold, and beautiful stripes are the key to mastering a fierce look.
Even though black and white stripes are a little Beetle juice and jail house looking they are the colors of spring. Incorporate neon colors with accessories to spice up your monochromatic outfit if you are feeling too drab with black and white.
The runways at fashion week were covered in full on striped ensembles as well as striped accents. Dress subtly with a striped crop top or emulate your favorite designers from Fashion Week and go full out.
My spring break must have has to be striped pants. They have everyone staring with their daring and edgy look. Pair them with neon colored wedges or heels for a night out. Dress them down with a black chiffon top or a white blouse tucked in with neon sandals for a casual look. I love mixing in colorful jewelery with a bold print like this.
Striped pants by sweetsnobsociety featuring wedge shoes
Rebecca Taylor aztec shirt / Wal G shoulder cut out top, $18 / Vero Moda slim fit pants, $62 / G by Guess wedge shoes / DV by Dolce Vita neon pink sandals / Valentino neon pink sandals, $785 / Splendid wedge sandals / Heart necklace / Lizzie Fortunato
The Writing On My Jeans
Everyone always asks me how and when I started to have a love for fashion. So I thought I would share a little story with you guys….
I think I was 10. I had these bell-bottom jeans with writing all over them. I thought they were the coolest thing ever, so did my mom. My dad wouldn’t let me out of the house with them on, so I would sneak them out.
Paired with a metallic purple leather jacket and pink velour Dr. Marten boots, I was definitely something to look…. I mean, stare at.
In second grade I wore a cow print skirt with fishnets and a Tina Turner looking wig for Halloween and I was “me” or “Tina Turner” or what ever got me the weirdest look.
I was always that goofy kid that you couldn’t quite understand.
I toned my style down a bit when I got into high school. I just moved from Orange County, CA to Boise, ID and to say it was a culture shock, is a huge understatement.
It wasn’t until my freshman year of college that my style transformed into something sophisticated and unique. I started to appreciate the more technical side of fashion such as the language, theories and trends. Before I knew it, I was writing fashion and telling everyone what to wear.
Countdown (12 days): Practice Safe Sun, In Style
The sun is out and protection has never looked so hot! I’m talking sunglasses, of course. Everyone has a unique face shape the most common types are: round, square, heart and oval.
Round: Try a pair of square sunglasses. These large frames will have a slimming effect and add definition to your cheeks.
Square: With their curvaceous and organic shape, round frames will soften the angles of a square face. The cateye frame also looks great!
Heart: You cannot go wrong with a cateye frame for a heart shaped face, and these are the sunglasses to indulge in this spring. There are so many funky styles of the cateye that this frame can almost work for every face shape, but undoubtably is a heart’s best friend. Square frames also go great with a heart shape.
Oval: Oh Jackie, “O!” If you have an oval shaped face, it’s time to get your “Jackie O” on! These curvaceous and broad frames are so daring that only you could pull them off! Oval’s get it easy, they can have it all. But for the best pair of shades to match your shape stick to aviators or soft angled square frames.
Yes, these sunglasses are a little crazy looking, but that is what’s hot this season. No need to be modest this spring, strut your stuff in the latest frames! Don’t just do it, do it BIG.
Nina Ricci retro sunglasses / CÉLINE sunglasses, $300 / Linda Farrow Vintage oval sunglasses / Ray-Ban / House of Harlow 1960 black sunglasses / Alexander Wang metal sunglasses / Cateye sunglasses / Cateye sunglasses / Linda Farrow Luxe , $675 / Round sunglasses / Matthew Williamson round sunglasses / Norma Kamali cat sunglasses / Witchery petite sunglasses, $72 / ASOS sunglasses / Michael Kors sunglasses / American Apparel printed sunglasses
Countdown (15 days): Neon vs. Black and White
neon vs black and white by sweetsnobsociety featuring a black and white stripe shirt
Sass & Bide shift dress / Moschino bright shirt / J.Crew j crew shirt / E.vil burnout tank top, $240 / Wildfox Couture black crew neck t shirt, $76 / Lace top, $38 / ONLY neon shirt, $38 / Knit sweater, $26 / White tank, $9.10 / Topshop black and white stripe shirt / Pattern shirt, $14 / Etro cotton capri pants / J Brand skinny leg jeans / Band of Outsiders colorful shorts / Mink Pink short shorts / High waisted skirt / Skater skirt / Topshop / Volcom Girls Stone Roses Electric Pink Lace Shorts
April showers bring spring flowers, but this season we will be sporting colors of the clouds versus hues on the ground.
Pastels have been amplified, andalong with black and white- the springtime will be seeing electric.
Neon pink,blue, green, and orange have never looked better and paired with strong blackand white pieces you are sure to look hot!
Go with the classic black and white ensemble or indulge in the electric colors of spring. Either way, you’ll be making a bold statement.
