6 Summer Essentials: Makeup Edition

Tuesday, May 22, 2018


photo not mine, all rights to the owner

It's no surprise that summer is approaching fast, which means you're either lightening up on your makeup routine or trying every product under the sun to keep the sun from ruining your freshly beat full face.

Now not all of us feel comfortable going makeup free, nor do we want or have to just because it's summer. But with the sunny season around the corner, it's nice to have just a handful of staple products that you know will have you looking amazing in just a short amount of time.

Here are my staple summer products that are quick and easy to use and will have anyone looking freshly bronzed and glowing in just under twenty minutes. 

1. Brow Tint/Gel 

This gives a full brow effect, perfect for that effortless bushy brow look. 
Beauty Tip: use castor oil on brows to grow them and make them fuller.
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2. Tinted Moisturizer, Light-Medium Coverage Foundation with SPF. 

You want your skin to shine through. Embrace those freckles, sun spots, and laugh lines. The less you put on, the less you have to worry about the sun melting your makeup off or about your pores clogging up in the heat. I always opt for a hydrating or silky medium coverage foundation that I can sheer out around my nose and eyes where my freckles are, but keep a good amount of coverage on some of my more stubborn acne scars.  
Beauty Tip: Don't have clear skin or worried about imperfections? Don't stress, I have a post on how to clear your skin within one week. Read it here.

3. Liquid Highlighter. 

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with looking as shiny and glowy as possible without looking oily. The best way to achieve this is by using a liquid highlighter. It gives you that "from within" kind of glow, and depending on how you apply it, it can also give you this wet look that I'm obsessed with. This summer though, I'm aiming for that fresh face glow that is somewhere in between "from within glow" and "dripping in highlighter". What can I say? I love looking luminous.
Beauty Tip: Use a beauty sponge or your fingers to press it into your skin before your foundation, so it doesn't cake up or separate. 

4. Bronzer. 

Cream bronzers are perfect for summer because they melt into your skin like a dream, but momma did not raise a fool, and I set it with a bronzer that has little reflective highlight bits in it. This keeps you looking more fresh faced than done up in my opinion. I don't have defined cheekbones, so I go in with a matte contour powder to sculpt my face out a little.
Beauty Tip: Keep in mind that bronzer is simply meant to warm up your face. You always want to go for a sun-kissed look so nothing too harsh or muddy looking, or you'll look a little too unnatural. 

5. Blush 

For me, the blush is what makes a fresh face makeup look believable, especially in the summer because a lot of use have redness around our noses or cheeks and blush gives that natural effect. I do this to almost get a sunburn finish, like I've been out in the sun for too long. 
Beauty Tip: Use a lighter shade of blush around your nose and blend it into your contour with a deeper version of the shade you used. I find that this technique creates a natural gradient and isn't too harsh. It also blends everything together more.
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6. Lip plumper + Lipgloss. 

Everyone is going for that pout look, and I find that using a lip plumper helps to accomplish this. It's like your lips but better. You also won't have to worry about that weird separation line that your lipstick creates after eating that delicious cauliflower burger or drinking that to-die-for sangria by the beach. Too, lip gloss is super easy to reapply, and it  keeps your lips feeling more hydrated than if you were to opt for a matte. 
Beauty Tip: Exfoliate your lips with a lip scrub to ensure that they are super smooth. Don't have a lip scrub? No worries, I have a whole list of DIY lip scrubs recipes that you can check out here.


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So You're Bored, Now What?

Monday, May 21, 2018
photo not mine, all rights to the owner

I'll be the first to admit that I get bored very easily. And while that can be a good thing from time to time, I find that it can also lead me down a very lazy and unmotivated path, which is a BIG no-no for me. I don't know about you, but I hate being bored or having nothing to do--it drives me crazy. 

Since I'm not working at the moment, and I'm not actually in college, I've had some time on my hands to figure out what it is that I like to do to pass the time away. And maybe the next time you're feeling bored or have a lot of free time on your hands, you can try to do some of these things too.

1. organize your room + wash your sheets

This always helps me clear my mind, and I often feel much more motivated to do any work that I may have started and then abandoned. I also always end up finding things that spark childhood memories or something from the past, which can either be cute and funny or completely horrifying and cringe worthy. And then when you're done with the day, you can slip under some clean, warm sheets, which is probably the most feel good feeling in the world.


2. experiment with makeup looks

I have to be in the right mood to do this, to be completely honest, because removing makeup can be a complete pain. However, applying makeup is extremely therapeutic for me, so when I do decide to do it, I try to do things slightly different or recreate someone else's makeup look.

3. at home yoga

This is always a fun and challenging one for me to do mostly because my cat, Odessa, likes to lay on the mat while I do poses. So then it just becomes a game of me trying not to step on my cat while doing yoga.

4. pamper yourself

Yes, I believe in treating yourself, especially when it comes to skincare. Go ahead and try a new face mask, go get a facial with a girlfriend, get your nails done...just do something that makes you feel like royalty. Personally, I'm loving body scrubs at the moment. They just make your whole body feel so smooth! Nothing like the feeling of putting on silk pajamas after a body scrub and applying some body butter and then slipping under those clean sheets. It's heavenly. 

photo not mine, all rights to the owner

5. listen to a new playlist or make one

Spotify makes it so easy to find new music. Creating new playlists always gets me in a good mood. Who doesn't like finding new music to listen to? I also find working to a new playlist is a lot more exciting because you don't know what song is going to play next and whether or not you're actually going to like and enjoy it.

6. learn a new language

As of right now, your girl is (for the most part) efficient in Italian and Portuguese. Thanks Duolingo! I have a lot of friends who speak another language, so I love making an effort to actually communicate with them in their first language. And too, some of the best fashion magazines aren't written in English like Vogue Italia and Numéro, so it's nice to be able to pick up a copy and understand it.

Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
photo not mine, all rights to the owner

7. try new recipes

Now I'm no chef, but I do like to go on Pinterest and find easy vegetarian recipes to make at home. Again, this can either be super or fun and delicious or extremely disastrous and messy.

8. grab something to eat or a coffee with a friend

Go to a hole in the wall food place or a coffee shop you've never been to before with a friend. Nothing like a little adventure with a friend to a new food place.You may find that they have the best vanilla rose lattes and croissants that you never knew existed. I often find that these are the best places to go to and the most Instagram-able too!

photo is mine,
 Benugo near Covent Garden in London, England

9. online shop

This has the potential to be incredibly dangerous for you and your bank account, especially if you get weak at the mention of any kind of sale. Honestly, there doesn't even have to be a sale for this to be dangerous, free shipping will do it. Why am I advising you to spend your money on clothes that you most likely will have buyer's remorse about and return? I don't know. However, I still am. And as unwise as this may be, it's fun filling your basket up with clothes you know deep down that you really can't afford. Oh, and the best part is when you calculate and crunch the numbers and move money around to try to work in your favor.Actually, that's when you know you've gone too far. Just browse and create a wish list that you can revisit when you're in the right state of mind.

photo not mine, all rights to the owner
Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

10. create art

If you have a creative mind, start a new project. Whether it's on Adobe Illustrate or a blank canvas,  focus your energy on creating something you've never thought you could create. Some of my favorite paintings have come out of sheer boredom.  


11. visit a museum, pop up shop, or gallery

Somewhere that allows you to walk aimlessly and admire art or history is always refreshing. You might walk out feeling inspired to actually do something!


Hopefully you find some of these tips helpful! Don't let boredom ruin your summer or free time. Travel, explore, get moving, just do something that doesn't involve staring at a screen all day. I promise you it's a lot more satisfying and productive in the long run. x


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7 Things London Has Taught Me

Friday, May 18, 2018

When I look back at the time I spent in London, I realize how much I have grown because of that trip (so sorry not sorry that it's all I talk about). London has taught me so many things when it comes to handling different situations, budgeting, how to be more practical, and just living out on your own in general.

I have always thought of myself to be this independent girl who's ready to embark on this journey of living by herself in a big city, so that trip really put that idea to the test. And honestly for that being my first solo international trip, I can honestly say that I kind of surprised myself with how well I managed everything. I loved everything about it, and I wouldn't change a thing (well, there are maybe a few things I'd change).

Now that I have a better understanding of how "adulting" really works, I want to share some of those major takeaways. Let's just say that London has given me more reality checks in that one month of living there than in my entire 18 years of life. Curious to know what I'm talking about? Below, I share 7 things that London has taught me.

1. You can't afford to Uber everywhere even if your account is hooked up to your parent's credit card. 

You just can't. It adds up quickly, especially if you're traveling multiple times throughout the day and at the busy hours. Try to take the tube whenever you can, it'll save you money (time wise, it's about the same as taking an Uber) and walk everywhere (unless it's over 30 minutes, then it's not worth it). In comparison to the subway (NYC) and the metro (Paris), it's a lot nicer too.

2. Everything is about 30 minutes away, but it's like 45 with traffic. 

And if you're great at being late like I am, then plan for an hour commute. Also, I felt like it took longer to get to Central London than it did to return to Hammersmith. Just me? Okay. 

gif not mine, all rights to the owner
Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada 

3. Estimating whether or not you can afford something in BP is not the same as adding ten extra USD on top of the total cost. 

Don't make your bank account suffer because you think you can do the currency exchange rate in your head. It's practically impossible because all of your rough estimates are just that--rough. I can't tell you the number of times I went shopping thinking that I was paying 60 dollars even though I was paying 60 pounds, which is about a 20 USD currency difference. Budget accordingly and skip out on spontaneous trips into Zara--but not Topshop, because at least in Topshop they tell you how much you're spending in USD. 


gif not mine, all rights to the owner
Rebecca Bloomwood, Confessions of a Shopaholic


4. To be alone in London is a known kind of loneliness--You feel it. 

I've tried to explain this to so many people, but it's something that you have to experience. If you travel to Paris, which you will because it's only a two hour train ride from London, you'll immediately feel the difference in energy between the two cities. In London, it's like you can feel the loneliness because people around you make you aware of it (not intentionally of course; Londoners are really chill). They're most likely walking the streets with their friends or business associates, having a good time, drinking, eating, shopping--whatever, okay? And their conversations aren't loud like in America, but you can tell that they're engaged with whomever they're with. 


Now go to Paris, and it's like people walk the streets, go to cafes, shop, smoke, take the metro all by themselves, and so on, but while you may do those things alone, you don't feel alone. I believe it's because people in Paris are content with being by themselves in a city with millions of other people who are solitary, which kind of feels like you're all alone together. While in London, being alone feels like you should have just stayed home instead of going to that party you thought was going to be fun. 

photo not mine, all rights to the owner
Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

Personally, I love Paris, and it's because naturally I do a lot of things by myself, and there, I never felt self conscious about being by myself. However, in London, it really hit me that I was by myself because people love spending time with other people over there. I will definitely say that I had more fun once I started making friends at Hillsong. I was always doing something with someone or going somewhere. London is full of exciting people, you just have to find them first. 

photo not mine, all rights to the owner
Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City 

5. Be spontaneous in the company of good people. Don't over plan what you want to do, but also plan like crazy, have back up plans and be flexible. 

Trust me, there is a balance to this that you have to find for yourself. Much like the previous point, this one is something that you have to figure out for yourself and what works for you. However, if you aren't spontaneous or open enough, then you're going to miss out on whatever happens next. 

With Hillsong it was easy to make plans because they always had something going on, and what made it even better was that usually going to that one event that someone told me about had me making more plans. Soon my days were filled with things to do. It was like I would meet one person and that person would invite me to another event and then at that event, I would meet someone else, and we would go somewhere the next day, and so on. 

You always want to think ahead and have an idea of what you want to do or where you want to go, but you still want to leave some days open because you never know who might be throwing a Greek Food party the same time you decided to go get drinks with a girlfriend (true story, sorry Irene that I couldn't go)!


6. Take advantage of everything that is around you. 

This city is never ending. It's not like one of those cities with tons of hidden gems, at least I don't think so, but it is one of those cities that allow you to write your own story. And depending on where you stay, there's usually so much to do in walking distance from shops to cafes to museums. You have no excuse to stay inside, even if it's raining. 


7. Lower your guard? Not everyone is out to get you, girl. 

At first, I treated London like I would if I were going to Chicago or Los Angeles, and I'm here to tell you that you don't need to. Men in London don't act like they've lost their minds, and if they have, you won't know it because they aren't crazy about approaching you. Now, I did have one really heart racing situation with three men following me in their car, but when I told my friends, they told me that that was pretty rare and that they just wanted to chat me up for my number (most likely), but I didn't stay locked up in my apartment after that. 


For the most part, it's a really safe city to be in. Even when I was out by myself late at night, I didn't feel threatened like I tend to feel here. There are parts of the city that aren't as safe as others, that's a given, but overall if you are travelling to the city by yourself like I did, you shouldn't worry too much about your safety.

There are obviously more things that I took away from the trip, but these really stuck with me. Hopefully these help you if you're planning a long or solo trip!  x


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Slogan Tees + Printed Pleats

Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Top: Bershka | Skirt: MANGO | Rings: Forever 21

As spring continues to bring forth rain and bizarre temperature changes here in Michigan, it's hard to believe that summer is a month away, even more so, it's hard to get just one warm spring day. That's why I'm glad I was able to catch the sun a couple of Sundays ago and take full advantage of it by having an impromptu photo shoot.



Sandals: H&M (for $1, say what?!)

Lately my "go-to look" has been a slogan tee, pleated skirt or paper bag pants, and a fun pair of shoes. I actually found all of these pieces, aside from the shoes, in all of my favorite stores at the Westfield Mall in Hammersmith, London (that place is heavenly) back in February and March! And the vibrant, eye-catching pleated skirt, which was sold out at every MANGO store in Paris, I actually found and wore the first day of London Fashion Week. Note: I should probably post all of those pictures, yeah?

Pumps: Forever 21 (old)

If it were more of a lazy, low-key kind of day, I probably would have thrown on my white platform Pumas, but since it was a Sunday and I would be spending most of my day at church, I decided to opt for a dressier shoe. It came down to these two shoe options.

 


I couldn't decide whether I loved the fun splash of hot pink that my steal of a deal H&M sandals brought to the look or how tall I looked in my holy grail nude pumps from Forever 21 (they give a petite girl like me hopes and dreams).


Also Quay Australia has some amazing sunglasses, and I forgot about how cool these ones were that I bought last summer. Definitely obsessed with these. I love the yellow reflective lens, the white marble frame, and the cat-eye shape that is just enough for my face shape.

 Sunglasses: Quay Australia | Neckalace: H&M 

Versatility is everything, and this outfit can definitely be worn in tens of different ways. So don't be surprised if you see more of these looks; they're so easy to pull off and perfect for the summer!



Which shoes do you like more? The punchy pink sandals or sky-high nude pumps? Let me know down in the comments! x



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The Art of Loving Yourself

Be the girl you loved. This is the first love letter.

Why is it so hard to love yourself? No, really, why is it? I've been wondering about this for a couple of months now, and I can't seem to satisfy myself with an answer. My answer always seems to segway into another question--another deeper, more open-ended kind of question. The whole idea of loving yourself has almost been bothersome to me really. But the only way to give my mind some rest is to explore the idea of self love and attempt to answer the question by picking it apart.

photo does not belong to me, all rights to the owner
Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

Somewhat recently, someone told me, after I returned from my eye-opening trip to London, that she missed "the sweet and bubbly 16 years old girl who couldn't wait to get hired at Old Navy." Now this person has me wondering which Arianna she was introduced to. Because unlike most people, I'll admit that I have a few personas, a few masks if you may, that I put on for different settings and occasions. It's all a part of this wall that I've built to keep me from getting hurt (that's another post for another day).

Gif not mine, all rights to the owner
Persona, a film directed by Ingmar Bergman

Yes, I am vulnerable, and yes, I am observant, which I believe, makes me naturally intuitive when it comes to understanding people and their intentions. And because I can be extremely sensitive, I analyze my surroundings from the people to the place and decide whether or not they get to meet the incredibly open and sincere me or just the Instagram Primadonna I've created myself to be. This person has really got me wondering who it was that I introduced her to, and if I somehow, for some reason, retired that mask and just forgot about it.

gif doesn't belong to me, all rights to the owner
Electra Heart, Marina Diamandis alternate ego

The sweet age of 16 was actually a pretty gray time. It wasn't as black or white of a time as I remember past years. I was recovering from and battling a lot of mental illnesses, and I still am, but I was becoming more optimistic about the future, especially after God allowed me to go to NYFW. That's when I started seeing His vision for me. It was impossible for me to just focus on the bad when I felt so much purpose over my life. I was excited for the things He was doing and going to do in my life--I still am. But I also know that I was trying to cover up my past by creating a "new me."

IG: @trulyaria
photo of my lovely mom and me at my first NYFW

I was always into clothes and makeup, but I really started getting into it at 16. I tried to introduce a new Arianna to the world. So under all of the wrong foundation shades and awful contouring skills, under all of the disastrous wigs that I couldn't lay and slay, and under all of the slightly more than basic outfits that I wore, I knew that there was a girl who still felt…less than.

gif not mine, all rights to the owner
Luke Brandon, Confessions of a Shopaholic (the movie that raised me omg)

I mean even now I have a hard time really liking, let alone loving, who I am. I feel like I am always stopping and asking myself if I'm loving who I know God has called and made me to be or if I'm loving the image that I know to appear beautiful because I have created and pretty much perfected it.

There are so many conclusions that I have come to about why it's so hard to love yourself, and this being one of them: It's easier to love the image you create for yourself than it is to love the image in which you have already been created in by God. Want something a little simpler? It's easier to the love person you want to be than it is to accept and love the person you already are.

Think about it. It's easier to create a fantasy world where everything falls into place how you want it to than it is to face your everyday reality. I do it all of the time. I am a proud  visionary and daydreamer; it's what pushes me. But it's a dangerous state of mind to be in because then you can't separate the two like you thought you could or like you once were able to do. Then everything becomes either a disappointment, set back, or an embarrassment.

If we were to be content in who we are right now and love on that person in this moment, to grow to become all that God has called us to be, then maybe we can learn to nourish our minds and bodies beyond the lavish skincare routines we do at night and beyond the over priced matcha green teas that we drink in hopes of feeling better about ourselves. When really, this mindset of self care equals self love is just giving us a false sense of what it really means to love ourselves.

image not mine, all rights to the owner

Self love goes beyond all of that, and I am starting to believe that the first step to loving yourself--loving who you are--is to stop being in love with yourself (and that means your image).




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