Lost Friendships & Relationships

I am recently caught up in a whole lot of nostalgia and I've been playing old songs that remind me of the people I once loved. The people who once loved me. I've made a set on Polyvore that was heavily inspired by the song, "The Reason". When I listened to this song for the first time in forever, the chorus really caught my attention and I nearly bawled my eyes out:

"I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

and the reason is you"

I've recently started school and with that it is inevitable that you will meet new friends, catch up with older friends, and lose your best friends. "The Reason" has always been a childhood favorite of mine but I didn't really understand how much this song meant to me until now. I've said a lot of bad things to a lot of people, I've regretted my mistakes, I've been really unappreciative to the people who were there for me through everything I've been through, and with that I'm sorry. I walk the hallways at school completely lost because that one person I used to talk to has moved on with newer people and is too busy to be bothered by me. I made this person promise to me that we would never stop talking, stop laughing, and under any circumstances, forget about each other. I guess we've both been pretty bad at keeping that promise. We occasionally wave at each other with the awkwardest "I miss you" kind of smile. But the 10 seconds I have the pleasure of being in their presence, honestly makes my entire day. Nobody in the world could ever replace the people who meant the most to me.

Nobody can replace him.

This person was my everything and still holds a special place in my heart even though our status isn't the same as it was before. Since losing that person, I  have realized that I need to hold on to the people that mean the most to me, now and forever. And never take their presence and love for granted.
It took me a lost bond with the person who meant the most to me, to finally open my eyes and understand that some people are worth fighting for and if you don't make that effort to fight for who you love, they will just leave your life without saying goodbye.
I don't usually write these types of posts and this all feels a bit foreign to me but I'm always available if you need to talk. Don't ever be afraid to pm me if you need someone to talk to.



For Devin.

Xx

My Back to School Essentials

It's that time of year again. It's the back to school season and while most people (including myself) would dread it, I look forward to the school supplies shopping. I already did my shopping last week since it was tax-free weekend where I live. These are my top essentials that will get me throughout the entire school year whilst looking as cute as ever. I also came up with a pretty consistent color scheme of pastel pinks and beiges.

My Back to School Essentials by bellacharlie featuring a kate spade pencil case

• First thing that is a must for school are a box of pencils and erasers. These are pretty basic things but you need them year-round and it always helps if you have more than one just in case it comes in handy. I chose these really pretty pack of 6 pencils by Ladurée. As for my erasers, I chose to include as set of quirky and fun 3-pack gem erasers by Kate Spade. I always think that if you purchase things that look nice you're probably going to be more tempted to use them and take better care of it. That is why I chose these as my must haves because I tend to be rather careless of my pencils and pens, and always lose them somewhere.
• Next thing on my list of back to school essentials is a pen. I always think you need one or two standard pens for the school year, and you don't necessarily need to go all out in different colors and designs. I chose a 2-pack of wooden blue pens sold at asos. 
• Pencil cases are always needed no matter what grade you are going into because it keeps you organized and you are less likely to lose your things if you put everything in one place. This adorable Kate Spade case is visualized as a piece of notebook paper with the text, "Dot your i's and cross your t's."
• Notebooks are an essential in every student's bag, so I chose to include these 2 medium pink paper notebooks by a brand called Shinola. These notebooks are rather small for daily note taking, but they are perfect for quick notes and reminders that you might need throughout the day (they are 9 inches by 7 inches)
• An agenda always comes in handy if you have a very busy schedule and need to plan out your day and your assignments. I chose this gold polka dotted Kate Spade agenda which have both monthly and weekly pages so you can be more organized and planned out. 
• Also handy for quick reminders are sticky notes. These pack of sticky notes sold at asos are shaped as butterflies and remind me so much of early childhood, which I thought was a plus.
• On with the mathematics tools, calculators and rulers might be available in some classrooms but it's always a good idea to bring your own. The calculator I chose to use in my set is unfortunately sold out but you can always purchase something similar at your local Target or Office Depot (or anywhere that sells office supplies). As for my ruler, I chose to use the one that came with the Kate Spade pencil case as mentioned earlier in this blog post. The inches only go up to 6 inches, so it might be a smarter idea if needed, to purchase a standard 12-inch ruler at your local office store.
• Next, is a novel of your interest you can read during your free time or during study hall. This can be about anything as long as you enjoy reading it and won't get bored of it later on in the year. I chose to use "Eleanor & Park" because I am thinking of reading it this year, just by looking at the interesting synopsis in the back of the book.
• Lastly, is an ipad. If you're attending University or even high school this year, an ipad or tablet might come in handy for quick access to internet or basic tools such as a calculator, world clock, compass, etc. This might not be for everyone, but I myself have an ipad mini and it is definitely useful for school related activities. 

Thank you so much for reading, and good luck to those of you who are attending school this September.

Xx

5 Coral Lipsticks for This Summer

I know that July is near coming to an end and that means summer is coming to an end also! August kind of ruins my mood because of how stressed out I feel in comparison to the cool aura I have during the summer months. I haven't made a blogpost on this yet (typical procrastinating Bella) and I feel like I really should because coral lipsticks are definitely go-to color for this time of year. I chose 5 different lipsticks, with a mix of high-end products for those of you who enjoy a splurge, and drugstore products for those of you who are more budget tight when it comes to buying things. 

The first lipstick is from the ever-famous MAC, and it is in the color Morange. This is definitely very orangey and has a nice in between balance between a pinkish coral and an orange coral.

The next one is a very high-end product which is the YSL Rogue Pur Couture Lipstick in the color 52 Rosy Coral. This color is, without a doubt completely coral and looks so sweet to wear with a nice white sundress.

The next is a hydrating lipstick from Sisley in the color L11. This is a totally subtle orange shade and not as coral-ish as the ones before. I still really like this shade because it is the perfect transitional shade for summer to autumn.

These next two are drugstore lipsticks which are more economical friendly. The first one is a very bright red-orange color by Rimmel Kate Moss in 110. Although this is not as much of a coral color you might like, this would look very pretty to put together any summer outfit and make it pop more.

The last lipstick is by Topshop and it is in a really pretty color called Macaroon. This is a more pale pinkish coral color like the YSL one I talked about previously.

Also, I would not like to forget to include where this adorable makeup bag is from. This bag is in a coral and cream color with the caption "LIPSTICK" printed across. This is from Forever 21 and I'll add a link later so you could buy it if you would like. And it's less than 7 bucks! Winner!

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Prices:

MAC: $16

YSL: $36

Sisley: $53

Rimmel: $4.23

Topshop: $12

Forever 21 Makeup Pouch: $6.90

What's your go-to summer shade?

Xx

5 Coral Lipsticks by bellacharlie 

Dressin.com: Product Review

About a month ago, I was contacted by a website called Dressin.com, asking me to promote their products via my Polyvore account. I looked through their website and instantly thought all of the clothes looked so cute and stylish. I was a bit weary though, because the site originates in China and many of the items they had to offer were fairly cheap. I decided to agree to collaborate with them and they were nice enough to let me pick out clothing items of my choice. 
I picked out 3 different pieces and I am going to give you a completely honest review.

Price: $7.71

Rating: 7.5/10

This first one is a sailor type of shirt. I fell in love with it when I saw how lightweight and doll-like it looked. When I took it out of the packaging, I saw how it wasn't exactly a light chiffon as stated on the website. The material definitely wasn't my favorite and the threads were coming undone only after a couple hours after wear. It was also slightly small but that's very common, as it is from an Asian clothing website and their clothes tend to run small.

     

Price: $6.10

Rating: 5/10

The next things I got were these adorable sleeveless peter pan collar tops with a sheer swiss dotted fabric. I ordered one in black and another one in white. I didn't like this one as much as the first one and was fairly disappointed in this purchase. First off, the material is incredibly see-through and thin, you would have to wear a camisole underneath to prevent flashing anyone.The arm holes were also extremely tight. It runs very small so I would suggest buying 2 sizes bigger than you normally would wear. I am usually a US size 4, so I ordered an Asian size medium. I felt like this would've fit a 5 year old. The silhouette also wasn't very figure flattering at all and just kind of looked frumpy and sad. 

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Overall, I would say you get what you pay for. The clothes were really pretty but it's definitely not a boutique kind of shop. I would say, don't expect anything too over the top. But if you like cute, cheap clothing I think you would enjoy shopping here. Also, customer service is amazing and super helpful. So, if you are not satisfied with your purchase, contact them.

All opinions stated here are my own. I was not paid by Dressin.com to make this blogpost.

Dressin.com

3 Ways to Wear Dungarees this Summer

It's the nostalgic trend EVERYONE is catching on to: dungarees. Dungarees and playsuits in general, really brings that 90s vibe to any outfit. It is so casual and can make any outfit look a bit more playful and quirky. I've created 3 outfits that include this tricky trend so hopefully you will get an inspiration by these because I know it might be hard to wear dungarees without looking like a toddler.

Diana by bellacharlie

This first outfit is very "90s kid" inspired. It features a Topshop bleach washed pair of dungarees, matched with an off the shoulder Monki striped top (which is sold out), and simple white Superga trainers. I completed the look with a colorful pair of Miu Miu sunglasses. I really like this because it is the perfect outfit for a picnic with friends, a day by the lake, or a walk in the park. It is extremely casual and youthful, which is perfect for summer. 

Moment by bellacharlie

This next outfit features black dungarees and a gingham bardot crop top, which are both from Topshop. I included a pair of Ray-Ban light brown sunglasses and all white dainty Converse sneakers. I am obsessed with monochrome at the moment; its simple and sleek style is just perfect any time of the year. Although it is summer and black and white outfits might not be everybody's cup of tea, you could always add some color by replacing the white converse for a pale pink pair, or paint your nails a more vibrant and summery shade. In my previous blogpost, I explained my dislike for bright nails and my love for more muted shades, but in an all black and white outfit, colorful nails are a wonderful alternative to my usual subtlety. 

My Everything by bellacharlie 

This last outfit is definitely more of an occasional outfit. This could be worn for a night out with friends or a fancy dinner. This look still has the casualness the dungarees portrays though which I love. I used the same black dungarees as the one I used in my previous outfit and a silk button-down crop top from Topshop Unique. I used a stunning pair of sparkly loafers by Chiara Ferrangi. All of the shoes she designs are so quirky and eccentric but in the most wonderful way possible. I made a whole collection dedicated to my favorite statement shoes created by her. Anyways back to the topic, I used really pretty Thierry Lasry sunglasses that matches the color theme of this outfit. Lastly I opted for a simple white crossbody bag from CHLOE, which is sold out everywhere unfortunately. I went for white because this outfit might seem quite dark and heavy and a white bag adds a bit of lightness and airiness to the outfit.

How will you style dungarees? Xx

Topshop Candy Colored Nails

Well first off, Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are having a wonderful Independence Day if you live in America, and if not I hope you are having a nice day wherever you live.

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On with the blogpost 

 Personally, I tend to like pastel shades rather than bright ones on nails. I know that since it's July, most people are using bright summery shades, but some people like me don't really care for intense and vibrant nails. I decided to make an inspirational set for those who don't usually go for bright shades this time of year and like more of the muted or subtle nail colors. This set is inspired by the color tones of marshmallows, and the lightweight airiness marshmallows portray. I chose to stick with three main shades.

From left to right

• Topshop Nails in Keep Me Sweet
• Topshop Nails in Au Naturel
• Topshop Nails in Caught Your Eye

Topshop Candy Colored Nails by bellacharlie 

The first two shades I mentioned are unfortunately sold out at the time of writing which makes me really sad. But you can still buy similar shades like this basically anywhere.

My dad

This is sort of a late Father's day post but I needed to write this because it needs to be said. 
My father is amazing and it kills me that I don't show enough of my appreciation and love towards him. He's always there for me when I need him, and he's always good for advice and company. He's not always home; he has work in another state and comes home every 2 months or so. I miss him everyday and sometimes I will admit, I feel like I get used to being alone without him. It's awful that I'm so comfortable with that but I know that there is always a missing piece to our family when he's not around. He's not the perfect father; he has his flaws, he knows when he's done something wrong, or when he makes a huge mistake and won't own up to it, but he tries his hardest. He tries to be the best dad a daughter could ask for. If you ask me, my sister, and my half siblings, we would all tell you that our dad is the most caring and determined father we could ever ask for. He's always there even during the rants I have, and when I stress him out and be quite the handful, but he never gives up. It's easy for him to just walk away and say "I can't do it anymore" but he doesn't because he's strong. I admire him for that. 
This past year, he's become sick and has been hospitalized a few times. He's getting surgery and I pray that everything will be alright and soon he'll be healthy again. I love him to the moon and back.

A quick note: To all of you who have their father with them, I suggest you go and hug him and tell him how much he means to you. Even if he's not living with you, pull out your phone right away and spend just a few minutes, or even hours, talking to him and cherishing every moment you have with him.

-Bella Xx