August 2015 / Carmen Varner // Lifestyle Blogger & Social Media + Blogging Coach

Nick de la Hoyde's "Passion" Shines Through

Monday, August 31, 2015

Where's the party at? That's what I'm wondering. And apparently so is Nick de la Hoyde, an up & coming rapper. His EP "Passion" dropped June 30th of this year. The EP is short & sweet with six songs to jam to. The music is a tasty combination of hip hop, rap, & a dash of pop. "By My Side," the lead single, leaves you feeling nostalgic. As if the song is about you or about an experience you had. Is it about love? Is it about career? Both? Neither? You decide.

* This is a sponsored post. :]

The 21-year-old singer, songwriter, & rapper hails from Sydney, Australia. Sometimes his accent makes an appearance in his lyrics, but other times it's hardly noticeable. He has a very Beatles-esque quality that way. His accent comes out in waves like salt water coming to tide. The beats are constant & very easily reel you in. For the most part, de la Hoyde's music is mellow but catchy.

With over 130,000 followers on Instagram, he's no small potatoes. His selfies & portraits garner upwards of 3,000 likes apiece. His first single "The Longest Way" was released October 2014 & received some radio time. Remind me again what I accomplished by the age of 21? His music is perfect to listen to on your commute or while going on a leisurely walk. It's not too overbearing or distracting but not slow enough to make you fall asleep. It's got a balance to keep you moving forward. It gets you thinking.

"Where's the Party at?" & "Passion" are my favorite tunes from de la Hoyde's EP. They have some spice to give you a hint of the flavor de la Hoyde's music possesses. I was surprisingly captivated by his songs & their beat. I am often attracted to certain genres, hip hop & rap are absolutely in that category. That said, I genuinely like de la Hoyde's music! His "Passion" shines through, especially for someone as young as 21. Let's see where he goes from here.

What do you think of Nick de la Hoyde's music? Is it to your liking? What were/are you doing at age 21? :]

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* Disclaimer: I received compensation in exchange for writing this review. As always, all opinions in this review are 100% mine aka Carmen's. :]

Friday, August 28, 2015

The Anne Frank House is a must to experience if you're in Amsterdam, Netherlands. There's no denying that. The Anne Frank House, also called the Anne Frank Huis, is a humbling reality. Anne Frank is a Jewish girl who went into hiding during World War II to escape the Nazis. You've probably heard about her journal The Diary of Anne Frank & its many other titles.

About Anne Frank

Anne Frank is known for keeping a diary during her time in the Secret Annex. She wrote short stories, diary entries, & favorite quotes from other writers. She wanted her diary to be published as a novel after the war, which was why she attempted to rewrite it. She didn't get the opportunity to finish because her family was discovered & arrested. Anne, her family, & four others hid in the small Secret Annex for two years before being found.

Waiting in Line

Prepare for a long queue if you want to visit the Anne Frank House. The waiting time ranges. I ended up waiting for 90 minutes, but I talked to a local who said it's not unheard of to wait up to four hours. It really varies per day & depends how long you feel like waiting in line. If you know ahead of time when you're heading to Amsterdam & the Anne Frank Huis, you may buy entrance tickets online, print them out or show them on your smart phone. It gives you a direct entrance. However, these tickets can be sold out months in advance.

Admission & Tickets

You may purchase your tickets in advance or buy them at the door. That just means you have to wait in the queue. Adult admission prices are €9. If you're 10 - 17 years old or have a European Youth Card, it's €4.50. You can learn more about prices, admission, & hours of operation here.

Once You're Inside

Photos, videos, & using your cell phone are not allowed out of respect for other visitors & to preserve the original documents & photos. That said, I have no pictures from inside the building. That's just something you'll have to witness yourself. Once you're inside, you can see the photos that Anne hung up in her room & even the lines on the wall to mark the growth of the children. Throughout the Annex you'll see personal documents from the Frank family & even some videos with background information.

The Overall Experience
The Anne Frank House is a place to learn & understand the history & horror of the past. It's not a palace with enormous chandeliers & gold covered ceilings. But it most certainly is grand. It's magical. It's thought provoking. You will leave the Annex feeling changed, feeling inspired, possibly even feeling somber but grateful. If you make it to the Netherlands & Amsterdam, absolutely take the time to go to the Anne Frank House. I recommend it to anyone.

Have you been to the Anne Frank House? Have you read her diary? I'd love to learn about your journey too! :]

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Hello & welcome to Splurge or Save! The game where you test your style skills. The last round was all about the chunky boot. It seemed pretty even; some of you were fooled & others got it right. You smarties! This round we're talking about evil eye necklaces. The evil eye has been a symbol of protection in various cultures for thousands of years.

Can you pick out the $510 gold evil eye charm necklace by Sydney Evan versus the more affordable $29 evil eye pendant from Accessorize? Can you determine which is the Splurge piece? Take a look at the photos & make your decision. Hey hey, no peeking!

The Sydney Evan 14k Gold Tiny Evil Eye Charm Necklace retails at $510. This luxurious pendant charm necklace is made from 14-karat yellow gold, white diamonds, & bezel-set blue sapphire center. Talk about classy. Phew. That sounds pretty fancy to me!

Meanwhile, the Accessorize Evil Eye Pendant Necklace retails at $29. The pendant is exclusively designed by Zara Simon as part of the Z for Accessorize range. It's a gold-plated chain necklace with an evil eye amulet. The deep blue & clear cubic zirconia stones give it a hint of shine.

So which is which? The Splurge Sydney Evan Necklace is on the right. These are just so similar that I wouldn't have been able to decide. I do like the delicate & dainty nature of the Sydney Evan one, but I'd prefer to pay for a plane ticket with that kind of money. How about you? Which do you prefer? Did you guess correctly? :]

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Monday, August 24, 2015

Instagram is a magical place for beautiful feeds & daily inspiration. Instagram is most definitely the spot to be if you're a blogger! During my Europe trip, I shared photos like there was no tomorrow. My sister took a look at my feed & she pointed out that one of my photos nearly gave my home address. At first I dismissed her; I told her I would never add my home address to my photo map, only something cool like Paris or a place I really want to share.

Then she showed me. The photo genuinely mapped itself just a few streets away from my house. I never added that geotag. In horror, I asked her how that was possible. Instagram maps your location. Although, the policy has since changed. But here's what used to happen: For example, say you're sitting at home & post a picture of San Francisco from when you visited last month. You tag the restaurant you were eating in. The photo on your feed says it's at the restaurant in San Francisco but the actual location on your map shows exactly where you were when you tagged it, not San Francisco. Perhaps you were at your house or going for a walk near your house. That's what happened to me.

I just tried this out again, but the policy has since changed. Thankfully. The photo showed up exactly as I tagged it; it said I was in Amsterdam & located itself there. Take note: your photo location is visible outside of your photo map. Photos tagged with a location will also show up on that location's page, & the location name will be visible on the photo's share URL.

In addition to that, the locations of your photos can also be seen on some third-party services that use Instagram's application programming interface (API). This information comes directly from the Photo Map section of the Instagram Help Center. You may want to double check your old photos to see where your location is tracked. I obviously wasn't aware of this & I removed some of the tagged locations. Here's how to do it:

1. Go to your Instagram profile. Click on the little location marker tab.

2. Take a look at the places that your location has been tagged. Zone in on anything specific you want to remove.

3. Tap the edit button in the top right corner. Then tap the photo or group of photos you'd like to remove the location from & tap edit.

4. You can choose select all, deselect all, or you can choose to remove any photo. Confirm that you'd like to remove the geotag.

And there you have it. Is Instagram mapping your location? Check your locations & let me know what you find. I am really happy my sister pointed out the geotags to me or else who knows what kind of stalker could find me & my exact whereabouts! Did Instagram tag you somewhere you never explicitly tagged yourself in? Was this helpful? Please let me know! :]

You may be interested in reading more from my Social Media Basics series:

How NOT to be a Fashion Blogger
Social Media Basics for Bloggers
DOs & DON'Ts of Leaving Blog Comments
The Importance of Transparency When Blogging
10 Reasons Why You're Losing Followers
How to Identify Spam Comments & Why You Shouldn't Publish Them on Your Blog
How to Run a Facebook Boost Post

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Friday, August 21, 2015

I seriously love street art. Sometimes it has something important to say. Sometimes it has nothing to say. Sometimes it's just a visual to peak your interest. Sometimes it's colorful. Sometimes it's black & white. Sometimes you only find it if you're looking. I've featured several posts on the graffiti, stickers, & street art I've seen throughout the years.

There's Oceanside, Los Angeles, Seattle, Venice Beach, Canada, & Israel. Take a gander at some of my previous finds! Street art & graffiti always manages to capture my attention; I know it's not for everyone, but I shall forever enjoy the small but public art gallery that is street art. If you keep your eyes open, you can see the world.

Today I'd like to share with you the street art, stickers, & graffiti that I found throughout Copenhagen, Denmark. Denmark has a lot to offer for anyone interested in art, architecture, & history. Copenhagen, also referred to as København, is the stunning capital of Denmark.

There's The Little Mermaid sculpture made of bronze & granite, inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. There's Amalienborg Palace, constructed in the 1700s, where you can see the changing of the guards as they march from the barracks. I visited these sites & admired their grandeur. However, I kept a keen eye out for any sign of graffiti on the streets.

Some of the street art I captured has political undertones & commentary on social issues. While some others are just silly little monsters. Take a look at this Copenhagen gallery for yourself. Let me know what you think of them. If you haven't ventured into a museum or art gallery lately, consider this a free admission. Hope you enjoy.

Which Copenhagen street art was your favorite? Do you have any in your city? Keep an eye out from now on. :]

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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Traveling is an experience like no other. You witness firsthand how other people live their daily lives. What do they traditionally eat for breakfast? How many official languages are there? What do their road signs look like? Where do locals hang out after work? These are questions that never crossed my mind until I took that long airplane ride across the globe.

As I sit here in sunny San Diego, I reminisce about the month I spent abroad. I visited Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany, & Belgium. I am so overwhelmed with photos, moments, food, & language that's been hard to unwind. After all, less than 24 hours ago I was flying through the air at 521 mph/838 kph on my way to Los Angeles. But now, the photographs I so liberally took are nothing but memories of the past.

Related reading: How to Eat on a Budget While Traveling Abroad

When I close my eyes, I can see the colorful waterfront district of Nyhavn in Copenhagen. I can smell the enticing scent of Belgian waffles wafting into my nose from the streets of Brussels. I can hear the ding dong, sing song ringing of the church bells in Paris. But then I open my eyes. It all disintegrates into reality.

Palais de Justice in Brussels

The reality is that it's 77 degrees. It's time to get back to work. No more grandiose cathedrals. No more French macarons or Belgian waffles. No more. None of that. There's definitely the pluses & minuses of travel, so now I'm experiencing the come down. This is the sobering part where everything comes back into focus.

Now what? Live vicariously through myself & my own photos in the hope of traveling again soon. Find adventure in the every day. Sometimes all you need is a getaway. Sometimes all you need to get away is to go a little further than usual.

Until then, it's time to kick some butt. Oh yes, you will see some travel posts. Don't worry about that. It will come in due time. I've got thousands of photos to browse. I've got 30+ post ideas. But right now I have some sleep to catch up on. Jet lag is real. So real, y'all. Here's hoping you're having a wonderful day. Where's a place you'd love to visit? How's your summer? What have you been up to? :]

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Monday, August 17, 2015

As humans we all need food to survive, but I don't how we've been surviving without food on our clothes! It's so cool. I spotted quite a few pieces of clothing, jewelry, shoes & everything you can think of that are almost good enough to eat. Tis the season to sport your fruitiest, tastiest attire. Yippee!

I'm drawn to MSGM's pineapple print skirt, which is inspired by the retro graphics of the 60s. It's feminine, pleated, & has a flattering A-line shape. The bold yellow & soft baby blue colors pleasantly drawn you in. Pineapples & tropical print are the best!

Most of us like to indulge in fast food once in a while, right? This time there's no need to feel any guilt. This fast food is calorie free! Choies Women's Fast Food Print Tee comes in black or white. Choies also has a novelty skater skirt version! Both are under $20.

"So long as you have food in your mouth,

you have solved all questions for the time being."

- Franz Kafka

The Karl Lagerfeld vegetable charm bracelet is oh so charming to say the least; although it's ~~a bit~~ very expensive. Get a full day's serving of veggies with these darling resin peppers, eggplant, radishes, turnips, tomatoes, corn kernels, & peas. Yes please!

Keds are forever cool & always in style. These days they have watermelon slip ons that are fresh to death. There are also Keds pineapple slip ons as well as a raspberry slip ons. Can't decide which is the best. Pretty much love them all.

"There is no sincerer love than the love of food."

- George Bernard Shaw

There are so many options for all the foodies out there. Sometimes you don't have to eat the meal, just wear it & I don't mean spilling it on yourself, which is something I do daily. Which of these items would you choose? Do you spill food on yourself too? Any other clumsy friends out there? :]

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Friday, August 14, 2015

We live in a society where surgery, extreme dieting, & changing our bodies are becoming the norm or at least very prevalent. For some this is the answer to their question, the call to their prayer; that's totally fine. But the issue we face at the end of the day -- with or without makeup, with or without Botox, with or without a body shaper -- is feeling comfortable in our own skin.

Studies show that youth are consistently dissatisfied with their bodies. Adolescent girls want to weigh less while the boys want to be bigger & stronger, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Their self-perception is swayed by the media & cultural standards in their search for the perfect body.

Do you feel content with yourself? Your body image? Your personality? Your past? Your goals? Why do you feel that way? Is it because of society & what 'the norm' is? In a world of the perfectly contoured Kardashians, it makes the average woman feel like less. Less glamorous. Less attractive. Less worth.

Over 50% of teenage girls & one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy behaviors to lose weight such as skipping meals, fasting, & vomiting, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). That's an astounding number. But when you walk past your favorite store & see a huge ad of a tall, slender, gorgeous woman with a fully toned stomach, it doesn't seem so shocking.

Put down the magazine. Turn off your computer screen (after you finish reading this, of course). Leave your phone at home. Spend some time without the distractions. Reconnect with yourself. We let someone else dictate how we feel about ourselves. We don't want to be pressured into buying some funky suction cup so our lips look bigger. So why do we let it? That's when the light bulb when off.

Don't. Don't let it. Don't let someone's comment alter how you feel about yourself. Don't let that really famous & hot teenager who has millions of dollars to buy a glam squad make you feel like you aren't amazing. YOU ARE! You're super cool, smart, beautiful, & talented.

As a fashion & San Diego lifestyle blogger, my world is out there in the open. Everyone has an opinion. Someone commented on my Facebook outfit photo "not on fleek." Initially I was slightly taken aback, but all of a sudden I was riddled with a case of the giggles. It was hilarious to me. Someone took time out of their day to tell me my outfit sucked.

In this particular case, I had enough confidence in myself & my look to brush it off with a smile. However, there are other instances when I don't feel that way. Sometimes when I post a closeup of my face, I'm self-conscious of pimples or scars. I worry about my toenails not being painted or my feet being too white. I fret about the style of my shirt making me look heavier or if my pants make my hips wider.

But feeling comfortable with yourself begins with you; it starts from deep within. If you love yourself wholly, no amount of airbrushed babes will change that. Obviously, that's the hard part. However, as with anything, practice makes progress. Try, try, then try again.

You are wonderful.

You are intelligent.

You are capable.

You are radiant.

I challenge you to spend 10 minutes with yourself & your thoughts today. No books. No magazines. No internet. No friends. Just you. Alone. With your thoughts. You can meditate or go for a casual stroll around the block. Spend some time being a positive role model for yourself.

My questions to you are: What's an insecurity of yours & what can you do to make that insecurity into a positive? What are 3 of your best qualities/features? Let's spread positivity & confidence.

Here are my answers:

What's an insecurity of yours & what can you do to make that insecurity into a positive? I'm insecure about my two front teeth as they are slightly crooked & overlap a little. I can turn this into a positive because my teeth actually have nothing to do with me or my personality. I literally have no control over it. Plus, J. Cole & Kirsten Dunst don't have perfectly straight teeth & they lead successful & happy lives.

What are 3 of your best qualities/features?

My Persian eyebrows are thick so I rarely have to put any effort into them. Glad strong eyebrows are a thing now because I used to get made fun of for them in high school.
I get along really well with animals & have a bond with pretty much every one I encounter, such as coaxing a normally anti-social cat to sleep at my feet for 3 nights in a row.
I'm smart. I am not a math whiz by any means, but I read a lot & know a lot of pointless & point-full facts.

Your turn! :]

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Beauty at a bargain is the best. Isn't it? I was searching on Amazon for some products to bring with me on my Europe trip & I found Italia Deluxe on Amazon. I've never heard of the brand before, but it had rave reviews. Most people rated their experience 5/5 stars with only a fraction giving it less than that. I was impressed. Really impressed. So I took the leap.

* This post may contain affiliate links.

The set comes with 12 lip liners for just under $10. There isn't much information on the brand save for some things I found in the comment section. These liners are reportedly not tested on animals but do contain beeswax. According to the packaging, Italia Deluxe is distributed by City Cosmetics Inc. in Los Angeles, CA. Each liner weighs .08 ounces.

Take a look at these glorious swatches. I'm seriously dazzled. I have a range of colors, many of which I would never have purchased myself. But I love them. The variety of hues gives me the opportunity to experiment & expand on my makeup. I get to step out of my comfort zone. Would I normally buy a nude lip liner? No. Did I like it? Very much so.

These are the colors I got (left to right): Burgundy, Fuchsia, Natural Beige, Plum, Mango, Hot Red, Brown Sugar, Dusty Rose, Magenta, Cabaret, Toast, & Natural.

Observations: Some of the liners are physically longer than the others. That's a little bit weird, but nothing that I can't deal with. Just think about the price! The colors are vivid & vibrant. The lip liners are matte, so they're wearable & easy to build on. I drooled over how buttery the Italia Deluxe ultra fine lip liners apply on the skin. No dragging. A smooth application. Other reviews mentioned that the colors you get are random - if you order the 12 piece Italia Deluxe Lip Liner Set from Amazon, you might not get the same colors as I did.

In addition, I was attracted to the staying power of these colors. Sometimes you never know how long a certain product will last. It's like the lottery. You buy a ticket & take your chances. My chances were in my favor. The liners stay on my lips for hours! Obviously, if you're eating, drinking, & making out with your lover the lasting power isn't as potent.

I had a hard time narrowing it down but I did bring five liners along with me on my trip. Can you blame me? They don't take up much room in my suitcase at all & I like the idea of being able to wear a rainbow of colors. My makeup staples are mascara & lipstick. I just like how I feel & look when I wear them.

I haven't seen them available in a few months, so grab Italia Deluxe lip liners before they sell out again.

What are your #1 & #2 must have makeup items? What do you think of these liners? Any color stand out to you? :]

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Monday, August 10, 2015

I'm always on the hunt for tasty vegetarian food. I've been a veg-head for almost 10 years now; in the last several years I've seen such an increase in vegetarian friendly eateries. As a teenager & a college student, I struggled to find places that had meatless meals; everything needed to be modified in order for me to eat it. There are so many options now!

I headed to Local Greens* in Solana Beach to try something from their menu. Their slogan is "Fast Fresh Food" & they deliver just that. Local Greens is kind of like Chipotle or Subway in that the dish is created right in front of you. They have salads, wraps, bowls, & burritos. However, Local Greens is different because foods are acquired from local farmers & received by the rule of seasonable, sustainable farming. Plus, they use only plant-based biodegradable & recyclable utensils, plates, & cups.

The storefront is quite small with only a handful of tables inside & outside. I spotted several people grabbing food to go. Foods are priced a bit higher than Subway or Chipotle, but that's what happens when items are locally sourced, fresh, & organic. Portions are also enormous. Angela, the owner, told me she aims to give you your 5 servings of vegetables at once.

Both my boyfriend, Fred, & I received the California Dreaming wrap: organic mesclun, organic sprouts, avocado, grape tomatoes, organic carrots, mushrooms, tortilla strips, & organic cilantro jalapeño lime dressing. I got mine with organic tofu & Fred had herb roasted chicken breast. By the way, mesclun is a mixture of baby kale, spinach, chard, & beet tops. The Cali Wrap costs $8.75. If you can eat it all at once, get the wrap. If you've got a smaller appetite, I recommend getting it as a salad so it keeps longer.

"I wish there was one of these everywhere, " Fred said. He seriously talked about his wrap several times over the next couple days; he was a huge fan. I really enjoyed the kick of flavor from the organic cilantro jalapeño lime dressing. We also shared their organic cane sugar cola. Well, I had a few sips; I'm not the biggest fan of soda. But it was evident that the flavor was less chemical-y & the aftertaste didn't linger unnecessarily. Sodas cost $2 apiece.

Prices reflect the natural, sustainable, local aspect. We must make a conscious choice to spend money on quality food versus heading to some place where the ingredients list is uncountable & unpronounceable. But that's where people differ. Due to the size of the portions, I'd recommend sharing a couple of items with a friend. My tortilla started to get soggy since it couldn't eat it all in one sitting.

The inside decor is whimsical with artificial grass & wooden tables to give you a fresh, garden feel. I liked the food & the meaning behind Local Greens. Perfect to grab a bite to eat before exploring the surrounding cities. What do you think of Local Greens? Do you have any fresh fast food place like this near you? Let me know in the comments! :]

You may find Local Greens:

124 Lomas Santa Fe Dr Ste 102
Solana Beach, CA 92075

(858)-792-2622

http://www.localgreenssb.com/

++++++

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* Disclaimer: Everything was received complimentary from Local Greens in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are 100% mine aka Carmen's. :]

Friday, August 07, 2015

There's something so powerful about a platform boot in the blackest of black. But not all boots are created equal. Some cost nearly $500 while others are bit more affordable for the average human being. We're back with another round of Splurge or Save. Your mission today is to figure out which chunky platform boot costs $495 by Hogan & which is the $90 boot from Missguided. Make your guess! No peeking.

Finalize your guess before you read further. Let's test your fashion skills. Well, the $90 Missguided boot can be found on the left while the $495 Hogan boot is on the right. How did you do? Did they fool you?

Hogan Platform Ankle Boots retails at $495. It's got a round toe, tonal stitching, front platform, elasticized side panels, & chunky stacked heel. For me, the only negative is that it's made of suede (& the fact that it's nearly $500). The elastic sides are perfect to easily put the boots on with none of the zipper hassle. Is it just me or does the zipper somehow always manage to get stuck?

Now take a look at the Missguided Nanami Snake Print Platform Boots for $90. Faux leather with a 14cm/5.5in height to give you a hefty boost. Oh but don't worry, the platform height is 4cm/1.5in to make your feet feel a little bit better. I really like this pair. They look more expensive to me; although a bit too high for me to wear on a daily basis. Hooray for the faux leather. Yippee!

Did you get the Splurge or Save correct? Which do you prefer? What do you think? :]

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Wednesday, August 05, 2015

Kids are magical creatures. They are tiny humans filled with joy, a zest for knowledge & the need for exploration. Adults can learn a lot from them. We are bogged down by stress, problems, & to do lists. Perhaps we should take a moment to see the world from a child's eyes. What can we gain from their way of life? Here are 6 things adults can learn from kids.

Ask questions - "What is that called? Why are you doing that? Can I help?" Sometimes it feels like you can't answer all the questions that are perpetually blasting at you like a machine gun, but they just want to understand more. Adults, don't lose your zest for life. Asking questions means learning answers which means growing your knowledge. A child's mind is like a sponge. Learn from them.

Love wholeheartedly - Love is in the air! Kids love you. They love regardless of ethnicity, religion, & social status. They love their favorite show, their doll, their coloring book, their teacher. They are obsessed with everything & aren't afraid to show it. Adults can take note. Be expressive & show your love. Love life as it comes.

Be honest - Kids are honest, sometimes brutally honest. They don't care what people think. They will point out your big pimple or comment on your messy hair. As adults, it helps to have a filter but overall, honesty is the best policy. Tell that person they have spinach stuck in their teeth. Tell your boyfriend what you want for your birthday instead of making him guess. Tell your friend you're feeling too lazy to go out instead of coming up with an elaborate lie.

Be thankful - Ever done something & hated it? Yeah, we all have. But don't let that attitude overrule thankfulness. Kids are content to play with their friends & blow bubbles. Adults sometimes grow to be cynical & unhappy with their daily lives. Change that mindset immediately!

Wear what you want - We often see children wearing crazy mish mashes of an outfit. Yeah, that's because they aren't scared to dress however they please. Rainbow shirt with jean shorts & a pink sweater & purple shoes? Okay! As we age, we tend to conform to society's ideas. Don't succumb to the pressure. Wear whatever you feel like.

Have fun - Let loose, be silly, & enjoy the day as it is. Kiddos are the first ones on the slide & the last ones to leave. Adults lead stressful lives what with work, family, school, rent, bills, & all. Release some of that stress & just have a bit of fun. Make a work of art in a coloring book; join the mission of building a pillow fort. Let go of some the stress that's piling up.

We can't act like children forever, but we can certainly take some notes on how they live. Give yourself a break & ask yourself "what would a child do?" Which of these do you most think adults could learn from? What other things can kids teach us? Leave a comment! :]

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Monday, August 03, 2015

Basics are cool, but sometimes you just want to make a statement. I'm pretty new to the statement necklace trend. I normally opt for minimal & versatile necklaces that can be styled in a variety of ways, so the statement necklace has a wholly alternative vibe. They're big. They're bulky. They're beautiful.

When Happiness Boutique* reached out to me to pick out a necklace, I spent a good chunk of time deciding which one to go for. They have so many options. Seriously. A lot. They also have bracelets, earrings, & clothes. I ended up choosing the Art Deco Style Statement Necklace. It's a lovely silver color with three chains & a large design in the middle. The package arrived in a timely manner & retails for about $25.93 or €23.90.

I liked the scheme of this particular necklace compared to the other colorfully ornate options. Although I do adore color, I wanted a statement necklace that I could wear often. The silver Art Deco Style necklace can pair with many items in my wardrobe. So far I'm liking it! It's different than any necklace I've ever had.

I like the retro aspect of the necklace. The little opal looking gems. They give the necklace a bit of dimension. I paired the darling necklace with a classic & simple black button down. Then of course, I added pink shorts & funky sandals. Okay, okay. I enjoy making a statement. Colors, colors, & more colors? Yes please.

Shirt: Nordstrom Rack // Necklace: Happiness Boutique* // Shorts: Forever 21 // Sandals : Rue 21 // Sunglasses: Marshalls

I hope you're having an excellent summer...or whatever season it is where you live. My summer has been pretty busy as far as work & blogging. As you may or may not know, I am presently in Europe! Updates are to come. Do you have any statement necklaces? What do you think of mine? What about the look as a whole? :]

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* Disclaimer: The necklace was received complimentary from Happiness Boutique in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are 100% mine aka Carmen's. :]