No fashion post today. I’m out getting ready for fireworks! Hope you all enjoy the holiday.

Dress, shoes, purse, sunglasses from Asos

Dress, shoes, purse, sunglasses from Asos

Are you going on vacation this summer?

Social beauty standards are strange if you really think about them.  And dangerous too.  In Asian countries, white skin is considered beautiful because they associate tans with lower class field workers.  To achieve a porcelain physique, girls use unsafe and illegal products to bleach the color from their skin, despite the risk of permanent and disfiguring results. Doesn’t that sound crazy? Well, we’re crazy over here too.

In Western culture, tanned skin is considered beautiful. Since the days of Coco Chanel, a “healthy glow” was seen as the side effect of living a luxurious and leisurely lifestyle despite the fact that sun damage causes wrinkles, sunspots, and cancer.  We participate in a $5 billion tanning industry and purposefully expose our skin to carcinogens from tanning beds.

Do you even know what a tan is?  Tanning is the skin’s defense mechanism to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.  When skin is exposed to UV rays, your cells produce melanin, which darkens the cells of the epidermis.  This darkening of the skin cells is the skin’s natural defense against further damage from UV radiation. In essence, a tan is a signal that your body is under attack.

From indiansunburn.com

I’m guilty of tanning too. But, it’s time to stop. I’m asking you to join me in a pledge to say no to senseless tanning this summer. I don’t mean stay indoors 24/7. Just follow this pledge from DoSomething.org -

I pledge to:

1. Treat my skin with kindness by keeping it protected when I am in the sun.
2. Stop using tanning beds, because they cause sun spots, premature aging, and even skin cancer.
3. Appreciate my body and the natural color of my skin.
4. Guarantee myself a lifetime of healthy skin by taking care of it now, and not putting off worrying about it until I’m older.
5. Remind myself that the celebrities and models I see in movies and magazines aren’t baking away in tanning beds – they have professional spray tanners who help them fake a golden glow.
6. Understand that a healthy glow doesn’t come from a tan – it comes from being confident in your own skin.

Leave a comment below if you would like to take this pledge!

From shopnastygal.com

I also like this strapless swimsuit, which will prevent you from getting icky tan lines on your shoulders.

From shopnastygal.com

Though, I think this one is my favorite!

From asos.com

No, wait. I changed my mind. This one by Diesel is my favorite.

From asos.com

Can I change my mind one more time?

From asos.com

Will you be getting a onsie or bikini this summer?

Tip #1: Skimp on the toiletries

You really don’t need your entire make-up bag, straightener and half dozen hair styling products for a weekend away or a month in the middle of nowhere (plus if you’re staying in a hotel, they’ll probably supply sample-size body wash and shampoo). Why not try buying some small containers, like these Airborne Refillables, from My Tagalongs, for short trips (if you’re going on a plane with just carry-on bag, you must have your liquids under a certain size – check out the airline regulations before you pack):

From mytagalongs.com

For longer trips, consider getting a shampoo bar from Lush – takes up very little space, lasts a long time, doesn’t spill and equals clean, gorgeous, no-fuss hair:

From lush.com

I suggest you also buy and/or make yourself a moisturising body soap and separate face soap (Dove are fantastic for these basics – and very affordable). Throw a roll-on deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste and hair brush in your bag, and you’re almost done. Grab some hair ties (black is always a good colour) and bobby pins and you can style your hair quickly and easily in a chignon or braid. Or just let it dry naturally! (Often hotel rooms will supply you with a hair dryer, or if you’re on camp another girl will probably have brought that or a straightener.)

Photo by ediphotoeye

As for make-up? Keep it simple! When I’m on holiday, I don’t want to bother with spending ages perfecting my lipstick and eyeliner, so I just take three things – a natural mineral powder foundation (use it with a concealer brush under your eyes and to cover redness, lightly dust the rest of your face with a foundation brush), a lip balm with a hint of colour and mascara. If you’re planning on going out while you’re away, pop a couple of other items into your bag – an eyeliner, an eyeshadow, a lipstick. They won’t take up much space.

Tip #2: Get the basics

Fashionable Travel by Pretty in Pink... featuring Havaianas flip flops

Regardless of where you’re going, these basics will always come in handy:

• black leggings
• black tank top
• black long-sleeved top
• zip-up black nylon jacket (if you get these in lightweight, breathable material, they’ll take up hardly any space. You can wear them underneath or over things for warmth, or to get a different look with a dress or jeans)
• sarong (not just if you’re going to the beach! Can be used as a towel, pillow, scarf, dress, bandanna… and takes up no space!)
• big scarf (fashionable and totally dresses up/changes any outfit)
• flip-flops
• black flats
• sneakers (these three pairs of shoes will help you through almost all situations – you can go out in the black flats, walk around all day and even hike in some good sneakers, and wear flip-flops to all the non-formal occasions in between. A pair of nice sandals might also help for formal events – heels tend to take up a lot of space).

To those 9 items, you can add dresses, jeans, hiking pants, shorts, skirts or sweaters, depending on where you’re going! You can pack light and still feel ready for anything. (Plus the obvious – take enough underwear for the number of days you’re going away. If you’re going away for an extended amount of time to somewhere where there might not be washing machines, take laundry soap with you and be prepared to wash things in the sink!)

Tip #3: Take only what you need

Suitable clothes for where you’re going, what you’re doing and how long you’ll be away, your basic toiletries plus the other things you can’t live without – your cell phone, camera, a first aid kit (never know when you’ll need it!), money, and, if you’re going overseas, your passport and other relevant papers. Maybe you’ll also need your laptop or netbook, and something to read. Make sure, after you’ve finished packing, that you’re not taking anything with you that you won’t need or use – it’s no use taking up valuable bag space with something that serves no purpose! Make sure all your clothes are suitable for where you’re going and what you’re doing.

Tip #4: Accessories = your friend

Mix and match by Pretty in Pink... featuring Forever21 dresses

Accessories will totally change any outfit! One dress = one outfit. One dress + big scarf = another outfit. One dress + leggings + a sarong around your waist = another outfit! You get my point.

Share your fashionable packing tips!

xo,

Image via ew.com

In this movie, Dunst and Williams play ditzy fifteen-year-olds who live in Washington, D.C. in 1972. One night when Betsy (Dunst) is sleeping over Arlene’s (Williams) place at the Watergate Appartment Complex, they accidentally cause the buglars in the Democratic offices to get caught stealing documents for President Richard “Dick” Nixon (Dan Hedaya). The next day when Betsy and Arlene are at the White House on a school trip, they are recognized by some of Nixon’s men and are then taken to be interrogated. Nixon sees Arlene and Betsy while they are being questioned and he then asks them to be his Official White House Dog Walkers to his dog, Checkers, so he can keep an eye on them.

After the girls become the Official White House Dog Walkers, they start baking cookies for the president that have a “special” ingredient in them, the leaves that are in their walnut jar, but it’s later revealed by Betsy’s brother that the leaves aren’t walnut leaves but his weed (yes, they were unknowingly given the president weed!!). Eventually the girls find out all the bad things about Nixon and become Deep Throat, the source who revealed to Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward (Will Ferrel) and Carl Berstein (Bruce McCulloch) that Nixon had planned the Watergate burgalry.

Image via kolson-kevinsblog.blogspot.com

This movie is super funny, as it tends to work it’s name Dick into several hilarious lines in the movie such as “Dick frightens me.” and “You can’t let Dick run your life!” which everyone around them hears and takes the wrong way (LOL!). The movie also includes some really cool 70s fashion, like the American flag outfits seen above on Dunst and Williams, and it has an awesome soundtrack loaded with 70s classics including Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain and Patti LaBelle’s Lady Marmalade.

So next time you’re looking for a really good and funny movie to pass the time away, try 1999′s hidden jewel Dick.

Demi and Selena!

1. A cute tote.

From wondermiley.pho.to

A big tote is absolutely necessary to hold all your stuff, but you don’t have to spend a bunch like Miley.  This Xhilaration tote is only $12.99.

From target.com

2. A beach towel. I like the big oversized ones so I have lots of room to keep myself and my stuff off the sand.

From target.com

3. An eco-friendly water bottle.

From livejournal.com

You definitely need some water and you can help the environment by carrying around a reusable bottle.

From target.com

4. Sunscreen.

From jollypeople.com

Tans look nice, but lobsters don’t! Be sure to get the waterproof kind so it doesn’t come off when you go in the water.

From target.com

5. Flip flops. You need something you can quickly slip on and off, but no need to forgo fashion. This beaded pair by Mossimo is adorable!

From target.com

Besides that, all you’ll need is a good book and some good friends!

Taken by me in Malaga, Spain

1. Challenge your intellect.

Go to a museum, see a good movie, or read a good book.  I’m a literary dork so I plan to read a lot of good books. I just started reading My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult.  It’s sooo good.  I don’t want to put it down.

From imdb.com

2.  Challenge your creativity.

Learn to cook a thai dinner, write a short story, take a dance class. As for me, I love getting crafty and plan on sewing myself a maxi dress.  Got my fabric and my pattern all picked out.

From asos.com

You can also get all sorts of DIY kits from places like Etsy and learn how to make thinks like these cute pendant necklaces.

From nostalgems.etsy.com

3. Challenge your body.

Boost your confidence and your health.  I’m usually an outdoorsy person, but I spent a lot of time on my butt this semester with homework and finals. I set a realistic goal of running 10K (about 6 miles) by the end of the summer.   I found a great schedule for beginners. Anyone want to join me?

From nj.com

What are your plans for summer?

I found some other great Converse looks paired with Kate Towers dresses.   Arent these pics by Michelle Moore amazing?

If you like these photos, Michelle also does senior portraits!

P.S. Does that girl in the top right corner look like Katy Perry to you?

Retro Fun in the Sun featuring Eley Kishimoto dresses