Carrie Diaries

I know I am not the only one that misses the amazing Sarah Jessica Parker on Sex and the City. When I was younger, I would sneak out of my room to go watch it after my parents went to sleep. That show made me fall in love with New York (one day... *sigh*) and fashion. I was a goodie goodie, so all the other things didn't phase me.

I am an avid follower of SJP, and no one could ever take her place in my heart but I screamed when I found out that they were creating the prequel of Sex and the City, Carrie Diaries. Everything that I loved about Ms. Bradshaw is back. The curls! The internal monologue! The metaphors comparing inanimate objects to the trials and tribulations of everyday life...

It aired on the CW last Monday. I was impressed by the quality of the show, but I'm not sure it will live up to they hype that was created around it. AnnaSophia Robb (remember from soul surfer) is gorgeous and a fairly decent actress, but she has some large shoes to fill. I guess I have to get warmed up to her.

The episodes are available on cwtv.com if you need to catch up. But you can catch it on the CW Monday nights @ 8/7c.

Second time around...

Second day of school. Nothing special. Just trying to hit the ground running. However, I did find out that all my professors are crazy this semester. My classes seem pretty straight forward. If I do not make a 4.0, I must have not gone to class at all. I am excited for this semester though. I can already feel the great things to come. I did show my face at the Mentor Tech workshop today. It was about studying styles. I think I've heard it about 3 times, so I left after I helped clean up.

Side note: Isn't Shamaya doing an amazing job? She really is learning fast. Ana is terribly consumed by school so she doesn't have the time to come out and play. Teeheehee... *cries a little on the inside*

tank via express
pants via forever 21
belt via new york and company
scarf via target
blazer via forever 21
shoes via cato
watch via christmas gift
ring via saudi arabia

Good Morning America...

I have to applaud the brave Robin Roberts who recently announced that she’ll be tentatively returning to Good Morning America in a few short weeks, after taking medical leave last fall due to a rare blood disorder.

“I’m so happy to be sharing this news with everybody,” she said with a smile and a totally beautiful, clean-shaven head. “I met with my doctors last week. My blood count continues to improve … I can begin the process of returning to the anchor chair,” she continued. ”I’m coming home.”

Through her struggle with M.D.S. (which is a rare and scary blood-related condition that affects your bone marrow), Roberts has shared her experience, good and bad, every step of the way. I personally do not really watch GMA, but I do know she is one hell of an anchor and a true inspiration to many women around the globe. I knew who she was, but I never really paid any attention to her until she went public with her illness. But if she can wake up at 4 am and at least try to get back to work this soon after treatment, I can get my behind up at 6 am, pray Fajr, and do some yoga before I head for work. Or at least make a healthy breakfast, drink tea, and watch this awe-inspiring woman continue to live her dream as long as her body will let her. AND she’s got jokes.

“Next week, my doctors have me doing what I’m calling a dry run. I’ll get up, go to the studio. I’ll have makeup and hair. Well, makeup. We’ll talk about the hair later.”

All I can say is welcome back Robin!

First day of school...

I can recall so many times where I was nervous for the first day of school because that's when everyone brings their "A" game. I thought it would fade after high school, but it didn't. I still get that giddy feeling the night before. Maybe it comes with maturity, but it didn't really matter to me this past week. I was just excited to see who came back this semester. I'm not always aware of who has graduated until they are missing the following semester. Anywho, how did I do?

blazer via cotton on
blouse via vintage
bracelet via body central
earrings via ???
pants via forever 21
shoes via steve madden
belt via forever 21
watch via christmas gift
scarf via ???

Not excited at all...

I mean I missed Lubbock and all my friends, but I was not excited to come back to the cold. It was only 28 degrees, but still. I think being in San Antonio and Houston spoiled me. I was starting to get used to the 65 and 70 degree weather. But I didn't allow that to deter me. I had an extremely productive day and was really excited to see my roommates yet again (being home alone is only great for so long). Went to work, then I went to Fuzzys for dinner (Monday night tacos only a dollar). If you're in Lubbock and you didn't know, you're really missing out. 

Sorry for the quality of the pictures. It was simply too cold outside for any more. Ana and I were both freezing. 

Ana at the bottom. I'm at the top.

scarf via ???
pants via forever 21
shirt via ralph lauren
shoes vis shasa
sweater via forever 21
socks via target
bike via Ana ;)

The Pursuit of HappYness...

Since it's a new year, I thought I would share something that may help people with their New Year's resolutions. Huffington Post has an insight on how happy people live. In this great nation out motto is "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." So maybe this will help out in that endeavor.


 "Happiness is having a large, caring, close-knit family in another city." -- George Burns

How happy are you and why? This is a question I spend a fair amount of time thinking about, not only as it applies to my own levels of happiness, but also as it applies to my family, friends, and the people who I work with. Since graduating with my master's degree in positive psychology, I've worked with and observed thousands of people in a wide variety of settings, and happy people just flow with the groove of life in a unique way. Here is what they do differently:

They build a strong social fabric. Happy people stay connected to their families, neighbors, places of worship, and communities. These strong connections act as a buffer to depression and create strong, meaningful connections. The rate of depression has increased dramatically in the last 50 to 75 years. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of mortality in the world, impacting nearly one-third of all adults. While several forces are likely behind this increase, one of the most important factors may be the disconnection from people and their families and communities.

They engage in activities that fit their strengths, values and lifestyle. One size does not fit all when it comes to happiness strategies. You tailor your workout to your specific fitness goals -- happy people do the same thing with their emotional goals. Some strategies that are known to promote happiness are just too corny for me, but the ones that work best allow me to practice acts of kindness, express gratitude, and become fully engaged. Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky offers a wonderful "Person-Activity Fit Diagnostic" in her book The How of Happiness. 

They practice gratitude. Gratitude does the body good. It helps you cope with trauma and stress, increases self-worth and self-esteem when you realize how much you've accomplished, and often helps dissolve negative emotions. Research also suggests that the character strength of gratitude is a fairly strong correlate with life satisfaction.[1]

They have an optimistic thinking style. Happy people rein in their pessimistic thinking in three ways. First, they focus their time and energy on where they have control. They know when to move on if certain strategies aren't working or if they don't have control in a specific area. Second, they know that "this too shall pass." Happy people "embrace the suck" and understand that while the ride might be bumpy at times, it won't last forever. Finally, happy people are good at compartmentalizing. They don't let an adversity in one area of their life seep over into other areas of their life.

They know it's good to do good. Happy people help others by volunteering their time. Research shows a strong association between helping behavior and well-being, health, and longevity. Acts of kindness help you feel good about yourself and others, and the resulting positive emotions enhance your psychological and physical resilience. One study followed five women who had multiple sclerosis over a three-year period of time.[2] These women volunteered as peer supporters for 67 other MS patients. The results showed that the five peer support volunteers experienced positive changes that were larger than the benefits shown by the patients they supported.

They know that material wealth is only a very small part of the equation. Happy people have a healthy perspective about how much joy material possessions will bring. In The How of Happiness, Lyubomirsky explains that in 1940, Americans reported being "very happy" with an average score of 7.5 out of 10.[3] Fast forward to today, and with all of our iPods, color TVs, computers, fast cars, and an income that has more than doubled, what do you think our average happiness score is today? It's 7.2. Not only does materialism not bring happiness, it's a strong predictor of unhappiness. One study examined the attitudes of 12,000 freshman when they were eighteen, then measured their life satisfaction at age 37. Those who had expressed materialistic aspirations as freshmen were less satisfied with their lives two decades later.[4]

They develop healthy coping strategies.. Happy people encounter stressful life adversities, but they have developed successful coping strategies. Post-traumatic growth is the positive personal changes that result from an individual's struggle to deal with highly challenging life events, and it occurs in a wide range of people facing a wide variety of challenging circumstances. According to researchers Tedeschi and Calhoun, there are five factors or areas of growth after a challenging event: renewed appreciation for life, recognizing new paths for your life, enhanced personal strength, improved relationships with others, and spiritual growth. Happy people become skilled at seeing the good that might come from challenging times.

They focus on health. Happy people take care of their mind and body and manage their stress. Focusing on your health, though, doesn't just mean exercising. Happy people actually act like happy people. They smile, are engaged, and bring an optimal level of energy and enthusiasm to what they do.

They cultivate spiritual emotions. According to Lyubomirsky, there is a growing body of science suggesting that religious people are happier, healthier, and recover more quickly from trauma than nonreligious people.[5] In addition, authors Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener explain in their book Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth that spiritual emotions are essential to psychological wealth and happiness because they help us connect to something larger than ourselves.

They have direction. Working toward meaningful life goals is one of the most important strategies happy people utilize. I downplayed the importance of meaning during my law practice, but it became evident how much meaning mattered in my life when I burned out. Happy people have values that they care about and outcomes that are worth working for, according to Diener and Biswas-Diener.

The late, great Dr. Chris Peterson talked about his own journey with happiness as follows: "I spent my young adult years postponing many of the small things that I knew would make me happy ... I was fortunate enough to realize that I would never have the time unless I made the time. And then the rest of my life began."

Happy people have developed a specific set of strategies over time that causes them to see life differently -- a balanced portfolio of skills and emotions. What would you add to this list?

Kindergarten all over again...

We were all beautifully created, but sometimes completely different. I know there have been many situations where you and your friend purchased a similar item or outfit, but it looks amazing on one of you and like a prune in the other. That's because everyones uniquely beautiful figures that have to be catered to specifically. What might look very good on me, might look very bad on you. And vice versa. This is why it's very important to know how to dress for your body type. That way you can always look good ;)

I'll give a brief explanation of each shape, and 3 tips on how to dress for your body type.
Please note that there are slimmer and fuller versions of each shape.


1. Pear shape: If you your lower body measurements are generally larger than your upper body, then you have a pear shape. Generally, you'll have a smaller bust and narrow shoulders with bigger hips and thighs. You'll want to focus on your upper half, and tone down your bottom half.

• Show off your tiny waist with a thin belt across the smallest part.
• Wear skirts with front pleats. A-line skirts also work great as they make the waist look small, and takes the attention off your hips by skimming over them.
• Be wary of the length of your clothes. Choose jackets that cut off above the hip line for a flattering look.

Celebrities with this shape: Rihanna

2. Oval/Apple shape: Your body frame is generally heavy. You'll probably have an ample bust, rounded tummy, and slimmer hips. You'll want to put focus on creating a waist, and drawing attention to your lower half, and away from your upper body.

• Use structured, tailored jackets to give definition to your upper body and show off good shoulders. Look for single-breasted versions with one or two buttons.
• Use clothes to sculpt your midriff, so it looks less like an apple and more like an apple core.
• Opt for an A-line skirt - a full skirt will make the waist line look smaller.

Celebrities with this shape: Queen Latifah

3. Rectangle/Sporty shape: With this body shape, you have slight curves, but your waist is not clearly defined. Some like to compare this shape with that of a 13 year old boy, but I digress. You should put emphasis on creating a waist.

• Look for feminine details in your clothes to soften any hard lines. Ruffles on tops will work wonders.
• Give the illusion of a waistline - pull it in with a waist-cinching belt.
• Asymmetric necklines are great as they draw the eyeline away from the shoulders.

Celebrities with this shape: Gwyneth Paltrow

 4. Inverted Triangle shape: When your shoulders are wider than your hips. You may have a flat bottom, narrow hips, with broad shoulders. You should focus on your lower half in order to create a wider hip and waist.

• Use block colours on outer garments and avoid any details on the shoulders as this can make you look bulkier.
• Print can help add bulk and volume to your lower half, drawing the focus away from a broader upper body.
• Add width to the hip line with asymmetric garments or waistcoats to help balance out broader shoulders.

Celebrities with this shape: Demi Moore

5. Hourglass shape: Your body shape is basically an hourglass, hence the name. The measurements of your bust and hips are pretty much the same. If you've got an ample bust, curvy hips and a defined, slimmer waist, you are definately an hourglass.

• You can wear any shape skirt, but the pencil skirt is the most flattering on you.
• Straight-legged jeans that skim your thighs and are cropped at the ankle work well for you. Bootcut jeans will balance your curves - look for darker shades and ones with large pockets on the bum.
• Use draping to your advantage. Not only will it accentuate your curves - look for diagonal draping from the waist to hip area - but it will also disguise the tummy area.

Celebrities with this shape: Beyonce

It's that year...

There is always some point in time where everyone in my family gets married around the same time. I guess it's that point in life where all my cousins thinking it's time to settle down. I've had 2 get married in the past year, and 3 are planning to get married at some point this year. Will all this wedding talk around me (and trying to throw my own suggestions out there) I find myself obsessed with wedding gowns. So when I stumbled upon Ersa Atelier, I fell in love with the French lace and had to share. I personally would probably not wear any of these gowns because I would look like a little kids. The theme is "The stuff of fairy tales." However, you cannot deny their beauty.

This is my favorite.