I...graduated?!

Well, I'm officially a college graduate and my feelings are summed up pretty well by this one picture:

I had a blast at my grad shoot as you can see :)

In all honesty, a lot of people think that I have this grand plan and that I'm already more than halfway there when in reality, I'm so not. I'm scared for my future and I don't know what's going to happen. A lot of people say that if your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough and booooooy am I frightened. That must mean I'm doing something right...right? I know that in the end, it'll work out, but right now I can't help but feel scared. That isn't to say that I'm not hopeful because to some extent, I'm so glad to be moving on from college but I think that's currently being overshadowed by fear of the future. However, I'll still keep chasing the dreams that scare me and I'll still keep giving it my all because that's what life is - being scared but having the courage to try anyway. 

xx

Skincare Update - It's been almost a year!

Hello! I know it's been forever and just like clockwork, I'm back to blog in the summertime. There was a certain desire that overcame me to get back into blogging once more and although I have no idea how long it'll last, I want to make the best of it. For my first return post after almost a year, I wanted to give an update on my skin and the products that have impacted me so much! I think it's fitting since my last post was about skincare and I'd like to give an update since some stuff has changed.

Updated Skincare Routine

Cleanser: My cleanser has changed and so has the number of times I wash face every week. For starters, this cleanser from First Aid Beauty is scent free and really gentle. It's a wonderful cream formula that doesn't dry my skin out at all. My Paula's Choice cleanser started to dry me out quite a bit so I made the switch to this and my skin feels great. I usually buy the small 2oz size from Sephora because I have started washing my face once or twice a week and that's it so it lasts me quite a while. Some people don't believe me when I tell them that but it's true! I have started to let my natural oils work their magic and my skin feels and looks the best it has in a long time. 

Exfoliator: This has stayed the same - my tried and true Pixi Glow Tonic.  This is my usual AHA exfoliator but I have cut down the use because I was prescribed a Tretinoin cream from my doctor that I used a lot more instead of this. More about the cream can be found here. This medication absolutely changed my skin - it stopped my pimples and really sped up the exfoliating speed of my skin. In three months, my marks faded an incredible amount. I will say that getting to the point of my skin being as clear as it is now took a lot of work. My skin flaked SO much and went through some really rough patches while using the cream. I used it every night and stuck through the rough patches. It was so worth it and if you have the opportunity, I would highly suggest talking to your dermatologist about what it best for your skin because they really do know what is best. 

Moisturizer: This has also stayed the same - During the day, I like to use a moisturizer with at least SPF 30. I've been using the Olay Moisturizer with SPF 30 and I absolutely love it. It doesn't break me out and it absorbs pretty quickly. At night, I've been staying faithful to my Josie Maran Light Argan Oil. This is my go to moisturizer for when my skin really needs some lovin and it makes my skin so soft and supple. I highly recommend it!

        

As always, I will add to not only wear SPF every single day but also to love yourself and your skin no matter what shape it is in. You can have the clearest skin in the world and still not be happy if you don't love yourself. Going through this process of battling the pigmentation and acne, in general, has really taught me to just care for myself and love myself so SO SO much. Yes, my skin is doing great and it's almost as clear as it was before I hit puberty but above that, I'm happy. I'm happy with myself and that's something that has been a long time coming.

xx

The Battle With Hyperpigmentation

Hi, guys! I took a much-needed break from blogging over the course of the past couple weeks but I'm back and better hopefully haha.

Recently, I've been battling something I've never had a problem with before - hyperpigmentation (ugh). For the most part, I've had pretty clear skin for the majority of my life but this summer, I got some serious acne on my cheeks and while that is completely gone, I am left behind with a bunch of hyperpigmentation. Yikes. I started looking for solutions and I recently found a routine that has been working for me! My hyperpigmentation is fading :) I also recently booked a dermatologist appointment to see what else I can do but I wanted to share some products and tips that have been working for me. I also want to make a note to say that despite me having hyperpigmentation, I am still so beyond blessed because not only do I love myself despite having the hyperpigmentation but also because my struggles with my skin are nothing compared to so many. I am so lucky and I am so aware and grateful for that. That point aside, ya girl is just trying to get her best skin! So now that I've gone on for a bit, on to the post. For reference, I have oily skin.

For starters, what I have is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). I do not have acne scarring nor do I have sun spots. What I have is not severe by any means but it's still noticeable. For this, I have established a skincare routine that has been making a difference. That along with some additional tips is making me love my skin even more. Let's start with the skin care routine:

Skincare Routine

Cleanser --- Exfoliator --- Serum --- Moisturizer

Cleanser: I have been using the Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser from Paula's Choice. Guys, I love it. For the longest time, I was using a salicylic acid cleanser to control the oil on my skin but I realize now that it was stripping my skin of important oils that help prevent breakouts. This cleanser has been great for me - unscented, makes my skin feel clean and not greasy, and it's not expensive ($12 for 6 oz). Score!

Exfoliator: This was a one of my two absolutely game changing products. I have never been one to exfoliate. I just didn't see it as an important part of my daily skincare routine but I was so wrong. When I started reading up and learning more about skincare, I realized that exfoliation is so necessary for healthy skin!!! I originally went and bought a physical exfoliator (which I still love because it's gentle and wonderful) but it was doing nothing for my hyperpigmentation. That's when I turned to chemical exfoliation and the world of AHAs and BHAs.  Basically, AHAs are for people who's main concern is sun damage, and excess pigmentation while BHAs are more for people with active acne, enlarged pores, blackheads, and in some cases rosacea (consult your derm to be safe!). You guys, I was so nervous and I was not looking forward to skin that would become slightly more sensitive to the skin but I decided it was something I needed to do. I choose the Pixi Glow Tonic as my AHA exfoliator - it has 5% Glycolic Acid which is a safe amount and this exfoliator does not dry out the skin. I slowly started applying this both day and night and the chemical exfoliation from the glycolic acid started to fade my marks. It's still doing its job but it's working. Very important to remember that you NEED to put on SPF while using this (you should anyway on a regular basis) but especially while you are using any type of acid on your skin, even salicylic. Now this is something that is a little on the pricier end but totally worth it ($15 for 3.4 oz and $30 for 8.4 oz). This goes very fast but as I said, it's worth it.

Serum: Oh boy, this is where the big money comes in. This is my second absolutely game changing product. Serums contain concentrated ingredients and help speed up the process in treating the problems you might have. I decided to splurge on the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum ($80). Yes, this is expensive but do not fret because let me tell you about Bath and Unwind ;) I knew that I wanted to get this serum to help fade my pigmentation and I heard nothing but amazing things about Caudalie. I found this serum on Bath and Unwind (A British company) for $50. I jumped for joy because not only was this a savings of $30 but also because they offer free international shipping. Honestly, I was a little skeptical at first but after doing some research, I found out that because Caudalie is a Paris-based company, their products are cheaper in Europe hence the price difference. I placed the order and the serum arrived in perfect condition on the expected arrival date. Keep in mind, it took two weeks because it was shipped from the U.K and had to go through customs but it got here and I couldn't be happier. While their response time on emails is awful, Bath and Unwind is reliable and my product got here and exceeds my expectations. It has helped my spots lighten up and has given my whole face a wonderful glow. Love love love - a bonus is that it smells divine (also it's very light, works for all skin types, a little goes a long way and it's all natural so no photosensitivity). Can you tell I love it? 

Moisturizer: You guys already know my two picks for this. During the day, I like to use a moisturizer with at least SPF 30. Recently, I've been loving the Olay Moisturizer with SPF 30 and I alternate this with my Neutrogena Moisturizer with SPF 35 but I've been trying to avoid oxybenzone (that is a post for another day) so I've been using my Olay one a bit more. Both get the job done. At night, I've been staying faithful to my Josie Maran Light Argan Oil but since the serum feels a little bit hydrating on my skin and my skin is already oily, I have been skipping out on it some nights and my skin has been doing great and is not dry one bit. It's important to make sure your skin is feeling hydrated always, despite your skin type. 

        

Tips

Going to try and keep this short and sweet since this post is already SO long haha. 

1) Be consistent with sun protection - if you are using products and not using SPF, pigmentation will not get better.

2) Give it time - the best thing you can do is be patient. If you get nothing out of this post but one thing, the one thing should be that time will be the best healer. You need to give everything time to work and you need to let your skin do its thing. 

3) Love yourself despite whatever you might be facing - You are beautiful! Your inner beauty is always the most important aspect of you as a person and try to remember the surface things mean nothing at the end of the day. What means the most is what type of person you are - if you are kind, loving, open-minded, and accepting, I can promise you that nothing else with matter. 

Yes, work towards being the best version of you but be the best version of you both on the outside and inside. 

xx

Current Obsessions

June has come to end (already!) and I have a list of things that I've been loving. Every so often, I find myself surrounded by the urge to share the everyday obsessions in my life. Without further ado, here we go:

1. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer: Yes, a concealer is on my list of current obsessions! I was originally very hesitant about buying this because of two things: the price ($29 USD) and the color match. I've had some huge misses in terms of color matches for my skin but to my surprise, the color Ginger in this concealer was as close as a match I could have gotten. The match really made me give in and spend the money on this product and I honestly haven't been disappointed. The coverage is fantastic, the consistency is great for blending, and the finish is so natural which is a huge plus for me! The majority of my everyday makeup routine literally involves putting this on my face with some powder and blush. Das it.

2. Fred V & Grafix: This is a DJ duo that I've recently fallen in love with. One of their songs came up on my Youtube suggested videos and it's been love every since then. Two songs in particular that I love are Nearly There and Ignite. 

3.  A 10-year-old applied to a prestigious tech fellowship: Five by Five, an innovative agency launched their prestigious technology fellowship for the summer and an ambitious 10-year old girl applied so that she get help with the robot she made to make the people of Paris happy! This literally made me smile ear to ear. The best part? She was accepted. Here is a snippet of the acceptance letter:

"Dear Eva, The answer is yes. You have been selected as one of Paris’ first-ever Summer Innovation Fellows among an impressive pool of candidates from all across the world: accomplished urban designers, data scientists, and hardware specialists.  I love your project and agree that more should be done — through robotics or otherwise — to improve Paris’ streets and make them smile again."

You can read the entire letter and story that I've linked above. 

Those have been my current obsessions! It's a short and sweet list for the past two weeks. What are some of yours?

xx

21 Things

My birthday is coming up very soon and the idea for this came from a period of reflection as well as some soul searching on Pinterest (I do this more than I would like to admit haha). I'm going to be 21 in about a week and I'm so grateful for another year where I have been able to learn so much. In honor of getting a little older, learning, growing, and accomplishing things, I wanted to go over the 21 things I've learned by age 21.

1. Being kind is always the way to go. Don't let the world harden you to a point where you find it hard to show kindness towards others.

2. Don't change yourself for anyone or anything.

3. It's important to be able to take criticism properly. Managing to gracefully accept what others think applies to work and life.

4. People will always have something to say - don't let it get to you. You are fabulous and fierce!

5. Call home. It'll make you feel better.

6. Only you truly know yourself. No one will ever know you as well as you know yourself no matter how much you open up.

7. Very few things are permanent. People will come and go, things will change, and at times there will be nothing you can do about it.

8. Do not let rejection stop you from trying. Things will not always go the way you want but you have to keep going no matter what.

9. Know your worth. You are valuable and your skills are valuable do make sure to keep that in mind as you go through all the things you have to do.

10. Stand up for what is right. It does not matter what others might think but it certainly does matter if you stand up to injustice.

11. Take time off to enjoy yourself. Don't let the hustle and bustle of life burn you out.

12. Surround yourself with people who make you want to be a better person. If someone drains you, it's time to let them exit your life.

13. Your time is valuable. Spend it wisely because you're never going to get it back.

14. Your siblings have the potential to be your best friends.

15. You are so much stronger than you know. You can and will get through things you thought you would never be able to recover from.

16. Lifting others up and supporting their success will never harm you. Help, and be the best cheerleader possible.

17. Trust your instincts even when you seem a little confused about why you feel a certain way about something. Usually, your instincts are spot on.

18. Take a step back and observe what is going on instead of talking. You'll learn so much about the people in your life.

19. Be wary of people. As sad as it is, not everyone has the best in mind for you. Protect yourself and be wary.

20. Don't let anyone control your life because at the end of the day, it's your life. No one else is going to going to your job everyday, and no one is going to be doing exactly what you are doing.

21. Live for the little moments. Cherish the things in your life and if you can, try to create some of these moments for someone else. What goes around comes around after all :)

xx

What To Do Now? Post-Graduation Blues

Update: I ALSO GRADAUTED (6/2/17)!!

I've recently have had a bunch of people in my life graduate from college (I'M SO PROUD). A lot of them have come to me in utter confusion about what to do next. That has caused me to really sit down and think as well as consult with those who are well in past graduating in any part of their life. Together with some incredible people, the following list was born. Although I'm no expert on what to do after graduating since I'm only a senior in college, I really took to heart the advice given to me by those who have already moved on to their post-grad lives.

What to do after graduating?

 Enjoy the moment and be proud of yourself: It is human nature to overlook one's achievements and simply jump in to the future. At this point, I can't stress how important it is to take a step back and really think about the amazing thing you've just done. After years of work, you're one of the few people in this world who have obtained an education. You've walked across the stage and came down with a degree. That is INCREDIBLE. Do not sell yourself short! Really take a look at the past couple years and realize that all those late nights, and 8am classes were beyond worth it. 

 Take a look at your loan statements: Many people who graduate do so with the help of some sort of loan and after graduating, it's extremely important to take a look at all of your loans and make a plan. This is part of being an adult and as scary as it is, it is crucial to make a plan on how you will be paying back the money your borrowed. Thinking now will save you a lot of problems in the future. Know that you aren't alone as you start to work on a repayment plan. Ask for help in terms of understanding on how loans work because you'll be surprised to find how willing people are to spread their knowledge about how they worked through their budgeting to make things work.

Do something you've always wanted to: Yes college gives you a lot of freedom but you will have some time just after graduation which will the most incredible sense of freedom you will ever experience in your life. Do something you've wanted to for as long as you could remember. Do you remember wanting to travel to every continent? Do it. Do you remember wanting to take that tap dancing class? Do it. Do you remember thinking you wanted to start a business? Do it. You are on a roll in your life and embracing this will give you wonderful memories as well as morale to continue the transition in to adulthood. 

Know that the best is yet to come: This is probably the most important point on this list. Yes, you graduated and no it is not the end of having fun and enjoying yourself. The next five years are going to be the best times of your life because you have the perfect mixture of maturity and a desire to live life to the fullest. Take risks while you can, try new things, and if you don't know what you are doing with your life, you're lucky :) You have the prime of your life to figure that out. I've heard a lot of people say "It all goes down hill from here" but I strongly disagree. There is no where to go but up. You are equipped with a degree, a sense of adventure, and the best is truly yet to come. 

Congrats to everyone who has graduated! I am excited to be in your shoes next year.

xx

 

To My Dad

To my Dad,

There will never be enough words in the world to express the gratitude I have for everything that you have done for not only me but also for our entire family. You are a pillar of strength when everyone is crumbling. You are love when there is a need for acceptance. You are kindness when anyone requires a hand. To many, you seem serious and an all work/no play type of person. To me, you are the jokester that makes me laugh after a bad day.

For leaving a life of luxury so that your kids could have a brighter future, for working all the overnight shifts that require you to give up sleep, for treating my mom like a queen and emulating inspiring characteristics, for accepting all my mistakes and loving me anyway - thank you.

I love you.

Me and my pops

xx


Wishing a Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads out there and all the people who play father figure roles in the lives of so many!

My Favorite Products for Oily/Acne Prone Skin

I'm past my teen years but I still struggle with Acne. For a while I was so discouraged because no matter what I would do, acne would still pop up on my face. It wasn't until I started using the following products that I really began to see a difference. My acne has slowed down and I've started to notice my skin clearing up quite a bit. The product are as follows:

1. Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Face Wash: This face wash is perfect for removing oil and gunk from your face and it's on the more gentle end of Salicylic Acid washes with 0.5% of the wash containing the medication. This wash doesn't dry my skin out and really controls my skin. I highly recommend!

2. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer with SPF 35: Sun Protection!!!! This moisturizer is so great because it provides protection from the sun which is incredibly important for healthy and youthful skin. What I love most about this is that in addition to being non-comedogenic (doesn't clog pores), the moisturizer has a very faint SPF smell despite having a great amount of SPF. Another perk is the lack of perfume and lack of oil. Even my oily skin has no problem with this moisturizer.

3. Josie Maran Light Argan Oil: Honestly, this oil has been amazing for me. I was always one of those people who was afraid to put oil on my skin simply because my skin was already so oily. After doing a lot of extensive research, I found out that oil is needed by your skin and oil in fact stops your skin from producing the extra oil that clogs pores and causes acne. When I finally decided to purchase an oil for my skin, I was on the hunt for the best one. Do I get jojoba? Coconut? Pumpkin Seed?! I eventually ended up choosing a light argan oil from Josie Maran because it has a comedogenic rating of 0 and so many incredible reviews. I was not disappointed! After using it, my skin has started to feel so much softer and I've stopped producing extra oil in my T-Zone. This is an investment that is totally worth it.

4. Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask: I love Origins - their products just make my skin feel so good. After doing research( I have to learn the ins and outs of the product before I buy it...every single time), I decided to get this charcoal mask to use once/twice a week depending on my skin. Charcoal is a natural ingredient that is able to dig down and clean pores which makes it a great thing to use to really get a clean feel. I really love the way my skin feels after putting the mask on and it's a mask I plan on purchasing again.

5. Clean & Clear Dual Action Skin Moisturizer: This is another moisturizer that I really like. It's non-comedogenic, oil free, and leaves a nice cool feel to my skin. The only difference is that it contains salicylic acid which helps calm down any bumps that pop up on my skin. I reach for this as my night moisturizer so that the salicylic acid can fight through the night to keep my skin as clear as possible.

6. Biore Complexion Clearing Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser: Now this is a cleanser that I've been using for about two years and I love it. It's much stronger than the Aveeno Cleanser that I use in the morning. It contains about 2.5% salicylic acid and really does take all oil and dirt off your skin. It's important to use this with a great moisturizer because it does have the potential to dry out your skin even though it hasn't personally dried out my skin. It's gives a really cool and refreshing finish which I really enjoy.

In addition to the products above, I'd like to give a shoutout to Clean and Clear's Persa Gel 10 which is a Benzoyl Peroxide spot treatment that has helped me tremendously. I attack any skin issues with a combination of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid and it has worked perfectly for me!

Do you have any favorite skin products? I'd love to know in the comments below.

xx

Celebrating yourself - The Reverse Bucket List

I'm really guilty of being too hard on myself guys - I don't cut myself slack...ever. Eventually, I end up breaking and crying because of everything that I have bottled up. However, as I am getting older and as yet another birthday approaches (yikes haha), I am learning to take a moment to appreciate all the things that I have accomplished. Just taking a look at myself last year and comparing that to now, I can declare with full confidence that I have grown and have accomplished more than I thought I would. In honor of that, I wanted to do a reverse bucket list - a list that gives recognition to the things that I have accomplished in one way or another.

I love myself - I do. I love myself. I can't tell you long it has taken me to tell myself that I am important and that I am someone who is full of worth. I literally woke up one day, looked in the mirror, and said "I love myself." Saying those words out loud immediately lifted a burden off of my shoulders and suddenly everything seemed just a tad bit brighter. I won't lie and say that there aren't days where I berate and criticize everything I do but it's not nearly as bad as it once was. My standards for friendships and relationships have soared as well and I have never been happier. Knowing that I am full of worth has made me put up with less crap so I've cut out people who drain me of positive energy because ain't nobody got time for that.

I'm a senior in college - I'm less than 20 credits away from a degree!! College has kicked my ass and I've fallen down more than I can even count but I've gotten back up every single time through the help of my family, a few select friends, and my own willpower to keep going. Through deaths of people I loved, loss of people I thought would be my friends forever, being rejected over and over, I've remained standing. I've carried on. I'm on track to graduate with high honors and I'm looking forward to continuing my education so that I can help those in need. I've grounded myself and I now know that you have to keep moving. Life does not stop moving even when you are trying to not fall apart. 

I've become a leader - These past couple years I've heard a lot of things about myself, some good and some bad. Recently, I heard that I'm not "firm enough" and that "I'm too nice" to possibly lead a team effectively even though I am highly qualified. I was so hurt but then I walked in to a meeting at the UN where they asked me to lead and facilitate the discussion. After that, I was chosen by an incredible researcher to train and lead the graduate students in their training at the lab. Then, a government official asked me to come in and be in charge of a group of much older policy makers to bring forth real change. I was told that I am able to take a step back and let people work but that I step in when needed which indicates true leadership. My heart soared and suddenly I wasn't feeling so hurt anymore. I was a leader not because I was the loudest, but because I was the one that listened.

I've hardened - This probably sounds so weird but let me explain. I am sensitive you guys. I am sensitive and emotional and I am proud. However, I've come to a point where I am able to control my emotions with such efficiency because in training therapy sessions or at my internship, I've gone through some awful cases that have made me want to cry. Obviously, you cannot be falling apart when you are trying to help people who need you to emulate strength and so I've learned to bottle my reactions and stay composed in the face of tragedy. I've been able to be a source of comfort for friends and family going through hell because I can keep it together. Sometimes, I'm in a room and everyone is sobbing and I am just standing there trying to comfort others and for me that is a sign of growth. I would have fallen apart and any and every tear before. 

Phew - these are just some of things I am proud of. I would have never imagined myself writing this a year ago but a lot has happened. I would love to hear about things you are proud of because we should all apologetically celebrate our accomplishments. Sending lots of love, as always.

xx

A Little Lifesaver Called Findation

I just wanted to let you all know about a website that has changed my life! Recently, I've become a bit of a makeup junkie (my best friend and I call each other makeup trash with great pride) but I am always afraid of two things: the makeup will break me out or it will be the wrong color. Thankfully, I come to you after finding a solution for one of those things. Color matching is an issue that so many people face but ladies and gentlemen, it's about to get a whole lot easier for those of us who use makeup because I would like to present Findation. 

The website Findation matches you to all different types of foundations and concealers depending on shades you enter that have worked for you. The process is super simple.

1. Enter a product or two that you know is a good match for you - They suggest you put two but I only put one. However, two will give you an even more accurate match.

   

2. A Plethora of liquid, mineral, loose, pressed foundations, various concealers, and Tinted Moisturizers will be presented as possible matches for your skin. That's it! It's also important to note that drugstore items are also included - not only high end products.

These are only some of the many, many matched products for me

Talk about a complete lifesaver! Just wanted to share a website that I found extremely helpful. Let me know if this works for you!

xx

 

What to do - Summer 2016 in NYC

I've been lucky enough to live about 20 minutes (with good traffic!) away from New York City pretty much my entire life and every summer, I really look forward to spending a good chunk of my time in the place that never sleeps. Here are a few things that I am personally looking forward to as the weather gets warmer:

PsychoBarn

The Met's Rooftop Garden - I've always been a fan of movies and this exhibition spoke to my heat. Every year, certain artworks are commissioned for the Met's rooftop garden and this particular exhibition is called PsychoBarn which is an ode to the large-scale replica of the home featured in Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 horror film Psycho. To me personally, this is fascinating and I can't wait.

Panorama

Randall's Island Park- Panorama has got me screaming out of excitement!!! This Coachella-like music festival features some of my favorite artists (Kendrick Lamar, Daughter, Sia, Jai Wolf, A$AP Rocky to name a few) and it's so underrated. I can't wait to get my groove on and hopefully get blessed by some sweat from Kendrick (can you tell I'm a little in love). 

The Cloisters

Upper Manhattan- Surprisingly, this beautiful place is an extension of The Met and is a getaway in the city. This gorgeous garden area is especially known for it's European architecture, sculpture, and decorative art. In addition, the Cloisters also offer special program and really fantastic views of the Hudson. European getaway here I come.

New World Mall

Flushing, Queens-  Okay so I'm cheating a little bit on this one because it isn't technically in New York City but instead in Queens. However, this is something that I definitely wanted to put on this list because I love food and I love good prices. New World Mall is the largest East Asian mall on the East Coast and it consists of a 30,000 sq. feet supermarket, an amazing food court, and even clothing stores. What I am looking forward to the most is the authentic Asian cuisine at fantastic prices.

What are some of your anticipated summer plans?

xx 

And I'm Back!

I am a little ashamed of how delayed this is! I've had a crazy year full of so many ups and downs and I had to put blogging on the side. The last few months have really tested my patience and my willingness to be around certain people but I have come through that test stronger, kinder, and more patient than ever. Growing from those experiences and coming back refreshed has allowed me to put some energy back into blogging :)

So keep an eye out for new posts consisting of the various parts of my life. I'm so grateful for all the support and the love you all showed even while I was gone.

(I have so many posts coming up that you'll be sick of me)

xx

J.Crew Fall Collection

About two years ago, I stumbled into a J.Crew to help my brother pick out chinos and my mind was like "What the heck are chinos? Why am I going with my brother???" Little did I know, that I would fall head over heels for everything in the store and spend way more money than planned. I took a look at the recent Fall collection when I went to the store and I am really loving the whole collection. I will say, however, that J.Crew hasn't changed much in many years so it's almost the same style over and over again. I personally love that style, so I love what they put out every season. I also liked the shift back to more simple pieces rather than the busy ones I saw before. I wanted to share some of my favorites :)

And let's not forget shoes that I am swooning over

 

Ugh I want everything but alas my wallet says otherwise haha. As you can see, I'm a huge fan of simple and clean things and I really love that J.Crew has been working on just those types of designs this Fall. 

What are some of your favorite Fall collections?

xx

For The Love Of Thick Eyebrows

We all have so many insecurities and I'll be the first to admit that I am no exception. It has taken me a long time to accept so many things about myself and one of those things are my eyebrows. Am I seriously making a post about eyebrows? Yup.

I have spent so much time coming to terms with loving this feature about myself and I think it's important to put a spotlight on something I was once ashamed of. I never used to think about my eyebrows or really anything because I was honestly so carefree and I simply enjoyed life. It wasn't until a I heard a girl make fun of me that I started to become self conscious. I was mortified and a feeling of shame overcame me and did a lot of damage to the way I perceived myself. It started a slight downward spiral of insecurity which was honestly so horrendous. I wish with all my heart that the current me could go back to little me and give her a giant hug. I would tell myself to be proud of everything you have been given and that thick eyebrows will be way in soon!

I mean, just look at how fabulous these brows are :) 

I guess the whole point of this post is to bring home the concept of accepting things that make you you. It sure has hell took me a long time but I that acceptance of my eyebrows has brought me so much peace and so much confidence in so many other things. I love all my features and I know I'm a strong woman even though I still have my days but I know we all do. 

That's me!

I think the most rewarding part of accepting the things that me unique is when I explain to my younger cousins and the younger girls I work with just how much better things are when you do. So for the love of thick eyebrows, come to peace with what you are blessed with as best as you can. I promise you, it makes a difference!

xx

Current Obsessions

1. Top Knots

Guys, I've been a little obsessed with making my hair this way for the past three weeks. I have really long hair and in the summer it's hard to keep it out of my face so one day I decided to just put it up and it was easily the best decision I ever made. I feel so free and most of all I don't feel so hot and overwhelmed! Plus, top knots happen to suit my face so this hairstyle is a total win-win for me. It allows me to look cute and stay cool.

2. Infuser Water Bottle

Strawberry, Lemon, and Mint. GUYS, this is the most delicious combo known to man kind (I'm a little excited) and I'm so glad that I got one of these bottles so I can put these things together. I love putting things in the infuser in the middle and having my bottle in my bag. It's so nice to have a refreshing and healthy drink in my bag. 

3. Larsson and Jennings

Larsson and Jennings is so swoon worthy. It's an absolutely beautiful watch company with minimalistic and polished designs *insert heart eyes*. I've been heading over to their website everyday trying to resist buying the watch above but I honestly think I will because I'm literally in love with it. 

4. Death in Paradise 

I watch a lot of shows. A LOT and recently I've either caught up or finished the shows I've been watching until I stumbled across Death in Paradise. I love the witty characters and the story line which is very CSI esque mixed with humor. That is right up my alley. Sadly, I did ruin some plot lines for myself but I am going to continue watching. Ruined plots won't stop me! 

xx

My Instagram Process

                

I used to laugh at Instagram. It was just something I thought I would never really get the hang of but I was SO wrong. I started when my brother said "I think you'll like it, trust me" and I grudging took the plunge by casually posting pictures of family and the occasional flower here and there.

However, over time my passion for capturing beautiful moments really started to grow because of Insta (the cool way to say it of course) and I can honestly say that I have began to see things differently. I find beauty in everything and it's one of the things I personally really like about myself. So without further blabbing by yours truly, here is my process of editing pictures for Instagram and also a few of my tips. It's important to remember that there is literally no wrong way to edit and you should always do what you think is best! This is just how I do things.

           

1. Find Inspiration and Keep an Eye Out

The first step here is choose something to photograph. You might be saying "Zainab, this is so obvious" but it's important that I mention it. This is anything that inspires you or really anything you find pleasing. As you can see above, I don't stick to a theme and instead I literally photograph anything that catches my eye. If you want to photograph something, no matter how small, go for it! You'll never know what turns out to be one of your favorite pictures. 

2. Shoot where there is light

This is also very crucial for my process. I do not use a DSLR for my photos and everything is shot on my iPhone. That being said, many of my fellow iPhone users know that the night shooting capabilities are severely limited on the phone so it's best to shoot during the day where there is tons of natural light or really anywhere where you can have some sort of light. This isn't to say that you shouldn't shoot at night but it is tough on the phone. Use your best judgement.

3. Process in VSCO

This is my go to app for editing photos. I really like my pictures to be bright, vivid and crisp so I almost always increase brightness and sharpen my picture. I also tend to straighten my pictures After doing that, I try to enhance the natural colors of the photo by maybe increasing the contrast slightly. Usually after that, I like to go through the various filters and choose one to my liking. Usually I lean more towards the A4-A6 or C1-C3 filters, where I play around with the strength of the filters. These often brighten up my pictures and bring out the colors even more. If I have a picture of people instead of items, I try to also play around with the skin tone option on VSCO. Skin tone is a fairly new part of the app and here is what the people at VSCO say about it:

"When creating portraits, it can be frustrating when the subject's skin color photographs slightly green or red, often due to the lighting situation. Also, images straight out of camera can many times contain splotchy skin tones that look unappealing. Using the Skin Tone tool helps to even skin tones as well as shift skin colors to achieve a more natural looking glow"

This is a feature that I use very sparingly but it can be helpful. It's all trial and error a lot of times. 

4. Crop just the right amount and caption

In my personal opinion, one of the most frustrating things about Instagram is that pictures have to be cropped. I honestly just use my best judgement here and try to keep the main parts of the picture in the center. Afterwards, I caption and press upload. 

And we're done! Honestly, it seems like a lot but once you get the hang of your own personal process, it's actually quite fun. I look forward to taking and editing pictures :)

Let me know your process for editing pictures and post a comment below!

On a side note: Other than VSCO cam, Snapseed and Polarr are FANTASTIC free photo editing apps. I have them as well but I use VSCO cam the most. 

xx