HOW TO LOOK YOUR BEST: DRESS FOR YOURSELF

So the other day I was shopping (shocker, I know), and when I was in the dressing room going through my pile of stuff, I overheard two girls next to me talking. One of them comes out of the dressing room in an outfit she tried on I'm assuming, and the first thing her friend says is "that's so cute on you!" The next thing she replied with broke my heart a little. She said, "yeah, I love it on me, but I know my boyfriend won't like it so I'm not getting it". Now, I'm not one to eavesdrop, but when I overheard this I couldn't help but think to myself, W T F. I wanted to barge out and be like "umm, who cares what your boyfriend thinks, if you like it, you should wear it!" To avoid being that nosy and annoying person, I kept my mouth shut. But in hindsight, I almost wish I would have poked my head out and said something like 'yeah I agree, it's cute, you should get it.'

This whole exchange got me thinking about the clothes I pick myself. Who do I dress for? The answer is mostly myself. When I'm picking out outfits or looking at clothes, I notice I tend to gravitate towards anything floral or printed, feminine details like ruffles and lace, and I love a good chunky heel because it gives me the allusion of being tall without compromising comfort. I pick out stuff that I think is cute, makes me happy to look at, or just in general feel like is a work of art and I need it in my closet. That last statement may have been dramatic BUT I am a style/fashion blogger (LOL).

I definitely have had my moments in the past where I've only gotten outfits because I think it's what would be perceived as sexy (even if I didn't think so myself) or I think the guy I'm dating will like it on me...but that is really SO dumb. Because when you dress for anyone else but yourself, you're not being genuine and it comes off like you're trying too hard. I ended up hating those outfits I thought were someone else's idea of what looks good and never liked wearing them so I eventually threw them out anyways! When you wear what you like, you feel good and speaking from personal experience, your confidence shines through your outfit. And they say there's nothing more attractive that confidence, right?

(con't. below)

If there's a dress that shows a little bit of cleavage, but I love the print or the cut, I will wear it regardless. If there's a pair of jeans that are high-waisted and resemble "mom jeans" and maybe not the most sexy but I love the way they look on me, I will wear it regardless. I think at the end of the day, personal style is all about dressing in what you and only you like because that is what is going to make you happy and as a result you will feel and look your best.

XO,

Jasmin

SELF CARE AND WHY IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY

Ever since I was old enough to wear make up, I became obsessed with Sephora and would love to run in there to try all the fun lip colors and play with the wide variety of eye shadow palettes. Throughout the years, I've caught myself leaning away from solely the make-up but wandering into the skincare aisle. And now, I'm just as (if not more) into skincare products and masks than I am all the fun make-up. Is this a sign I'm getting old? Probably. But also because I've also become REALLY into taking care of myself these past two years. Not only physically but mentally as well.

I never really realized how important it is to properly care for yourself until I was twenty-three. Most my life before that I kinda just ate what I wanted, didn't really make working out a priority, would fall asleep in my make-up (ugh, it makes me cringe to think about now!), and probably drank a little too much as I graduated from a huge party school. On the flip side of that, I would sleep very little and stay up almost 24 hours sometimes cramming for an exam, running on nothing but iced coffee. All of this took a huge mental and physical toll on me and I was just like ok, I cannot live like I'm in college for the rest of my twenties. That's just not going to make me look and feel my best.

Now, I have my skincare routine down to a science, I'm religious about going to the gym, I've taught myself to cook so I can make healthy(er) meals, and I make sure to give myself time off work if I feel burnt out or too stressed. 

I've put together my top 5 self care tips that I feel like have drastically improved my mental and physical well being. Scroll down to read these!

1. Make yourself a schedule and stick to it. I get it, we're all busy. We all have jobs, commitments, and responsibilities that are mandatory. In our downtime away from all those things, we just want to chill and do nothing (aka plop down on the couch and turn on the TV). But, I always think to myself that I should be able to find one measly hour out of my day that I can get a sweat in. So I make myself a workout schedule! I have a 9-5 job so I'll usually work out straight after work. And on those days that I have plans after work, I will schedule going to bed early so I can wake up early and hit the gym before I have to go into the office. At the beginning of every week, I write down all my plans, errands, and meetings I have going on that week and fit in time slots to exercise in between. If you have your week organized, finding time to workout is MUCH easier and I find myself wanting to go more!

2. Don't buy junk food when you go grocery shopping. I've found that when I go grocery shopping, I tend to only buy fresh, whole foods that I can use as ingredients in cooking. I try to stick away from too much processed food and look up recipes before I get to the store so I have a list of what to buy. Having healthy ingredients and some recipes on hand definitely deters me from snacking or eating something that won't nourish my body. I always think to myself when I buy food "what nutritional value or benefit am I getting from this?" if I can't answer my own question, then I won't buy it. I've also found it so easy to swap empty calories from things like pasta and white rice to things with nutritional value like riced cauliflower (Trader Joe's has this ready to go), and zucchini noodles aka zoodles (Whole Foods has this ready to cook as well!) 

3. Drink water. Just do it. Staying hydrated is not only good for your insides, but great for your skin as well. I like hot water with lemon and a bit of honey first thing when I wake up (this prevents bloating too). Also if you've been out drinking, drink a couple of glasses of water before bed. Hangover avoided!

4. Know when to give yourself a break. Just like physical activity, healthy eating, and staying hydrated are vital to taking care of your body; rest is vital to taking care of the mind. I'm sometimes guilty of not following my own advice and over-working myself, getting too little sleep and just feeling way too stressed and anxious as a result. If you feel like you need a break, you probably do. Take a day off work and have a "me" day. I personally like to go get my nails done, take a break from checking my phone, and just turn my mind off. It's so important to know when to slow down so we don't burn ourselves out.

5. Get some vitamin D. I think going outside is so beneficial to mental self care. Maybe it's just being out in the sun? I've found if I go for a little walk, eat lunch outside or just sit by the pool with a good book my mood is instantly improved. I think fresh air and just change of scenery from the places you usually are (i.e., inside your home, inside your office, etc.) can help clear your mind and re-energize you as well.

These are all things I incorporate in my everyday life that have improved the quality of my life. I'm obviously guilty of having In n' Out, skipping a workout here and there, and letting my PTO stack up to the point where I can't remember the last time I took a day off. BUT, everything in moderation. I like sticking to these tips for the most part because I feel way better when I do. And who doesn't want to feel good? 

Let me know if you guys have any self care tips I need to try!

XO,

Jasmin

25 THINGS ABOUT ME (THAT YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW)

I've seen a lot of other bloggers do an 'about me' list, and being a brand new blogger myself, I thought it'd be fun to give everyone a little glimpse into who I am behind the outfit posts. So here goes! Scroll down to read 25 Things About Me.

1. I'm 100% Persian. I always get asked what my ethnicity is and I will ask people to guess before telling them, just cause it's funny to see what they think. I usually get some kind of Mediterranean or Latin American country. 

2. I'm absolutely terrified of snakes. Like I know most people are, but I can't even look at a picture of one on the computer or my phone. I will legit scream and have a mild panic attack. They just creep me out so much. Ick.

3. In addition to the blog, I work full time at an insurance agency. There's definitely some good business sense like email etiquette and time management that I've noticed I carry over from one profession to the other. 

4. I got stung by a sting ray on my foot when I was fifteen. And still have the scar to prove it! You think being a San Diego native, I would know how to do the sting ray shuffle when swimming in the Pacific, but nope. PSA everyone: do the sting ray shuffle if you go in the water!

5. I broke my arm when I was only three. Apparently I was a very adventurous toddler and liked to climb up on things, which once caused me to fall on my arm; hence broken arm. My poor parents.

6. I cannot drink red wine. I always get some kind of weird allergic reaction to it, which unfortunately I had to learn the hard way. Good news is, white wine and rosé are still completely OK. And thank God, because rosé is my favorite!

7. I decided to move to Paris all by myself. I was twenty years old and it was to study abroad for a few months. I literally spoke two words of French, didn't know anyone going, and not going to lie got a little scared about where the hell to go once I landed. I'm SO happy I did it though. 

8. I really don't like crowds. I'm not sure if this is something that came on with age (ugh), but I'd prefer to go to a fun bar that's more low-key than a big crowded club. Don't even get me started on music festivals. I went to Coachella like four years in a row, and the most recent year I went was probably my last for a while. It's unfortunate cause I love all the music and festival fashion...but I also need my personal space. Anyone else? #onlychildproblems

9. I'm twenty-five. And about to be twenty-six in a month! That just kind of freaks me out a little knowing I'll be closer to thirty than I was to twenty. Time, please slow down.

10. Fleetwood Mac is one of my all time favorite bands. I'm going to see them next month, and on my birthday at that! SO excited.

11. I love old films. My mom introduced me to them when I was little. Just to list a few of my faves: Singing' in the Rain, Penelope, Gone with the Wind, Niagara, My Fair Lady, Breakfast at Tiffany's (pretty much every Aubrey Hepburn movie). 

12. I mainly shop online (see point #8). A few of my favorite places to shop are Revolve, Planet Blue, Shopbop, Amazon and Vici Dolls. Also I feel like you get such better variety when you shop online, and you can do so in peace in PJ's. With your rosé (most importantly).

13. I'm a bit of an introvert. Therefore, I can't stand small talk. Like, it's a legit pet peeve of mine. Is that normal?

14. My doppelgänger is apparently Jojo Fletcher. A lot of friends, family, and the receptionist at my hair salon have told me I could be Jojo's twin. (She was on the bachelorette for those non bachelor fans). I'll take it as a compliment because I think she's gorgeous!

15. I'm happily single. I think so many girls my age are worried about finding a boyfriend to get married and settle down (and I've been there). And nothing wrong with that if you've found your person! But you should never settle is my personal mantra. And for now, I'm really enjoying all the growing I've been doing on my own, which I think is hard to do if your focus isn't 100% yourself. It's cliche but I've found it to be very true.

16. I love to run. I absolutely hated running as a kid, and pretty much all throughout my teen years but in adulthood I've come to love it. It's such a stress reliever and I love seeing how much faster I can improve my time by. It's crazy to me that I've even ran a few races. I'm one of those people! Who would have thought. 

17. I don't like mushrooms. I love trying new cuisines and I've even eaten escargot and cow tongue when I was studying abroad so it's not like I'm picky by any means. BUT. I absolutely cannot deal with mushrooms. Hard pass.

18. I love anything spicy. Like the hotter, the better. I'm one of those people that finds a way to incorporate Sriracha in most my recipes. 

19. I love traveling. I've traveled to quite a few different countries, seven to be exact (France, England, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Mexico, and Turkey). But I've never really traveled that much throughout the U.S. Other than California which I don't count cause I live here, I've only been to five states (Nevada, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey and Illinois). I need to get out and explore more of the U.S.! Road trip anyone?

20. My first job was as a barista. I was in college and worked at the Coffee Bean.

21. My first crush ever was Leo DiCaprio. I think I was like 6 when Titanic came out? Lolol.

22. I went to UC Santa Barbara. I graduated in 2013 with my degree in Psychology.

23. I love dogs. I had two growing up and desperately want one but am literally so busy I don't think it'd be fair to the puppy if I couldn't give him or her enough attention. Definitely a future goal.

24. I want to go skydiving. I'm scared to do it but, I've heard it's the best thrill/high/feeling you can get! 2017 bucket list maybe?

25. I have two tattoos. They're personal and representative of my family and culture. I absolutely love them but purposely got them in places that could be easily covered for professional reasons.

I hope you guys enjoyed me ranting on about myself. Anything you want me to elaborate on or any other questions you have? Leave me a comment!

XO,

Jasmin

THE POWER OF POSITIVITY: 5 TIPS TO TRY TODAY

It's no secret that I have a bit of an attitude. I can be way too sassy and a smarta** for my own good sometimes. Sarcasm is just my sense of humor and it is all done in good fun. But what about those days where something bad happens; however major or minor, and life's not all sh**s and giggles? (excuse my French)

Those are the days I've noticed I can let a negative attitude consume me, no matter how much I'd like to deny it. Recently I underwent a not so pleasant experience in my personal life to say the least. I was so bitter and negative for a couple of weeks, I noticed I started getting terrible sleep, eating unhealthy meals more than I'd like to, not getting the most out of my daily gym sessions, and just overall feeling really fatigued and "over it" for lack of a better term. I think I finally had this wake-up moment where I thought to myself like "ok, I can continue being irritated about this situation that is in no way in my control to change; or, I can let go and focus on all the good and positives in my life". 

And I consciously did exactly that. Let go of the B.S. in your life that consumes you with negativity/anxiety/whatever and focus on all the good life brings (I know, cheesy...but it's SO true you guys). I read a quote on Pinterest or Instagram once that went something like "life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it". This really resonated with me because your attitude really determines so much in life, and what's the point of having a negative attitude? It won't make you happier, and just eats away at you! 

I put together five tips I use in my daily life to stay positive and focus on the good when life is just not going your way. Scroll down to read them!

1. Make a list. Sometimes when I feel like a negative situation is overwhelming me, I like to make a list of things I'm looking forward to (like a concert or upcoming trip), things to be grateful for (like my health and amazing friends and family), and things I can do that brighten my mood (like go to a workout class or layout at the beach with a good book).

2. Declutter. Whether that be your space by cleaning/organizing, your mind by going for a walk to reflect, or literally your life (cutting out toxic/negative people weighing you down is OK), I think decluttering is beneficial as it gives you a fresh outlook on life and contributes towards thinking positively.

3. Spend time with friends. I always get so busy in my day to day, between work, the gym, running errands, answering emails, etc. that I forget to just breathe and spend some quality time with friends which is such a mood lifter! Whether that be grabbing dinner/drinks or just hanging out and watching tv, I think surrounding yourself with your favorite people is SO important to creating positivity in your life.

4. Do something that improves you. Let me explain, you know how great it feels to accomplish that goal that you've been working towards, or completing a project you've been putting off? Do just that! For me, it's lately been running. I've been competing in races and signing up for fun 5Ks around town when I can. While I probably run around 8-10 miles a week on the treadmill at the gym, being able to complete a race is still a huge accomplishment for me and I love the positive feelings associated with it when I cross the finish line.

5. Laugh. Watch a funny comedy stand-up special on Netflix (just watched Ali Wong: Baby Cobra and laughed my a** off!), grab lunch with that one person you can always joke around with, or just scroll through some funny meme pages on Instagram. Whatever your choice is, I think laughter has the power to seriously be a mood booster and bring instant positivity to your day.

XO,

Jasmin