College Confidential Part I: Standardized Testing!!!

Hey Everyone!!!

I cannot apologize enough for being AWOL for a whopping three months! From school work to extracurricular activities and college applications, I have been more than swamped with large amounts of work. However, I only have one more final exam to complete before I graduate high school and prepare to set off to University next fall! Some of my younger readers have been asking for advice regarding applying to college and I decided to create a new series called College Confidential that is dedicated to giving out tips and advice regarding college applications. Today, I will start off the series with one of the first tangible facets of the college application process: standardized test! Here we go:

Tip #1: Purchase study materials – workbooks, flashcards, CD-ROM programs and etc.

This step should be done during either your sophomore year or the summer between your sophomore and junior year of high school. I found that through reviewing the material found in the books for a period of about three to six hours a week was imperative in increasing my scores. I suggest Gruber’s, Barron’s and the Princeton Review!

Tip #2: Join a prep class or hire a private tutor. 

In order to gain admission to some of the more selective colleges in the country, a student’s test scores should be at a certain standard. Sometimes, workbooks and studying aren’t enough and outside assistance is needed. Huntington Learning Center and local universities are always a great resource for these types of lessons. Be forewarned that some of these classes can be very expensive, so have a true conversation with either your parents and/or guidance counselor before taking this tip.

Tip #3: Decide which tests you are going to take – every tester is unique!

Depending on where you live, there is usually a misconception as to which of the two preeminent standardized test carry more weight in college decisions. On both the east coast and the west coast, the Scholastic Aptitude Test, better known as the SAT, is seen as the “stronger” exam. In the midwestern region, the American College Testing, better known as the ACT, is seen as the “stronger” exam. In reality, each test is viewed equally. I suggest that you take both tests at least once, and then use that experience to decide which test is better for you. Here is a great article about each test!

Tip #4: Take as many practice exams as humanly possible! 

I cannot emphasize this tip enough – practice exams are some of the best ways to study for standardized test out there. Through answering questions similar to those found on the tests, your mind will begin to think like an exam grader. I also suggest grading yourself HONESTLY after each test – these scores will help you assess how to shape your test taking abilities in order to get a higher score.

Tip #5: Take at least one practice exam in a testing environment. 

This can be done at either a school or tutoring center. Even though completing practice exams at home can be very helpful, you will never take the SATs on your private desk in your bedroom. These tests will emulate the true exam in both content and environment – and will lead to a more accurate depiction of your score.

Tip #6: Take care of your physical and mental health before and after the exam

Make sure to take regular breaks between studying, eat right and have a good night sleep before any exam. I have seen fellow students put their minds and bodies through the ringer in preparation for the exams, and I would not suggest it to anyone. Know that your health, both physically and emotionally, is more important than any exam!

Tip #7: Take the exam and see how you do!

Now that you have studied up and had a good night’s rest, it is time to take the exam. Remember to stay calm yet alert in order to correctly answer all the questions, and don’t get too down on yourself if your first score isn’t as high as you wished for. You are allowed to take the exams as many times as you want!

<3 Naa

I'm Going to Mercedes-Benz/MADE Fashion Week!: Bobby Abley Overview + Giveaway!!!

Hey Everyone!!!

Today, I will be posting the first fashion presentation at MADE Fashion Week that I had the pleasure to attend. Due to the poor weather and unfit hotel accommodations, I was only able to participate in NYFW for 2 days. On the first day, I spent the entire duration at Lincoln Center, where I watched three separate shows. On the final day, I spent the evening at Milk Studios and saw a concurrent four collection presentation on the 8th floor. Here we go:

Accessories and Styling: For most of the shows, I review the hair styles and makeup application on the models from the runway. Since all of the shows that I attended at Milk Studios were stationed with male models, I decided to concentrate on the styling of their hair and the accessories with their clothing.Each of the models had a very laid back yet put together hair style to reflect the child-like innocence of the collection. Each model wore a pair of burgundy sneakers, neon backpacks and faceless teddy bears. All in all, the nostalgic appeal of the collection was found in the styling as well.

Clothing: Now, time for the most important aspect of every fashion show: the clothing. I had the fabulous opportunity to speak with Mr. Abley, and found that he has a history of being inspired by Disney cartoons and traditional fairytales. Following his The Little Mermaid inspired collection for London’s Fashion Week: Men’s Collection last July, Abley created a The Jungle Book inspired collection for MADE Fashion Week. With bold cartoon-inspired prints, knit shorts, the installation of geometric patterns and a refreshingly juvenile method of styling, the Bobby Abley FW 2015 collection was the perfect mix of child-like nostalgia and contemporary chicness.

Loved this look!!!

I was very happy to have the opportunity to attend and review such a large amount of men’s fashion shows this season at NYFW. If you want to check out more of Bobby Abley’s work, check out his website here. I will have my Charlotte Ronson overview up soon (I lost my flash drive so I had to restart from scratch). Also, remember that my giveaway for a $50 Forever 21 Gift Card is still open here!!!!

<3 Naa

I'm Going to Mercedes-Benz/MADE Fashion Week!: Rebecca Minkoff Overview + GIVEAWAY!!!

Hey Everyone!!!

Welcome to my first post about my experience at New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2015! I wasn’t able to post as heavily during last season due to some scheduling conflicts, but I have some truly incredible collections to show you this time around! As I said in my overview of the David Tlale FW 2014 Collection (which I wrote almost an entire year ago!), the beauty of fashion week is there are times that you can get into shows that you weren’t originally invited to. I was able to get into the Rebecca Minkoff show through standing room and a very kind member of the band. Here we go:

Music: Rebecca Minkoff is one of the few presentations that always utilizes live music in all of her fashion presentations. This year’s band was possibly the most talented and well suited for the collection that I have ever experienced. The collection, which was inspired by the 1970’s hippie movement and the punk rock era, was heavily complimented by the 70’s inspired music that also had a modern twist. The sultry vocals and jazzy atmosphere was perfect for the entire presentation.

Beauty: After doing some researching regarding Mrs. Minkoff’s inspiration for her fall collection, I learned that she was inspired by the Chelsea Hotel girls, including iconic names such as Janis Joplin and Grace Slick. The girls hair was left in messy, long and grungy waves, while their makeup consisted of bold eyeliner, rose gold eyeshadow and neutral lips. All in all, the beauty aspects of the show perfectly fit the era that Minkoff attempted, and succeeded, in conveying.

Clothing: While the presentation and the styling are very important components of any fashion show, the clothing is by far paramount in importance. The collection was absolutely breathtaking. With an emphasis on luxurious outerwear consisting of tweed and suede, flowing chiffon tops and maxi skirts, modern-day capes with fringe and impeccable use of leather, the Rebecca Minkoff FW 2015 Fashion Show was incredible. I hope to see the articles presented at this show worn by fashionistas of all backgrounds in months to come.

This is just a few photos that I took while at the show. My Charlotte Ronson overview should be up sometime tonight. Also, remember that my giveaway for a $50 Forever 21 Gift Card is still open here!!!!

<3 Naa

Exciting News - International $50 Forever 21 Gift Card Giveaway!!!

Hey Everyone!!!

So, as you may know, I have been blogging for about one and a half years. In that time, I have accumulated over 7,500 followers on all of my platforms, connections with a wide array of fashion companies, become a professional fashion correspondent for an incredible television company and have participated in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York twice ! It is thanks to you, all of my followers, that I have been able to change from that shy 16 year old girl blogging in my bedroom to an actual fashion journalist. So, as a thank you to everyone, I am having a giveaway!!! Here we go:

Since I can't really show swatches with with a gift card, I'm just going to shed some light on some awesome bloggers and models with Forever 21 outfits!

This is a beautiful Forever 21 - purchased outfit by the amazing beauty blogger Alina. The post can be found here! 

This is a fantastic all black ensemble by Vanessa Cesario at The Brunette Salad utilizes Forever 21 items for everything except for the shoes. The photo was uploaded on Chictopia, and can be found here. 

I am in love with this Forever 21 red plaid dress paired with the a pair of Forever 21 black sandals. You can find more of these awesome outfit pairings at Upbeat Soles! 

I wish you all luck as you enter my giveaway! Also, please feel free to comment below what future posts you would like to see and read the Terms and Conditions below :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

<3 Naa

Fragrance Frenzy: Because of You by Jordin Sparks

Hey Everyone!!!

Welcome to another addition of Fragrance Frenzy! Today, we will be reviewing a perfume by American Idol Winner and international recording artist Jordin Sparks. This is definitely a great gift idea for those who are looking to get their friends a cute, inexpensive fragrance for daily use. It is one the more feminine and sweet scents that I have encountered — which isn’t a surprise considering the incredible Jordin Sparks is the name behind the face. Here is the review:

A fragrance set of Because of You costs $23.95 at Amazon (can be found here). The product is described as “distinct, innovative, elegant, and subtle, this fragrance offers a long lasting sensuality. It celebrates the renaissance of extreme femininity and power of spontaneous emotion.” The scent can definitely be described as both floral and subtle, like a mix of Fancy by Jessica Simpson andLaundry by Shelli Segal. However, the scent can be very underwhelming at points. I give the scent a3.75/5.

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The two photos above are of the box that the perfume is found in and the bottle itself. As you can see, the bottle is placed in a metallic pink colored packaged with golden inscriptions. The back of the box shows a beautiful campaign photograph of Ms. Jordin Sparks. In relation to the bottle, it utilizes stain glass techniques to create a gradient affect, where the bottom of the bottle is pink while the top is clear. A single bottle carries 2.5 fl. oz. of fragrance. All in all, I give the packaging a fair 4.25/5. However, I do wish that the box and bottle had more details.

The photos above can be found here. All in all, I feel that this fragrance does fare well, especially considering I purchased my bottle for less than $8. It has a very well-balanced mixture of femininity and delicacy. However, it does seem to be a bit underwhelming in scent and its packaging leaves a bit to be desired. All in all, I give this fragrance a 4/5 or a B.

<3 Naa

(My) Everyday Makeup Routine for Very Dark Skin

Hey Everyone!!!

I am so sorry for being MIA for the last couple of months. As a little recap, I have been busy working for my new job at Behind the LOOK, applying to college, schoolwork, extracurricular activities and working as a freelance fashion journalist for different magazines and websites. However, I am back with an exciting edition of Makeup Madness! Today, I will be showing you my everyday makeup routine. This makeup look is great for women with Very Dark Skin (particularly, women who are a MAC Shade NW55 or darker). Let’s go to the tutorial!

Face

Step 1: Apply a thin layer of medium-coverage foundation all over the face using either a makeup sponge or stippling brush. I used MAC Matchmaster Foundation in the shade 9.5.

Step 2: Highlight under the eyes, on the bridge of the nose and on the chin with a lighter colored concealer in order to add dimension to the face. I used Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer in Extra Deep

Step 3: Dust a black, matte eye shadow to use as a base in order to make the colors appear darker. Then, sweep a medium brown shimmer eye shadow all over the lid. Finally, mix the deep brown shade and the black matte shadow and use as a crease color to add more dimension to the eye. I used three shades in the Sephora Enchanting 14 Eye Shadow Palette.

Step 4: Line the waterline and tightline with a black eyeliner. Then, use that same eyeliner to create a small cat eye on both eyes. I used the Wet and Wild Brow and Eyeliner in Black.

Step 5: Put one or two coats of mascara on both the top and bottom lashes to add length and volume to your eyelashes. Use a dark brown shade in order to keep the look casual. I used the Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara in Brown Black.

Cheeks

Step 6: Use a red-tone dark brown cream foundation to contour the cheeks and the bridge of the nose. Then, use a similarly toned eyeshadow to set the cream foundation. I used Ruby Kisses Cosmetics 3D Face Creator in Level 16 and MAC Eyeshadow in Embark.

Step 7: Set the foundation and concealer with a dark brown face powder. I used MAC Studio Fix in NW58.

Step 8: Use a coco-colored lipstick and dark brown lip gloss to add a fun, natural pop to the lips. I used Covergirl Continuos Color Lipstick in Coco Blush and Black Radiance Radiant Lipgloss in Mocha Madness.

Step 9: Finally, I used a makeup setting spray to give my face a dewy finish. I used MAC Fix+ Makeup Setting Spray.

Stay tuned for my next post and I am so happy to be back!!!

<3 Naa

Exciting News - NAKED 3 Palette Giveaway!!!

Hey Everyone!!!

If you follow me on Twitter, than you know that I recently have been hired as a professional fashion/beauty blogger and fashion correspondent of Behind the LOOK. Behind the LOOK is a TV program that broadcasts every Tuesday at 10 pm on BFSTV in New York and is described as "celebrating the creators of today's beauty trends and cultures." As a way to support my new workplace, and a big thank you to all of my followers who made this possible, I'm hosting a giveaway!

Photo Courtesy of Makeup By TiffanyD

The NAKED 3 palette is described as "12 NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN (and insanely beautiful) rose-hued neutrals from Urban Decay. From pale, shimmery pink to deep black matte with red micro-glitter, these neutrals will make you want to get Naked all over again." 

The following swatch is from Head to Toe. As you can see, the palette includes a vast array of rose gold-toned hues from a light, champagne shade to a deep black with red micro-glimmer. Here is an in-depth review of each shade. 

RULES: 

Each of the following actions result in one submission into the giveaway:

1. Like Behind the LOOK on Facebook 

2. Follow @BehindtheLookNY on Twitter

Each of the following actions result in two submissions into the giveaway: 

3. Follow Behind The Look on Wordpress 

4. Follow Behind the Look on Bloglovin 

Each of the following actions result in five submissions in the giveaway:

1. Post a blog post about this giveaway

Photo Courtesy of Temptalia 

Strange - A pale, neutral pink matte-satin 

Dust - A pale, metallic pink shimmer with iridescent micro-glitter 

Burnout - A light, pinky-peach satin

Photo Courtesy of Temptalia 

Liar - A medium metallic mauve shimmer.

Nooner - A medium pinky-brown matte.

Factory - A pinky-brown satin.

Photo Courtesy of Temptalia 

Buzz - A metallic rose shimmer with silver micro-glitter.

Trick - A light metallic pinky-copper shimmer with tonal micro-sparkle.

Limit - A light dusty rose matte.

Photo Courtesy of Temptalia 

Mugshot - A metallic taupe shimmer with slight pink shift.

Blackheart - A smoky black matte with rosy red micro-sparkle.

Darkside - A deep taupe-mauve satin.

I personally purchased the palette in this giveaway, and I hereby remove any liability from Urban Decay or Sephora. The giveaway will start on September 13 and ends on December 1, 2014.

<3 Naa