Gone Fishing...

Today I went fishing. No, not hardcore fishing, out on a boat, and all. I was on land, with all the kids in my bunk. (I'm a counselor at a day camp in Massachusetts.) The technique was to put bread onto the hook, which was attached to a very simple stick. A red buoy hangs in between the hook and the pole itself. One watches it, for when it moves, one must pick it up, out of the water.
I caught two fish today. I always thought I could never do it.
And that's the lesson of the day: never doubt yourself. If you do, you'll miss out on great things. When you believe in yourself, you will go very far.

Sugar,
LenaLightening

My Fashion Muses

• Gala Darling

Her style is a great mix of trendy and quirky. And she is the only one I know who can pull off long, purple hair. In the first picture, her huge belt is trendy, but the puff of her dress is totally unique. And I love her shoes. Just like her blog, her style balances out.

• Gwen Stefani

Her style is very unique. It's polished, yet sexy. Not only does she have a great fashion sense; she's also gone after her dreams: her solo career has exploded, L.A.M.B. and Harajuku Girls have been a raging success, and her second child is on the way.

• Audrey Kitching

Okay, she's a hair muse. Her hair always seems to be that perfect shade of pink. Her style is outrageous, but the last outfit is awesome.

Let anything, everything, and everyone inspire you.

Sugar,

LenaLightening

What to Wear to Work

Now that we've conquered the high school uniform, lets tackle the workingwoman's wardrobe. The average woman works in a cubicle. But that doesn't mean you can't look cute!

Camilla slips behind her desk, right at the last minute. Coffee tray in hand, she drops her red bag under her desk, and scoots into her boss's office. Sweetly, just like the bow on her shirt, she smiles and fingers her precious sparkly hair clip. She sets the coffee on her desk, and runs out to her ringing phone.

Kana calmly sits down at her desk after a hectic meeting. Her prioritized list sits right in front of her computer, and she picks it up. Some items are already checked off, but she has a lot more to get done. She reaches for the first pile of papers, and starts to fill them out. Randomly, coworkers come to her with problems, yet she answers them without a problem.

When Amanda walks by, everyone turns. Even though she isn't the boss, she acts like it sometimes. She says that she is helping the productivity of the company. She likes to see things done the right way, and, when it's not done the right way, she'll let you know.

No matter where you're working, you should always look professional. It would be a good idea to not wear t-shirts and jeans to a cubicle job. That's just my opinion, though. One wants to look refined, and smart.

Sugar,

LenaLightening

How to Spruce Up your Uniform

Way back in high school, I had a uniform. Well, it was more of a dress code. It consisted of: no jeans or sweats, only button-down shirts, and the only type of sweatshirts you could wear were of the school, or a college.

The daily challenge was how to make a uniform unique. Jewelry, shoes, and bags helped with that. For a while, I got away with wearing a great pair of Converse.

This is for a preppy girl. It starts out with a simple top and bottom. The hair should be done up in a low ponytail, with the pink headband for an accent. The shoes maybe should be a little lower, but the pink and kahki fit in great. Finish the look with a pair of Chanel studs.

This is for the funky girl in school. She always wears a cool t-shirt under her dress code shirt. This one is of a cat. (Sorry for the small picture.) She wears two necklaces; one of a Pepsi can and one of a cassette tape. She wears her pink Converse everyday, even though she does get caught. If she could, she would dye her hair bright purple. But she can't, so she doesn't.

This is a more classic look. The belt gives a great shape to the shirt, and the flats are a great color. The ring gives some bling, and you could even add a necklace. This is a great, relaxed, refined look.

Uniforms do not have to be boring. They can show who you are, and what you like. You can be unique, where ever you are. You can be you.

Sugar,

LenaLightening

The World is a Fashion Show...

Practice your walk on the streets; wear everything as though it is haute couture; show the world what you can do; attract good attention to yourself; smile at your fans; always look your best; show off your best assets.

Throw a party in a field; wear your frilliest dress to the park and spin around, celebrate the mundane; smile; wear muted colors on a bright day; be attracted to shiny things; don't be afraid to wear textures; sprinkle glitter everywhere you go; kick up your foot when you're kisssed; be a rebel.

Wear a sexy, form-fitting dress; show off your best features; become refined, if only for a day; wear fake fur; make up a really refined name for yourself, dress up like her, and be her for a day; pull your hair into a beautiful bun; practice walking with a book on your head; use your sexy smile; smile with your eyes at strangers; wear a gorgous brooch in your hair; drink tea.

Be crazy; express yourself any way you know how; wear a huge heart necklace on the days you're feeling sad; color outside the lines; exaggerate everything you do; wear work boots with a girly pink dress; wear all pink one day; wear heart-shaped glasses every day, and make it your thing; be funny; be optimistic.

I hope this inspired you, and, please, add more!

Sugar,

LenaLightening

I is Loving...

• MY DOGGIES!!

Well, really doggies in general. They are so sweet and funny. I've had three in my life. My first one was named Yaffa, a miniature Schnauzer. She was very cute, but unfortuatly, we had to put her to sleep at an old age. Now, I have two dogs, Kipper, a cocker spaniel-poodle mix, and Bella, a Besion Frese-cocker spainel mix. I absoluty love my dogs. Bella waddles, and Kipper is always so happy. His nickname is Smiley because he smiles. But the dogs who don't have a home need the most help. I can't even think of people abusing animals. They abandon them, beat them, and leave them in horrible conditions. Some people even use them to fight.

So what can you do about this? Join the ASPCA, or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The website is here: www.aspca.org/site/PageServer. You don't even have to join. To help animals, you could lobby for animals, adopt, or check out their programs. Don't let an animal go throught this, ever.

• VAMPIRES!!

I love reading about vampires. My favorite book having to do with vampires is the Twilight series, by Stephenie Meyer. It is about a girl, Bella, who moves to Forks, Washington, and falls in love with a vampire named Edward. They go through struggles, and Bella befriends a werewolf. This, and many other events, happen throughout Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and Midnight Sun.

And the best thing? They are coming out with a movie! I have seen a few previews, and it look awesome. If you would like to learn more about the Twilight saga, visit http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight.html.

• BABYNAMES.COM

I love to write stories, so I always need names for my characters. I know the perfect web site: babynames.com. My favorite names are Kana, which means powerful in Japanese, and Esther, for my great-grandmother, which means star in Hebrew. If you ever need a name, you now know where to go.

• LAUGHING

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lw7V8rHVNDY. Sorry about the link.

I hope you get a laugh out of this.

Sugar,

LenaLightening

Shop Til I Drop!

Today, I went shopping. And, I admit defeat in the shopping mall. I went into all my favorite stores: Forever 21, Hot Topic, H&M, and Wet Seal. I found nothing. So, I met up with my mother(!), and we waltzed into Macy's.

There, I saw THE cutest bag!

It's this one, but in a beautiful chocolate-purple color. It has a magnetized closer, and a removable shoulder strap. I love it, and it's B. Makowsky. I have never heard of him, but I love this bag.

And it's not just because of the label. I don't care for labels. If you wear something with confidence, no matter if it's a label or not, it'll look good.

So, the lesson for today: go with confidence. Rock it. It doesn't matter what you wear; you just gotta love it, and wear it with confidence. Good

Sugar,

LenaLightening

How to be Inspired

Inspiration is one of the things that keeps us going. It keeps us dreaming, creating, thinking. Not all people are naturally creative. So, the big question is: how to be inspired?

Don't force it- It'll come naturally. If you keep wanting and thinking about being inspired, it'll never happen.

Be open to everything- You never know what will get you thinking. On that note...

Get out there!!- Experience shows, go to museums of all kinds, go into the kids section in a store. Walk into a toy store; watlz into a store that you usually don't visit. Type a random word in Google, and see what comes up. Read a few blogs. Sometimes, even the most subtle task gets my mind working. Go for a walk, and notice things, and talk to yourself about them. I know, I know, what a dork; but talking to yourself is actually a sign of genius. You never know what your mind will come up with.


So, now you've been inspired. What happens now?

Well, it could sit in the back of your mind, or you could act on it. Write that story; design and make that haute couture outfit you've been dreaming up. Paint a picture, and sell it. Go where ever your dreams take you.

Sugar,
Lena

How to Update Your Wardrobe on a Budget

So you have your clothes in your wardrobe: nice shirts, t-shirts, jeans, pants (and shorts, for summer). Nice, but it's all pretty plain.



So, what to do?



Use accessories! Pins, belts, bags, necklaces and earrings can make or break an outfit.

Pins or brooches- Set them on your chest, and you look like an old lady. Not that old ladies aren't awesome. Pin them on a little higher, like where your arm and shoulder join. They can show refinement, or your abiltiy to laugh at things.

Imagine an adorable stegasoarus brooch on a white shirt, black skinny jeans, and unique purple flats. This imaginary outfit is cute, without being silly, with the right amout of sophistication.

Belts- They are great for giving women waists. I love the new wide styles.

Imagine a bright yellow belt with a bow, on a structured black dress, topped off with yummy yellow silettos. It's smart, and fashionable. And you have a visible waist!

Everyone needs a bag. They can be big or small, structured or hobo.

Imagine a shiny golden-hued bag, paired with a simple black dress, offset by metallic shoes and shiny rings. It sends a message without being too shiny or, well, anything.

Jewlery pieces are also great. Let a big, attention-grabbing necklace graze your neckline. Like, maybe a bib necklace.

Just don't do all of this at one time. It'll be too much. And remember, this is for simple pieces, like sweaters and plain t-shirts.

Sugar,
LenaLightening

I is Loving...

• GALA!!!

http://www.galadarling.com/





She shows off her outfits, broadcasts "Things I Love Thursday", and rides a "Carousel" of random tidbits of odd items. Like what, you ask? Like flouresent piggies, heat-sensitive wallpaper, and items on celebs, and things you really don't need to know, but are so interesting you read anyway.





Her style is so interesting (read: I LOVE IT!!), and she posts "Style Tips". Paired with these are articles about awesome artists, travel advice, and numerous how-to's. The blog is a beautiful mix of style and fashion, important information for being the best you, and random bits of info.

• TAKING WALKS

I usually don't want to get up to go, but once I go, it's great. I walk with my doggies. They are so funny. Today, I used my iPod touch. I love that thing. So, why don't you go take a walk today? It calms your mind, gets you active, and gives you fresh air. Why wouldn't you?

• RANDOM FACTS

Like how unicorns actually exist. It's a deer with a horn on its head. (Thanks Gala!) And how dogs drink water. I like to fill my brain with things I don't need to know.

• NOT USING CAPITALS, YET USING GOOD GRAMMAR

usually i write like this, but i use good grammar. it just sounds better. think about it: when people use good grammar, its applauded by society. it shows you are smart and you know what you're talking about. you're looked up to, in a way. when one uses bad grammar, he/she is thought of as uneducated, and therefore, a slacker, lazy, ect. you know you're smart; why not show it?

5 Things to Do on a Day like Today

What to do on a day like today:

1. Go on a walk, with your pet, boyfriend, sister, ect. Make it long, around your neighborhood or in a local park. Stop lots of times.

2. Fingerpaint. Grab some tempra paint at Michaels or AC Moore. You could even get some actual finger paint. (It's in the kids crafts isle.) You could even try toepainting.

3. Paint with anything!! Remember that Koosh ball you used to love?? And that Troll in your drawer? Paint with them! Drop the paint-covered Koosh ball on a piece of paper. You'll love the results.

4. Create. Draw, sculpt, make jewlery, sew. Do something with your hands.

5. Sleep in the sun. Don't even use a chair. Lay in your back yard and sleep. Remember to use sunscreen.