what i wore wednesday: chevron maxi + braid

*This post is not sponsored by any name brands/products mentioned. I simply like praising my favorites.

This dress is one of my favorites from Downeast Basics. It's cute, modest and just so comfortable! Chevron print is and has been a trend among bloggers and women in general, as far as I can tell, from photos posted on facebook, instagram and sold in stores large and small. Downeast's "steadfast" maxi dress has cap sleeves and thinner lines that's cute. I can't justify the price right now though. I didn't really jazz up my outfit, though I am thinking in the future of a bubblegum pink necklace and my bow studded earrings? hmmm...future OOTD (outfit of the day)!?The focus was more on the hair today. The fact is, I rarely have my hair braided, so it was a treat and I liked how it turned out. Maria didn't know what style of braid this was called; she just saw it on youtube.

totally in the kitchen

Hey! Speaking of instagram, you can now find me at: btrevino3.
I've been thinking of getting a new blog design, so once I finally go through with it, i'll make sure to get a insta button link! I am looking for someone {very} affordable, like $50 or less. I am just not sure what color scheme I want. I have a few designers in mind though.

I decided to keep my makeup pretty natural since I was in a more, relaxed kind of mood today. I used a single light tan shadow on my lids from my Urban Decay Chocolate Eyeshadow Palette with extra coats of mascara. I then topped my lips with Kate Moss for Rimmel's lipstick in 101 (i'll be reviewing this soon) with a caramel gloss on top.

Once again, my grandpa M. did a great job snapping these couple pics for me with my iphone! He thought it was easier to take photographs with my phone versus my Sony digital camera. haha.

I, of course, got a photo of sweet Perla enjoying the fresh air and overcast sky (hanging right over us) outside.

Arizona's been having gorgeous days and I am so in love.

what i wore: fuchsia + leopard

skirt// tagunder, shirt// target, earrings//the icing, scarf//amazon

Life,
I am so thankful for you. I am so glad to be here.

I am glad that the U.S. has special days designated to celebrate special times, like Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's Eve (my fave!) Now, I know some people will say, "why not celebrate everyday as though it's a holiday?" Now I completely agree with you, but there are some who get so wrapped up in the busyness of  life and all the material things life can offer. I am not saying I don't like nice things because i do, but you know what I mean, right?

I am a total list maker, so let me list a small portion of things I am thankful for, because really, even though I complain on the daily and sometimes get easily annoyed, deep down, I am thankful and that makes my heart happy.

I am grateful for the things that are unseen: love, joy, faith & hope.

I am grateful for delicacies + foods that give me energy & nutrition like oranges, pineapple, eggs & brocolli but also those "naughty" items like french fries, cheeseburgers, tacos, chocolate chip fraps and the chips that go with salsa.

I am grateful for my quiet family members and for my loud family members.

I am grateful for service + giving. So many times in my life I have been helped above & beyond, I am so happy to be able to give + serve when I can.

I am grateful for tv shows that grip at my heart strings or that just entertain me where I don't "need" to think. Thank you to the writers of Parenthood, Revolution, The Paradise, Downton Abbey, Once Upon a Time and Hart of Dixie.

I am grateful for my funny friends, my smart friends, my old neighbor friends, my friends that live close and my friends that live far away.

I am grateful for my body and the strength and mobility I still have.

I am grateful for nature. The mountains and meadows are calling my name.

I am grateful that blogging even exists. It has allowed me to feel wanted, to express myself, to share and to connect with so many wonderful (mostly) women. You all are so fantastic and dear!

I am grateful to have a laptop & digital camera.

I am grateful for all of the postwomen and postmen who drop & pick up our mail. I love it, I love it.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and may you be gathered with those you care about.

a confidence booster

"I need to look presentable tomorrow," said me last night.

Some days, even if I am expecting company, I don't care what I look like. I have clothes on that I call "lounge wear" that consists of either pajamas or yoga pants and a tee shirt. No makeup. No earrings.

Well, today, I put together a casual outfit that's perfect for giving me a little boost of confidence,which is something I've noticed I've been lacking lately. I think most of us go through this at times where we talk "fat talk" about ourselves {i am guilty as charged} and make jokes about ourselves OR we hear from others hurtful, negative things about our size and appearance.

"I have a donut." "do you want a donut for your donut?"
"I am round and short like a pumpkin".
"I look like humpty dumpty."
" I am sorry, I have to tell you, you have a big butt."
"it's not big, it's HUGE."
"you're going to eat that?"

Last night before I fell asleep, I was thinking how much I've been putting myself down. WHY?! Why do I do that to myself? I need to love myself, now, as I am, whole-heartedely as much as I love others. Would I say the things I say to myself to my mom, friends or a young girl? Absolutely not!

Here's to snapping out of this negative mind-set and focusing on my positive qualities like being compassionate and patient (inwardly) and liking my eyes and hands (outwardly). And since it's November now with Thanksgiving and all, I'll name a few things I am thankful for about myself:

I am thankful for the upper body movements I have that allow me to write, type, create, apply makeup, eat and drink for myself.

I am thankful that my hair has continued to grow in my bald patches.

I am thankful that I am a patient person and that God has helped me to grow more in patience, understanding and compassion.

I am thankful for my sound, creative mind and my quirky sense of humor.

linking up with Allison at Two Thirty-Five Designs & Lena of Lena B, Actually

What are you thankful for about yourself? 

outfit details//

shirt: kmart

jeans: american eagle

earrings: forever21

what i wore wednesday: fuchsia & black

I came across a site that was selling maxi skirts for $12 with free shipping last week and I had to jump on that! I really wanted the burgundy skirt but they were all sold out so I went with this fuchsia skirt. Ladies, it's so comfortable. I mean, almost every maxi skirt I have is comfortable. Wouldn't you agree?

I cannot for the life of me remember the site I got this skirt from. All i know is that it's made in the U.S.A. I bought this skirt because I am planning ahead as I am pretty sure most of my "cute" church outfits will involve a maxi since exposed legs in the winter will not be my cup of tea.

Today, I paired it with my black tee and a few accessories.

Perla is my model companion today :) She got a couple individual shots too, below.

P.S. The winner of the revlon lip butter is Anna! She has been notified. Thanks to all who entered!

outfit details:
shirt// target
skirt// TagUnder ( i remembered!)
bracelet// gift
earrings// gift
headband// Icing
eyeshadow: bella pierre

sunday style + current mani

In yesterday's post I mentioned the new maxi dress I got from Old Navy.

Well, today, the dress is revealed! Here are a couple photos of my outfit that I wore to church on sunday. You must think I am crazy for wearing a light cardigan of sorts over my dress IN AUGUST, but guys, it was chilly indoors with the A/C on. Since saturday, my part of Arizona has been cloudy and Sunday was for sure only in the low 90's for the high.

Once Paco & I got out of church, I took my cardi off, because it was just so lovely outside. But man oh man, how glad I am that I wore that and even my slippers to church because I was freezing inside the chapel! Yes, slippers. Call me granny. Oh well, I was pretty comfortable lol.

And for fun, I wanted to show you my current manicure, and by current, i mean that I haven't done my nails in about two months! I pretty much replicated the gel mani I got back in May. This time I used regular ol nail polish.

 yes I got some nicks in the polish! It never fails!

Outfit
dress// oldnavy
earrings//oldnavy
cardi// target

Nails
Essie's marshmallow
Sally Hansen's complete salon manicure in golden rule #120

passion for fashion:holy jeans

this post was technically supposed to be up yesterday, but brittany got busy and distracted and ended up doing other things..so yeh. We are here for another round of passion for fashion! I haven't participated in a long while...so...

I am excited to be linking up with the ever whimsical, cool Lena and her new co-host Rachel who from what i can tell is eclectic and cool too!

Yesterday's outfit was all about being bright [striped top], cute [sparkly earrings] and cool [the holy jeans]

This orange and white top has been in my closet for years. I can't get rid of it because I just love the ruffly edges on the shoulders.

 

shirt//F21

jeans//American Eagle Outfitters, but holes handmade

earrings//Icing 

 happy weekend!

wore I wore + a little secret

hey guys! here we are on this blessed wednesday! how's everyone's week going so far?

Since it's scorching hot outside, my silly little friend took the following photos of me for what i wore today inside! Nothing too spectacular as I had to prepare to go to the imaging office to have a mammogram done!

No earrings. No bracelets. No deodorant (which is a MUST on any other day!).

I didn't want to say anything about the pain in my boob and my upcoming appointment today, because i didn't anyone to worry over something that probably didn't even need worrying about. My mom was so right! Plus, I felt like if I talked about it, it would just drive me to more worry.

WHAT!!? no deodorant!

If you've been reading, you may remember that I've been complaining some days in the past couple weeks of not feeling too well. Mostly, the not feeling well has been pain I've been experiencing in my right boob. For the past three weeks it's been subtle and gnawing and just there..I've taken a ton of naproxen(aleve) to help dull the uncomfortable pain.

I told my primary doctor a couple weeks ago and he referred me to have the mammogram which appointment was today. Because of wheelchair and physical logistics of the machine and my boobs ya know,we were unable to do the procedure, but we sure did try! Thankfully, the tech took me into a room to have an ultrasound done because as I learned, when there is not one specific point of pain or evidence of a lump, the ultrasound is the first way to go. Before the tech let me leave, she took the images to the radiologist. He read them and didn't see a tumor or anything concrete. He even said that I didn't really need to go through w/the mammo if I didn't want to.

The mammo tech ladies (2 of them) were so warm and friendly and willing to help try to do the mammo. They said that it's quite common for younger women (in their 20's and 30's) to have this kind of pain and that it could be due to hormones or intake of caffeine, or for no known reason! Well! I definitely think it could be that my hormones are outta whack! and well, I do consume alot of caffeine on a daily basis...HELLO COFFEE! So, Brittany is going to start to wean herself off the coffee. Oh dear God, help me! I know I can do it!

It actually comes at a perfect time to start not drinking coffee. But i mean, i like certain teas and chocolate too! One thing at a time! So tomorrow, instead of one full cup o coffee, I'll try only half a cup and then from then on, maybe skip one morning and then the next until I am free of my addiction! I do not want to keep taking naproxen everyday 1-2times because taking that stuff long-term is so NOT good for my kidneys! Slowly but surely, change is a comin'!

I'd just like to thank my Father in Heaven for letting things be ok and that I do not have a cancerous tumor. Breast cancer doesn't run in my family, but other kinds of cancer do. You can imagine my slight concern when after 3 days in a row of pain in my upper boob toward my armpit was aching and not going away. Happy we got it checked out and no need to worry anymore, i can breathe- thanks mom :) I am at a bit more peace.

Philippians 4:6-7

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

He took care of me.

what I wore: printed jersey dress + red lips

here we are! another wednesday in the books. This time next week will be the third day of July! My oh my, where is the time going!?

I am SO looking forward to these next couple of weeks because lots is happening on my social calendar: getting to hang out with...

Paco on friday.
Mum on saturday.
C on sunday.
Gparents wednesDAY & paco again wed night.
Tessa & andy (hopefully on thursday--JULY 4th!)
...and then I have a seating evaluation for a new shower chair on friday the 5th.

phew!

I am relieved that I'm seeing my primary doctor today because I've been having slight trouble with breathing. I've been attached to my svn machine unusually more frequent...it's been saline, saline, saline over here! The dry air (here in AZ there's like no humidity) has affected me negatively. My upper chest feels bruised again :( So can't wait to meet with him and talk about a couple issues.

I must give lots of applause to my grandpa M for taking photos for me for these sometimes wednesday what i wore posts! I told him today, dang grandpa, you're a photographer!

Oh and I am thrilled to also be featured today on Southern Beauty Guide! come on over and visit me there if you'd like and say Hi to chelsee and her other friends :)

How is your week going? staying cool?

dress: downeast basics
earrings: oldnavy
sunnies: charlotte russe
watch: i forgot where.
lipstick: MAC 'lady danger'

i got new jeans & they make me feel so hip

hey lovelies.

let's talk about jeans.

I've been on the hunt for a new pair of jeans for months. All of my previous attempts at the skinny jean have been also colored jeans. I've bought about four, only needing to return them because of something somewhere not fitting right.

Too long. ( i need petite/short length)
Too tight at the waist.
Too baggy on the thigh.
Too baggy on the leg.
Didn't like the feel of the material, etc.

I am just not proportioned averagely lol.

Oh, & this is NOT a sponsored post.

I just want to rave and wave my arms excitedly to you at how much i love American Eagle jeans. About a week and a half ago, i bought the skinny kick jean. I didn't give up on the skinny colored jean, but i just had to snag a pair of medium wash blue jeans!

It was a triple whammy because 1. I needed a new pair. 2. they were in a wash that I liked. 3. AE had 50% off the price of 29.99, making these babies fifteen dollas!

Just the name skinny kick makes me feel hip and the clip of molly shannon in this skit comes to mind...."and i KICK, stretch! and KICK. I'mmmm fifty. 50 yeeahs old!" I am not 50, rather, I am 30, but i got spunk like Sally O'Malley!

seriously, I feel like crime fighting in these jeans with my superpower of kindness.

These jeans got just the right amount of stretch. The length is just where I want them and there's no extra bunching material at the crotch, where some jeans's rise are too baggy at low-rise or mid-rise ya know. These jeans hug my thighs(def more fitted) and then at the knew they start to flare out a bit. I love em!

I'm thinking that whenever i need jeans or pants that AE is gonna have to be my go-to, guaranteed to fit just right store.

Take a look.

What pair of jeans are your fave? Do you have a single store you shop at for jeans/pants? What's the best place in your opinion to purchase jeans?