Sweet Teef

Hiatus

2010-10-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

Due to some personal issues, I'm putting Sweet Teef off on an indefinite hiatus.

Thanks for reading.

Candlelight Photo Post

2010-10-16T13:35:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my recent favorite long exposure photos!
I was desperate for ideas the evening before I had an assignment due and trying to come up with anything, and eventually, inspired by some hand-altered religious decor pictures I have in my room, made a run to the mall before it closed to pick up the candles.

I like the way these came out, particularly the haunting glow! Ready for Halloween, everyone? I think I'm going to be a cheeseburger...

♥ Jesi Carroll

Autumn Sweets

2010-10-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

In Savannah, autumn is a barely existant season, and it's one of the few things I miss about New England - being able to watch the foliage change colors around me, sweater weather, and the sweet, homely scent of fall. It's one of the rare times when people actually travel TO Connecticut to get the full autumn experience!

Here are some delicious sweets and treats to dine upon while reminscing of a New England autumn, and if you're lucky enough to live near an orchard, go apple and pear picking, get a pumpkin, and purchase some locally made maple syrup!

Pumpkin Bread

Pear Maple Cobblers

Pumpkin Spice Granola

Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake with Bourbon Whip Cream

Hope you enjoy!
♥ Jesi Carroll

I'm Alive!

2010-09-29T16:15:00.000-07:00

Woohoo, finally a new post!
I apologize for my absence, it's been hard to find free time to settle down and compose an entry, and while my boyfriend's at class and it's gloomy and rainy outside, I figured it's a great time to put out an update.
For a quick rundown of what's been going on: Moved into my new apartment at the end of August, started classes - fashion technology, photo 1, and math (online), which are all going great, and otherwise just doing class work and spending time with Zach and my friends!

So, how have I been keeping it sweet?
Take a peep into my apartment:

I love my bedding! I feel like I'm a princess sleeping on a cloud, so cozy... Also, I just made the "It Will Be OK In The Morning" banner over the weekend, cutting letters out from magazines and hanging it with string and tape. I made another for our kitchen that says "Bon Appetit", great for covering up blank white walls!

I had picked up this chair at a tag sale for $15, it was in okay shape, but needed to be reupholstered and a cushion, so after a lot of crafty work from my lovely mother, we have this beautiful (and super comfy!) channel back chair.

At the same tag sale for $10 I snagged this telephone bench, repainted it white, and reupholstered it myself.

What's sweeter than kittens? Nothing, I'm pretty sure. I just got this baby boy yesterday at the humane society, he has yet to have a name though... Thomason? George-Michael? Pascal? James St James? Tobias? Let's hope a few of you still check in on Sweet Teef, patiently waiting for a new post, voice your opinions or offer other options for my baby!
He's full of energy, currently darting around the bed with a little toy mouse and scrambling all over the place, but sleeps pretty peacefully next to me at night, and gets along with my roommates dog, Peanut (as long as Peanut isn't trying to snatch the mouse).

Keep an eye out for a photo post soon! I woke up at 5:45 AM yesterday morning to take photos at the beach at sunrise, and got some great shots. These might show up on my flickr as well, possibly before a blog post, so if you want to poke around there I'm at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciel-vide/
And for more from me, check out my tumblr which I update daily most of the time, usually with photo posts: http://ciel-vide.tumblr.com

Anyways, I'm off to cook some dinner with Zach and chill with my baby kitty then perhaps off to a friends, so I hope you enjoyed the update!

♥ Jesi Carroll

Inspiration: Overglow

2010-09-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

OVERGLOW - jsmonzani.com from Jean-Sebastien Monzani on Vimeo.

I feel like I'm taking the easy way out here, but what with my mini-vacation last week (lots of fun, by the way), working, and packing up my life - I'm headed back to Savannah on Friday - I'm SUPER busy, so I apologize for the lack of written content, but I hope you enjoy another one of Jean-Sebastien Monzani's short films! You may remember him from 'Your Secret', which I posted a few weeks ago, I absolutely love him.
Again, I apologize, and once I'm all moved in I hope to have some nice content-filled posts - I'd love to share with you the telephone bench I painted/reupholstered, and this gorgeous channel-back chair we've reupholstered as well, as well as all the other magical things I've got in store for my new place ;)
♥ Jesi Carroll

Life Journey Journal - Jersey Shore II

2010-08-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

What, New Jersey again??
Yep! I'm spending a few days at my aunt's shore house again with some friends, and I won't be back until Friday. Hopefully I'll return with some nice photos to share (is the intense debate between becoming a photography or fashion major leaning towards photo?!)
Have a great week!

♥ Jesi Carroll

Sweet Nothings from the Prince Charming

2010-08-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

I absolutely couldn't help but share this little message from my boyfriend to me today -

"This is gonna sound totally dorky, but...
You're my magic kingdom
hrfeuikdjheuwkfhyeuw"

(he's at Disney World this week with his family)

He never ceases to make me "awww"!
This evening he was publicly embarrassed in front of tons of people at a restaurant by one of the evil step sisters and the evil step mother from Cinderella - the step sister apparently was chatting with him in character and decided he would make a suitable husband and SCREAMED for her mother to come over, who proceeded to demand where the ring was and reprimand him for his tattoos and nose piercing, and THEN, even after leaving he received a phone call from his own father who said someone wanted to talk to him - and it was of course the evil step sister demanding how could he have left her like that! Absolutely hilarious... After the whole ordeal, his 10 year old sister asked him, "What are you going to tell Jesi?!"
Haha!

♥ Jesi Carroll

Inspiration - Words

2010-08-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

WORDS from Everynone on Vimeo.

Beautiful. I love how the clips flow together by the different words describing what's going on.
♥ Jesi Carroll

Photo Post: Harkness Park

2010-08-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, I joined a group of fellow lolitas to model in a big promo shoot for various local lolita designer's shops, some old and new!
Among the group was Aly of Her Lumpiness and her recently opened shop Aramanth Opulent which specializes in ecofriendly lolita & mori inspired jewelry; Carolyn of F Yeah Lolita and her shop, Ophanim Gothique, specializing in Victorian inspired bonnets, jewelry, and corsages; and Lindsay of Lolitas n Cream, her sweets jewelry shop, and her new clothing line Lolita Nouveau.
Also present was Crystal of Pretty Wonderland and her gentleman, Dalin of La Vida Frills, Cate, another Lindsay, and our photographer Sean (whew, that's a lot of links, hope I got everything right!)
We met on the gorgeous grounds of Harkness Park, and had a great day - although it got a bit hot after a while - modeling and photographing, followed by a little picnic. I'm not going to post the modeling photos, since I think Aly, Carolyn, and Lindsay have covered that pretty well via their blogs and shops, so check them out if you haven't already! Instead, I'm just going to share a couple of my favorite shots I took that day.

I had a great day with everyone!
♥ Jesi Carroll

Cooking Cute

2010-08-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday when I was grocery shopping, I found the most delicious, prefectly ripe strawberries and couldn't resist buying them - but I couldn't eat the whole carton by myself before they went bad so what to do? Inspired by the recipe mentioned in the S.O.S. kitchen entry, I picked up a bar of white chocolate and sugar cookie mix, and decided to make some strawberries n cream cookies myself and a little sort of photo cooking tutorial.
So, let's get cooking cute!

Ahem, I said -cute-

Much better!

Get your strawberries, white chocolate, and sugar cookie mix of choice, be it pre-mixed or from scratch!

Mix your sugar cookie mix up nice and good according to instructions.

Dice up your strawberries and white chocolate as shown - if you buy white chocolate chips, it's probably easier than breaking up a bar.
Mix the strawberries and white chocolate chunks in with your sugar cookie mix.
Note: I was originally planning on rolling the dough out and using my new bunny shaped cookie cutter, however the moisture from the strawberries will make your dough VERY sticky, so this didn't work out. I added probably about a half cup of flour trying to make it so I could roll it out, but I gave up in the end.
Scoop your dough onto cookie sheets.

Bake at the temperature/time indicated in your sugar cookies recipe, but keep an eye on your cookies! They may require more time due to the added ingredients, I had to bake my cookies probably 5-7 minutes longer. To be safe, check your cookies at the minimum baking time, and then every minute or so after.

And enjoy!
Sunday, I was modeling some jewelry for a photoshoot put together by some tri-state area designers, and brought these along for during the shoot and after for the little picnic we had. They were completely devoured! I was glad they turned out so great since I'm generally not a daring cook as far as adding additional ingredients and winging it. I'll definitely be cooking these again! ♥ Jesi Carroll

Photo Post

2010-08-05T20:13:00.000-07:00

"I loved you first
beneath the stars came falling on our heads
but they're just old light,
they're just old light"

The last few days have been magical for me,
so I'll share a little of my magic with you.
♥ Jesi Carroll

S.O.S. - Kitchen Style!

2010-07-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've done a Spoonful of Sugar, so here are some tips for sweetening up your kitchen!

Recycle old silverware as drawer pulls:

Cute doily coasters from Urban Outfitters:

So cute/fun for fresh picked corn in the summer:

Antique/vintage dinnerware - scope out tag sales, estate sales, and the like for these gems!

I think there's something so dreamy about glass jars...

Can't decide between a beautiful cake or cute cupcakes? No need to settle, just bake a GIANT CUPCAKE

What's classier than diamond ice cubes??

And do I even need to step into the world of tea sets? These should be a given!

Don't stop there either!

* Go berry picking and store your fresh summer berries in those glass jars
* Remember those tea cup candles from the first S.O.S. on bathrooms? No need to restrict them to one room! I'll probably have these everywhere once I move into my new place
* In the summer especially, we've always got home made iced tea in a pretty glass pitcher in our fridge. For about a gallon of iced tea, boil one or two cups of water, and brew 5 or 6 bags of tea. We generally throw in 5 bags of regular black tea with one bag of a flavored tea. Once the tea is brewed, pour into a glass pitcher and fill the rest of it with ice.
* If you like baking, show off your pastry delights with glass bell jars, such as these strawberries n cream cookies

Hope you enjoyed these tips to sweeten up your kitchen!

♥ Jesi Carroll

"The Rules", or Cool Kid Psychology

2010-07-22T09:57:00.000-07:00

I'm one of those people who think that people who follow fashion guidelines religiously are a little uptight, to say the least. There are people who treat fashion magazines like bibles, and worship labels like Versace, Dior, and Valentino like dieties. A popular term in lolita for girls who only purchase brand label pieces are 'brand whores', and while not so popular of a term in the general fashion world, you know that one girl who refuses to carry any bag without clearly showing off that it's a Coach. Whether it's a niche fashion like lolita, or general fashion trends for the season, some people just take it way too seriously!

And you know what? I think this all stems from the need to be the cool kid.
Seriously. Let's take a peek into the psychology of trends and fashion.

As early as elementary school, we're all exposed to trends, some of them more innocent as toys - pokemon cards, yoyos, and recent generation's silly bandz - and some even pertaining to fashion. I recall in 5th grade, popcorn shirts were all the rage, as well as those patchwork looking jeans that look like several different washes of denims were run over with a lawn mower and sewn back together with the frayed edges showing, anyone remember those? Something about these toys or pieces of clothing caught our attention and made us want them. Why did we want them? Because so-and-so had them, and you thought they looked cool, so that meant so-and-so was cool, so obviously if you had them, you would be cool!!

Even earlier than elementary school - did you ever notice the way toddlers are sometimes completely uninterested in a toy, that is, until someone else starts playing with it? Then they pitch a fit until THEY can have this newly deemed awesome toy.
Would it be so arbitrary to suggest that even now as young adults and adults, we're still acting like babies?

Fashion can have a captivating effect on people. New clothing can boost self-esteem, change your identity, and give you confidence enabling one to feel special and unique - sounds like our 'special snowflake' syndrome, right? Any piece of clothing can boost a person's self-esteem simply by having a designer label on it. How does this happen? By connecting themselves to popular, expensive, and high end names, a person wearing designer labels is creating a status symbol of who they are and who they want to be. If a person can afford designer, others will recognize this, and thus a feeling of importance is created, boosting ones socioeconomic status solely on the clothes one is wearing. This allows one to find comfort in situations where we might feel socially anxious. Take going to a party, for example. You know you won't know everyone there - in fact, maybe you won't even know anybody! So you slip on a designer label dress (lolitas, read 'brand') and pick up a tote with a designer logo emblazoned all over it, and head out in confidence, because even though other people who have never met you before will have no idea of your personality, because they will recognize the designer labels, they will associate the labels with this person has money, and maybe even connections in high places, they have designer, they must be in-the-know with fashion, they must be... cool! At least, this is how we think our brand-conscious peers think, and we're probably right, only not everyone cares so much about designer labels.

Fashion is a vicious cycle for those who follow trends. Everyone wants to buy the very newest style to set themselves apart as an indivudual, to be 'cool' - these are our trendsetters - but predictably, the styles turn into trends with everyone and their mothers wearing the same thing, wanting to be like the cool kid. But then, fashion designers come to our rescue, releasing new styles once the trend becomes too dull, and thus the cycle begins again. For those who want to feel like the fashion elite, this can cost a pretty penny.

Getting back to our cool kid statement, people who feel designer labels are most prestigious, who monitor fashion trends like a hawk, and even lash out against those who are "doing it wrong" and breaking the "rules" of how to wear something or what to wear, I believe, are simply trying to ensure that they are the cool kid. By creating a fashion standard for themselves and ordering others to follow, they are trying to force themselves as a trendsetter and fashion leader. Maybe they have lost confidence somewhere in life and are trying to restore it via fashion as an outlet, maybe they enjoy the glamour of being trendy and followed - I can't answer for our cool kids, but being lighthearted about most matters I would suggest everyone to just relax and lighten up, yet I know not everyone can take matters so lightly. Designer labels will always be captivating icons to some, while others can feel just as comfortable with themselves in lower end brands.

In reality, there is no unseen panel of judges monitoring you for faux-pas, giving points to those who are trendy, and condemning others or breaking fashion commandments.
Coco Chanel is not grinning at you from the afterlife for sporting her label's shades.
Maki and Asuka are not going to show up at your door and give you a pat on the back for only wearing Angelic Pretty.
Your favorite celebrity icon is not going to give you a trophy for mimicking their style.
There is no fashion rulebook.

So, relax, take a deep breath, it's only fashion.

♥ Jesi Carroll

Inspiration - Your Secret

2010-07-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

Today, I just wanted to share this charming video I stumbled upon the other week...

Your secret from Jean-Sebastien Monzani on Vimeo.

♥ Jesi Carroll

Life Journey Journal - Wardrobe Building

2010-07-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

Whoops, sorry about the little gap in posting! I've been really busy lately, what with Connecticon and Warped Tour this past weekend, working two jobs, and some personal going-ons, yikes!

Anyways, a week or so ago I treated myself and bought a new jumperskirt; it's a black milky chan replica. Some people like replicas, and some hate them, and as much as I'd love the real thing, it simply isn't in my budget. I could wait and wait to save up, however keeping in mind that I need to furnish and equip an apartment, save up for art supplies, and possibly even get a car for when I'm back at school so I could continue working at Ulta down in Savannah, and get to and from classes without jumping through hoops - well, it'd take a while!
Of course the quality isn't the absolute best, but it's pretty good in my opinion. The lace is decent and cute, the print is done well, and it's put together nicely. The fabric is a little bit stiffer, but this could just be from starch as my mother pointed out.
I'm happy with it, though, and I think that's what's most important. Also, had it been the real deal, I would be a lot more hesitant to wear it out and about for fear of wrecking something precious on accident, so I feel a lot more freer about wearing it casually rather than letting in sit in the closet for only the best occasions.
All in all, the dress is cute, the quality isn't the absolute best but it's good, it didn't cost me an arm and a leg, and most importantly: I'm happy.

A quick coord after opening - way too hot today for socks/blouse!!

In other news, I recently started at Ulta - we've only just been setting the store up though, not quite open yet ;) Even though it's been 8 and a half hour shifts, it goes by quick and I really enjoy it - I actually feel like I'm doing something productive when the progress is as visually apparent as it is when you're setting up a store and things start filling up the shelves. Plus, my best friend works there!! Hopefully I can just transfer to the Ulta located in Savannah, it's only about five miles away from my apartment, and a girl who graduated from my highschool a year before me who also attends SCAD works with us too, so it would be even better if we could carpool!
If any CT lolitas follow my blogspot and want discount coupons and such for Ulta, there's a soft opening for friends & family a week before the grand opening, so let me know if you're interested, I can hook a girl up ;)

♥ Jesi Carroll

Finding your Season - Colors best for your skin tone

2010-07-01T18:33:00.001-07:00

Sometimes when dressing, you might find your appearance to look off - but it's not the style of clothes, it's the color. So, as promised, I'm delivering an entry regarding which colors look best with your skin tone! I did a lot of digging for this, and decided it would be best to create a guide based on color analysis, or color seasons.

To start off, note that a persons season is the same for life - a tan will NOT change it, because you still have the same color skin, just in a darker hue. Determining your color season mostly relies on your skin tone, do not rely on your hair color and eye color, because throughout the years and even seasons, hair color changes, can be dyed, and eye color can be changed with colored contacts.

To help determine your season, figuring out whether you are warm or cool skinned, and clear or muted skinned is a good start.
Cool skin has pink or blue undertones, and visible viens will appear blue.
Warm skin has yellow undertones, and veins will appear more green.
Easy enough, right?
Clear skin does not refer to blemish-free skin in this situation. Clear in color analysis refers to large contrasts between skin, hair, and eyes, and generally skin will have a transluscent quality.
Muted skin has little contrast between skin, hair, and eyes, with more ashy tones, and will have softer color than that of a clear skin tone.

Winters are cool and clear
Summers are cool and muted
Autumns are warm and muted
Springs are warm and clear

If you're still stumped, don't worry, I'm here to provide you with more in depth descriptions of the seasons, and try to create a comprehensive guide.

* Winters are often stark and dramatic. People of Asian or African descent are often winters, as well as Caucasians with very pale skin and dark hair, such as black, dark chestnut, ash chestnut, white, and salt and pepper. Skin might be cold brown, olive, neutral beige, sallow beige, or pink beige, and will contrast dramatically with hair and eye color, and can be described as 'intense'. Gray, blue, brown-black, chestnut, and hazel eyes are winter characteristics.

* Summers often have pinkish, pink-beige, or ivory skin; ashy blonde, dark chestnut, mousy brown hair - and especially natural blondes - and a strong complexion that tans easily. There will be a low level of contrast between eye, hair, and skin color, and the contrasts will be gentle and seen as softer and less intense. Eyes will generally be lighter and gray or blue.

* Autumns will tend to have warmer skin, such as dark brown, golden brown, light gold, olive, warm beige, and ivory; red, brown, dark brown, copper, chestnut, golden blonde hair, and golden-brown, amber, hazel, green, or darker eyes. Blue eyes with a gray or turquoise cast may also be autumn traits. If you're an autumn, you might also burn easily in the sun.

* Springs also have warmer coloring, though skin will be extremely light, and possibly freckled and rosy cheeked. Golden beige, pink beige, peach, ivory, and porcelain are very characteristic of springs. Light blonde, auburn, strawberry blonde, dark brown, and golden hair are spring traits, with clear light blue, aqua, green, golden brown or amber eyes that may tend to be paler.

***

Hopefully, now you are able to figure out which season you are! So the next step is figuring out which colors look best with your season.

* Winters - you will look best in true white, as well as true black, cool grays, navy blue, deep reds, bright pinks, jewel tones (emerald, royal blue and purple), and icy pastels. Colors that are relatively more intense and contain sharper contrast will create an intense, pure, and clean look.
Avoid: beige, orange, gold, camel, brown, & other washed out shades - this will make you look faded and ashy. Less intense or highly contrasting colors will wash out the strong contrasts between your skin and hair and eyes.

* Summers - pastels, neutrals, muted colors such as lavender, rose, mauve, pale yellow, and light blue are best for you. Dressing in these colors that are relatively softer, less intense, and contain less dramatic contrasts will make you look subtle and harmonious.
Avoid: black and orange. Intense and vivid colors will be too harsh for you'll appear drowned out. In higher contrasting and intense colors, the gentle contrast between your skin and hai rand eyes will be overpowered.

* Autumns - stay with rich and muted earth tones, such as caramel, beige, burnt orange, gold, dark reds, olive, ivory, camel, and rich brown. Strong autumns will look great in black. Essentially, anything with warm yellow undertones.
Avoid: Cool shades, you'll look pale. Pink may be unflattering for you, as well as clear bright colors. Black & white will make you look faded.

* Springs - pale and soft colors are great for you! Ivory, peach, true reds, clear blues, camel, light pink, coral, salmon, golden yellow, golden brown, aqua, and bright greens are highly recommended. Similar to autumns, warm yellows will compliment your skin. If you have dark hair and vivid skin, black will look good on you.
Avoid: dark, dull colors. Black & white will cause too much contrast.

***

Since I don't have all the time and resources to instruct you as per my winter semester color theory class, hopefully this color analysis guide has introduced you to the fantastical world of seeing colors like no man or woman ever has, and provided you with guidelines as to what colors work for you!

Don't let a guide like this limit your experimentation, though, it's merely meant as an aid to help determine what may and may not look good on you. If you're in love with a color, work it!

♥ Jesi Carroll

Life Journey Journal - New Job & To The Shore!

2010-06-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-23T10:57:00.001-07:00

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.

***

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.

***

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

2010-06-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-13T10:11:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

(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!

2010-06-05T07:35:00.001-07:00

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?

2010-06-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

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.

***

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

Hosting a Meetup

2010-05-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

Lolita meetups can take a little, or a lot, of organization, depending on what you're doing, so here are some guidelines for understanding how to host a meetup!

Where & Activities

You'll need to decide on a place for your meet up. In the Savannah lolita's community, we have a post designated for "loli places in Savannah" where I've put together a list of just that. I included a small description of each place, the price range, menu (if it's a place to eat), and location. You don't necessarily have to do this, but I found it's convenient to have an organized list for when trying to put together a meetup!
For example, our list includes several historic houses with tours, areas for picnics, and tea rooms.

Some other ideas, which may depend on your area, can include:
* Going to see a play, musical, concert (stick to seated ones), or movie
* Visiting a museum or art gallery
* Karaoke
* Roller/Ice skating
* Picnicing (potluck style is great!)
* Kite flying
* Crafting (deco your phones, lolify some shirts, sew head bows, make mini top hats!)
* Getting Brunch/Lunch/Dinner/Dessert

And depending on the time of year, seasonal activities such as a 'Secret Santa' holiday party, Easter egg hunt, watch fireworks, or seeing a parade!

Cost

I always like to ask the members of the community if they'd prefer a cost-free, low cost, or don't care about the cost of the meet up, so that more people can join in on the fun if the price is an issue!
This can also help narrow down your options for activities if you're having a difficult time deciding.
Whatever your cost, make sure your attendees are aware of it so they will know if they'll be paying for a grand expensive luncheon, just a light snack, how much tickets are if the event requires it, and the like.

Attendance

It's always a good idea to make an RSVP list of who's coming, and if people are bringing guests. This can be extremely important if you plan on making a dinner reservation, because most places will want an accurate head count when you're making the reservation, especially if it's a large group. Finding out how many people will be attending can also be important for potluck style meet ups, so people can have a good idea of how much food to bring.

Offer to give out your cell phone number (via PM) to those who would like it in case someone runs late or gets lost. I know I've had to make a couple calls while going to meet ups to let them know I was running late/stuck in traffic.

Take note of who is coming, and check off people as they arrive so as not to leave anyone behind! It's always a good idea to make sure at everyone has a way to contact you or someone else in the group.

And again, please make sure everyone states whether they're bringing a +1 or more! You might think you have an accurate head count, but if five people bring unannounced guests, it could cause major difficulties depending on your activity.

Attire

If you're going to be visiting an amusement park, the ideal attire will be completely different than if you're going out to dinner.
Advise people if they should wear comfy shoes, leave the hair bows/excess jewelry that could fall off at home, bring an umbrella/parasol/fan, bring a coat, or even forget the petti! Some meets can get really hot, and it's important to let everyone know that, even though it's a lolita meetup, to dress down according to weather to ensure comfort.
Let the attendees know whether they can dress head to toe covered in their finest brand, or should wear a simpler, cheaper outfit that they won't mind getting minor grass stains on.
The formality of a meet should also be taken into account. Is it formal, semi-formal, informal, casual?

Don't forget!

* If you're going to be moving around to different places on your meet, make sure they're close by, or at least easily accessible by some mode of transportation, and that everyone can find a way to get there without much difficulty by carpooling etc. Most everyone will be dressed from head to toe, and will probably not want to walk 20 blocks. If you are planning a meet in which there will be a lot of walking required, advise everyone to wear comfy shoes at least!

* Make sure nobody gets left out! If there's a large group of people who don't know each other, it will be a good idea to initiate the meet with some sort of introduction activity, even if it's as simple as going around in a circle stating your name. If someone looks a little lonely, start a conversation or invite them to join in with a group!

* Always keep an eye on the weather too - you might have to cancel and have a rain date last minute, or notify everyone to bring an extra coat, or leave the layers at home!

Hope you found this helpful,
♥ Jesi Carroll

Life Journey Journal - Home Again!

2010-05-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

I just got home from school in Savannah, about 15 hours of driving UGH! AND I come home to find Dennis Hopper died :( Time to watch Easy Rider again!
But, my brother and his girlfriend made strawberry cupcakes as a welcome home surprise :) Delicious! (And also a good dessert for a lolita meet, eh? eh?)

I have been busy packing/unpacking and such, should have a loli-related entry up tomorrow though!

♥ Jesi Carroll

Spoonful of Sugar

2010-05-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

Lifestyle lolitas are lolitas who seek to incorporate elements and ideals from the fashion into their own worlds. Lolita is more than just the dresses and the poof to them - it could be making their home look like a chateau, practicing hobbies they feel are lolita - embroidery, deco, sewing dresses -, studying etiquette - but it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. You don't have to eat ice cream and drink tea every day to be a lifestyle lolita.
In general, I think being a lifestyle lolita is about translating the lolita fashion into everyday things around you.

Now, I wouldn't consider myself a lifestyle lolita, so don't quote me as an expert on this, but I'd like to use this entry as a kick off a series of future entries which will revolve around putting the loli into your life! This might include tutorials, links to shopping finds, who knows, but I promise to keep it interesting.

***

To kick of the Spoonful of Sugar series, I decided to focus on incorporating lolita into your bathroom!

* Check out these ruffled shower curtains (click the images to go to the websites where they're available!):

Want something similar but the price tag is a bit too much? Why not make your own! Buy a couple of cheap white fabric shower curtains, these go for $13 at WalMart, cut one up into equally sized strips, and sew in your own ruffles.
Here's a great youtube video with 3 easy ways to sew ruffles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lk36V9uVdA

* Look at these adorable petit fours candy soaps from etsy! Just make sure your guests know they're soap, and not to eat them ;)

If you're thinking "They're just going to end up as lumps of soap anyways, why bother?" then just pick up a simple bar of scented soap - goats milk and honey, lavender, or my favorite, sweetpea. Check out small shops near you for specialty soaps made locally, or if you travel to other countries, pick up some as souvenirs!

* Indulge in a super fluffy plush bath rug - there's nothing better than stepping out of a bathtub onto something soft and fluffy. And while you're at it, why not treat yourself to supremely fluffy bath towels as well? You'll feel like a queen when you bathe!

* Have a plain bathroom mirror? Spruce it up! Hunt around at tag sales, flea markets, consignment stores, and antique shops for mirrors, or even just antique frames that you can put a mirror into.
Use acrylic paint to customize your mirror - find a cute stencil or freehand, paint a cute border!

* Carefully placed teacup candles are the perfect touch! Isn't this genius?

Make your own with this tutorial on Design*Sponge

* Fairy lights aren't just for Christmas - string up some white icicle-style Christmas lights for a twinkly magical ambiance.

I hope you enjoyed the first of the S.O.S. series, and also my first 'real' entry
♥ Jesi Carroll

A Little Bit About Me

2010-05-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

Before I begin my journey into the blogging world, I'd like to share a little bit about me!

I am Jesi Carroll, a 19 year old fashion student at the Savannah College of Arts and Design (otherwise known as the Savannah College of Arts and Crafts and Horses). I might change my major as I'm an indecisive person, but for now I'm in the school of fashion!
My birthday is February 18th. I'm originally from northwest Connecticut and have lived in Connecticut all of my life. At home, I have a big German Shepherd, Rommel, an ocicat, Miss Kitty, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Baby. You'll definitely see/hear more about Baby, as she is absolutely adorable and it would be a crime not to!! (Not that I don't love the other pets, but Baby is solely my pet, and the others are family pets. Also, I didn't name her, so no she didn't get her name from BTSSB ;))
I have been interested in the lolita fashion for about 4~5 years, and got my first jumperskirt in August of 2008. My wardrobe right now is rather small - I still have my first jumperskirt, 1 skirt, 1 one piece dress, 1 blouse, 1 petticoat, several pairs of socks/shoes, and some accessories. With a minimal lolita closet, I wish to expand and share my wardrobe building with you in hopes of giving others ideas for expansion, as well as documenting my lolita timeline.
Aside from lolita, my interests include fashion in general, other arts and design, interior decoration (might do a minor in this!), photography, watching movies (just ask me for a movie recommendation. I dare you.), and granola (it's delicious). I like to sprinkle in humor - if you can't tell already -, I'm fairly laid back, and try to be lighthearted. I'm a responsible person and I'd like to think I do a good job at keeping my priorities straight.

I set up Sweet Teef to start as my summer project that I will (hope to) continue much longer past then. I've always thought of ideas of things I want to do or make, but they tend to get lost and buried, so this will be my own personal challenge project!

Why the name Sweet Teef? Well a couple reasons: I tend to gravitate towards the sweet lolita style, I enjoy sweets (in moderation! too much of a good thing = a bad thing), I experienced years of orthodontia work to have my own set of sweet teeth, and I thought it was a cute play on sweet tooth! Also, I love the glorious trashiness of tooth jewels - no offense to anyone who's got 'em, I totally dig it! - which is why I had to include an image in the Sweet Teef banner.

Wish me luck,
♥ Jesi Carroll

Hello & Welcome

2010-05-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

Hello & Welcome!

Thank you for checking out my new blog, Sweet Teef. Sweet Teef will focus on the world of fashion, and lolita in particular, as I venture into both, and the aspects that revolve around it. I hope to bring you new inspiring content with my very own twist.

I hope you'll enjoy what I have in store for the future of Sweet Teef!

♥ Jesi Carroll