Katie's Cupcake. (Connection)

Katie Finnegan. My little sweetheart.♥ Hehee, she's adorable. Well, her Senior Project Seminar presentation program is in the shape of a cupcake! And we all know that I just adore those little things. Maybe not a connection to my project or my presentation, but, it definitely is a connection to me and it made me think about how much I truly love cupcakes. Many people always ask me what I see in those little handfuls of cake. Why I think they are so cute or adoable. They have their own significant meaning behind them, at least for me they do. Cupcakes tend to be a childhood favorite. They're minature, just enough to fit in your hand. They're your own personal cake and they're dainty. They can be some of the most cutest, playful, gorgeous, classy and most elegant things in the world. I've always loved them since I was a child and I still love them to this day. They've just stuck with me. When I was younger, my grandmother used to make cupcakes a batch or so at a time just for the house. Something to nibble on a bit I guess. I used to always love to watch her make them and I used to love to eat the access batter she'd have left in her mixing bowl. I'd wait soooo impatiently for them to finish baking and watched her ice them with frosting and waited for the remnants of that as well. I enjoyed it every time she did it and she would soon teach me how to make them, little by little, helping her until I could get the hang of doing it myself. I did and I am soo glad that I did. Just about maybe 2 years ago is when I really started to pay a lot of attention to cupcakes and how many things that involve them. They really are adorable and they always will be. Hey, to each is own, and I adore these little. . . . (writer's block), handfuls of joy.♥

SMH. Procrastination. (Choice)

"Hello, my name is Cierra Jenkins and I am a procrastinator." Sounds like one of those AAA meeting greeters right. Yeah, not a good thing. Procrastination. The act of procrastinating; putting off or delaying or defering an action to a later time. Dilatoriness: slowness as a consequence of not getting around to it. This should be one of God's ten sins. Point. Blank. Period. Maybe if it was it would be a bit harder to actually be a 'Procrastination Crime Commiter' as I call it. I mean of course everyone suffers from it, whether it's minorly or majorly, but we all do it, believe me. I may tell myself that I am going to do something today, within the next five minutes, maybe within the next hour or two, but some way or another it never actually gets done then. And then there's other times when it does, if it's something I truly want to get done. This is a bad trait though, something I know I need to work on and I've realized it. There's always a good time for a new start.♥

Boutique Adventure #13.

As always, the phone kept ringing nonstop today. Either calling to make orders or calling about orders coming in. Alterations needed to be made and accessories needed to be purchased and I tried my best to be accommodating to each customer. And, well, that can be a bit rough at times but hey, that's the fine print of an internship right? After getting through the bulk of the calls, I updated the order board downstairs. The order board displays all the receipts of orders that have been made to purchase dresses. All the receipts are categorized by the dress designer and put in order by the date the order was made or called in. This method makes it much, much easier to keep track of each dress that has been ordered and who ordered what. I took down ones that were already picked up by the customer and placed them each in their designated spot they go in after coming off the 'Big Board'. Next, I put all of our new order receipts up, categorizing the way I was taught. After that was completed I started getting together some of the new referral cards to place on the front counter of the store to display to the customers. Each card has either a twenty-five dollar or twenty-five percent off coupon located on the back of it. The customer writes their name on the back of whichever one they get and when they give it to a person to come visit the store, if the person buys something then the referral gets whatever the coupon explains off of their next purchase at the store. Great huh!? Mhmm, now I'm going to see everyone at the boutique, haha.♥

LOOKBOOK! (Choice)

A lot of people may know that I am a fashion blog and internet junkie when it comes to style, art and creativity. Chictopia.com has become one of my majorly favorite sites as I have mentioned in earlier posts. This site has already claimed itself as 'The People's Destination for Fashion!'. But now, however, my love has grown towards a, which seems, more broader and direct website by the name of LOOKBOOK.nu! This is also one I had mentioned before in my post about what I do when I'm bored. The reason I've grown soo excited about this is because I actually just recently became an accepted member to this site (since it is invitation only) after waiting for, ehh, about a MONTH AND A HALF! The invitation process went something like this: "Email, Name, Picture of Yourself, What You Plan to Bring To Lookbook, What Is Your Style Like." I answered the questions, pressed send. . . and waited. I mean, since there's probably a line about as long as 5 blocks ahead of me trying to get in the same spot.Thankfully, I have finally been able to create an account there. Now, I have been introduced to this wonderful new, well, to me, website that has opened my eyes to realize there's other people in the world who are also 'Clothes Minded' like me! Many may think it's petty, childish, vein, and maybe shallow even, that people actually pay such close attention to how a person clothes and dresses themself. It takes a lot of detail. An eye, a tool of style and every person is different. That is what makes this website soo unique. They have so many options to what you may be look for, different categories, different brands, styles, colors, countries, people. It's all broken down, even BODY TYPE! This all makes it easier to find people just like you and to notice how much diversity the world has to offer. The site consist of photos uploaded by its users. Photos and blogging that is. Now, these photos can get 'Hyped', which is basically like a +1 score ever time a different user presses the button, 'Loved', which is a little heart by their picture, or a comment. Many can say it's somewhat like a popularity contest but I do it for the fun, for the exposure. Each picture can be labeled with the items of clothing you have on. So, a pair of black slacks could, if you wished, be labeled stating where you purchased them or what brand they are or how much they costed. The list continues. Check the website out if you ever get a chance. I swear you'll NEVER have a dull moment♥

 (Visit my LOOKBOOK page here! [ha, I only have one picture sofar.]) 

http://lookbook.nu/DeLaSeair

          

The Rhythm of Fashion : Musics Impact (Connection)

                

BET's 'Rip The Runway' aired on March 16th, 2010. It was a fashion and music special that has been airing for I think about 2 or 3 years. (Don't hold me to it). The fashion show consisted of both men and women's wear that ranged from casual wear and basketball attire to dresses and suits. The trends and styles of the evening were designed by the lines of five designers, Keva Johnson, Tennille White, Tracy Reese, Protege and Gavin Douglas. After watching this, it was brought to my attention even more than before that music and fashion go hand in hand. They compliment each other quite well and they make perfect sense together. People may not notice, but the types of music they listen to affects their personality, their styles and even the way they dress. Music is everywhere, fashion is everywhere. It's inevitable for them to be almost inseparable. When you see a fashion model model an outfit down a runway, they are walking to music. It draws the crowds attention even more. Quite frankly, a fashion show would just be plan out boring if it had not any music playing in the background. They are so many trends based off of singers and rappers and people in the music industry alone that it's amazing. Actually, many of these people actually have a clothing line of their own. Graphic tees. How many graphic tees have you seen with lyrics of a song displayed on them? Or maybe even a saying of an artist or musician? There's PLENTY. Trey Songz, whom I am utterly head over hills for, has a favorite saying that seems to have gotten all of his fans attention. . . . "YUUUP!". That's it. He's emphasized it enough in his music and performances that people have recognized it and he's made it into a product of fashion by displaying that one word on a t-shirt. I can be your living proof because I own one. :) (41h1dbYIq9L._AA300_.jpg) Music is the backbone of fashion. It helps it evolve, it helps it grow and it has helped it become what it is today. Without music, fashion would just be something to look at. Don't get me wrong, it would still be a major part of everyday life, but, it would bring not any attention to our ears, the way music has helped do for it, for us. Antoine McGee, my Senior Seminar buddy, is focusing in the field of music and I've learned from him that music plays a big role in our everyday life as well. All the more reason that these two things are basically meant for each other. Music holds a huge impact on life, on fashion and on the world. It is the rhythm of living.♥

                                          

Boutique Adventure #12.

"Please leave a message after the tone. 'Beeeeeeeeep'"."Hello, this is Cierra from Beaute' Ange' Boutique in Haddonfield. Just wanted to call to let you know that your order is in and now on hold for you. You can stop by at your earliest convenience to pick it up. You're, (Paid in full or whatever balance is) please call us back at 856.354.0303 whenever you get a free moment to confirm your receiving of this message. Thank you and hope you have a beautiful day!" I love leaving those messages. :) I had about a good ten of those to do today and I didn't mind. I think when good customer service is involved, you should always be served with a pleasant voice and attitude whether it's face-to-face or on a phone call. Because to be honest, there is nothing worse than having terrible customer service. It's called customer service for a reason, so that the customer can get served. Point, blank. So that's why I make sure that I try my best to live up to the 'Good Customer Service' standard. Let's face it, a person eating food at a restaurant with a snobby waiter would not come back to eat there whether the food was good or not NOR would the recommend it to anyone else. That's just the way the cookie crumbles. This visit was a success and I plan on having many more just like this one.♥

"The Magical Place!" (Connection)

Two words, Senior Trip! It was such a great experience! There was a lot of 'first timers' that took place from the 10th-13th. It was my very first time riding a plane, my first time riding on a rollercoaster that a toddler would reconsider getting on and my first time ever going to Disney and being there with my classmates to help experience it with me was just, banging! :) The trip was filled with activites from top to bottom. Although, the first day was really the worst day because of tthe jam schedule. After being up since around almost 3'o'clock in the morning, to boarding a plane, to walking a theme park for almost ten hours, you get more than just a bit tired. Feet and all! I tried my best to see everything. Even though I'm petrified of rollercoasters, even if it meant me waiting at the exit for everyone to get off, I stood in line and waited with everyone else just so I can say I knew what it was like. We had a good amount of freedom and the chaperones were great. They didn't treat us like kids yet they didn't make us feel like we were full fledge 'adults' yet either you know, it was a great medium. I didn't mind spending the money to try every bit of food I thought my tastebuds would adore. Nor did I hesitate to buy little odd things that I knew I wouldn't see back home. Along with some of the other students I did decide to be a little rebellious, (tisk tisk), and took a walk through the oh so forbidden 'Pleasure Island'. Only to run into the chaperones eatting at a restaurant somewhere in the park, it was hilarious. They greeted us and insured us to have a good time. Who would have thought, ha! One of my favorite parts of the trip was the meal cards! I think it was the best creation EVER! Maybe not ever, but you get my drift. Each day I managed to cover all of my food expenses with just one card! Except for the last day of course, because like a dummy, I forgot Universal Studios was our last stop before heading home and the meal cards are only valid in Disney. Oh well right? And then there was the pool. The pool was fun, although I can't swim, I managed to kick my feet around a few times and STILL managed not to get my hair wet. . . YES! :) Call me buuji, but i can still have a great time! So senior trip was a hit and I'm glad it was. Sad to say that I'll really miss these guys, but hey, I'd do it all over again!♥

Inspiration and Advertisement. (Connection)

One day last summer I became drastically bored. Seemed like there was nothing to do, no place to go and nobody to see. So, I decided to raid my magazine collection and just about every department store circular we had lying around the house. I grabbed a pair of scissors, some cement glue, a stack of computer paper and headed downstairs to plant myself in front of the TV to begin cutting and pasting anything that gave me any inspiration or a different insight on my sense of style. I told myself that I would call it my 'Summer Outfit Stylebook'. I had cutout different models, different outfits and trends and pasted them each on their own separate piece of computer paper. Call it wasteful but in my eyes I figured I was doing something productive anyway. As an ending result I had a book that had a thickness of about 2 stacked Seventeen magazines and I looked through it a number of times throughout the summer as a reference to certain outfits I wanted to make my own. Inspiration is something like guidance, divine guidance of some sort. It encourages, brings forth a light or idea that kind of rings a bell in your mind. And it well, inspires you. :) Anything can be inspiration, picture, music, lyrics, poems, prayers, anything. Designers can use an object and simply make a whole line based off its shape and color. TV show, 'Project Runway', tends to do a good job portraying that by setting the designers up with challenges based on the craziest things like potato sacks and track to name a couple. Advertisements, one of the biggest sources of publication in the world today, has become a major sense of inspiration. Like mentioned earlier, many people tear pictures out of a magazine of advertisement or book that inspires them for an outfit or certain room decor. Things like inspiration boards and inspiration charts exist to help keep track of them. Like the examples below and above:  

                                                   

We may get annoyed with advertising sometimes, even just a little overwhelmed but, in it's own way, it has a piece of inspiration in every bit of it. Find a picture you love. Clip it, save it and be inspired♥

It's Your Runway! (Boutique Adventure #11)

Today was a success! We were actually pretty booked today. We had girls in picking up dresses, and looking for dresses and trying them on and ordering. It was just the works! I helped a few girls get measured as well as helping find what looked best on them. Joann, my sponsor and the owner of the store, walked in the store today while some of the girls were trying on a few gowns and was in total awe, (as always:]). One girl felt a bit shy to be in front of a crowd modeling off her soon-to-be dress for everyone when Jo suddenly said, "Sweetheart, this is your runway! Feel free and comfortable to strut your stuff and show off how beautiful you are!". And the girls face lit up with a grin from ear to ear. She walked out with that dress and I was pleased to know that she probably walked out of our store with a boost for her day. It feels great knowing that one little thing can do something so meaningful and you may never know what is going on with a person. I helped sale a couple more dresses and enjoyed my visit greatly.♥

Creativity Amongst Our Students. (Connection)

There are so many talented and creative students that I am able to call my fellow classmates. Their creativity may range from being able to use their voices to project them into beautiful melodies or being able to use their hands to create stunning masterpieces of artwork. Mr. Abrams always said that creative minds have their own way of thinking, their own way of doing things and I totally agree with him because we do. It takes a keen eye or knack for creativity to be able to express it well and I can definitely say that we are surrounded by keen eyes and knacks for it in LHS. From the talented casts of our school plays to the amazing young artists and musicians we have roaming the halls, we tend to have creativity pouring out of our veins. I feel glad to be able to say that I am a part of such of a creative bunch of kids who can create almost any and everything that they tell their minds they want to make into reality.♥

Relationships are Tough. (Choice)

Ever want something so bad you can just taste it. Well, not literally, but you get my drift. I'm a seventeen year old girl. One who loves hard as you could say. Which is a great thing and can be a bad thing as well. Many may say that the relationship thing isn't for them, that they rather not go through the hassle or that it takes up too much of their time. I on the otherhand, I kinda like it. I've been in this relationship now for over a year and it has had its hardships, its great sides, downfalls and triumphs and through it all we're still sticking through it. Kind of got this feeling that I've found someone I can call a good friend. That I can share secrets with and know that they won't tell the entire world and that makes me feel comfortable. Despite the fact that we may get on each others very last nerves, the feelings are mutual and our love for each other is definitely mutual. Throughout everything I've realized that it's not always sugar and pie. Arguments and disagreements are sometimes just a part of growing with one another, knowing each others boiling points or certain areas that may 'tick' us off. Hearing stories from friends, my mother and family members, they've told me what I may have in store in a relationship. Everything I should tell myself to get use to or how I should handle some situations. There's their advice and then there's the whole thing of just doing it on my own and that's when the tough part comes in. 50/50. I know you've heard that term before. That shouldn't exist in a relationship. Atleast that's the way that I tend to see it. I believe that each person shall give 100 percent effort and time into the relationship. Although, I know, I know, that just may be one of the hardest things to do sometime, it will all be worth it in the long run. Giving each other that extra little push makes all the difference. So I plan on keeping myself ready to push as long as I need to. :)♥