My Life Dramatically Changed...

The past few weeks have been absolutely crazy to say the least.  It's amazing what life throws at you.  So, a few weeks ago, I was flying to Austin for a business trip.  As soon as we landed, I texted my mom (like I always do) to let her know that I had arrived safely.  I had no idea what she was going to text back to me.  "I've got good news for you," she said.  I'm thinking to myself, "Yes!  Did my new Yankees jersey FINALLY come in?"  Definitely not what she said.  She texts back and says, "Your dad wants to meet you."

Here's a little background story for those of you who don't know... I had never met my father.  In my 23 years of living, I have been raised by a single mother, not knowing who my father was at all.  Of course, some days I wondered what it would be like to have a dad.  All my friends did.  I used to envy the relationships that they had with their fathers, and it had always hurt to know that I would never get that opportunity.  But now I have it.

It's been one week since I met my dad for the first time, and all I can say is that I feel unbelievably blessed.  I finally have the chance to start an amazing relationship with my father.  I always imagined that I would feel anger towards him if I had ever met him; that I would interrogate him, asking every question under the sun, and then reject him.  But that's not how it was at all.  Since the very moment that I started talking with him, I felt an amazing connection; and when I met him, that connection grew immediately stronger.  

Isn't it crazy how quickly your whole entire life can change?  Timing is everything.  God knew that this was something that I needed in my life, and He allowed for it to happen at the most perfect time.  For the past year, I've been struggling with finding my identity; asking myself every day, "Who am I?"  Just when I felt like I was at the end of my rope, this happens.  Needless to say, I've been so emotional and so overwhelmed, but it is easily one of the greatest feelings in the world.  I cannot wait to strengthen my relationship with my father and see what comes next in this crazy, unpredictable life of mine.

xx,

Lex

Do What Makes You Happy

"Never waste your time trying to explain who you are to people who are committed to misunderstanding you."

This is, no doubt, one of the realest things I have EVER read. You know how you read those quotes, and you're like, "OMG, this is so meant for me," and it becomes your mantra for like the next 3 days until Pinterest gives you something else that's just as fabulous?  (That happens to me A LOT, by the way).  This quote has really resonated with me.  As soon as I read it, it was like my inner self was telling myself, "That Sex & the City quote is cool and all, but THIS, this is what you needed to hear."

I've always been someone who gets along easily with others. Yes, I have my princess moments where I just want it my way, but for the most part, I hate confrontation.  My fear of not fitting in and not being accepted has stopped me from doing so many great things in life, and it's something that I truly regret.  All I've ever wanted was for people to understand me; to "get" me.

As I've gotten older, and now I'm 23, I've come to the realization that no one fully gets me, and probably never will.  That's fine.  I don't expect everyone in the world to completely understand , or agree with, my every thought, move, belief, etc. That's just not how the world works.  What I'm not okay with, is the fact that some people are fully committed to misunderstanding me.  

We all have at least that one person in life where, at one time or another, you swore up and down that they hated you and would want nothing more than to see you fail.  That's probably one of the worst feelings in the world.  It's not cool at all.  It's easy to get yourself wrapped up into the hype.  All of a sudden, your inner self starts agreeing with them; you start believing that you are inadequate and that you're a failure.  I think it's time that we all realize that this isn't true.  You are more than enough.  And if someone isn't cool with you, then let it go; you can't please everyone.  However, you can please yourself.

To all of you who are reading this right now, take a few moments to promise to love yourself more and to do what makes YOU happy.  If you want to take a million selfies and post them on Instagram every day, then DO THAT.  (Side note: I don't get why that's such a big deal anyways.  Like, shouldn't we be celebrating the fact that people are confident enough to put up pictures of themselves?) If you are Kim Kardashian's biggest fan, then go KARDASHIAN KRAZY. (Maybe this just applies to me...?) If you really don't get the hype about Chipotle, then VOICE YOUR OPINION. If you've fallen for someone, TELL THE WORLD.  No matter what color, race, sex, blah blah blah, you know the rest, do what makes you happy.  Life is way too short to be sad, and no one should ever feel like the world is against them.  

With that said, if you are reading this right now, take a few moments to promise to love others more.  In no way am I a perfect person.  I have belittled people before, made them feel like an outcast, made them feel like they weren't worthy.  Ashamed does not even begin to explain how I feel about that.  I am not proud of what I have done in the past, but I can make a conscious effort to never do that again.  We all should.  It is our job as human beings to give love.  So, do it.

When I was toying with the idea of starting this blog, I was so hesitant.  I was scared of what other people would think about what I had to say.  I'm so glad that I didn't let those people stop me.  I am an intelligent person with the biggest heart and a voice that needs to be heard.  And the same goes for you.  Don't let others dull your shine.  For a long time I've been searching for a voice that I could follow; someone who could take my feelings and put them into words.  I still haven't found that person, so I've decided to be that person.  If I can help just one person, then I'll be happy, and that's all that matters.

Follow your intuition. Be smart, be brave, tell the truth, and don't take any shit. And always remember, 

YOU MATTER.

xx,

Lex

My Top 5 Must-Haves - Spring/Summer '14

#preach

Although Spring is still a few weeks away, I refuse to accept this whole snow thing anymore.  I mean, seriously, how much more can we take?!  To cope with the Winter blues, I have been buying Spring and Summer styles for the past two months, and I'd love to share some of my favorite trends for the upcoming season.  Here are just a few of my Spring/Summer 2014 must-haves!

I got these super cute (and comfy!) harem pants at American Eagle Outfitters the other day.  They come in several different colors and designs, but I snagged them in the print above and plain black.  I also grabbed an army green pair from Francesca's a while ago.  Breezy enough to tackle the Summer months, these pants are sure to be a consistent hit for the upcoming season.  Pair them with a cute pair of wedges or even a relaxing pair of flat sandals, and you'll look so chic.

Every girl should own a cute pair of wedges.  They give you a little height, accentuate your legs, and are usually pretty comfortable, too.  I picked up these Jessica Simpson Jerrimo Sandals from the Belk in my mall about a week ago.  Although they were a little pricey, they're extremely easy to walk in and will go with so many different outfits.  This Summer, you can find me rocking these with cute dress shorts and maxi skirts and dresses.

Speaking of... Maxis are great for all occasions.  They can be dressed up, dressed down, paired with wedges or flats, cardigan or sans cardigan.  The possibilities are endless.  The one above is from GAP and I absolutely love the color.  Orchid (and all of its shades) is rumored to be "it" color of the season.  I have MANY maxi skirts and maxi dresses, and I wear them all the time with a jean jacket for those chillier Summer evenings.  Luckily enough for me, I can usually find ones that can be worn as a skirt OR a dress.  Talk about an easy way to get two outfits out of one item for that weekend getaway!

Hands down, this has been one of my favorite finds so far.  I got this denim vest from American Eagle Outfitters about a month ago and I was thrilled!  For months, I had been searching for the perfect vest to pair with maxis, so this was a no-brainer purchase for me.  I can't wait to put this on with a black maxi dress and a lightweight scarf.  It's a great way to add a little edge to any outfit.

The white tee.  This is one staple that should be in every girl's wardrobe.  They may seem simple and boring, but they go with EVERYTHING.  You can put them under blazers, dress them up with cute skirts, or how about you just pull a Jennifer Aniston and rock it with a pair of jeans and sunglasses?  It's effortless and that's what makes it so classy.  The one above is from LOFT (which, by the way, has great clothes!), but you can pick up a classic tee almost anywhere.  I prefer a v-neck, but crewnecks work just as well.

So, there ya have it - five of my Spring & Summer must-haves!  My style is kind of all over the place, and is constantly evolving, so I'm sure that there will be more of these in the future!  If you want a bigger look into my fashion mind, follow me on Pinterest: Lex's Pinterest.  Occasionally, I do get on this kick to pin fluffy puppies and DIY projects that I'll never do, (LOL) but for the most part, all of my pins are fashion-oriented.  

Hope this got you all even more excited for those warm summer months! 

Happy shopping!

xx,

Lex

My Eyebrow How-To

When I decided to go through with this blog, I had really no idea what I was going to write about.  All I kept saying to myself was, "Who will honestly care what I have to say?"  After much thought, I came to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter what other people think or what other people say.  It's all about what makes me happy.  One thing that makes me truly happy:  MAKEUP.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I am in no way a beauty expert, and I don't intend to be.  However, I love to try out new things and share it with others!

I have been asked multiple times about how I get my eyebrows to do what they do.  My answer:  I have no idea.  Naturally, my eyebrows are very thick and unruly.  I always look like I have two bushy caterpillars crawling across my face.  Not cute. Although I usually get them waxed, sometimes I don't have the time to make an appointment, or I just don't feel like enduring that awful pain. OUCH.  

If you're like me, and hate waxing, my best advice is just to keep those babies looking neat.  I had searched YouTube accounts and every how-to blog that I could find so that I could figure out the key to keeping my brows in check.  My best find was the Studio Eyebrow Kit by e.l.f.  I got mine from Target, for a measly $3.  Talk about a steal!  

The kit has two sides: gel and powder.  Apply the brow gel with the included angled brush to define, shape, and tame the brows.  Then, set the color with the powder using the blending brush.  It's super easy to use and doesn't take much effort.  Of course you're going to want to tweeze a little bit to get that fully polished look; but on mornings when I'm running late, the brow gel does a great job of concealing those few crazy hairs.

You always want your eyebrows to look natural.  In no way, do you want to try to change the arch of your brows.  In my case, I have a very prominent natural arch.  I hate the "Nike swoosh look," (where people's eyebrows look like they are logos on sneakers), but my brows naturally do that on their own. *sigh* The difference is that my brows don't look sharp and drawn on, and that's the look you want to achieve.  Like I said before, my brows are naturally thick so not everyone is going to get the same results as I did.  But for $3, why not at least give it a try?  I'll be extremely surprised if you're not satisfied.

Mentioned earlier, I got mine from Target, but you can find the kit, and more of their fantastic steals at their website --> www.eyeslipsface.com

If you do try it, let me know!  I'd love to hear your feedback.

 xx,

Lex

Oscar Sunday Recap

First of all, let me just say that I didn't stick with my New Year's Resolutions - like at all. (DID ANYONE?  If you did, kudos to you!)  Blog entries were supposed to be "my thing" for 2014.  Oops, I did it again.  So, here I am... In March, working on actually getting this thing going!

As you all know, last night was the biggest night in Hollywood - the Academy Awards.  Only one word could accurately sum up the night: GLAMOROUS.  The fashion was impeccable.  Usually there are so many hits and misses, but I can honestly say that there wasn't a single person that completely failed in my book.  However, that does not mean that I don't have a top 3 and a bottom 3 because I most definitely do.  Here are my noteworthy moments of the 86th Annual Academy Awards.

My Best Dressed

Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace

Drop-dead gorgeous.  As soon as I saw her on the red carpet, my mouth literally dropped.  This gown is so striking, yet elegant at the same time.  Plus, the cape-like back of the dress adds a little drama.  The old Hollywood look works really well for her.

Lupita Nyong'o in Prada

The now Oscar winner has been killing the red carpet all season, so it's no surprise that she would hit the jackpot yet again.  She looks absolutely breathtaking in this Duck Egg Blue gown by Prada.  The headband gives it an extra princess feel, while the earrings add a little edginess.  Amazing.

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior

Although she did not win Best Supporting Actress for American Hustle, Lawrence won on the red carpet.  I have never seen her look more mature as I did last night.  This gown was a perfect fit for her and the necklace draping down her back was the icing on the cake. 

My Worst Dressed

Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive

I must admit, this is not the worst thing in the world, but it's definitely not the best either.  Blanchett is so elegant, and I would have loved to see her in a bold color.  Although this Armani gown is gorge, I think it washes her out.

Anna Kendrick in J. Mendel

I love Anna as much as the next person, but this was such a miss for me.  I love that Kendrick is a little edgy, but I think this look was too goth for me.  Love you Anna, but no.

Kristen Bell in Roberto Cavalli

I've got three words for this look:  Boring. Blah. Yawn.

All around, it was a pretty magical night.  Ellen Degeneres was quirky and entertaining; making the usual snoozefest lively and unbelievably bearable.  I'm not sure if the distribution of pizza or the most retweeted picture was my favorite part, but I ask the Academy for one favor:  Can we have Ellen as the host every year?!  Please and thank you.

Pink was fantastic, doing a tribute to the 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz.  Naturally, like the crybaby I am, boohooed through the entire song. 

ICYMI, check it out here on Huffington Post: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Truly one of the best things about last night, was listening to the acceptance speeches.  From Jared Leto's heartwarming story about being raised by a single mother, to Lupita's moment of her dreams coming true, and to Matthew McConaughey's motivational speech... What an inspiration.  Matthew's resonated with me the most.  If you missed it, LOOK IT UP.  Who knew that McConaughey could be motivating and beautiful?

And there you have it, folks:  my Oscar Sunday recap!  Agree or disagree with some of my best and worst dressed?  Let me know!

Congrats to all of the winners!

xx,

Lex