roses

roses

Monday, May 23, 2016

Current Monday Obsessions: Snakeskin Boots



Time for some Monday Obsessions:



This week I am totally smitten with SNAKESKIN. I was recently perusing Asos Curve, when I spotted some really super adorable and kick-ass snakeskin boots. 
Find them here:





 Now, these are a wide fit, so if you don't have wide feet maybe think twice, there are no half sizes available for these. 
Anyways: I was walking across campus just last week and saw a totes amazing woman rocking a pair of similar boots, along with the on trend lighter colored denim, a white t-shirt and a black jacket. Suffice it to say, the girl looked good. So, naturally I am pretty keen and jumping on the bandwagon and purchasing these awesome boots. They are roughly $81, but with a 10% discount (if you have a valid student email address) these just might be worth the dough.
I also found a pretty charming pair on Nasty Gal as well in a grey/white tone:


These are a bit more pricey, shop them here.
Naturally, I shared some great street style inspo. I will post an outfit post when I woman-up and buy the damn boots (still hesitant cuz paydays a ways off!!) but I will probably be rocking mine with some light blue jeans, or overalls, or this awesome white victorian style dress I recently bought. Which lead me to next weeks Monday Obsessions: Victorian inspired pieces. I'll share some of my favorite Instagramer's style as well as some great versatile pieces for your wardrobe.
Till then loves, stay golden.
-R














Friday, May 13, 2016

The Perks of Being Unemployed



I've been unemployed for over a year now. I worked in retail for almost three years and lost my job right before Christmas in 2014. 
I lost my job because an accident occurred and my manager was sent to the hospital and was recovering in physical therapy. A new manager from a different store took her place and fired a lot of people, like me, who had worked there for a long time and were doing there jobs well. She was making room for employees from her store to come and work. 
Yeah, I know, total bullshit. 
I looked for a job for a few months, but otherwise was surviving quite well. I had money saved up and lived off of that for nearly an entire year.
I even went on vacation in Europe with the money I had saved.


Pasta in Italy
Which is why I was kind of happy I wasn't working,
I was going to school full time, but had summers and winters off, as well as weekends, to do anything I wanted.


I know how it can be really tough to be without a job. I know it can feel even worse after you've gotten your degree, and that's an emotion I hope to never come to realize. There is an opportunity, though, for you to seize the time you now have to get some shit done.
I am a writer. I've been writing poetry since grade school and even dabble in short stories and screenplays. I also love photography.
Sure, I was really upset when I lost my job, I may even had cried. But I bounced back. I went to winter classes so that I was staying busy, I planned my trip to Europe and I wrote as often as I could.

I was lucky enough to have money to live off of, and that's the most important thing: to make sure you have money for the important bills.
-Rent
-Phone
-Car
-Insurance/Medical
Everything else can go by the wayside. Netflix? Borrow a friend's password, and you're gonna wanna do this, you're unemployed and Netflix is now a very big part of your life now (as if it wasn't before pft!)
Forget Hulu and any other magazine or t.v. show/film subscription you may have. It might even be worth it to nix your gym membership. You now have time to go hiking, to swim in the ocean, to walk everywhere and exercise in the comfort of your own home, in your sports bra and undies while blasting Beyonce, or the Wicked soundtrack, whatever floats your boat.

Rome, Italy
And travel. Travel as often as you can. It might take some of your extra cash, but it's more than worth it. Rent out your home on AirBnb to make up the difference of what you're spending, especially if you live in a desirable destination like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Portland or Austin.
I did a lot of driving while unemployed.

Baja, Mexico

 Road trips are my favorite part of having a completely wide open weekend. I also love driving and have a car with fucking amazing gas mileage. I drove up to San Pedro to go to a Morrissey concert last summer and stayed a day or two just exploring the city and the infamous haunted Winchester Mansion.



There is an emotional devastation that comes with being unemployed though. For me, that was the worst of it. I had a friend who worked for her uncle and was making pretty decent money. I had another friend who was working for a fashion up-start in San Francisco making pretty damn good money. But I also had another friend who was unemployed like me.  Or, actually, he worked in retail, which is practically the same thing. Think about it.
We had a lot of time to do anything we wanted and we developed a pretty awesome ritual that to this day is what we prefer to clubbing any day of the week:
-wine/craft beer
-warn bed
-Twilight Zone

It is really hard to look around you and see people living what is conventionally viewed as "successful" and you feel a bit like a slacker because you are not generating an income. According to Trading Economics the unemployment rate raised by .1% in just a month this year, and is expected to rise even more by 2017. Don't feel that you're the only one out there without a job, but perhaps you could be the one who takes this as an opportunity to do something amazing. Move to a foreign country, devote all of your time to honing in on a talent or hobby, turn that hobby or talent into your career, volunteer at hospitals, animal shelters and homeless shelters. Network your ass off. Consider moving to a different city or state that can accommodate your occupational needs.
Find something to be passionate about and pursue it with all of your heart.
in Logrono, Spain where my ancestors are from
If you are in your 20's, trust me, your're not the only one who is still figuring shit out, and working towards something better. Just remember, if things go "according to plan" or "as they should", you're not going to have an opportunity like this again. You get to be the ultimate slacker and "fins yourself" or un-find yourself. Disconnect from social media for a bit, try meditating or yoga, or just going to cool long walks around the park.

Find Body Confidence in Barcelona (where even 80 y/o's wear bikinis)

Drinking in the tub? Why the hell not.
Take this time to discover something new about yourself, in the end everything will work out.
You do have to have a plan though. Be the ultimate slacker, but one who still has an ultimate goal.
Whether that be to find a job, or pursue a passion, what-the-fuck-ever it may be.
Try interning at a cool company you like.
HAVE A PLAN.
Budget your money to see how long you can survive without a paycheck.
And for those of you who just quit a job to pursue something greater: Congrats Bitchez!!

Just remember this, and this is something I still struggle with every dam day, You Are Worthy.
Don't think that just because your lifestyle does not fit society's standards that you are less deserving of happiness than anyone else. You are loved.
-R
Treating my baby sis to her first concert ever !!







































Sunday, April 24, 2016

Baby Bump it Up: Maternity Style Inspo...cuz whythefucknot?!



One thing that I thought had gone very un-talked about here on Big Dreams is maternity stuff.
This has mostly to do with the fact that I am not, nor do I ever plan on becoming pregnant.
I never really wanted kids, and even if I did, now is clearly not a time to be even thinking about it. I'm still in college and yeah.
But being a female human with hormones, I tend to get the baby-bug every now and again, and thought about maternity style recently. 
From what I can tell, there's no real secret to looking especially awesome while with child, from what I hear it's incredibly uncomfortable, so the main thing, I suppose is to adjust to that and dress accordingly.
Mind you a lot of the street style looks that I liked and posted below feature women in heels, as well as the looks I got from Asos, which is where you can purchase all of the items posted from their maternity section. 
Everyone, or just about, has seen the swollen feet of  a certain sex-tape person turned rap stars wife's  squeezed into a pair of no doubt designer heels.
Yeah, she looks dumb, I'm sure no one would blame her for wearing flats.
But yeah, to each their own.
Honestly, I barely wear heels now, and even less so since my ankle injury; I tried some heels on recently and just wearing them made me ankle swell and ache :(
Regardless, I hope you enjoy. I'm sorry I have no advice about maternity style, other than be comfy.
I also included some great vintage maternity wear; if you wear vintage or even repro like I do, than you'll appreciate these. 
Also! Will do another post just on vintage/retro maternity wear, Pinup Girl Clothing has a whole section dedicated to expecting women, so that'll be hitting the blog soon!
I hope you enjoy!
-R



So Up Close and Stylish always has great style, and her own blog!


A tailored jacket can really make simple leggings and a t-shirt all he more chic

so yeah, I adore Ann Hathaway, and her boots/coat combo are adorable!









I also adore Keira, and although this is technically formal, she was spotted wearing this in flats with a pony tail while out and about casually too!





From Asos










Some truly vintage maternity wear for ya!





































































The majority of the stuff featured from the Asos Maternity section is just stuff that I liked.
It's mostly fairly simple styles and some formal wear, which I would imagine is tough to find when you are preggers. Most styles are also more inter weather friendly, and pretty much all of it is on online right now. 
You can purchase all of these items and more at Asos.com 






















































































































































































































































































































































So YASS I adore Mia Farrow's pregnant style in Rosemary's Baby, it's all I aspire to! Including the pixie cut.