MIXING METALS IN JEWELRY

I have been plagued by preferring gold jewelry over silver. I use this word due to the fact that the majority of my gold pieces are gold plated, not real gold, and eventually tarnish. I also have silver pieces which don’t tarnish and have to be replaced like gold plated. Because of this I’ve been introduced to “mixing metals.” When I received my first piece of nice, silver jewelry after only wearing gold, I immediately asked my mom if it was okay to wear with my gold jewelry since people usually stick with one color. She said yes and is definitely right.

I love how my gold and silver rings that I always wear look paired together. I also love individual jewelry pieces that have mixed metals, like this RegalRose necklace from ASOS and Honey Bee Ring from Etsy. The mixed metals of these items look so good and intentional– they blend well.

RegalRose Exclusive Hand of Glory Necklace
Honey Bee Ring

I think it’s important when mixing metals, and frankly with jewelry in general, to make sure they’re all the same vibe. Your look should be cohesive. Below are some chain bracelets from Free People. While they’re each a different style of chain and metal, they’re still chains, so there’s the cohesion. Any of these paired together would look super cute.

Free People Delicate Chain Bracelet

If you’re a little nervous to mix metals, it’s more lowkey to mix metals of the same style. Below are a set of five stacking rings by Madewell as well as Set & Stones rings both from Nordstrom. The concept of mixed metal stacked rings is way more common than wearing a gold necklace and a silver bracelet, for instance, so if you choose this route I promise no one will lose sleep over it.

Madewell Filament Set of 5 Stacking Rings
Set & Stones Nolan Ring

I hope to see more mixed metal in the future because it really is nonsensical to stick to one jewelry material forever. Whoever gave us the idea you had to was wrong, just like the person who told us you can’t wear white after Labor Day. Fashion has no rules. YOLO.

I DID THE REVERSE TIE DYE TREND

I love sweatpants, I do. And since being home during quarantine, I’ve seen multiple TikToks of people DIYing the reverse tie dye trend with sweatpants, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and more. Considering I have an abundance of free time, I decided to take a shot at it and really like how they turned out. Not to mention I’ve seen brands sell reverse tie dye sweatpants for $50, but this cost me under $20 so boom.

Step 1

I got my sweatpants from Amazon and the bathroom bleach + cleaner from Target, but any brand works. First, I got the pants wet in the shower and squeezed the water out. After this, with the help of my loving mother, folded the pants (accordion fold) all the way up, as shown in the gif. My mom and I (moreso my mom) are perfectionists so this step took us longer than it should’ve. I don’t think it’s necessary for the folds to be identical on each pant leg, but we tried to make it as even as possible.

Step 2

Next, I rubber banded the pants and sprayed them with the bathroom cleaner + bleach. I sprayed each “section” created by the rubber bands a few times to make sure it was covered with the bleach, then got the back side and gave the sides a few sprays.

When I got to this part I did accordion folds the whole upper width of the pant, since it’s not separate for each leg.
Step 3

After applying the bleach to the pants I let them sit in the shower for 25 min. Once my timer went off I removed the rubber bands and threw them in the washing machine with detergent for a normal wash. The last step is to put your pants through the dryer and you’re done!

Here are some photos of how mine turned out:

VOLUNTOURISM: HOW MISSION TRIPS CAN DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD

This post is not about faith and that isn’t a topic I want to discuss on here, but being that Christian-led mission trips are the subject of voluntourism, it will come into the picture. I am a Christian and was raised in the Catholic community. I even have a small memory of going on a church-led mission trip to an orphanage in Mexico when I was a child. I respect all beliefs and don’t think who you pray to, or don’t pray to, is any of my business nor does it matter. The reason I begrudgingly say this is so it’s clear this is not sh*t post against Christians; I am one, and religion has nothing to do with the following message.

Voluntourism is a term used to describe when people travel overseas to volunteer. For example, mission trips. People pay thousands of dollars to travel and lodge at overseas country, stay for a week or two to complete a “project,” like build a church and complete evangelistic work, and then leave. It’s a billion dollar industry. I have questioned the intentions of people on these trips, but I can’t give you an answer. I assume and like to think the majority of these missionaries have good, pure intentions, but the concept of it all begs the question of how much good is really being done.

One of the most common mission trip “projects” is construction. The part about this that’s wrong to me is there are local people and professionals who are willing and able to do the job. Jobs could have been created for the community by the construction of a “project.” But alas, missionaries fly thousands of miles and spend thousands of dollars to do a job that could’ve been completed without their presence. Not to mention, constructing a classroom isn’t a job that requires people from another country to fly in, it’s fairly simple. This takes opportunities away from local construction workers and masons who could have benefitted from a few week’s paycheck. Even more twisted is one of the reasons people go overseas to do their “project” is because they believe the country doesn’t have the financial means for it. Missionaries think so much of the peoples’ poverty, yet candidly take jobs away from them.

What would be many times more beneficial is donating money directly to the community. This way they can put the money to use how they please and towards long-term things. After a mission trip group builds that classroom they’re gone. They don’t stay to train teachers or support them with a wage. It is much more beneficial to improve education, which simply building a classroom doesn’t do. The citizens know what their community needs, not a group of people from across the globe who are eager to share this experience to social media.

An amazing article written by Mariette Williams for ZORA details her personal experience with voluntourism as a volunteer and later as a group leader and why she’ll never go on a mission trip again. Williams says, “Mission trips are often well intended, but poverty is a complex political and economic problem that won’t be solved with a weeklong trip.” That right there, is exactly what I’ve been trying to say this whole time. There is nothing a mission trip can do to solve a country’s poverty, and especially not by borderline modern-day colonialism.

The most upsetting aspect of voluntourism is the exploitation of children. An article by the Huffington Post talks about Haitian parents who were told and paid to send their children to orphanages where they could receive education and health care. The parents sent their children to the orphanages, manipulated into thinking it would lead to better opportunities, but their children were exploited. Images of them were posted to social media soliciting for funds. When the children returned they said they were constantly hungry in the orphanage, made to do heavy labor, beaten by the “director,” and never went to school. Plus, many of the children were sick from drinking polluted water and malnutrition. It’s also important to address the evangelistic work of mission trips. We’ll use Haiti as an example. According to a 2018 religious demography report of Haiti, 55% of the population is Catholic, 29% Protestant, 15% Baptist, and there are other present denominations of Christianity. These people know Jesus and I’m sure they have the tools to explore Christianity if not.

In conclusion, I do not support mission trips like the ones I’ve discussed. I like to think there are other kinds that have long-term goals for the visiting area, but I believe a lot of people (clearly not everyone, don’t come for me) use mission trips to convince themselves they’re good Christians and living like Jesus did when they’re actually being self-serving and ignorant. If you truly wish to help, donate to humanitarian organizations. Here are some places you can do that: Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), World Food Program USA (WFP).

SUSTAINABLE FASHION BRANDS

I have a post from a while back about fast fashion– explaining what it is, its impact, the whole shabang. I listed a few popular retailers that fall under the wing of fast fashion, but wanted to save a separate blog post for their foil: sustainable brands. These brands work to create quality clothing pieces that will last and are working to make a difference. Unfortunately, no clothing is “good” for the environment– it all has some negative impact, but sustainable companies have a smaller negative impact. Key word: smaller. Below you can see sustainable brands I have or would shop at. There are obviously lots of other options, but these are my favorite style-wise. Let’s love our planet better.

Levi’s

You have no idea how happy I was to learn this company is sustainable. Levi 501s are a staple and I highly encourage every girl and gay to own a pair of these. BTdubs if you have thinner legs like I do, the 501 Skinny style fits like a regular 501 should. It takes over 2,000 gallons of water to make a single pair of jeans, but Levi’s removes water wherever it is possible. Considering this brand is known for their denim and has been for decades, what they’re doing makes a huge impact.

H&M Conscious

Every product from the H&M Conscious line has something about it that lessens its environmental impact. Plus, styles start at $10 which is great for people who struggle with big price tags. This line includes a large range of products with loungewear, intimates, jeans, tees, and nice dresses and tops.

Reformation

This brand is sooooo cute. They have trendy and simple pieces, tons of jean styles, and even wedding outfits like bridal dresses and bridesmaids dresses. As most sustainable brands, they’re really passionate about the topic and have a whole About page on it. This brand is dope and does a great job of being trendy and sustainable.

For Love & Lemons

This is another brand I’m absolutely obsessed with. For Love & Lemons’ clothes are trendy and feminine, but also unique. If I had to pick one store to shop at for the rest of my life, this would be it. It is a little pricier like Reformation, but their clothes will last you longer than a fast fashion brand, which is the whole point here! Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular.

New Balance

In addition to the environment experiencing the impacts of fast fashion are the people who make the clothes in very poor conditions and for a low, unfair wage. New Balance seeks to ensure their employees are treated with respect and given a fair wage. They own footwear manufacturers in the UK and US, which is significant because companies will outsource laborers and underpay them. Side note: I’ve been loving the 990 style recently. It definitely had a frat boy moment circa 2015, but I think we need to reclaim it. Love a good chunky sneaker.

Rent the Runway

I’m very much on the wave that is renting clothes, especially formal dresses. Do you know how hard it is to rewear a formal dress? Answer: it’s very hard. Because you look poppin’ in a formal dress you’ll take lots of pictures, share them to social media, and you don’t want to rewear it for second cousin twice removed Tammy’s wedding the next week! And formal dresses are good at breaking the bank. Rent the Runway has super cute formal dresses, but also regular pieces like tops and bottoms. Plus, you can get an extra try-on size for free which is clutch.

Patagonia

My Patagonia fleece jacket and is a go-to in the winter because it does the best at keeping me warm. In addition to creating sustainable, quality products, Patagonia is involved in climate change activism. The brand has a bunch of awesome stories on their Activism page that show the work they’re doing to make a difference and help the earth.

Athleta

Don’t worry, I would never leave you athleisure girls hanging. Athleta claims 60% of its products are made with sustainable fibers and 4% made with water-saving techniques. The brand is also an advocate for feminism and according to their website, 3,212 and counting women have been empowered through P.A.C.E. and Fair Trade. P.A.C.E. stands for Personal Advancement & Career Enhancement, a program that works to empower the women who make their product. And their stuff is cute!

THE SKINCARE BRAND WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT: THE ORDINARY

Ladies, gentlemen, non-binary people, etc., skincare is something we should all invest in because we all have skin and it’s important to take care of it. I just turned 20, so I know my skin is at its prime, but it won’t last forever and before I know it I’ll start aging because that’s how the world works.

If you need to hear this from a doctor here it is, “How well you cared for your skin from a young age and, more importantly, how much you limited sun exposure before age 20 can make a difference in wrinkle formation. But there are still certain inevitable changes that are going to take place.” This is a quote from dermatologist David Goldberg, MD, director of Skin, Laser and Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey. The gist of that is we need to give a sh*t about our skin unless we want to look like wrinkly old raisins and to protect our skin from harm.

But skincare is so expensive?! False. This is not always the case. Alas, my solution for you: The Ordinary. The Ordinary is an awesome brand from DECIEM that sells affordable and good quality skincare products. They don’t tests on animals or pay people to, and are free of harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, and more. You can find this information on their About page!

I was first introduced to this brand after watching Hyram, a skincare specialist on YouTube. I knew if I was going to spend money on skincare I wanted to make sure the products I’d be using aren’t harmful to the environment or my skin and being counterproductive. I think you’d be surprised how skincare brands that claim to be good for your skin are exaggerating the “claimed” effects and manipulate their customers to believe them with crafty wording and distracting, aesthetic packaging. That’s a whole other issue, so back to the point. In one of his videos, Hyram explains The Ordinary is so affordable because the brand doesn’t spend money on advertising. This made a lot of sense to me because I had never heard of the brand or seen any sort of ad prior to the video.

After watching The Truth About The Ordinary video and a few other by Hyram, I ultimately purchased the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum, and AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. The product names are intimidating, but trust me on this. I bought my items online from Sephora, but Ulta also carries The Ordinary and for these three items, I only paid $18.90. Insanity, I know. As for my personal review, I love these items. I use the serum every morning and night, the peeling solution once a week as recommended, and the moisturizer at night since I use one with SPF (important!) during the day. Plus, a little goes a long way so I know these products with last me a while. If you’re wondering, I have fair, combination skin, and little to no acne. My skin isn’t uber sensitive, but I definitely can’t slap on anything and it’s fine. I also tend to break out around that time of the month and see this stuff working as its progressively gotten better. My skin also just looks better now that I’m giving a sh*t about it. I don’t think I ever completely neglected it, but I was doing the bare minimum for sure.

I think this brand is so cool and I really hope this post gives it some more hype because it deserves it. Go check out The Ordinary and watch Hyram on YouTube! Choose fair and performative products, whether its The Ordinary or not.

USE THIS TIME TO CREATE HEALTHY HABITS

It takes 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic. And according to a study by health psychology researcher at University College in London, Phillippa Lally, it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 for a new habit to be formed, but this is all dependent on the person, their behavior, and circumstances.

The city I’m from ordered stay at home exactly a month ago, so I’ve been back home with my family away from my college town for what feels like forever. I’m not going to get into how COVID-19 has affected me and taken away opportunities and travel plans I had because it will seriously send me spiraling into a pit of despair and tears and that is not on today’s schedule. Instead, here’s how I think now is the perfect time to create healthy habits (because there isn’t else anything to do).

The “18 to 254” days part of the fact is not very reassuring or motivating, but the truth is that creating a habit, whatever it is, isn’t easy. However, I think we’ve been cut some slack because pre-COVID we were much busier people.

I know the first week or so of a new habit is the easiest because you’re feelin’ yourself, feeling motivated, but it gets harder as time goes now. However, now that we’re stuck at home, time management isn’t as much of an issue. Plus, I personally feel a lot more guilty about not doing anything physical after sitting around all day. Even if your healthy habit doesn’t have to do with working out, there is a good chance time management plays some sort of role in this habit or why you haven’t made it one yet. You can use this time to focus on it!

My hope is whenever this is all over (I pray it’s soon, stay home mofos!) working out has been made a habit or I can continue to work towards it making one. I know everyone is different and the ultimate test will be life after COVID-19, but it feels good to know I’ve taken this extra time to do some good for myself, and I encourage everyone to do the same. It makes all this uncertainty feel a little bit more bearable and makes me happy to know I’m working towards a goal I’ve always wanted to accomplish.

Hate you rona, you’re the worst xx

TANGERINE: THE COLOR OF SUMMER 2020

I’m calling it, I think tangerine is going to be this summer’s color. I could be completely wrong, but this is what I’m thinking. If I am wrong, it’s a super cute color regardless and I’d like to see more of it! I used to really dislike the color orange in general because I thought it was just icky and bright, but there are certain hues and tones like tangerine that I think are fun and cute. I like peach too and think it’ll be a trend, which is a softer orange. So, here are some examples of this summer’s color. Manifesting it right there.

Free People Convertible Skirt
VG Rough Rider Top
Lovers + Friends Eden Top
Lovers + Friends Bayside Skort
Princess Polly Ream Midi Skirt

FAST FASHION EXPLAINED

What is Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion is a term used to describe cheap, trendy clothes that take ideas from celebrity culture or runways and turn them into garments in stores at rapid speed. Plus, it’s horrible for the environment. Horrible. However, things weren’t always like this. People didn’t used to constantly shop like we do now; it used to be an occasional event that happened as needed. Outgrew your winter coat? Time for a new one. Clothing isn’t made to last like it used to be. Then, about 20 years ago, the shopping culture we have now made it’s introduction.

Its Impact

One of the impacts of fast fashion is retailers using cheap, toxic textiles dyes. This is such a huge issue because fast fashion is one of the major polluting industries. Its distribution of crops, fibers, and garments contribute to environmental pollution as well as soil, air, and water pollution. The textile industry is the second greatest polluter of local freshwater in the entire world. Polyester, a material we all recognize from the tags in our clothes, is derived from fossil fuels. This contributes to global warming and can shed microfibers that can add to the increasing levels of plastic into our oceans when put into a wash. Cotton, another material we all know, requires loads of water and pesticides in developing countries.

Unsurprisingly, fast fashion is harmful to humans– the people who work to get these garments out so quickly. They work in dangerous environments and for low wages. Not only is it hurting the people who make the clothes, but also the farmers who may be working with toxic chemicals that can have long-lasting physical and mental effects. The water pollution affects ocean life, which is already facing a thousand other threats.

The Faces of Fast Fashion

Sadly, there are too many fast fashion brands to list, so here are some of the big names we all recognize: Victoria’s Secret, Urban Outfitters, Topshop, GUESS, Gap, Boohoo, Missguided, H&M, Zara, Adidas, ASOS, Shein, Nasty Gal, and many more.

What You can Do

I’ve very recently learned about fast fashion, and writing this post helped me fully understand its extensive impact on the planet. I was devastated to see so many stores I’ve shopped from on the list above, and while I understand I cannot singlehandedly end the plight that is fast fashion, there are steps I can take to help, and so can you.

Thrift! Shopping at thrift/second-hand stores is so fun to do with friends and it’s a great way to find cute, discounted clothes. As a college student myself, I’m always balling on a budget so I love going thrifting with my friends and a lot of my favorite pieces are from stores like Buffalo Exchange and Poshmark. Plus, if you’re going to buy animal product clothing, which is a whole other issue, thrifting is the only appropriate way to do it. It’s already been bought and sold, so this way you aren’t contributing to the killing of animals for clothing.

Buy better quality clothes. By doing this you don’t have to shop as much, and as a result you’re less supportive of fast fashion. Get a winter coat that will last longer than a single season and you won’t have to spend money on another one so soon. It’s a win-win situation!

Share clothes with friends. Sharing clothes with friends is so fun because it’s an intimate thing (I realize this sounds so weird, but to me it means you trust your friend enough to share something that’s your own with them and that’s senti). Plus, it’s like renting a new outfit! Speaking of renting, that’s something else you can do. Rent the Runway is an awesome company. I’ve used them before to rent a formal dress for an event and highly recommend. They have cute options and you won’t end up spending as much money in comparison to buying something.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, I am very new to the concept of fast fashion. I’m not claiming to be an expert on the topic and definitely not claiming to have avoided all fast fashion brands because I certainly have not- I have a post about my favorite trends from this month and mentioned a pair of shoes I just bought from Urban Outfitters so yeah… there’s proof. I will, however, be more mindful in the future and do my best to shop from brands that are not killing the earth. I love our planet and have made life choices in the past to support the environment, so this is just another one.

I hope this has taught you something about the dangers of fast fashion and the huge impact it has on the earth and us as humans. I learned a great deal more by researching for and writing this post.

I found a good amount of my information for this post from this site, https://goodonyou.eco/ which is a world-leading source of trusted brand ratings, articles and guides on ethical and sustainable fashion. It has a lot of useful information in addition to what I included in here and I recommend looking through their site to learn more about fast fashion and sustainability.

Take care of our earth!

M

MY FAVORITE SHOWS: THE ULTIMATE LIST

I’ve watched a lot of shows… like, a lot. I’ve had a show recommendations list on my Notes app for as long as I can remember, so I thought I’d share some of them on here along with a leetle summary.

COMEDY

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

This show focuses on a Brooklyn police precinct and its employees, so detectives, cops, officers, all that jazz. Andy Samberg has not only jokes, but BDE, and this series graciously introduced me to him. Chelsea Peretti would have me laugh-crying portraying her pop-culture obsessed character, Gina. I could go on and on about this cast.

Where you can watch: Hulu, NBC

That 70s Show

Ah yes, where Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis began their love story. This show focuses on a group of friends in Wisconsin in the 70s (duh) and their young adult lives that includes boyfriend/girlfriend drama, beer, smoking, and longing for independence.

Where you can watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video

Big Mouth

Please don’t be scared away by the fact this show is animated, or any show. This is the funniest animated adult series out there. Nick Kroll and John Mulaney (king!), the former who doubles as a creator and producer, voice the main characters– two middle school-aged boys navigating puberty and their changing bodies, but in the most hilarious and vulgar way.

Where you can watch: Netflix

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Created by Tina Fey, this show focuses on Kimmy Schmidt (played by Ellie Kemper) who finally escapes after an underground cult led by a crazy reverend and befriends amazing, flamboyant Titus in New York City and gets a job as a personal assistant to a rich woman. Carol Kane made me want to rip my eyeballs out the entire series, unfortunately.

Where you can watch: Netflix

Schitt’s Creek

This show definitely took me a few episodes to get into, but it’s so good. It’s CBC so most of the actors are Canadian like Daniel and Eugene Levy, who are also writers for the show. Legendary Catherine O’Hara is in it, too and she’s hilarious. It’s sweet, not emotionally traumatizing, funny, and entertaining. What more can you ask for?

Where you can watch: Netflix

COMEDY-DRAMA

Shameless

This show is *chef kiss*. It has a great cast and an interesting plot with laughs and tears. It’s about an extremely dysfunctional family in Chicago led by Fiona (Emmy Rossum), raising her five younger siblings. William H. Macy plays their not-so-present chaotic father. Debby sucks.

Where you can watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video

Orange is the New Black

Piper, who now lives a very normal life with her boyfriend Larry, is sent to prison for carrying drugs for her drug dealer ex-girlfriend. It focuses on the group of friends Piper makes in prison, as well as other inmates, and also discusses the cruelty of the prison system.

Where you can watch: Netflix

Atypical

I really wish this show had gotten more seasons. It’s about Sam, who’s on the autism spectrum and his friends, family, and introduction to the dating world. It’s super sweet and does a good job of discussing/teaching about the spectrum.

Where you can watch: Netflix

On My Block

This show deserves SO much more hype. It’s about four high school-aged friends– Cesar, Monse, Ruby, and Jamal, in Los Angeles. It involves gang violence, coming-of-age trials and tribulations, romance, and comedy.

Where you can watch: Netflix

Freaks and Geeks

Young Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Lisa Cardellini, Busy Philipps, and Jason Segel. That should speak for itself. The show focuses on them as high school students as well as a group of middle school boys in the 80s. This show was ROBBED, robbed I say! They only got one season.

Where you can watch: Amazon Prime Video

Umbrella Academy

This is another show that deserves way more hype. It’s about seven adopted siblings who all have superpowers and are reunited after years apart by a family death. Their father created the Umbrella Academy made up of his children to save the world. I love Klaus and his character development <3.

Where you can watch: Netflix

Disenchantment

This show has the same creator as The Simpsons, but it’s very different. Feisty princess Bean and her sidekicks, pessimistic demon Luci and naive elf Elfo encounter dangers in their medieval town and huge mysteries unravel.

Where you can watch: Netflix

DRAMA

How to Get Away with Murder

Viola Davis is such a badass in this show, and in general. In How to Get Away with Murder, Davis is a law school professor that chooses a group of students from her class to assist with cases. They all get tied up in drama and yes, murder, so crazy. I will say I didn’t love season six. RIP.

Where you can watch: Netflix, ABC

Dead to me

Christina Applegate and Lisa Cardellini’s characters meet in a support group and become friends. However, Cardellini’s character, Judy, is hiding a huuuuge secret from Applegate’s character, Jen. Then they get wrapped up in some ish and James Marsden is there, too.

Where you can watch: Netflix

Bates Motel

This is what sparked my girl crush on Nicola Peltz. This series is clearly based off the 1987 Bates Motel movie, but from what I can remember, is not the same. Norman and his mom move to a new town and own/run a motel. Here’s the catch: he’s a psychopath.

Where you can watch: Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video

Queen of the South

Another underrated show right here. Queen of the South is focuses around a Mexican cartel that the main character, Teresa, who gets wrapped in it through her boyfriend that is murdered. She rises through the ranks of the cartel, and plenty of drama and plot twists ensue.

Where you can watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video

Reign

Sometimes I think about how cool it’d be to live in the 1500s and then I remember there was disease, plague, female oppression, and corruption. Regardless, Reign is a great show. It focuses on Mary Queen of Scots and her arrival in France to claim her political marriage arrangement. Learn about (dramatized) history and be entertained, all in one!

Where you can watch: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video

Euphoria

This show is for a more mature audience. It gets pretty deep and shines the light on the not so awesome parts of life, but it’s real. The cast is amazing and has an awesome soundtrack. Euphoria follows high-school aged drug addict Rue, played by Zendaya, and her and her friends’ lives.

Where you can watch: Hulu, HBO Now, Amazon Prime Video

REALITY

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

This show is hilarious and full of drama, unsurprisingly. It’s still filming and just as good! The “housewives” change minimally throughout seasons, but it focuses on multiple women of wealthy families in Beverly Hills and their friend group and families.

Where you can watch: Hulu, YouTube, iTunes, Amazon Prime Video

Keeping up with the Kardashians

Everyone likes, or is at least entertained by the Kardashian/Jenners and that’ that.

Where you can watch: Hulu, YouTube TV, YouTube

Love Island UK

When I tell you Love Island UK season 6 is the best reality show I’ve ever watched, I’m saying it with my chest. Imagine The Bachelor but one thousand times better, and that’s this. Unlike The Bachelor, Love Island has the same number of women as men, include couple versus couple contests, and is open to public voting.

Where you can watch: Hulu, CBS

TRENDS I’M VIBING WITH

MULTI-COLOR NAILS

The first time I saw this trend was an ad on Instagram for the “all things nails” company, Olive & June, with pastel colors. After some stalking I saw unexpected color combinations like this navy, nude, white, pink, and light blue and loved it even more. I would never think to put these colors together, but it totally works.

MINIMALIST NAILS

Olive & June also has some super cute pics of this style on their Instagram, but it could be just a little polish heart on each nail or in one post there’s cherries on two fingers while the rest are plain with a clear coat. It’s simple, but fun and creative.

BUCKET HATS

As we know, everything comes back. This 90s style definitely made a return last summer and I’m still here for it. I think bucket hats are best worn with a swimsuit/beach day outfit or something casual like a simple top and wide-leg jeans with sneakers. It’s a great addition to sass up any fit to let the people know you’re trendy and hawt.

Kaia Gerber in a bucket hat, need I say more?

REVERSE TIE DYE & TIE DYE

Who knew this was the word for bleach tie dye? Not me. Regardless, I think this is such a cute trend and a fun DIY project! I’ve been meaning to get some sweatpants from Walmart and make my own pair using one of the countless tutorials on YouTube. I also have been loving regular tie dye, but not so much “a unicorn regurgitated onto this hoodie” tie dye. These Urban Outfitters crewnecks are just what I’m talking about– there isn’t too much going on and they could be dressed up or down. Plus, we all love a good sweatshirt.

Urban Outfitters Tie-Dye Crewneck Sweatshirt

FISHERMAN HEEL

I think the fisherman heel is so cute. I got over the platform sandal trend about a month after it got big, so I’m super excited there’s finally an alternative. I just got this exact pair from Urban Outfitters (on sale!) and I seriously cannot wait to wear them this summer with skirts and casual dresses or trendy shorts.

UO Lia Fisherman Heeled Sandal

CHAINS

There is nothing more I love than a good chain necklace. Whether it’s a figaro chain or a chunky link chain, this has been my favorite accessory for a while. They make me feel cool, okay? Plus they’re cute and simple and look great layered with a longer necklace. Also love the padlock that’s on this link chain necklace from Brandy Melville.