Wednesday, March 25, 2015

So Ready For Spring



Spring is almost here, I promise. The piles of snow are swiftly diminishing and most days reach at least 50 degrees. All of this thawing that’s going on is making me excited for warmer days and spring break and with those daydreams comes what I plan on wearing during those warm days and spring break. I’m actually going to California for spring break, specifically Yosemite and San Francisco (don’t worry, they have In ‘N Out Burgers there), so I’m feeling a very boho yet colorful look, hence the embroidered kimono and peasant top. I’m also seriously obsessed with Ban.do’s flair packs (those adorable little buttons) and frankly, all things Ban.do. It’s this perfect little boutique that features all things cute. I mean, just look at their site:



I’m pretty sure all they do is make pretty GIFs and throw around confetti so…
What styles are you looking forward to this spring?
xoxo
HBM

Monday, March 23, 2015

What a Week

Buckle up, Ladies and Gents, because we're entering the busiest time of the year.
Because we're nearing spring break (rather rapidly), all of my teachers decided to bestow every essay, test, and project to be due on the same week. On top of all of that, I'm preparing for a state latin convention, a marching band performance (we have to remember music we last had memorized in November), and I joined stage crew...one week before opening night. 
Needless to say, I've been rather busy. Balancing out my schedule has become quite challenging, but it's worth it. I love band, convention is super fun, and I've basically dedicated my life to theater for the next week. All I have to do is survive through these next two weeks...and I do mean survive...







Top&Boots: Forever 21, Jeans: American Eagle, Scarf: Banana Republic, Tote: Old Navy
I wore variations of this outfit throughout this weekend: to Saturday health class, 2 tech crew meetings, church, and a Sunday night dinner. It's comfy and majorly cute, but I'll sometimes swap out my booties for a pair of brown leather flats because, as much as I love them, 3 inch heels are not meant for standing for long periods of time.
What's your go-to outfit for crazy weeks?
xoxo
HBM

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Spring Vibes




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We have hit above 30 degrees! I repeat, we have hit above 30 degrees! This is not a drill! That is basically everyone right now. The snow is melting, winter jackets are hung up, and capris are coming out.
We are on the eve of warmer weather and brighter days. What better way to celebrate than browsing around for some spring picks?  



Spring Wishlist
Red t shirt, / Topshop bib overall / H&M high waisted jeans, / Forever 21 striped socks / Forever 21 striped socks / Nike sneaker / H M pink purse, / Urban Outfitters leather watch / Long necklace / Fantas-Eyes fantas eyes sunglasses


   First off: Mom jeans are back and its fabulous. I want a pair, but I'm hoping to find some that are a little more flattering on top like the ones pictured above. I am basically trying to rebuild my spring/summer wardrobe and I need to get back to the basics. Having quality and versatile pieces has become a priority in creating outfits. I've also embraced the pop culture/art trend that has produced some unique garments that can go casual or a little fancier with skater skirt. I'm also really loving the varsity look including crew socks, Converse (I like the Nike ones above, and tee-shirt dress which are comfortable and adorable. Hopefully I'll hit the shops soon and grab a few of these items just in time for the warm weather to hit.

Is there anything you've been loving lately? Anything you've already gotten in your shopping cart for spring?

xoxo,
Anastasia

Monday, March 16, 2015

Navy and White






Blazer&Flats: Target, Blouse&Jeans: American Eagle, All Pins: Vintage
My mom and dad, products of the seventies and eighties, presented me with some of the buttons and pins they wore in their time after they found out about my recent pin obsession. I was so excited...I immediately planned, like, five outfits showcasing these marvelous little adornments. I clump them by color. Here, the combination of shapes and faces are a little weird (read triceratops next to a jazzy guy in a fedora), but each one is kind of cool. I also realized that this outfit is almost monochromatic. The only thing stopping me from labeling it as such would be the brown shoes. I'm adoring all the navy...as unvaried as it is, I'm sticking to my guns that it's the best color around. Navy, I wouldnt rather monochrome with any other color. 
What color do you wear most? 
xoxo
HBM

Friday, March 13, 2015

Weekend Five




5. Spring Fever- 
Warm weather, sunny skies, and blooming plants cannot come any sooner. 


4.  The Great Gatsby- 
I'm rereading it for the my AP English class and  I love it just as much as I did the first time. And although Daisy continuously annoys me, Fitzgerald's vivid descriptions and symbolism make it a great American classic. 


3. Society 6 Totes-
After stumbling on this site for my home decor post I have become addicted to these wonderful tote bags. A little bigger than a purse but not as large as a backpack. Just what I need. I love all three of these but can't decide which one to actually buy. Also it's really hard to tell here but "The Great Wave" one on the far left has pugs as waves. No that isn't a typo. The waves are pugs. Brilliant. 




2. Ban.do-
 Wednesday night, I'm chilling on the couch finishing up another post and Hannah tells me about this shop and we both are going crazy because all the products are SO CUTE. Everything about this brand is aesthetically pleasing (they even give out free confetti with your purchase. Yes please!). From the pastel bags, to must-have buttons, and adorable coffee mugs, its all perfect. Also check out their blog. All creds go to Hannah for finding this magically beautiful site. 
new ban.do!

1. Sunday March 8 Women's Day-
A day to recognize all the women who are fighting for complete gender equality and to celebrate each woman as a beautiful, unique, and important individual. Every person, including ALL women, has the right to enjoy ALL aspects of life. Although we are Not There yet, leaps and bounds have been made to ensure this. What better way to end the this blurb than with "am I right ladies?!" am I right ladies?!

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 I also posted every time this which feels pretty freaking awesome. I'm really inspired which puts me in a good mood which makes me wanna post so yay for Ana Week.

Have a lovely weekend!!!

xoxo,
Anastasia

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Lately


   With marching band in the off season (sadly) I, reluctantly, have a little bit more time on my hands besides homework, SAT/ACT practice, and extracurricular activities. This time is spent mainly in unproductive ways aka browsing the internet for a long time and watching TV/movies endlessly. But in these long hours I've stumbled upon some treasures that I have become, essentially, obsessed with. A little indulgence isn't anything to be ashamed of. 



1. BBC Radio 1- Live Lounge 

Other than broadcasting the amazing show Sherlock BBC has a few radio stations including Radio 1 which internationally broadcasts top current song throughout the day from pop to alternative to dance music. But the Live Lounge is the best part. Various artists take each others songs and cover them, and it is MAGICAL. Artists step away from their typical styles and take on new genres, often transforming the originals song into something completely new. Through this I've discovered some amazing artists like   George EzraYears and Years, and London Grammar. Guys. Do yourself a favor and watch these. 

Here are a few of my favorite covers: 
1. Taylor Swift covering Riptide by Vance Joy 
2. Bastille covering We Can't Stop by Miley Cyrus 
3. Arctic Monkeys covering Hold On, We're Going Home by Drake
4. Labrinth covering Shake It Off by Taylor Swift 
5. Miley Cyrus covering Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey



2. Good Mythical Morning 

GMM is an upbeat daily show run by two best friends on YouTube. Rhett and Link dig up some interesting stories and share them, complete challenges, and answer the ultimate questions like Will it Pizza? or Will it Donut? Their music videos are sure to entertain, including 600 pillows, dancing zebras, and refrigerators. It's quality still, and genuinely entertaining. It's nice to wake up on a weekday before going to school and have a funny video to start the day off right. 




3. Button Poetry  

Button Poetry is an organization that promotes spoken word poetry and allows artists to share their works freely. I've recent really gotten into poetry and short stories and wow... people make magic just by weaving words together effortlessly. These poems are so moving because they're personal, raw, and consuming. Some poets choose light hearted topic and others draw from their beliefs and experiences. Spoken word poetry is a more underground art form but it certain deserves its place among other forms. 

Here are some of the best performances that I've seen so far (Warning: there may be some explicit language and controversial topicst):

1. Neil  Hilborn- OCD
2. Lily Myers- Shrinking Women
3. Dylan Garity- Friend Zone
4. Patrick Roche- 21
5. Harry Baker- 59 (Not Button but still amazing)


4. Artist Javier Calleja 
First, how cute is that? Pretty cute. I've been following this artist's Instagram for quite a while and I simply cannot get enough. Calleja's bright colors and tiny materials make his work so original and unique. He incorporates nature, people, and some of his own characters that are both simply and profound. 
 


5. TED Talks 
I've always been a firm believer in the importance of sharing ideas. And this is precisely what TED is all about. TED Talks allow people from all around the work to collect, meet up, and participate in these talks. I could (and have) watch Talks for hours because there are so many diverse topics and unique story and message each speakers hopes to share with the audience. Just two weeks ago our school held an independently organized TED event. 

These are my few favorites:
1. Sir Ken Robinson- How Schools Kill Creativity
2. Tom Thum- Beatbox Brilliance
3. Jacob Barnett- Forget What You Know


I highly recommend checking some of these thing out. This might be the perfect way to procrastinate on all the work you don't want to do. But we all get by. Have a lovely day!

xoxo,
Anastasia

Monday, March 9, 2015

1001 in 101 Update





Since going back and crossing so many things off this list I've realized how much I actually get done. Most of the time I feel unproductive and almost stuck. It's sort of inspiring to know that I've actually done stuff with my life. Honestly, this list has truly helped me to accomplish certain things that I wouldn't have done before. There is still a lot to get done in the upcoming months that I'm really excited for. There's still so much for me to improve upon and experience but I hope the year ahead will allow me to cross even more off this list and take part in more unplanned surprises!

Anastasia's 101 goals in 1001 days

Start: January 27, 2014
End: October 24, 2016

1. Start this list
2. Become the flute section leader in marching band
3. Get a 1 for solo ensemble (getting evaluated on your instrument playing, 1 is the best grade)
4. Go to Disney world again and take a million pictures
5. Refine my style (same as Hannah, I know)
6.Refine my clothes in general
7. Visit my god mother in Brooklyn 
8. Go to Carlo's Bakery in New Jersey
9. Have a huge birthday party with everyone I care about 16th Birthday woohoo!!
10. Learn to ski
11. Re-learn how to play piano
12. Learn how to play guitar
13. Win 1st place (again) at the Greek folk dance festival
14. Get at least a 4 on the AP World exam
15. Learn basic French 
16. Learn some Italian
17. Buy a really nice camera (I have a Polaroid) 
18. Discover new artists and remain loyal to them
19. Read all the Harry Potter books Thanks to my lovely friends who bought me the set
20. Subscribe to Newsweek or Time magazine Sunday afternoons are for iced tea and Time 
21. Be aware of what is going on in the world
22. Join a new club
23. Get at least a 1900 in the SAT
24. Apply to Georgetown University (my dream school)
25. Get a job and put the money towards my college fund
26. Re-watch all episodes of Sherlock
27. Play a grade 6 perfectly on flute (almost there, grade 6 is very difficult)
28. Get into wind ensemble (our schools best band)
29. Go to a music concert
30. Go to the movies and sit down in a random theater and watch the movie
31. Watch one scary movie (I've never seen one and I don't want to but have to!)
32. See Cirque du Soleil again
33. Visit the symphony at least twice
34. Teach one of my friends a Greek dance (Hannah learned a simple dance!)
35. Be a leader in a successful service project   Raised $700+ for RAPHA House by selling Tie-dye shirts
36. Think/ writing down one good thing that happened every day for a year
37. Exercise every day for at least 30 min for a month and keep it up Yay exercise!
38. Not eat junk food (Cheez-itz, cookies, Goldfish) for 3 weeks (so tough!!!)
40. Cook a meal for my family of 4 once a month {it's going!}
41. Complete a DIY once a month {I've kept up}
42. Tutor someone who needs help in a certain subject
43. Improve my math skills
44. Keep my priorities; achieve my short-term goals
45. Go to a Raven's game
46. Learn to appreciate things more
47. In accordance with #46, do one good thing a day for a month or more
48. Eventually complete this list
49. Learn how to windsurf
50. Do 15 laps a day in the ocean over summer   
51. Visit at least 5 other U.S. states 2/5 so far
52. Post at least 3x a month on this blog
53. Help out at the public or my school's library
54. Go on 3 trips without my parents (2/3 so far)
55. Go ice skating
56. Get the full Harry Potter series 
57. Build a really nice snowman
58. Have a fish live for at least a year (His name is Salmon)
59. Compliment someone different everyday
60. Contradictory to #38, have something sweet once a day (candy not junk food)
61. Congratulate myself for making 60 goals
62. Go scuba diving
63. Visit Italy and have real slice of pizza
64. Drink only water, milk, and juice with meals for 2 months
65. Become an amateur photographer and share my photos with you guys
66. Memorize 5 quotes from different books (The Fault in Our Stars, Jane Eyre, Speak, Little House on the Prairie, and Green Eggs and Ham)
67. Go to an art festival Art festival in old town Alexandria, Washington
68. Go to the White House
69. Be daring in a risky situation and try not to regret it later
70. Go rock climbing
71. Fly a kite
72. Sleep under the stars 
73. Ride a roller coaster that goes upside down Done at Disney!
74. Participate in the Color Run
75. Become more familiar with classical music
76.Give one hug a day for a month
77. Drink an entire mug of hot tea (I hate it!)
78. Read 30 books in a year (atl least 150 pages each)
79. Have an article of mine published in the school newspaper
80. Write a short manifesto
81. Tell my parents I love them every day despite any circumstances
82. In relation to #81, try to be the best daughter I can possibly be
83. Get my brother an awesome graduation gift see here
84. Participate in our archdiocese's oratorical festival 
85. Get a scholarship
86. Become an officer in my church's youth group corresponding secretary 
87. Buy a random item off a shelf in the grocery store
88. Run a mile in under 8 minutes
89. Run a mile in under 7 minutes
90. Make a pizza entirely from scratch
91. Get 10 more followers on this blog this year
92. Improve my writing skills
93. Write in cursive at least once a day
94. Develop a real signature
95. Volunteer for more than 3 hours 5 times in 6 months
96. Clean out my closet (lots of junk in there)
97. Refine my music taste 
98. Try 10 new foods 
99. Attempt to play a sport I've never tried
101. Make a list of 101 goals!!! Phew!


xoxo,
Anastasia

Friday, March 6, 2015

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Lovely


 






Too many hair-touching photos? Yea I thought so too...I'll work on it
Tee: Land's End, Pants: H&M, Bracelets: Kate Spade/Alex&Ani, Ring: Kate Spade, Shoes: Land's End, Headband: Target, Belt: H&M

Why I love stripes: It's the neutral of the pattern world. Stripes can be paired with nearly every solid color as well as nearly any other print. Especially if the stripes are black and white

Why I love pink: In the world of symbolism, it represents femininity, love, romance, and beauty. It's bright, it just so happens to be my favorite color, and it makes up 60% of my wardrobe. 

Why I love eyeliner: I can finally get the wings to match (let me know if you want a how-to!!). Also it makes my eyes look huge and much more blue than they really are!

Why I love this outfit: It was casual and easy to wear while making me look like I actually put effort into my appearance that morning. 

xoxo
HBM

PS: Do any of you have any suggestions on taking pictures for outfit posts? It's chilly so I don't always want to go outside. When I do, I'm usually in my own backyard as I'm either at school or at home and the nearest attractive location is a good quarter of a mile away. In addition, my little brother who photographs for me only will help me out 20% of the time not to mention that my camera is ok, but far from professional. I need lighting, editing, and location suggestions! If you've got 'em, I wanna hear 'em!

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Tattly

For those who follow us on the  'gram, you'd have seen that my aunt (a local, organic, framer) sent my brother and I some snail mail recently which contained vegetable tattoos!


Not only was the note funny ("I hope your parents don't mind me paying for your first tattoo"), but I thought the idea of a horse radish and an eggplant tattoo was the cutest thing ever. I flipped the tattoo over and saw that it was from Tattly. I recently was shopping online at Forever 21 and stumbled upon the same brand selling the most adorable tattoos in the accessories section! I decided to check them out and they turned out to be the most adorable online shop ever. Each tattoo comes as a two-pack and most cost $5, but honestly I think they're worth it. It's just another way to accessorize!

I spent a good half hour looking through the site and the products below are literally every single one I opened in a new tab for further investigation.

Warning: Picture Overload
























awesome//besties//cool cone//dinosaur//floral heart//happy heart//red heart//hello//i feel great//soft serve//left&right//lemon//magic//molecule//nodes//circle//rainbow//floral cluster//square//three hearts//triangle//X//gold diamonds//yay

I can't get enough! I'm planning on buying them as gifts for every occasion, holiday, you name it! It's always fun to get a little tiny gift and these are the perfect and temporary option.
I can't wait until tank top season so I can apply my horse radish tattoo and show it off to the world
Have you ever heard of Tattly?
xoxo
HBM