Am I an Olsen Twin?

There are certain people who influence your life in covert ways, in fact I would argue that the people who have concealed influence in your life actually have the greatest significance. Clearly their influence has been so vital to your development  that you associate said influence with your own existence. This association is insanely power, it can shape both how you see and how you react to the world. In my life, this influence is attributed to non-other than the Olsen Twins.

For years, if you had asked me who I associate fashion and inspiration with, the obvious answer would have been Victoria Beckham and Alexa Chung. Of course their overt influence I can’t deny, I swear by It and Posh Spice encompasses everything I want to be and more. The Olsen twins however, have literally been apart of every aspect of my life. My developmental years were entirely surrounded by everything from Full House to New York Minute I saw it all. In fact, I think any girl born in the early nineties can attest to the reality that nothing and no one will ever be as relevant as the Olsen twins were. I didn’t see the world in divisions in female characteristics as being “girly” or “tomboy,” I saw it as “Ashley-esque,” or “Mary-Kate-like.’ I even read the novel series dedicated to them, and have followed their stories from the success, to the their controversies. I’ve witnessed their diminishing relevance, eating disorders and success in the fashion industries.

I’ve been through it all and I only recently noticed how important this was.

Recently Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen stepped out in socks and sandals. I don’t know why it’s taken me this long to get this information, and I could say  that don’t know why I see it as the most revolutionary thing since floral patterns in spring, except that I do. This is so important to be me because socks and sandals are the most revolutionary thing since florals in the springtime. Socks and Sandals are an unnecessarily ostracized and victimized stylistic gem. They are comfortable and casual while still adding an air of rebellion to your ensemble. What is there not to like?

Everything about this look is ground breaking, earth shattering, life changing nay, life improving. Socks and sandals are clearly the look this spring. I wholeheartedly and openly support this socks and sandals revolution. In fact, I challenge it, I believe that we should push the limits and extend the boundaries. For what is fashion if not always improving?

Online Shopping Haul!

Winter to spring is by far my favourite style transition. I'm not sure what it's like on other parts of the world but in southern Ontario we can go from -30 degrees to +10 in a matter of a week. Which means that in a short weeks time you have to revolutionize your entire wardrobe and prepare for the constant shift between sunshine and rainy days. But I think anyone who lives near where I do can agree that anything is better than the freezing cold days and crazy amounts of snow and ice that we've received.

To prepare myself for this drastic change in weather I dabbled into my favourite past-time. Online shopping. It's a certified addiction, but it's so convenient! My crazy busy schedule between school everyday of the week and roughly twenty hours of work makes it so I just don't have time to go out and physically shop, so this online alternative is perfect. I'm able to access my favourite stores (except H&M damn you) and can make a purchase and expect them to arrive anywhere between five to ten business days. But, who am I kidding, I almost always pay the extra for express shipping because I am a impatient and lack good decision making skills. 

Last weekend I went a bit crazy with the whole online shopping thing and prepared myself for my spring wardrobe, so I thought I'd share some of my favourites and must haves this spring with you guys!

I basically stuck with very comfortable and very generic spring clothing, still it's nothing like I already had in my closet. I've always been really self conscious so the whole shedding skin for the warmer weather is something that always makes me anxious. So often I've seen really beautiful clothing that look so great and so many beautiful girls, but in my bigger size I'm usually to nervous to try and dress similarly.  This year I promised myself I'd try. It's an amazing thing to do, but very confusing. I can go from feeling beautiful and confident one minute to being super anxious and self-conscious the next. Regardless, I'm trying to enjoy these super cute outfits! The clothing I bought could really be mixed and matched into any combination, but I thought I'd show you some of my favourite organizations of the clothing. 

From head to toe: 

Hat: Forever 21 

White Tank top Forever 21 

Mesh Cardigan: Forever 21

Black high-waisted skirt: Urban Outfitters

Knee High socks: Urban Outfitters

Hat: Forever 21 

Black Crop Top: Forever 21 

Floral Skirt: Forever 21 (itsnt it so Tumblr?! I love it ahah) 

Knee High Socks: Urban Outfitters 

I thought I'd give you guys a close up on the hats, incase you can't seem them in great detail. This one I think I might like a bit more. It's style is very much "in," right now. Also, it screams American Horror Story: Coven to me. Which I absolutely adore. I've always wanted to be a Witch!

 This hat caught my eye the moment I saw it online at Forever 21. I think it is so cute, it looks a bit like that stereotypical British police officer hat doesn't it? In fact when it arrived at my house my little brother thought it was for him to dress up as a police officer with as he's stated several times he wasn't to be a police officer when he grows up (if the whole professional soccer player thing doesn't work out!). This hat had met mixed reception with my friends and family, some love it, some hate it. But I adore how unique it is, and thats enough for me!

  Also, I bought some new make-up which you can't see so well in the photographs above. I only recently became a make-up wear-er so I am trying to quickly pick up as many tips as possible. As any makeup girl will tell you, liquid eye linear is absolutely nerve-wrecking. Thankfully, with help from Alexa Chung (who states in It that the pen style is the way to go) and super high reviews on Sephora I tried out the "Stila: Stay all day waterproof liquid eye linear," let me start by saying I have zero complaints. The application with the pen is a thousand times easier than I thought it would be, and the eye linear has lasted me an entire day but still removes easily enough when the time comes.If your in the marked for new eye-linear I would without a doubt recommend it!!

Now, I have an under eye complex. Its pretty genetic with many of the women in my family plagued with extremely prominent dark under eye circles. To be quite honest six months ago I didn't even realize this could be avoided. And then the magic happened, I learned about concealer (its pathetic how long I went without this in my life, I blame not having an older sister to guide me). Then I found this gem, the Christian Dior Nude Concealer. I know Dior has that association with being quite pricey but let me stress how vital this concealer is to my make-up bag. Being an ethnic girl finding make-up that actually matches my skin is nearly impossible, but to find one with lasting coverage, not chalky or too much of a matte finish all while hydrating my  skin? I could not be more satisfied. I honestly think this concealear is the greatest thing I've come across in my nineteen years I love it and I've tried out others and nothing has left me feeling as confident and flawless as this one has. 

Unfortuntaely, If you read my last blog post, you'll know the weather in southern Ontario has been so incosistant that I haven't been able to wear any of these spring outfits. Hopefully the sun will triumph over it's battle with windchill and we can truly have spring. But, I wouldn't put any money on it. Also, if any of you guys are familiar with Style the Natives (I adore and admire her), Charly sold some of her stuff on eBay recently and I bought something! I was too excited to post this so I kind of jumped the gun as it hasn't come in yet, but I'll be sure to update you guys when it does!

xoxo

Boys.

I feel like I’ve had one conversation on loop recently. You see, I’m turning twenty and I currently have friends who have already turned twenty. I also have friends who are engaged. As in I have friends who are twenty and are engaged, to be married. Married to real and functioning human beings. One of my childhood best friends is planning a wedding; she’s asked me to be a bridesmaid. So, here I am, almost twenty and preparing to be a bridesmaid to a real life wedding, when I’ve never even had a boyfriend. Do you recall me talking about how I am Valentines Day cursed? (No? what are you waiting for read it) I am also boyfriend cursed. In the seventh grade a boy asked me to be his girlfriend, and since I saw myself as being a twelve year old who was not ready for a relationship I did what any mature twelve year old would do. I told him I’d think about it. And I told him that everyday for two weeks. Finally, I was asked to make a decision on the spot and I said no. Shortly after I broke it to him he came up to me and told me “It was a good thing [I] said no,” because he had asked someone else out following my rejection and she’d accepted. She was a far better catch. Since my seventh-grade scandal exactly zero guys have asked me to be their girlfriends. (Or out… at all…like ever). 

This tale of despair has not put me off from believing I will one day meet someone. I’ve already envisioned how I’m going to meet the love of my life. It's going to happen at a book store, where I’ll pick up a title that peaks my interest and the mysteriously handsome boy to my left who has a stunning smirk will comment on it. He’ll probably make fun of my novel choice; I’ll argue, insisting that I absolutely adore the author. He’ll recommend something and I’ll be intrigued enough to read it. He’ll leave me his phone number and shortly after we’ll meet over coffee and discuss his novel. I’ll admit I liked it, but I liked my choice just fine too. From there we'll develop a loving relationship where we share a mutual love for reading, but find comfort in different genres. Sadly, this just isn’t how people meet anymore is it? Most of the relationships I hear of now begin on Tinder or with the ever alluring “He added me on Facebook, first,” It just baffles me, that people are content with this. I’ll admit, I’m jealous and idealistic. I’m jealous that people are in happy functioning relationship and I’m idealistic because I’ve read far too many John Green novels. I have a vision of what love should be, and it just doesn’t seem to add up to what love actually is. This coming from my uninvested, biased, second-person perspective because obviously I don’t know what love is actually like, I cant even get boys to smile at me, let alone date me.

Thankfully I’m young, all hope is not lost. I still have the chance to meet guys, I mean once a boy winked at me in the hallway. That had to have meant something, right? Its frustrating though, I wont lie. I’m at this stage where I want to get to know boys and establish a real relationship of communication and romance and excitement, but most of the guys I know are so jet-set on a quick hit and run it is repulsive. Of course this may simply be the boys I know, not all boys. Honestly, I think what really bothers me is that my friends are twenty and are getting engaged and I’m almost twenty and have never had a boyfriend. I know people who have been in serial relationships since the fourth grade all I've accomplished since the fourth grade is completing the Harry Potter novel series (twice). Still, I never saw myself as the type to be married young, in fact I think being engaged at nineteen is absolutely Ludacris. However, my friends who are engaged have obviously found something fulfilling in someone and that is admirable. Not, admirable really, its downright unfair. But I think I'm slowly coming to understand that not everyone meets that person in their life. Lots of people don't get married, some people don't fall in love. Hardly anyone gets that fairytale ending. I think its more statistically probably that I'll end up alone than with someone, so I should just come to terms with that shouldn't I? It's a sad realization but it seems like a necessary one. 

 Ugh… why won’t boys just date me?

21 Before 21

Twenty-One seems to be a reoccurring theme in this early stage of my blogging. This is because I plan on leaving Canada at nineteen going on twenty years old, and intend on returning twenty going on twenty-one. The big TWO-ONE. In light of this year away I made a bucket list of sorts, things i'd like to complete before I turn twenty-one. Ultimately, things I want to happen before I return to Canada (assuming I actually leave). Now it's important to note not everything on my bucket list has to happen in Europe, some of the things simply revolve around a lifestyle change and taking risks which can begin right now. Also important is that I want all of these to be completed, meaning I'm trying to keep it as realistic (but still awesome and enjoyable) as possible. So, that means becoming bff's with Alexa Chung is not on the list, but my God how I wish it were. Regardless, the realistic list is as follows:

1. Get on a plane alone 
2. Visit all of the 21 cities
3. Have a life changing kiss
4. Fall in love 
5. Build a blanket fort 
6. Sing with the Kop at an LFC match
7. Let someone else order food for me 
8. Spend an entire day speaking french
9. Shop until i drop
10. Ask a guy out 
11. Dedicating an entire day to re-watching my favourite films
12. Get 21 comments on my blog 
13. Get a massage 
14. Go on an impromptu trip
15. Be a tourist where i live 
16. Go to an english music festival 
17. Order dessert first 
18. Have each of my friends send me their favourite film/novel and read/watch it. 
19. Order room service 
20. Attend a film premier 
21. Take a selfie with Prince Harry

Yes, taking a selfie with Prince Harry is realistic. It will happen. Just you wait and see!

xoxo.