Tag Archives: Blog Posts

5 Bags You Need In Your Closet

When it comes to purchasing accessories to go with an outfit, the handbag is always the most expensive purchase. A good quality handbag is more than just a functional accessory; it adds mobility, creativeness, artistry, and an edge to any outfit. It is a wardrobe essential. Yes, it is nice to have purses that you don’t have to worry about from fast fashion stores. But it’s also nice to invest in a bag that will last a lifetime and that you will cherish and pass down to your future children. Here is a list of my favourite handbags that will not only keep you in style in 2021 but will also not give you buyer’s remorse because they will go out of style in the years to come. Because a well-chosen bag can last a lifetime.

For each bag style, I’ll include a high-end version as well as a more affordable version. Low prices do not always imply low value; the less expensive options are still of high quality and will last.

1.Shoulder Bag

The ideal everyday bag for work and leisure. This is the bag you’ll most likely spend the majority of your time with, so we recommend putting a little more thought and money into it. Neutral colours such as black, grey, and tan are always safe bets.

Left: Prada Cleo Bag Right: Coach Swinger Bag

2. Quilted Bag

Looking back at styles that still resonate with you today can help you distinguish between an investment and a wear for a few months then toss. A quilted bag has and will always be a must-have because it has remained popular among several generations. Every fashionista dreams about owning a channel. A tip I have is to look into purchasing a used Chanel to save money. Several sites such as The Real Real and Mine and Yours offer great quality gently used designer handbags for all price points.

Left: Chanel Classic Medium Flap Right: Rebecca Minkoff Edie Baguette Bag

3. The evening Bag

For date nights or evenings out with girls having a funky and stand-out purse is always a fun way to spice up a little black dress. These groovy styles are not limited to special occasions because you can always add more spice to an outfit.

Left: Purple Sequin Fendi Baguette Right: Naomi Watanabe x Kate Spade New York Small Camera Bag

4. The crossbody

The first bag in my collection was a crossbody purse. A crossbody bag, in my opinion, should be everyone’s first purse. It’s a wardrobe essential that’s the perfect size for carrying the essentials while remaining compact enough not to overpower your entire body.

Left: Gucci Soho Disco Bag Right: Marc Jacobs Softshot 17′ Bag

5.The Carry-all Tote Bag

A must-have for anyone who never leaves the house without their essentials. These are the bags you’ll always be glad you bought, whether it’s your monthly fashion magazine you can’t put down, extra face masks, or your touch up makeup bag, you will always have enough space. Because of their size, they can sometimes overpower your frame, so choose a canvas tote or a pop of colour.

Left: Chloe Woody logo-print canvas and leather tote bag Right: Marc Jacobs Tote Bag

XO,

Javiera Guevara

How to Style: Cowboy Boots

If you know anything about me, you must be aware that my current obsession is cowboy boots. My obsession began when I saw this photo on Julianna Citali’s Instagram. As soon as I saw the photograph, I knew I wanted my own pair of boots. To my surprise, manifestation is a real thing, or at least it seemed when I found some cowboy boots at my local value village for twenty dollars. I remember spending hours scrolling through Pinterest, desperately trying to find ways to style these black leather boots that didn’t pair them with denim shorts and a riding belt. Even though I do not wear them as much as I would like due to several reasons including having nowhere to go because of COVID and terrible weather that favours rain over the sun. I have compiled a list of my favourite ways to style cowboy boots

  • Image from @addisonrae
  • Image from @realisationpar
  • Image from @kirasutherland

1. Wear them with a dress

In the summer, my favourite way to style cowboy boots is with a dress. The rugged texture of the leather boots juxtaposed with the feminine nature of a linen dress creates the perfect balance.

Image from @juliannacitali

2.Style them overtop or under jeans

When I first started my adventure of trying to figure out how to style cowboy boots I was hesitant to wear them with jeans as I did not want to look like I just came back from horseback riding. For my 22nd birthday this year, I decided to take a leap of faith and tried styling them over top of my vintage Levi’s. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome! I can now confidently say that pairing cowboy boots with denim is not a fashion faux pas and with the right amount of confidence can be a killer outfit.

3.Make it hard core by adding leather

To add a rock and roll feel, pair your cowboy boots with a leather jacket. Leather Jackets are a wardrobe staple. You can find many versions of this versatile piece. My favourite stores to purchase leather jackets include Zara, Free People, and vintage stores such as Shop Glory Days. Combining a leather jacket with cowboy boots brings back memories of watching Lana Del Rey’s Ride music video.

Image from Pinterest.com

4.Don’t be boring

Shoes add flair to any outfit, so if you’re brave enough to wear them, don’t limit yourself to the standard black leather pair. Be bold and stand out. Cowboy boots are an excellent way to experiment with various colours and materials. Here are some photos of cowboy boots that stray away from the basic and will elevate your look to the next level

XO,

Javiera Guevara

Spring is Here!

For my last mini assignment I was tasked to make a gif for my blog and this is what I came up with!

Last week, I went to White Rock, and I can certainly say that I am officially ready for the hot weather. If you didn’t know, White Rock is this cute oceanside city in South Surrey. And fun fact, it has the longest pier in all of Canada. The palm trees and beach house vibes got me all excited for spring and summer! With all this in mind, I decided to start dressing more appropriately for the weather.

My Outfit details:

Shirt: lace bustier from Victoria Secret

Pants: Dickies High-Waisted Ankle Pant from Urban Outfitters

Socks: Nike crew socks

Shoes: Nike air force 1’s

Art In The Downtown Eastside

Graffiti on the downtown eastside saves lives. For a community disconnected from other sources of news and media, graffiti is regularly used to communicate vital information about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic…

… as well as the overdose epidemic. Often times graffiti alerts people to the quality of the drugs going around the neighborhood that week, often accompanied with messages to not use alone, and to carry Narcan.

Smokey D., (pictured next to his piece Fentanyl Kills) is the artist behind many of these murals.

The murals are also often used as a form of mourning for specific loved ones as well as the community broadly speaking. Publicizing the impacts of the overdose epidemic serves as an important reminder to the general public of the ongoing epidemic, and reminds people that the homeless and street-involved community are not to be ignored.

Lastly, the murals can be used to advocate for the rights of homeless folks, and drum up political and social motivation surrounding these issues.

After all – is there any more humane quality than creating art from pain?

Experiences With the Emergency Department

Many homeless and vulnerably housed folks do not have a GP, and instead bounce between walk in clinics and the emergency departments of various hospitals instead. This is particularly worrying for this population, who are vulnerable to a cornucopia of health problems due to a variety of factors. Unfortunately, empathy for people struggling with mental health problems and addictions is not built into our health care system.

Tonight, a resident in one of my buildings was suffering from a painful hernia, he could not stand up straight or walk on his own. Despite this, he refused to the go to the hospital without first doing laundry, taking a shower and combing his hair. A young Indigenous woman reports a similar narrative to the researchers and authors of In Plain Sight, stating “I am afraid to go to any hospital. When I do have to, I dress up like I’m going to church [in order to receive proper treatment]. It’s ridiculous.” To your or I, this seems absurd. When someone is in a crises of health, they should go to the hospital to receive emergency care.

However, that’s not how the hospital works for everyone. The experiences of Indigenous folks in the healthcare system is a whole post by itself – a whole blog by itself in fact. The colonial healthcare system has a long history of dismissing, disrespecting and abusing Indigenous Peoples, performing medical experiments on them without their consent and denying them proper standard care. Homeless folks and people who use drugs also regularly experience disrespect, neglect, and mistreatment at the hands of jaded and cynical healthcare workers in the emergency department. Their symptoms are regularly dismissed as psychosis or drug-induced, their mental health crises left untreated due to concurrent substance use, and they are often denied medication (particularly pain medication) due to perceptions that they are lying about their symptoms to obtain drugs.

The resident I mentioned above finally made it to the hospital around 3:00am after a painstaking 6 hours of laundering his clothes and showering while in unbearable pain. By 5:00am, he had returned from the hospital – discharged almost immediately, in the same condition as he had left in.

Resources for Homeless Folks In Vancouver BC

Free or Low Cost Food

Free or Low Cost Clothing

Shelters and Warming Shelters

Community Centres for People Experiencing Homelessness

  • Carnegie: outreach services, washrooms, library, meal services, drop in recreational services
  • Evelyne Saller Centre: health support services, washrooms, laundry, meal services

Book Recommendation – Never Enough by Judith Grisel

In her book “Never Enogh, the Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction”, Judith Grisel shares her unique perspective on addiction, as a neuroscientist and person in long-term addiction recovery. 

Through her education and life experience she is able to marry emotional and scientific views to drive her point home to the reader – there is no free lunch. She explains the laws of pharmacology and how the brain adapts to every drug by counteracting the drug’s effects. The opponent process theory (below) illustrates her point. On the right, we see the effects of a drug on a naive brain (in red), the response of the brain to the drug (in blue), and the experience of the user. On the left we see the same processes and experiences but in a seasoned drug user, where the brain has come to anticipate the stimulus and responds immediately and intensely when stimulated – making for a much worse high and much worse withdrawal. 

Opponent – process theory

Grisel explains all the neural processes which indicate addiction; she is the perfect yin to Gabor Mate’s yang. She illustrates her points with diagrams, graphs, and personal anecdotes, making her points clear to understand for anyone, regardless of learning style.
I can’t recommend her book highly enough, her perspectives on addiction are so unique and interesting, and her policy recommendations for addressing addiction are so pragmatic and understanding.

Frankies Bikini’s X Hailee Steinfeld Review

Images from @Frankiesbikinis

The weather in Vancouver is starting to brighten up, and by this, I mean it was sunny for two days last week, so naturally, my first thought is to begin bikini shopping for the summer. A swimsuit brand that I have been obsessed with for the past few years is Frankies Bikinis. For their latest collection, Frankies Bikinis have collaborated with Hailee Steinfeld to drop two collections this March. The release of the first assortment of bikinis was on March 9, and the second one will drop on March 22. Since the second collection is not yet available, I will only be reviewing the first one. Moreover, if you have been paying attention to the Spring/Summer 2020 fashion trend reports, you are well aware that retro 70’s-inspired patterns are a must-have for the upcoming season. Luckily for you, this collection is filled with vibrant and funky fabrics in three different colorways that will more than happily meet your vintage dreams.

This collection has a wide range of swimsuit styles, including string bikinis, cut-out one-pieces and high-rise bottoms. In terms of the size range, everything is available in XS-XL, with select pieces available, up to 2XL. My favourite aspect of this collection is the abundance of clothing apparel that can be worn with or without the swimsuits including, halter dresses and coordinating short sets. Overall, I am obsessed with the collection from start to finish. In addition to hitting the mark on all the major swimwear trends, it also provides us with cozy and chic summer clothing.

My favourite piece from the collection is the Seraphina one-piece in disco yellow. I have been looking to invest in a one-piece bathing suit for the longest time. But have yet to find one that is neither too conservative nor too revealing. This collection’s Seraphina one-piece is serving up the hottest 70’s Malibu beach babe vibe, and I’m totally digging it!

The Seraphina one-piece in Shimmy Blue

XO,

Javiera Guevara

Remix the Look: 19th Century London

If you are like me and binge-watched Bridgerton in two days, this post is for you. This week in my Pub 101 class, we were given the task to remix something relevant to our blog. I thought long and hard about this and came up with the idea of remixing 19th-century London fashion (as seen in Bridgerton) and making it more 2021 friendly.

If you have not watched Bridgerton yet, here is a quick synopsis. The show centres around Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest daughter of the respected Bridgerton family and her adventure entering the marriage market. Joining Daphne are the daughters of her neighbour, Portia Featherington (Polly Walker) and her estranged niece. Failing to attract suitors, attracting the wrong suitors, and a gossip column all add to this drama-filled show.

Besides the incredible plot and dynamic characters, the styling is what truly captivated the audience. From the embellishing on the gowns to the feathered wigs, each character outdid themselves from one episode to another. Although the fashion is immaculate, I cannot imagine myself strolling to the grocery store in a vintage ballgown. Here are some ways to incorporate 19th-century trends into your everyday life

Corsets

In the 19th-century corsets, were made stiff with heavy boning. They would mould women’s upper body into a V-shape, flattening the stomach and pushing up the breasts. Overall, corsets were uncomfortable and meant to be foundation garments that ensured straight spines and pleasing body shapes later in life. Luckily in the 21st-century, we have strayed from these restrictive and uncomfortable fashion habits, gearing more towards clothing as a form of self-expression. Corsets are a fun way to spice up your outfit. I have always been obsessed with the Vivienne Westwood corsets that have renaissance graphics on them. I enjoyed how Bella Hadid styled it with brown cargo pants, patent leather booties, and a slick back ponytail.

  • Image from Vogue.com
  • Image from Vogue.com

Bustier Tops

I would argue that the bustier top is the modern-day version of a corset. Both items can be layered over top of shirts, styled alone, and both accentuate the breasts. I am a big fan of bustier tops and love styling them with baggy jeans and platform Doc Martens. A store that I have been loving recently is Shop Flesh and Bones. It is a Depop shop that sells vintage corsets, bustier tops, and slip dresses.

  • Image from @fleshandbones
  • Image from @fleshandbones

Night Gowns

Image from Netflix.com

In the 19th-century, or at least in Bridgerton, there was a clear distinction between your day clothes and nightly garments. Sleepwear in the 19th-century was simple, white garments and the ultimate in prudence for Victorian ladies. In recent years we have seen a trend towards wearing vintage nightgowns during the day. I am obsessed with the store Eveliina Vintage on Instagram. It is a vintage store based out of Miami and New York City specializing in vintage gowns, slip dress, and sweaters. I would style a vintage nightgown with a chunky knit sweater, white leather sneakers, and a pearl necklace.

  • Image from @emiliamuss
  • Image from @eveliinvintage

Slip Dresses

I would argue that slip dresses are the modern-day version of a nightgown. Both nightgowns and slip dresses are made from lightweight materials such as silk, lace, or satin. This summer, I will be investing in a silk slip dress from Aritizia that I have had my eye on since last year. I would pair this dress with my black cowboy boots, cropped linen jacket, a pair of Raybans, and a claw clip updo.

  • Image from Artizia.com
  • Image from @oliviachatfield

xo,

Javiera Guevara

Winter Wonderland: Dressing for the Cold Weather

Last week during the reading break, my boyfriend and I went on a road trip to Golden, BC. This trip inspired this week’s blog post, where I want to discuss dressing for the cold. I know it is hard to find the motivation to look cute when the weather forecast is in the negatives, the days are short, and you are stuck inside for most of the day. However, I often find that winter fashion is the best because you can always just layer a bulky jacket over top of a not-so-weather-appropriate outfit.

Here are some of my top tips to stay fashionable this winter season

Add a pop of colour

Just because the days are dim and dark does not mean your clothing has to be. In the winter, I find myself gravitating to darker and cooler tones. However, to add a little spice and fun to my outfits, I will always incorporate some sort of colour. For Christmas, my boyfriend got me this sensationally bright orange Carharrt beanie that came in handy this road trip.

Image of me at Lake Louise

Add a Puffer Jacket

A few years ago, Aritzia revolutionized the winter fashion game when it came out with the super puff. It is safe to say that the super puff jacket is this season’s wardrobe staple. I own two different variations of the super puff, including the original one in taupe and the cloud puff in green. I love this style of jacket because it keeps you warm while allowing you to stay fashionable. I enjoy styling it with a turtle neck sweater, mini skirt, and sheer tights.

Image from @Aritzia on Instagram

Don’t forget your accessorizes

Growing up, I hated it when my mom would force me to wear scarves, mittens, and toques. I always felt suffocated with so many layers. However, as you grow up, you learn to realize that your mother always knows best. Now I cannot imagine leaving the house without at least a scarf. I love chunky and colourful scarves such as this one from Acne Studios.

Image from @linmick on Instagram

Sunglasses are NOT just for summer

If you have ever been to the snowy mountains on a sunny day, you know the importance of sunglasses. It is imperative to know that even in the winter months, bright UV exposure can cause photokeratitis. Photokeratitis is commonly referred to as snow blindness and can be very harmful. That is why you must always pack a pair of sunnies. In the winter, I go for an all-black frame as they pair nicely with everything.

No source

Your Grandma’s chunky knits are essentials

2021 trend prediction here! This recent winter season, I have been seeing chunky knit sweaters all over Pinterest. I also have recently started following Lindsay Vrckovnik on Instagram. I fell in love with her hip and trendy fashion taste. Her Instagram feed includes photos of hand-made knits, avantgarde lace dresses, and hand-dyed shirts. She is the queen of chunky over-sized knit sweaters, and I am definitely taking notes on her styling choices.

Image from @linmick on Instagram

Thoughts?

Are you experiencing colder-than-average temps right now? Do you have any tips for dressing warm while maintaining a chic aesthetic? Let me know in the comments!

xo,

Javiera Guevara

The Tik Tok Algorithm is your Worst Enemy if you Suffer or are Recovering from an Eating Disorder

In my blog, I talk a lot about fashion and the fashion industry. One topic that I want to shed light on is the fashion industry’s beauty standard. And the harmful effects it has on a girl’s body image. There is no secret that TikTok, is run by an algorithm. This algorithm has lots of power over the content you are fed. My TikTok page is filled with fashion-related content because that is the type of video that I engage with the most. Fashion-related content, however, comes at a price. Being skinny and fashion come hand in hand, and when you are shown hundreds of thin girls wearing trendy outfits, it starts to take a toll.

This next section was written for my CMNS 455 class last semester. However, I wanted to include this in my blog as well!

According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), in the United States alone 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. Eating disorders disproportionately affect teens with higher prevalence in those between the ages of 12-25. Correspondingly, TikTok’s target audience is teenagers and young adults, with 41% of users ranging between 16 and 24. This correlation is important to note as I argue that the TikTok algorithm is failing to detect pro-anorexia (pro-ana) communities from infecting the For You page which is triggering for people who are currently dealing with or are recovering from an eating disorder.   

Almost all social media platforms or visually interactive websites have fallen victim to pro-ana communities, which are spaces dedicated to promoting eating disorders by presenting graphic material to encourage and motivate site users to continue their efforts with anorexia and bulimia. The visual nature of these platforms allows for this toxic type of content to run rampant. Discovering and handling these pro-ana communities is common for web companies. In 2012, Tumblr announced that it would be banning blogs that actively promote self-harm this includes “blogs that glorify or promote anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders; self-mutilation; or suicide”. With this noticeable history of pro-eating disorder content on social media sites, it is disheartening to see that TikTok was not better prepared. TikTok released a statement saying that it will take down content that “encourages or may encourage acts that are likely to lead to physical self-inflicted injury”. Yet, this has not stopped the spread, the algorithm is not doing a well enough job detecting pro-ana content because just by watching one video related to weight loss or eating disorders it results in hundreds of suggestions of pro-ana videos on the For You page.   

The “For You” section is run by an algorithmic code, in social media algorithms aid in maintaining order, and facilitates ranking content and search results. The For You page curates a feed by showing videos that are related to your profile, location, and suggests videos that are like ones you have already engaged with. However, as the app grows in popularity the downfalls of its algorithm are starting to show. For many users such as myself who have dealt with disordered eating, the TikTok algorithm is becoming one of my worst enemies. One random suggested video can pop up and the algorithm notes on how you interact with said video. If you end up liking or watching enough videos all the way through, that is all you will see on your main feed. Moreover, simply by engaging with one video, it can lead to a spiral of more and more triggering content which can have devasting resultsIt is important to as well that the engineers who are working on the algorithm or who are screening for triggering content are most likely not able to fully understand or relate to what type of content may be triggering. It is reported that eating disorder patients often report feeling “triggered” by certain images or words. Content such as weight loss progress reports, what I eat in a day, weight loss hacks, and body checks may be triggering for some. Body checking is an obsessive behavior in which an individual focuses on certain features of his or her body, this has manifested on TikTok by people filming themselves different angles of their bodies. These types of videos are often overlooked when screening for harmful videos and continue to flood users’ homepages.  

Some may argue that the algorithm is functioning accurately, TikTok is giving users a personalized and entertaining experience and there are options to keep unwanted content out of your For You page. There is the option to select “not interested” on any videos recommended by the algorithm. Moreover, TikTok will only show eating disorder-related content if you’re already engaging with it and keep doing so. Therefore, if you actively are trying to keep this type of content out of your For You page this content will not show up. Also, social media companies’ recommendation algorithms aren’t trained to make moral and health-related judgments.   

The issue I have with this argument is that although the algorithm is not trained to make these moral or health-related judgments it is TikTok’s responsibility to keep its users safe and to create an environment that does not promote unhealthy eating habits. Researchers have reported a “clear pattern of association” between social media use and disordered eating thoughts and behaviours. Therefore, as a platform that is currently the hub for teenagers and young adults the app must uphold and maintain a safe community for all its users. Taking this all into consideration, I call on TikTok to work more closely with trained professionals to effectively handle this type of content that is landing on so many users For You page. Let this be a learning opportunity for other social media platforms to learn from so that this type of content does not infect any more sites.   

Good food, good life

Week 13 blog post

Good food doesn’t have to be complicated.

Life gets busy and it can be hard to find easy ways to fuel your mind and body with good food. Since eating well goes hand in hand with a life well lived, it only feels fitting to add a food and nutrition post this lifestyle blog. 

Some of my most favourite recipes come from the website and Instagram page “minimalist baker” where every recipe is designed to either be 10 ingredients, 1 bowl, or prepared in 30 minutes or less. Each recipe incorporates fresh fruits and vegetables and aims to provide easy meals that are fancy enough to make you feel like a professional chef. 

I have provided some of my most favourite recipes from the website below to help inspire you for your next meal!! 

Vegan Pumpkin Mac ‘n’ Cheese

 

Butternut Squash & Miso Brussels Sprouts Nourish Bowl

Curry-Roasted Vegetable & Lentil Kale Salad

Sounds for the soul

Sounds for the Soul

Week 12 blog post

music, music, and more music...

From hours upon hours of study sessions, to stretching and yoga, running, or a morning walk, music has been a pivotal player in my daily life this past month.

Below are some of my personal playlists from Spotify, designed to amplify good vibes and provide a soundtrack to a life well lived. 

1) Ebb & Lofi flo: “Flowing strictly for the vibes” . This is a playlist created with the intent of flowing effortlessly in the background and cleanse the mind during study sessions and my daily yoga/stretching routines. All of the songs are instrumental, however the ebb and flow of each melody is sometimes exactly what is needed to to reset the mind after a busy day. 

2) Equinox: “Equal parts day and night”. This playlist was made with the intention of being a soundtrack to go alongside the seasonal transition from summer to fall. Containing happy and light songs for bright & crisp fall days while also having some more mellow, rainy day songs that make you want to watch raindrops fall. 

3) Sandpiper pl/ flo days: “Summer sunshine, winding roads, and crisp waves”. This playlist was the soundtrack to summer 2020 and will forever make me nostalgic for those carefree days spent on the beach, surfing, and lazing in the sun with good music and good people. 

Enjoy.

The Importance of Mental Health Awareness

This photo was taken back in 2018. It’s crazy to think about how much has changed and how that rollercoaster seems to resemble a bit of what life feels like at the moment. A constant yet unsteady flow of ups and downs contributing to what feels like a never-ending ride. Throughout the years, I’ve dealt with anxiety and seen the ways it has affected various aspects of my life. Whether it involved me being constantly worried about what I was saying, having anxious thoughts about the small/mundane decisions of life, or even experiencing panic attacks when thinking about the future. There’s no lever that stops the ride, it just keeps going.

To be honest, I’ve spent a large part of my past in fear of the future and failing. Social media has made the act of comparing so easy when we are presented a highlight reel of the best moments of someone else’s life. Oftentimes we don’t share our struggle until we’ve actually gone through it because we are worried about being a bother or a burden. But if you’re reading this please know that you aren’t. Please reach out to those around you or a professional who is prepared to help guide you through your difficult seasons. To those reading this with loved ones struggling, please stay informed on ways you can support and love them through challenging times.

I, alongside my friends over at @sanctuarymentalhealth want to help tear down walls of stigma through sharing stories/experiences while informing others and helping those who are hurting know that they aren’t alone. Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries is a Christian non-profit that equips the Church to support mental health and wellbeing. I have partnered with them to share a few of the many resources they have to prepare communities of faith around the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health and promote mental wellbeing. The primary tool that Sanctuary offers is The Sanctuary Course, an eight-week study guide for small groups and anyone who wants to learn about faith and mental health. You can access the course for free on their website or visit @sanctuarymentalhealth for more info!

The post The Importance of Mental Health Awareness appeared first on Marylou Villegas.

Life In Quarantine

It sucks being confined within four walls — not just physically but also mentally. When I came back from San Diego at the beginning of November, I had to isolate myself in my room for 2 weeks. This meant I couldn’t go out for walks or even to the kitchen to get some midnight snacks. It didn’t help that both my mom and sister work/study in the essential work-field of the hospital so they were extra cautious to stay away from me.

To summarize, this is what my days consisted of:

  • sleeping
  • crying
  • doing school work
  • crying again
  • watching Netflix/school
  • sleeping

I think many of us take the freedom of roaming around our homes for granted. In my room thoughts were contained and chaotic. I would argue that I’m the type of person who likes to stay busy and having things planned out day-to-day. With all that extra time on my hands, I found it difficult to focus and stay on-task. I spoke with various friends who expressed their feelings of stress, anxiety and mastering the art of procrastination. Due to the current circumstances, I don’t blame anyone for wanting to take a break or take time away from social media for awhile.

Since being out of quarantine, I’m embraced and have incorporating a few important things into my life. This includes:

  • daily walks
  • morning devotionals to get my head & heart ready for the day
  • half a glass of kombucha in the morning
  • telling my family and friends how thankful I am to have them

As difficult as it is to be apart from certain friends and family, I’m grateful for the advancements made in technology that have allowed me to stay connected while being apart. Although this isn’t how I would have expected to spend my last semester of university, I’m thankful for the skills it has taught me. I think I have finally found my rhythm and learned to use my time-management skills to stay organized and on-top of deadlines and exams.

I am super thankful that after the 2 weeks I was fine and covid-free but wouldn’t recommend travelling out of the country during a global pandemic. Also wouldn’t recommend long-distance relationships (but I’ll save that story for another blog post).

God bless and take care!

The post Life In Quarantine appeared first on Marylou Villegas.

1 Colour and 1 Brush: How to line paint

Hi Everyone! Today I will be teaching you guys about line paintings 🙂

Line paintings are the best if you love something minimalistic or want to create something simple. These types of paintings are definitely a fan favourite when my friends ask me to paint them something and I love painting it for them.

Although I want to say that line paintings are easy, they do take some time to paint because you need to get your hand super steady and make sure your lines are even in thickness. But in the end, it is all worth it, trust me and trust the process!

Supplies Needed

  • A canvas of your choice
  • A thin paintbrush for crisp lines
  • White Paint (or whatever colour your canvas is or will be)
  • Black paint (or whatever paint colour you would like your line to be)
  • Water Cup with water inside
  • Paper Towel
  • Optional: Picture from online you want to draw

If you aren’t too comfortable with drawing or want to take inspiration from elsewhere, you can trace a picture onto your canvas. Check out a blog post I wrote on how to do this here.

With that being said, a pencil sketch isn’t necessary. If you are confident with your stroke or want to let the paint brush take control, go for it! But if you do mistakes, don’t worry. You can simply cover up any mistakes with a swipe of white paint or whatever colour your canvas is.

Heres an example of one that I painted for a friend of mine.

If you are interested in more of my paintings, check out my gallery!

Thats all for today, I hope you enjoyed!

<3 Carissa

The post 1 Colour and 1 Brush: How to line paint appeared first on the Power of Painting.

My Musical Inspirations

Right off the bat I can say that my dad has always been/will always be one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to music. The moment he handed baby Marylou that karaoke mic, he knew music would be a big part of my life. Since the beginning my dad was someone who always pushed me to learn new instruments, join singing competitions and claims to forever and always be my “#1 fan”. I feel very lucky to have been raised by a man like him. He taught me the importance of never giving up and what the power of hard-work can do in your life.

Here’s a video my dad and I made to celebrate Father’s Day! (2018 throwback)

I knew that when my parents first immigrated to Canada and had my sister and I, we didn’t have very much to our name. My parents have worked so hard to build a life for us and made sure that we experienced life with the gift of music. Because of my parents, I grew up listening to various different artists like Micheal Jackson, Destiny’s Child, Celine Dion, Micheal Bolton, Air Supply, Journey, Stevie Wonder, Etc. I think this allowed me to appreciate the beauty in different genres but also helped determine my love for R&B. In terms of my sound, I would probably say that I fit into the category of Acoustic R&B. I’m not a very big fan of the EDM/Electronic genre nowadays and tend to feature more guitar/piano in my original songs.

I would say that the amount of artist that influence my music are too many to list down. However if I had to choose, the two main artist I look towards for inspiration would be Tori Kelly and Mac Ayres. Tori Kelly was someone I watched on YouTube growing up and was what helped inspire me to want to learn how to play the guitar. I admire her authenticity as an artist as well as the pureness in her voice. Mac Ayres on the other hand, is an artist I find myself listening to 24/7. I’m always trying to learn the chord progressions to his catchy tunes and have more recently been shifting my sound towards his similar groove.

As a musician I think it’s so important to be listening to music and artists that inspire you! By doing so, you can find a mix and develop your sound.

The post My Musical Inspirations appeared first on Marylou Villegas.

Fighting Fear in Fear Obsessed Media

Let’s talk about fear.

COVID has been a scary thing hasn’t it? I was reading a friend’s post online about how this pandemic has been a shared traumatic experience and this is consciously and subconsciously affecting all of us.

Recently I’ve been feeling discouraged. I’ve been feeling like things are continually getting more bleak and less joyful. Maybe it’s because of the rain or the shorter days, but I think it’s also due to the underlying fear a lot of us are feeling with the looming numbers of COVID-19.

So how do we deal with fear? Do we run away and pretend it’s not there? Do we get angry and blame the people around us? Or do we confront it and try to find what’s really going on within our soul?

This podcast from Bridgetown Church features Tristen Collins, a therapist in Portland, Oregon, and she talks about how fear can often hinder us from living a life that is free and filled with joy. Take a listen to hear Tristen’s definition of fear, what fear looks like in different individuals, and how we can address the fear in our lives.

Tristen Collins shares about fear and learning from our emotions.

This presents a Christian perspective on fear and how God views emotions, but it also presents practical advice on how to address our fear and begin moving past it.

Throughout the podcast, Tristen reminds us that all of our emotions are good and valid, even though not all of them feel nice. She quotes Mr. Rogers who said, ‘There’s no should or should not when it comes to having feelings. They are part of who we are, and their origins are beyond our control.”

Tristen emphasizes that all our feelings are valuable, and what we do with them will affect the rest of our lives.

There’s no should or should not when it comes to having feelings. They are a part of who we are and their origins are beyond our control.

Mr. Rogers

I hope this podcast brings you peace today and reminds you that there is healing from the pain we are currently feeling.

Keep journeying on friends 😊

Rain thoughts.

Week 11 blog post

“Write something you want to read, something that speaks to you, because when you write for yourself in a way that fuels your own passion and enjoyment, you’ll win every time.”

As I sit here – on a cold grey day, listening to the rain tapping on the window while a vinyl record spins and crackles softly in the background, I can think of all the million things I could be writing, but none of which I truly feel inspired to share right now. I could write about adventures that I’ve embarked on, or about my love for hiking or skiing. I could try to inspire others to ignite a sense of ambition and perseverance, and push the limits of human potential. I could be writing to transport you to a new world through words of fantasy, heroism, or love. However, as I sit alone (for the first time in days) in my empty house, none of these things are what speak to me. And if none of that speaks to me right now, why would I expect it to ever relate to you?

In this moment, the only words I want to read are ones that pull me closer to the present, and rather than escape to a new world, all I want to write are words that keep me grounded in my own.

So here it is:

Sip your coffee slowly. Not every day has to be your wildest adventure. Sometimes a life well lived is the very notion of recognizing the present. Recognizing that you are living, and that that is enough. Allow yourself to watch the raindrops that hit your window. Watch them dance along the glass. Listen to the silence that echoes through your house once the needle lifts from the groove on your record. Take these precious moments of your alone time and use them to nourish yourself. Speak to yourself, but speak softly. Be kind, be patient, be gentle. Allow yourself to breathe. We use so much energy filling our brain with the need to think think think, and the need to be five steps ahead of the present moment, but sometimes it’s okay not to think at all. If you don’t start learning to indulge yourself in little mundane moments such as this, how will you ever learn to be present in the bigger ones? Find your calm, because life will always be crazy. Wether it’s the non stop demands of school, a busy job, or the chaos of constantly trying to please those around you, there will always be the need to take a breath. So use this moment you have right now. Put this blog post away, and listen to the world . Take this moment for yourself, because much like when you write for your own enjoyment, learning to steal moments for you and only you will become an oasis for your mind.

the sun’s solace

Week 10 blog post

The sun will rise,

and we will try again.

Peeking through the sky,

it will shine it’s light,

spreading warmth into corners once dark,

melting the ice that had been frozen in place.

The sun will sing,

a cheerful melody,

carrying a tune of second chances.

In an endless circle,

the sun will dance,

trying again,

and again,

to make things right.

At the end of the day the sun will set,

and whisper its final breath,

a soft solace,

that everything will be okay.

So for now

we too can rest,

and save our worries,

for when the sun rises again.

Mini Assignment #6 – Make a Gif

For this week’s mini assignment we were asked to create our own gifs! Essentially, gifs can be defined as a graphical interchange format. They are known as a series of images or soundless videos that will loop continuously and is not reliant on anyone having to press play. Thanks to makeagif.com, I was able to put together a gif featuring myself and the instruments I can play!

This includes:

  • the acoustic and electric guitar
  • the bass
  • ukulele
  • piano
  • clarinet

The post Mini Assignment #6 – Make a Gif appeared first on Marylou Villegas.

Life Update -> Engagement!!!!!!

Crazy news: I got engaged this weekend!

Okay real talk. I have been so distracted this week by thinking about wedding things, how COVID will affect things, and just general JOY that I have not really been able to get any school work done, so I thought for this next blog post I would write a little bit about what happened and what’s next!

A couple of weeks ago, my boyfriend (Jeremiah) and I drove up to Whistler to hike and enjoy the outdoors. It was a great time, but when we got home I realized I had left my purse in a café we stopped at during the day.

My whole purse. Wallet. Keys. ID. I was freaking out.

Thankfully, we had been planning to spend some time together that following Friday, so we decided we would just drive back up there, get my purse and enjoy the snow.

Meanwhile, Jeremiah was out buying champagne, tuxedo cake and wrapping a decoy gift in preparation of proposing!

The funny thing was he told me he was doing all of these things, so I just thought he was trying to cheer me up and plan a fun date. I had no idea what was coming.

Friday arrives: We both work in the morning and then head out around 2pm to retrieve my purse! Thankfully the shop owner has contacted me and let me know we could come pick it up. That was the biggest relief!

Our mission was complete and it was still quite early in the day, so Jeremiah suggests we go play in the snow! Why not? We are in Whistler after all.

We drive up to this lake we had been to before and there is so much snow! We put on our warmest clothes, grab the champagne and head outside!

We find a spot to sit, and Jeremiah pops the champagne and pours it into some glasses. He sets it up fancy and then tells me we need to take a picture to capture the moment. It’s dark by this point, so he asks me to stand in this spot and shine a light so we can get a good shot. At this moment I stand up, thinking he’s being a little bit silly, and then he gets down on one knee, and asks me to marry him!

The picture from right before he proposed!

Okay. At this point I thought I would be so smooth and graceful. But in reality I was surprised and awkward, but so so thrilled! I fumbled out a yes and here we are!

The week following has been really funny. We are trying to let all our friends know while abiding by COVID guidelines and it’s all been a funny combination of excitement, anticipation and stress.

With all of that being said, this is good news.

I didn’t want to share this story to paint a picture of my beautiful life and distort reality, but I wanted to share some good news in the face of a world that seems to only generate bad news.

Our relationship has been far from perfect. I am constantly freaking out and making mistakes, and we are constantly learning to forgive and understand one another. Each day is a journey that we are taking toward creating a healthy relationship.

I hope this post brought you a little bit of joy today. And if the world is making you feel overwhelmed and afraid, I would like to leave you with some wise words from Abraham Lincoln:

This too shall pass.

(Onward to Pinterest boards and wedding planning!)