Why I Refuse to Shop at Brandy Melville // Thursday's Thought

As a shopping addict, I was eager to visit the first Brandy Melville store in Massachusetts when it opened on Newbury Street in Boston last year. If you happen to live under a fashion rock and not know of this clothing brand, Brandy Melville is a California-inspired clothing brand that features casual clothing with a beachy vibe, targeted towards teens.

I was particularly excited to try on a popular tee featuring a “stay weird” design, as well as some other items. However, when my sister, friends, and I finally arrived at the store, I couldn’t find my usual size medium. Upon asking a store employee, I learned that Brandy Melville has a “one size fits most” policy.

“Umm, what? One size? Okay…”

As a woman who considers herself to be a healthy and average size and build, I was definitely disappointed to find that the tee I was lusting after was way too tight. Apparently, being a size medium is not in the “most” of the population.

We already live in a society where people are constantly judged on their appearance and feel the need to validate their worth based on their looks. Although men struggle with this issue as well, young girls and women the primarily victims of body image issues. We are constantly bombarded with images of “perfect” women everywhere we look. Brandy Melville is simply feeding this obsession with perfection and making women like me feel like we aren’t good enough. The fact that a healthy woman can not fit into their clothes is a clear indication that their policy of “one size fits most” is not just exclusionary, but also false.

As consumers, we make important decisions daily about what companies we want to financially support through purchases. Therefore, I will not support Brandy Melville by purchasing other items I would like to buy, like their affordable jewelry or trendy room décor. Money is power. I refuse to give Brandy Melville that power, unless they change their policies.

Other companies, like Forever21, have expanded their sizing to service more women. I hope that Brandy Melville follows suit.

What are your thoughts??

xoxo Ava

Addicted to my iPhone?! // 5 Reasons to Put It Down

Disclaimer: I’m sure that when my family reads this title, they will burst out laughing and say I am the last person who should give advice on this topic. But the purpose of this post isn’t to say I have it all figured out. In fact, I would like this post to be a source of personal motivation for myself to cut back on my phone use.

It seems like every year, kids are getting iPhones at a younger and younger age.  This is a far cry from just 7 years ago when I received my first cell phone at the age of 14, this beauty:

Now, it’s time for me to have one of those “the first step is to acknowledge your addiction” moments.

I am addicted to my iPhone.

Like most of us, I rely on my iPhone too often as entertainment, a source of information, or a means to share a random thought or picture via social media. But, it is time to cut back. It’s time to realize that too much of a good thing can become an issue.

In order to remedy my addiction, here are 5 reasons why I should put it down:

1.) Eyes.

We already live in a society where technology rules. You are reading this blog on a laptop, iPad, or smart phone. All have screens. I’m no scientist, (in fact, I avoid as many science courses in college as possible) but I know that after working 9 to 5 as a summer intern in front of TWO computer screens, my eyes were always thankful for the drive home when I can gaze at trees, the road, and anything other than a screen.

2.) Time.

We all have 24 hours in a day. How we choose to spend it is very important. Our time is the most valuable thing we can give someone, and if we are scrolling through our Instagram feed, there is no way we are giving that person our full attention. Your family, friends, or a random stranger will surely appreciate your attentiveness.

3.) Friends.

Put your phone down while you wait in line for coffee and strike up a conversation with the person behind you! Just as you never know who you will meet sitting next to you on an airplane, you could end up having a great conversation with a person in line. Ask them for a drink suggestion or compliment them on something they are wearing to start the conversation.

4.) Knowledge.

Pick up a book or a newspaper. Learn the old fashioned way. Better yet, pull out a map. Yes, a REAL map, not Google Maps. When I went on a biking trip last summer with my parents, my dad relied solely on a paper map for the entire 200 mile journey. We had a few confusing moments along the way, but it all added to the memorable experience.

5.) Memories.

How many times have you told someone a riveting story about a time you had your face buried in your phone?  Very few, if any. Experience life going on around you. And THEN go on your phone to write some notes about it for a future blog post.

Next time I'm bored, uncomfortable, or confused, I will try to remember:

Put it down, look up.

xoxo Ava

October Favorites // Fashion, Beauty, Food & Book

I've had a crazy busy October (exam after exam after exam...), but I have found some things that have made October more fun!

Starting from top left:

1.) Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge with Bamboo Charcoal

A great addition to my skincare routine, this sponge is rock hard when you buy it, but becomes soft when soaked with water. I find that it makes my First Aid Beauty Cleanser foam up more than it does when applying with my hands. The light exfoliation is a great everyday exfoliating option without being too harsh.

2.) Kombucha

Oh my goodness, this stuff is heaven. Once you get past the initially strange smell, this drink is very yummy and refreshing. There are many health benefits of kombucha, which you can research online. I have found that it helps me on those days where my tummy feels strange, especially the day after having a not-so-healthy meal. The $4 price tag is hard to swallow, but this drink isn't!

3.) Kate Spade Watch

My first "real adult watch" is this stunning one from Kate Spade, which I got from my parents for my 21st birthday. I have worn it every day this month and feel naked without it. I think it looks great with flannels and sweaters and gives my laid back outfits a more refined style.

4.) Flannels

Speaking of flannels with my watch, my favorite day is when the weather gets just chilly enough that flannels and vests are whipped out. This particular flannel is from Banana Republic, which I picked up at their outlet store. You can never have too many flannels!

5.) Benefit Gimme Brow

I'm very thankful that my mom always told me as a teenager not to pluck too much, because thin eyebrows wouldn't always be in style and you don't want to do irreversible damage. (Thanks Mom!) This is perfect to fill in the bald spots in my eyebrows. Not only does the color tint make my brows a little darker, the fibers in the gel adhere to your eyebrow hairs to actually make them thicker. Love this for lazy days or as a final step in my full eyebrow routine.

6.) Grace's Guide by Grace Helbig

Grace Helbig has been my favorite YouTube star and comedian for about 2 years now, so I was thrilled when she came out with a book! For only $11.65, I was laughing out loud during just the first chapter! The pictures are adorable and Grace's sarcastic sense of humor really comes through her writing.

7.) Sam Edelman Leopard Loafers

I have been on the hunt for these shoes for way too long, and I finally found these at Marshall's (I'm truly a Maxxanista...) They are surprisingly comfortable and I can't wait to wear them all fall and winter long!

Hope you had a great October and fun Halloween!

What were your favorite things this month?

xoxo Ava

Half-Faced Skeleton Makeup & Costume // Halloween 2014

Happy Halloween!

As a child, I was a cowgirl for five years in a row. Thankfully, I have become more creative over the years.
In previous years, some of my favorite costumes have been when I dressed up as Kanye West and Boo from Monster's Inc.

This year, with the help of Pinterest (Follow me!), I decided to kick off the Halloween weekend on Thursday by dressing up as a skeleton with a dramatic makeup look. I was hesitant about the makeup and unsure if I could actually pull it off. I wanted the "human" side of the makeup to be very dramatic and girly, so I used a heavy hand when applying bronzer and blush and threw on some fake lashes and a bold lip as well! Two of my friends were also planning on dressing up as skeletons (they did a DIY costume!) so we all met at their apartment to get ready.

We used Pinterest pins and YouTube tutorials to get inspiration for our makeup, and I think it turned out pretty well! 

Have a fun and safe Halloween!

xoxo Ava

Outfit Details:

Dress: Amazon

Tights: Spanx

Shoes: TJ Maxx

Necklace: Burlington Coat Factory

Facepaint: CVS

Lip Color: Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in 210 Unapologetic

The Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich // Barista Parlor // Nashville, TN

One of the highlights of the year so far for me was my 21^st birthday trip to Nashville, Tennesse with my two older sisters, G and C, G’s then fiancé (now husband!), and two friends. As a country music fan, I chose Nashville for its reputation of a bustling nightlife featuring live bands. And it was so fun!

We had some exciting plans for the weekend, including visiting the Grand Ole Opry and seeing Seth Meyers perform at the Nashville Comedy Festival. However, the highlight of the 48-hour trip turned out to be our Saturday morning brunch at Barista Parlor in East Nashville.

Like any true social media addict, I used Instagram to search for places to visit and I found this picture of a Barista Parlor meal during a quick search of #Nashville. My family will tell you that 2 of my true food passions are iced coffee and a good breakfast sammie, so this picture obviously caught my eye and I KNEW we had to check it out for ourselves. (Thanks, @nashvillefoodfan !)

Saturday morning of our weekend in Nashville came and we were all exhausted from a late night out on Broadway Street (which might have included me singing a country song at a karaoke bar and then dancing to a live band until 2am…maybe). 

As we stepped out of the Uber, we realized that the restaurant was in a converted garage. There was an old pickup truck and small patio with tables and chairs outside, but the garage doors were all open, letting fresh air and light into the space. The walls were white and floors concrete, which allowed the artwork and reclaimed wood furniture to be the focus.

When we walked in, my sister C said “That’s the guy from The Office!” BJ Novak was right there, sipping on coffee and writing in a notebook. He was in Nashville that weekend to perform at the Nashville Comedy Festival, so we decided not to go talk to him and instead creepily stare from afar. He later tweeted that Barista Parlor was his favorite spots in Nashville!

Can you spot him?

The line for food was already about 10 people long and we were surprised to learn that the only menu was right at the only cash register. Seeing as I generally take forever to decide what to order, we all decided to order a few different things and try eachothers’ choices. After we ordered, we sat down at a long wood table and stared at BJ Novak until our food came.

We waited about 15 minutes for our food and boy was it delicious!

The iced coffee was strong, just the way I like it. The waffles were fluffy and the strawberry topping and crème de fresh were the perfect addition, no syrup needed! The presentation of all the food was rustic and simple. A bandana was your napkin, which I had never seen before, and it certainly went well with the décor.

But, the breakfast sandwich. Oh. My. God. By far, this was the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had (but hopefully I will come across more in the “research” for this blog!). The biscuit was the perfect balance of buttery and moist and flaky. It did not crumble as you ate it, which is my main complaint with other biscuits. They also offer a gluten free biscuit, which excludes the lard that their traditional biscuit has, making it a great option for vegetarians and vegans as well. C ordered the GF biscuit as part of her sandwich and loved it! The sausage had a “zip” to it and the eggs were definitely “farm fresh”, as they claim. The serving size was perfect (it would be able to fit in the palm of my hand). The sammie as a whole was mouthwatering. I didn’t want to be done with it!

Everyone was impressed with their meals and the overall experience. Barista Parlor is a gem in this city and I would recommend that any breakfast fan make the ten minute journey from downtown Nashville to experience this unique café. Who knows, maybe you will run into a celebrity!

Check out Barista Parlor here.

xoxo Ava

@avamcraeva