Sundays are Meant for Dresses! (Post-Easter Edition)

Happy belated Easter everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend celebrating and spending time with family! Whenever Easter comes around, I always think back to when I was younger; I remember the night before Easter my mom would bring out a tray of saved cascarones (egg shells) and my younger brother, sister, and I would sit around the table and paint them. To make it even more exciting, we would add pieces of confetti in them and covered them with colorful tissue paper. 

On Easter Sunday, my family and I would wake up early and get ready to attend Sunday mass. Since we would go to the Spanish-speaking mass, I always saw children and adults dressed in their Sunday's best. Once the mass was over we would drive to my grandma's house to have a carne asada (barbecue). Even though we're all grown up now, I still remember those good times and the egg hunts we would have in my grandma's backyard. We would always laugh whenever someone got a confetti egg cracked on them.

Since both, my boyfriend and my family, don't live in Omaha we spent Easter getting ice cream after mass and watching movies on Netflix. Looking at how beautiful it was yesterday, I wanted to share with you all my Easter outfit!

Who knew that T.J. Maxx would have some really cute clothes! I bought this Juniors Peter Pan Collar Chambray Dress for like $20. It was a bit expensive for me since I'm on a budget but it was totally worth getting! I love the fact that it has a collar and how the gray and the white go hand in hand giving the dress a school girl-esk look to it. Seeing how the dress was a bit big on me, I paired it up with a thin, blue belt. I have never actually worn the crescent moon and star tights prior to this, so it was a bit of an experiment for me to see how it would look and it turned out great! *If you have a gray chambray dress like this you could also wear it with some colored tights like mustard yellow or even fuchsia for a more fun look.

Lastly, I completed my outfit with some white and speckled colored flats from Sam and Libby and a pair of flamingo, gemmed earrings made by artist Billy Nova.

What's your favorite Easter memory or favorite Easter outfit!?

*Photo courtesy of Google and Daniel N.

From LA, With Luv

Fati <3

Brighten up Your lips with Revlon ColorStay Lipsticks!

So, lately I have been on this weird lipstick craze where I've been trying out different lipstick shades to see which one(s) go well with my skin tone. Seeing how Spring colors are already in season, I have been sticking to warm colors such as pinks, light reds, and nude. I'm also a bit picky on the type of lipstick I wear since there are some that I heard that leave your lips dry and parched. We don't want that!

My friend recommended me to try out the Color Stay OverTime Lipsticks by Revlon because they last up to 16 hours and have over 26 different shades. They are a dual ended lip color plus a moisturizing, glossy top-coat; made of chamomile and soy extract, for that overtime shine. I bought a few Color Stay Lipsticks at Walgreens which cost about $10.79 (currently are on sale-buy one, get one 50% off w/ Wellness card) and decided to give them a try. 

I don't normally wear any lipstick to work but I have been using three of the Color Stay shades for the past few weeks now and I gotta say, I'm really liking the way the color sits on my lips. 

This color is called, "Bare Maximum" it looks a bit pink-ish on the tube but when you put it on it's like a nude color with a hint of sparkle to it. In my opinion, I think it's a great color if you want to keep it simple but have some shimmer on your lips.

The second color I bought is called, "Perennial Plum". From the looks of it, it's like a purplish pink. For some reason I thought this shade was going to darker but it turns out it's on the lighter side. It's a really cute color for any occasion!

Last but not least is the lip color called, "Always Sienna". From the looks of it, it's like a deep red with a small tint of brown to it. What I like about it is that it's right in the middle, not too light and not too dark. It's a great color if you're going out with friends or on a nightly stroll around town.

Out of the three, I honestly don't have a favorite. I think they're all are great colors to have for different occasions as mentioned above. You're probably wondering, since it says "Overtime stay", has the color ever rubbed off? In my opinion ,there's probably been one or two times where I've had to re-apply another coat of color to my lips, but other than that the color is pretty much there and it doesn't bleed when being applied, which is awesome!

If you're looking into trying new lipstick shades for your skin tone or want a fresh new look for Spring, I suggest you try out some of the Color Stay OverTime Lipsticks by Revlon! You can find these at your local Walgreens or any store(s) that carry cosmetics!

From LA, With Luv

Fati <3 

Artist of the Week:

I am excited to present to you all this month's Artist of the Week! She's a local, Nebraska gal with a degree in Graphic Design and a passion for photography. After a long day of shooting, nothing relaxes her more than good food and a good laugh. Oh and did I mention, she has a cute pup named Baxter!

I present to you all...

Nicole Running

The first time I met Nicole was a few months ago, during a pin-up class that she and her friend Kristen (who is a local pin-up model known as Emerald City Kitty) hosted. They covered different topics like: the history of pin-up culture, how to feel confident in your body image, various poses and hair-styling techniques, and much more. I had such an awesome time getting to know them and meeting other local gals who were interested in the same things I am! Check out my interview with Nicole, below. Enjoy!

FA: What do you enjoy the most about being a photographer?
NR: I enjoy the whole process! From the initial brainstorming of themes and sets, to the actual day of shooting, and finally to editing the photos...it's what I could do all day, everyday. I especially love seeing my clients transform, and I don't just mean with hair, make up, and clothing. The majority of my clients are not experienced models, they're everyday women looking to do something different or special for themselves or their significant other.

FA: I know you had mentioned this to me before and I thought it was really interesting, tell me about how you got introduced to the pinup/retro culture?
NR: My big sister's friend's little sister contacted me asking if I was familiar with pin ups, because she was interested in doing a Bettie Page-inspired shoot. Not being super familiar with pin-ups at the time, I let her know I'd research the style and get back with her. Well, within a day I contacted her back with a "YES! Let's do this!"  After that first pin-up shoot, I knew pin-up photography was what I wanted to do full time so I threw myself into learning about all things vintage and retro.



"Something I always stress to models: point your toes!"

FA: Do you think the pin-up culture has grown overtime?
NR: Oh definitely! The pin-up look and style has come and gone as a trend over the past few decades, but within the past 3 years I'd say it's really exploded. From everyday fashion and make up to advertising, it's making a comeback for sure. When I first started shooting pin-ups, not many people in Nebraska were very familiar with it, it was definitely more of a coastal thing. I remember when my now-gal pal Kristen first contacted me when she had moved to Nebraska, and she was looking for a pin up-specific photographer. I was ecstatic to finally meet someone who was into the pin-up world as much as I was! It's also awesome to see more pin-up clothing stores, pin-up events, and conventions popping up all over.

FA: I had the opportunity to do a mini photo-session with you last month and I have to say I felt shy, which I'm sure its a normal feeling. What are some of the things that you do to break the ice with your clients who may be feeling shy/nervous?
NR: I always try to keep things light heart-ed and fun. There's usually a lot of laughing involved during the shoot. I provide a lot of feedback and guidance during the shoot, so that way my clients don't feel pressured to come up with a pose or expression on the spot. They may arrive nervous and feeling awkward in front of the camera, but they leave feeling like a supermodel.

FA: Do you have any tips that you would want to share for those who are interested in shooting retro-inspired photography or even being a pin-up model?
NR: Definitely research, research, research! Since the pin-up culture isn't defined by one particular style, you'll want to find what's fits you best whether you're a photographer or model. Studying the original pin-up artists and paintings really helped me find my direction. Something I always stress to models: point your toes!

FA: How would you describe the modern day pin-up?
NR: This is a tough question, because there's such a wide variety of pin ups today! It's really up to the individual and how they want to portray themselves. The great thing about today's pin-up culture is that you're not restricted to a certain look or style. Back in the day, the majority of pin-ups (minus a small tabooed percentage) were molded by society's idea of what was beautiful and feminine. Today, there's no set of rules on how a pin-up should look or act. I think the common thread in today's pin-up movement is creativity in transforming yourself into who you want to be.

FA: Lastly, what do you hope to gain/accomplish with your photography?
NR: My main goal has always been and will always be first, and foremost, making everyone who I work with feel celebrated. I want to create an atmosphere where my clients will feel comfortable to be themselves, and will feel like a million bucks leaving their shoot. Currently, I am working towards a larger studio space so that I can create more sets and have more options for my clients. I would also love to travel more, collaborate with other artists, and possibly work with companies in using my photos for their advertising. My end goal is to be shooting full time and own a full-service studio where the client can arrive and be completely taken care of -- hair, make up, and clothing provided.


I want to give a quick thanks to Nicole for taking the time in doing this interview and letting me use her pictures for this feature, you are awesome! Follow Nicole on Instagram and Facebook and don't forget to check out her website for upcoming photo themes and session pricing!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinup.classicpictures

Website: http://www.classicpicturesphotography.com/

Instagram: @ClassicPicturesPhotography


Illustrated image courtesy of Google



From LA, With Luv
Fati <3