#CollegeGirlz: Dorm Stuff Part 1

Ah, my first college post on my blog. Well, I will be attending East Carolina University as a freshman in the fall. For the fall semester, I will major in marketing and minor in music performance. Then hopefully in the spring semester and beyond, I will major in music performance and minor in marketing. I still want a career in marketing though, but since music is my passion, why not major in it?

That is the basic college info.

Now onto the post that is more important than this basic college info, I will be talking about my early dorm stuff. I am so excited to tell you what is going to be in my dorm, and to show you the outcome. Hopefully I end up on HGTV, if I must.

Hopefully, I will have the roommate I wanted, and her name is Bailey from Smithfield. I chose her as my roommate because we have similar music preferences (we can talk about our BTS army draft for days), she is a great person to talk our high school experiences, we have plans to rush a sorority, we LOVE fashion and makeup, and overall she is a great person with work with and to go on wild adventures with!

Our room theme is "luxurious on a budget," which is inspired by the lavish dorms at Ole Miss and also After Five Designs. The color palette for the room is white, grey, and taupe with touches of pink and gold. I started looking for dorm pieces at Target and I am excited to show you everything!

The first one is a candle holder, which is powered by batteries. Initially, we are not allowed to have candles at our dorm, but when I saw that the candle holder had a "imitation" candle I picked it up. I really think that it is neat, but when I get the batteries and finally get to work it, I will tell you what the product really does.

Since most string lights use iridescent light, which is prohibited from our dorms, LED lights have to do. I came across the pink lights that are powered by batteries. Using string lights make the room (especially the walls) look colorful without painting the walls (which is a major taboo).

Lastly, I have fabric to use for a DIY pillow project. This is originally a tablecloth, but it should serve for many decorative purposes.

Overall, I am proud of what I accomplished so far when it comes to getting stuff for my dorm at college, and I am looking forward to getting more things! Desi out!

It's L17: What to Wear For Graduation When You Have a Dress Code

It must be nice when some schools allow you to wear anything you want for your graduation. However, here's for the girls (including me) who have a specific dress code to follow in order to walk across the stage.

All-Black Dresses

My school's graduation dress code, if I want to wear a dress, is that the dress must be all black and no longer than the gown. If this is you, then here are some suggestions:

Least modest: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

In the middle: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Most modest: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

The black graduation dress is best paired with all black heels. A high neck dress is best paired with large hoops and maybe a small pendant necklace.

All-White Dresses

If the dress must be white (true white, not an off white) here are some suggestions:

Least modest: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
In the middle: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Most modest: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

The white graduation dress is best paired with all black, brown, white, or nude heels. A wrap neck, v-neck, or any low neck dress is cute with a choker, pendant necklace and studs or neutral colored statement earrings.

White+Black Combo
If you are not a dress person, then some schools may allow a white top and black bottoms. Here are some suggestions:

White Tops: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Black Skirts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Black Pants: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

This outfit is paired with a black skirt, but you can alternate it with pants if you like. The outfit is paired with black hose and black classic shape pumps. If you plan to wear a choker neck, then I recommend a small necklace (or none at all) and large earrings. If you are wearing a necklace, studs are also fine.

Shoes
If you are a heel person and want to wear heels, feel free to wear them. However, if you are not used to heels, then I highly do not recommend heels because you will walk awkward in them. All options are closed toe and closed back because most graduation dress codes require them. If you are allowed to wear open toe/open back, feel free. But if you have to wear closed toe/back, here are heels and flats that I recommend in black, white, brown, and nude.
Black: heels, flats
White: heels, flats
Brown: heels, flats
Nude: heels, flats(in blush)

If you plan to wear heels to graduation, BREAK THEM IN BEFORE YOU WEAR THEM. It feels awkward when a person tries to wear a new pair of heels, and some barely walk in them. Or even worse, they trip and fall. And that happens every single year. Also feet cushions are key for a comfortable pair of heels. I prefer gel or memory foam because they feel home-y to the feet.

I hope this guide helps those who are looking for amazing graduation outfit ideas under a strict dress code. For all of the 2017 graduates, congratulations and I hope for the best for your future! Desi, out!

Mellow Yellow

I am at the point where North Carolina's weather is really angering me. From 80-degree hotness in February to a stormy night, to a day where you feel nothing outside, to recently snowing and freezing my butt off, I feel like my closet is not prepared for this madness. This last Friday's outfit consisted my feelings all in one.

(Choker: Forever 21, Top: Belk, Tank Top; Old Navy or JC Penney, Skirt: Forever 21)

I consider the color yellow to be a bright cheerful color. In this outfit this is a muted, yet cheery mustard yellow that juxtaposes the dark mushy olive green. The soft, flowy lace in the top and also in the tank top itself compliments with the edginess of the black choker(I am establishing a choker collection by later). This represents how the sun competes with the clouds, rain, and even a couple of thunderstorms here and there.

I paired this outfit with brown boots to introduce a second neutral that ties the look together. These boots from Charlotte Russe are easy boots to walk in and add sassiness to any outfit.

By the way, I am impressed with the brown background that compliments the outfit.

Yep. Welcome to North Carolina.

Desi out!

Best Moments of 2016 // What's Going to Happen in 2017

2016 has been a wild year in my opinion from this year's upsetting election, interesting celebrity feuds, major moments in sports, and surprising events. The events that happened in 2016 makes me uncertain about 2017, and I believe that 2017 could be better or worse in the world around me. Without further ado, let me share some of my 2016 moments

• Took the real ACT/SAT
• Experienced junior year prom
• Got accepted into college
• Actually became elected as a student body officer
• Opened a savings account
• Had my first job
• Voted in the general election for the first time
• And surviving it
• Got my first scholarship offer
• Became a legal adult
• Revamped this wonderful blog
• Got at least 100 likes on an Instagram picture
• Increasing my love for makeup
• And becoming a senior
• Being a part of my school's best homecoming ever
• While also surviving Hurricane Matthew
• And reviving and increasing my love for multi flavored jelly beans (I still hate top banana and the rotten egg)
• And expanding my fashion taste (the everything preppy phase is gone for now)
• And became Twitter famous
  
  

In the year 2017 (if the world does not get into chaos during that year) I plan to...

• Graduate high school
• Expand my blog a bit
• Read more often
• Work out more to a better body image
• Try a raw vegan diet for up to a week
• Do something with my friends during spring break
• Get more scholarships
• And to get a laptop
• Post more content into my blog
• Make senior year prom amazing
• Maybe throw a graduation party
• Get my full provisional license
• Get enrolled into college
• Join a sorority when I'm there
• Maybe become famous for once
• And also find myself an underground shelter just in case if the world roams wild

Okay, if 2017 becomes just like 2016 or even worse, I am not going to hype 2017 at all. I am just going to let things happen, words be said, and people do what they do. At the end of the day, I can not complain of what 2017 has in store for us. Desi out!

Haulin Around (Christmas Edition): Dear Santa, Define "Nice"

As JoJo said in one of her songs, I was a 'little too late' posting my Christmas 2016 presents, but I had a really great one to be honest. But Christmas 2016 has been one in the books because I had fun with Christmas parties, concerts, and time with family and friends. But further ado, here's some of my gifts, including a cute outfit.

This Christmas was heavily focused on jewelry. In 2016, I became obsessed with jewelry, more specifically chokers. I had a black one with a bow, but I wanted something simpler. I am surprised that I got two: one skinny one and one thick one. I'm also thankful that I finally got my hands on a pair on a huge gold earrings, larger than the ones than my old ones I had in middle school. Then smaller hoops came back in style, and I'm glad I put my hands on these diamond hoops. Then I felt the need to add more bracelets in my collection, and this bracelet had a pearl on one end then the shiny ball on the other. Then my aunt knew me really well by buying this cute necklace with brown ropes on each side. 

From L to R: Top earrings: TJ Maxx, Bracelet: Belk, Bottom earrings: Belk, Skinny choker: TJ Maxx, Wide choker: Forever 21, Necklace: Gift (from Cato)

Then I was excited for hosiery. I got a couple of legwarmers, or better yet boot warmers. I liked the crochet trimmed ones, and I have been begging for them since freshman year, and I got the chance to wear them and they were so cute! Then I needed more socks in my collection because I always run out of socks, and I am incorporating more boots in my closet. This is not all of the socks, but I got two packs of Betsey Johnson's socks, and I am very content. Then I always needed a pair of thick black leggings, so I got this cute pair, and if you look closely aside from the rad front zippers, there is unique stitching on the bottom that I like.

Legwarmers, socks, and leggings: TJ Maxx

 I did some heavy research with perfume, and I wanted a perfume with a sweet smell with tones of fruitiness(is that even a word??). I have came across Britney Spears' Fantasy perfume because according to the internet it smells like a fruity cotton candy, in which I love how cotton candy tastes and smells. I picked this out for Christmas, and I was impressed although I couldn't smell a lot because I had a cold.

Perfume: TJ Maxx

 Then I picked out a couple of skirts from Forever 21. The top one is a olive green button skirt, and I liked how it fits, though it is big in the waist, but the length was appropriate. If this came in another color that I do not have already in my closet, I would get it in a lower waist size because I was focusing in the hip length size that you actually are supposed to focus when you are buying jeans, not skirts. But really though, I really love this skirt, but I am able to get my mom to take it in a bit if I lose weight later on. Then, I got this cute wrap skirt, in which I have been wanting for a long time since it was trendy. I feel like that I have a lot of black skirts because of the fact that I always needed them for concerts, uniforms for other activities, etc. I am really going to cut back on buy black bottoms, or anything black in general.

Both skirts: Forever 21

I wished I could fit all of them in one photo since you could not see the black sweater(link here if you want to know what the sweater actually looks like). For the black sweater, I wished I still got it in a cream, but my mom thought we could get it later because we did not had the time to buy it at first glance. Then when we got on another trip to Stein Mart before Christmas, I saw the same top, but in a black. I snagged it off of the rack and I was able to purchase it. It has flowy sleeves and a cute funnel neck. This is also usable for college for gamedays (because I got accepted to East Carolina University to major in marketing, yay!) to wear with cute purple and gold accessories. This would look cute with the olive green skirt with a long necklace and tall boots. The cream one I got at Forever 21 was the cutest sweater I ever gotten from a store. It is cropped, has cute slits, and is laced up from the bottom. This is great for going out although this sweater in a different color would look better for food purposes. If  you are the life of the party, then this sweater would be a showstopper. I will be planning to wear this for New Year's Eve party. Then the last one I thought this was just a sweater, but it fit on me like a tunic, or even a dress hence the sweater looked big and I purchased it in a medium. This red-orange tunic looks really cute with my over the knee black boots I will show you later on in this post. It has the cute fringes at the bottom, which inspired me to get it. Oh yeah, Stein Mart really up-ed their game on clothing, even if they did not have a junior section (I bet that store would go really well with a junior section).

Black sweater: Stein Mart, Cream sweater: Forever 21, Red-orange sweater: Stein Mart

Also my other presents that are not listed are money, gift cards (Starbucks I'm coming), new make up brushes including my blending sponge, another pair of boot socks, long socks, eyeshadow palette, two pairs of falsies, my all time favorite mint dark chocolate M&Ms, a Kate Spade envelope set, a couple of Christmas ornaments, and a plush bear.

My Christmas day outfit involves mostly my presents, if not, all of these pieces I got for Christmas except for the watch. This flowy top is from the Jessica Simpson collection, in which I am very in love with concerning department store brands. This top is very versatile and can be worn with jeans, a skirt (as shown here), flare pants, and many other things. I wore the top off the shoulder style with the lace Old Navy tank top, which is also the other piece that is not a present. The black wrap skirt, and my new black boots (click here to see what it looks like) complete the look as well as the skinny choker necklace and huge gold hoops.

This has been a wonderful Christmas season, and I can thankful for every single part of it. I am happy for what I have gotten this year, and hopefully all of the things I have will be put into good use.

Legally Blonde

The legal age to vote, purchase a lottery ticket, go out, get a full license, enter almost all giveaways, anything 18 year olds could to. I'm so happy that I've reached 18 years, and the people I've cherished with. I hope to cherish some memories, whether if it's traveling, seeing my friends, or even pampering myself at home. My birthday outfit is really cute just like my snap (or MY makeup) today.

(dress: Forever 21, vest: Belk, shoes: Versona, choker: Forever 21, pink watch: Stein Mart)

Hopefully I am able to live out my 18 years. Send in the birthday wishes! Desi out!

This is Living Proof That it is Fall

With fall around the corner, the drinks get warmer, the temperature gets cooler, soups are popping up, and football season makes us rowdier. Some of us, especially myself, dress better in the fall because it's the happy medium of wearing boots and lightweight fabrics from the summer. At the moment I am falling in love with the vibe of Forever 21's fall clothing. This mustard colored long sleeved t-shirt dress from there is now becoming one of my favorite versatile dresses at the moment. Forever 21's t-shirt dresses, long and short sleeve, come in many colors in order to become suitable with everything you pair them with in your closet. Then this rust colored suede open cardigan is a great layering pieces to transition from summer to fall. The suede fabric and short sleeves suit the cool weather during the morning and the hot weather during the evening. Then these shoes are literally the highest heels I own in my closet at around 5"-6", but the platform and the soft insides make it the most comfortable shoe ever. They are by G by Guess, where you can get it from most department stores. Last, but not least, this necklace is by Versona, even though I lost the tassel. It's okay, it's still a great necklace!

I loved the outfit. Well, see you in the next post. Desi out!