All that Glitters

Just because it is gloomy out side does not mean we all have to be dull and boring! Here are some things to make your day a little bit more sparkly and a lot more happier :) (Images via tumblr and google) The shoes are from ModCloth.

http://www.beautylish.com/a/vpqvs/diy-glitter-tattoos

One Day of Peace.

Here at Phila U, we strive to be a safe zone for all races, genders, sexual preferences and any other differences. We are all about acceptance and real world experience. We love learning from other people who are much different than us because, in the long run, that is what broadens our horizons and teaches us about ourselves. My favorite quotes. It is from Youssou N'Dour, a musician and philosppher.

“People need to see that, far from being an obstacle, the world's diversity of languages, religions and traditions is a great treasure, affording us precious opportunities to recognize ourselves in others.” 
― Youssou N'Dour


We have a display of "One Day of Peace" photos and posters hanging up at one of our cafes, the Kanbar Campus Space. I hope you enjoy the pics! More to come.

 This one is promoting equality and acceptance between different races and cultures. I love this one because I myself and half German and half Puerto Rican and most of my from are in some way black and Hispanic. 

This might be my fave because I must admit...i am a HUGE nerd! Be nice to us, we make the world go 'round :)

 When I saw this poster, I was kinda shocked! Staring at all 364 of the grenades really brings into prospective how violent and corrupted the world is and how much we are in need of some peace and love. I almost teared up! There should be less bombs and more hugs!

 Explanatory. I think my next tattoo is going to be  a dove just for this reason.

The issue of domestic abuse in the United States is ignored and needs to be publicized. Change needs to be made! If you or someone you know is being abused by ANYONE! this means parents, family members, bullies, coaches, boyfriends or girlfriends, call 1-866-723-3014 and visit dosomething.org today.

Here is another display of domestic abuse. It is mor popular than we know and it's time to raise awareness. No woman deserves to be abused!

winter outfit ideas!!!

Wondering how to mix in your fall and summer pieces with the new winter attire? Have a band tee or floral skirt?  Put them together with some tights and combat boots, like so:     

Or maybe tube socks and Converses of that's more your style! Like so: 

The skirt is $60.00 from Modcloth and the band tees are from nymag.com.

What about the cropped t's? pair them with maxi skirts and boots (or heels for our power girls!) 

Here are some examples:

Slip on a loose cardigan to accentuate the length of the maxi skirt ( we don't wanna reveal too much skin, right girls?) You could always tie the bottom of the skirt in a knot to show off those shoes ;) Want more styling tips? Email me or follow me on twitter at vanessacaulford. 

Your body is your temple.

Are you sick of the norms that society presses on you? "Don't get a tattoo that shows!" "Why are you covering up your body with tattoos and piercings?" I believe that our bodies are our temples. We should adorn them, advertise them with the messages that we choose to relay, and tell our most relentless stories! These are some quotes I have come to live by:

Our bodies are apt to be our autobiographies.  -Frank Gillette


You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. -C.S. Lewis

Every man is the builder of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own, nor can he get off by hammering marble instead. We are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood and bones. -Henry David Thoreau

If you guys have any extraordinary piercings, tattoos, or other ways you express yourself using your body, send them to me at solarflare1993@aol.com and I will show them in future ''Your body is your temple" posts :)

It's a Monday....

Hopefully this inspires you to start your day off creatively and productively :) Off to class I go!
photos found on tumblr.com

My New Inspiration

Alexie Hay has shot Victoria Secret bombshells Demi Kerr, Chanel Iman, Adriana Lima and Doutzen Kroes for the Elle US October 2011 cover,  the ethereal Michelle Williams for the Elle UK December 2011 cover, and the beautiful Elsa Hosk, Chrishell Stubbs, and Tallulah Morton for the Free People's "Through the Decades" catalog! Make sure to check  it out at freepeople.com. And while you're there, drool over the limited edition dresses; they're magical and perfect for the holidays!

"Modern Girls – After taking a look at 20′s, 50′s and 70′s chapters of Free People’s “Through the Decades” book, we reveal the final chapter–modern day–from the November catalogue. Photographed by Alexei Hay, models Elsa Hosk, Chrishell Stubbs and Tallulah Morton sport modern day attire with hints of vintage flair. Curly hair by Frankie Foye and soft pastel lips by Deanna Hagan give the trio a youthfully fresh look."
fashiongonerogue.com

So I Went Shopping.... :)

I tried to replicate the whole Madewell look but for a lot cheaper and this is what I got: The sweater ($29.95),  plaid shirt ($24.95), and scarf ($12.95) are from H&M (the boys sections!), the jeans are forever 21 ($10 or $20) and the heels ($39.99) are from Eternity Fashions, a quaint shoe and dress boutique that has all the latest styles for wayyy less than what you see online, like the amazing Jeffrey Campbell shoes that everyone is obsessing over right now. I bought some other amazing finds as well.
I'm not much of a label girl and considering that I'm a freshman at Philadelphia University, I'm on a strict Ramen Noodle diet! I always look to designers like Free People, Madewell and Marc Jacobs and then find the looks for less ;)

Oh yeah, I'm saving up for a REAL camera so excuse the webcam photos!

Goodnight, Nostalgia

"As usual, I was thinking about the moments of the past,
letting my memory rush over them like water
rushing over the stones on the bottom of a stream.
I was even thinking a little about the future, that place
where people are doing a dance we cannot imagine,
a dance whose name we can only guess."

Nostalgia by Billy Collins