Monday, January 20, 2014

The Dreaded Set-Up...


Hola,

Hey there my fashionistas. First let my start by officially wishing all of you a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year. We are on day twenty of 2014 and I hope you are already making the best of it. As for me, yes I know that I have been slacking on my blog posts lately. I have no excuses except that I need to step my game up. On a positive note, I intend on taking my goals to the next level. I'm in search of a professional seamstress who can help me get my designs made so if anyone knows of one, please comment below with their information or email me.  My goal this year is to take this all the way and this includes being more diligent with this blog. Please bear with me and let's take this fabulous ride together.

So on that note, I thought I'd share an experience with you. It's kind of like my first "HUH" moment of this year. I'm sure the majority of you can relate to this and will chuckle along with me at my little ordeal. I imagine that the title of this post is a dead give-away for what I am about to tell you. Yes, when your friends decide to set you up with someone...





Let me begin by saying that if you know me, you know that I am not a fan of being set up on blind dates, friendly dates or any other kind of "date" that you can think of. Nine times out of ten, it never works out as you'd expect and that one time it does is very rare. So for me to have accepted this time says quite a lot in itself. I was trying to be open-minded about it and hey, it was the very last day of 2013 and who knows, maybe it was a good sign for the coming year... HAAA!! Here's how it all played out. Two very strange days to the beginning of my year:

On the afternoon of December 31st a male friend calls me at work to tell me about his co-worker who is a really nice guy, and he thinks that we have a lot in common and would I be interested in talking to him. I hesitated but again, I figured I'd be open-minded about it so in the end I said okay. When I first answered the call, we had visitors arriving for an event in the office and there were people standing around so I didn't get a chance to ask for details or a description. I quickly said just give him my work email because I was not comfortable giving my personal number or other information. So later that day I get an email from "the guy" introducing himself and he includes his number. When I get home, I text him to introduce myself and we start a conversation. He did sound like a very nice person and the conversation continued for a little while.

On New Year's Day, he sent a text early in the morning which kind of annoyed me because we're not cool like that yet, and I was still sleeping. I take my time responding (remember, I don't know what he looks like) and I keep things light. He texts throughout the day and I already felt like he was trying to take over my space plus, he was saying things like it was already a done deal that we were going to date - the bells in my head were ringing and the red flags waving. However, I'm still trying to go with it. He asks if I want to talk on the phone that night and I decline (you know, the whole taking over my space deal). 

On Thursday, January 2nd, again he texts super early in the morning and I was still asleep (now you KNOW I was super annoyed that he did it on day two!), I still had a good thirty minutes of sleep before waking up for work and he ruined it grrrr. I mean really, we are seriously NOT cool like that and yes, good morning texts are cute but only when they're from someone that you actually like and have feelings for.  Anyway, let's move to Thursday night...

I finally relent to talking on the phone and we talk for a few hours. He completely took over the conversation by telling me his whole life's story which had me thinking oh lord have mercy! Furthermore, he was just acting and talking like we were already a couple which was freaking me out. He was talking about weekend getaways and asking where I would like to move to... Wait... What?! Move to? uhh, dude, I'm fine living in New York near my family and friends what the hell?! ...and I still had NO idea what this guy looked like. Finally, I say listen did our mutual friend describe me to you? Did he say anything about me? We’ve been texting for two days and I have NO clue what you look like. He says oh yes he showed me your Facebook page. WHAT??? So all this time he already knew what I looked like and apparently, he liked what he saw while I was at a disadvantage! That's when I'd had it and said you have to at least send me a picture because I cannot continue talking to you otherwise. He said he would send one as soon as we ended the call. We hang up and I go straight to sleep because it really was super late and this whole thing was just freaking me out.

The next morning we had the snow storm in NYC, and I wake up earlier than usual to confirm that our office was closed. I then check my email and this guy sent TWO emails with a total of EIGHT photos. EIGHT! That was my first WTF moment... The next was when I opened the first two photos!


... *queue stunned face* ...

My first reaction was to blink and look again... then OH. MY. GOD! This cannot be him! I mean I expected just about anything but never, EVER this. Let's just say we were so NOT a good match even if we did have a few things in common. I was shocked that my friend would even think to set me up with this man. I mean why? How? ... My friends, my mom, my best friend's mom all had the same reaction "OH MY GOD!" Everybody said the same thing: WHY would your friend think you'd be interested in this man? It was bad people, really bad. I was caught up in my worse set-up nightmare and now what do I do? I was offended, annoyed, pissed as all hell at being put into this situation. So I turned it around to the one who got me into this mess and I told him sorry but NO. I'm not interested in your friend. There isn't and never will be any chemistry there. Let him tell the guy. I was as nice as possible but I really should have said how it was unfair that I didn't get the choice of seeing a visual of what he was getting me into while his coworker had that advantage. Had I been given that choice, I would have declined from the get go and saved us all the trouble. There was nothing else I had to say to the guy so I just did not respond. I'm pretty sure he knew that would be my reaction because he did not insist. I'm sorry but I just couldn't. I know you all are laughing at my pain. I just know it and some of you are shaking your heads at me at my reaction for punking out and not responding to the guy, but seriously... IT WAS BAD and I just couldn't proceed with it any longer! Two days wasting my time and energy, but I learned a few very good lessons.






The first lesson is one I already knew but once again ignored it which was NEVER ignore those red flags, ringing bells or whatever you want to call them. They wave and ring for a reason. I continued on with this conversation regardless of the weird signals I was getting from this man. Our intuition speaks to us often but we tend to push it aside and forge on. Trust your instincts!

Next is don't always trust your friends' judgments when it comes to their choices in dating partners for you. Unless they know you like a book, it's very likely that they will sometimes get it wrong and you'll be stuck in a position like mine. This leads me to my next lesson...

NEVER agree to a setup unless you get an honest description or you are shown a picture before you agree to this already awkward and uncomfortable situation.


The last lesson I learned was never feel bad about your standards. We all have them and they vary by person. This is not to say that the person in question is not a really nice individual, but never disregard what you look for, what you want and need from the person you are going to date because you don't want to hurt their feelings or your friend's feelings. I agonized all day trying to find a nice way to tell my friend "WTF were you thinking!" Then I agonized on whether I should tell the guy sorry but I'm not interested or just let it be because again, I didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings. One of my best friends, Melissa, can tell you that I spent the whole day going back and forth with her, her mom and my mom trying to figure out the best way to get myself out of this craziness without being too harsh. The thing is, I was worried but my friend not so much. He was just like "no big deal, handle as you see fit." Which was not a really great response from him given that he got me into this mess but that being said, I then saw fit to remove myself from this situation, ignore the guy and keep it moving. I didn't owe him anything because we only chatted and talked on the phone for a total of two days. There were no promises made and no investment on either part. I feel like my friend should have handled this a lot better. I get that he had good intentions towards me, but he definitely went about it completely wrong from beginning to end.


So to the rest of my friends I say this:


PLEASE no matter how much you think you're doing something good for me, I beg you to please give me all the details, descriptions and most important show pictures BEFORE going ahead and setting me up with anybody. Ultimately, it's my decision on whether I want to go through with this as well as whether I will date someone, but it just saves us all the trouble of being caught up in a very horrifying and awkward situation.


I am perfectly fine being single so don't think that I am going out of my mind because I'm not dating anyone or haven't found the one to make me melt into little puddles of mush. Don't think that I will settle for just anyone for the sake of being with someone because they are "really nice." I will never do that. Just like love is not enough, being really nice is not enough either. There is so much more that plays into this relationship game.


We all have standards on what we are looking for in a partner, and while I'm not extremely picky (well maybe just a little lol) or set in my ways and am willing to make certain exceptions, I do need to like what I see. I need to feel attracted and feel that chemistry with someone. Otherwise, it will never work. Everybody has their own definition of beauty; we each have different tastes and likes and are attracted to different people. What one considers beautiful, another person doesn't, but we all have our tastes in what we look for in a partner. We all tend to kid ourselves thinking "oh but it's what's on the inside that counts." That's all good and true in the long run, but the truth of it all is that when you FIRST SEE somebody on the street, on the bus, at a bar or restaurant, what attracts you to them is what you SEE. What we see is what makes our heads turn, what makes us say damn look at that guy or that girl; it's what makes you want to talk to them and get to know them better. Do not kid yourselves thinking otherwise. This, my darlings is what the beginning of any relationship is about. You liked what you saw and you pursued it, you got to know them, liked them even more and boom... It's the start of something that could be really beautiful if the feelings are mutual. Nevertheless, what started that something "beautiful," was the attraction you felt when you first SAW that person.







Consequently, my nightmare ended on that snowy Friday on January 3rd. I was actually relieved because I already knew it would never work (those red flags and ringing bells again). He was already taking over my space and time and we didn't even know each other. So my journey to find that special someone continues but in the mean-time, I am quite happy being single. I have so many things to focus on and wonderful friends and family to spend time with that there is no void of not having a special someone right now (well there is on some occasions of course, but I'm not stressing over it). When the right person shows up, I will know. However, I refuse to settle and I refuse to get myself involved with someone I feel nothing for just for the sake of having a boyfriend. I love myself too much to deprive myself of that wonderful relationship with someone who when I look at him, he makes my heart beat faster and brings that smile to my face and joy to my life. Someone I can talk to forever and the more we talk, the more I like. Someone who is the person I want to share not only the good times with but also the bad. Someone who awakens feelings in me that I don't even know I have. Just someone who will come into my world to enhance it even more than it already is, and that this someone feels the same way about me... *sighs* :)

So that, my loves, was the beginning of my year. I know you're laughing, smirking, maybe even judging my reactions. Whatever the case may be, you already know the drill. Please feel free to comment respectfully below with your opinions or perhaps you'd like to share one of your horror stories. I'm sure you've all been in my shoes at least once in your lives. Let's compare. How did you handle your situation? How horrified were you? Did you continue on for the sake of not hurting someone's feelings? Let's discuss because in the end we have to look at this as a learning experience for the next one... Go! #engage

Until next time...

Gracias,

AnnaCris <3


Note: Don't forget my dears that if you know of a good, responsible and professional seamstress, please comment below or email me contact info to discuss a wonderful project. Thank you. 



Tuesday, January 14, 2014

2014 Golden Globes... My Favorites


Hola,

How are my fashionistas doing tonight? I hope all is going well and cheers to a fantastic week for all of us.

So last night was the beginning of awards season in Hollywood with the 2014 Golden Globe Awards. This of course means that it's one of the best times of the year for those of us who just die for fashion and glamour. I for one was glued to the red carpet show to see who my favorites would be this year, and I was not disappointed. I was ecstatic to see so much pops of color, many different styles and so many hits this time around. I had to go through the pictures several times to make a decision, and I will say right now that I have TWO best dressed this year because I just couldn't pick between the two.

There were also a few misses but not too many which made me so happy. The ladies of Hollywood seem to be getting it together on what to wear. I was torn between a couple where I could not decide on whether they were a hit or a miss so I included them under the miss category only because I was really leaning towards that which is not to say that the dresses were a complete miss.

Well then... What are we waiting for? Let's get started:


BEST DRESSED CATEGORY:


#6 - Kerry Washington in Balenciaga. Kerry Washington has become such a staple on the red carpet. It is rare that she misses and she hit it right once again. This dress is stunning on her and shows off her pregnancy in such a lovely way. She is glowing, her jewelry is just fabulous and her makeup flawless. The dress is simple but so elegant. I loved it the instant I saw her.




#5 - Olivia Wilde in Gucci. I thought she looked beautiful. This dressed accented her pregnancy yet it was sexy, glamorous and simply gorgeous. The green shimmer accented her eyes, the hair was sexy and her makeup gave her that natural, glowing look. THIS is how you do maternity on the red carpet. I absolutely loved her.




#4 Jenna Dewan-Tatum in Roberto Cavalli. I found Jenna while browsing the web because I might have missed her on the red carpet. When I saw this, I was like wow! This lace illusion dress in black and white was stunning and it showed off her curves beautifully. Her hair parted on the side and slicked back was perfect to show the dress off. I adore Roberto Cavalli and this sexy, glamorous dress shows why.




#3 Sofia Vergara in Zac Posen. Well of course you all know that I'd include Ms. Vergara. She is and will always be one of favorites and not because she's a Latina. Well yes there's that :), but Sofia is gorgeous, sexy, funny, and she always looks like she's having a blast. I must say that I am so happy that she chose a different style other than her usual. This Zac Posen gown is beautiful on her and it still accentuated her waist and bust. Her hair long and sexy and makeup is flawless. The necklace could have been a bit toned down but it did add a kind of pop to the ensemble that caught your eye. Well done Sofia!




#2 - Margot Robbie in Gucci. I have yet to see the Wolf of Wall Street but Margot brought the sexy to the red carpet. This dress at first glance looks simple but there is no denying that the stones, the slit, the neckline and the shoes to match the stones made us all gasp. Wow! I want this dress. It is so gorgeous! The way she styled her hair along with her makeup and the earrings were all complementing but not taking away from this stunning outfit.




TIE FOR NUMBER ONE BEST DRESSED:


#1 - Cate Blanchet in Armani Prive. Oh My God! This dress is exquisite. I cannot find enough beautiful words to describe it. It's sheer, it's Chantilly lace, it sparkles, and it's divine! Cate is another who rarely does wrong on the red carpet and she hit it out of the ball park last night. Her hair, her makeup and the jewelry all completed the ensemble but did not take anything away from this absolutely gorgeous dress. I bow to you Ms. Blanchet!




#1 - Lupita Nyong'o in Ralph Lauren. PERFECTION! That is all...

I mean how else can you describe this look? She's beautiful, her makeup is stunning and this dress is perfection! Not many women can pull off a cape and Lupita has moved up to the "badass" category because she pulled it off without a hitch. She looks like a gorgeous superhero that can save the day and yet look glamorous, radiant, exquisite, divine and just PERFECT doing so! WOW! 




UNDECIDED CATEGORY:


#3 - Jennifer Lawrence in Christian Dior. I couldn't decide on whether I liked this dress or not. It's not completely bad but not attention grabbing and the black ribbons throw me off. I do love her hair. Jennifer is definitely rocking the pixie cut.




#2 - Julia Roberts in Dolce and Gabbana. I adore Julia but I couldn't decide on this one either whether I liked it or not. I feel like without the top, the dress would've been simple but pretty. However, with the shirt top, it took something away plus it looked like it wasn't tucked in properly. Maybe if it had been smoother and not bunching up under her arms and in the back, it might have worked better.




WORSE DRESSED CATEGORY:


#4 - Sandra Bullock in Prabal Gurung. It hurts me so bad to have to add one of my favorite actresses to the worse dressed, but oh Sandra... I just did not feel this one. I feel like the colors did not go well together and the overall style of the dress did not do much for her. I did love her makeup and hair though.




#3 - Zoe Saldana in Prabal Gurung. I know some people liked this dress, but I just didn't. I feel like there is way too much going on here including the back. The shoes did not fit her properly and should have been a different style. The straps on her arms seem unnecessary and I did not like the way she styled her hair. It took away from the entire outfit.




#2 - Lena Dunham in Zac Posen. While this is one of her best looks, I still feel there is something missing. I love the dress it's just the fit around the bust and hips doesn't seem quite right on her. I feel like it's the way she carries herself though. She needs to stand up straight, pull her shoulders back and work it. She's getting there, I feel like for the next awards, she's going to be a hit. I love the color yellow so I have to give props for that :).




NUMBER ONE WORSE DRESSED:


#1 - Paula Patton in Stephanie Rolland. Wait... What?!?! ... I don't get this choice for her. Paula is so gorgeous and has a stunning figure so WHY?? All those ruffles are a total distraction, completely pointless and just too much! Two thumbs all the way down!




There you have it my loves. My picks for best and worse dressed of this year's 2014 Golden Globes Awards. I was so happy to see more hits than misses, a lot of color and just overall sexiness on the red carpet. I hope the hits continue throughout award season because I really do hate picking the worse dressed, but hey someone has to ;).

So what do you all think? Are you with me or not? I would love to know if there are others that you would have added to this list or omitted. Let's discuss. I mean we haven't chatted in a few months since I've been totally slacking on posting new stuff. No worries my dears, this will change starting now and what better way to start off this year's discussions than with this topic? This being said, you all know the drill... feel free to comment respectfully below on whether you agree or disagree with my choices and why. Go! #engage

Until next time...

Gracias,
AnnaCris <3









Tuesday, December 24, 2013

A Wish On This Christmas Eve...


Hola,

Well hello there my lovely fashionistas. It's been a long while since I've connected with you and for this I send my apologies. I know, I know you must be thinking... What a slacker! Well, you're right, that and just not finding the words to write. I hope that you gals and guys missed me though.

So on this Christmas Eve I wanted to write a short post to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and thank you for your support from the moment I decided to start this blog. I cherish each of you immensely because your support encouraged me to continue writing albeit, with a bit of slacking. ;)





I wish you all a wonderful night and Christmas day. For those that prefer Holiday, then Happy Holidays to you. Let's all remember the meaning of this time of the year.  A time to be grateful for all our blessings, a time to reflect on the year that we will soon be leaving behind us and see how each day made us better and stronger. A season to say thank you for the good and also the bad because without the bad, we would not grow, learn and reflect on how to make ourselves better. A time to spend with family and friends, to share with co-workers, acquaintances and people that make our days a little brighter no matter the role they play in our lives. Remember it's the little things we do for others that make a huge difference. A smile, a hug, a thank you... These are the things that matter in our everyday lives.

Let's also remember those who for whatever reason will be spending this time alone, those who are far away from their loved ones, working, are sick and in hospitals, those that are homeless, those who are fighting the awful battle of depression and sadness, our troops that are deployed - let's pray for their safety tonight and every other night until they come home. Let's take a moment to say a prayer for them, to wish them a more encouraging new season and send them a multitude of blessings.

This being said, may you all have a wonderful night, a wonderful Christmas day and may the new season that is entering our lives be a great one for each of you. Once again, I thank you with all my heart for visiting my blog and supporting this endeavor. I appreciate all of you!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and cheers to you my loves!


Gracias,
AnnaCris <3




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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Can't Leave Home Without It...


Hola,

How are all my fashionistas doing? Here's hoping you all are having a great evening or a great morning/afternoon if it's already a new day in your area. My day was pretty exhausting but not too bad.

So I was a busy bee last week and posted not one but THREE new blogs in a row. How about that? Go ahead and applaud while I take a bow and pat myself on the back for a job well done. :D ... Did everybody read those three posts? If you haven't, please check them out after you read this one. I added some great information about fashion for the season in "What's Trending ... Fall/Winter 2013" plus the beauty issue "Beauty Trends ... Fall/Winter 2013" and last, a very important post on a human rights topic for Blog Action Day. I chose to write about bullying because I feel it's a very important cause especially in our schools with our young kids. Too many of them are suffering and some cases turn tragic. We need to put an end to this and save our children. Go on and read them all and let me know what you think. You all know how much I love feedback and comments so don't be afraid to voice your opinion.

On that note, in trying to keep up with my "editorial calendar," I decided to post a short blog with a little fashion tidbit and ask you to participate. We all know that there are times when we cannot or do not wish to carry a huge handbag around. Say perhaps you're going out dancing, attending a wedding or attending an award show (hey it could happen); you usually have to opt for a small clutch bag or a wristlet. My question is on that night out on the town: What are the essential items you'd carry in a small bag? The items that you KNOW you will need and CANNOT leave the house without?



  
I went out this past Saturday and had to use a small bag due to the occasion. So this made me curious about what are the items that most women tend to put in their tiny little bags when going out. What is it that they absolutely cannot leave behind? The wristlet in the photo above is one of my favorites because it is not too small so I can fit a few extra things, and it is the one I chose to use on my night out this weekend. I purchased it at my favorite store: Express. So when I have to leave the house with a tiny bag like this one, my must-haves are the following (aside from cash, credit card and ID):

- My keys
- Cell Phone
- Lip Liner and Lip Gloss
- A retractable blush brush w/some powder to reapply
- Travel sized lotion
- Tissues
- Asthma Inhaler
- Candy/Gum

Yes, all of the above fits perfectly in my little wristlet from Express. I've tested it many times, and there's a little room to spare... I make it work! ;)

So there you have it my darlings. The items in the above list are my go to picks to carry with me wherever I go. Anything else can stay at home. If you can only pick what you think is most essential to take with you, what would you choose? Share your choices below. Let's turn this post into a fun game. For the fellas, you can join in too. What are your must-haves when you go out to hang with the guys or for a hot date with that special lady? I know for the fellas it's way less than for us gals, but let us know regardless. I know the inquiring minds of women everywhere would like to know. That being said, you all know the deal... Comment below and let's see how many of us have favorite items in common that we love and cannot leave the house without. Go! #engage

Once again, thank you for stopping by my "Open Closet."

Until next time my loves.

Gracias,
AnnaCris <3







Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Rise Up Against ... BULLYING!

Hello everyone,

This post will be a bit different than my usual...

Today is Blog Action Day. What is Blog Action Day you might ask...? Well, it's a day that brings bloggers from different countries together to blog about one important global topic on the same day. I found out about this last night and was excited that I was just in time to register my blog to participate. This year's topic is focused on Human Rights. Bloggers around the world can choose a human rights topic that is important to them and share their thoughts. I chose to write about something that continues to break my heart whenever I hear stories about this... I chose to write about BULLYING!





One of the most common types of bullying happens in schools with young kids. However, bullying can also happen at home, in the workplace, in relationships, etc. It can consist of one-on-one bullying or a group against one person and the behavior is repeated. Bullying, as defined by some, consists of emotional, verbal and/or physical abuse. The "bully" shows aggressive behaviors towards someone they feel they have power over by using different forms of intimidation and harassment.

Bullying can rob a person of so many feelings, choices and it interferes with a person's human rights on many levels. Bullying strips a person of almost everything that is positive like their dignity, their sense of well-being, hope, happiness, joy, security, peace of mind, freedom and any reason to enjoy their lives. It causes a person to live in fear, even in fear for their lives. It causes depression and many health issues that may sometimes be irreparable. By no means am I an expert on this subject, but I will give you my personal take and feelings and why I feel this strong need to speak out against it. I'd like to focus on BULLYING in schools because this is affecting our children of the world.

"Last night I read yet another article where a 12 year old girl committed suicide because of bullying from girls at her school. The bullying was not only at school but with the explosion of social media she was being sent awful text messages as well as being harassed on the networks. So not only was this happening during the six to seven hours that she attended school, but just when she could be looking forward to going home so this could end for the day, the torment continued by phone and social media. How in the world could this young lady ever find peace of mind? I'm sure her sense of security even at home was non-existent. Her mother finally took her out of school and began home schooling her but the bullying did not stop. The text messages escalated from bad to worse to the point where one even said "go kill yourself."  Sadly, that is exactly what she did. When she could no longer take this nonstop abuse, she thought her only way out was to jump to her death..."

The heartbreak, anger and sadness I felt while reading this article last night was profound. So many questions went through my mind. Questions that have no logical answers:

WHY? I asked myself this question repeatedly. Why such a senseless, unnecessary tragedy of a young life just starting out. Why was this allowed to go on for so long - over a year?

HOW? How in the world can this type of behavior be allowed to continue without any consequences?

WHERE? Where are the parents of these bullies? What are they teaching them as they grow? What is their home life like that they feel the need to go out into the world and torment others that have nothing to do with what they're going through? Where are the adults in these situations to put a stop to this?

WHAT? What is being done to finally end this type of behavior? These are OUR YOUNG for heaven’s sake, the future of our world!

Does ANYBODY have the answers to any of these questions? Does ANYBODY care?

The repercussions of BULLYING in schools are endless. The way this type of aggression affects the victim is immense. It prevents them from wanting to go to school first off. Even if they do go, they cannot focus on learning and getting the education that they rightly deserve. The bullied victim can become violent in later years whether it's anger issues or becoming physically violent themselves. Living in fear every day is not healthy for anyone let alone a young child. Speaking of health... How about the onset of depression, suicidal thoughts, the young lady in the article even began cutting herself, it can cause poor appetite or over-eating, problems with the nervous system, anxiety, panic attacks, the list can go on...




Something needs to be done to save our children. To give them back their rights as human beings to live freely, securely and to just enjoy their young lives. School is a place meant to learn and expand your mind. To make friends and to have people that you can turn to for help not a place where you dread going to because someone or a few people are making your life a living hell. The world needs to stand together and find ways to prevent more senseless deaths, to prevent more kids with health issues and children who are just unhappy because of their situation.

While there are a few organizations that focus on anti-bullying, I personally feel that it has to start in the home. Parents have to try and pay more attention to what their kids are doing. If you notice that your child has aggressive tendencies, find out why and get your child help early on. If your child is the shy type, teach them that there are ways for them to defend themselves and not accept any type of harassment towards them. Talk to the teachers, visit the schools, check their phones, pay attention to who their friends are, talk to other parents and in this technological world of social media, see what they're doing on their computers. Tell your kids the importance of showing respect, being kind, having empathy and just being nice to others so that the same can be given in return to them. If I were a parent, I would certainly do all the above as my single mother did with me. Again, I am no expert in this matter I'm just someone whose heart breaks every time I hear these stories and am anxious to find a solution. Someone who wishes more was being done to avoid this ongoing problem. I do not stand for this type of behavior from anyone and never have.

As a united front, let's try and do more. If you know someone is being bullied, stand up for them. ONE person that does this can make a difference. Bullies are usually cowards so the moment someone steps up, they usually back off. Rather than just shake our heads and then forget, let's all try to find a better way to let our children of the world know that they have a right to live free of fear, to attend school and get the education they deserve without being harassed and most important, that suicide is NOT the answer. There is always a way out if they only seek help early enough. They should not be afraid to speak up and find somebody who is willing to listen and to help them. If they're not comfortable going to a parent, let them know that they can find another adult who they trust and let that person know the situation they're in. There are many ways that we can all pitch in. If we all make an effort, we can make the world a better place for our beautiful children because these children are our future. When we're gone, they will be the ones teaching their kids what a beautiful world this is free of the word BULLY! Let's all take a stand to end this kind of treatment so our children can flourish into what they were meant to be. I for one am going to take a stand to do more and participate more in any way I can to help put a stop to this issue. Do you?

Thank you for listening. These are my personal opinions and were not intended to offend anyone. If you have any suggestions on this topic, please feel free to comment respectfully below. Maybe you have gone through this yourself or know of someone who has and has gotten through it. I would love it if you shared your story. It could enlighten me and others on what more we can do to help. So by all means, please leave a comment and let's start a conversation on how to end BULLYING, and make this a better place for our children.

Thank you again,
-AnnaCris

Beauty Trends ... Fall/Winter 2013

Hola,

Well hello again my dears. How are you all doing and how was your day? Mine was pretty good. It was a beautiful fall day in NYC and I loved it. I hope wherever you find yourselves at this moment that you also had or are having a good day.

So as you may know because I'm hoping that you've already read it, last night I posted the "What's Trending ... Fall/Winter 2013" fashion edition. If you haven't read it yet, please go and check it out. I'm sure you'll like it. Anyway, this morning as I'm riding the train to work, I got to thinking... I said to myself why not write a second post about fall/winter 2013 beauty trends. I mean we all love to dress up in the best there is, but what is a great outfit if your hair isn't just right and your makeup isn't absolutely radiant? The answer... It's blah! Beauty routines play an important part in our overall appearance so even if you're wearing an incredible outfit, if your hair and makeup aren't up to par, your outfit will not shine. Therefore, as a result of all this thinking, I got excited because those thoughts led me to tonight's post; which meant that I’d write two consecutive posts as opposed to slacking off and posting every few weeks as I've been doing lately. I know, shame on me! ;)

In any case, I rushed home tonight and I combed through many images along with fashion and beauty sites to bring you the beauty trends that I feel stood out the most on the fall 2013 runways. Keep in mind that every designer chooses their own makeup looks and hairstyles to complement their designs but usually in the end, it turns out that there are many similarities among all of the shows. So without further ado again...

Let's get started...

MAKEUP TRENDS


RED LIPS: Red lips were popular for this season which I love because it's my go to color. When wearing red whether it's matte or with shine, the rest of your makeup should be subtle so as not to take away from the sexiness of that gorgeous shade of red.




WINE STAINED LIPS: If you're not big on red, try a wine color instead or any berry color. The preferred tone on the runways was a matte finish but hey if you want to shine, go with just a little bit of lip gloss. Keep your eye makeup nude to complete your look because again, the lip color will be the focus.




SMOKY EYES: Definitely "IN" this season. However, it is my opinion that the smoky eye should never be out. It is so sexy and glamorous if done correctly. Be careful and do not go overboard as the result could be what we like to call "raccoon eyes."




Here is a smoky eye done with purple eye shadow. This look is great for those of us with caramel or darker skin... So lovely!




PURPLE SHADOW: I've always been a fan of purple shadow, mostly the darker shades. This season the brownish purple was popular at some of the shows like my favorite man, Oscar de la Renta, also at Max Mara and Gucci. I'm in love with the luminescent look in the photo below. The darker shade of purple goes well with every skin tone.




LONG EYELASHES: Just gorgeous! Long lashes define glamour and they are so trending this season. I have to gloat just a little bit because my eyelashes are naturally super long, top and bottom! I hardly need to use mascara. Yeah! :) ... Okay I'm done. As I was saying, long lashes are hot. I love the look below because her dark lashes are the center of attention while the rest of her makeup is subtle, almost transparent.




PINK BLUSH: The girly, sweet look as I like to call it... Just add a light dusting on your cheeks to give your face that rosy, dewy glow and you'll look like perfection this season. Add a touch of lip gloss to complete your look but not too much as you want this look to appear effortless and barely there.




BOLD BROWS:  Yes! I'm so happy about this look because my brows have always been bold and full. If you like this style, you should start growing out your brows right about now. My brows are also a bit long so I keep them from getting bushy by trimming the ends and applying a tiny bit of vitamin E oil and using an eyebrow comb to keep the brows smooth through the day.




Other trends in makeup this season were cat eyes, orange shadow, nude lips and metallic liner.


HAIR TRENDS


THE SIDE BRAID: From the moment I saw this look I fell in love. I'm so happy that my hair is long enough to pull off this style. You can go with the messy braid as in the photo below or nice and neat. As I mentioned in my previous post, you can also wear a side braid when wearing a beanie or slouchy hat. All in all, braids in any style are in but this is my favorite.




LOOSE WAVES: This look is super girly and so sexy. It can be pulled off even if you have short hair so go on and give a try. Loose waves go with any outfit from casual to glamorous so go ahead and rock that hair!




LONG SIDE BANGS: Very pretty and sleek. If you have longer bangs in front, part your hair on the side and sweep it on over and behind your ear to get this look. You can leave the back loose or put it up in a ponytail, braid it or even tie it up into a messy bun. This is a cute and versatile look. My bangs are shorter now, but they should grow out in a few weeks so I'm going to try this. :)




LOW PONYTAIL: No caption necessary. This look never really goes out of style. The ponytail also goes great with any outfit and you can vary between sleek and neat, messy, high up and bouncy or low on the nape. You cannot go wrong with any style you choose.




MESSY BUN: Chic! While I'm not really one to put my hair in a bun, I really like this look and may try it. This goes great with red lips as shown below... It's also one of those styles that works fabulously when going out on the town or dressing for work and/or a business meeting.




...And last but not least:

SUPER STRAIGHT: Again, this look requires no caption. It's beautiful, classic and never goes out of style. A super straight short bob is so glamorous if you have short hair.




Other trending hairstyles were the sleeked back look off the face as shown in photo number four, punk hairdos in colors like pink or blue, and hair with lots and lots of volume.


- The End -


So there you have it love bugs. Once again, it was hard to pick just a few because there were so many great choices. This season is full of diversity and extremes. You can go from bold and intense to natural and sweet; from messy hair to sleeked back and neat. It's really your choice. With the exception of a few, I plan to try most of these out this season. I'm in the mood to change things up and have some fun. Will you? Are you willing to try something completely out of your element and see how it turns out? I say go for it because you never know if you might like it and will choose to stick to it at least until spring. Plus we all know how much fun it is to go shopping for new makeup.

My goal with this beauty issue was to give you an array of new ideas to try. I know most of us find a beauty routine and stick to that, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to change things up. Go for that bold smoky eye, those super red lips, maybe try the nude, barely there look on a Saturday afternoon, try that messy bun on a night out on the town and then mix it up the next day with volumes whether it's curls or loose waves. You all should know what's coming next.... "Play with it," your hair and makeup choices, and choose what "works best for you" but don't dismiss the chance to have fun and be daring. Go ahead and try it then come back and let us all know how your new beauty routine worked out for you. Take some photos and post them in the comment section because I'd love to see the outcome.

As always, if you have suggestions or ideas or would like to share some of your beauty habits with the rest of us, you all know the deal... please feel free to comment below. Let's start a conversation on how to make us look and feel more sexy and beautiful than we already are. Go! #engage

Once again, thank you for stopping by my "Open Closet."

Until next time my loves.

Gracias,
AnnaCris <3


*The pictures in this blog are not my own. They were borrowed from Google Images. Please contact me if any of the above photos are yours and you'd like them removed from this blog.