Guest post: Kinsey Gray. Inner beauty

When thinking about what to write as a guest blogger, I thought about what I knew and what I loved.  While thinking I should stick with the theme of beauty- I decided to talk more about inner beauty rather than outer beauty.  It is inner beauty that makes a person so unique and beautiful.  With that said, here are my thoughts. 

Inner beauty can often be hard to find in a person.  It's easy for a person to say someone is pretty, but how often can you say they are beautiful on the inside and out.  I can truly say I have met some of the most beautiful people in my life.  They are the ones that deserve to be in "People's Magazines: 50 Most Beautiful People." They are truly beautiful inside and out, and I admire all the special qualities that make them who are they.  These qualities also help shape me into the person I am.  The inner beauty these friends possess come in the craziest, silliest, sweetest, most personal ways that one may not truly understand until they have been given the chance to have such wonderful, endearing friends.  These friends have made such an impact on my life, and I could not imagine who I would be without them.  These people are world changers; they are MY world changers.  They pick me up, bring me back down, drive me crazy, make me happy, make me ME.  These people have qualities and personalities that make them so truly wonderful.  Here's my Top Ten list of what makes someone truly beautiful from the inside out:

1. A friend that knows you so well that they notice from the footprints on the rainbows you are wearing that they are not yours.
2.  A person who you can call in the afternoon and they already know you are upset and frustrated after just hearing you say hello.
3. A friend who warns you about that certain guy and doesn't feel bad after saying I told you so when you pour your heart out about what didn't work out because they know what is best for you.
4. A person who builds your confidence and tells you you look hot even when you are wearing jorts and an airbrush tee.  The one person who appreciates your outgoing sense of style, however ridiculous you may look.
5. A friend that you can call when you need a quick fix- you're upset you dye your hair- you're bored you go get ice cream- you're annoyed you shop online- that person that is always there to rescue you when you need to run away from reality for a bit.
6.  A person that you can be absolutely ridiculous with.  You sing in the car, and share many of your most embarrassing moments because you secretly know they've done the same if not worse.
7. A person you can go without seeing for a while then see them and have one of the funniest, most memorable nights of your life.
8. A friend that never judges, but will question relentlessly because they want the best for you.
9. A person you can share a bottle of "Alice" with and know it's going be an "I don't want to talk about my life right now" kind of night.
10. A friend that makes you a better person, that makes your life complete, that makes you complete.

These things are what make someone beautiful.  Knowing that someone- scratch that- multiple people have impacted your life so much is truly remarkable.  These people, my best friends, show compassion and love each and every day.  They are the most amazing, giving, BEAUTIFUL people I have ever met.  Knowing them has shaped me and I am forever grateful.

meet Kinsey Ann Gray.

time square.

Miami with 3/4 of the Gray girls!

Food facts by Victoria: healthy weight loss

As a future dietitian, I feel there is such so much false information out there, especially on the internet where every five minutes I see an ad about how you can lose 5 pounds in 2 days, etc. As my friends and family are well aware, I get extremely annoyed with the bad rap given to nutrition by these stupid ads, books and articles that claim they have the secret to weight loss. It’s not that they do not work, I am sure you probably could lose 5 pounds in 2 days if all you ate was liquid and grapefruit, it’s that they don’t last. Nor to fad diets, compared to a healthy lifestyle, prevent diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and many more health problems that are not caused by, but will increase your likelihood of developing (especially if you have family history) those diseases.

My philosophy? Weight loss should occur as part of creating a healthier and longer life for your body and mind. Coming from someone who has personally lost weight, and kept it off, doing it the right way is so much easier than trying to follow the crazy rules many fad diets require of you. So here is my take on how to lose weight the healthy way:

1.      Lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. I know that doesn’t seem like a lot, but it will lead to maintaining the weight loss. Also, when you lose 5 pounds or more in a week, it can typically just be water loss because your body is dehydrated from not eating.

2.      Do not cut out any macronutrients in replacement for another. There is a reason your body needs carbohydrates, protein and fat in specific amounts. I know there are many diets out there that tell you things like do not eat carbohydrates, eat high amounts of protein, or cut out all fat. And yes, those diets do help you lose weight, generally because you are cutting out calories. But you cannot just not eat carbohydrates for the rest of your life, or never eat a morsel of fat again because they can cause serious illnesses, and let’s face it- who could go years without eating pasta, I know I couldn’t.

3.      Portion control. Have you ever looked at what a serving size is for foods like ice cream or even cereal? It is generally a lot less than what most people eat. Learn serving sizes so you can calculate the amount of calories you are eating.

4.      Eat everything in moderation. I would and will never recommend to a patient or friend to cut out any food. Although ice cream, doughnuts, pastries and cookies do not have many nutrients good for you and are generally high in calories, sugar and fat, they are a part of enjoying life! Everyone has their vice, mine are sweets, and trying to not eat them will eventually cause you to binge eat everything you have deprived yourself of for so long. Eat foods like Ben and Jerry’s half-baked ice cream (a personal favorite of mine), just don’t eat them every day! If you are craving a hamburger, eat it and don’t eat another for the rest of the week. I think it is unrealistic to expect people to not eat the foods they love so much, but just realize you cannot eat them all the time.

As you can tell, I believe enjoying food is part of a healthy life, but learning how to enjoy food as part of a healthy diet will not only reduce your chance of developing serious health implications, it will also help you to feel better about yourself.

In summary, eat “bad” foods in moderation, eat a balanced and accurately portioned diet, and take the time to lose weight the healthy way. Also, don’t forget to be physically active for at least 30 minutes to an hour on most days of the week! Exercise will not only help with your weight loss goals, but also helps you deal with stress, prevent diseases, and has been shown to play a role in fighting depression.

featherbands for your spring wardrobe.

hey friends.

Just posted some new designs on Etsy. 

katbeckdesigns@gmail.com

bronze beauty.

Ohhh that time of the year has come around yet again. Tan time. I have successfully restrained myself from tanning beds all winter long. But now that bathing suite season is approaching, I have started spray tanning weekly to get a good "base" color started so I can lay out without blinding fellow pool goers. I seriously forgot how pale I am naturally. I am trying so hard to embrace it but I just don't have Anne Hathaway or Scarlett Johansson's ability to rock the pale is pretty look.

If you want an easy, instant summer glow when applying makeup the answer is bronzer. Bronzer and I are kinda BFFs. It's a staple product in my makeup bag and should be in yours. 

Supermarket best buy:

Maybelline Dream Mouse in Sun Kissed- the mouse formula gives you a perfect dewy look.

Physician’s formula has a TON of really great bronzers that mix different shades so you look very natural.

Department store best buy-

A recommendation from my BFF Ashleigh - Mac’s bronzer. It lasts forever.

Smashbox bronzer. I mean, honestly, all of their products are sensational.

guest post: casey cline. top 10 pretty little products.

When I first started wearing makeup and learning how to do my hair, I was a little tornado of disaster.  First of all, I have crazy wavy baby hairs that never grow out.  I didn’t understand back then that I should first apply some sort of healthy product to my hair, then blow dry, and then, if I have to, use a flat iron.  Instead, I was flawed in thinking that I could straighten my hair while it was still wet.  That meant a lot of sizzling, smoke, and bad terrible hair days. 

My makeup and skin routine wasn’t much better.  I remember buying those Noxzema cleansing pads and using those to remove my makeup.  Now, I don’t know if you recall this or not, but those pads were strong and sometimes burned (and I have ultra sensitive skin).  Imagine using at least 5 every day to take off caked-on makeup.  Yikes.  No wonder my skin was dried out and blotchy red.

Fast forward a few years and I’m thankful to admit that I’ve learned how to take care of my hair and skin properly.  It doesn’t hurt that I’ve also learned about other great products along the way.   

So now let me present to you a few of my favorite pretty little products (and a few other extras I enjoy).

1. Pond’s Cold Cream:  A far cry from the Noxzema pads, this cream is timeless.  A makeup remover that simultaneously moisturizes?  Yes, please.  Plus, it has bonus sentimental value for me: my mom has always used Pond’s, so I can’t help but think of her every time I use it.

2. Essie Mint Candy Apple: This nail color is part of the Winter 2009 Essie collection and I’m still obsessed.

3. Walgreens Twisted Peppermint body lotion: I found a bottle of this in my Mom’s bathroom when I was home over Christmas, and I had to steal it (Sorry Momma!).  The smell is sweet, but not overwhelming.  But the real kicker here is how amazing it feels on your skin!  The hint of peppermint makes it go on smooth and minty fresh.  I’m not sure if this is still even available, but I know Bath & Body Works has a version that I’ve yet to try.  Hopefully it holds up to the Walgreens.

4. Moroccan Oil: This is on the pricier side, but worth the splurge.  Not only does it protect your hair from heat damage, it keeps fly-a-ways smoothed down (without weighing down the rest of your hair) and smells incredible.

5. Rosebud’s Salve (in a tube): I was first introduced to Rosebud’s Salve by a friend back in high school, and have been a fan ever since.  Imagine my delight when I realized they’d started selling it in tube form (so no more messy lip gloss fingers)!

6. EBoost: A yummy alternative to Emergen-C, my boss discovered EBoost and I have to admit I prefer it.  My favorite flavor is acai pomegranate.

7. Grapefruit:  I’ve recently fallen in love with this fruit, even going so far as to buy a special sectioning knife and grapefruit spoon.  Grapefruits are relatively low in sugar (compared to other fruits) while simultaneously low in fat and high in fiber.  Oh, and they’re delicious.  Win win win win.

8. Black coffee: I know there is a lot of back-and-forth regarding whether or not coffee is good for you, but as an avid drinker, I’m surprised to admit that after years and years of adding milk and/or cream and sugar, I’ve converted to black.  It’s been a very recent change, but somehow my taste buds have adapted and I’m now a big fan!  Whether or not you think coffee is healthy, at least the lack of sugar and milk is.

9. Body Pump: Straight from the website: “BODYPUMP™ is the original barbell class that strengthens your entire body. This 60-minute workout challenges all your major muscle groups by using the best weight-room exercises like squats, presses, lifts and curls. Great music, awesome instructors and your choice of weight inspire you to get the results you came for – and fast!

I’m starting to realize how important and effective strength training is, especially as we ladies start to get older.  Adding light weight-training to your regular workout produces faster and more beneficial results.  If your local gym doesn’t offer Body Pump, I suggest any similar class or even buying a few light dumbbells and looking to the latest issue of Women’s Health magazine for workout ideas you can incorporate on your own or even at home.

10. The Steam Room: I fell in love with the steam room at my hometown’s YMCA and was thrilled to find that my new local gym has one as well.  Going into the steam room for 10-15 minutes after my workouts is like the icing on a good exercise cake.  It opens my pores and relaxes me to the max.  I always leave feeling refreshed and at ease.

meet casey samantha cline. she is 25 today by the way!

and she lives in NYC> super jealous.

love her genuine laugh here.

breaking it dowwwwwn.

my high school ladies.

what happens in vegas...

guest post: megan beasley. rock your style.

Ok so, when Lakathryn asked me to do a guest blog post  on
“how to be the flyest chic in town”
I must say I was sure that I was the right person for the job. I mean, let’s be honest I’m pretty fly for a white guy. But seriously, she mentioned maybe writing about my love for art (particularly body art) and I thought I could do something cooler than that. No one wants to hear me rave about my new super awesome Bubo (Athena’s metal owl from the Clash of the Titans) tattoo that my brother gifted me for Christmas (done by the amazing Dave at Devine St. Tattoo in Columbia, SC) or about the the Centaur outline that is “coming soon” probably when I go to Tejas in June. 

So after discussion, we decided that, since I get told more than anyone else, probably in the world (except GAGA), “Only you could pull that off” that I would write about how to own your look! I have always been a free spirit when it came to my look. As Kathryn knows, to me, style is not about a shirt or having 20 pairs of jeans or 50 pairs of shoes. It is about pairing that shirt with the oddball scarf, vintage bracelet, $10 clearance jacket, the absolute perfect pair of skinny jeans from HandM, simple canvas flats (Vans or Toms) during the day and those boots I got at Rue21 one day for $6 at night, and of course that fly featherband at all times! People ask me on the reg where I shop, and I honestly cannot come up with an answer. I find unique items anywhere from Clothing Warehouse in Greenville, SC, to the amazing stores on South Congress (the “Soho” of Austin, TX/aka SoCo),  to (deep longing sigh) Modcloth.com! 

The moral of all these plugs is that you don’t have to fall into any category when it comes to your style, just be brave and who cares what other people are wearing, or if people might make fun of you for being your own. I look at it like, hey, at least they are talking about something other than themselves (which, in case you didn’t know is all that women talk about).  As Kinsey Gray knows all too well it’s not easy to walk into my closet and borrow something to wear, for most of my clothes look pretty regular to the “untrained eye”.  Now, if I’m there, I will take that black shirt from American Apparel that I cut up to fit just the way I wanted that Kinsey has been sneering at, throw a big Salvation Army necklace (that has been shamelessly tied together fifty times) on it, a funky vest from Urban Outfitters, point her to the right jeggs and boots, slap some Midnight Cowboy on those baby blues and all of a sudden she’s the hottest chic at the bar!

So sitting here in my  peep toe shoe-string tie wedge mary janes from Lulu’s.com, pink/brown/purple/blonde hair, beautiful artwork that I wear underneath my clothes, and the art that is my outfit,
I encourage every woman to take chances with your style and with life. 
Be bold, make mistakes, be embarrassed; but most importantly, find out who you are and be yourself.
THE END

meet meagan player beasley. yes player is her middle name.

just hanging out with mary jane. my old car my dad still drives.

from the featherband photoshoot.

rock it.

just being super fly of course. brick walls always help.

circa 2005. first clemson football game of the season.

total gleek.

First off, thank you so much KROD for introducing me to Glee.

If you are a musical theater fan/dancer/singer/performer and you are not watching this-

then you aren't a theater fan/dancer/singer/performer. Sorry. It's true.

I now find myself having an itunes shopping spree after each episode. 

Bills Bills Bills- ummm perfection.

Thriller/Heads will Roll- omgness. 

That entire production of them meshing with the football team made me really miss Clemson Dancers. Tigerstrut (Clemson Dancer's performance team) teamed up with Tigeroar (Clemson's all male singing group) for a production of Thriller my senior year.

Every dancers wish come true. We did the crazy makeup, fog, torn tights and all.

Totally watching that DVD tonight.

while you were watching the superbowl. . .

wear me! by PrettyLittleProducts featuring bead necklaces

Peacock Feather Necklace
$675 - matthewwilliamson.com
Vintage necklaces »

Coral Cluster Necklace
$122 - charmandchain.com
Vintage necklaces »

Glamour Mint Necklace
$500 - swarovski.com
Bead necklaces »

Katharine Necklace
$250 - amritasingh.com
Chain necklaces »

bib necklace : Roberta Chiarella : c571155n
$198 - robertachiarella.com
Bib necklaces »

22-karat gold-plated bib necklace
$600 - net-a-porter.com
Bib necklaces »

Blue Wood and Bangle Necklace with Islamic Detail
33 GBP - hannahzakari.co.uk
Vintage necklaces »

Vling! — Ltd. Edition Unicorn Necklace made from a recycled CONFETTI...
vling.bigcartel.com
Necklaces »

Asymmetric Pearl Necklace
$435 - bergdorfgoodman.com
Pearl necklace »

Vivienne Westwood Mirror Necklace - Vivienne Westwood Jewellery from...
275 GBP - hervia.com
Vivienne westwood jewelry »

Urban Renewal Bow Tie Necklace
$28 - urbanoutfitters.com
Vintage necklaces »

Lanvin Ribbon & Drop Pearl Necklace
$450 - nordstrom.com
Ribbon pearl necklace »

women's Adele Marie Faceted Bead Multi-Strand Necklace
42 GBP - julesb.co.uk
Bead necklaces »

Grandma's Key Pendant Necklace - ROCK 'N ROSE
18 GBP - rocknrose.co.uk
Rock necklaces »

Sterling Silver Necklace with Turquoise Charm Exclusive
$248 - ronherman.com
Sterling silver turquoise necklace »

Black Stargazer - Party Head Band
110 GBP - black.co.uk
Wedding hair accessories »

Mannequin Heads | Mannequin Head | Male & Female | manequin
nycdisplay.com

in need of excuses to buy these items.

courtesy of modcloth.com

Oh hello Endless Dawn Dress. 

 

I'd really love to take you to a lovely little brunch in the Hampton's and then go antique shopping for tea cups in you. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

courtesy of modcloth.com

What's going on Across the Cosmos Dress? 

 

I'd love to get down with you at a rooftop nightclub in Vegas. It could be memorable...or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

courtesy of modcloth.com

Hello darling!

 

Fiery Personality Frock, why don't we pretend it's 1954 together? 

courtesy of modcloth.com

 

When Sailing into the Sunset Dress comes back in stock,

 

I just might go rent a sailboat for a day and have a picnic on some island after soaking in the rays. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

courtesy of freepeople.com

 Ok, I must stop torturing myself. 

I may actually need this. to you know, frolic in a field of wild flowers. It could be a good excuse. Free people you kill me.

perfect superbowl SNACK- Chocolate Nutty Footballs

Going on snowed in day 3. Made these delicious treats for my co workers but then we got another 3 inches. So cute, SO yummy, and best of all, SO EASY (except for the molding into a football shape part). 

Total servings: 

16

what you'll need:

 3 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 package (10 oz)  regular marshmallows or 4 cups of mini marshmallows

1/2 cup peanut butter (I like extra crunchy)

6 cups Cocoa Rice Krispies cereal

White decorating frosting

one:

Large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.

Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter until melted.

two.

Add Rice Krispies and stir until well coated.

three.

Cool slightly. Using buttered hands (have to re-butter every few footballs) shape into 3 inch footballs.

decorate with frosting.

ENJOY!