Groovy Baby!

Happy Friday!

Can you believe it? We're halfway through summer! It's so crazy how quickly time flies! I hope that all of you have had the opportunity to go outside and enjoy this warm weather. Lately, Southern California has had a mild summer with a couple of scattered heat waves and thunder storms. Personally, I have taken I liking to it.

Today, I thought I would share with you one of my favorite outfits for summer. This retro inspired look is perfect to wear to a BBQ, a casual date, or a girls day out.

Outfit:

I found this lovely  1960's Style Polka Dot Romper from Unique Vintage about two weeks ago. Let me tell you, it was definitely love at first sight! I really like the convertible boatneck/off-the-shoulder design and the loose sleeves. Furthermore, the navy blue and white pattern add a nice classic touch. My favorite part of the romper is the camel toned belt. It's not too often that retailers include the belt with the romper, but it was a perfect accessory to highlight my natural waistline. The romper also comes in yellow if you're interested!

Belt - Unique Vintage; Fleur Sunglasses - Quay Australia

The best part of this romper is how comfortable and cool it was. I had no issues with garment readjustments or overheating whatsoever. It's the perfect piece of clothing for those of you who want a low maintenance outfit for summer. Consider it a 2-for-1 special if you would!

Hair & Makeup: 

I opted for a 60's inspired look, with a contemporary twist. Honestly, I think that I lucked out with my bob hairstyle. It's low maintenance, and it dries quickly. I didn't have to style it or put any product in it. I just brushed it and let it air dry.

For my makeup, I went with a classic, sun-kissed look. I really focused on highlighting my eyes and my cheeks. For my eyes, I went with a simple cat eye followed by a generous coat of mascara to really bring out my upper lashes. For my bottom lashes, I created faux lashes with an eyebrow pencil to create that signature mod eye look. Moreover, I contoured the hollow of my cheeks to highlight my cheekbone structure, and applied a rosy tint of lipstick to my lips to add a splash of color.

Interested in recreating this makeup look? I've detailed the products below!

What you'll need:

• Liquid Liner (for cat eye): Maybelline Master Precise Liner
• Mascara: Benefit "They're Real!" Mascara
• Eyebrow Pencil: Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ebony
• Eyeshadow: Urban Decay - Naked 3 Palette  (I mixed "Buzz" and "Trick" for my crease)
• Bronzer: Jemma Kidd Showstopping Bronzer (also available at Target)
• Lipstick: Milani Lipstick in Orchid

Moss Green Fedora - vacation (don't remember store name)

Shoes:

I found these adorable tan Doreen heels from Restricted Shoes about one to two weeks ago. Their 70's retro vibe really drew me into them. As a huge devotee to flats, this was a tough choice for me. While I love the aesthetic of heels, I am the biggest offender when it comes to getting cuts and blisters on my feet (despite taking all of the necessary precautions). Amid this mental debate, I actually decided to take my chance on these heels because of my past experiences with Restricted Shoes.

"Doreen" - c/o Restricted Shoes

Let me explain....

To start off, I own about six pairs of Restricted Shoes. If you have been following me on Instagram for a while, you will notice that I tend to wear the same shoes over and over. I've been wearing their shoes for over a year now since first discovering them on Modcloth. Since then, I've put a lot of mileage on these shoes, due to their affordability, comfort, and style. Since purchasing their shoes, I've never had a foot injury or fashion dilemma. True fact!

Wanna see more? Check out my Instagram!

The history that I have with their shoes made it a lot easier for me to take a chance on these Doreen heels. I'm really glad that I did! The heel is thick enough to walk comfortably for a novice heel trekker like me, yet tall enough to give me just the right amount of height (my estimate is about 2-2.5 inches). I spent two hours of my day last week walking around in them, and had no issues breaking them in.

If you're interested in checking out these Doreen heels or would like to explore other Restricted Shoes, I would highly recommend it! As an added bonus, if you use the coupon code TRANGERINE25 on their website, they will give you 25% off your purchase of any regular priced item, valid now through August 31st. How cool is that? As an avid online shopper, I haven't found a discount quite that high in the last couple of months. Go check them out!

I hope you enjoyed this look, and will be inspired to add some flair to your summer style. If you do decide to rock a romper this summer or get a pair of Restricted Shoes, don't forget to tag me on Twitter or Instagram via @Tran_gerine so that I can check out your style! Until next time, happy styling!

xo

Melissa

Chopped.

Happy Monday!

I can't believe that summer is just around the corner! This month has flown by so fast! Lately, I've been trying to catch up on everything that I've been putting off, including getting my haircut.

It's been well over a year since I've gone to the salon. Since growing out my hair, my locks have been constantly tangled and caught in things. To a certain extent, it was weighing me down both literally and metaphorically.

See ya long locks!

Over the past few months, I have contemplated cutting my hair. Due to my busy work and life balance, I never had a chance to do it. When it finally came time to do it, I was both anxious and nervous. For the past 20 years or so, I have not had my hair any shorter than shoulder length. This means that the last time that I had a bob was in Kindergarden!

The biggest challenge for me was to find a more sophisticated version of my childhood do, without looking too adolescent. I came across YouTuber, Essie Button, and actresses: Scarlett Johansson, Lucy Hale and Vanessa Hudgens on both Google Images and Instagram who inspired my new short hairstyle. I really admired how thick, voluminous, and piecey their hair was. It was the right about of shortness, sophistication, and sass that I was looking for.

(PC: Google Images and Instagram)

After figuring out my "vision", the time finally came to decide on a hairstylist. While I felt ambitious to go after new stylists recommended by family and friends, I ended up going to my usual stylist, Tommy. I've been going to him the last couple of years, and he never disappoints! Although he was initially surprised at my request, he was understanding of my vision.

Before and After

Once again, Tommy delivered phenomenal results (and gave me a discount at that). I absolutely love my new hair! It's light, voluminous, and has excellent texture. My hair feels healthier and less tangled. I'm definitely looking forward spending summer with this fun and low maintenance hairstyle.

An easy and messy hairstyle for summer.

Today's #ootd 

(Knit Top: Zara; Romper: Zara; Sunglasses: Quay Australia)

Celebrated my new hairstyle and the beginning of summer with some cake!

Thanks for joining me today on my hair adventure! I hope you enjoyed this post, and will feel more ambitious to try new things with your style. If you're thinking about cutting your hair or you've recently cut your hair, I'd love to hear all about it! You can leave me a comment below or connect with me on Twitter via @tran_gerine. If you would like to see my day-to-day musings, you can find me on Instagram via Tran_gerine. Until next time, happy styling!

xo

Melissa

In Space You Were Wondering.

Hello!

I'm back with another fun DIY project is both fun and easy! Upon catching up on the news this morning, I came across an article on Brit & Co. that was showcasing different hairstyles. Flipping through the different looks, I came across this version of Princess Leia's signature hairstyle. It's a contemporary adaptation of the buns, making it relevant and chic. Gorgeous, isn't it? 

As I kept clicking on the subsequent pages, I quickly realized that there was no article to accompany the hairstyle. Bummer!

(PC: Brit & Co.)

Luckily, I had some time (and patience) to figure it out since I am home today. After much experimentation, I finally came up with my own version. While it is not exact, I thought that it was pretty similar to the picture above.

If you are interested on how I achieved the look, here it is!

MATERIALS:

• Curling Wand/Curlers.
• Brush: Rat Tail Comb, Paddle Brush, Teasing Brush.
• Bobby Pins.
• Pomade/Gel/Hairspray.

STEPS:

1. First, I created a middle part using a rat tail comb, and then curled my hair. I used a 1" curling wand, and then used bobby pins to secure each curl. 
   
2. Second, I waited for the curls to cool, and then removed the bobby pins. Following this step, I applied a little bit of Gatsby (hair wax) to tame my baby hairs and flyaways. 
   
3. Third, I brushed out my hair using a paddle brush and made sure to tease my roots with a teasing brush to add more volume. 
4. Then, I split my hair into four sections: The two front sections for the buns, and the two back sections for the mini buns. 

• For the back two sections, I curled them up away the nape of my neck to create mini curls, and pinned them into place. 
• For the front two sections, I twisted my hair away from my face, and then secured them with elastic hairbands. I left a small strand in front of my face to help frame my face a little bit better. You don't have to do this if you don't want to.

• Next, I twisted each front section upward into itself to create cinnamon roll shaped buns, and then secured each bun with bobby pins. 

Ta-Da! Here is the end result:

I hope you enjoyed this mini tutorial, and will give it a try! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a comment below, or tweet me via @tran_gerine. You can also check out my day-to-day activities on Instagram via Tran_gerine. Until next time, may the force be with you, and happy styling!

xo

Melissa

That's a Wrap!

Happy Holidays!

It feels great to be back. To catch you up to speed, the last couple of weeks or so have been quite hectic due to work and the flu. Luckily, things seem to be looking up, and I am back on track. I feel focused again, and am starting to resume some of my favorite hobbies (one being blogging of course). Hooray!!!

Since Christmas is approaching in a few days, I thought that it would be good to reflect on the year. Overall, I feel blessed to have my close friends and family always by my side. I honestly don't think that I could get through this year without them. They have been my biggest support through thick and thin, and they always inspire me to become a better person each day. Despite having to work through this holiday season, I feel at peace knowing that we are in constant contact with each other and that we will see each other when we get the chance.

On another note, I am looking forward to going to mass and embracing the spiritual side of Christmas. I love seeing the community come together to celebrate this special day, and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. (Hint: It's not about the presents either.)

Also looking back, 2014 was a year a huge self-development and improvement for me. For starters, I went on my first cross-country trip to Orlando with my best friend. That was something that had both dreamed of doing forever, but never got around to doing. We made a vow to ourselves to be doers, not sayers. So we packed up our bags and spend a relaxing week at Walt Disney World this past February. 

Secondly, this was the year that I got my first salaried role. It challenged me that if I wanted something really badly, that I would have to work really hard for it. Three jobs and an internship later, I got the job of my dreams. Honestly, it has one of been one of the biggest blessings I have received this year. It's taught me the value of hard work as well as how important it is to come out of your shell. Before this job, I was a very private and low-key person. I was extremely introverted, and kept a lot of my ideas to myself. Since taking this role, I have been a lot more extroverted and brave to share my ideas publicly.

Thirdly, 2014 has taught be to love myself more. I used to care a lot about what people thought about me, my ideas, and my beliefs. Now, I stand up for myself when I see injustice, and I love my body more. Body image is not as big of a deal as it used to be, and my health takes more precedence over six pack abs, thigh gaps, and all of that other nonsense.  

Looking forward, I can't wait until New Years Eve. It's also another time of reflection of the past year, as well as a time of new beginnings, goals, and dreams. Oh boy, you best bet that I've got a lot of big things I'd like to achieve next year. Embarking on my 25th birthday, there's so much I'd like to do. I want to continue to travel and see the world, as well as grow in my professional development and learn new things. I would love to learn more about video production, vlogging, photography, the fashion industry, and marketing management as a whole. I am constantly curious, will always find a way to pursue things that interest me.

Alright, that's all for now. I hope you all will have a happy holiday season and an even better new year! If you would like to connect or keep up with my daily shenanigans, you can find me on Twitter or Instagram via @tran_gerine. Talk to you all again soon! 

xoxo

Melissa

Vintage Vibes

Happy November!

It's finally Friday, and it feels so good! I hope everyone's week went well! Today, I spent my day off running errands and getting my hair cut. It was quite a productive day! My outfit of the day is a lovely dress that I purchased from One Of My Kind Vintage.

Funny story...

I came across this lovely shop by accident while browsing Instagram. From the moment I visited the page, I fell in love with their clothing. Every piece is carefully curated, and the clothes are in excellent condition.

This particular dress quickly caught my on Instagram. From the high collar neckline, to the lace detailing, to the beaded fastenings on the back, this dress was nothing that was short of perfect. I immediately put it in my cart, without any hesitation. I have to say, this is probably one of my favorite vintage pieces that I've purchased. It came in the mail well packaged, and did not resonate with that "old smell" that usually accompanies most used clothing items. The dress was in good condition, and fit quite well. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase.

If you like vintage clothing like I do, I encourage you to check their blog out at One Of My Kind Vintage. If you are feeling more ambitious, you can also visit their ebay page here: http://stores.ebay.com/One-Of-My-Kind-Vintage. That's all for now! I hope that everyone will have a wonderful weekend! Until next time...

xo

Melissa

"Inner Beauty"

Hello again!

Today, I thought that it would be really fun to get into the 'spirit' of things and start brainstorming ideas for Halloween. I know what you're thinking, "Melissa, isn't it over a month away?" Well, coming from a work background where Halloween time begins about halfway through September each year, I would say that I am pretty much on track.

If you've taken a peek at my Instagram today, you might have noticed my pale complexion and sunken cheeks. Today's look is inspired by a fusion of one of my favorite holiday themed attractions, Haunted Mansion Holiday, and Dia de los Muertos. I've always been fascinated in intricate details of the attraction as well as the unique costume pieces of the Cast Members. I will say that the Haunted Mansion maid costume one of my favorite ensembles in the in the park (after Indiana Jones Adventure of course). I also love the sugar skull look of Dia de los Muertos. It brings back fond memories of decorating sugar skulls in middle school.

I wanted to recreate the maid look without necessarily breaking the bank. If you're interested in how I did it or would like ideas for your next Disney bounding date for Mickey's Halloween Party, here's how I did it:

MAKEUP:

1. First, I made sure to wash my face to ensure a clean palette for the makeup.
2. Then, I used a disposable foundation sponge and ran it under the sink with a little bit of water, making sure to squeeze out any excess water. (Tip: You want your sponge a little bit damp but not soaking wet.)
3. Next, I used the white cream makeup that I purchased from Target for $1.00 and applied it all over my face. Once it dried, I repeated the process two more times.
4. Then, I used a clean thin paint brush with some Maybelline gel liner to outline (and fill) the hollows of my eyes, contour my face, and outline (and fill) the tip of my nose. I also added a bit of medium purple eyeshadow from the Wet 'n' Wild palette below to the hollows of my eyes for more color definition.
5. After that, I used a new, slightly damp foundation sponge, and dipped it in a little bit more white cream make up and blended out the the lines that I created with my gel liner to create depth and dimension to my face. (Tip: Keep blending outward until you get the desired gradation to your face.)
6. Next, I used my Wet 'n' Wild lipstick in Sugar Plum Fairy, used another clean paint brush to create petals around my eyes. I also used the lipstick to add a hint of color in the gradation areas by dabbing the product to those areas and blending the color out with my clean fingers.
7. Lastly, I created some cobweb and teeth designs to the lower portion of my face with my Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner. (Tip: You can do whatever designs you'd like. Have fun, and be creative!)

HAIR: 

To be honest, that I just pulled back my hair into a messy bun. I think it was pretty appropriate for the emaciated, dead maid look, don't you think?

CLOTHES/ACCESSORIES:

• For my "dress", I wore a white buttoned up blouse, and wore a dark green sleeveless top over it. To cover my arms even further, I also wore a long, black cardigan that I had around the house.
• My bow tie was created using a pair of torn knitted leggings that I had. I merely took scissors and cut it into a jagged strip, and tied it around my neck.
• For my headband, I actually purchased it at Disneyland. They were selling it at Port Royal, so unfortunately, I did not make this item. I wish it did. It looks so easy to make! 
• I wore a pair of white gloves. They're pretty inexpensive and cost about $1.00.
• Lastly, I couldn't forget the lantern! I purchased this at Target for $3.00. (Tip: If you want to be on the safe side, use battery operated flickering tea candles instead of the real thing.)

There you have it, my 'spooktacular' Haunted Mansion maid look. I hope you enjoyed it, and will give it a try, whether you will be dressing up for Halloween or attending Mickey's Halloween Party. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave a comment below or tweet me via @tran_gerine. You can also follow me on my Instagram at tran_gerine. Have a great night, and I will be back next time with another post! :)

xo 

Melissa

DIY: Over the Moon

Hello!

I apologize for the long hiatus, but I am back with another DIY inspired by one of my favorite boutiques, Miniola Vintage! Fuchsia has been a really hot color trend this spring, and I absolutely fell in love with the color combo. A couple of months ago, I saw this vintage inspired, half-moon spring nail photo on their blog, and thought I would give the DIY a go! Here is their blog link: http://miniola.tumblr.com/post/77477516316/http-petarudd-com-photography-by-peta-rudd. Although there was not a tutorial on the blog, I decided to use my interpretative skills to try to recreate the look. How did I do?

HOW I RECREATED THE LOOK:

• NAILS:
• WHAT YOU WILL NEED: 
1. Base coat polish.
2. Gold nail polish (I used Essie "Good as Gold"). 
3. Fuchsia nail polish (I used Essie "Big Spender").
4. Top Coat polish.
5. Paper hole reinforcement stickers. You can find them in the office section of the store or here: http://www.amazon.com/Avery-Hole-Reinforcements-Diameter-White/dp/B00006IBUZ.
• STEPS:
1. First, clip and file your nails. Trim your cuticles if desired.
2. Use your base coat polish, and let it dry.
3. Next, paint one coat of the gold nail polish, and let it dry COMPLETELY. This is very important! 
4. Use your paper hole reinforcement stickers and cover the lower third of your nails. Make sure the sticker adheres well, ensuring that there are no openings for the fuchsia nail coat to seep through.
5. Paint the top portion of your nails using the fuchsia nail polish. Let that coat dry, and repeat this step one more time.
6. Once the fuchsia nail coat has dried, carefully peel off the paper hole reinforcement stickers.
7. Apply a generous coat of top coat polish to add shine and prevent nail chipping.
8. All done! Enjoy!

• DIY MIDI RINGS:
• WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
1. Gold craft wire. I used a 16-gauge wire. I bought mine at a craft store, but you can also find it here: http://www.amazon.com/Gauge-Gold-Wire-Yard-Spool/dp/B006546APY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399571568&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=darbo+gold+wire+16. 
2. Wire cutter.
3. Pliers (if desired, to shape the wire into your own designs).
4. Glue gun.
• STEPS:
1. Pull some gold craft wire, and wrap it around a round a cylinder object about the size of your finger. I wrapped my wire around the cap of the Essie nail polish container, because it was convenient. Wrap your wire around as many times as you wish. 
2. Use the pliers to shape the ring into your desired shape.
3. Trim the wire with a wire cutter.
4. Use a glue gun to glue the ends. Once the glue dries on the ends, it will prevent cuts and chafing on your fingers.
5. Done! Enjoy! 

There you have it! Two DIY tutorials all in one package. I hope you enjoyed my interpretative Miniola Vintage inspired nail and midi ring tutorial! If you are interested in visiting their online boutique shop, you can find it here: https://www.miniola.co.uk/shop. I hope you will give these DIY projects and will give them a try! If you have any questions or would like to show me your DIY results, feel free to leave me a comment below, or tweet me via @tran_gerine. Good luck and have a great week!

xo

Melissa