March 28, 2014

Stress

Dealing with stress is an obstacle everyone faces. Whether it is caused by a test, a friendship, a relationship, or just because you didn't get enough sleep the night before and it seems like the world is out to get you. It's there, and it probably won't ever go away. But that test? It's just one in the grand scheme of hundreds you're bound to take. That fight with your best friend? You'll get over it because no matter how stubborn you both are you love each other. The world isn't out to get you. Things just happen. Stress just happens, and learning to cope with it is the only thing you can do.

I know that is easier said than done. I have really bad anxiety and my stress can sky rocket at the littlest things. And when I get stressed I either shut down or go into a complete frenzy. I'll clean and organize everything in site, or just get in bed and sleep for hours. Neither one of those methods are effective ways to handle the stress I'm facing. It's an escape from the problem, and you'll just end up coming across it again in the future if you don't sit down and solve it. The main thing with stress is that you're focused on one small detail most of the time, all you really have to do is take a step back and realize things aren't really that bad and that you're going to be fine. It may not feel that way right in that moment but they will be eventually because they always are.

When it comes to stress your biggest enemy is yourself. You psych yourself out and get top wrapped up in the constant jumble of thoughts coursing through your brain. So take a deep breath and tell your self that your ok. That you can make it through it. That one bad test grade doesn't determine your worth as a person. And that fight with your best friend? She was probably just stressed out top. 

The best advice I can give you in regards dealing with stress and anxiety is to make sure you don't project it onto anyone else. Being rude to the people around you won't change that jittery feeling you have. It will just make you feel even worse. So go for a run, eat a bowl of ice cream, read a book, take a bubble bath and calm your mind because that's where that stress is located. In your own head. 


xxx Lex 

March 27, 2014

What's in my Bag








Most of my posts this week have been a bit different, I just wanted to change things up and not have a constant repetition because that can sometimes get boring, so today's post is all about what's in my bag. I literally just unzipped the purse that I've been using lately (just a black cross body from target) and dumped the contents onto my bed. 

1). Glasses and glasses case: I'm supposed to wear them when driving which rarely happens but I keep them with me just in case
2). Camelback water bottle: It's important to always stay hydrated so I always fill up my water bottle every morning before leaving the house 
3). Paris Journal: I tend to always keep a journal with me, no matter how many times I switch my bag around that is one thing that remains constant 
4). Camera: I keep my small camera with me in case inspiration strikes or I'm doing something interesting that day. I've also been wanting to start vlogging a bit so I keep it handy just in case
5). Iphone: my phone is my baby, my entire life is on that thing
6). Elephant Wallet: I got this clutch wallet for Christmas and I think the print is really fun and elephants are my favorite animal 
7). Random Receipt: This is a receipt for one of the prom dresses I bought, I have no idea why it's just floating around in there
8). Mascara: I don't typically carry mascara with me but I was running late one morning and just threw them in there so I could finish my makeup in the car
9). Lauren Hutton Oil Blotting pads: My skin gets pretty oily throughout the day so these are a lifesaver 
10). Headphones: I like to have them just in case, you never know when you're going to have to tune someone out 
11). Lollipop: They gave this to me after dinner at a restaurant I went to recently, I still don't understand why
12). Pens: To write in my journal with or just for any other reason 
13). Handsanitizer: you can never be too cautious 
14). Tylenol: I get massive headaches so I always make sure I have some sort of pain reliever with me
15). Car Keys: I clearly need to drive places, I have a bunch of keychains attached to the end so they don't get lost in the bottom of my bag
16). Raybans: My sunglasses are always with me, even on a cloudy day, I'm obsessed with them.


March 26, 2014

Swiping on Neutrals




My makeup typically consists of neutrals. I'm not the type to experiment with crazy blues or anything quite out there when it comes to eye makeup. I tend to stick to light browns on my lid, with a darker brown blended in the crease, it's just simple and easy to do. I thought I would just show you guys my go to palettes my favorite one being my Tarina Tarantino one which is shown in the second picture. You can tell that it is used quite a bit and that's just because I absolutely love the colors in it. I don't have to switch from palate to palate because it has everything. I have quite a few eyeshadow palates but I'm quite weird when it comes to them. I'll buy one and honestly leave it untouched for months because I don't want to mess it up. So it was honestly probably a good three months before I cracked open my Tarina Tarantino one and look at it now, it's completely destroyed. But I would definitely recommend one with those sorts of colors. Sadly the exact palate isn't sold anymore because it's quite old but it's not hard to find one with similar sorts of colors! I can't remember where exactly the palates in the first picture are from I want to say revlon and the last one pictured is from elf. Which is a super inexpensive brand found at target, I believe this palate was actually only five dollars and I bought it before a trip I went on just so I didn't have to bring loads of different ones with me. 

March 25, 2014

This City Never Sleeps





Photo By: Viet of Ambercool


So as promised, today's post is all about the night spent in the city. I wish I could say something exciting about my outfit, but sadly on the car ride into the city I ended up having to change. I take pride in my ability to not only strip off my high waisted shorts and replace them with a nice pair of black harem pants, but to do so in a moving vehicle without being seen. But the night wasn't completely ruined as I layered up and removed my kimono and summer craving outfit when the cold crept in. Over burgers and the noise of a busy restaurant, laughter between friends echoed all around me. Now one thing I love to do in a crowded area is people watch. Or more accurately people judge. You tend to see some interesting characters wandering the streets late at night. But high off of excitement from the impending projects and drunk off of the city lights I couldn't help but smile back at all of the passerby's lining the streets. 

March 24, 2014

Weekend Antics

So this weekend was pretty eventful. I spent most of Saturday at a review session for my Lit class which was just a blast, (once again this is a time where I wish sarcasm transferred well over the internet) and then spent the afternoon at the gym. And after that glorious day, I jumped into the car to meet up with a friend in regards to a very exciting project that I'm taking part in! I am now the new editor for ambercool.com. I am thrilled to be able to be a part of this site because the vision surrounding it is absolutely amazing. 

Ambercool was founded in 2008 by Viet, an amazing photographer, and someone that I've known since I was in diapers. Very recently he has decided to revamp his website and I couldn't be more excited to be involved. His pictures are gorgeous and you would be crazy not to go click on the link up above to check them out. I'm going to be working with him a lot on upcoming posts, events, and other various things so keep an eye out for his photos in the upcoming days. We took a few shots the other night and they will be up on the blog very soon and I can't wait for you to get a small taste of his unbelievable talent. Hope everyone had a lovely weekend and I'm so excited for you all to see just how amazing this new venture is! But rest assured, just because I am now part of Ambercool doesn't mean Walk A Mile In My Style will be cast aside in anyway. This blog is my baby, and there won't be anything changing in regards to that. If anything we're only going to grow and become even better.



-xxx Lex

March 22, 2014

"K"









This sweater is definitely one of my favorites. It is big and comfy and perfect for a day of sitting behind desks. The bright red is a huge contrast against the black in the rest of the outfit which is what I was going for. I wanted the sweater to be the main focus, and by pairing bright colors with dark neutrals you can do just that. I love having a certain amount of simplicity in my outfits, I'm not one for bold pinks and vibrant aquamarines usually. I would much rather opt for a classic black dress with pumps than a yellow one with wedges. I'm very much into simplicity lately and if I do have a statement piece I make sure it does just that. The one item of clothing makes the statement and the rest of the outfit supports it in the background.

March 21, 2014

Leopard Lovin'





Wearing: Thrifted Blouse | Pacsun Jeans | Men's Golfing sweater | Pacsun Booties 
(I couldn't find links anywhere online so I'm sorry guys)


Well would you look at that, another pair of jeans. But I don't really count these as jeans if that makes any sense. If you couldn't tell already I'm obsessed with all things high waisted. I think they are just extremely flattering especially if you're like me and have a lovely set of hips (if only sarcasm transferred well over the internet). But the main part of this outfit, the leopard shirt. Now for a long time animal print was tainted for me. Thanks to Snooki's pairing of zebra and cheetah all in one outfit. But lately leopard print has been growing on me. I think it's important to realize that the clothing with the print is your statement piece. You don't need to draw anymore attention by having it in a bold color or wearing a bright color beside it. Which is why I neutralized the top with a much too large grey sweater and black jeans. And of course my little cut out booties. I am absolutely obsessed with these shoes. I coveted over them for ages, but never wanting to pay $75 dollars for them. I am much the bargain shopper, so when they finally went on sale I snatched them up and was pleasantly surprised to find that they were another fifty percent off the mark down bringing them to the grand total of...... drum roll please.....$9! And I've been happy ever since. 

March 20, 2014

Snowy Days in March



Wearing: H&M Button up Shirt | Hollister Jeggings | Hunter Rain Boots

This is the first post that I'm wearing jeans, let's all just take a moment..... because something like that rarely ever happens. I've said it before and I will say it time and time again, I dress not only in what I think is cute, but also comfortable. And for me, I would much rather be wearing a pair of leggings or yoga pants. But every now and then I'll whip out a pair of jeans and shock everyone. I know everyone says white is a no go, but a good white button up top is definitely a staple item to have in your closet. You can dress it up or dress it down, the possibilities are endless. And it is so important to have pieces like that in your wardrobe. 

March 19, 2014

A Hint of Inspiration



“The fact that you’re struggling doesn't make you a burden. It doesn't make you unlovable or undesirable or undeserving of care. It doesn't make you too much or too sensitive or too needy. It makes you human. Everyone struggles. Everyone has a difficult time coping, and at times, we all fall apart. During these times, we aren't always easy to be around — and that’s okay. No one is easy to be around one hundred percent of the time. Yes, you may sometimes be unpleasant or difficult. And yes, you may sometimes do or say things that make the people around you feel helpless or sad. But those things aren't all of who you are and they certainly don’t discount your worth as a human being. The truth is that you can be struggling and still be loved. You can be difficult and still be cared for. You can be less than perfect, and still be deserving of compassion and kindness.”

                                                                                      - Daniell Koepke




I find a lot of strength within this quote. It's something a good friend of mine showed me. I guess it just appeals to me so much because it hits pretty close to home. Struggles in life ultimately make you stronger. They are tough, and at sometimes you don't feel like you'll make it through, but if it were easy they wouldn't be called struggles. Not everyone can be sunshine and rainbows, everyone has an off day once and a while. But those rough days don't define your worth. The perseverance used to overcome the obstacles faced does. It's too easy for someone to throw in the towel and call it quits, but it takes a certain type of person to reach for the light in the darkest of days. I know how cliche of me, my inner creative writer must be peaking out a bit, but you don't have to always be ok. An infamous line used by me is "I'm fine, I always am" and I'm learning that it's ok not to be ok. That it's ok to find a shoulder to lean on because you can't make it through this world on your own. In secluding yourself from the aid of others you in a way, remove yourself from most social interaction, something that is needed for one to flourish. And yes someone somewhere might have things worse than you do. But that does not in anyway discredit the pain you are feeling, and the fact that hey, maybe you have things bad too. But by sharing your problems you are in no way, shape, or form being a burden. And if someone tells you otherwise remove them from your life right away because you don't need to have that sort of negativity. We weren't put on this Earth to wander alone. Whether you believe in God, or some higher power, whatever the case is, you were put here with some sort of plan, and that plan doesn't revolve around you wallowing in sorrow alone. It involves the joining of hands because sometimes we all need a little strength and compassion thrown our way.




-xx Lex

March 18, 2014

Little Blue Riding Hood?



Wearing: Asos Dungarees | Zara Top | American Eagle Cape 

I've come to the conclusion that I look incredibly angry in every single outfit picture. Angry or confused, maybe a mixture of both. Which is strange because I'm a happy person. And I'm even happier when I'm wearing dungarees. But now I'm rambling. For some reason we are stuck in a never ending winter. Elsa needs to tone it down a bit (brownie points for the Frozen reference?) Just the other day it was a warm seventy degrees and now there is snow covering the ground. There comes a point in time when you just can't take the cold anymore. I'm lusting over high waisted shorts, crop tops, short dungarees, and lightweight playsuits. Summer honestly can't come any faster. 

March 17, 2014

A Little Intro

Hello lovelies, 

          So I've come to realize that although I've done quite a few posts on outfits, food, and my life, I haven't actually introduced you to who I am and what this blog is all about. For starters, having a fashion blog has always been a dream of mine. But to take a step further I decided to make this not only a fashion blog but also a travel blog, a food blog, and just a lifestyle in general blog. Because hey, maybe someone will be interested in the small mundane details of my life. I always have little ideas wrapped in my head, whether they are far fetched or attainable, the wheels are always turning. And I guess for a while this blog, or the idea of it, seemed to be one of the far fetched ones. Personally I enjoy reading the blogs of girls who just seem normal. They wear clothes that I can afford, and seem real, they don't have professional photographers taking their pictures or any of those fancy things. And I feel like I can bring that aspect to my blog as well. I'm not a millionaire, I can't drop thousands of dollars on a bag, or coat, but I can provide cute and affordable options. So I guess that's where my blog differs. I wanted something that girls like me can sit in their rooms and read and go, "Yeah, I can run to the mall and get that." Don't get me wrong. I'm just as obsessed with Danielle Bernstein of weWOREWHAT as the next girl, and dream of being able to live a life like hers but the reality is I'm just a 17 year old high school senior trying to get into college and figure out what she wants to do with her life. So yeah I may not know where I'm going to be this time next year but I'm excited to take the journey. To have one of the best summer's of my life. And just to enjoy each and everyday that comes. The good, the bad, the tears, the smiles, everything. Because I've realized life is short, and in the words of Mr. Jack Dawson, I don't intend on wasting it. So even if no one ends up reading a single thing I write, I know that I'm enjoying every step of this journey. And I plan on taking you all on this trip with me. Through the clothes, food, routines, my writing, and the vlogs, allowing all of you to walk a mile in my style. 


- xx Lex

March 16, 2014

Lemon Avocado





So of course when you're cooking or baking you always get hungry. So in order to not constantly pick at the food I was preparing my friend whipped us up some avocado smoothies. I'm such a picky eater so she was almost positive that I wouldn't like it. We were both pleasantly surprised to find that it was just the opposite/ It was honestly so delicious and a pleasant alternative to the typical sugary smoothies typically consumed. 

Ingredients:
-1 Avocado 
-Almond Milk
-Ice 
-Agave  


Once our smoothies we're ready we set out to make our lemon cookies.


The recipe was easy to follow, just a bit time consuming

Ingredients:
Cookies-
-16 Tablespoons of unsalted butter, room temperature 
- 1 cup of confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon of lemon zest 
-1/2 a teaspoon of salt
- 2 cups of all purpose flour 

Lemon Filling-
- 1 package (4 oz) of cream cheese 
- 1 tablespoon of lemon zest
- 1 cup of confectioners' sugar 



Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl mix all of the cookie ingredients together to make the dough 
2. Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap and let sit in the fridge for an hour or until firm
3. Take the dough out of the wrap and then place it on parchment paper or a cutting board. With a lightly floured rolling pin  roll the dough out into a thin sheet 
4. Cut out any sized cookie that you want (we made ours fairly small) and then lay them on a cookie sheet lightly sprinkling them with the granulated sugar. Bake until barely brown (we kept ours in for about 9-10 minutes)
5. After the cookies have cooled cover one side with the filling and then sandwich the two cookies together


We took our cookies a step further, drizzling a little bit of white chocolate over the top and also squeezing a bit of lemon juice into the filling for extra lemon flavoring. When it comes to baking it's fine to follow the recipe exactly, but it's even more fun to add your own little twists and experiment. Baking is a great way to catch up with friends and have an excuse to eat something a little unhealthy. 



March 15, 2014

Boys, Jean, and Collars





Wearing: American Eagle Men's Sweater | Vintage Denim Jacket | Victoria's Secret Leggings  | Gap Button Up Shirt  


Layering is definitely where it's at. It adds a great dimension to outfits and allows for a sense of almost effortless to come across. I'm in love with this vintage denim jacket along with the maroon sweater I stole from my brother's closet. Big over sized pieces like this are perfect for layering and are just super cozy in general. And of course I had to add a little sparkle with my flats.

March 14, 2014

Borrowing Aladdin's Pants







Wearing: Urban Outfitters Harem Pants in red | Topshop Jumper in cream | White Vans 


Harem pants, some people love them and some people hate them. If the numerous pairs in my closet are anything to go by I absolutely adore them. Whenever I wear them I constantly get told "Oh I could never pull those off" and honestly I thought the same exact thing the first time I grabbed them off the shelf, but one pair and I was absolutely hooked. Fashion is all about taking risks, sometimes they something works and other times it doesn't, but ultimately you have to be confident in whatever you put on.

March 13, 2014

Studdin





Wearing: Forever 21 Vest  | ASOS Leggings  | Steve Madden Oxfords (no longer sold)


Sadly the gorgeous weather didn't last for very long. The cold gloom and rain suddenly rolled in again which gave me the perfect opportunity to wear my faux leather vest. I absolutely adore the studs along the collar; it gives the outfit a certain sense of edginess. Typically I'm very particular about mixing black and gold but I love how tastefully and subtle it was on this vest.  

March 12, 2014

Coffee Comfort




Today was so warm that I couldn't help but pull out a skirt from the back of my closet. Although I couldn't help but cringe at how pale I am due to the dreary cold of winter, it was nice being able to unpack some of my warmer weather clothes. My top is from H&M, I bought it ages ago in a size much too big making it almost perfect to tie up and wear as a crop,allowing focus to be drawn more to the lace detail at the top of the shirt. I wanted to wear something lazy and comfortable but also cute because even though the sun was shining I had no desire to remove myself from the comfort of my room. So I just paired the tank top with an oversized cardigan that I bought from a thrift shop, a black skirt from forever 21, and my converse to keep with the laid back theme 

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