Into My Fashion and Beauty Treasure Chest...My Top 10 Fashion and Beauty treasures

Photo from: Tumblr

Darling Devotees,

Lately I've been looking to shake up my style a bit. I'v been Boho-Whimsical quite steadily for almost two years now and I feel like a change. I was thinking something with more of an edge and I know that a more chic style has been appealing to me too. But I can't totally leave bright colors alone either. Oh decisions! Anyway, I don't know why but lately I keep getting asked that really odd question about what you would take with you on a deserted island if you could only take 3 things. I still haven't come up with an answer but it did make me what the key elements of my personal style are and this list is what I came up with.

1. Cocktail Rings: I love all rings and own quite a few but I especially love cocktail rings! When it comes to jewelry on me I've discovered that bigger is better. My favorite ring is a big and beautiful gold flower ring I got from So Good Jewelry.

2. All up in your face prints: Polka-dots, stripes, florals, plaid, separately or all together I love them all.

3. Scarves- I must own about 10 and although I don't mean to perpetuate the European style stereotype I'm pretty sure this is something I acquired from the Swiss.

4. Anything in Purple and the Aqua Blue- Teal Spectrum: My room and wardrobe are covered in these two (three?) colors.

5. Vests: I think its amazing how these tiny pieces of clothing can instantly change a whole outfit.

6. Boots: I love boots so much if I could I would wear them everyday.

7. Cleanser: Although, I don't wear make-up most days cleaning my face with an alcoholic cleanser before I go to bed helps me keep my skin smooth and pimple-free.

8. Black mascara, and eyeliner: It's the gypsy in me that makes me love this.

9. Glossy lip balm: What I wear to balance the effect of my lined eyes.

10. Red Lipstick- If you are going to do something, might as well do it right.I rarely wear lipstick because I prefer to do my eyes but I just can't resist the chicness of red lipstick. It just screams style.

Love you all and Stay inspired,

P.S. So let me know what you think. What are your key fashion and beauty elements? Feel free to let me know in the comments below.

If I Had One Wish... I would be a gypsy

From: DiscoAnimal Tumblr

Dearest Devotees,

Spinning silks in shades of light
Velvet dark as shadowed night.

Whirling dancers with eyes like jet
Centuries have not tamed us yet!

- Rie Sheridan Rose

Ever since I first watched Gypsy Girl when I was 10, and read all of the books in the series by Elizabeth Arnold about a young gypsy girl who lived with her gypsy family in their caravan at the end of a suburban street, I've been intrigued by the romanticized gypsy life. All the colors in their clothes and in their homes, their free-spiritedness, closeness to nature and artistic abilities, their inherent quirkiness and individuality, and familial closeness caught my attention. Our shared love of traveling and the fact that I have spent most of my life on the move, also attracted me and ever since then my style has had some romany (gypsy-related) elements in it. If you are like me and harbor dreams of being a gypsy, read on.

Fashion and Style

Gypsy Girl by aury4eva featuring GAP accessories

The easiest way to embrace this style is by channeling your bohemian leanings. The bohemian trend was largely influenced by romany style dressing. So think gypsy skirts, peasant tops, tunics, exotic prints, tons of jewelry and color (especially jewel tones).

Beauty

gypsy girl beauty by aury4eva on Polyvore.com

When it comes to the gypsy style beauty there are two ways you can go: natural or jeweled. The Natural look has to do with accenting your current attributes in such a way that you don't look like you are wearing make-up. The jeweled look has to do with jewel tone polish and eye-shadow, smokey-black eyes with black mascara and eyeliner and lightly glosses lips.

What to do

Try out palm reading.

Go thrift store and antique shop hunting. You can probably pick up some really fantastic unique pieces for your wardrobe.

Listen to "indie" type music. Think lighthearted, light-spirited acoustic style music e.g anything Iron and Wine, Blue glass by Furlough, etc.

Go horseback riding.

Take your favorite art supplies ( notebook and pen, sketchbook and pencil, paints, camera, etc) and go to your closest connection to nature. Spend an afternoon allowing nature to inspire you.

Lay in a field and watch clouds go by or if its raining feel free to play in the rain.

Have friends and family over, and have a bonfire/campfire night out. Dance around the campfire.

Go flower and/or fruit picking.

Explore a nearby town, a different neighborhood, or if you can't physically go anywhere try heading to the library and distancing yourself from reality through reading.

Don't forget to have fun on your own and with other people.

Love you all and Stay inspired,

P.S. So let me know know what you think. Have you ever desired to be a traveller/gypsy/Romany? Feel free to let me know in the comments below.

P.P.S I am in no way an expert and honestly this is all for fun, and based off fictional gypsies. I do not intend to offend anyone and if you happen to know more about the subject I would most definitely love to hear from you via email at aury4eva@gmail.com.

If I Had One Wish... I would save the world

If I Had One Wish... by aury4eva featuring Miss Selfridge rings

If I had one wish is a segment on dreams and wishes. I'm pretty sure you all know that I have big dreams, and I think this is partially because ever since I was a little girl, I've loved the land of make-believe. I spent time playing in it, because it was the one form of entertainment I could take with me no matter where I travelled. It grew and grew and was furnished by bits and pieces of novels I read, movies I saw and stories I heard as well as dreams that I had. I no longer spend much time in this world (not unless I'm looking for material for a book I'm writing), but I still like the idea of trying something new and fulfilling random wishes. This is why I came up with if I had one wish. Here I embrace all wishes the implausible and the fantastical, the practical and doable and the utterly beautiful. The goal is to move you (and I) to do something new. I'm excited darling devotees, are you?

I'm not a superhero.

I can't fly, lift large objects or see through walls.

I don't have superhuman powers, but that doesn't mean I can't help save our world.

Fashion and Style

I want to save the world by aury4eva featuring Kuyichi jeans

I love eco fabulous clothing lines. You can look good and feel good knowing that what you are wearing will not harm the environment should you decide to get rid of it. Also I am a big fan of looking stylish all the time. I really believe its possible because style is very adaptable and really varies depending on the event. The hoodies, combat boots and jeans above are all eco-fabulous and perfect for building houses for charity or volunteering at soup kitchen.

Beauty

mineral makeup by aury4eva on Polyvore.com

To contrast Spring 2010's all about pastel clothes theme, the make-up colour scheme is really bright. All the make-up above is mineral make-up and if you don't already use mineral make-up darlings I must ask why. I love it so much I may write an ode extolling it's eco-friendliness, it's smooth and soft textures and its ability to not clog my pores. My personal fave is Aromaleigh.

How to save the world today

Donate your time, skills or money to a charitable organisation or charity event close to your heart.

Sponsor a disadvataged child, animal, or grassroots organisation or business.

Visit an orphanage, an elderly home, a hospital ward. Spread the love.

Recycle : get a recycling system going in your space. If you set it up now, it will make sticking to it a lot easier later.

Smile: Greet everyone with a smile. I smile all the time. It makes me feel happier and the people around me appreciate it too :)

Pay a compliment: You never know how it could impact someone's life or what kind of day they might be having. It could brighten their day.

Don't forget to enter the silver necklace Abazias Diamonds giveaway.

Love you all and Stay inspired,

P.S. So let me know what you think. Feel free to let me know in the comments below.

How to Remain Gorgeous In Winter: Beauty

For a lot of people winter weather is not a friend to your body. What with all the sharp, dry and icy winds, freezing spontaneous showers and rock-bottom temperatures it is no wonder that people tend to be a lot more susceptible to less-than-stellar appearances. And with the holidays coming up and finals drawing ever closer, we are a lot less willing to care about our looks or make the effort. So here are a few tips to help you weather the harsh winter weather:

1. Hydrate yourself: I don't know about you but facing the blustery winter winds always leaves me feeling super dehydrated. This is why it is more important than usual, to drink your minimum of eight cups a day. It will really show on the inside and out.



2. Moisturize your hair and body: If you can, using a thicker, more petroleum-based moisturiser (like Vaseline) not only keeps your skin looking healthy but also protects you from the cold.



3. Use jelly-based lip balm: The lighter, oilier ones just don't cut it in the winter. They evaporate too quickly and soon leave your lips looking cracked and wind worn.



4. Use cream-based or mineral make-up: Since your face is the part of your body that is constantly exposed to all the various elements, the skin there is weaker and more susceptible to damage. Since it suffers more abuse in the winter it is best to use less chemicals on it during these months.



5. Use waterproof mascara: If you, like me, tend to have teary eyes when its really cold and windy, but still want to glam up your eyes, using waterproof mascara is probably the way to go. The racoon look is not good on anyone. Trust me.

Love you all and Stay inspired,

P.S. So let me know what you think. What are your winter beauty secrets? Does your routine change with the season? Feel free to let me know in the comments below.

Beauty Basics: My Top 10 Beauty Tips

Beauty tips, much like gorgeous antique jewelry, get passed on from generation to generation, sometimes tweaked, sometimes updated but somehow always present. I have no idea how many times in my life I've picked up a new one along the way but these 10 tips are the ones that have stayed with me through thick and thin and have even become a part of my daily routine. They are:

1. Cleanse every night without fail: I know its hard. Trust me, I would be the first person to admit that their have been times that I've just been too exhausted to bother washing/cleansing my face before bed. But every time I do, I always end up regretting it. If you can't bring yourself to wash your face (at least) every night before bed, then invest in wipes, or a good cleanser and some cotton (whether you use make-up or not). I love everything Clearasil but my favorite cleanser would have to be Clearasil Ultra Cleanser.

2. Foundation before concealer: Now I admit, I am a Style Network addict, so I can really can't say where I first heard this tip from. But what I can tell you is that it works. Basically, if you put foundation all over your face and neck before you put concealer under eyes, you will be able to use less concealer (and less time) to create a more natural effect. Perfect for the stylish college girl on the run.

3.Lip balm (or even Vaseline) on your lips before bed: Something else that has become a part of my nightly routine. It ensures that your lips are naturally soft and smooth on a regular basis.

4. Drinking fruity and carbonated drinks with a straw: Now, I'm not really sure if it's a beauty tip but it is important to keep your teeth healthy and your smile gorgeous. This is because carbonated drinks like soda and acidic fruit drinks like orange juice weaken the enamel and leave your teeth defenceless and more transparent.

5. Having a manicure, pedicure and facial regularly: I'm not even saying that you should have an expensive one. If you're low on cash or time and can only be able to do it at the end of the day on a holiday weekend, go for it! You can even make a party of it by inviting friends over and doing it together. You'll feel much better for it.

6. The Eyes/Mouth Balancing act: True style is all about balance: balancing the top with the bottom, the earrings with necklace and the eye make-up with the mouth. Always remember to emphasize one or the other, never both. So if your making up your eyes, keep the mouth make-up to minimum usually, a light, or colourless gloss depending on your look.

7. If you have acne, foundation/concealer is not going to help: I know it's highly tempting to just cover up every spot with concealer or foundation, but just think about it. The reason you have the spots is because your pores are blocked, more make-up is only going to block it more. If you must cover it up when you go out, make sure you cleanse as soon as you return.

8. Find your own scent and rock it: Your personal scent is apart of your personal style. It does not have to be come from expensive cream or perfume. It can come from anything and as long as you love it and it makes you feel good about yourself then its perfect.

9. Use Sunblock/Sunscreen: This goes for everyone, regardless of your age, sex or skin colour. Using SPF 15 sunblock goes a long way in preventing the effects of aging caused by sun damage and skin cancer.

10. Drink loads of water: It had to be said. I mean, even my mother would swear by it. The truth is water is a wonderful natural agent because of its many health and beauty benefits. Basically, it purges your system and apparently decreases the occurence of pimples leading to smoother skin and a healthier complexion. What's not to love?

These are my favorite beauty tips in no particular order. Some of them , I've only recently acquired and some of them I've used almost forever. There are other tips, like brushing every night before bed, that are important to me and my routine too but, that's for another day.

Love you all and Stay Inspired,

P.S. So let me know what you think. Are any of these tips among your top 10? What are your favorite beauty tips? Feel free to tell me in the Comments below.

(Image thanks to Sashamd)