4 ways to practice self-love on Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2018 · 1 Comment

Valentine’s Day is here, which means you’ll see happy couples exchanging gifts for there significant other, or those last minute folks trying to set up a last-minute date so there not alone on this day of love.

People tend to feel resentment towards spending this day alone, but what many people forget is that your relationship with yourself is way more important than any other in life, which is why Valentine’s is the best day to prioritize your own needs and show yourself some compassion and love. Learning to be comfortable alone isn’t easy, but once you’ve mastered the skill of loving yourself, getting away from life’s demands can be pretty relaxing and blissful. Self-care is really important for emotional health and living a life. Studies have show that it can help you manage the symptoms of anxiety, depression and more.

So sit back relax and block out the world and follow these self-care rules to have your best Valentine’s Day yet.

1. Step away from social media

One of the worst things about Valentine’s Day – whether you’re single or in a relationship – is the endless materialistic displays of affection on social media. The whole day seems like a big competition; if you’re single, you feel unloved and down, and if you’re in a relationship, you start to compare your relationship to everybody else’s. Instead of spending the evening scrolling, shut down the app for the day. Your brain will thank you

2.Cook Yourself a Meal

Cooking for others is one of the biggest ways many show how much they care and appreciate others. But, what about doing it for ourselves? Sometimes we get so busy in life we are quick to get take out or skip the meal in general. Not today, Not on V-Day. Today, you’re going to cook yourself a meal of love. Grab a glass of wine (or cup of h20) and get creative in the kitchen. Make some yummy lobster mac and cheese or indulge in that steak, whatever it may be enjoy making it for you.

3. Treat Yourself

There are so many little things we neglect just because we don’t think we deserve them. Do you enjoy flowers? Go pick up some colorful buds just for you! Have you been eyeing a bag at store? Go buy that bag girl! Have you been wanting a massage but no time? Book it Hunny. The time is now

4.Write A Love Note

Focusing on our flaws is a bad habit we are all guilty of. ( I do it a lot) instead of nitpicking, write down a letter to yourself outlining all the good things you see in yourself. The positive thoughts will help raise your confidence. Look in the mirror, and see what it is you love about yourself and embrace it.

Ideally, we should be practicing these rituals all year long, but Valentine’s month is always a good place to start! Hope you all have a great day full of love and happiness.

Emerald Green Is This Seasons Hottest Color

December 4, 2017 · 1 Comment

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…….Can you believe that December is upon us already? I swear this year flew by in the blink of an eye right before me. I enjoy December a lot because it means food, family and most of all FASHION. This is the one time of year to bring out the faux fur, velvet, and sequins for those holiday parties and NYE events. One of the hottest colors this season is EMERALD GREEN.

Now when I say emerald green, I don’t want you thinking everyone is walking around looking like the cast for the WIZ lol. I personally think emerald green works well with any skin tone and matches a whole bunch of different colors when it comes to styling. Emerald green also happens to represent the universe, nature, and life, And of course, it’s my birthstone. So let us get into these looks below.

The first dress is from Xehear Curvy. Xehear sells a full line of outfits and styles for straight and plus size women. I love that the brand is very diverse when it comes to sizing, and wants all women to look and feel good. The Maya Floral Sheath dress is perfect for those office parties or parties that don’t require to much. I love that the dress accentuates your curves but also keeps the look very flawless. The black flower detail also gives it that feminine touch of elegance.

The second dress is from Windors. Windsor just introduced there new plus size section a few months ago. I really love that Windsor now offers more sizes so everyone can indulge in the beautiful clothing they sell. The dress I am wearing is the Emerald Twisted Body Con dress. This dress is a little more form fitting and may be better for a night with the girls or a NYE party. The green really stands out and has a hint of silver glitters for a sparkly effect. I love that the dress is super lightweight and the V-cut detail shows just enough to not give away all my secrets lol.

Last but not least was a lovely dress by Rachel Roy which I got from Gwynnie Bee. Gwynnie Bee is an online subscription-based clothing rental service for women sizes 10-32. Members pay a flat monthly subscription fee and are able to rent a collection of clothing to rent and return. The Ribbed Knit Faux wrap dress made me fall in love the moment I saw it. I just knew I had to have it and add it to my green collection. I love that the dress looks black in color but has a hint of the glittery emerald green in the material. This dress is perfect when you want to be the show stopper and really turn some heads.

So what do you y’all think of the Emerald green trend? If you don’t have anything emerald green then now is the best time to go and stalk up. I think Emerald will always be a timeless color in my eyes. As always thanks for stopping by and Owl see ya soon.

Love Vana

Ruffles Are Trending

October 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment

One of the hottest trends on the fashion scene currently is undoubtedly ruffles. You’ve probably been seeing it popping up all over the Instagram feeds and fashion blogs. Ruffles have literally taken over the this season and show no signs of stopping. Ruffles have been seen decorating necklines, skirts, blouses and even jackets. So there’s pretty much something for everyone, no matter what style you have.

I like many other girls have really been loving the ruffle trend but I wanted to do it the right way. I wanted to make sure if I was going to wear the trend my ruffles weren’t too overpowering. Nothing is worse than wearing something that overpowers the rest of your body and makes you look lost in the clothing especially being petite and plus size. When I came across the gingham ruffle top from A’GACI , I knew it was the perfect top for me and my body frame. The three-tier ruffles and cinched waist bow was just what I needed. I really loved the ruffle detail on the shirt, because I didn’t need any added accessories or have to do much to complete my look. In my opinion, ruffles give enough vavoom to an outfit where keeping it simple is best. I paired my top with black high waist pants from A’GACI which featured slits at the knees. It’s always funny when I wear knee slits, because well since your girl is short they never hit me where they should lol (but that has never stopped me from still wearing the trend). I think adding the knee slit pants to my ruffle top gave the outfit a casual but fun look. I added my slip-on mules which has also been a huge trend on the fashion scene and was ready to take on whatever came my way.

I think everyone should partake in the ruffle trend because there are so many different ways to style it. You can dress it up for a day at the office, or down for running errands. So next time while out shopping and you come across something with ruffles give it a try. Just remember to find the right ruffle look that suits you, then you’ll be ready to slay one of the hottest fashion trends this season. As always thanks for stopping by and owl talk to you later.

Consignment Shopping Just Got Easy

October 3, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Online shopping isn’t something I was the biggest fan of before. I’m the girl who likes walking in the store and sifting through the racks to get outfit ideas. As of recently all that has changed since coming across ThredUp. Its like from the moment I went on the site I was sucked into searching the category of “Women’s Dresses” and seeing how low the prices are for like-new or even “new with tags” items for me to become a fan. Many of y’all know I’m a huge consignment shopper, so finding a store online that’s sells consignment for such affordable prices was like hitting the jackpot.

ThredUP is the largest online consignment store offering high-quality clothing and accessories for women and kids . ThredUP carries top name brands and designers for up to 90% off retail price. The stock varies from day-to-day. So even if nothing looks cute today, it might look cute tomorrow.The size range starts at 00 and goes all the way up to a plus size 32. There is literally something for every body type and shape to make shopping a breeze. While I was browsing the site, I could really tell they were thinking about the consumer when they decided how to organize the online store. You can search by specific categories, and you can even search just by brand. Some folks aren’t to thrilled of walking into consignment stores due to the huge racks of clothes to sift through, Well there’s none of that stress while shopping on ThredUP.

Seeing as the fashion is always changing, I don’t like to always pay top dollar for something that may go out of season in a few months. With ThredUp I’m able to shop without breaking the bank. While browsing on the site I came across a wonderful blue dress which was formally sold on Eloquii from a few seasons back. I remember wanting to buy it back then, but the price tag just wasn’t in my budget at the time. Thanks to ThredUP I was able to purchase that same dress I wanted, and only payed a fraction of the original price. My dress came delivered in the signature ThredUP box wrapped in tissue paper ready to be styled. Even though the dress had been previously used, I couldn’t tell it had a previous owner at all. I love my dress even more now because I got it for such a steal and it’s still very trendy. Sadly my dress was the only one available but i’m sure y’all can find more just like it Here.

So if your anything like me and love the idea of thrifting, but don’t really want to tackle the rack then I say give ThredUP a try. Who knows maybe you’ll see something you want to add to your closet that you have been holding back on. Only thing I recommend is if you like it buy it! The item you love may not be available next time you log on. Also for all my readers who make a purchase for the first time on ThredUP be sure to use my code VANABLACK which gives you 50% off your purchase. Until next time thanks for stopping by and Owl see you later!

Love

Stavana

90’s Fashion Is Making A Come Back

July 27, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Sooo the 90’s is seriously making a come back in the fashion world and I’m loving every minute of it. Everything I recall wearing as kid is appearing in all the stores and its brings back so many memories. As a kid growing up in the 90s everyone was so carefree and full of life, not to mention we had the best TV shows and snacks to-date. Boy do I wish I could go back to being a kid again “adulating” is hard ( I really get it now why Peter Pan loved Never Never Land). Thanks to Forever 21 they give me a chance to embrace that inner child in me with the new styles they have been offering.

I was in Forever 21 the other day and came upon the cutest Crushed Velvet Dress in blush pink. Now listen, I’m in no way a fan of pink like that because pink is just not a color I fancy…but this dress screamed Spice Girls! Who didn’t like the Spice girls as a kid!? Baby Spice, Emma Bunton, always would wear cute little dresses with the those funky platform sneakers. This dress screamed 90’s and made me think of so many ways to style it. I can wear a white tee under it like they use to back in the day or “as-is” the way I did over the weekend. The dress is super comfy and was great for the summer heat to take on my weekend errands. I paired it with a cute pair of faux leather pink skippes and added my Pink Clear Satchel Bag for a Pink monochrom finish. Now me dressed in all pink was a rare occasion and barely ever happens but I felt like such a 90s kid rocking the look.

Dress : Forever 21

Shoes: Wet Seal ( There old never wore them)

Bag: Forever 21

So if your looking for a store that lets you indulge in your inner youth, I say check out Forever 21 because they have you covered with everything from rock band tees, cute 90s sunglasses and all the crushed velvet looks you can think of. Is there anything you ladies wish would make a comeback into the fashion scene from the 90s let me know. As always thanks for stopping by and Owl see you later.

Love,

Vana