Doe Eyed Belle

TxState I can't believe it has been three months since my last post. All I can say is that it has been the longest three months of my life, or at least it felt like it was going painfully slow. I have just completed my first semester of grad school and I can say for a fact that it is hard. I should try to give myself some sort of credit. It has been over two and a half years since I have gotten my bachelor's, so I was completely  out of school mode when I decided to go back. I will say that if you make the decision to get your masters, definitely make sure that you have weighed all of your pros and cons.  I am not at all saying that I regret going back to school. There have been some aspects that I have enjoyed more than others. For one, I cannot honestly see how I could hold a regular paying job while focusing on school full-time. I decided to go for a graduate assistantship so I can bring in some income since I won't be "working"  anymore. For me it b...

nikemakers.com Hey guys! I know... I know its been a minute, but grad. school is keeping me pretty occupied. While I was busy doing research, I stumbled across an interesting article, Greenbiz.com , talking about Nike's "Making" app and I must say it is pretty awesome! Being that the focus of my Master's is in merchandising and consumer studies, I will be doing a ton of research on sustainability and this app is a great tool for me and for anyone who its wanting information on the sustainability of materials or fabrics they may purchase or use.  The app provides the environmental impact for materials in the areas of chemistry, water consumption, energy and waste and it compares fabrics so you know which is better for you to use from a sustainable standpoint.  It is free for anyone to download (only on iOS), so of course I did and it's amazing how much information this app offers to you.  If you every wanted to know the impact of the materials tha...

Hey guys, so it has been a while since I have posted a Fashion Ed topic, so I want to get back to posting those at least once a month and this month I wanted to talk about Sweat Free Brands. "Sweat free" means that the item was not made in a workshop or factory where the workers are subjected to dangerous and poor working conditions and low wages.  For anyone who is attempting to purchase ethically made items, you may think you are limited in your choices. Some usually resort to thrift shopping or making their own clothing, but most of us will not resort to those measures right away. Myself for instance, I try to shop at retailers who are trying to become more ethically responsible and who at least have their sustainability/ethic clauses or reports available for the public to see.  Here are a few brands that are sweat free: 1. American Apparel Sleeveless Crop Top Mostly known for their risqué advertising, American Apparel offers sweat free clothing...

Clare V. H&M Crepe Dress Jo Malone H&M Slingback Just a few beautiful things that I need to have in my life ... like yesterday! -Desi

Road Trip 2013 Hey Y'all. Wow it's been quite some time since I posted last. Life has just been keeping me busy, but its for good reason. In June I took the GRE and applied to Grad School and was excepted. Of course I am more than excited. This is going to bring about a lot of changes in my life and I welcome them with open arms. Things have been a little stagnant lately so it will be a breath of fresh air for me. I hope to start posting more often too. With me going to school, I will have more time to write, do some photography and maybe pick up my other hobbies! I have also decided to transition into natural hair, so that's random. I am contemplating if I want to document my journey or not. I am only a month into transition so I don't have anything to show as of yet. I am trying to shift into a healthier lifestyle still. This process has been filled with lots of bumps, but I guess all that matters is that I keep going right! I attempted a juice cleans...

Mesa Verde National Park "Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still." - Chinese Proverb

Clutch , Tank , Dress, Bedding Just some current favorites from H&M. A clutch, racer tank, chiffon dress, and teal bedding... all perfect for summer. Hmm where to wear the dress though.... -Desi

Road Trip 2013 "Life is short, live it. Love is rare, grab it. Anger is bad, dump it. Fear is awful, face it. Memories are sweet, cherish it."  - Unknown

Another great option for disposing of garments and clothing items, in addition to giving them to charities, is taking them to your nearest H&M where they will be recycled. Over 95% of garments that end up in landfills can be recycled, so with Zero Waste being the goal, the items that are to worn and torn to be reused will be recycled and turned into raw materials and new products.  They even donate to local charities for every 2.2 pounds they receive. This is why I throw my money at H&M and other similar retailers because of initiatives like this. Visit  Long Live Fashion  for more information. -Desi

Because today is Earth Day, I thought it would be a great opportunity to talk about Sustainability in the fashion industry. So what does sustainable mean: Sustainable - of, relating to , or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged. Sustainable Fashion - also called eco fashion , is a part of the growing design philosophy and trend of sustainability, the goal of which is to create a system which can be supported indefinitely in terms of environmentalism and social responsibility. Ecouterre.com  or Eco Fashion World  are great resources to learn more about sustainable fashion and the textile industry. With that said, you can not talk about sustainability in the fashion industry and not mention the fast fashion culture and the  stigma that surrounds it.  Fast fashion is the production of garments, designed similar to those seen on fashion week runways and magazines,...

Hey ya'll!  Happy Easter! So hmm what has happened since my last chat. Well I have started working out and tweaking my diet. I have lost 5 pounds!?! Most of that is probably water weight or maybe not but I couldn't be more happy. I have gotten into making smoothies and I feel that having at least one a day is making the difference. We are celebrating Fiesta in San Antonio and there are many events/concerts/festivals that you can attend. One of the big four events, is Oyster Bake which consists of mostly fried food on sticks, cotton candy, a carnival and free concerts. I was able to see the rock group Chevelle which was amazing and they happened to be the very first concert I have attended...ever! I know that is sad but at least I can say that I have seen one now. I wish that I had taken more photos but Fiesta doesn't end until the 27th so I have time to get some good ones. Earth day is on Tuesday so I am working on a Fashion Ed to...

Did I ever tell you that Zara is my favorite store. They can never do wrong in my book. I know I've wrote about slip on sneakers before, but I am in LOVE with this beautiful pair from Zara. Just when I finally buy an amazing pair of slip-ons you have to release these with your April look book! These are just too perfect. Not only are they leather printed, but they have the track sole  and they come in sea green! In the shopping cart they go...till I click process order...a week from now. -Desi

Hi y'all! I know it has been a while since I have posted. A lot of things have been going on as of late and I just haven't had time to post. Today I just wanted to talk about whats been on my mind. Well lets see... My mother and my momsie (grandmother) have been in and out of the hospital and rehabilitation. As of last week my grandmother was finally released and was able to go home. She has been in the hospital since the first week of January. I could not be more elated because she has technically been in the hospital since November with just one week of being out in January. My mother is in rehabilitation to regain strength in her legs. She has Multiple Sclerosis and so it is pretty much a guessing games when it comes to her symptoms and whenever she relapses. With this I have been thinking about my health....like a lot a lot. Along with my dad having Type 2 Diabetes and my sister being recently diagnosed as being pre-diabetic, I am beginning to get wor...

"Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart"  - Ancient Indian Proverb

net-a-porter zara zara zara asos Hey guys! I wanted to list some items that are on my spring  to own/lust after/whine if I can't get it/wish-list. The Oxford button up for the shirt dressing trend and a pleated skirt ( also on trend). An  athletic sandal to go with any sportif look, a trench because it's a classic, and a pop of bright color that can carry you through summer in a clutch. What are some items on you wish-list for spring? -Desi

That speck at the top is a person! I just wanted to share some photos from my recent trip to Enchanted Rock. One of my New Years resolutions was to travel more and hike often, so now I can cross this hiking trip off my list.  Enchanted Rock is about an hour and a half drive from San Antonio and is an enormous pink granite rock formation. It is absolutely beautiful and peaceful being up on the rock. Even though it is tough and tiring getting to the top, the views are worth it. I will never get tired of visiting.

Zara.com If you have not checked out the new collection that Zara is rolling out, I suggest you do it yesterday! I am so in love with their spring look book. It is an apposition of sporty and romantic and I feel that that they go together beautifully. Hurray for shopping sprees! -Desi

The case for spending a little more sometimes.  Thought this was a great short article about spending a little more on what you really want. Can save you money in the long run.

I am a little bit obsessed with Michael Kors Spring 2014 RTW collection. This beautiful collection featured tailored linen suit jackets paired with fluid tulip skirts, pinstripe wide leg pants with chiffon tops and pin-up style bikinis. The collection had a 40's retro vibe to it and is one of my favorite collections that he has put down the runway...to date. Here are some of my favorites:   Style.com