Tinker Thursday || How-To: Sort Your Closet

I’m so so sorry I missed last Tinker Thursday! I don’t know if it was because I just could not get adjusted to being back at work, or if the first week of summer session #2 completely caught me off guard… but a post never happened… and I truly apologize.

That being said, I am back with a fun little post. I recently went online shopping and figured I should take a look at my closet to see what I can rid of. Curse you Fall Fashion! My favorite fashion season… hence the new clothing. ANYWAY. On to the meat of my post: How-To Sort Your Closet! 

Disclaimer: I am not a closet-cleaning expert. I am sharing a few tips and tricks that work for me and my cleaning/purging style. Some of these may not work well for you. 

1. Make it a recurring theme - Sure, “Spring Cleaning” works for some people, but for me, spring is the busiest time of year (work and school-wise). I find it easier to handle when I look through my closet periodically. We usually do two balikbayan send-offs per year, and I find this the perfect opportunity to send some clothes to my family in the Philippines.
2. On that note: Have a destination for your unwanted clothing - I think it’s easier to get rid of something when you know it will end up somewhere it is really appreciated. Sending my unwanted clothes to the Philippines not only gives my relatives “new” clothing to wear, but they are so incredibly thankful for anything I send. It warms my heart to know that I can give them things that make them happy; simple things like clothing. Whether it be handing down articles of clothing to relatives, donating to a local shelter, or selling them online to buy new clothing - having an endgame is a great motivator. 
3. Take everything out - Yes, you heard me! Take everything out of your closet and place it on the bed. It doesn’t matter if you do it all at once or by sections, physically removing clothing from your closet makes you more conscious of what you put back into it. I remove sections at a time and sort things out on my bed.
4. Make different piles - Whenever I clean out my closet, I sort things into “Definitely Keep”, “Maybe/Maybe Not”, and “Definitely Not Keep”. There are times when I’m doing a random sort through that everything remains in the “Definitely Keep” pile, but hey, at least you had the intention of sorting things out, right?
5. Be honest with yourself - Are you really going to wear that article of clothing again? If you’re like me, you hold on to a lot of things because they’re attached to some sort of memory. I’ve gotten better at letting go of pieces of clothing. If you can’t remember the memory without the clothing as a trigger, was it really that memorable? 
6. Rearrange your clothing the way you see fits best - I go through phases where I want everything arranged by color, then switch it up to type of clothing, then back to color. I usually place batches back into the closet and then inter-arrange (is that a term?) newer batches into the initial set.
7. Here’s a little trick I learned from YouTube: Flip your hanger hooks so they’re hooked on from the inside of your closet. Whenever you take an article of clothing out, you can place it back into the closet with the hanger placed “normally”. When it comes time to do your periodic closet sort, pull out the articles of clothing whose hangers weren’t flipped over first. You obviously did not wear them for a reason. Don’t put any of these in your “Definitely Keep” pile. Sort them into your “Maybe” and “Do Not Keep Piles”.

As with any advice, there are exceptions to a rule. Of course you’re not going to wear your wedding gown within 6 months to a year. Of course that’s a memorable article of clothing. I am the queen of sass, so do not attempt to sass me on this. =P As previously mentioned, these are just a few tips that work for me and my lifestyle.

Let me know if you have any tips on cleaning out your closet! I know I probably missed some crucial steps, but I think this is generally how I go about sorting through mine. Hope this post was somewhat helpful! I’ll be back in two weeks with something new!

xo, rox

Trendy Tuesday || Get Ready With Me - One Direction Concert! (And a cheeky little Summer Lookbook)

HI GUYS! I'm so sorry for missing last week, but I'm here today to make it up to you! The reason why I missed last week is because I was in Seattle for the One Direction concert at CenturyLink Field! Tuesday was a crazy day for me, as I was out and about and at a hotel with not the best wifi... Excuses aside, I wanted this post to be about how I got ready for the concert, so let's get started!

MAKEUP

Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer 

• For events like these, we want our makeup to stay on our face all day long. Also, I'm pretty sure this is my new holy grail primer - I've fallen in love with it.

Base: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue - Spice

• This tinted moisturizer is perfect for color correcting and it's not as heavy as foundation! I used my beauty blender for application.

Concealer: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer - Ginger

• I applied this generously using my beauty blender underneath my eyes, the center of my forehead, the bridge of my nose and my cupid's bow for a brightening effect. I went back in with a concealer brush afterwards to get anything my beauty blender didn't.

Powder: MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation - C5

• To make sure my concealer stays in place, I set with this powder using a Real Techniques powder brush. This powder is a winner in my book because it locks my makeup in place while adding more coverage.

At this point I sprayed Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray to ensure my base wouldn't budge throughout the day.

Bronzer: Too Faced Dark Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

• My favorite! Using a Real Techniques blush brush, I applied this all over my face to warm my skin because bronze goddess = goals. Ya feel me?

Contour: Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit - Medium/Tan

• Using the Real Techniques Bold Metals Flat Contour Brush I mixed Macchiato and Nutmeg and placed the product in the hollows of my cheeks to give the illusion of a slimmer face.

Highlight: BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfecter - Opal

• My other favorite! Using a Sonia Kashuk fan brush, I applied product to the tops of my cheekbones, the center of my forehead, the bridge of my nose, my cupid's bow and my chin to give my skin that sun-kissed, dewy look.

Eyebrows: Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade - Medium Brown

• You know the drill with eyebrows. Using the spooly/angled brush made specifically for Dip Brow, I filled in the brows and set them in place using Elf clear eyebrow gel.

Eyeshadow: Lorac Pro Palette

• Literally the easiest eyeshadow look ever and I was so happy with the end result! Taking "Cream" on a fluffy brush I placed it all over my eyelid and then using a crease brush I put "Mauve" in my crease, adding more product to the crease until I was satisfied with the depth of the color, and that's it!

Lashes: Maybelline Lash Sensational & Ardell Lashes - Demi Whispies

• Since I'm fancy like that, I decided to put on fake lashes and after I applied them I added mascara to blend the two together.

Eyeliner: L'oreal The Super Slim Infallible Liquid Eyerliner

• I applied this over the lash band to hide any eyelash glue that didn't dry clear.

Lips: MAC Lip Liner - Spice & L'oreal Collection Exclusive 610 - Eva's Nude

• Seriously the BEST lip combo ever. Lined and filled my lips with Spice and put Eva's nude on top and honestly I've found my new favorite nude lip combo. And it lasted all day long!

Add a few more sprays of the setting spray and that's the makeup done!

HAIR

Suuuper easy, I just massaged Not Your Mother's Dry Shampoo & Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo into my roots and straightened my hair using a Chi Flat Iron. In the end I chucked on a hat from Urban Outfitters to add more to my look.

OUTFIT

Top & Skirt: Topshop

Boots: H&M

Hat: Urban Outfitters

My outfit!

 Makeup!

 Rhonda & I being silly before the show!

The completed look featuring my posters :)

Thank you guys for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this blog post! I'll see you guys next week!

XO

PS - I recently uploaded a summer lookbook on my YouTube and it would be amazing if you went on over and checked it out :) (youtube.com/sharmainemiranda)

Trendy Tuesday || My latest obsession...

Okay, so we all have that one staple that wins our heart time and time again. So much that whenever we're out shopping we say "I don't need another one of these," but we end up buying it anyways. Some of us may regret it afterwards, but if you're anything like me, you laugh because you know you didn't need it, but you're totally happy and stoked to add to your collection.

And if you disagree with my last statement, you're lying to yourself and lying isn't good.

Personally, I believe in doing things that make you happy and treating yourself. This is totally a dangerous combination - but we only have one life, so why not make the most of it? Now this isn't to say I'm a material girl who cares solely about all things materialistic, but when your passion is for fashion, beauty and the latest trends, materialistic ideas and views is just what ends up happening.

Now I know you want me to cut to the chase because all of this build-up is driving you nuts, so I'll tell you: I'm obsessed with sunglasses.

I seriously can't get enough. They're the perfect outfit completer. I keep telling myself I don't need another pair because honestly, I don't. My collection is rather large, I can't fit another pair into my desk drawer because if I tried, it wouldn't shut. When you're in college and live in a different city than your family and a different room than the one you grew up in, you don't have much space to scatter your belongings, so my sunnies call my desk drawer "home."

I justify in my head that I need different styles to go with different outfits. Don't worry, I'm not the type to purchase lavish sunglasses because I don't have that type of money to blow. Shout out to the parents for the Ray-Ban's this past Christmas, they're everything.

If you're ballin' on a budget, my favorite places to find super cute, affordable, quality sunnies are Urban Outfitters and Forever 21, if you have the patience to look through everything...

Here's my advice to you: when you're trying to find the perfect pair of sunglasses, don't forget a few tips and tricks to make sure what you're trying on is the one.

1. Put them on and see how they look and sit on your face. This is crucial because you'll immediately know if it's a hit or miss.
2. Make sure they don't cover your brows completely. That's not cute. You want to make sure your brows are visible, especially the arches! You don't want to lose what's framing your face.
3. Turn to the side. ALWAYS turn to the side. Both sides is even better! If you like the way the frames look from the side, they're a winner. People are always going to be at your sides, so this is what their impression of you and your sunnies will be.
4. Last but not least, the smile test. If your sunnies are hitting your cheeks when you smile, they might not be a match. Some people hate when their sunglasses touch their cheeks when they smile, I personally don't mind it. It's all about how comfortable you are about the size of the frames. I gravitate towards the bigger framed sunnies because I think they suit my face shape better. If the sunglasses don't ride up too high when you smile, they're meant for you.

If you are successful in all of these, take your sunnies to the cashier and buy them right away. I promise you won't regret it.

And we must not forget, everyone is different and has their own style. Instead of bashing on each other for our choices in eyewear, let's appreciate each other for being bold and choosing something out of the ordinary. Fashion is spontaneous - it's always changing and it's fascinating. That's why I love it so much.

So there it is. Now you have what it takes to find your perfect pair of sunglasses.

As for me, I'm in my last two weeks of school! Finals are next week and by next Thursday I'll be done with my second year of university! And did I mention in exactly two weeks from today I'll be paying my team a visit in sunny San Diego? I couldn't be more excited for this trip.

IN N OUT. Need I say more?

But since I'll be in San Diego, where it's sunny and hot, I'll probably be bringing my entire collection...

I hope I've made hunting for sunnies a little less stressful and a little more exciting! I'm literally this close to buying a pair of ShayxQuay sunnies, and I'm trying to tell myself no... But like I said, it's always good to treat yourself ;)

I hope my wallet doesn't hate me forever these next few weeks...

Sharmaine

Trendy Tuesday || Billboard Music Awards

Where our favorite celebrities gather to celebrate music, something we all share a love for.

Where Niall gives a thank you speech only for Liam to chime in at the end and give credit to their brother, Zayn. So presh, I actually died.

Now, while the whole idea of the award show is to pay tribute to artists and their music, we all know the kinds of lengths attendees went to to choose the "perfect outfit" for the Billboard Music Awards.

So let's talk fashion.

Honestly, I was really into the simplicity some people chose to sport on the red carpet. For example, Meghan Trainor. Her Badgley Mischka emerald green sequined dress had me so pleased, I couldn't get enough. When her performance with John Legend came around, she added a black top over her dress, giving the illusion that she was sporting a cropped sweater with a beautiful emerald green sequined skirt.

Then we have Jennifer Lopez, who I honestly don't think will ever age the rest of her life. She looked gorgeous, no surprise there. I love how she rocked a Charbel Zoe dress with mesh right in the good-good area, I know you know what I mean, and she STILL made it look classy and elegant. You go J-Lo.

Now the fashion police inside me wants to come out to play. Hailee Steinfeld, star of Pitch Perfect 2. Great girl, I was pleased with her performance in the movie. So pleased, I saw it twice. While her voice is very pretty and nice to listen to, I was a little disappointed in her outfit. Wearing a Givenchy dress, you would think it would be amazing and I think it could have been amazing if she ditched the black crew socks, the belt and chose a different hairstyle. Weird neckline too. Still love you, girl.

Sooo, I gotta get to class now. But I look forward to discussing more fashion with you lovelies soon!

Sharmaine

Tinker Thursday Introduction

Hello, everyone! I hope you have all had the chance to meet Monica, Sharmaine, and Jayme by now. If you haven’t, please click their names and visit their Introductory Week Posts! You’ll get the chance to meet Brian tomorrow, but for now, it’s my time to shine.

My name is Rox, and I would like to be the first to welcome you to Tinker Thursday.

Merriam-Webster online defines the word “tinker” as “to work in the manner of a tinker; especially :  to repair, adjust, or work with something in an unskilled or experimental manner : fiddle”

Now, if that doesn’t describe me perfectly, I don’t know what will.

Aside from being unskilled and experimental, I’m a pretty bland person. I work and I’m pursuing my MBA. I enjoy binge watching shows and YouTube videos in my spare (albeit rare) time. I often find myself drawing inspiration from everything around me, and I particularly enjoy baking sweet treats.

My blog posts will consist of DIY Projects. If you know me personally, you know I’m all about experimenting with activities revolving around arts & crafts, baking, makeup, styling, building IKEA furniture, etc. 

I know that is a broad range of possible topics to cover, but as long as you can “Do-it-Yourself”, it’s fair game for Tinker Thursday.

My purpose in this collaborative is to celebrate creativity and not being afraid to try out new things. We shouldn’t hesitate to begin a new project or journey in fear of failure, or wear a certain item of clothing just because we don’t think it will look nice. You never know how awesome something could be if you never give it a chance.

I hope you enjoy the adventures all five of us are about to embark on. It’s been a very… very long project in the making, and I’m so happy and so blessed to see it finally come to life. 

We hope to provide you some light entertainment at the very least.

xo, rox

Trendy Tuesday Introduction

First of all, I would like to say hello and thank you for checking out Notably Notable! It means a lot to the team for you to be hanging out on the blog!

I think it's probably a good idea to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about who I am since you will be spending part of your Tuesday with me! I'm Sharmaine, it is very nice to meet you :) I live in Washington State, the beautiful Pacific Northwest to be exact. I'm 20 years old and wrapping up my second year of university. With that being said, I'm a Communication Studies major/Journalism - Public Relations minor and I plan to be an event coordinator someday.

In my spare time you can find me lost in the world of fashion and beauty, two of my passions in life. It is true to my nature to keep up with the latest trends, test the boundaries of my own fashion choices and as any fashion blogger would describe themselves, a total shopaholic. Don't worry, I know what you might be thinking, but I (most of the time) know when to put my foot down. You gotta do what you gotta do to have a good wardrobe, am I right?

And this is what Trendy Tuesdays will be all about! I'll tell you about all the things I'm loving, what I'm not loving, what I think is "in" and what needs to be thrown into the fashion trash forever!

As a normal human being, I will be the first to say that I'm not perfect. There will be times where I'll be swimming in homework, or late nights studying for exams or crying over them, whichever comes first to be completely honest, but I'm confident that this will be my outlet from all the stress of life, and I can't wait to talk about fashion and makeup AND One Direction with you ;)

Again, thank you for taking the time to check us out! Enjoy your week and I'll see you next Tuesday!

Sharmaine

It's Finally Happening!

Welcome to Notably Notable!

First, we would like to thank you for somehow stumbling upon our little area of the internet. Feel free to explore and possibly stick around :)

We are a group of five friends who love a lot of different things. We don’t want to get into too much detail; you’ll get the chance to hear from everyone this week (although the tags might give you guys a few hints--told you we're all over the place). Just know that we’re here to share our passions with you, and we hope you enjoy!

We are also aware there’s a Twitter handle and Instagram username that already exists for NotablyNotable. Unfortunately, we did not know about it / failed to check if this name already existed. We only researched if the domain was available. 

Just to clear the air, we are not affiliated with the aforementioned social media outlets. Each author has their own individual social media outlets that they will share if they wish :) 

Monica will kick off Introductory Week, so swing on by tomorrow for Motivational Monday!

Thanks again <3

The Notably Notable Team

Monica, Sharmaine, Jayme, Rox, and Fury