Confidence Misplaced...

For the first time in a long time I find myself crying, feeling like I'm going nowhere. I don't want this post to sound like I'm ranting; this is more like me trying to voice something out that I might not be able to share with people around me.

Music and Fashion have both been my refuge in life, though I wasn't ever blessed with an opportunity or support to receive training to pursue my dreams. I was just the type of person that would pick up an instrument and with no instruction could create a song, or pick up a piece of paper and draw a sketch of a gown and try reproducing it for my dolls.

Now, I confront myself with reality. A frightening place where everyone has been doing what they love since forever and have training in their instruments; and I feel a little left behind. Though yes, I have been singing since I could speak, I lack real musical training. I do know theory and such but there is so much more to know that I feel overwhelmed at times. And at times I feel I'm a lot less than everyone else. I thought real talent was enough, but I guess I was wrong.

Sometimes I wish I had a fairy godmother to make it all right...
Because my confidence is misplaced.
Since it's Halloween tonight here in the U.S., I want to magically vanish all my fears away with pictures of beautiful fairies and whimsical creatures...
Thanks you guys for hearing me out.
Hope you are all having a sweet weekend...
=)

Puerto Rico Gulf Refinery under fire

I know this may have absolutely nothing to do with Fashion or Style, but it's news that has gone around the globe and its epicenter is basically in my backyard.
At 12:25 am, the Caribbean Petroleum Corporation exploded, 14 of the 40 tanks that contain bunker fuel, diesel and gasoline are now in flames and almost 24 hours later, firefighters and emergency personnel haven't been able to mitigate the fire.
I live around 3-4 miles away from the refinery, but we can see the flames and smoke clearly from here. My sis, bf and I took some pictures and they are terribly heartbreaking.
I fear for not only the animals in the zone, but also two dams are built around the perimeter, and being an engineer has helped me understand the severity of the problem. The water that is being used to turn off the fire is directly going to those dams, still no action plan has been activated for safekeeping those water bodies. Plus, the possibility of acid rain is imminent, because of the quantity of pollutants that are being burnt and launched into the air.
I don't believe the island is prepared for this, probably the fire will keep on going for days.

I know this post is totally off topic, but I just thought it was something important worth discussing. They still have no idea what could have triggered the explosion, the authorities are still investigating.

Have any of you seen an environmental disaster like this before?

Recessionista 101: how to be a better recessionista

The term Recessionista is a blend of the words Recession and Fashionista; two words that we are totally familiar with and that were totally against each other until these recent times. A recessionista is that who strives to maintain stylish and fashionable in tough economic times, a.k.a. me, and most probably all of you out there.

These hard times of job shortages and financial crisis have forced us fashion and style lovers to morph into these deal - hunting zombies to stay afloat and dress decently (and have cash left over to pay our college debts).

So, there are a few ideas that we can incorporate to our shopping routines that can save us some cash and make us better recessionistas:

1. Shop for what you wear the most.
If you are a jeans lover, get lots of different tops, tunics and blouses to mix and match. You can have only one pair of jeans and be able to fix up hundreds of different looks. It's not worth it to buy a garment you will only wear once just because it's on sale.

2. If it's still good, give it a new look!
If you have a garment that is still in great condition and want to give it a new look, try dying it a different color. Or even better, give it a different cut or paint on it; be creative! Or if you are dying for that new military jacket at a boutique and will never in this lifetime (at least right now) be able to afford it; bring out your winter coat/jacket and change the buttons!

3. If you're buying something expensive, make sure it's a classic.
If you are ready to cough up and splurge it all in one piece, lets say a Chanel bag, make sure that piece will go with your style and anything you might wear. That way you have an excellent quality piece that will last you a lifetime.

4. Be yourself, not a mannikin.
Try to skip trends as much as possible; it's smarter to work on your signature style best, since all that is popular now probably won't be the next season, so you'd be spending your cash in vain.

I hope these tips help you all out some way or another. I know they have helped me keep my closet happy. =)


What do you guys do to deal with the recession and be awesome recessionistas?

This is me...

Hey everyone and a sweet shout out to all my new readers and followers!

I've been working on this post for a while now, sorry for the horrid blogger etiquette; haven't been able to respond to tags and awards properly but better late than never!

So, starting off with my first Q & A!!
These are all questions you asked in previous post comments.

What kpop artist do you like?
Definitely my fave kpop artist is G-Dragon. He has impeccable style and he's sooo cute!
The guys from DBSK are a close second.

What do you like to do in a daily basis?
I love to sleep and practice my singing and now bass playing.

If you could be an animal, what would you be?
Unicorn!! Ok so unicorns aren't real animals but I love 'em anyways!

How about what is your favorite shop?
My fave shop right now is Forever 21, I'm absolutely obsessed with it.

What is your favorite snack?
My fave snack is anything chocolate!!

How tall are you ?
Lol, more like how short am I! I don't even reach 5 feet; I'm only 4'11''.

Who is your favorite designer ?
My forever all time fave designer is Luella.

Do you learn all of music instruments ? isn't it hard ?
In music school you actually specialize in an instrument and get to choose a secondary instrument. My main instrument is voice and I'm still trying to decide what my second instrument should be, I'm considering piano or saxophone. And yes, it is pretty hard. It's not like what you see in movies. It does require lots of practice and patience and time.

Maggie gave me this adorable award, so I'm passing it down to 6 great bloggers I adore! Oh, and I was also required to answer this cute Q &A for the award. =)
And the winners of the award are:
Fashion is my Girlfriend
Ip & Audrey
Louie in Wonderland
Pigtails and Blushing Cheeks
Strawberry Koi
Street Style London

Stuff You wanna know about me! (What I'm supposed to answer, Lol)
1. Where is your cell phone...On my desk
2. Your hair.... in a ponytail!
3. Your mother..... out in the yard.
4. Your father......no clue. =/
5. Your favorite food....Italian
6. Your dream from last night....can't remember.
7. Your favorite drink..... Iced Tea
8. Your dream/goal.... becoming a fashion designer and singer!
9. What room are you in.....my room.
10. What is your hobby......music is my life and my hobby, oh and writing.
11. What is your fear....... being lost and alone. =)
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years.....I'd love to be touring the world with my music, I'd love to be standing in front of a hotel window in London watching the rain fall down. =)
13. Where were you last night..... home!
14. Something you are not.....boring.
15. Muffins?....Haven't had one in a while, umm blueberry!
16. Wish List items..... getting my own place!
17. Where did you grow up.....All over the U.S. and Puerto Rico
18. Last thing you did...... stand in front of the fan, the heat is melting me!
19. What are you wearing......Umm skinny jeans and a black shirt (yeah, that helps with the heat, lol)
20. Your t.v....... what is a tv??
21. Your Pets...... a german shepard named Andy.
22. Friends........got very few of them, but they are the best.
23. Your life....... a whirlpool of stuff
24. Your mood.....sleepy!
25. Missing someone......umm, more like missing something.
26. Vehicle...... a mitsubishi lancer
27. Something your not wearing.......a watch.
28. Your favorite store.......Forever 21!!
29. Your favorite colors...... black, blue and purple!
30. When's the last time you laughed...... just a few minutes ago watching the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie trailer.
31. When's the last time you cried......a few days ago.
32. Your best friend....... more like best friends and they awesome.
33. One place you go over and over.......The Mall almost every weekend!
34. One person who emails me regularly.......My sister Louie.
35. Favorite place to eat?..... Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Parlor =)

Bibs are not for Kids!

Yay! For the First time ever on Diary of a Young Designer, we have a guest blogger! Abby from Abazias will be giving us some pointers on how to use bib necklaces to make your outfit scream look at me!

Bibs Aren't Just For Children Anymore

Bib necklaces are getting a lot of wear recently. Eva Mendes showed up at the Golden Globes earlier this year with a stunning turquoise and diamond bib necklace, four tiers long! Even if celebrities weren't wearing these necklaces, they make a great statement piece of jewelry for anyone's jewelry box. They are exotic and elegant or bold and brassy, take your pick. If you've not tried a bib necklace before, you're in for a treat. Anyone can wear them and they come in all styles and sizes. It is definitely on the list of must-have accessories for 2009.

How to Wear a Bib Properly

A bib necklace is not like other necklaces. It is made to wear flat against the nape of the neck and typically, it works best against bare skin. Even though you can wear this style with a T-shirt as well as an evening gown, you want to make sure the cut of the neckline suitably frames the necklace for the best effect. If you want to be more casual, you can get the simplest T-shirt out there that lies flat against the neckline and then put the necklace on top. Just make sure it lies flat to get the look.

What Are Bibs Made Of?

Here's where you can definitely have some fun with your bib necklaces. You can get some costume jewelry ones with large beads in tiers. You can get some with large floral motifs. If you want to be more elegant, get some with gold, diamonds, or other precious stones. There really is not a single material that works the best with a bib, as long as it is tiered and lies somewhat flat against the skin, you can have a show piece made from shells, if that appeals to you.

Pearls are a Girl's Best Friend

Pearls are a timeless piece of jewelry that no matter the era, they will always enchant and provide a girl that sense of elegance and status.

A gorgeous pearl necklace could be a central piece in an outfit; it can be that piece to totally transform an attire from dull to ecstatic. Pearl earrings can give a girl that air of innocence an outfit is lacking. Pearls are definitely a girl's best friend.

Browsing around for pearls I found this pearl jewelry shop that has the most breathtaking pieces.
I'd love to get these mikimoto pearls someday when I become a famous singer or designer; whichever comes first, lol!
Personally, I think the necklace is gorgeous *drooling here* and would go beautifully with those fabulous gowns symphonic metal singers wear.
uhh, yeah I wanna be a symphonic metal singer just to wear cool gowns, best way to marry my music and fashion passions!


Guys ask me stuff!! I want to put up a Q & A post so ask me anything you'd like to know!

A few weeks have passed and I'm still waiting for my bass guitar that I ordered. I really want to start playing bass (not practicing bass with a guitar, lol).

**Today, I took a test, my brain is a tad fried. Not because of the test, more like I totally over-studied.**
=/

**Special Thanks to Mikimoto Pearls for letting me use their pic**

Turn off the lights and put on a Show

Long ago, early last century, Cabarets were incredibly popular amongst those that loved nightlife. Often sought as immoral; short revealing skirts, top hats and lots of tulle and frills garments are still inspiring fashion today.

* I hope that's not real fur =S*

Ohh! Almost forgot to tell you all: My sis and I launched our FunnyPeopleCo Fall Collection!



Thanks to all you guys that wished me a happy b-day! I did have an awesome time, but I would have loved taking decent pics. My cam misbehaved so badly I was actually yelling at it, yes in public, lol.
I did get a new one so I think I can finally start taking outfit pics that are worthy of posting and don't look like weird blurry smudges on a napkin.
Thanks to all you guys that gave me awards also, I'll be working on a post real soon.
Hope you all have a sweet weekend!
xoxo
me =)