I officially have 5 days of high school left and dreading everyday. Despite the 20 page paper I have to write or the 60 page story I have to edit, all I am in the mood to do is groove. For instance, today on May 26th 2016, Julian Casablancas called us baby doll in the dreamiest moan; I am dead, bald, awake, and a tad bit livid. If you haven't read any of my previous music posts, or know me in real life you must know that The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, and Drowners make me dance around my room like a maniac in the gleaming sunset poking through my window. Meanwhile I am also daydreaming to The Cure's Just Like Heaven and young Morrissey's cheekbones making us go through romantic torture. I lust over a good tune and make it my entire life; in addition to this, with the beautiful weather putting me through the best of my emotions pallet and hyping me for the freedom of summer, I have got so many new jams and rediscovered classics, that I feel obligated to share with you and explain why I adore them. I also just got my first A in my university writing class for a review on Run Away With Me and I have been struggling in that class all semester; therefore, I basically feel like I could work for Pitchfork now.

Excuses

I'ts been almost a month since I've written and I really don't have a well written excuse. I could say that I write 2 papers almost every week, or busy doing stuff with friend: this is all  true except I do have random days during the week where instead of writing I'll lay in bed and watch Youtube videos for 3 hours and then realize I have a 15-20 page paper due in 2 weeks.... nice. 

But despite all of this I have a bunch of cool posts coming up such as, helping you guys get creative with looks because I am currently in a place where I can't buy too much new clothes because I am moving! I could even discuss more about my days or opinions on fashion, culture and social issues and all that jazz, whatever I'm feeling. Along with this I will be out of high school in exactly 13 days, which I said before, keeps getting nerve wracking yet uber-exciting to be out. I plan on filming and taking photos and writing better context soon, I have so many goals for this blog and can't wait to continue to bring you along my journey of improving and creating.

Away from my self reflection that I promise to you and myself, will not happen as often as it has the last 2 months. I'd love to show you the fun things I've been doing and personally I like looking at others photo diaries -- especially well thought out ones pleasing to the eye -- so here is mine from April to just this weekend

No Pizza for Prom

Self-improvement is a never ending cycle featuring the catalyst, the action, the distraction and the failure (at least that's how I see it.) Although I've been such a busy body since the year started; I've also become super lazy. From my 16 in 2016 list I completed about 6 of my goals but the rest such as less coffee has just crashed and burned. But this time IM SERIOUS, I hope and think: The catalyst is prom and summer and the situation is my skin. All I do on weekends is lay around, drink coffee and sleep in more than I should. In the summer I was literally glowing and my skin was at its peak and I was super active, drank only tea and water, and just felt good about myself and motivated to do more things that benefit me and make me happy during my alone times such as making quality content. I will not be pizza face during prom, I will keep writing, and I would love to have a cute bod for summer so here are my new realistic goals I have for myself for this quarter of the year.

Spring and Sprung

Youth

Writer's block always hits me like a bus when it comes around but here I am. 

I'm in my last few months of high school and can't even explain how I am feeling, the weekend before this new semester started (3 weeks ago), I literally cried. Nostalgia, hits me like a bus hit Regina George, is a trait of mine that is more permanent than others and certainly describes me a lot not only when conversing but even in my ideals and clothing. I reflect and dwell on the past for good and bad reasons so often and that is how I proposed this post to myself.

Bern is Love

As a gross hormonal teenager, I have spent way too much of my free time watching 90's romance movies and repetitively saying goals when googly eyeing Adrian Grenier in Drive Me Crazy — so I obviously tend to daydream of what the perfect date would be and come up with scenarios of how I may possibly fall in love some day what ever love means. However I know for sure that some traits like digging the same music, sharing a political philosophy and even loving coffee can bring 2 people together. Since I'm going to be alone this beautiful holiday, I decided to make this cute little application for kicks and giggles and share some characteristics that would make 1% of an ideal Valentines date for me or even boyfriend.

But in all seriousness, if you're alone like me DO NOT put yourself down especially if you are also a teen gal. Teen boys suck right now and you have your whole life ahead - dance to some tunes, watch more 90's movies, order yourself a pizza because it is the 21st century and totally legal to do that and even invite some of your girl gang and celebrate the love you have for friends and life in general this weekend. No slanty faces here!

Violet Grooves

February.........already.........2016..........wyd? Everything in my life has been going quick, it's a new semester, a new month and still a fresh new year. As I said last month I will be putting out either a new playlist or an inspiration board at the beginning of the month but today I wanted to share a multitude of things because as you know a common theme since my senior year began was reflecting my life but let's start off with my new hair and ootd:

Later Latte

It's not bye bye Baltimore, not sayonara soy, nor ciao cappuccino. I've spent about a week without my daily red eye because it is one of my new years goals and sadly, my skin is looking rough and I think... no I know, it is because of my true love for this legal drug called coffee. My typical 10 oz, medium roast and pump of vanilla is only allowed on the weekends now along with any type of pop. To record my progress I decided to write sentence each day on how I felt or thought of the last week.

A-Z Me Tag

Mercury in retrograde is usually a bad thing each month but lately it's been treating me well. You can judge me if you'd like but I do believe in horoscopes and Refinery29 told me that I would have a lot of "me" time this month and it's already hit me. This new year in general has given me time to reevaluate myself creatively and mentally, which is the result of this post. Although i'm not sure if anyone has come up with this already I'll just tell myself I came up with it and feel great about it, here I bring you the A-Z Me Tag. Also inspired by i-D magazines A-Z videos. I predict and hope I do have more new readers this year and my last random facts about me was posted late 2014 and I'm pretty sure I've changed a lot since then. Rules to my fellow blog gals tagged, tag 3 people, keep it simple and of course - be yourself.

16 in 2016

Happy new year! I am disappointed to say that I spent my first day of the year laying in bed till 1 on such a sunny day but I did not actually sleep till 2 this morning. I got home from the party I was at around 1 and I was and am just so excited and happy about this new year that I just danced around my room like the child I am, for about an hour to Neon Indian - which lemme tell you, is super fun to get ya groove on. You are probably going to see these posts everywhere today but as repetitive and cliche as it sounds, 2016 is my year and ya grl got goals.

IRL Mess

Hello, I am the worst, but I can explain. Friday the 20th of November around 8:15 am, I dropped my phone LIGHTLY and the phone became unresponsive but didn't even crack. I also realize this story is starting better than any Shakespeare book - thank you I know - 2 weeks later, a lil bit of turkey, good company and 140 dollars it's fixed. I was pretty bummed and bitchy those last 2 weeks so sorry family and friends, but I made it out alive, I survived a teenagers worst nightmare and I feel good and back to my Instagram-bloggy self and I'm here to update and make you laugh.

November

Out with the old and in with the new is how I'm starting this month. October started great but let me tell you, high school boys suck you don't need them.  That is the most important advice I can give you and what I learned last month but yeah no need to get into deetz. Along with that I really need a refreshment, the last couple weeks I've been so caught up with school work and also I've just been busy hanging out and having fun but this new month is what I definitely need and I'm back to share more amazing things (like G(irl) *winky face*) and what I've been up to! 

Let's Chat: Music, OOTD and Life in General

My beloved readers. I have writers block, so let's catch up.

Mentality

Today I had to dress up for my leadership class and let me tell you..... picking out a look was a struggle. I usually dont have this problem when dressing up but the main conflict was weather. I was planing yesterday night to wear a short skirt and a cute top but that didn't work out. A long with this I had to speak to two classes today with a lot of confidence. 

This look is a mash up of a top I got last summer, a chiffon skirt my aunt left when she came to visit two weeks ago (I think she left it for my mom but I love it), a classic moto jacket and pointed booties that I am living for at the moment. I wasn't feeling confident about the skirt because it felt very fancy but here is the big message I wanted to tell you, if you feel good about what you're wearing then who cares about what others think. Mentality is key. This look made me feel very minimalist Carrie Bradshaw (from the Carrie Diaries not the OG) with an edgy Lorde feel, especially because of my curls flowing and my bootie heels clicking.

Tag You're It! - Blogger Interview Series

I'm loving this Q&A series and getting to know more about others in the blog scene. I like sharing my interest in fashion to you but it's also nice to share how weird (but cool.... duh) I am through my so called adventures or blurbs about my week and of course questionnaires like this whom I was tagged by Madison from BAD SASS.  Check out her blog for the brattiest attitude, the baddest style and cool sunset pics.

Back to the Basics

The post title isn't just the name of one of my favorite Lana Del Rey songs', but it also pertains to a mind set I need to work on. It's actually pretty literal. When dressing myself day to day I tend to over think it. I find that I just need to step back and remember that just because I have a flamboyant blouse does not mean if goes with gaudy bell bottom or a vibrant skirt. Along with the core pieces you have accessories that you don't always need. My favorite bloggers and many well known in the fashion community are all very versatile and that's what I admire the most about them.

Better late than never

(First photo on Rachel Steph)

June 1st marked one year of this blog and I totally forgot. So here I'm going to reminisce of the beginning. My first blog was actually Virtual Vogue, made for my news writing class I took last year. Then I was already planning to create a blog the following summer so shout out to Ms. Glidden for teaching me the basics of blogging and just that class in general because I really do enjoy writing much more than I used to.

In the process of creating a blog you have to pick a platform and name with a Google search of "what is a good platform for fashion bloggers" I found one source saying Blogger is the one for me so here I am! (Sorry to any teachers, I ONLY USED ONE SOURCE AND DID NOT MLA SOURCE IT)
Then I had to pick a name and what I came up with were ridiculous names, 2012 "Tumblr Girl" names such as "Chucks and Polaroids" or a spin off of the OG blog "Virtually Vogue." But obviously those did not work out because this blog had to be something a little more mature and I planned to use it in the long run. Although I still find my name quite basic its my name.... can't change that. 

The other important component aka my template was a mess in the beginning. Baby pink Georgia font as my header saying "♥ rachel stephanie ♥", *rolls eyes* how lame. I also used the very basic Times New Roman and kept the font all black. But again I did my research, started a Bloglovin to really get some exposure and also gain some readers, and found some codes online and now I've got everything set to what I really do feel is well, me.  

I was always a when I was younger, quit ballet, regret times 1564161321, and I quit Girl Guides, but I'm still here and I love doing this and I feel like I've improved my vocab, photography and decision making (because if you didn't know all my posts including my first was deleted on purpose because I wanted to fix my content so the first post on here is July 1st). The gist of all of this was to say thank you for reading this past year and your simple compliments just make me super overjoyed and I hope you can stick around for this adventure because I've got a lot of ideas for this season and I cant wait to share.

xoxo, Rachel Stephanie

ps. almost at 100 followers eeeeekkkkkkkk!!!

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No Ragrets

Oh wow Rachel is actually going to talk about her life and not about trends and what she's wearing or what she likes or what she wants.

 First off this is a really late post and this is what I to say: I need to post more about my life casually - I know I say this every time which is very unprofessional but I am just a teenage girl.. I don't know if you actually give a shit about my life but I typically find these blog posts interesting and hilarious of how similar people are to me. This is also a way to just unwind in the middle of my last full week and a week before finals *stressing af*. Along with that it's also the last week with seniors aka my closest friends at school and the fact that I'm a junior I feel like I'm being left out not graduating this year. But on the other hand I am going to be a senior and I only need like 6 credits next year to graduate plus I'm taking all the classes I like... for fun. I think I've told you this before but I am a super nerd, I don't mind school, I get frustrated when I get a B, I make bad jokes, I wear overalls (overalls are actually the coolest I'm currently wearing them).

♥ classic calvins ♥

But people like this pale curly headed nerd cause I've got great friends and people who read posts like this.Although I'm also very awkward and this is what happened the other day which I find quiet hilarious but also embarrassed and a super TMI moment. Last week I went up this boy I find rather cute and my friend was like "you should just talk to him!" So of course I did and here it is, I TAPPED HIS SHOULDER. I'm still sitting here a week later going why why why what the heck. Then he turned around and I said "I like your hair," and he smiled and said thank you. First off thank you based god for nice boys but no thank you for making me the goofiest child couldn't turn a compliment into a conversation, no ragrets though! I was really cheesy and laughed my ass off with my best friend after that but how do people even talk to boys? I'm just going to marry Ryan Gosling, he's going to get me through my finals obviously and feed me cereal because I refuse to believe that the Vine of him eating his cereal is real. 

Anyways lets get away from adolescent awkwardness. I am so excited for summer and definitely need it. I think this was the toughest year on me aka PRECALC aka THE WORST,  But i'm ready to relax and maybe learn something new, learn how to cook?, maybe take a "literalization diet", and go to a lot of concerts? I do know that I am going to fully invest myself in this blog and take sometime to educate myself on careers and life in fashion and fashion in general.

Thank you for letting me share how annoying I can be and what goes through my head daily and will probably do this more often because it's nice and now I'm going to shower and lay in bed and watch How I Met Your Mother, good night great people of the internet and remember - it's almost Friday!

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spring staycation guide

My first day of spring break and I am not heading anywhere, but that's okay because they're are plenty of activities to do while I'm home and you can too! Here is a list of things you can enjoy by yourself or enjoy with friends and family during the break:

1. Clean your room
2. Try a BuzzFeed food hack
Here's a Mac and Cheese one and Ramen
3. Do/Try yoga
This video is quite easy and relaxing!
4. Watch Friends 
Chandler.........................*bing*

Source

5. Build a blanket fort and camo inside
Because you know you've always wanted too
6. Have a picnic
7. Craft Day
8. Finish/start a book
I've been reading #GIRLBOSS for 2 months and I'm still not finished......
9. World Day
♥ Ich liebe dich ♥
10. Watch a new movie
11. Buy plants, give them names

12. Go for many walks
13. Spa day
Supplies needed:
-Nail Polish & tools
- Bubble bath
- Candles
- Calming music
- Face mask
14. Make a pizza
Ingredients for my fave:
- Pillsbury Biscuit Dough
- Tomato Sauce
- Mushrooms
- Cooked chicken
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Shredded cheese
Cook for 15 minutes at 350 degrees and enjoy!
15. Go to an art museum
16. Watch the sunset
17. Watch the sunrise
18. Have a makeover
19. Reverse Day
Breakfast for dinner?
20. Put on your swim suit and Photoshop yourself at the beach

I've already done 3/20 of these today, clean my room make one of the BuzzFeed dishes and this........

Have a lovely break and hope this helped!

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blogging || expectations vs reality

This post was done by Lydia of Fashion Influx and I thought it was super cool because as bloggers we tend to want to be perfectionists by always having unique outfits everyday or having a clean space, etc, but irl we're not, and I don't who has the time for that. These are some of my imperfections that shape who I am in a tad humorous way.

Expectation---Organization---Reality

I definitely try to keep tidy but I pretty much rush every morning and when I get home from school I just get way too tired to clean. 

Expectaion---Diet---Reality

Photo worthy food isn't an everyday thing, that's all.

Expectation---Schedule---Reality

I forget I have a schedule most times tbh and my real schedule is the one on the right which is just one big mess and sometimes I finish too late to post and have a little argument with myself whether if I should post that day or not.

Expectation---Instagram---Reality

"Wow cute brunch in bed" sike it's noon and I took Monday. And after I've probably taken 416846 photos then took and hour and a half to debate if I like it.

I'm so good at make-up and never get lipstick on my teeth please hire me Sephora

I hope this conveyed a little bit of my personality as well as entertaining and get through to you in the words of Hannah Montana, ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ "Nobody's Perfect"♩ ♪ ♫ ♬

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