How To: Dress for Graduation

How To: Dress for Graduation

I'm just gonna drop a couple tips & tricks that I used for graduation and pass them on. Graduation is an exciting time for everyone - no matter what you're graduating from! I recently (May 1st) just received my bachelors degree in computer engineering and wanted to share a few tips and tricks for how I picked out my dress for graduation. Remember: there will be a TON of pictures taken - so I opted to go for timeless rather than trendy!

1. Pick a conservative, but fun and young dress!

You're not an old lady! Pick a dress that is age appropriate and is a proper length. You want a dress that is young and looks cute with your friends, but also looks appropriate when you take photos with your professors and family. I personally chose a sleeveless dress because I graduated in the spring, but if graduating in the fall just watch that your sleeves don't peek out of your gown! Also - if you've got some large ladies like I do - find a dress that accentuates them but doesn't put them all out there on display! Nothing worse than feeling like your boob may fall out at any minute or having that one lecherous professor staring at them in photos.

Also - consider the color of your gown when graduating and choose your dress accordingly! My gown was navy for graduation so it pretty much let me run the gambit on what color I wanted to wear. I opted for a black and white a-line print dress with cross back paired with a cute yellow belt and black shoes. PS: A dress with pockets is a major plus!

My dress the day I got it!

I picked this cute dress by ELLE at Kohls!

Also: (and this is a personal opinion) Do not wear a maxi or high-low dress! It peeks out from under your gown and just looks weird. You can't see the top half of the dress so all people see is the bottom of the dress and they have no idea whats going on and it just looks like a flowy weird gown extension!

What's in My Bag Tag - Final Semester Edition

What's in my Bag - Final Semester

Its FINALLY my final semester at University - and I am SO excited for graduation. I've already applied for graduation and I'll be so happy when I finally get to walk the stage. I remember when I started college it was like freshman year in high school all over again - I had 4 classes and I carried everything with me. But again just like high school - my bag has thinned out to only the most necessary items. I don't even need to make my laptop to school anymore because I've got my iPad!

October 2014 Favorites!

October Favorites

This month I haven't really been trying anything that new makeup wise, but I did pick up a few things for my Halloween costume. These are the things I picked up for Halloween plus a few other things I've been really liking this month.

Please excuse the terrible lighting, time change is killing me.

Nyx Cosmetics Simply Vamp Lip Cream in Aphrodisiac.

P.S. The name of this lip cream is spelled wrong on their website, they call it Ahrodisiac.

I picked this up to wear with my Halloween costume, and honestly I find it transitioning nicely into my Fall wardrobe as well. I went away this past weekend for my cousins wedding (which you will get a full post about so don't fret) and took this along with me for the more informal nights. I find it to almost be a shade of brown on me, but I honestly like it. I don't know, transitioning to Fall is hard when you live in sunny south FL. Its a seriously creamy lip color, has lots of pigmentation, and has an average staying power. Like every lipstick it comes off on everything, but at some point you come to expect it so just tote it around with you like I do.

Ulta Color Pure Eyeshadow in 3 different Shades: Mesa, Olive, and Riveria.
This was, once again originally purchased as a piece of my Halloween costume (and they were on sale like 3 for $9 when they are usually $10 each!). These are loose powder eyeshadows, and can get messy. But the pigmentation they give is totally worth it! Olive is (you guessed it) an olive green, Riveria can best be described as a bronzey rust color, and Mesa is a light peachy-gold. For Halloween I used the Olive color all over my lid, worked Riveria into my crease, and then used Mesa to top it all off and highlight/etc. This was a dramatic and definitely not and everyday look, but I find myself reaching for just the Mesa color for a fresh daytime look. Thats not too heavy but makes me look awake and like I might actually be able to function for the day.

Apple Wave Hoax!

I never do these because I feel like they never get read, but I enjoy them!

Lets talk about this wonderful hoax that has many people... well... steaming.

Please note: This is a HOAX. DO NOT DO IT. (read below)

Weight Loss Goals~!

Weight Loss & What I'm doing to get healthy

Post 2 of 3

Today I'm gonna chat about my weight loss goals.

And show embarrassing pictures of me staring down at the scale in disappointment.

Goals:

Short term: My only goal is to lose 20lbs before my cousins wedding in the beginning of November. I'm in the wedding party and I'm terrified I'm going to be the chunky one in the group. I mean I probably still will be but at least I'll be 20 lbs lighter. AND, being 20 lbs lighter puts me at 170lbs. Which for me is a great first goal.

Long term: I'd love to get back down to less than 160lbs. Putting me at 150-159lbs. This is the weight I find most ideal for myself and appropriate for myself to maintain. At this weight I can feel most confident in myself and achieving this goal will feel amazing. I am not tall, and I know that this weight is high for people of my stature, but I am built like a workhorse. I didn't get hit by a car and have the ability to walk away by not being built like a workhorse. I have always been heavier and have a stockier build than other women. So putting myself through hell trying to reach an unattainable goal is doing nothing but torturing myself and lowering my self esteem.

Overall, I would LOVE to be able to wear a bikini again.
I want to be able to be confident enough in my body to walk out in a bikini again. I know everyone has a bikini body by just putting a bikini on their body, but feeling confident about that body under the bikini is a big part of looking sexy in said bikini.

If you don't feel confident, you wont look confident. And confidence is sexy.

BIKINI HERE I COME. I WANT TO PUT YOU ON MAH NEW CONFIDENT SEXY BODY.
Also since when was a size 14 considered plus size and why are all the 'plus-sized' swimsuits awful? I wanna look cute, not like my Grandma. (ps. love ya grams! <3)

Stalk me?

Twitter & Bloglovin & Facebook & Instagram & Tumblr

-Jenn

On the topic of Weight Loss...

Weight Loss & What I'm doing to get healthy

Post 1 of 3:

I'm not necessarily sure if these posts are necessary, but I wanted to share how I'm losing weight to inspire others to find ways that work for them too!

Overall, I just count calories. My limit started out at 1230 a day, and once I lost the first 10lbs the myFitnessPal app dropped it to 1200 a day.

Yes, I keep a copy of it stuck to my monitor. Also, ponies on my desk.

Food Schedule: I haven't really changed too much. I'm more or less just /very/ conscious of what I'm putting in my body now. And I keep the same food schedule almost everyday.

Food Schedule:

Breakfast: ~9AM - 9:30 AM

Snack: ~10:30 AM

Lunch: 12 Noon

Snack: ~2 PM

Dinner: ~6 PM - 7 PM

Dinner always fluctuates based on what time I leave work. And sometimes I eat breakfast at home when I have enough time in the morning. Otherwise, this is the Food Schedule I stick too. 

Typical meals for me are pretty routine, and I'm a creature of habit and have no problem eating the same things and only changing them up a little bit before I get sick of them one way and not the other. I love yogurt and chicken, & I made basic changes from things I would usually eat beef for to chicken or turkey. I also bake a lot of foods now vs. frying them. And have amped up the amount of greens I eat.

If you've got any delicious healthy recipes to share you can comment them below or send them to me via social media: Twitter & Bloglovin & Facebook & Instagram & Tumblr

I'll be posting about this all week long so keep on the lookout!

-Jenn

When is the right time to start a YouTube Channel?

This isn't a normal blog post about when the perfect time to start a YouTube channel is: I'm posing a question to current/future/past youtubers.

When is the right time to start a YouTube Channel?

I'm one of those people who doesn't commit to something unless I know I can do it wholeheartedly and with the intention of keeping it up. I think a few prerequisites questions are necessary to start a channel. And heres my list of "omg what ifs..."

• Proper channel name - should I keep it the same as my blog or change it?
• Should the content be the same as what I post about on the blog, or should it be something related but not the same?
• How often should I vlog vs. how often would people actually want to see updates?
• In a slew of other bloggers & vloggers, is there really a way to stand out? (I mean, besides your personality)
• Should I have stuff prerecorded just in case I fall behind?
• My interests are varied, so is that a good or bad thing? (ex: I love beauty and fashion, but also enjoy videogames and comic books)
• What to record with (iPhone, digital camera) and what editing software is easiest to use?
• Do I honestly have the time to dedicate to this?

I do feel like the blogging community is an accepting one, but these are just some of the questions running through my mind as I try to figure out whats best for me.

I know people say to just "jump right in..." but thats not my personality. I'm an overplanner and I like to have most of my details down before I even start. Not saying I don't have any spontaneity, but I am saying that in the preplanning stages I like to cover my bases.

Anyway, if you will have/have/did have a YouTube channel, let me know in the comments how you approached it. I'd seriously appreciate all the details.

And as always, you can stalk me via social media:

Twitter & Bloglovin & Facebook & Instagram & Tumblr

-Jenn

I'm wearing WHAT...?!

I'M WEARING WHAT...?!

Pants. Yes, pants.

To those of you who know me, you are seriously surprised because I only wear pants every once in a blue moon. Well, apparently a blue moon is tonight because I've got not only JEANS but SKINNY JEANS on.

To be honest I never thought I'd fit in these pants again. But, I do! They are still a bit tight, but wearable nevertheless. They are a darker denim and I've paired them with a colorful top. For my hair I've just done a simple hairstyle and paired it with simple makeup. I find going to work all glammed up to be a bit overkill. All I do all day is stare at code and the only people who notice are my co workers, who are already in shock that I've decided to wear pants. Please ignore my sandals: I had a charlie horse in my calf last night that left my leg aching for the majority of the day. (I actually left the house in my slippers!)

About Me - Contact Info - Hello Wench

About Me & Hello Wench

About Me

Noodle Boodle!

At the time of publishing - I'm a 24 year old engineering student, working almost full time, and enjoying my life. I'm engaged to Chris, & we live together in sunny Florida. I try to enjoy my life as much as I possibly can and I'm a little too addicted to all things nerdy. I love comic books and videogames, but have found to enjoy my feminine side more and more as I've gotten older.
I currently have 1 pet, a cat named Noodle. Hes a little over a year old right now and is very Alpha and very hyper. We're in the process of leash training his crazy self so we can walk off some of the crazy. (While we look crazy walking the cat in the meantime)
I collect anything with skulls and pirates on it. I also collect My Little Pony, particularly G4 Pinkie Pie.
I like all kinds of music, except country. I particularly enjoy hip hop dance music from the early to late 90's.
I studied dance at a studio for 7 years - and then ended up dancing hip hop in high school.

Contact Info

Whether its just to say 'Hi!' or give me a suggestion/haunt my every move you can send me a message through various means of social media:

Twitter & Bloglovin & Facebook & Instagram & Tumblr

(you tumbl at your own risk)

You can also e-mail me at:

xwenchqueen@gmail.com

Simple Disclaimer: All products I write about/use/review are my own opinion and are not influenced from an outside source. If I were to ever receive something I was reviewing I would write as such or include an asterisk (*) next to the product. I will never write a positive review on something that I do not enjoy/recommend.
That being said, I am PR friendly & willing to work with brands & companies - so feel free to send me an e-mail.

Hello Wench

Chris & I - New Years 2014

Lets start with the name: To be honest I love pirates, and my gamertag on xbox live is WenchQueen. Overall, the backstory is a fun night with my friends and an old purse. Not everyone needs to understand it, but the people who were there do. I do understand the negative connotation to it but it reminds me of some great times. Which is why I chose to turn something that archaically means something so negative into something that makes me smile.

Content: I want to write about what makes me feel content, happy, and maybe even confident. And document my life in the meantime. So that when I look back, I can see how much I've grown and what I've learned in the process.

-Jenn

P.S. Dont ever stop learning! Whether it be in school or from life experiences! Always push yourself out of your comfort zone, you'll grow so much as a person that way.

Happy 4th of July!

This weekend is one of those weekend where I just enjoy myself. I sit on the beach/poolside and soak up the sun. (while wearing the proper sunscreen, the weekend before last I seriously regretted not vigorously reapplying sunscreen).

One of the hardest things for me to do is to let go and to let my brain slow down. But where I am this weekend (Naples, FL) always has the uncanny ability to immediately make me slow down and relax. Its nice to be able to get my life off of moving, my fiance, work, school, and just life in general. Plus I get to spend some quality time with my Brother and my Grandparents that I have come to cherish.

I hope you spend the weekend enjoying yourself. I'll post pictures on Monday.


-Jenn

Moving Pains

Recently, I've decided to try and spread my wings.

Honestly, I had been almost completely dependent on my Grandparents for everything. They wanted me to focus on school, and nothing else. So I did, I didn't work, and I attempted to get good grades. In this past year, however, I've gotten a (shaky) footing and have been making a steady income. With my entire IT department (okay, there was only 3 of us) resigning and moving onto bigger and better things, my boss offered me job security. Which affords me the opportunity to be able to move closer to work and school. My family is happy for me, but I know I'll be missed. And truthfully, I'm starting to feel like the first time I moved into the dorm again.

At least this time though, I'm moving with people who I know will love and support me: My fiance and my absolute best friend.

My Drugstore Beauty Essentials

My Drugstore Beauty Essentials

Now granted, I am not perfect and neither is my makeup, but these are some of the things I have really liked and were easy to find and use!

• Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation
• Currently in the color classic beige (I'm tan haha) - particularly love this foundation because it has the ability to be layered and built up without getting too cakey. And its $4.99!
• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation
• I got this foundation before I went to the beach 2 weekends in a row, in color Nude Beige. It is a great full coverage foundation but a little more expensive at $12.99.
• Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
• No seriously, this applies your foundation amazingly and was cheap from Ulta at only $5.99!
• Covergirl TruBlend Pressed Powder
• Translucent Light 2 (I think) and it was $8.99.
• Covergirl Cheekers Blush
• Natural Rose (I think, the sticker has been long gone on it) - $4.99
• Palladio Herbal Liquid Eyeliner
• In shimmer black - I desperately needed liquid liner and I picked this up from a Sally Beauty near me for $6.50.
• Eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm
• Almost all lipsticks try my lips out, so I always put a balm on underneath any kind of lipstick/stain! I got it in the flavor Strawberry Sorbet for $3.00 at Target. But I had a coupon for $5 so I technically got it for free!
• Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain
• Personal fav: Candied Coral from Walgreens for $2.99! (I bought one for my Mom too, they were buy one get one half off!)

These are just the things I use in my everyday makeup routine, and don't include the moisturizer or the makeup remover I use!

-Jenn

Obligatory Introductory Post

Hello! My name is   (name)   and I'm a   (age)  -something   (occupation)   currently located in   (location)  .

Just kidding!

I think maybe introductory posts are the most complicated to write. So while my fingers vomit everything that's going on in my head, hopefully I can express to you what I'm passionate about, and what the whole point of this blog is.

Truthfully, I'm a 20-something engineering student (currently working as a engineer) with a broad variety of interests. I find myself in a peculiar situation because I am a nerd at heart. I mean, I didn't decide to become an engineer because I hated math and science. But what is peculiar is that I do still enjoy being feminine, and I'm working against multiple stereotypes. I will blog about anything I find interesting: math, science, art, beauty, fashion, life, my (unmanageable) hair, video games, comics, movies, and love.

I want to spread the knowledge that you can be smart, and beautiful.

I want women to love themselves.

and I want you to join me on this journey.

-Jenn