This weeks Cravings...

No not craving for sweets or any other food, but for an...

Acrylic Photo Block...

 This one was given to me by my best friend for my birthday and I love it! I actually got teary eyed when I opened it. This picture was taken at my Niece's Christening {I am also her Godmother} which was extra special to me that my friend chose this to have personalized for me...Thank you so much Lindy!!! Now that I have another niece I want to get another one!

You can get these Acrylic Photo Blocks from Tiny Prints

These Photo Blocks make great gifts!

New Pair of Tennis Shoes...

I found these Reebok tennis shoes and they were exactly the colors I was looking for and the reviews all said how comfortable and light weight they were...score:)

 ZQuick TR 3.0  (right pic) ZCut (left pic)

I also saw these wedge boots in the mix while looking for the tennis shoes. Also available in this color

This Sequined Tank top...

This tank top from Romwe is perfect for a date night or dinner with friends. Put on a pair of jeans, heels and blazer and you are ready for a night out on the town!

Apron...

 How cute are these aprons!  

sassy black (left)     pink floral (middle)    Country Chic (right)

More choices available on Flirty Apron, great gift ideas as well!

**I receive a small commission from affiliate links. All content is written by me as well as all being something I am passionate about.

Pround Aunt of 2!!!

 Congratulations to my Brother and Sister-in-law!!! They welcomed their second daughter Adrine Belle, on Sunday, May 24 at 10:44am, weighing 7lb 4oz.

The Meguerditchian's

Baby Adrine

So Blessed to have these healthy, beautiful girls as my nieces!

Her normal beautiful smile                                                                      Her new funny face!

 While Mommy and Baby were still in the hospital and getting ready to go home, Big Sister Lilit stayed the night at Grandma (Medz Mama{Armenian}) and Grandpa's ( Dede {Armenian}) House. Never a dull moment with this little one. She started making a new funny face! and she new when she made that face we would start laughing, so randomly she would stop whatever she was doing, look at us and start making her funny face, and of course we would laugh and tell her how funny she is:) My niece also thought it was funny to wiggle herself into the little wardrobe she has for her toys and then close the door. One thing this little girl loves is the outdoors, but the day was gloomy and rainy so my mom and I took her to the mall to get her out the house for a little while. There she played on the kids rides which she had a blast, and didn't want to leave.

Before the baby was born we were all wondering how Lilit would react to her baby sister...she Loves her!!! She keeps saying Baby, Baby and then gives her tons on kisses. Everytime she looks at her sister she smiles. So precious just watching her love on her baby sister Adrine! 

My heart is filled with so much love for these two girls!!! I wish them nothing but the best in life, most importantly Health and Happiness and may God protect them from harm and evil!

Lilit and Adrine, I am always here for you!

Hokour Loves Ya'll!!!

Be Confident, Be Yourself...

I was inspired to write this from watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians two day special, About Bruce Jenner. I hope, that throughout all that he is going through, he is truly happy. Despite what society thinks what is right or wrong, from the medical perspective and religious perspective, in the end it is not our job to judge. I hope that people will leave him alone and let him live his life however he chooses as long as he is confident with himself. God created us all differently and we are to accept everyone the way they are.

During my elementary school years I was bullied because I was "different." I was Armenian, I had darker skin (olive tone), I didn't look like everyone else. The kids made fun of me, called me names, made any hateful remarks or comments they could. I will never forget one time during art class the kid sitting behind me cut my hair. I did not feel it at the time, but when class was over after I packed all my belongings and got up from my desk I saw the hair on the floor. At the time I had long (past my mid back), thick, black hair and this kid thought it was ok to cut my hair just below my shoulder. I know this is no way near the extent of physical bullying that others go through, but no one has the right to do such things to anyone! They had even made comments why I didn't switch schools since no one liked me. Well let me tell you, I wasn't going to leave because of these kids. I loved the school I was at and I was not going to let them push me away! I never let them make me feel like I was less than them or I was ugly because they said so. What mattered was I had confidence in myself! It saddens me to hear when someone takes his or her own life because of bullies! or any other form of hate, violence, abuse!
More Love, Less Hate!

In college I studied Engineering, as we know it is a male dominated field. Having a girl dressed up for class was out of the norm. One of my professors heard me coming down the hall and as I entered the class room he asked me, " Why do you wear heels to school," while shaking his head with a confused look on his face. Then, after graduation, I started working at a power plant. One of my co-workers came to my cubical and told me that during work days I should put my heels away in the closet during work week and take them out on the weekends {and no he was not joking with me}. My jaw just dropped at the moment I couldn't believe he was telling me this!

I love fashion, I am that girl that will go to the supermarket with makeup and a dress on:)

It's not that I am trying to impress anyone or dress up for someone, it's because I love getting dressed up for myself. Fashion is my passion just like painting is a passion for another. Its so cliche when someone says, "why are you getting dressed up, your not going [ said place] to impress someone." I am confident in my own skin. I don't care what people think as long as I am happy with myself that is the only opinion that matters. But, don't get confused with confidence and having your nose up high...being down to earth with confidence is much prettier!

Society and social media plays a big roll telling us how we should look or what kind of lifestyle is better than another. Ignore it all...Keep Calm, Love Yourself for Who you are and Live Your Life!

I love seeing "plus" size women all dressed up and feeling confident. Work it Girl! Just because someone isn't your typical "skinny" girl does not mean they can't look and feel good, of course be tasteful and dress according to what works for your body. We were not all born to look the same. Be happy in your own skin! Be You!!

Don't try to be someone you are not, or change who you are, to fit in with a crowd or someone or to be accepted by others. Don't think you have to look a certain way or live a certain lifestyle because of someone else. You will live a much happier life if you just be you and not worry about what people think or try to measure up to others. The most important is to be pretty on the inside. I always say,"I don't pick my friends based on what they look like on the outside, but what is on the inside that counts."

BE CONFIDENT!!

LOVE YOURSELF!!!

xo,

Nat

The Midi....

LOOK 1 (left side)...

Red Floral Print Midi Skirt

Ivory Crop Top

White D'Orsay Pump 

Gold Ball and Pearl Necklace

Fuchsia Envelope Clutch

Cat Eye Sunglasses

 

LOOK 2 (right side)...

Navy Blue Floral Print Midi Skirt

Ivory Crop Top

Charles by Charles David Gold Leather Pumps

Lavender Rhinestone Necklace

Embossed Crocodile Vegan Leather Clutch

Gold and Bluch Sunglasses

I have been loving the midi skirt, and these two are perfect! Love the shape and floral prints. I could just twirl around all day in this skirt! You don't have to wear tight, short, bare it all clothes to look and feel sexy. These midi skirts are the perfect example, so lady like.  During the fall and winter seasons a feminine blouse or sweater will go great with the midi skirt as well. Perfect for date nights, weddings, baby/bridal showers, or any holiday parties.

If you would like some other midi skirt options, check out LuLu's for other great selections of midi skirts.

 1. Silver Midi Skirt
2. Paradise Black Floral Print
3. Emporium Black Floral Print Skirt
4. Posie on over Ivory Floral Print Midi
 

DIY Topiary...

I made this using coffee filters.

Perfect for center pieces or any other decorating use.

Things you need:

Coffee Filters

2-100mm craft foam spheres

Dowel

Paint (Parisian Pink-Folk Art acrylic paint)

Bucket  

String of Pearls

you will also need hot glue and a small saw

Steps to making the coffee filtered sphere:

1. In a bowl, large enough to fit the coffee filter, mix the paint with water. The amount of paint depends how light or dark you want the color to be.

2. Dip the filters in the paint/water covering the entire filter.

3. You may need to separate some of the filters if the inside of the filters did not absorb enough of the paint mixture.

4. Lay out the filters to dry.

5. Once the filters are dry, I took three filters at a time and pinched the filters from the middle and hot glued to the sphere. You can use one or two filters at a time, which may be better as I think three was a lot. Continue till the whole foam is covered.

6. Paint the dowel white or any other color you like.

7. Once the dowel dries, measure how long you want the topiary to stand. With the saw cut the dowel to desired length.

8. Take the other foam and saw off a little of the bottom to make a flat surface to glue to the bucket.

9. Hot glue the foam in the middle of the bucket.

10. Stick the dowel in the coffee filter covered foam then in the foam of the bucket.

11. I filled my bucket with some rocks to weigh it down a little. Use anything you want that will prevent the topiary from tipping.

12. Fill the other half of the bucket (I used the string of pearls) with any filler you want to finish off your topiary.

Finished Coffee Filter Topiary

Latest Purchase...

I recently bought these two jackets from my local Dillard's Outlet. Yes they actually have a Dillard's Clearance Center! Every week they have additional discounts off already reduced prices; however, sometimes they don't have additional markdowns on certain things. 

1. Kensie

2. Michael Stars Moto Jacket

When I bought these jackets (1.Tweed moto style jacket and 2. Linen moto jacket) they had additional 40% off blazers and no additional discount on outerwear. There are two separate sections separating jackets as Blazers and Outerwear. I found these two in the Blazer section as well as many other similar ones in the same section. They were not all your typical blazers (single or double-breasted). The outerwear section had knee length heavy coats and heavy leather jackets.

When I went to the cashier to pay for the jackets she told me they were not an additional 40% off because it had zippers and that customers must have placed them in the wrong section. The lady behind me had at another register had the same problem. I asked for the manager because they were not advertising properly. When the manager came he informed me that anything considered to be warn outside to keep warm are outerwear ( heavy coats) and blazers are your typical blazers (he showed me a single breasted blazer as an example) and that my two jackets where considered outerwear...although neither of my jackets fit his descriptions. So I showed him all the other "none typical blazers" in that section and he replied, "people just misplaced them" (I'm talking about more than just a couple, at least 50+!)...to be noted: those same ones are always in that same section and their employees are pretty good keeping the store organized. 

I sympathize, it is a large store to keep organized at all times, and there is a lot of inventory to categorize all in the computers, but either they have to  be more specific with their categories when listing discounts or they have to be more lenient which category a specific garment is. The cashiers where just going based on if the jacket had a zipper or not. 

In the end I did get them at an additional 40% off and I appreciate the managers cooperation.

However, my mom had a jacket as well which they did not give the 40% because it was leather...by the way it does not have a zipper (contradicting). It was more like a cardigan like soft leather. Since it was leather the manager considered it outerwear. We were not there to argue so we just let it be and my mom ending buy it, it looked nice on her:)

As much as I love summer colors, I cant wait for fall/winter. Winter clothes are so much more fun layering (hats, scarves, gloves, coats, boots). How many more months till fall? 

What do you think, should these be considered blazer type or outerwear?  What would you categorize them as?

My Mom, My Best Friend...

O where do I begin....My mom IS my Best Friend! Spending time with my mom is like spending time with my friends, lots of jokes and laughter. I even pick on her (of course not in a negative way) and we laugh about it...she says, "look at you, I gave birth to you yesterday and now you are laughing at me" lol.  

Not only is my mom the sweetest, and most caring person, but also the most selfless person I know. She has been through a lot of ups and downs in her life (including battling cancer...I Thank God for helping her through her battle and for her health now), but never did she give up because she knew no matter what, she had to be strong not only for herself but for my brother and I. I am who I have become because of my sweet mom and hope to keep growing to be half the woman she is, she is my inspiration! The love that she has shown me, I hope to one day be able to show that to my kids. 

Even when I had doubts in myself my mom believed in me and encouraged me to keep going. She has always been a positive influence not only who I am on the inside but also on the outside.  My mom has always been confident in her own skin and never has she belittled anyone else based on their appearance, because of that I have learned never to judge anyone based on outer appearance. Even if I have insecurities my mother has always made me feel good about myself  she has helped me to accept and be confident in my own skin (and no I'm not perfect).

Mom I LOVE you SOOO SOOO Much!!!

This year Mother's Day was also an emotional one as we lost an amazing woman, my Grandmother, as she is in heaven now. She pasted away in November and this was the first Mother's Day without her here. She lived in Lebanon, so I haven't actually had a Mother's Day with her here with us for a long time, but not being able to talk to her and hear her voice and wish her a Happy Mother's Day was tough. It was especially harder on my mother as her mom was her best friend as well.

 Although we had a nice celebration on Sunday for Mother's Day, I also wanted to be there for my mom this whole weekend to help her through this tough time for her. During lunch we talked about my grandmother what kind of a woman she was  and  all the great memories we had with her, there was some tears and some laughter. Our mother/daughter time together was pricelss.

 I was in Lebanon this past summer and I am so grateful that I was able to spend time with my grandmother as not knowing that would have been the last time I would have with her...she passed away less than two months after that.

I know my mom has learned to be a caring and selfless woman because of my grandmother. My grandmother always put others first before herself, no matter what. She was the woman that would give her shirt off her back. I truly believe she knew something was wrong with her but didn't complain as she did not want to be a "burden" (I hate to use that word) on anyone. Before she passed away she told me "Know the value of your mother as I lost my mom at a young age."

I Love you Nene (term for grandmother in Armenian) and miss you so much!!!

 I wouldn't be who I am without these two women! 

Grandma, me and Mom

Both beautiful on the outside, but most importantly even more beautiful on the inside!!!

Don't ever take for granted that you have your mother with you as life is too short and you never know what can happen. Enjoy her to the fullest! Even if we get upset with our moms or think they are annoying at times always remember they love us and have sacrificed a lot to raise us. She will stay hungry to make sure you have something to eat, she will worry to make sure you are safe, she will sacrifice something she wants for you to have what you want, she will risk her life to give you yours, and the list goes on and on! The little that we do for our mothers doesn't even measure up to how much they do for us! Be there for her if she is in need or not, she gave you life and her life!

Pop of Pink

Its Friday! Here is a weekend outfit inspiration...

1. Tamara Mellon Blouse

2. J. Crew Bracelet

3. Prada Sunglasses

4. Tory Burch Earrings

5. Kate Spade Pumps

6. A.V. Max Necklace

7. Diane Von Furstenberg Crossbody

8. AG Jeans

9. J. Crew Ring

 Love the POP of Color! Spring: beautiful blooms and gorgeous weather.  O wait, and bright colored outfits! Wearing such vibrant colors brings a smile to my face, seriously how can you not be in a good mood wearing an outfit like this:)

Hope ya'll have a great weekend and to all the Mothers out there enjoy your weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks for stopping by! 

It's the little things...

Getting tired of looking at the same living room or bedroom? Pillows can make a big different in changing the look of your sofa (chaise, chair, bed). You don't have to run out and buy a new sofa , chair, or a new comforter set. Simply switching out your pillows makes a big difference! Make sure to add texture as well as colors. You can find pillows with all kids of textures such as wool, velor, silk and some with beads, pearls, buttons, etc. Experiment with different shaped pillows as well, instead of just square ones. Placing a throw blanket is also a great way to change things up as well. You can re-arrange the throw blanket many different ways too.

One sofa different looks...

For your bed change your pillows and add a quilted blanket at the edge of your bed and there you have it a new bed:)

Other small things can make a difference as well: a new lamp, decorating your coffee table, switching your wall pictures, etc.

"China: Through the Looking Glass"

One of Fashions Biggest Night is the Met Gala, fundraising gala, for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute of New York. This year the Met Gala was held on Monday night May 4, 2015. Each year the Gala has a theme and the guests are to dress according to the theme. This years theme was "China: Through the Looking Glass".

Between Beyonce and Kim Kardashians see through dresses, Rihanna's long train and Sarah Jessica Parker's statment headpiece, the red carpet was full of jaw dropping fashion! The Met Gala is a night (typically the first Monday in May) I anticipate for, to see who's dress upholds to the theme of the Gala and who designed what dress for which celebrity.

This year there were many see through dresses ("through the looking glass") and many Chinese inspired dresses. The color red was also seen throughout on the red carpet as the color red is very popular in the Chinese culture. Red symbolizes good fortune and joy and symbolic color of happiness. Some of the dresses were Kimono inspired; however, kimono is a Japanese garment! Qipao or Cheongsam is a traditional Chinese dress.

Below I have listed which celebrity is wearing which designer...

Kim Kardashian - Roberto Cavalli

Beyonce - Givenchy Couture

Joan Smalls - Roberto Cavalli

Jennifer Lopez - Atelier Versace

 Vanessa Hudgens - H&M

Sienna Miller - Thakoon

Amal Clooney - John Galliano (risky choice for her especially being a human rights activist)

Giggi Hadid - Diane von Fustenberg

Karolina Kurkova -Tommy Hilfiger

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - Versace

Lizzy Caplan -Donna Karan Atelier

Selena Gomez - Vera Wang

Kate Beckinsale - Diane von Fustenberg

Adriana Lima - Marc Jacobs

Georgia May Jagger - Gucci

Emily Ratajkowski - Topshop

Cara Delevingne - Stella McCartney

Janelle Monae - H&M

Olivia Wilde - Prada

Jennifer Connelly - Louis Vuitton

 Anna Wintor - Chanel Couture

Zendaya - Fausto Puglisi

Sarah Jessica Parker - dress designed by SJP in collaboration with H&M, Philip Treacy (headpiece)

Diana Agron - Tory Burch

Kerry Washington -Prada

Katy Perry - Moschino

Rihanna - Guo Pei

Lady Gagga - Balenciaga

 

                                       Best Dressed                                                                                    Worst Dressed

 Although, many of these women had some amazing dresses on and looked impeccable, Rihanna was best dressed as she stole the spotlight emulating the theme of the event. As with the color red the color yellow is also of Chinese culture, which is the most beautiful and prestigious color signifying neutrality and good luck! On the other hand Kris Jenner was the worst dressed (along with some others) but, that dress just did not flatter her at all!  Who do you think was worst dress and best dressed?

P.S. I loved!!! Kim Kardashian's dress 

Can I wear that to my wedding with more crystals added in some areas:)

If you are in the New York, NY area during May 7, 2015-August 16, 2015 check out the exhibit

Bow Bowl...

I made these during Christmas time; however, they are great for any occasion! Just simply pick a ribbon that matches your theme for your party or holiday. Make a bow, the bow can be any shape or size you desire. Then attach any trinket that fits the theme, i.e small stuffed animal would even be cute for a baby shower:) I tied a cookie cuter or the first picture and a few glittered ornaments for the second picture. Once you have the bow completed hot glue it to your bowl. I used plastic bowls from the dollar store. Now just fill your bowl (chips, chex mix, fruit salad, pudding).