DIY GAME OF THRONES SHIRT

Hello guys! I apologize for not posting for a long while; between graduation, graduation parties, and traveling, I haven't had a whole lot of extra time. However, I have found the time to watch all five seasons of Game of Thrones, basically consecutively, which led to a lot of crying during the Red Wedding and the season 5 finale (these crows ain't loyal). I also found myself obsessing over GoT merchandise, which is often etsy material (aka can cost a lot because homemade). 

I found this shirt: 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/231107243/mother-of-dragons-t-shirt-shirt-tee-high?ref=market

which flawlessly conveys the fact that you are a hardcore GoT fan and that you support the khaleesi as the winner of the game of thrones. I really like this shirt because it's simple, but can be worn many ways. So let's get into it! 

WHAT YOU'LL NEED: 

• a tee shirt (a shirt from anywhere is okay. I recommend F21 or even the dollar store in a pinch) 
• iron-on letters (you can look in craft stores for this specific type) 
• if you don't want iron-on letters, you can try stencils and paint, but I'm terrible at paint so I'm avoiding that

STEPS: 

1. read the iron-on letters instructions (it tells the temperature of the iron and for what length of time) 
2. place a piece of cardboard between the front and back of the shirt 
3. lay out the letters (you can use a ruler for equal spacing between the letters) and arrange to how you would like it. 
4. *you can also pick different phrases like "valar morghulis" or some catchy one from Tyrion or really any phrase 
5. follow the instructions and iron on the letters
6. wait for the shirt to cool and then peel off the letters and enjoy! 

some ideas for how to wear this: 

http://stylecaster.com/how-to-wear-a-graphic-tee-shirt/

http://dressuponacloudyday.com/2014/05/23/6-ways-to-style-graphic-tees/

I hope you guys enjoy this, especially the people who love Game of Thrones as much as I do (and yes, I have read the books too so I'm not just partial to those who watch the TV show). Valar morghulis and have fun! 

GUESS WHAT: ANOTHER HAUL

Hi friends! I hope you're all doing well, especially if you have AP tests like me these two weeks (or IB tests, which I believe are happening around this time as well). It also looks like I have a bit of a stress shopping problem, because I might have bought some things again this past weekend. Let's get into it!

1. Brandy Melville Jada Dress ($35 at Pacsun, select Pacsun stores carry Brandy Melville) 

I've been eyeing the burgundy/maroon Jada dress for a few months now and I've never been able to justify the $35 price tag that comes along with a thin little dress. However, when I was in my local Pacsun, there was a sign that said 25% off Brandy Melville items so in my frenzy, I went over and immediately got this dress, which was great. Except the dress wasn't part of the deal because it wasn't on the rack that the sign was on top of, so I ended up paying $35 because I can't read. Either way, it's still a cute dress and I think I'm actually going a date next weekend so I think I'm going to wear this dress with booties! 

2. Watch ($1) 

As some fellow AP students may know, a watch is so important for tests since proctors often forget to tell you how much time is left and at my school, the clocks are often not functioning. I went into Walmart one afternoon to quickly pick out a watch, until I found this Michael Kors-esque watch for only one dollar, which made my little minimum-wage heart very happy. It's been functioning and it looks much more expensive then what it actually was. 

3. Moto Jacket ($20) 

Moto jackets are considered so stylish for fall/early spring and I saw this jacket and it was perfect. I actually don't have any jackets, like in between cardigans and winter parkas so I could actually justify buying this. It doesn't actually have any leather on it, but it is mostly a gray fabric with black lining on it. It actually reminds me of the Anthropologie Anna floral moto jacket, just without the price tag. 

this is the anthropologie jacket for about $250 

4. Sweater ($3) 

I know May isn't the season to buy sweaters, but I've been thinking about what I'll need this fall/winter in Chicago so I saw this basic black cable knit sweater for $3 in my size and I just couldn't pass it up. It's just your typical black cable knit, that'll be cute with fleece-lined leggings and some cute riding boots and a scarf. 

5. Victoria's Secret PINK bras (2 for $42.50)

I know some people get weirded out by talking about bras, and if you're one of those people, you can just click on a different post or scroll down past this part. I also won't be showing the ones I bought, but I will be adding in some pictures from the website to show the ones I got. These aren't really too special, just normal bras. I was really excited to go into the dressing rooms though, because my local VS store just got redone so it's basically brand new and really nice.

https://www.victoriassecret.com/pink/tropical-palm/wear-everywhere-lightly-lined-bra-pink?ProductID=245168&CatalogueType=OLS
I couldn't actually find a picture online, so this is the link to the website. I got mint and gray and then a nude one. 

6. BOOKS

I know, books don't really have anything to do with a fashion haul, but I love reading whenever I get the time. I actually needed to pick a modern book for my AP Lit class, since the test is now over, so I went to a bookstore to get A Game of Thrones, but then I also saw Life of Pi and Brave New World, so I walked out with three books yesterday afternoon. I'm super excited to start reading all of these novels! 

Okay, I think those are all of the things that I purchased within this last weekend. I hope you guys have a good week, especially if you're taking tests like myself. I personally have three tests this week (biology, U.S. Government, and Macroeconomics), and I am hardcore cramming today for all three. Good luck ladies!  

rainy day vs. casual

rainy day vs. casual by soccergirl1614 featuring a rainy day outfit

THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE PROM

Hi my lovelies! I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the end of the school year/beginning of almost summer! I know it is basically full-force prom season in many high schools and I wanted to talk about this today since it's a big deal, especially for girls.

So at my school, both juniors and seniors have the opportunity to go to prom because the senior class always inevitably runs out of money, so we have to ask the junior class to step in. The senior class pays for prom itself (in a basketball stadium, of all places) and the junior class pays for after prom. So I've already gone last year as a junior. Here are some things I noticed/realized:

1. having a prom date- ladies, if you don't have a prom date, it is DEFINITELY not the end of the world. You can have a good time with your friends and laugh at awkward couples during slow songs. Prom is about having fun with your friends, not just one guy, so just keep that in mind when people start making a big fuss about having a date. Last year, I went date-less and it was so nice; I got to pick what I wanted to do and I met with several groups of friends, compared to having someone pick me up and do all of this stuff together. This year, I actually have a date and it's one of my good guy friends so I'm not trying to bash having a date either. Either way, you'll have fun!

2. don't spend so much on a prom dress- girl, it's not a wedding, it's a high school dance. There will be plenty of moments in your life when you'll need to dress to the nines and prom is not the place to spend $400+ on a dress. My friend bought a dress for $500 last year and she wore it once and now it sits in her closet, without a purpose (it's a big poofy one that she probably won't ever wear again). And sure, you can sell it the following year, but most people that I know who are trying to sell their prom dress don't get any offers. Also, don't worry if people get their dresses super early, because you'll have a lot of time. I've gotten my dresses for both years about two weeks before.

3. don't go super crazy on hair and makeup and nails- if your prom is anything like mine, it'll be dark and you won't be able to see anything. Your hair and makeup and nails won't matter to anyone and anyone who actually cares will be able to see them. It's fun to get them done and look really fancy, but just be realistic about what prom is: a bunch of teenagers dancing way too close.

4. don't expect a Disney level prom- unless your school goes super hardcore for prom, I would say that it would be good to lower your expectations for prom. It'll basically be a club, but with teachers present and a bunch of gross teenagers, some of which who are probably high/hammered out of their minds.

5. have fun- if that's even possible after reading all of my things I noticed at prom last year. At your school, if there's only a senior prom, it'll be one of the last times you'll see your friends before you go off to different colleges and different life paths, so just try to enjoy and have fun with your friends.

my prom look last year:

dress: Windsor (about $99)

shoes: high heels I got in Florida and glued a lot of gold glitter to.accessories: black clutch and an Alex and Ani bracelet. 
my prom look this year: dress: promgirl.com (about $170 and I paid $17 for 3 day shipping because my date needs to get his tux to match or something like that) 

 

shoes: probably the same shoes as last year and I probably won't have any accessories. I think I might get pockets altered into the dress so I have somewhere to put my hands, but we'll see since I have less than two weeks. Thanks for reading lovelies and good luck with your prom adventures!

INFLUENSTER CAMPUS VOXBOX SPRING 2015 REVIEW

I Hello my lovelies! So when I got home today, a bright blue box was waiting outside with a stack of letters and I was super excited to see that the box was the Influenster Campus VoxBox for the spring of 2015. There is always a wide variety of free (!!!) goodies inside and I was super excited to see what they were. So let's get into it!

First off, what is Influenster? It's a website where you write about the things you like/dislike/tried/hated and everybody is able to see which face wash they should try compared to that one mascara that clumps up for everybody. It's basically like being a Youtube beauty guru, except you don't have to post any videos of yourself because it's all online. You get a score for your reviews as well as your social media influence (Twitter, blogs, instagram, you know) and every few months, these Voxboxes come around, aka a box of free goodies to try, which some people (like myself!) become eligible for by keeping a high social media score and posting a lot of reviews! Furthermore, before we start the review, I just want to say that these products were sent to me for free through Influenster and these are my honest opinions about them.

1. Sour Punch Punchies (anywhere from $0.89-$1.29)
Okay, so I'm a huge sucker for packaging, especially neon packaging and this one was just in my face. Also I love sour candy, so there's that. Within minutes of cutting open the box, I was already trying these little candies out and I actually really like them. They remind me of Sour Punch straws but in the shape and texture of jelly beans... It sounds weird, but trust me, they are really good! Also, I'm currently eating the rest of the bag as dessert after dinner and they are so good.

2. Sour Punch Rainbow Straws ($1.29-1.59)
I don't know about you guys, but I always got so excited to see Sour Punch straws at my school in the cafeteria. I would save up like $5 and then buy 5 packets of the blue raspberry Sour Punch straws and eat them all at night, which probably explains why I was so chubby in middle school. Anyways, I felt pretty nostalgic seeing this pack of sour punch straws and then I proceeded to tear the package open and return to my middle school ways. They're still straws, still sour, and still the best. I would totally recommend trying to drink soda out of these candy straws (I would do it, but I don't drink soda) because that is childhood in one snack.

3. Softlips Cube ($3.49)
Okay, this is hands-down the coolest packaging I've seen on a lip balm. It came in the last Voxbox and I have been using it like crazy. It comes in a little cube, but when you unscrew it, the lip balm is shaped like the eos ones. I've only tried the Pomegranate Blueberry and it smells so good (it comes in Fresh Mint, Vanilla Bean which sounds yummy, and Strawberry too!). It also really works well as a lip balm too; it feels like it wears off quickly, but your lips will stay unchapped and soft all day.

4. St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub ($3.99-4.79)
I actually was expecting a mini sample of this face scrub, but nope, Influenster went all out and bought the 6 ounce ones (size of a normal face wash basically) so thanks friends! This is actually a pretty popular face scrub and I'm pretty sure that Ingrid Nilsen (Youtuber aka my closet goals aka my beauty/hair goals aka everything goals) raved about this so I'm really excited to try this. This is, however, a deep exfoliator and it's meant to treat acne too so I'm guessing I'll only be able to use every so often or my skin will probably fall off (not cute, especially right before prom). However, it is sulfate, paraben, and oil free so less chemicals on your face, and eventually your body! Yay!

5. Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mouse ($12.99)
I guess I never realized how expensive self-tanner was because I was really surprised to see that this 6 ounce bottle costs $13. I actually don't use self-tanner because 1. I don't really care that much and 2. I'm Asian, which puts me in this weird skin tone category and normal tanner will make me look like an actual freak. This seems to be a really nice product that works fairly easily, but I would make sure you know how to put on self-tanner first (get gloves girl! and exfoliate before, or else you'll be streaky). I'll probably give this to a friend or something and get tan through running and canoeing this summer, but this product seems neat!

6. L'oreal Paris Advanced Straight System
So this is just the baby packets of shampoo, conditioner, and some pre-conditioner for straight hair, but tbh I've been doing this hair curling method lately and I'm not really feeling straight hair right now. I actually got one of these hair straightening packets from Forever 21 too and it's Garnier Fructis, but it's also for straightening hair so I haven't used it yet. I guess I'll let you guys know if my usually pin-straight hair gets any straighter after using these (I refuse to flatiron my hair, because sleeping trumps all and I'm not a fan of heat tools anyways).

Anyways, that's all I got from Influenster and I am so happy to be a part of this program. These people always pull through, especially with the candy, after an annoying day at school and I'm so glad to have received two of these Voxboxes now. I hope everybody has a great week and also considers checking out Influenster. Adios friends!

SPRING SEASON HAUL

Hello my lovelies! I hope you all had a great Easter/Spring Break/week in general and I am back with a haul. It's pretty big and I still have a few items I'm still waiting on. Anyways, let's jump into it!

1. Saucony Cohesion 7 (around $50)
Okay, so in case you didn't know, I am a self-proclaimed runner (@Anthearuns on Twitter) and lately, I've been suffering with patellar tendonitis, which is where the tendons by my knees are basically in pain constantly. I think it happened since I torn a ligament in my ankle a while ago and the injury changed my running pattern. My beaten up Saucony Cohesion 6 shoes have served me for a great number of miles, but I got the Cohesion 7 shoes and they are comfy, perfect for running, and reduce the pain in my knees tremendously.

2. Loreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara in Black (around $6)
I have used the Loreal Voluminous mascara for about a year and I've loved it! However, I decided it was time to try the upgraded version and I picked this one out. The wand is definitely unique and I find that the longer side is perfect for layering and declumping, while the short side is good for coating bottom lashes evenly. I have the waterproof version and it is, indeed, waterproof, but still smudges a bit throughout the day.

3. Blackhawks Baseball Cap ($18)
In case you didn't know, I'm a pretty big Blackhawks fan and I'm pretty into hockey. I'm also really into this sporty baseball cap trend for summer and I can just picture myself in a bikini and the cap, canoeing or tubing down a river several times this summer. I can wear this cap everywhere, from a casual lunch or a walk through Chicago this fall.

4. Forever 21 Infinity Scarves in Melange Grey and Black ($3 each)
These scarves are so comfy and good for layering. I saw the price and I couldn't pass them up, especially in these two colors that go well with the majority of my closet. They are also the perfect length for two loops, since often infinity scarves are awkward lengths if the store hasn't really designed them right.

5. Forever 21 Tartan Plaid Scarf ($8)
I've wanted a Zara plaid blanket scarf ever since last season when it came out,  but I wasn't fond of the $30 price tag that accompanied a piece of large fabric. However, I saw this scarf from the men's store and I decided that there isn't a wrong time to buy a scarf ever. I'm most likely going to school in Chicago this fall and I've already thought of several outfits, using this scarf to keep warm and fashionable.

6. Forever 21 Tribal Fit and Flare Dress ($14)
This dress is such a nice pattern with the tribal vibes happening and the color scheme works well on basically everyone. This dress comes with a skinny belt, so an instant outfit is already prete-a-port in your wardrobe! It also has thicker straps (appropriate for school!) so I know I can wear it to school, without worry.

7. Forever 21 Textured Fit and Flare Dress ($15)
Since I've been planning my graduation and senior recital plans for a while, I know that I need a graduation dress. It has to be classy yet edgy, and one last hurrah to end this whole high school experience. This is a perfect red color and the texture makes it more interesting than the average fit and flare dress. I'm excited to wear this in about a month and I know it'll be perfect for future events too.

8. Forever 21 Sunglasses
These are round and super cool. I know they'll be perfect for Lollapalooza and just hanging out this summer.

9. Forever 21 Black V Neck
This is just a plain black V neck tee for everyday occasions and can be dressed up or down for any outfit. It's really comfy and I think I'm going to pair it with some flowy shorts or a skirt or boyfriend jeans. (*speaking of boyfriend jeans, my friend just got a pair of Girlfriend jeans from H&M, which are more fitted and flattering boyfriend jeans and they are so stylish!)

Update/College Info

Hello lovelies! I apologize for the temporary hiatus between my last post in February and now (I know, it's bad), but I'm back! And I will most likely have many hauls/DIYS/posts in general to come because I am officially a college girl (or will be this fall).

I am super excited to pick out things that I'll need and I'm just really excited in general to go to college. I'm deciding mainly between two universities right now (one in Chicago and one in Atlanta) but one has been my dream school since middle school so there's definitely some bias there (but in a good way). So since I am going to college/not living at home like I dreaded, I will definitely be having some more posts like dorm hauls and clothes hauls. Probably a lot of clothes hauls because the school I'm considering the most has a wide range of temperatures, but when it comes to winter, I can guarantee I will be freezing my butt off on a daily basis. Like I thought Indiana was cold, but Chicago will definitely not compare in terms of wind chill and things.

Also I am excited to say that I am attending Lollapalooza this summer! I'm really excited since I've wanted to go for a good couple of years now, but a big city by myself has always made my parents nervous until now, I guess. This definitely entails music festival outfits, makeup, and hair posts and I am so hype!

And lastly, I will be graduating in about two months and I am so excited and I'll definitely have some updates about my last few months of high school!

Okay, that's about it for me and I'll talk to you guys soon!