Life Journey Journal - New Job & To The Shore!

Just a more personal update for today, I'm pleased to say I got hired the other day at Ulta! If you're not familiar with Ulta, it is a beauty store similar to Sephora, and in addition to more expensive brands, one can also find inexpensive no-names as well, and on top of that, it also contains a full service salon!

So, I'm pretty stoked for that :) The store isn't open yet, they're still finishing up building, and the first few days of work will be setting the store up, followed by a 'soft' opening in which the store is open but not advertised and I get all sorts of coupons and discounts and goodies to give out to friends and family and such, and then the grand opening.

And Sunday (tomorrow!) through Tuesday I'm headed to a shore cottage my aunt has in New Jersey with a few friends, which I'm really excited for since 2 of them I haven't seen in over a year! Let's hope the weather cooperates with us, and I'll try not to overpack too terribly - and of course I'll be taking my own advice from my previous entry. As much as I'd like to have a fair complexion sometimes, I'm naturally more of an olive-y skin toned, and I tan - as my mom puts it, "disgustingly fast", so might as well give in, spray myself down with sunblock to protect against the UVs, and rock the inevitable tan. So, let's go New Jersey shore, and save the Snooki jokes please ;)

♥ Jesi Carroll

Your skin, the sun, and other such summery matters

Summer is officially upon us (in the northern hemisphere, at least), and that means warmer weather and sunny skies. For some of us, this means sunbathing by the beach, but for others this means trying to avoid sunlight exposure as much as possible. Up until the early 1900's, fair skin was ideal, as tanned skin was considered characteristic of the social or lower class, as those who worked for hours in the sun had tanned skin. Societies would use chalks, lead paints, and even arsenic to whiten skin! Less dangerously, women would carry parasols to shade themselves from the sunlight.

This ideal changed in 1923 when Coco Chanel returned from the French Riviera with a deep suntan, which she claimed to be from staying out in the sun too long, yet her fans began to adopt the trend. In addition to Coco, Parisians adored Josephine Baker, a caramel skinned African-American singer, and wanted darker skin like her. These two women were the forerunners of the tanning trend.

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Precautions should be taken if you desire a darker complexion, because the suns rays can be harmful, and put you at risk for sun burn and even skin cancer. If you choose to tan, always use a sunscreen, and apply it generously. If you don't put on enough sunscreen, you're not getting full protection. Using a higher SPF sunscreen will allow you to reduce the amount applied, in case you are uncomfortable with slathering on a low SPF for full protection. Ideally, you should be using a sunscreen that blocks UVA AND UVB rays, as well as being hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic - this means it won't irritate your skin or clog pores. Also, make sure you reapply it after swimming, or if you're doing an activity that causes you to sweat.
Tanning beds are NOT a safe alternative to natural sunlight, both cause exposure to UV radiation that can increase your risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging. Tanning beds mostly emit UVA rays, the kind that increase the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Your safest bet for a golden tan without exposing yourself to harmful UV rays is by using sunless tanning products. To create a believeable tan, use different products for your face, chest/torso, and legs, because using only one product will create a flatter look. By using different products meant for different parts of your body, your sunless tan will be more believable.

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Now, you might be the kind of person who finds fair skin ideal. Obviously, you will want to stay out of the sun, particularly from around 11 am - 2 pm, where the sun is at its strongest. You can't exactly shut yourself in a closet for the whole season, so when you do go out, use a parasol or umbrella with UV protection to shade yourself from the rays, and apply a high SPF sun screen. I suggest using a spray on variety, since they go on much lighter. It's also a good idea if your facial products contain UV protection, but it's generally not enough for full protection. Cover up with cute hats, sunglasses, and light long sleeves.
There are also skin lightening products out there, but do your research as some can contain harmful active ingredients, such as mercury, so use caution, read reviews, and know what's safe to use!

I hope you found this article informative, whether you prefer lighter or darker skin! Next time I hope to have an entry relating to what color clothing looks best with different complexions, so stay tuned!
Also, I encourage you to comment and leave feedback so I know if I'm keeping things interesting or not ;)

♥ Jesi Carroll

Get the Look

I've been tossing the idea of this entry around in my mind for the past few days, and I'm not sure if it's something I want to continue or not. I think I need to clearly define what it is I want from the concept for it to be a solid continuing trend to write about, but here it is:

Over the top (OTT) sweet lolita seems to be a trend these days, piling on accessories and creating a very dynamic and detailed coordinate.
Take a look at Takulu, and you should get the idea:



You may love it, you my hate it. But let's face it; lolita, especially OTT, isn't always appropriate for certain occasions - you don't want to upstage the bride at a wedding - and other occasions, you may wish to dress up but know it would be wiser to tone it down.

So, I wanted to create a more 'wearable' version of Takulu's OTT sweet lolita:

Pleated Bow Dress, $35
Ruffle Anglais Shrug, $55
Faux Fur Stole, $28
Cotton Spandex Jersey Legging, $26
PRADA SPORT Ballet flats - Item 44209064, $215
ELECTRIC HEART CUFF BRACELET, $200
Karen Walker Sterling Silver Carousel Pony Pendant Necklace, $237
QUEEN ALICE RIBBON HEADBAND, $105
ASOS Bow Skinny Belt, $10

Most of the more reconizable lolita elements are removed - a shorter cocktail dress, no petticoat. The color palette is kept essentially the same, however, and we can still see hints inspired from Takulu's coord. A cute silver carousel horse necklace mimics the lolita dress pattern and bag. We still have a cute (faux) fur capelet, or a cropped white bolero. Socks and shoes are toned down to solid color leggings and a pair of cute flats. A single bracelet replaces the numerous ones, and swap all those bows for a simpler, yet equally cute head band and a pink belt to add some variation to the dress and to better tie in the pink.

♥ Jesi Carroll

Solo - Loli

Every so often, I like to go out dressed to the nines, for fun, out of boredom, or whatever else.

You might find yourself with the urge to dress up for the day - or maybe you're a lifestyle lolita, and you dress up EVERY day. It might not even be lolita, maybe you just want to go crazy and step outside in a jaw-dropping outfit you've been wanting to experiment with.
All you know is you want to get out in style, you're confident, you look fabulous - but nobody's around to accompany you. If you're like me, sometimes you might feel nervous about going out alone, and unsure of what exactly to do with yourself.

SO, where DO you go?

Here are some ideas:

* Out to a park. If the weather permits, going for a stroll in a park can be very relaxing. Bring a book or magazine to read on a bench, a camera to take pictures, or a picnic blanket and a snack to just enjoy the sun! And if you have a dog, why not bring the pooch along for some exercise?

* Visit your favorite cafe. Cafe's are nice places to with friends - and alone. Seating is generally available for a variety of numbers, so it should be easy to find a small table for one, a bar seat, or a comfy chair to settle in. Bring a book or a laptop and just enjoy yourself!

* Go to the mall. You don't have to buy anything, even just looking around can be fun! I tend to take a LONG time when I go out on a shopping trip, and when I have friends with me I feel compelled to hurry up so they're not stuck waiting for me for a half hour, so I enjoy visiting the mall by myself sometimes and taking my sweet time without the pressure to get a move on. Friends may also mock your choices of clothing, especially if you're lingering. In fact, I think I prefer serious shopping outings solo for these reasons. If you are planning on buying some things, however, you might want to make sure it won't take you a half hour to take off your outfit, try one item of clothing on, and put your outfit back on in the dressing room!

* See a movie. Or a theater production. Or another kind of performance. Sometimes seeing a movie by yourself - especially one you've REALLY been wanting to see - is nicer than going with a pack of friends who may distract you from what's going on and missing out and having to ask "Wait - what just happened?!" And if it's opening night for a major movie, it will be easier for you to get a seat than shuffling around a dark movie theater trying to find four seats in a row for you and your friends.

* Explore your city (or one near you). Again, like shopping, having friends along can rush you along. There might be a museum or gallery nobody else is interested in, or a few shops you've always wanted to stop in and check out but never really had the time with others around. If you're in a city alone, however, especially at night, remember to be aware of your surroundings and stay safe. If you're not familiar with the city that well, pick up a tourist map - interesting locations are usually marked for vacationers, and you might be vacationing yourself! Explore and experience the culture for yourself, at your own pace - turning heads in your fabulous outfit, you'll look confident and stunning!

♥ Jesi Carroll

Loliday 2010 Photos

(click images for full size)

I had a great day yesterday at the Kinokuniya event in NYC! Everyone was dressed so beautifully, I wish I could have gotten pictures of everbody who was there, sorry if I missed you!

♥ Jesi Carroll

Happy Loli Day!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Lolita Day!
I'll be at the Kinokuniya event in NYC, so expect a related entry in the near future!

♥ Jesi Carroll

Want to Buy or Wait to Buy?

With a highly anticipated release of a new Angelic Pretty print coming soon, many girls are rushing to pick up their credit cards, searching for shopping services, and getting caught up in the brand-new-gotta-have-it syndrome. So, I thought it would be appropriate to post an entry about holding off on impulsive purchases.

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You're at the mall, and you see something in a store that will look perfect for your new coordinate! Maybe it's a gorgeous cardigan, a necklace, a cute purse -- you dash over, pick it up, look at the price tag, and - oof. You didn't expect that price! But it's so beautiful, maybe just this once...
Hold it!

You may find yourself compelled to buy that PERFECT find in situations like this - you saw it right out of the blue, love at first sight, it was meant to be - yet, it's not something you had planned on buying. So, what to do?

Now, I can't guarantee this will work 100% of the time, but one option that has saved me cash on several different occasions is by simply putting it down and buying it at a later date.
For example, I had seen this beautiful dress on the Urban Outfitters website one day that I was dying to have, and when I visited the local store, there it was, along with another similar style - I had to have them both! But it wasn't in my price range, and would have been a foolish buy if I had taken it immediatly then and there. Since the store is close by and I frequent the area, I popped in a couple times over the next month or two to monitor if they had been put on sale yet, until one day - success! Both dresses had been marked down to a much more reasonable price, and as an added "bonus", one much lower than the other due to a broken zipper, that after examination, I decided would be a simple fix (which it was!). Now I have myself two dresses I'm in love with, and didn't have to spend nearly as much.
In another situation more recently, there was a decorative frame I had been wanting to buy from a store I frequently went to for art supplies. It had been marked down already, but it was just a little bit much for what I was willing to pay, and I never really had the extra cash while I was out. I passed it up for weeks and weeks, until one day recently I noticed there was only one left, slightly obscured by newer items. I pulled it out and - another score! It had been marked down AGAIN!
Again, this might not work every time - your item may be sold out before it gets a chance to go on sale, or by the time it goes on sale it might not be in your size. But, if you frequent the store or the general area of it anyways, and are willing to take the risk, it definitely couldn't hurt to wait it out for your find to go on sale.

This can also help you avoid impulse buys - if you wait a while and then go back for your item, you might think twice, maybe it isn't as great as you thought it was the first time - and it also can give you time to set aside some money for your purchase, rather than frittering away money you might not have to spend that first time around.

The same can be said for online store sales and lucky pack season. If you're new to lolita, for example, it might be a better idea to wait and purchase a lucky pack - marked down items from brand stores, that usually are enough for one coordinate, sort of like a grab bag - to get you started. It can be tempting to want to buy that new print right when it's released, yet if you can wait and hold off, you may be able to find it on the comm sales for cheaper. Although it can be nice to be the trendsetter for a new design or print, holding off will go easier on your wallet and can save you from impulsive buys that could potentially lead you to debt.

Holding off on purchases - especially impulsive ones - can save you from wasting your hard earned cash. By waiting, you open yourself up to the opportunity for sale prices and discounts, you allow yourself more time to consider the purchase - maybe it ISN'T a perfect find after all... So before you grab that new find without a thought, stop yourself and think. Your wallet may thank you.

♥ Jesi Carroll