inspiration: ash

Great friends challenge you to be better and do better. 

They can serve as inspiration and a sparkle to the most lackluster days; these are some shots my wonderful friend Ash & I took last year, and I thought it'd be a shame not to share them with the blogger community. 

Ash just launched her own website, 

please follow her on her journey to greatness in design, illustration, and paint : whoisash

Ash is literally one of the most bada$$ chics I have ever met, and her website doesn't disappoint.

Send her some love! 

top: brandymelville, ovar-all pants: asos, bralette: for love and lemons

my mother gave me there amazing sophia webster heels for christmas, I seriously can't get over how bright and cool they are.

xoxo,

keep it classy.

-maría.laexploradora

INSTAweekly

keep it classy.

xoxo,

-paintedREDD

Out & About: Friends Who Eat Together, Last Forevaaa!

After more than 9 months of eating a strictly vegetarian diet, I decided to start eating meat again.

I know, I know, I should have tried to stick it out for a whole year, but even though I didn't mind cutting out meat & fish from my diet. I never truly felt like I was satisfied after a meal without meat unless I was eating Indian food.

You can criticize me all you want; I still love animals, but enjoyed and missed meat wayyy to much to let it go completely.

Chicken and waffles has to be one of my favorite comfort foods; it's America all wrapped up on a plate. The mix of crispy, salty, and the sweetness from the waffle and syrup makes for a mouthwatering & addictive taste.

Sweet Chick in Brooklyn, NY has to be my all time favorite spot to grab an awesome plate of American tradition.

Between the mason jar, corn cakes, hipster atmosphere, and the 80's rock jamz playing in this quaint restaurant, all the decor and food in Sweet Chick has a nostalgic element to it. 

(^^^bacon-cheddar waffle, with fried chicken^^^)

yes, that means the bacon & cheddar cheese is actually cooked into the waffles!!! YUMMMM!

Now, after you've stuffed your face with all that tasty chicken and waffley goodness the eating doesn't stop because they have the most tempting desserts to try on their menu and they're made fresh!!!!

I mean you'd have to be crazy to resist, and even crazier to only share 1 dessert!.. that's exactly why my friends and I ordered 3 to taste test.  

(^^^pumpkin pie cup^^^)

(vvv Nutella pie, and donut ice cream sandwich vvv)

 good friends + good food = satisfied bellies and awesome friendships!

FUCK DIETS!! 

you can go to the gym later!

keep it classy.

xoxo,

-paintedREDD

Obsessed: Fancy Framework

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Not having 20/20 vision has never looked better!

I for one think wearing glasses gives you a chance to make an additional fashion statement; and if I get called four eyes then I might as well werk what genetics gave me with style.

 Recently I've been drooling over the statement frames that Tom Ford, Oliver Peoples, Warby Parker, and Bonlook make. Each website has about 5 pairs of glasses that I like and I haven't manage to choose one so that I can get my new prescription filled.

Perhaps y'all could help me pick!

I love the retro 50's influence that these glasses have and think that by adding these funky colors to the tradition shape of vintage frames they are breathing new life to these classic styles.

Let me know what you think!

Do y'all prefer wearing glasses or contacts? or do you think it's fun to wear glasses too?!

keep it classy.

xoxo,

-paintedREDD

Out & About: FKA Twigs Concert

Midterm week has finally come to an end, and I felt it appropriate to let myself finally have a little fun. So after a weekend of partying, I topped of the past few days going to an FKA Twigs concert. Let me tell you, this woman not only is super beautiful, her voice is amazing, and after watching her perform I am seriously thinking of taking a couple of dance classes because her moves were on fire!!! 

I mean everything about her was on fleek!!

Here are a few of my favorite shots. Thanks to my best friend Amanda's awesome Iphone 6 camera, and her amazing photography skills we were able to capture these amazing shots of Fka's performance. Check her more of her pictures out on her instagram and here!

Loving at the Moment

Happy Sunday y'all!!! October has been quite the chaotic month for me; between midterms and managing my personal life, academics, and working full-time I've been completely drained. Thankfully, even though I've been exhausted I've also been really focused and inspired lately - hence my consistent posting. It's been almost 2 years since I've posted this frequently and I'm happy to say that I have plenty more post coming your way. 

Here are a few of the products I've been loving this month:

1. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: with the change of season, comes a change in skincare and since Fall is now in full force my skin has been a bit dryer than normal. This facial cream not only moisturizes my skin, but keeps it feeling hydrated through out the day... yes, that means no flaking of the skin, easy makeup application, and an even skin-tone without the greasy residue that heavy creams usually have.  
2. Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins: i'm a sucker so chocolate, and these sweet little pumpkins are a force to be recon with. With Double the amount of peanut butter, they leave you wanting more and more!
3. Dr. Martens 1460 W in Purple Smooth : comfortable, stylish, and durable these boots are definitely winners! I've owned them for over a year and after finally breaking them in they are one of my favorite boots to wear. Whether it's raining, snowing, or sunny, these boots add a punk rock flavor to any ensemble. 
4. Bourjais Bronzing Powder: who wouldn't want a bronzer that smells like chocolate? I've re-found my love for this product and really do think it deserve some recognition. This product not only smells good, it's also super good quality & recently I've found myself preferring this bronzer from my Mac and Benefit ones. 
5. FKA Twigs LP1 & EP2: it's so so amazing!!!! I've become obsessed with FKA Twigs this year and these two vinyls/albums are wonderful!! I'm so excited to be seeing her perform live next week, and can't wait to share with y'all some pictures from the concert. Not only is she an amazing singer, dancer, or performer, her style is so unique and out of this world!! I think I love her mostly because of her fearlessness!  
6. Petite Maison Boxed Candle - French Bourbon Vanille: such a lovely autumn sweet vanilla scent. 
7. EOS Vanilla Mint Lip Balm: i've been waiting for a while for EOS to finally come out with a vanilla scent and this one is the mix of the best worlds, vanilla & mint!

keep it classy.

xoxo,

-paintedREDD

QOTD: What have your October favorites been? 

Did you watch any awesome movie that you would recommend? or perhaps a book or cd? let me know in the comments!

INSTAweekly

It's nice to know that although I've been having an insanely stressful and exhausting past couple of weeks, I still managed to find at least one thing to smile about every single day. 

Life is what we make of it, and the times we've spent complaining could've be used in a proactive manner to make us grow as people. 

I've found in life that everything I've fought for was worth it in the end; when you are gifted things on a silver platter they aren't as valuable as what you've struggled for. 

So stay strong my lovelies.

keep it classy.

xoxo,

-paintedREDD

Out & About: Technicolored Nights

Sometimes life gifts you little signals to reassure you that you're on the right track; this rainbow house (Kolonihavhus) by Tom Fruin did just that for me. It added a pinch of magic to an otherwise low key night walking the streets of Brooklyn, and has helped inspire a new project I'm working on.

Life is full of up's and down's, and it's beautiful to see yourself overcome a situation you thought had no light. 

To new beginnings, more light in our lives, hope, positivity, success, and happiness.

I've been searching for all of these things, and think everyone deserves to have them present in their lives. 

...here's hoping that with perseverance, I'll achieve what I want. 

QOTD: What inspires you most in life? and when you are feeling down, is there somewhere in particular you like to go or do?

keep it classy.

xoxo,

-paintedREDD

Out & About - Snap Shots from DUMBO, Brooklyn

New York ceases to surprise me! Born and raised in this amazing city, no matter which borough it is that I am visiting there is always something new and exciting to see.

Late one Friday night, my best friend Amanda (instagram: @apalaces_) and I were exploring the Dumbo scene in Brooklyn and found many interesting little restaurants, art exhibits, and murals. 

Examining the panorama, I found notes of classic old New York; the cobblestone paved streets, brownstone apartments, old factories, and the view of the Manhattan Bridge from the waterfront made for a quintessential NYC night adventure.

Exploring the streets of Dumbo, Amanda and I couldn't help ourselves when we saw this one mural painted on York Street - located under an over pass, two complimenting "Yes!" designs are painted parallel to each other. (both were painted in 2013 by Yuko Shimizu) 

I thought the mural would be a perfect backdrop for some pictures, and so the impromptu shoot began.  

OOTN Details: floral kimono - H&M, navy romper - Urban Outfitters, double layered skirt - Urban Outfitters, thigh-highs - Urban Outfitters, booties - Steve Madden

I ask myself quite frequently why I choose to pose with my arms straight out.. and Da Vinci's, Vitruvian Man, seems to be my inspiration. 

QOTD: What is your hometown? And what's the best thing about living there?

I love New York because everything is open till late at night, and the city is constantly moving. Fashion and art flourish in the city and I love that I get to witness all of these things on a daily basis.

keep it classy.

xoxo,

-paintedREDD