2015 - Clean out your closets and make room for the NEW!

As 2015 makes it start, we too should make our start clearing out our closets of clothes we haven't worn in years and make way for some new clothes that will make a bigger difference in our fashion!

I dress my mom, literally, I buy all her clothes and make her try on every crazy thing I see that I want her in.. and after years of forcing clothes on her credit card and body, it's paid off and I am more than proud to say my mom has style!

It's a similar feeling to buying someone an awesome gift you liked yourself, even though I liked controlling her outfits and style, I know she'll enjoy it more when people compliment her and she doesn't have to say "my amazing and super stylish and super perfect daughter picked it out"... thats what I assume she says at least...

anyway, my abilities have made their way around my family and it makes me feel so awesome some of my family actually values what I say! Most of the time they just laugh and say "ugh at least she's pretty.."

Well no more folks! I'm actually pretty smart in the fashion industry so grab your notebooks, this is a lesson from me.

My cousin Nikki wanted some outfit suggestions and I started thinking, instead of some shirts and pants suggestions, I would post some signature pieces that can be changed and intensified to totally redo a wardrobe!

My first absolute must have to redo your closet is a White Blazer

White blazers are a MUST HAVE right now! They can make an outfit super edgy, mixed in with some really cool signature jewelry that will appear later in this post, or be clean and sophisticated paired with simple pieces. These blazers can be re-worn hundreds of times, and no one will even notice because every look can be different!

Also, once my cousin falls in love with how versatile and perfect white blazers are, I would LOVE to see her in this.. 

She has gorgeous brown hair and this color will compliment it for a night out!

Second piece of clothing to redo a wardrobe is Printed Sweaters

These are so insanely perfect for a mother on the go. You can dress these down and wear them as is, which is super cute! Or pair them with jeans and bright colored flats and you are casual but still cute! Or, you can even wear these under the beautiful blazers you just bought! The stripes under the blazer is too die for.  

The neutral colors will compliment my cousins style, plus give her the prefect foundation to add some really fun and bright signature pieces! hint hint to my next post 

Number three is, Colored Jeans 

Just like every other part of these essential pieces to add to your wardrobe, colored jeans serve 101 purposes! These pair so perfectly with the printed sweaters!

These can go with boots, flats, heels, really anything! 

I love the mint colored jeans for Nikki because she can pair them with black heels and a black/grey top for going out and it would look so pretty on her body! I'm actually obsessed with the mint ones... might have to buy myself some!

Next is something not so versatile, but just as important, one pair of Killer Pumps 

Now, I understand not everyone loves heels or can wear them, but I make a bloggers promise (which is legit as hell) that one pair of these heels can make going out so much better!

I am so in love with both of these shoes, and I think Nikki would really look good in the black ones. They aren't too high, and they can take a simple outfit of jeans and shirt to a whole new level!

Super cliche, but for a good reason, my next choice is Statement Necklaces

Both of these neutral, but super simple, signature necklaces can dress up any look! Pair these with those printed sweaters, jeans, and heels... hello date night!! These necklaces provide a sense of style and class to a simpler look. 

After searching through the website, I found a few miscellaneous pieces I thought Nikki would kill in! ... P.S that means she would look bomb!

Simple, but can be layered to add a feminine touch to an outfit 

This mint green with her hair is literally so gorgeous!

I love the dimensions in this sweater! It creates its own layering

 A few extra purchases of some cool pieces you never owned before can add together to make it seem like you bought a whole new closet... but really all you did was read my blog! (shameless promotions never hurt anyone)

I hope some of these tips helped, but I especially hope that you have found some good examples Nikki! I'll be home soon for some private bookings! Lol 

Thanks for reading, until next time!

I'm Back!

It has been quite some time since I've last posted on here... but I am back and committed to channeling all my passion towards telling my story and blogging my life!

A few things have changed since we've last seen each other, scratch that, A LOT has changed..

A little over two months things in my life took a drastic change. I had been attending FIDM for a full quarter, and a few weeks into the second quarter and I just started feeling like maybe this wasn't the best school for me. At the time, I was living with my sister, in a house about 15 minutes from my school. This distance did more than just get me to school late on occasion, it created a huge distance between my friends and I, both physically and socially. I wasn't able to walk down the hall or across the street to hang out at night, and driving into the city was something I only did rarely. On top of the distance, I felt like I was living the life of a 25 year old. We would go to clubs, I had a pretty serious job, and I lived in a full furnished home, which I loved so much despite how annoying it was at times.  I visited home for the first time in 4 months in October, and it was during that trip I realized I was really missing out on the college experience because every one of my friends had amazing stories... and all I had was "this one time at this club"... like I said, don't get me wrong, I LOVED every thing I did in Cali, and trust me I did some amazing things, but I just kept feeling like this life would be better suited for me at 25, not 18 (even though now I'm 19 now whoop whoop) so after I came home, to cali, from my trip to Delaware, I told my school guidance counselor about how I was feeling towards FIDM, and that talk changed my life before I even knew it. Essentially, I had to withdraw from FIDM by November 18th, or else I would owe all of next years tuition, non refundable. With two open doors in front of me, one Cali, the other another school back home, I had to make a really hard decision...

At the end of the day, I had to make a decision for myself, one for  my soul, not my social media likes... and I choose to come back to Delaware and still chase my dreams at a new fashion school, Philadelphia University.

So before you worry, I am still passionate as anything to make my mark on the fashion industry, I am still doing fashion merchandising as my major, and yes, I will still blog... even more now that I'm not dealing with all the craziness I did before!

Let 2015 mark a new chapter in my book, a new story to embrace. I will NOT let this move tear me down, I am still Casey and I will still be fabulous. Now it's time to take over a new school...

I hope you stick around to read all my stories of fashion, beauty, and my life... it should be pretty interesting.

A few fall purchases

Recently I've been preparing for a much anticipated visit home, where it is not 80 degrees like in Cali, but rather cold fall weather. So, in order to be readily prepared, and in need of a good excuse to buy clothes,  I visited my absolute favorite store I've ever come across, Heavenly Couture! This store, which has over 20 locations in the LA area, has every single item in the store for $16 dollars or under.... Everything! Jackets, purses, shoes, pants, shirts and jewelry are all $16 or under...... Yes ladies I guess we've found our very own heaven. 

One down side - trust me, it's a trap I never stop shopping because I associate everything as a steal because it's all $16 or under, and next you thing you know I have an $80 dollar shopping spree guilt to take home! Yay! 

Here are a few of the new fall items I picked up for my visit home 

First, my new purse that is so perfect for fall! A pearl grey cross body bag with outside stiching and some cute frills, definitely my new love -$15

A long, open back, deep brown shirt that I plan to wear for cure casual days -$5.99

BEST FITTING PANTS EVER! An adorable pair of wine colored skinny jeans that fit like leggings - $11

And for grand finale, my obsession of the moment.... These edgy black flats/loafers with a cheetah covered in black studs on the front and gold trimmings $8

I figured this post would let you in on my fall purchases for my fashion diaries, also give a little inspiration to treat yourself to a few versatile fall must haves! All my items can be transformed into so many different outfits, and that's the best part of embracing your story! Challenging yourself to put different outfits together using only a few pieces! Embrace your closet and make this fall the most fashionable one ever! 

Stay tuned for more regular posts! 

Super Secret Life Hack

Sooooooo I recently discovered the coolest trick for utilizing scarves and I'm sharing it just in time to use for fall!
Most people know the typical ways of wearing a scarf, and true, they are amazing accessories to an outfit, but here is my super secret life hack on a new way to use all your billion and one scarves that will make all your boring friends, who wear normal scarves, super jealous.

This trick I learned has become my new obsession and I've tried it with every scarf I own and I bet you will too, it's addicting

1. First step, find a scarf and lay it out completely unfolded on the ground

2. Fold the scarf over, making sure to keep one open end, and one closed end

closed end

open end

3. Next, tie your open end and closed end, on the same side of the scarf, together!

4. Once it is tied, pull apart the two sides and you have the cutest scarf sweater! When opening it, it'll open like a jacket you'll see two arms holes and thats your way of knowing you did it right!

 

I wear this almost everyday to add something different to basic outfits! I love how it looks in the back. You can use all your different scarf patterns to make adorable sweaters.

FALL FALL FALL!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! okay, maybe the wrong season for a Christmas song but it's more fitting in the fall! I'm such a loser, but fall is my favorite season ever. I love the colors changing, crisp weather, football, volleyball, ugh I just love it all. 

The only sad part about fall this year is that I'm here in California where it still feels like summer.. but don't worry I decorated like it's fall weather!

All of these decorations together were only $9 dollars! That's it, & I was able to create a super cute center piece for my kitchen table - 

The two black pumpkins were a dollar each

the center piece "trick or treat" sign was $2 dollars

the spider web was $1 

 the candle was $4 all from Target!! (the best place on earth)

Stock up on small and cheap pieces, (that way you can buy a couple) like the pumpkins, to create balance on a table or shelf in your house! Little changes to your house decor can get everyone in the fall mood, plus it's always good energy to change the decorations with each season, helps bring happiness and peace (I'm a loser and read about how to enhance good vibes in a house)

Also visit Target and grab up these amazing candles for only $4 dollars! They smell exactly like fall and are the cutest fall colors for a dresser, table or shelf!

Pumpkin Cheesecake - Heritage Pumpkin - Autumn Harvest 

For under 20 dollars at Target you can buy a few decorations and create a fall festive theme to your house without breaking the bank! 

Trading Posts & Flea Markets

Furniture, food, jewelry, art, clothes and a glimpse of what I imagine heaven to look like, if you don't know what I'm describing, it's a Trading post!

OMG I am so in love with trading posts, farmers market, (even though sometimes those are only food) or flea markets, they are seriously heaven. If you live in the southern California area, and you haven't been to the Melrose Trading Post, you might as well move out of California because clearly you know nothing. But, if you do not live in this area, take a stroll over to google and search local trading posts/trade shows and I'm sure you'll find a hidden gem trading posts somewhere near you! Melrose Trading Post is every Sunday, 10-5 and it's the happiest place on earth - I swear. 

These shows can be overwhelming to say the least. They usually have hundreds of tents selling an array of a billion different things but I've so kindly put together a "Need to Know Survival" list for a newcomer to follow going to a trade show. Before I give you this high profile security secret list, let me show you some of my favorite purchases from my trading post adventures! 

The cutest hat with gold chains for $15 

Two vintage white picture frames for $5 each - the perfect wall decorations

Literally the worlds best find! A vintage mint green bench for $50!! My sister and I practically died when we found it, it fits perfectly in our hallway.

$5 Capricorn necklace, which is the best necklace to layer with!

$25 rug sent from the interior design gods! I had been on the lookout for a rug to cover up the huge space in my room, and this rug was exactly what I was looking for! Handmade Indian Mint green Rug

As you can see, I've found some perfect little gems at the trading post! I try to go at least once a month, and I have never left empty handed.. no matter how hard I try.


Here is my Need to Know Survival List 


1. DO wear comfortable shoes - you'll be walking around alllll day and comfortable shoes will keep you from giving up early!

2. DO bring cash -although most places can accept cards, you'll never want to lose out on a deal because you don't have cash on hand

3. DON'T give up on an item - these flea markets sell one of kind items! if you love it, chances are, so will everyone else & you'll beat yourself up if you lost a must have item, because they usually don't come around often!

4. DO! DO! DO! make friends with the owners of a tent or show you like - making a connection will benefit you in more ways than one! Owners will often lowers prices or cut you a deal if you spend some time getting to know them and their shop, they'll also let you in on upcoming pieces! It will pay off in the end, plus these people are usually super cool

5. DO show up early - you'll get the first look at unique items and usually the lines aren't too bad!

6. DO know measurements - if you are looking for furniture or specific pieces, knowing the exact measurement is key! most places don't allow returns so you'll want to know what you are looking for the first time

7. DO ask questions - most of these pieces have history and a story, so don't be afraid to ask, it'll help you determine its worth, also questions about price matter! you can haggle a price down if you are brave enough to do so (I'm too scared to though I get so embarrassed...) 

8. DO take a deep breath and go slow - don't allow people to rush you or make you skip tents! these markets are usually overwhelming, but if you take it tent by tent and have fun, it'll be a worthwhile experience 

Fall Makeup Look

As fall quickly approaches, I start itching to pull out my comfy sweaters, scarves, pumpkin candles and Starbucks money, but one new addition to my fall essentials this year will be my Raspberry Tart NYX Butter Gloss! 
I've always been hesitant to wear dark lip colors because I feared I would look like a Halloween store witch makeup kit model, but this butter gloss is the perfect gateway into a world of wonderful dark lip colors.
Considering I'm as uncomfortable using dark lip colors as I am trying to speak to the asian nail artists when they wear those medical masks... This color is something I can get used to without going straight to darkest of the dark.

I LOVE butter glosses and suggest anyone who needs lip products to find these and stock up!! They sell for around $4.99 a shade, but pair this with NYX lipsticks, and you have a perfect lip look to finish any makeup style. They apply like a lip gloss, but stay on like a lipstick! No scent & no bad taste.

I've been home alone for the past couple days and decided to play around with my new gloss, what came about was this fall look, excuse my "home alone, no one to impress" hairstyle

I used basic browns and creams to create a simple eye, pairing it with a winged liner and dark lashes; which is an absolute must for me! 

Then I just used the butter gloss and it was the perfect fall look I was going for! 

I created a clothing board of an outfit I thought this makeup would compliment really well 

A camo jacket screams fall adventures - any comfy sweater, but this dark wine colored will pair with dark colored lips - boyfriend jeans are literally a synonym for fall - fun jewelry to add texture - cute booties never fail

Try out a new lip color and make a statement this fall