Tips on After Graduation

Hey Sunshiners! Happy almost June and almost summer, yay! Quite crazy how fast life goes sometimes, yet can be incredibly slow at the same time, but keeping yourself busy and planning things makes it all good. Talking about time going fast, many Seniors are either graduated or going to be graduating in the upcoming weeks and it reminds me that one year ago I was going through the same thing. It's crazy even thinking about everything that has happened in that year and reminds me of all the things I haven't accomplished yet. After going through this year though, I've made many mistakes and have kind of been all over the place, basically screwed myself over in a lot of ways, but I want to share some encouraging words that may help you after you've graduated and start living life as an adult.

Whether you're going straight into a University, Community College, Vocational School, or taking a Gap year, there's many things that you should keep in mind because know the decisions you make will ultimately affect the rest of your life, yes, quite deep I know, but that's why I'm here, to ensure you it's all going to be okay!

#1
So, you've gotten the diploma. Still in your cap and gown and you think to yourself, "now what?" Well take a deep breath and make an inspiration board to keep yourself on track of what you want to accomplish in the next few years and really what you're shooting for and it helps you feel inspired to do what you love, even if it's a bunch of photos from a magazine, those photos may have a deeper meaning.

#2
That summer after graduating do as much as possible! Dance, laugh, and just be happy because that is the last true summer of being a kid since graduating is still fresh. Also, if possible, go to disneyland and enjoy be a kid. Just because you've graduated doesn't mean you have to completely grow up and Disneyland will help you kind of relax because it's easy to get stressed after graduating. Also enjoy Disneyland to the fullest, get face paint and wear a tutu!

#3
If you are going to school after graduation then I suggest being as organized as possible! Don't leave anything til the end and stay on track, whether it's buying books, registering for classes, or even just checking your schools website for updates, just remind yourself how important it is to remember that you are going to be going back to school in a sense and those years are going to need some serious focus. 

#4
Now school should be your priority, but so is the need for money (unless your daddy is paying for everything, but like come on that only happens in movies!), so try to find one where your employer will work with you, that's why starting in the summer might be more beneficial rather than starting during the school year because it gives them those months to get to know you and begin to create a name for yourself, either making them want to give you a flexible schedule or depending on your performance maybe not wanting you at all haha

#5
Now deciding on your major could of happened in the earlier months or maybe you still haven't decided, it's completely okay! I felt like I needing to know my major to be able to care, but honestly, not a good idea! Get motivation by knowing when you do find out your major, you will have at least finished classes that you had to take either way. So stay determined to still get them done and actually go to class, just because nobody cares if you're there doesn't mean you shouldn't be there. Just take those 3 months before school to get focused on why you're going to school so then you have a purpose for doing the homework and going there.

#6
Plan things during the school year that'll help you to relax, so many people become so stressed so whether it's concerts, hangouts with friends, or even a pamper day and have a hobby that you do on a regular basis because although school is important, living your life is just as important and making memories will help you figure out your future big time!

#7
Another one is cut yourself some slack, you're going to make mistakes, whether it's with school or just life in general, but look back and see how those mistakes have helped you develop the person you are because that's when we really learn who we are and if you look at them as something negative then you're going to have a negative life. Take a breath and just do the best you possibly can do!

#8
Finally do it for yourself, not other people. Your decisions and schooling shouldn't be pressured by others, whether it's friends or family, remembering that you're going to school because you want to live your dreams will help you stay on track where focusing on the pressure from others can leave you with a rebellious attitude and cause you to basically say "F#$& THIS" and ruin something you actually wanted to do. That's the biggest lesson I've learned. Know yourself. Know what you handle and don't lose yourself in the hussel and bussel of growing up! That's why the first semester I feel like you should take as easy as possible because it's something new and you really don't know what to expect and taking on too much can cause major damage!

So good luck on your adventure and DREAM BIG

 

Iggy Azalea & The Neighbourhood Inspired Eyeliner Tutorial

Hey Sunshiners! Happy Monday! Today's a quick post with my video on two eyeliner inspired tutorials. I couldn't decide between my Iggy Azalea look or The Neighbourhood one, so I just did both! Why not ya know? It is only the eyeliner, not a complete look though and I'm using the wonderful helper tape because I realized it does make then cat eye way easier! So I hope these looks inspire your next eyeliner look!

 

The Short Hair Trend: CUT IT OR GROW IT ?

Hey Sunshiners! Hope is all sunny for you all! :)

Things have been good, but a tad tough lately, yet just keeping positive because attitude is everything! So basically this whole short hair trend is just blowing up and it's leaving me with some wavering feelings, cut it or grow it? Now I have short hair already, but it's like at such an awkward length and I've had the same style for about 6 years, I do where my extensions but it's definitely not the same as having natural long hair! Yet, growing it could take forever and I'm getting quite impatient. If I were to cut it then I'd have it to my shoulders to create a fun cute style because the ends of my hair are so thing and just look stupid sometimes. Although, the decision would be quite big because my hair takes forever to grow so I can't have the excuse "YOLO".

Still deciding, don't think I will because I have a round face and could be disastrous! Here's some of my favorite people rocking the short hair, inspiring to maybe take the risk! Although I feel like it looks way better with thick hair, I just hate the awkward short length ah !

Has anyone given into this trend?

Clip In Hair Extensions 101

Hey Sunshiners! Happy sunny Friday! Today is very exciting, buying some amazing concert tickets so will be quite full of anxiety until they actually go on sale, CROSS YOUR FINGERS I GET THEM!

Anyway, todays post is just to help you guys know about clip in extensions and I wanted to share with you my new video since many people wear extensions these days, basically every celebrity and the extensions you buy if going to make a big difference! So enjoy and let me know if you have any questions :)

STYLE FOUND

Hey Sunshiners! Happy happy day to you all! I had quite the night at the Manchester Orchestra concert and can't wait to tell you guys, BUT I had another epiphany today after the influences all around at the concert and taking in all the styles and I've decided that I've found my style! I love black, like, all black and white are my colors, which is weird sometimes because I'm super upbeat yet love that duo and at times like to add a statement necklace that has color, but mainly like those colors. So today's is just some clothes/outfits that I am so into right now and what I aspire my wardrobe to be like, so I guess almost like tumblr .... but ony my blog ... yeah ...Excited that I think I've actually found my style, if that makes sense, I've been just winging it really!

Influences include: American Apparel vibe, HAIM, Sky Ferreira, Vanessa Hudgens, black and white, Dan Smith, BANKS, this girl at my work, Coachella, Disco Pants, pastel hair, Jelly shoes, Lauren Elizabeth, The song Glory and Gore by Lorde, The Neighborhood, gypsy bracelets, LA, Lana Del Rey, and alternative rock.

 

Song of the Day: Lions in Cages by Wolf Gang

Hello Sunshiners! Before we start this Song of the Day, you must listen to the song. So here is the wonderful Lions in Cages by Wolf Gang:



Super fantastic right?!

This song had played awhile back on my Bastille Pandora Station and ever since then I was like, "wow, who are these guys?!" Little did I know that their album was so good and that they'd become one of my favorite bands at the moment.

I actually start my Tracks that are Inspiring me spotify playlist with this song because I remember hearing it again recently and needing to scream it to the sky how awesome it was!

Before I get ahead of myself and just talk about how awesome they are, I better give you some insight into the band Wolf Gang.

They are a british alternative and symphonic rock band consisting of Max McElligott as lead vocalist, Gavin Slater as guitarist, James Wood on bass, and Lasse Petersen hitting it on the drums. Their website described their sound as :

"abundance of suave panache, ear-thwacking beats and heart-throttling melodies"

A lot of words to take in right? If you listen to them, you'll quickly agree! They've also toured with many great artist like Coldplay, Florence & The Machine, The Killers, The Naked And Famous, and recently are playing some shows with Bastille, quite the resume I must say!

How did they come to be though? Well, Max McElligott was actually studying Anthropology at the London School of Economics when he took a year off to give this music thing a try and recorded Suego Faults (which he came up with the name from a dream) and he actually played every instrument! After listening to his Timeout interview, I see that his vision was specific and sometimes doing it yourself can be the best because as a control freak I understand the struggle of trying to get other people to do it exactly how you want it to be done, so I say good job man, your vision was spot on!

So their talent is impeccable and there's always something inspiring about an artist dropping out of a more socially accepted career to chase their dreams in music, makes us believe maybe our dreams will come true too.

I think opening for a band is difficult because sometimes people just want you to get off the stage so the main act can come on, so it creates a challenge and Wolf Gang is definitely the act to blow people away and show them what they are made of. Especially with their sound, it's got a good beat, wonderful chorus, and they have some killer stage presence (watched on YouTube). Sadly I've never seen them live and would die to see them open for Bastille, but it's sold out. Yet, I may be able to score some tickets to their North Carolina show depending on my moms business meeting over there. If not then hopefully next time! 

They are definitely a band that I'll be keeping my eye on and rocking out to in my car on a regular basis. Plus, their band twitter is following me, so let's just say I'm totally fangirling at the moment! It's weird because I never understood the whole "omg their following me" freakout, until they started following me and now I guess I feel like I exist to them? Taking notice of their fans is really amazing and makes me just like them more!

Make sure you check them out at http://www.wolf-gang.co.uk/ and take a listen of their music, you wont be disappointed! 

The Amazing Emma Stone

Hello Sunshiners! Happy Saturday and happy life! Yesterday I reluctantly went with some friends to see the Amazing Spider Man 2 and really enjoyed it! It was made very well and the storyline just went very well, plus there's a part that just ... kind of unexpected, which I've been told they follow the comics a lot more than the first ones with Toby McGuire.

After watching it I couldn't help but love Emma Stone even more! I've loved her ever since Easy A because she's absolutely hilarious and very talented. She is blowing up lately as well, kind of the it girl in fashion and everyone is loving her, which is very much understandable! She makes you feel like you know her and her quirkiness is just awesome!

 

Her style is very much like her style, cute and just so her! She wears clothes with such confidence and her little figure makes the clothes look so great! She is just the whole package!

Plus, did you see how awesome she was on Jimmy Fallone? Like come on, SHE NEEDS TO BE MY NEW BFF haha

 

Band Of the Day: HAIM

Hello Sunshiners! Happy May and Thursday, completely love the fact that rhymed!

Todays BAND OF THE DAY is Haim

If you've never heard of them then listen up because they are literally the shizz (yes I'm sure that's a word) and are the coolest girls on the block. First, though, it's not pronounced "Hime" or "Hame" it's "High-im", that's a need to know!

The three sisters grew up in the San Fernando Valley and first started rocking out back in the day with their parents in the band Rockinhaim, yeah that's right they were in a band with their parents when they were just kids! Cool from the start.

The sister duo are Este Arielle (born March 14, 1986), Danielle Sari (born February 16, 1989) and Alana Mychal Haim (born December 15, 1991) have been playing as Haim for about 7 years, taking them until recently to have their album out.

They've toured with Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, Mumford & Sons, Florence & the Machine, and the xx, but are now best known for their hit "Falling". Their sound is described as folk-rock with R&B/Hip-Hop styles, but after talking with a friend, we both decided their sound is best describe as cool. That's it.

You listen to their voices and just are transported to a chill day by the river or are brought back to the 70's era. Their style also makes you kind of back up and say, "wow, we got some bad asses here", because their presence screams "I just woke up like this". They can honestly do no wrong and their personalities are even better, even though Alana told www.spin.com:

 "I've tried to be a cool, aloof person, and it's just not me. I couldn't do it. I giggle at fart jokes. I trip all the time. I'm just not that person."

If you've never listened to them then I recommend listening to "Falling" and then "Days Are Gone" first just to test the waters and listen to this brilliant group of girls! I think one of the coolest things about them is seeing them on stage, especially Este's bass face, it literally makes you want to laugh, but then do the same thing! They just rock in their leather jackets and long hair like studs.

 Their influence on me has been great, whether its the way I've been walking lately or the way I talk about music, I've been inspired by them! They also haven't been just couch potatoes, Este went to UCLA, worked at the Cheesecake Factory, and use to be a hairdresser! Danielle has also been roaming the music scene for awhile in different bands until they finally decided to create Haim.

They make you feel like you know them and can just kick back with them. Plus their sisterly bond is amazing!

I really admire the music scene for female artists lately, although I love my Katy Perry and Britney Spears, lately I just feel like these indie cool chicks that just have so much talent are really taking over and it feels like girl power is just rocking! Plus now I feel like I need to reevaluate the word "indie".

I just recently put them into my playlist on https://play.spotify.com/user/alexasunshine83 for Tracks Inspiring Me: Week of 4/27 (all the songs I'm digging this week) so definitely check that out because I also have some other bands/songs that you may want to put on your playlist as well!

Hope you guys enjoyed this posts and I might start doing Bands Of the Day or Songs Of The Day because music is such a big part of my life and why wouldn't I want to blog about it!

Also make sure to follow me on https://play.spotify.com/user/alexasunshine83 and let me know of any bands you're rocking to as well!

Oh and bare with me on my spotify music right now, I'm new so it may take awhile to get me all use to it!

HAVE A SUNNY DAY SUNSHINERS <3

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