Girl Crush of the Week: Lena Dunham

I love the TV show Girls. Like hardcore. Hannah is the Carrie Bradshaw of our generation and I love it. And because of this recent love of all things Lena Dunham, I've been inspired to make weekly posts (or monthly, who knows how often I'll end up being inspired) about my favourite ladies. Girl crushes, feminine idols, lady-spirations, if you will.

 

 I don't know how people can say she's unattractive. Look at those eyes, man. She's gorgeous.

Anyway, I digress. Looking at her, being 26 and being as successful she is on her first big project puts hope into my mind that everything will be okay. While there is plenty of criticism of Girls - that it's only about privileged white girls - the people giving that criticism apparently isn't aware that Lena's generation, my generation, is an entitled one. I don't like to admit that, because I'm a 23-year-old with a part time job who still lives at home rent-free and my parents still pay my car insurance. But we are an entitled generation. It's as simple as that. But to be honest, who made us that way really? I'm looking at you, Baby Boomers.

That's also not the point of this. Lena is a voice for my generation not only as a young female who has made it in Hollywood, but she's done it on her own terms. Basically her entire media existence is a big middle finger to the Hollywood archetype. I made a whole video about Lena and the overwhelming fat-shaming that is directed at her on my YouTube channel, which got a bit of flack from sexist pricks, but it did get an overwhelmingly positive response. You can watch it at the bottom of this post if you haven't already.

This seemingly average woman has bared it all on HBO, and in doing that she has become a role-model for those of us who aren't shaped like Eva Longoria. And she got several damn Golden Globes for it, too. How cool is that? 

It's pretty damn cool in my book. Last year alone, besides the first season of Girls, she signed a book deal, released a nail polish collection with Deborah Lippmann, and made a video for Barack Obama's YouTube channel during the election, which got a lot of unnecessary hate from right-wing conservatives. 

She's three year's older than me, and by this time she was making her first film, Tiny Furniture. I want to make a movie! I want to be successful! I want to make an impact! While our generation is certainly the entitled one, it's definitely the most creative, and Lena is such a great role model to strive to be like. At least for me. I have never had so many "a-ha!" moments as I did during the first season of Girls. 

Lena, you are my queen.

Gettin' Thrifty With It: Military Jacket

This jacket is the pride and joy of my thrifted finds. My mom and I found it at a flea market several years ago, and it's still one of the best things that I own. I used to call it my "Michael Jackson" jacket. Seriously, how perfect is it?

On this day, Sarah and I set up in a basically abandoned parking lot down in University Place, with a bunch of teenagers gawking at our awkward poses. Oh maybe they were marveling at my shiny hair. I mean not to boast, but how great does my hair look in this lighting? I just dyed it again, using Revlon Colorsilk in Burgundy (cheapest hair dye in the drug store hell yeah).

I paired it with another thrifted find, this sheer floral top I found at the Gig Harbor Goodwill. It fits a bit funky, but that's why I wear it with a jacket. Sometimes I can't give up a cute top for $4, even if the fit isn't perfect.

Scarves & Stripes

I love scarves. All kinds of scarves. My hair is nice and grown out now, but for two years I had some form of a pixie cut, so scarves were my best friends in the winter. This one I actually got as a gift a couple years ago from my aunt, and it came from Icing, of all places!

On this particular day, Sarah and I actually had a bit of a hard time finding somewhere to shoot. It's always difficult finding places down in Tacoma where there aren't too many people, so we eventually settled here, outside this restaurant in an old building. I liked the brick and rod iron fence.

Red Lip Series: Tarte Glamazon in Wild!

I realized the other day that I have a lot of red lipsticks. I mean, not an obscene amount like I know some people have, but a good amount for a little series on this here blog!

I figured I'd start with my newest addition to my collection: Tarte's Glamazon lipstick in Wild. It's a deep blue-based red, slightly similar to Mac's Russian Red (which I don't own, btw) but a drastically different finish.
 

As you can see, it's a glossy to satin finish lipstick. When it first goes on it's quite glossy, but once it dries down it's a nice comfortable satin finish. Tarte boasts that this lipstick is long-wearing, and I can attest to that. I fell asleep in my makeup the other day (I KNOW, IT'S BAD), and I woke up and my lipstick was still on. It wears nicely through eating and drinking, and I lasted a good 5 hours on me, and that's pretty good for me.

MY FAVOURITE BRUSHES!

I recently put in an order for some more Sigma brushes after I became an affiliate and OH MY GOSH AM I GLAD THAT I DID. That order and my recent love for Real Techniques brushes prompted me to make a blog post about my all time favourite face and eye brushes. I figured photos would be more helpful than a video, anyway.

Here are my favourite eye brushes, consisting of Mac, Real Techniques, Sigma, and one lone Makeup Geek brush. 

L to R: Sigma E40, Sigma E30, Mac 217, MUG Stiff Dome brush (I bought this one when I was looking for a dupe for the 217), RT brow brush, RT eye shader brush.

Gettin' Thrifty With It: Old Man Sweater

There are a lot of items I'm proud to say that I have found while thrifting, but these leather boots are definitely one of my proudest finds. I picked them up at the Gig Harbor Goodwill of all places about two years ago. I remember I stopped to pick up a pair of cheap throwaway shoes because I had worn the wrong shoes to go to a show in. They were tall, uncomfortable and just entirely inappropriate for a concert where I'd be standing for a good 3-4 hours. So when I stumbled upon these beauties in the bin that hadn't even been put on the shelves yet, it was a sign from a higher power that they had to be mine.

Along with the boots, the top came from the Gig Harbor Goodwill, just a simple t-shirt with mint stripes. My sweater and skirt are a couple other great finds - two of many from Urban Xchange down in Tacoma. It's definitely one of my favourite thrift stores to scour, because it is so picky that there really isn't as much junk to dig through. However, because the selection is so small, there aren't a lot of options for my size 10 self. Thankfully, this sweater came from the men's section.

Makeup Tips for Glasses

I finally got around to uploading this video last night, as I recorded it a few days ago and had people vote which video they wanted me to upload on Facebook.

Here are some tips I've come up with as a person who regularly rocks the specs and doesn't like to be boxed in (so to speak) in what makeup I can and cannot wear.

Best wishes! -Abby

Down in Rose City

I'd say that Portland is my second favourite city. 

I joined some friends this weekend for a mini-trip to Portland on Thursday. They are still there, but I came home last night since I had to work today. We spent the couple days testing out card games, walking around the city, getting accosted by homeless people and angry skateboarders, searching for our favourite Korean barbecue food truck, and watching Birdemic: Shock and Terror. Oh the bird noises, the terrible, terrible bird noises. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you do.

But while we were there, I couldn't help but notice how damn fashionable and adorable some of my friends are. So I made them pose for me for some street-style pictures.

Jacket: Target. Scarf: H&M. Boots: Madden Girl. Skirt: H&M. Tights: Macy's. Top: Cotton On. (Australian shop) Bag: Thrifted.

Wishful Thinking: January

1. UNIF Abbey Skirt - Dolls Kill // 2. Matiko The Florence - Miss KL // 3. Clover Joyed Dress - Modcloth // 

4. Makeup Forever Aqua Rouge - Sephora // 5. MINKPINK Jazz Club Legging - Urban Outfitters

I thought about doing a monthly wish list for things that I've been particularly ogling over on the many online boutiques that I browse on the daily. 

Seriously, it's getting to be unhealthy.

This month there really isn't any rhyme or reason to the products that I have my eyes on (these posts definitely don't meant that they will all be mine). I saw Rachel make a video recently about the Makeup Forever Aqua Rouge, and I have been looking for a kiss-proof lipstick lately, so I might have to drop by Sephora one of these days to check out the colors.

Also, I just have to say that MINKPINK is definitely one of my favourite new brands. I find myself wanting to buy all the things, either at Karmaloop or Urban Outfitters. It's bad for my bank account.

Speaking of bank account, I'm trying to fund my whole way to Vidcon this year, so if you are in need of a wedding photographer (I charge no more than $1000), a baby photographer, a concert photographer, or just general portraits, shoot me a line and we'll get something set up.

Don't forget to check out Sarah's blog Lady Go Lightly Vintage! She just posted an all-thrifted look that we shot yesterday. We decided to do a thrifted theme for the shoot this week. I like that theme. I need to try some new thrift stores, by the way. Anyone got any great ones in Tacoma or Seattle?

Best wishes!

-Abby

Frankenstein Shoes

When I first bought these shoes on Black Friday, I'd been wanting a pair of stand out shoes for awhile, and like I said in my last post - I can't really do the whole Lita thing, because I would even more giant than I already am. But after a friend of mine from YouTube bought her Creepers, I fell in love with them. They reminded me of like 80s punk rock and sca bands. I don't know why. And now that I look at them in photos, they don't look as "mondo" as the title suggests. 

When I first put them on, my mom said they looked like "Frankenstein shoes." I can't say I disagree, but a really fashion forward Frankenstein.

 

It was raining that day when Sarah and I were shooting, so we were in and out of her little dollhouse, but thankfully I was wearing a damn rain coat anyway.

 

The coat is John Rocha from Debenhams, but funnily enough I found it at the Goodwill in Bellingham. Someone had put a seam through the sleeves to make the wrist opening smaller, but I took a seam ripper to them to loosen them up.

The vest is Cabela's, but I can assure you that it hasn't seen any elk or pheasant deaths. At least I don't think so. I "borrowed" it from my sister's closet, but we do that a lot.

Yabba Dabba DRESS!

So last week Sarah and I did our first little blog session for each other, and I've just now actually gotten the photos, because someone doesn't know how to use file-sharing sites. We had a nice little afternoon (with sun!) at Wright Park in Tacoma. It's kind of a go-to place for photos, just because it's so big and has a nice bit of lawn and a lot of trees. Plus, there's free parking.

This was honestly my first purchase from Modcloth, and I absolutely LOVE IT. It's the Fine Sprint Dress (oh god the puns), but I think they should change the name to the Yabba Dabba Dress. Seriously, if you look at the print up close, how can it not remind you of Pebbles and Bam Bam?

It's so soft and fits quite nicely, but the color is definitely different from what the picture shows on the website. It's more of a muted pumpkin color than a true orange like you think.

I paired it with an amazing coat my mom and I found at the Gig Harbor Goodwill, for $18, but still it's a nice coat. You can see a little bit at the photo below, but the lining is PINK!

I couldn't resist doing this cheesetastic pose that you always see girls doing in mirrors with their iPhones. I mean, come on? How natural does this look?

My shoes are my perfect little Jeffrey Campbell SueBee knockoffs from Tobi.com. Unfortunately they don't have the nude color available anymore, but they do have them in a bright mint green and a bright coral. They take a bit of getting used to, but they are quite comfortable once you do.

I love flatforms for us tall girls, because it gives almost the same illusion of platform wedges, but we don't end up being 6'4" in the process. I only add 2 inches with these, instead of 6.

Also, these are great in the winter with tights or in the summer without them.
The one gripe is that if you do step on them the wrong way, there's a much better chance that you'll twist your ankle, and the strap could be a bit more durable, but for $20, I'm not complaining.

I can't for the life of me remember what brand these brown tights are, but I got them from TJMaxx in a set of two. Gotta love a 2 for 1!

Welcome Back Abby and NEW STUFF

Hey guys!
I've decided to re-boot my beauty blog for several reasons, and I wanted to welcome you back!

As you can see, I changed the name because the old one was just dumb. But what you'll expect on here are sporadic reviews of products and swatches, updates from my YouTube account, style inspirations, and outfits of the day! My friend Sarah of Lady Go Lightly Vintage and I have agreed to start trying to take each other's photos for these outfits. Neither of us have family that has a clue how to use a camera, so we've got each other's backs.

So yeah, expect at least a post a week on here, hopefully more!

Now onto the new stuff. I ordered some things the day after Christmas with the money I got from family members, and I thought I would share them with you here, since it isn't really enough for a whole video.

Mac MSF in Lightscapade

 

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Natural

Mac Candy Yum Yum (YAY!)

OCC Glitter in Mirrorball

I'm really excited to do some looks with the Mirrorball Glitter, it's just too bad it didn't get here before New Year's because I certainly would have used it in a tutorial. And that bronzer is DIVINE.

I hope you guys are looking forward to this blog as much as I am!

xoxo Abby