Born for leavin'.

I want to start this post by saying, 
I'm not being ungrateful at all towards my family, 
and I love my friends dearly. 
But there's something different about coming home.

I'm back in the same routine I was in three years ago. 
Before I moved away and made a new life for myself.
Before I fell in love with new coordinates.
Before I changed.

And it's just strange coming back to Long Island.
I found myself in Charlotte. 
I found happiness, 
and I found a sense of confidence I never had before.

Taking the same roads, 
to the same stores, 
and the same job, 
just helped me in making a discovery today.

I could never stay here even if I tried.
Not because of anything other than the fact that I cannot see myself living happily here.


I just needed to vent. 
I don't want to ever upset my family or friends.
But Charlotte stole my heart a long time ago, 
and this trip home just confirmed it. 

xo,
k

Draped in happiness.

 

I apologize in advance for the lovely picture quality, 

my vintage Iphone 4 doesn't meet up to some expectations, 

but oh well, I had to share this OOTD.

I went to Torrid about two weeks ago and basically died over this draped jacket.

From the back, it appears to be a typical cargo type jacket, 

color and all, but from the front it is so not typical. 

It has a cinched waist with a tie that allows you to show your curves off, 

while having a bit of perfectly placed fabric draped down the front 

that adds just the right bit of something, 

to a garment that could have easily been duplicated.

Underneath, I chose to layer an oversized scoop neck tunic. 

When I tied the drawstring, the tunic and jacket flared out a bit at the waist,

 making the simple shirt appear almost as a dress. 

I paired it with black leggings, 

and simple black heeled booties, 

and was absolutely in love.

You know those days when you just feel good in your skin?

This was one of them.

Wear things that you love,

 not pieces others decide you should love,

and you'll find yourself walking with ease,

instead of insecurities.

Xo,

k.

Untitled.

 

           Sometimes it doesn't matter how much you do.

Nudie kisses.

 

I have been so completely infatuated with this lip look as of lately. 

I love wearing lip products because I actually have like, 

no top lip at all, 

so anything that makes me appear to be blessed with lips is a gift from Jesus himself. 

This is my simplest trick to achieving a stellar nude/your lip but better look. 

1. Brush your lips gently with your toothbrush.

-Sounds really weird, but it helps to take away any flaky or dead skin.

2. Apply a light mauve lip liner all over the lips. 

- I choose NYX lipliners over any other brand i've ever tried,

 including high end products.

They stay in place all day, never smudge, 

and don't dry your lips out too badly.

3. Top with a tiny bit of a  

lip balm (for a matte look), or lip gloss (for a shiny finish).

Simple as that home girl.

It's too easy.

 It actually looks like you put time and effort into your lips, 

and it works every time, not only for light colors, 

but it works incredibly well with dark shades too.

Let me know your lip tips and tricks!

K

Anxiety & Excellence.

This week is the toughest out of the last ten. 

  Finals Week.

I'm a senior at a private business college, 

and to be able to say that makes me truly proud.

The thing is, it's hard as fuck to maintain your grades and your mindset when you have six exams in one week. I guess that's college.

I'm taking just a moment to wish everyone here, and other universities alike, all of the luck in the world on your finals.

Take a deep breath, actually, maybe study a little bit, and remember that this is simply a stepping stone in the path to a future you are painting for yourself. 

Good luck & all of my love.

-K.

Dressed in stress.

 

As a plus sized girl, my biggest fear has always been dress shopping.

I've never ever been comfortable wearing something that clings to any part of my body too closely. Something has changed for me, though,

and I've mentioned it before in previous posts.

I've started not to care about what people think about my body.

 

It's a horrible, treacherous life, when you live in fear of the opinions of others.

I decided to do something this past week

 that the old me never would have done.

I tried on the dress above.

It's an absolutely gorgeous vintage baroque printed sleeveless sweater dress from torrid.

 

It fits similarly to a "body-con" dress.

That term always scared the living shit out of me.

Body con?

Like, as in contouring?

Like it's going to hug my hips?

No thanks.

 

But something was different.

 I loved it. I wanted to try something new.

I felt so incredibly confident in this dress,

 and sexy?

Is that a word I can use on my not-size-4-self?

 Fuck yes you can.

 

To anyone who reads this and see's themselves incapable of wearing something so beautiful because of their size, please stop and think, "why the hell not?"

Is it because you're afraid of opinions too?

Stop.

Try it on.

Buy it if you love it.

 

Embracing your curves isn't always easy,

and it's a constant struggle,

but sometimes in order to see past the skin,

you have to look within yourself and see how beautiful you truly are.

 

Sending all my love to you tonight from Raleigh, North Carolina.

Goodnight lovelies.

-K.

 

 

Leave.

"We sit in bars and raise our drinks to growing old

Oh, I'm in love with you and you will never know,

But if I can't have you I'll walk this life alone

Spare you the rising storms and let the rivers flow

You'll never know the endless nights, 

the rhyming of the rain

Or how it feels to fall behind and watch you call his name

Pack up and leave everything,

Don't you see what I can bring

Can't keep this beating heart at bay

Set my midnight sorrow free,

I will give you all of me

Just leave your lover, leave him for me

Leave your lover, leave him for me."

Sam Smith