20 Uses for Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been the biggest thing since sliced bread lately. This product is living up to all the hype because of all the amazing and innovative ways to use it. I'm going to list 20 (and there's even more) that you can use today. 

• Eye makeup remover: This stuff even gets waterproof eye makeup off!
•  Facial moisturizer: I put this on my face every night before bed and wakeup with baby soft skin.  

• Hair mask: Put this stuff in you hair before you shower, and leave it in as long as you can, wash it out, and feel the magic working on your hair. 

• Body lotion: Put this stuff all over your body for lots of moisture and soft skin. 

•  Hair product: Use a quarter sized amount and run it through your hair to calm frizz.
• Cellulite:  When rubbed frequently on skin it can help get rid of cellulite. 
• Hair growth:  Rub into scalp before every shower to stimulate the scalp to cause hair growth. 
• Scrub:  Use with brown sugar and honey as a gentle body scrub to get rid of dead skin all over the body. 

• Nails: Place on cuticles to stimulate nail growth.
• Sunscreen: Use as an SPF 4 sunscreen.
• Deodorant: Use as a natural deodorant  

• Stretch marks: Use to prevent stretch marks
• Massage oil: Use as a massage oil, and the amazing smell is just a pro.
• Lips: Use as a natural Chapstick on chapped lips

•  Feet: Use to keep feet clean and free of fungus
• Stomach: It has been rumored to help digestive health and kill parasites. 
• Tea: Use a tablespoon in tea to help with cold or flu.
• Allergies: Rub on inside of nose to help with allergy symptoms.  
• Age spots: Rub on face to prevent premature aging and age spots.  
• Cooking: Obviously you could also use it for it's purpose, cooking.   

3 Coachella trends I'm loving

Coachella's annual music festival is officially here. This past weekend launched the first of two weekends of amazing music and fashion. You're probably like me and the other 99.9% of the world and are weeping about not being able to go. Well fret no more, I am here to give you a run down of 3 of my favorite Coachella and spring trends that can be sported to a music festival or anywhere you would like.

Trend #1: BRAIDS

I personally think braids are appropriate year-round, but especially for spring and summer. Also, they're a cute and functional way to get your hair out of your face at a festival or show. 

Trend #2: KIMONOS:

Kendall Jenner gets it, sporting two different kimonos on separate days of this year's festival. Kimonos add a cute and unexpected twist to any outfit like in the third picture, it takes a basic tee and shorts and makes it more fashion forward in a snap.

Trend #3: HEADBANDS/HEADCHAINS:

Hair accessories are really in this season and I think they're here to stay. They add a different twist to normal or even second day hair. 

DIY: Floral headband

Festival season is here, and with it come the fabulous and cute spring trends. Floral headbands have been in style for a few years now, and I think they're perfect for festivals and concerts, or even a day at the beach. In this post I will show you a cheap and easy way to make and customize your own! 

Materials needed: Glue gun, glue sticks, elastic, and fake or real flowers of your choice. 

Step 1: Measure the elastic around your head and add two inches so it will overlap and you can add glue to secure it closed.

Step 2: Cut all of your flowers off and also remove underneath so the flower is as flat as possible.

 Step 3: Add glue to the headband where you're going to place your flowers.

Step 4: Press firmly onto the flower you just placed on the headband, and continue this all around the headband and then glue it together.

This is my completed floral headband, and I love it! 

Mixing Prints

Mixing prints can be a very particular thing. It either really works or really doesn't. The best way I've found to mix prints is to take a simpler print and mix it with a bold one. Like in the three examples I styled with Stacey. 

In first outfit Stacey is wearing a maroon striped shirt, a basic. Pairing it with a not so basic sunflower printed short, it really pairs the outfit together because both pieces have maroon and white in them. The shoes were kept neutral with nude flats.  

Outfit 1: Top: Cotton On, Shorts: PacSun, Shoes: Steve Madden

The next outfit mixes a solid patterned tee with printed shorts. The same concept as the first outfit. Keeping it simple on top and the pattern on the bottom. The look is paired with black boots.

Outfit 2: Top: Cotton On, Shorts: Forever 21, Boots: Cotton On

The last outfit brings a structred striped crop top which is more tough, together with a girly floral print skirt. The look is also finished with boots. 

Outfit 3: Top: PacSun, Skirt: Urban Outfitters, Boots: Cotton On 

Thank you Stacey for modeling. Hair, makeup, clothing, and photos all styled and taken by me.

xx

Comfy Cute

In this post I will show you how to take three band shirts, and make it into a comfortable cute outfit. A t-shirt is pretty hard to dress up, but I created three different looks to take it from frumpy and lazy looking to fabulous. 

In the first look Becca wears her Arctic Monkeys shirt with a denim overall dress. The look is super 90's, and with the leather jacket added it makes it even more fashion forward. The outfit is also paired with high top black converse to keep it minimal.

On Becca: 

Tee: ACL/AM US Tour Overall dress: Urban Outfitters, 

Jacket: American Rag, Chucks: Journey's

The second look is a bit more dressed up and it mixes two prints. The camouflage jacket really pops against the simple tee and the high waisted patterned shorts. The cute flats add a girly touch to relatively casual outfit.

Tee: TDCC Tour, Jacket: Urban Outfitters, 

Shorts: Franchesca's, Shoes: Topshop

The last look combines three of my favorite things: plaid shirts, Vampire Weekend, and pleather. I love the contrast between the dressed up pleather and the grunge plaid. 

Tee: ACL, Plaid top: Forever 21, Shorts: Forever 21, 

Outfits, hair, makeup, and pictures all by me, Ally Garza, and thank you to Becca for modeling.

xx

Warming Up

Even though most places in the northern hemisphere are still experiencing an actual winter, in South Texas we are getting a preview of spring already. With the grey skies gone I feel like it's a good time to bust out some leg, and bring those dresses out. I drew inspiration from a warm winter day, and I thought it would be appropriate to be an early bird, and style a spring lookbook.

In the first look, Stacey is wearing floral overalls with a plain black tee underneath. Depending on your climate you can add tights and a long sleeve as a replacement. I added the boots for a nice grunge feel to a floral simple outfit.

On Stacey: 

Overalls: Forever 21, Black Tee: Target, Sunglasses: 

Betsey Johnson, Necklace: Urban Outfitters, 

Boots: Cotton On, Bracelets: Charlotte Russe

The second look is really for a warmer spring day, which, as a Texas resident, I know too well. The textured crop top and patterned skirt go together but don't clash because they're both relatively neutral patterns.

Crop Top: Cotton On, Necklace: Forever 21, 

Skirt: Forever 21, Flats: Steve Madden, Sunglasses: Forever 21

The last outfit is a simple and subtle way to wear a statement piece without looking too overdone. The turquoise pants are the focus of the outfit and the neutral top makes it more wearble.

Jeans: Pac Sun, Top: Forever 21, Boots: Cotton On

Thanks to Stacey for modeling. Hair, makeup, clothing, and photos all taken and styled by me, Ally Garza. 

xx

Mixing It Up

2014 has arrived, and with it comes a fresh set of trends and choices to make to express yourself. To be fair, I've never been one to follow "trends," but I do like to be aware of what's in, and if it's something I like, you'll probably see me sporting it. Something that has always been sort of looked down on in fashion is mixing metals. Personally, I have always taken advantage of this statement because I simply think it looks cool-- for lack of a better word. I have a feeling for Spring/Summer 2014 it will be an actual trend. In this set of photos I've mixed lots of gold with silver. 

On Sam:

Right hand: rings: vintage, Urban Outfitters, and Betsey Johnson

Right arm: vintage, H&M, and Target

Left hand: Renee's and Macy's

Left arm: Uncommon Objects, Franchesca's

Collar: JcPenney

Mixing metals is uncommon, unconventional, and a great way to spice up any outfit. So go raid your mom or grandma's jewelry stash and bust out some crazy pieces! Outfit, jewelry, and pictures styled by me, Ally Garza. Thank you to Sam for modeling. 

xx