Push Up Challenge

Back in middle school, I had the best arms... sounds silly but I was really proud of how strong I was and I loved wearing tank tops to show them off. Over the years, however, I paid less and less attention to working them out and now I can say that they've definitely seen better days.

After trying out the plank challenge, which was not fun and unfortunately I did not follow consistantly, I've decided to work on something I truly want to change about my body: my arms. So, next month my roommate and I are starting our push-up challenge!

In case you need a little motivation ;)

Who's in?

I need you in my closet | 2

This shirt || The giraffe print is also really cute!

These sandals || I have a similar pair from Kenneth Cole but I don't care... I want these too!

This necklace

This tunic

These jeans || My last pair of black jeans are all faded so it's time for a new pair

What brand do you guys prefer when it comes to skinny black jeans? What's on your wishlist?

Roxi

Pin to Present

Today, I'm showing you my very first Pin to Present project! 

Back in high school, I was a member of the theater group and I worked behind the scene for 4 years... some of the best years of my life (so far). I learned a lot about working with heavy duty tools, and I absolutely loved the feeling of having those tools in my hands and watching scrap pieces become background sets and furniture. It's been quite a few years since that time, and until a couple of weeks ago, I haven't done any type of construction work.

A few weeks ago, I decided I needed a change. I needed to feel like myself again. This is part of the reason I created this blog, so I can write down my thoughts and do the things I love. So I decided to do this project. I loved the idea of having a 3-D piece of art, something I can make with my two hands and it didn't involve paints or pencils... (because my drawing and painting skills flat out suck! haha).

So here it is:

I asked my friend for his tools, knowledge, and some material. I found this beautiful piece of scrap wood in his garage. I sanded it down and stained it. Make sure to sand and stain the sides to give it a smooth look.

 

While working, I saw this smiling face ;) The cans that held the different stains spilled and created the smirk and I thought it was pretty awesome!

 

Next I got some one and a half inch nails from Home Depot. They had a dark color, which I think fit the design I wanted a lot better than shiny silver nails. I used cardboard to draw the heart, cut out the shape and started hammering the nails in around the cutout. (I really wish I had taken more pictures to show what that looked like... sorry I don't have more!!)

So here's the final look once I hammered all the nails in. I picked out a wonderful maroon colored yarn from my local Michael's store. I am a big fan of deep colors. My bed frame and my bed linens are also dark colors (as I'm sure you have noticed from my outfit pictures... whoops, I live in a small space... what can I say??)

The next step is the most therapeutic part. I tied a knot around one of the nails and just started moving the yarn from one nail to the next.

 

The only thing I had to worry about is to not repeat string directions and to protect the design of the top part of the heart so I only filled the inside of the outline with the red yarn. 

 

And TA DA!!

It now sits in my living room above the non-functioning fireplace. I love love LOVE it!! And I'm so proud of it. Thank you Pinterest for the inspiration! Linking up with Anne in her Pin to Present post...

Roxi

The New Year's Shoes

Remember when I didn't know what shoes to wear with this outfit? Well, after going around a few stores including DSW, Target, Old Navy, Forever 21, TJ Maxx, and a few others, I finally visited Payless in the hopes of getting some wedge shoes. Instead, I found these lovelies on sale for 15 bucks. These heels were the most comfortable ones I could find in my budget, and they are sexxxxxy!

Casual wear

I wore this a few days ago when the temperature was actually decent. This is one of my go-to outfits for running errands and general going around town. I'm not wearing shoes here... because... well... I forgot. But I believe I walked out of the house with my converse shoes (seen in the last outfit). I usually combine this scarf with this shirt because the colors match, but taking a picture and seeing it here makes me feel like it might not. What do you guys think?

Skinny jeans: Pacsun (several years ago)

Top: blouse from TJ Maxx (3 years old)

Scarf: gift from Mom

In case you were wondering, the Captain America Valentine's day card is from a friend's son and I thought it was the sweetest card ever. Well... not the card itself, but the way I received it. I have been a long time fan of this kid, he and his dad have the greatest sense of humor! I met them through the local rescue squad I volunteer at as a paramedic. The kid comes around every once in a while and has lunch with the crew. One evening, I was at the rescue squad and my friend hands me this card and says, "so my son was making cards for his classmates and told me that this one is for you and that I HAD to give it to you... so yea, here you go!" It felt pretty awesome to make an impact on a kid's life, so much so that they remember to give you a card on Valentine's day :)

 This next outfit was worn out to lunch with friends. Can you tell I'm a big fan of scarves? Most people have a large collection of shoes, I have scarves. Many of them have been gifts from family and friends over the years, and recently I have received a few as souvenirs when my sister goes traveling. This one was a gift from my ex, and while I got rid of all his other stuff, clothes are keepers in my book.

 Top: American Eagle outlet shirt (1 year old)

Cardigan: Gap outlet  (1 year old)

Bottoms: Old Navy Diva Boot-cut Jeans

Shoes: Boots from Payless (3 years old)

Scarf: Gift

Oh man, so I definitely forgot that a) my laptop was on my bed while I was taking these pictures... as in I focused more on making sure the clothes were well presented than on the laptop seen in the mirror, and b) you can totally see what I'm watching!! Wow, so that's my bad guys... still learning how to take good pictures! This time I'm using my camera as opposed to my phone. My hope is that I'll have a new iPhone in the next couple of weeks so the pictures will be better quality.

Jeans: Old Navy Diva Jeans

Sweater: TJ Maxx (1 year old)

Scarf: Circle scarf from Old Navy (4 months old)

Shoes: Converse shoes from Target (4 years old)

 This is me trying to show you the pocket on my sweater... it's a little odd, but I like it!

Roxi

<3

This or that?

I was trying to figure out which outfit looks more put together before heading out to a family gathering. Thoughts?

This:
Polka dot cardigan from Costco (don't judge me, it was cute!)
Loft outlet flowy tank top - about 6 months old
Black skirt from J. Crew Factory - about 1 year old
Flats from Target

That:
Same cardigan
Same top
Longer black skirt from The Limited - several years old
Heels from Payless

What's in my bag?

Happy Friday the 13th! There are some days that I totally believe in the superstition that comes with today, and others that make me think...It's just another day. Either way, I never step on cracks on the sidewalk ;)

I'm about to head to work any minute now and will be working for 5 days straight. Yikes! Since my uniform consists of teal scrubs, comfortable but not so fashion-forward shoes, and a hospital badge, I won't be able to show off another outfit for a few days. So here's what is in my bag this morning! Gotta keep it interesting somehow, right? 

1. Frozen DVD - friend lent it to me and I watched it for the first time yesterday!
2. Positive Exposure brochure - amazing project, will talk about it in another post
3. Wallet
4. Notepad and pen
5. Mail - including a DSW offer (WOO!)
6. Memoirs of a Geisha book - will start to read this today on my breaks
7. Glasses case - holds my backup pair of glasses
8. Pouch that holds my electronics
9. Kleenex
10. Emergency pouch - holds essentials and toiletries
11. Gloves - still a little bit nippy out!
12. Old Navy bag (on sale for $7)

1. Contacts
2. Contact case
3. Aveeno face lotion sensitive skin - I put some in a mini container to save space
4. Scrunchy
5. Pouch
6. Tom's deoderant - no aluminum!
7. Pill container - holds aspirin and vitamins
8. Free sample of Victoria Secret's perfume
9. Toothbrush
10. Toothpaste
11. Lens cleaner
12. Eye drops
13. Chapstick
14 and 15. Lipstick
16. Cold meds - in case I start feeling sick during work
17. Extra hairbands

Man, I'm gonna be late for work! Keep me occupied for the next 5 days and tell me... what's in your bag?

Roxi

Easy outfit combo

I bought this dress a few months ago at Goodwill... yes, Goodwill! It was an amazing find on my first trip to Goodwill! The dress fits me like a glove... best $8.00 I ever spent on clothes. Of course I tried it over clothes when I was at the store, checked to make sure there were no stains, marks, or loose threads, and then brought it to the dry-cleaner as soon as I bought it.

I decided to pair it up with some black tights and boots. The tights were on sale at Old Navy during the holiday season. Can you tell I like Old Navy? The quality of their clothes have really improved in the last couple of years and the styles they sell are really cute and within my budget. I wish I had a better picture of the side of the boots because they are pretty darn cute. I've own these for over 4 years now, or even longer (I honestly cannot remember where or when I bought these I've had them for so long!). I'm also wearing some gold bracelets I received as a birthday present two years ago and a pendant necklace that holds the winged symbol of Zoroastrianism (Faravahar). I wear this necklace literally everyday. Nope, I don't take it off ever... which I know is odd but it's like a good luck charm!

It's a really easy fall/winter outfit, but I'm not sure how to transition it to the spring/summer seasons. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, let me know!

Roxi

PS: I'm still working on getting better picture quality, please forgive me!

I need you in my closet!

 

 This and that dress from Old Navy

 This blouse from Forever 21 

This scarf | That scarf from Old Navy

Winter Workout Motivation

For the past four weeks... on a Wednesday... my neighborhood has had some sort of winter storm. I know this because Wednesdays are trash day on my street and it's been a pain getting those trash bins from the backyard to the street. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE snow! It is the only wonderful thing about the winter that makes all the cold temperature and dry skin worth it. The biggest problem I have with the winter is that the temperature makes it rather difficulty to get my exercise on. If the roads are safe enough to drive and I'm not working 12 hours on a specific day, I head to the gym. But again, this weather is not letting me do my thing.

One of the types of exercises I like to do involves staying in my bedroom. This can be anything from 15 minute yoga sessions through Youtube videos (like this one), or easy 10 minute body part workout session (like toning triceps). Recently, I've been following Amanda's March Plank Challenge. Feel free to join in or tell me how you have been able to keep exercising during this incredibly cold winter! (Enter white walker jokes here).

:)

Shoe advice

Hello there! I'm new to this whole blog writing thing, so please bear with me as I learn the tricks of the trade. I wanted to start blogging as a creative outlet to a non-creative working environment. Don't get me wrong, I still love doing what I do! But it'd be nice not to think about wearing scrubs and uniforms all week long.

Because of my Persian heritage, I will be celebrating the Persian New Year's in the next few weeks (March 20th to be precise). And it's a tradition to wear brand new clothes to symbolize a brand new year in my family. Most years, I scramble several days prior to the day to find something... But this year, I was looking at my closet and found a pair of pants from the Limited and a shirt from Old Navy (on major sale when I got it!!).

I was so proud of myself when I put these two items together! I'm definitely going to wear these two items together in the future, or even try to put the shirt with a black skirt...

 

Shirt: Split-Neck Printed Blouse - Bows

Pants: The Limited (similar)

My biggest problem is trying to make an outfit look put together. What do you guys suggest I wear with this? The pants are rather long on me, so I'm gonna need shoes with a heel. But I'm not quite sure what color to get, or what style.

Let me know your thoughts! 

Cheers!

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