Feeling OVERWHELMED and OVERJOYED!

Hi everyone!! I know it's late, but I have some GREAT news to share. I'll get right into it.

 If you know me, you know the obsession I have for all things FASHION related. My dream career is to be a Wardrobe Stylist & Fashion Editor for a magazine. So, since the beginning of this year, I've been applying to different places here in Atlanta for employment and/or internships in the fashion industry. I was unsuccessful in that search until the middle of the summer. I've been on numerous interviews which resulted in me almost giving up because I wasn't getting any call backs. When in reality, those internships just weren't meant for me. I've been praying faithfully that God will bless me with something that I wanted to do in my field of study. Upon waiting for my moment, I had to learn to be patient and persevere through every obstacle.

Early last week, to my surprise, I heard back from an Editor, Tiffini. I don't even remember when I sent her an email about obtaining an internship with her magazine, Tastemaker Magazine. Needless to say I was literally ecstatic when she asked me to send over my resume. I sent it the same day, not even expecting her to respond. A few days had passed and I still didn't hear from her, so I took it upon myself to check on the status on my resume. In the email, I explained to her that I'm willing to learn anything even though I didn't have any experience. A few hours later, she responded and arranged for a time that we could speak. The next day we spoke for a few minutes on the phone and we arranged a more formal meeting.

On Saturday, we met at a Chick-fil-A. I was definitely nervous the entire ride to the meeting. I didn't know what to expect, but I mainly just hoped she liked me. No lie, the ENTIRE meeting I was in complete awe. I could not believe what was taking place right in front of my eyes. I was speechless and overjoyed the entire time!! I was soooooo excited for this to finally be taking place..me following my dreams, I mean. Tiffini was a wealth of information and I feel like we connected. Almost all of the things she spoke about was what I've been longing to do, I just needed the opportunity.

I admit that I never gave up. I searched for internships every chance I got and it finally paid off. Although I'm still in the process of finding (needing) a job, I can't even begin to explain the thankfulness I feel for finally getting an internship. I start on Monday as the Social Media Intern for Tastemaker Magazine. Prayer works and patience changes things. I learned that I should NEVER give up on my dreams, no matter how hard they seem like they are. You have to be your biggest supporter. Also, pray for what you want, ask God to lead you in the right direction and trust Him. He'll let everything unfold when it's the right time. Never give up!

Until next time, have a blessed day!

Be sure to follow Tastemaker: Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook

P.S. Thank you soooooo much, Tiffini, for this opportunity! You don't know how much it means to me to be a part of something bigger than myself. I really and truly appreciate it!

The Look for LESS: Victoria Beckham

One person I look up to for style inspiration is the stylish and chic Victoria Beckham. She always looks so polished and effortlessly put together. But, what regular stylista has thousands of dollars to spend on ONE outfit?! I was searching online for some style inspiration and I ran across an article (here) of the Mrs. Beckham and the little munchkin, Harper Beckham. They were on their way to introduce Victoria's new fashion line during New York Fashion Week. I instantly fell in love with her look! I loooooooove the monochromatic look. She paired a simple white button-down with a pair of skinny tailored black pants. She added Aviator shades, a stylish over-sized clutch, and a pair of daring pointed-toe stiletto pumps. Don't you just love?

I wanted to recreate one of her most recent looks for more than a fraction of the cost of her outfit. I actually wanted to keep each item under $50 and I think I accomplished that pretty well. Check it out below:

Top: Target (or try this) | Pants: Wallis (or here) | Shoes: DSW (or these) | Clutch: Forever21 (or here)| Sunnies: zeroUV (or here)| Bracelet: Forever21 (or similar)

Hope you guys enjoyed!! I'll be recreating more "Celebrity" inspired looks. Hope today was a blessing for you :)

Beginning a NEW Life in Christ!

Hi everyone!! It has been a loooooooooong time since I've last posted :( I feel so bad. I do apologize. This is post going to be a little different from previous posts.

Ok, so on Wednesday I had the pleasure of attending a speaking engagement

sponsored by Pinky Promise. For those of you who don't know, Pinky Promise was started by Heather Lindsey and it is "an organization that promotes honoring God with your life & body whether single or married." Pinky Promise has grown tremendously and it has numerous chapters, mostly on college campuses.

My mom mentioned Pinky Promise to me previously and it was brought to my attention again when I found myself watching Ashleydbeauty's Youtube channel (here). So I decided to find out more information about it. I had been talking to my mom about Pinky Promise and she informed me about a speaking event that was happening right here in Atlanta. It was featuring a young woman by the name of Brittany Jay. I read up on her blog (High Heels and High Standards) the night before the event to kind of get a feel for her and everything she stands for. She gave an insight on her life before Christ and how she has completely changed.

Even though we were 15 minutes late to the event (due to my sister having to take an exam at school), we (my mom, my sister, and myself) really enjoyed ourselves! The event was held at the Julia Thompson Smith Chapel at Agnes State College. EVERYTHING that Brittany talked about was inspiring! She and I actually share similar stories relating to our "college life," being away from home, and returning back home. It was touching for me to hear someone (who is the same age as I am) that has walked down the path that I've been down and overcame worldly challenges and is now being used by our Heavenly Father. I'm not where I would like to be in my walk with Christ but I constantly find myself praying that I will be changed. I can't even begin to say how many times, over the course of a few months, that I've felt like something has been tugging at my heart. I know that change will not be easy, but it WILL be worth it all in the end when I dedicate my ENTIRE life to Christ. And I mean like really and truly dedicate my whole self, every being of me.

Back to the other night...We heard Brittany give her testimony and there was a mini discussion at the end. She handled her VERY FIRST speaking engagement like a pro, I must say! :) Her mom was also in attendance, which was a blessing to see. After the discussion, everyone took a group picture with Brittany and we were also able to take individual pictures with her. I look forward to seeing her more. She has a testimony that has the ability to touch young women our age who are faced with the troubles of everyday life.

I'm so thankful for a mother like mine! She is really like no other. With the life that she has lived, you wouldn't ever imagined that she could ever be so caring and selfless, but she mostly definitely is. She's one of my biggest supporters and inspirations. I'm so thankful that she found Brittany's blog. I actually didn't plan on even attending but I really wanted to see what it was about. I'm so thankful that I was able to hear her speak. Wednesday night has changed my life for the better. It has given me a new perspective on how different my life could be if I just let go of myself and handed everything to Christ.

L to R: Myself, Brittany, and my baby sister, Shan :)


Thanks for reading :) Have a blessed day!

Be sure to follow these ladies:
Follow My Mom: Facebook

Follow Heather: Facebook, Blog, and Twitter 

Follow Brittany: Blog, Twitter, and Facebook

Follow Ashley: Twitter and Instagram

Style Crushes

Since I consider myself a fashion and style blogger, I can appreciate another woman’s personal fashion sense and style. I have a few "Style Crushes" that are at the top of my list when it comes to expressing personal style. I have 2 stylista bloggers (Mattie & Camry) and 3 stylista “celebs” :) (Zendaya, Jeannie Mai, Karrueche Tran). Each one of the women illuminates a form of beauty that cannot be repressed. And, they’re stylish as well! Check them out below:

Photo cred (L-R): Mattieologie, Plus Petite, JustJaredJr., contactmusic, Tumblr

 1. Her name? Mattie James. Her blog is Mattieologie She is the Creator of 4 astounding blogs: HauteAfricana, The Curl Next Door, Style Bloggers of Color and Atlanta Style Bloggers. She serves as the Director of Style Bloggers of Color & Atlanta Style Bloggers. I just adore Mrs. Mattie James for more reasons than one. She just seems like an all-around amazingly beautiful person. Her blog attracts my attention every time I visit it, which is EVERY day... No lie (Don’t judge lol). Hands down, one of my MOST favorite bloggers! I would say that her style is classy and very original. When I say original, I mean she coordinates her outfits to fit her personal style. Nothing about her style is cliché. She is very bold when it comes to her outfits. I like that about her. It seems like she doesn't allow the global trends to dictate to how her style should be. She represents style very well. She is such an inspiration to me, as a blogger. Check out her blog, Twitter and Instagram page. She is a force to be reckoned with!! I promise you will not be disappointed!

Photo cred: Feeling LikeFriday, Red, White, & Cool, and Drive Me Wild

2. Who’s that girl? She is Camry. The name of her blog is Plus Petite which can be found here. She is definitely a beauty in my eyes; from the way that she dresses to her dashing hair styles. I admire her because she refuses to let her size intimidate the way she dresses. She is a petite-sized girl…I can relate. Her style is very girly, simple, and chic. From the looks of her blog, it doesn't seem like it takes much for her to put her outfits together. Effortless is more in her case. She defines style and grace and she does it beautifully. Stalk her blog and be sure to follow her on Instagram!

Photo cred: Plus Petite

3. THE Zendaya Coleman? Why yes, of course! My biggest fashion/style obsession right now!! (She's definitely the inspiration for my upcoming celeb outfit inspired posts) She has become famous for her role in the Disney Channel sitcom, Shake it Up!, but she has definitely outgrown her role on the teen show. She was also on Season 16 of Dancing with the Stars. She is amazing! She is taking the world by storm while showcasing her incredible sense of style. Ok, I’m late as far as jumping on the Zendaya-bandwagon. I immediately fell in love with her and her style when I saw a picture of her sporting an Alice + Olivia “Ama” dress (pictured below to the far right) which is currently sold out…EVERYWHERE! :( Yes, you know I searched high and low for it. Her overall style is incredible for her age, in my opinion. So stylish, playful, girly, and chic…to say the least. Not to mention, her nails are always to die for…Gagging!! (lol) Be sure to follow her pretty little face on Instagram and Twitter!

Photo cred: Somewhere I Belong, Shoefessional, Google search

4. I first saw Jeannie Mai on the Style Network's How Do I Look? where she offers makeovers to people who have fashion/wardrobe difficulties. Today, you can catch Jeannie on The Real, where she is 1 of 5 stylish and outspoken hosts. She once started out doing makeup, now she is one of the sought after fashion icons. Her style is very ladylike and elegant. She wears a lot of prints…which I worship! She is the epitome of grace and style. I always look forward to her IG posts just to see her outfits. She was really the main reason I watched the How Do I Look? show. She posts many of her wardrobe looks on her IG page. Follow her on Instargram and Twitter!

Photo cred: ACESHOWBIZ, Style Network, Instagram

5. With a name like Karrueche how could you possibly not stand out?! The on-again/off-again girlfriend of rapper, Chris Brown, Karrueche Tran is making a name for herself in the entertainment world apart from being known as just a girlfriend. She has a gorgeous face as well. I would describe her style as effortless chic. It seems like she can throw an outfit together without over thinking it. I like that about her. She dresses how SHE wants to dress and doesn't care what others think. She’s so cute I can hardly take it! (lol) She’s showing the world that her style is creative and she’s not just a pretty face. Find her on Tumblr where she is known to display outfit posts, where she also provides stalkers (like me, lol) with the clothing details. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram!

Photo cred: Tumblr, Hollywood Life    


Well, that sums up. I'll continue to do more posts like these. I just wanted to make sure I haven't lost my blogging abilities. Feels like I still got 'it,' but my hands are literally killing me. Stay tuned for a Mani Monday later. Hope you have a stylish day! Take care :)

No More Disappearing Acts

Guess who's BACK?!?! You've guessed right :) I'm back guys and I'm ready to get this show back on the road. I have been away for far too long and I've missed you guys! Well, I'm done with school..FINALLY!! (lol) I couldn't wait to finish. Now I can focus more of my time and energy on blogging.

I've had a career goal change. I am aspiring to become a stylist. I would love to style for photo shoots or makeovers. My dream is to obtain a career in the fashion industry as a Wardrobe Stylist and Fashion Coordinator for television shows/personalities, like Monica Rose (Monica's twitter) does for some of the hosts on E! News. I would like to put together items for women who are in the public eye, like the hosts of The Real. The Real is a women-centered talk show that I will discuss in a later post (stay tuned!). I would also love to become a Costumer for different movies and television series, like Lyn Paolo (follow her on Twitter) does for the renown ABC series Scandal.

This is where I begin. I don't have any experience with styling or coordinating so I'm on the hunt for fashion related internships and assistant positions as we speak. I've been unsuccessful in Atlanta so I'm looking for all over the states now. I really want to find one in Los Angeles. I believe that's the land of opportunity. I'm a little apprehensive about leaving my family and uprooting to another state but I'm willing to take a risk. School was keeping me from leaving but there's nothing holding me back now :)

I promise to blog more! Working towards my aspirations and hoping to keep others inspired. Stay tuned for what's to come. Have a lovely Sunday!

Playing Catch Up

Hi guys!!! It's been a minute since my last post. I've been suuuuuuper busy with school. I do apologize. Let's play "catch up," shall we? Well, I'm half way done with nursing school. It was dragging along at first, but now it's starting to pick up. Nothing has really changed.

I wanted to inform you guys that I've decided to change the name and theme of this blog. I changed the blog name to "Life of a Stylista." I choose this particular name because it really defines me as a person. I see myself as a Stylista, as opposed to a Fashionista, only because I have a stronger love for style. Don't get me wrong, I'm still madly in love with fashion, I just wanted to portray style in a different light. 

When deciding on the perfect name, I decided to explore the definition of the word "stylista." I found: a stylista is one who expresses style through beauty, hair and make-up, and wardrobe. I agreed with this definition. Not only will this now be a style/fashion blog, my posts will also feature a variety of topics that are included in my life; such as DIY projects, beauty, recipes, and lifestyle posts. Aren't you excited?! Well, I am!! :) I will also feature posts about fashion, such as Style Inspiration, Celeb Style..Hot or Not?, Trend Alerts, Stylsita Hotspots, Hustler in Heels, Get the Look for Less, Ways to Wear, Makeup/Hair tips and ideas, DIY projects, Style Makeovers, Monthly Favorites, The Style Diaries, and Stylista of the Week.

 

For the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking long and hard about starting my very own Styling business (which is in the works!). I've decided to finally venture out and start styling. I want to gain some experience because I'm still on the fence as to whether continue my academic career at a Fashion school. When I get everything ironed out, I will be sure to let you guys know first!! If you are interested in me doing any styling services, please take a look at the 'Services' link in the tabs above for more information.

Well, that's all. I hope all is well. Stay tuned.