What are some Essential Articles of Clothing for Springtime?

I was looking through my closet and I seem to be missing some of these essential Spring items! A girl should always have the following items below to be prepared for the constantly changing and unpredictable weather Spring brings us.

Flip Flops- I often forget to stop wearing my winter boots as Springtime comes along. My feet remind me by becoming hot and sweaty (and smelly!) in the 60 degree weather. When the weather starts staying consistently over 50 degrees, my flip flops become my best friend. I have to buy at least one new pair every year because I wear them out so much.

Flip Flops

Rainboots- There are so many cute rainboots in the stores today. It's incredible how fashionable these have become throughout the years. And thank goodness because they are so helpful with the bazillion rain showers we get during the Spring! It's always nice to go to work or class with dry feet!

Colorful Rainboots

Umbrella- So this item is not an article of clothing, but it's definitely a handy accessory to keep with you at all times during the Spring. Keep one in your car or purse (if it's large enough) just in case. You never know when rain might pour down and soak your clothes and hair. You could be on your way to a special date...!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Umbrella

Lightweight Cardigan- Like I said before, the temperatures are consistently changing during the Springtime. Be sure to keep a lightweight cardigan with you to throw over your t-shirts when it gets a little chilly.

American Eagle Cardigan

Lightweight Jacket- Most people do not usually want to continue wearing their heavy winter coat as the temperature grows warmer. Gradually it gets more annoying and weighs you down when the sun is peaking in and out of the clouds all day. The goal is to stay warm but it shouldn't be to sweat to death either, especially when you have people to see and places to go! Purchase a trendy lightweight jacket you can throw over your clothes and go.

jacket revolve clothing

Flowy Dress or Skirt-  When the skies randomly turn from cloudy and rainy to bright and sunny, you'll thank me for this one. If the weather has been dreary for the past week and you instantly wake up to a beautiful 70 degree day, you'll want something to feel free and comfy in. Comfy summer dresses and skirts brighten the day even more (my days anyway!).

Macy's Floral Skirts

Alright ladies, are there any other items you can't live without during the Springtime? Feel free to comment and leave your opinions below.

7 Things Not to Wear to a Wedding

It's that time of year again when many friends and family begin anew and tie the knot with their soul mate. With the wedding season in Michigan typically running from mid-April through mid-October a twenty year old can expect to be invited to at least one wedding sooner or later. I'm writing to give you advice on what not to wear to a wedding! Granted some weddings are rather unique and sometimes very casual; this is not the case for most of them. So my advice is to steer clear from the items listed below!

1. Jeans- If the bride, groom, and bridal party are all wearing beautiful dresses and tuxedos, why would you show up wearing the most casual clothing item you could find? Especially with today's current trendy jean style being destroyed and tattered with several holes. Throw the jeans aside for the day & at least put on a pair of cute dress pants to honor the bride and groom. After all, they're making one of the biggest commitments in their entire lives.

2. Slutty Outfits- You aren't going out to the club looking for anyone and anybody to get your nasty on. And if you are, you shouldn't be! Stay away from super low cut tops that barely cover your chest, bootylicious shorts/dresses, tops that show off your whole belly, and excessive makeup with super tall high-heels that scream "F*** me, I'm desperate!". You wouldn't want to steal all the attention away from the bride and groom because your crotch is hanging out. Be fair-- wait until the next night if you're tempted!

3. Formal Gowns- I just wanted to caution against wearing poofy prom-like gowns and dresses that might take away attention from the bride's attire. Also those might make you look a little tacky as you'd be the only guest wearing such an outfit. But definitely wear a nice dress. Think "innocent-girl's-night-out" or "church appropriate" attire. Those are great!

4. Funeral Clothing- Be sure to wear clothes that are somewhat bright. You don't want to look like you are going to a funeral wearing heavy, long, black clothing. You want to wear flowery, happy, "sunshiny" dresses because you are going to a happy celebration! :D You want to help create a pleasant, fun atmosphere.

5. Athletic Gear- Do I need to explain why you should not wear athletic clothing to a wedding? Let's picture what clothes someone going to a gym would wear. Old, loose t-shirt. NO. Running Shorts. NO. Windbreaker pants? NO. Tennis Shoes. No. (These may possibly be okay but probably not.) Workout Headband. NO. Okay, glad we got that covered.

6. Raggy Clothes- Don't wear clothes with holes, rips, tears, stains, fading, etc. You don't want to look like a scumbag. I'm not saying you have to go out and buy a brand new outfit (you can if you want), just dress nice!

7. Gothic/Emo Clothes
Now I don't have anything against wearing dark/black clothing with long chains, spikes, and multiple body piercings... I just don't think this is appropriate clothing attire for a bright & happy wedding. If this is your style, just tone it down for the day.

Now that you know what not to wear, take a look at some acceptable wedding attire photos!

Which Sunglasses Are You Rockin' this Summer?

Sunshine & Shades

Sunglasses by Ray-Ban
Sunglasses by Forever 21

Finally! A Real Solution for Frizzy, Wavy Hair!

Now don't get me wrong, I'm going to tell you my solution for creating healthy, frizz-free, wavy hair but it definitely takes some time and effort on your part. It will not happen in 10 minutes BUT if your hair texture is thick and wavy like mine [and you've been trying for years how to tame that bad boy!], then I have finally figured out a solution!

No Curls, No Styling, Blah!

Step 1: Add Layers to Your Hair.
I have had a one length haircut my entire life. Bad decision for my type of hair! Since my hair is thick and long, it tends to weigh down any potential curls and create a messy wad of frizz. :/ So I just added one long layer in my hair and it instantly lifted the curls and created movement I never knew was there!

Attention! Step 1 is the most important step for fixing lifeless, wavy hair. Get your hair layered!

Step 2: Regular Haircuts.
It's not absolutely necessary to have your hair cut every 6 weeks. God knows we can't always afford that! But you should try to have your hair trimmed at least once every 3 months so the split ends don't travel halfway up to your scalp and break off. Unmaintained split ends create A LOT of frizzy flyaways.

Step 3: Always use Conditioner after Washing Hair.
Depending on how oily your hair is, you don't have to wash your hair everyday. In fact, it's better to shampoo less often and give your hair a day or two between each washing. Shampooing tends to dry out your hair (which causes frizz!) But regardless of how often you shampoo, always use a conditioner on your hair. Start a few inches away from your scalp and leave it on for a few minutes. This will bring out natural shine and keep your hair healthy and strong.

Step 4: Use Gel for Curly Hair.
After showering, apply a liberal amount of gel into your hair. I use Sunsilk Captivating Curls gel & cream twist because not only is it cheap ($4 at Walgreens) but it really helps define curls and rid frizz without creating a "crunchy" or "sticky" hair feeling. No matter how much gel I use, my hair remains soft and "normal" after styling.

Any other tips on good gels to use would be greatly appreciated! 

Before Styling Curls

Step 5: DO NOT TOUCH YOUR HAIR.
Let your hair air dry. My hair takes a good 2-3 hours for it to dry completely. So while you are waiting for it to dry do not, I repeat DO NOT touch your hair at all! Leave it be. Don't lay against a pillow. Don't twirl it around your finger. Don't sweep it behind your ears. DO NOT TOUCH IT. I promise that messing with your hair will only create more frizz. If your hair is like mine, the frizz will only reduce the amount of beautiful potential curls that will appear!

Note: I realize this is not as easily doable with everybody's busy life schedules. However, on the weekend just try this and you may find yourself amazed! I'm only able to do this with my hair once or twice a week. If I don't do this I usually end up pulling out my hair straightener and away goes the curls. :(

Touched Up Around Face

Step 6 (optional): Use Flat Iron to Finish.
Now that your hair is dry you can use a flat iron to fix any frizz that did not cooperate. Just curl different sections to shape your hair how you want. I recommend a flat iron rather than a curling iron because it makes the newly added curls naturally blend in with the others.

Note: As you can see, I'm no photographer! These pictures just don't give justice to the actual style. My finished hair is not completely flat on top like in the picture to the left. I encourage anyone who has wavy hair with "curl potential" to give this a shot! Sometimes my hair will get super curly when I do these steps. This time it was just an average amount of curls but it still gave me a nice look for today's Easter gatherings! :)

How to Tell Which Animal Print You are Wearing

It's common to be confused about which animal print belongs to which animal. A big confusion is the difference between cheetah and leopard spots. Some people don't even know they carry an ostrich print clutch around everyday, or wear cow print clogs. Some prints may be obvious to you but just in case, I will give plenty of examples and tips on how to tell which animal print you are wearing. I'll start by showing you an actual picture of the animal so you will get the real inspiration!
[FYI: Please wear faux fur or vintage animal prints. Don't be heartless. Fashion is not worth the lives of these precious animals. Look at the pics below. These animals are not only nature's most majestic creatures, they are just so fricken' adorable as well! :)]

Cheetahs

Cheetahs have spots that are solid black & round/oval shaped. Notice their black "tear streams" flowing from the corner of their eyes.

Leopards

Leopards have beautiful spots similar to cheetahs. However,  you can identify a leopard spot by noticing the clusters of solid black spots around a darker brown shape. They form a broken "O" shape called rosettes.

Snow Leopard

I wanted to mention the snow leopard as well even though they have the same clusters of solid black spots as the leopards do. They form rosettes as well but their colors vary from a smoky gray to a yellowish-tan color.

Tiger

Tigers are easier to identify than the other big kitties. They have vertical black stripes against a near-white to yellowish/orange fur coat.

White Tiger

Like the snow leopard compares to the leopard, the white tigers are similar to the tigers but their vertical black stripes lie against a white smokey background. I just couldn't resist this picture below of the mama bathing her little cub! :)

Zebra

Zebras are often confused with white tiger stripes in the fashion industry. Their black and white stripes are very smooth and close together compared to the tiger whose stripes are a little more "crazy" with zig zags and stripes that are further apart.

Giraffe

These prints consist of fairly large, irregular polygons (usually 4-6 sided) that are dark brown against a lighter yellow/tan background. The light-colored space between each polygon is very even and thin.

Ostrich

These silly looking birds have found a place in fashion due to their unique, bumpy skin texture. Their skin is often made into ostrich leather. Look for a smooth, leathery-textured surface with evenly spaced, spots that are raised up above the surface.

Snake

There are many, many different types of snakes. However identifying snake prints is easily recognizable by the scaly, bumpy texture. There are many beautiful, geometrical patterns found on snake skin. The more neutral tones, sometimes with hints of yellow and green are brought into fashion.

Black & White Cow

This is an animal we all may be familiar with if you live in rural American towns. I can drive less than 10 minutes and come across many, many farms with dozens, even hundreds of cows! Their pattern consists of extra large, irregular black spots scattered on a white background.

Brown & White Cow

With the western themed look coming more in style, the brown cow gets a lot of attention.Their print is considerably different than the black & white cow. Instead of the assumed brown spots on a white background, they are more brown with extra large white irregular shaped spots.