Spoiler Alert: I’m Actually A Princess

Posted in Life Rantings by EmilyBracey

Last night was a monumental night when it comes to sisterhood and my two best friends from town; we are all officially single! You would think at 23/24 years old we would be a little nauseous over the fact that we’re not about to be heading down an aisle, but that’s not the case. As my friend’s relationship ended last night, the other one joyfully said, “Welcome back to the fun zone!” Ain’t it the truth! So like the mature adults we are, we ordered pizza, popped some bottles, and turned on a 1959 classic; Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Less than 20 minutes into the movie we all realized how much we related to this tiny waisted, luscious locked, sings to animals, princess. Aurora was prancing around with her animal friends talking about the man of her dreams, “…he takes me in his arms, and then I wake up.” An instant, “same girl” came out of all our mouths. I began thinking, so in what other ways am I basically a Disney Princess?

So here are the ten reasons that every single 20-something year old is basically a Disney Princess.

#1) Enough said…

#2) It’s normal to dramatically throw yourself on the floor or nearest bed whenever you’re upset. The more dramatic, the better, the more princess like.

#3) When you need to get something from a dude, compliment him and look super pretty while doing it.

#4) It’s okay to see a guy one time and tell everyone you love him… even if he never saw you.

#5) Going to your pets for emotional support is completely okay.

#6) Getting a lot of unwanted advice from family members and friends because they don’t understand…

#7) …that you’re actually okay with being single.

#8) When you think you’ve met a guy who is “normal”… So your friends have to set you straight.

#9) Losing personal belongings when you’re leaving a party is actually pretty glamorous.

#10) But no matter what, you’re strong, don’t put up with crap and know that you are the most important person in your life.

28Oct2015

Rejection.

Posted in Life Rantings by EmilyBracey

“You have rejection and you have to learn how to deal with that and how to get up the next day and go on with it.”

Rejection beautifully explained by my girl Taylor Swift. If someone as successful as T-Swift can grasp the concept of rejection, why can’t you and I?

For starters, it’s an ugly word. Reject; one definition literally means ‘to cast out, or eject; vomit’. Even worse, ‘to discard as useless or unsatisfactory.” Is that how we’re supposed to feel when we don’t get something we really work for and want? Like useless bile? No wonder a girl will lay in bed for days when her crush doesn’t ask her out, a guy break down when he doesn’t make the sports team, and High School students stop caring when his or her dream school says, “sorry, we don’t want you”. But what about that twenty-three year old who thought she found her dream job, successfully completed two interviews and then woke up to the “We would like to inform you, we found someone else” e-mail? I felt like my ex was breaking up with me all over again. “Be a man! Call me or say it to my face!” “I’m too good for this anyway!” “Is this really happening?” “Now what?” “I need a drink!” Truth be told, needing a drink applies to almost any situation in my life. Anyway, I asked myself, “Is it the rejection that’s upsetting me or the fear of the unknown?” I guess you really can’t have rejection without some sort of fear. After my five-minute freak out, yes it literally lasted five minutes, I was back on the job hunt.

Maybe it’s my super positive and super annoying attitude about life, or maybe it was all the rejection I have dealt with growing up. Never-the-less, I was fine. What would being upset and bitter do about the situation? Maybe it was the vino, but I started thinking, “well if I didn’t get this great job, I can’t wait and see what better opportunity God has for me”, “I’m only 23!” and in the words of a close friend, “You’re still pretty”. Take it from the queen of rejection, you’ll be fine. Life truly is full of ups and downs, but only you can decide what counts as an up and a down.

Honestly, life isn’t short. It’s the longest thing you’ll ever do. So, the next time you’re faced with rejection, pour yourself a glass, take a deep breath, look in the mirror, smile and say, “I’m super pretty”.

1Oct2015

Invisible Illness Awareness Week

Posted in Life Rantings by EmilyBracey

Everyone is fighting a battle that you know nothing about, so always be kind.

10 years ago I was a healthy kid in middle school.

9 years ago I didn’t understand why I got tired so much faster than other kids my age.

8 years ago I had to wear a heart monitor because my heart rate was over 200 beats per minute. I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Dysautonomia. I was bullied for having to wear it.

7 years ago I was dropping unconscious multiple times a week. I broke my nose 2 times, popped my collar bone out of place, and suffered many bumps and bruises. It got harder and harder everyday to wake up. I was bullied for passing out in school.

6 years ago I was put on a medication that left me temporarily paralyzed and my blood pressure was 65 over 40. I was admitted into the hospital. I was put on steroids that made me puffy. I was bullied for being “fat”.

5 years ago I realized I couldn’t speak correctly, it all came out as slurs. I had no balance. I lost over 30 lbs in 2 months. I weighed 50 pounds less than I currently do. I was bullied for being “too skinny”. I was diagnosed with Graves Disease and Hyperthyroidism.

4 years ago I finally found help at the Cleveland Clinic and was able to go away to college.

3 years ago I started having the energy to go out on the weekends with my friends.

2 years ago I was living in NYC attending the Fashion School of my dreams.

1 year ago I started working out again and running like I did 10 years ago.

Currently, I am the happiest and healthiest I have ever been in my life. I still struggle with these chronic illnesses, but they will never win because I am a fighter.

September 28-Oct 4, 2015 is Invisible Illness Awareness Week. I fight daily, silently, and without any signs along with thousands of other people. With nearly 1 in 2 people living with a chronic condition, about 96% of those people are suffering silently with invisible illnesses. Point blank, it sucks. You can help make a difference by doing one simple thing; never mock a pain you have never endured. I look back on that girl in high school and wish I could tell her that her daily tears and wishes of it all to just come to an end aren’t worth it because life is beautiful and will get better. If you are fighting, just remember to smile because life is a fairy tale and it will end happily ever after, so if you’re not happy, just wait because it’s not the end.

9Sep2015

Go Out Broke, Come Back Drunk

Posted in Life Rantings by EmilyBracey

I would like to think that I am a girl of many talents, one of those talents are being single. It truly is a gift and I’m super good at it. I could get all gushy and tell you about how I have learned to love myself, blah blah blah, but I have more important information… How to get guys to buy you drinks without using brute force! I have three methods that work every time.

Method #1- This is all about timing and stalking your prey, as in the dude. Never go up to a guy who has a full drink, if you do, you’ll have to talk to him a lot more than necessary and who wants that? I use to ‘2’ rule. If there is less than two inches left in the glass, he still has time to get away and that would be a waste of your efforts. 2, that should be how many drinks he’s on, typically. If he’s on his 11th this trick doesn’t work so well because your man is about to be in a coma. Anyway, when he has two inches of his drink left in his glass or bottle is the perfect time to approach him. This works best with guys you don’t know very well, so you can do the basic introductions, “hi, how are you” ect. Let time do the rest and wait for him to finish his drink. Once he does, like the compulsive guy he is, he wont be able to stand with an empty drink for more than 3 minutes. He’ll say something like, “I need to get another drink” and 9/10 times that is followed by “do you want me to get you one?” or if you’re from an area like me the guy will awkwardly nod his head, look at your glass and say, “ya good?”

Method #2- If you like shots (and who doesn’t?) this one is for you! It’s pretty simple, like a guy’s brain. After midnight there is always that one guy who is too drunk and insists on buying all his friends shots. FIND HIM! Don’t come on too strong, he might think your eye contact is the start of a new relationship. When he’s at the bar ordering his shots, gently go up net to him making it look like you’re ordering another drink. Let’s get real, you’re not because you spent your drink money on the jukebox to play “Shake It Off” for the 5th time. Next, tap is arm or nudge him and say, “so which one is for me?” More than likely he’ll get nervous and actually think he offered to buy you a shot earlier because he’s so drunk. There ya go!

Method #3- Finally, I call this the Lindsey Method because I learned this from my best friend, Lindsey. She is a genius! It has a 100% success rate! (This works best at a busy bar) It’s almost like a combination of the two previous methods. Find a guy who is buying a drink by himself, for himself. If he is buying this for his girlfriend, I’m not responsible for her ripping your hair extensions out. Anyway, do not get his attention. Wait for that moment the bartender sets his drink down… and ya take it!

Cheers!

1Sep2015

2015 VMAs

Posted in Life Rantings by EmilyBracey

Well, it took me almost 48 hours to digest the 2015 Video Music Awards on MTV, but I finally did and that’s all that matters. Every year lately seems to be more shocking than the previous years and with that comes a lot of haters. Before I wrap up my favorite parts of the VMAs, I just want to give my own public service announcement. As I scrolled through my social media during the VMAs I saw a lot of disgust, mainly from older generations. I find this completely unnecessary. MTV has never promoted this award show as a family show and it will never be a family show. I don’t think I watched it for the first time until I was 17, to be honest. Parents, look at the host. Miley Cyrus is crazy! Don’t get me wrong, I love her! But why would you think your ten year old should be able to watch anything hosted by her? Stick to the teen choice awards, there is nothing wrong with that.

My favorite part of the VMAs? Kanye West’s speech! If that wasn’t your favorite part, you really need to grow a funny bone because it was hilarious! In 15 minutes, he talked about his family, orange juice at the super market, his leather shirt at baseball games, being a winner, being a loser, being really stoned at the moment, and he said he was going to run for president in 2020… Yet he said nothing and that was the best part. I am a firm believer that Kanye always comes with good intentions and I think this was still one of those moments. The problem with the speech; he inspired himself SO much, that now he is running for president in 2020.

I could make this blog my longest one yet, so to spare you wasting 13 years of your life, I’m only going to touch on one more subject. Taylor Swift. If you know me, you know I love her and her music. Her album 1989 got me through my breakup and made me content with being the awesome single gal I am. Anyway, recently Miley Cyrus was interviewed and was talking some smack about my girl T-Swift. To sum it all up, Miley said that she didn’t understand why people consider her a bad influence just because she is always naked and openly on drugs. She tried to say that Taylor is really the bad influence because of her latest music video, Bad Blood, shows girls with weapons and clearly promotes violence. Wrong, Miley. It supports girl power. I love you both, but I’m on Taylor’s side for this one. As Taylor accepted the music video of the year award she said, “There’s been a lot of discussion about this video and what it means, but I’m just happy that in 2015, we live in a world where boys can play princesses and girls can play soldiers,” Pure poetry, Taylor!

17Jun2015

Focus on the Good

Posted in Life Rantings by EmilyBracey

To be honest, I wasn’t too fond of 2015 at first. Within the first week I thought the good life I have had was falling apart. I didn’t realize at the time what a blessing it all truly was.

What changed? My attitude. My best friend gave me some of the best advice I have ever been given; “Be selfish for once. Put yourself first for once. Just focus on you and don’t care about other people so much.” It took some time, but once I did, everything began falling in place. “A bad attitude can literally block love, blessings, and destiny from finding you. Don’t be the reason you don’t succeed.” Just a quote I found on Pinterest, but I love it! I have never been so focused on my present and future. I have been blessed with knowing what I wanted to do for my career since I was ten, and because of that it has turned into my passion.

There are reasons things “go wrong” in life, but really it all will work out in the end. And if things aren’t right, it’s not the end. 🙂

27Feb2015

It’s Tearing our Country Apart…

Posted in Fashion, Life Rantings by EmilyBracey

*UPDATE* It’s actually a really ugly dress anyway you see it.

The dress debate. You have to had heard about it by now. Started on a random girl’s tumblr and has now spread over every type of social media and news broadcast you can think of, even Fox News. Last night at the bar all I heard was “blue and black or gold and white? Blah, blah blah..” If you are still reading this and have absolutely no idea what I am talking about, let me explain. A picture was taken of a random dress that a random girl bought. Her and her friends could not agree on the colors of the dress as seen in the picture. It wasn’t just a “it’s teal or jade” debate; one girl saw a blue and black dress and the other saw a white and gold dress. Basically, once it hit social media everyone started getting very heated about which color they saw. Even celebrities took to twitter and thought they were helping by sawing what color they saw.

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I was really expecting Kanye to say he saw purple and neon emotions or something weird like that…

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Ariana just got angry…

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I agree with Taylor on one thing, it’s a trick.

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I personally saw white and gold until Justin posted this. Now I see blue and black. Justin is ALWAYS right.

What colors do you see?

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26Feb2015

Team Giuliana Rancic for Life!

Posted in Fashion, Life Rantings by EmilyBracey

Monday nights newest episode of The Fashion Police on the E channel was all about the 2015 Oscars and of course someone got offended. Giuliana Rancic made a comment about Zendaya’s “look” and Zandaya went right to social media like a mature adult and wrote all about it. For those of you who have no idea who Zendaya is or what she wore, basically Rancic was referring to her very bohemian style and dreadlocks on the red carpet when she said Zendaya looked like “she smells like patchouli oil or weed”. Zendaya looked drop dead gorgeous in her gown, but I can not remember anyone ever sporting dreadlocks at the Oscars, and that was really what Rancic was getting at. The Oscars has always been very old Hollywood glamorous, so the dreadlocks (even though they looked amazing) just threw everyone off. Not to mention Giuliana isn’t from America and understands how hurtful stereotyping and racism can be. When has she ever said anything offensive in the past? Lemme think… Never.

More important issues when it came to the Oscars though:

Joan Rivers was not in the Oscar 2015 Memorial video and that is not okay. Still being on team Ranic, I agree with her comments on this issue completely!

Rancic lifted up both of her middle fingers and said: “And screw them (the Academy) anyway for leaving Joan out of the In Memoriam segment.”

You’re my girl, G! Keep being you!

25Feb2015

There’s Nothing Real About Reality

Posted in Fashion, Life Rantings, NYC by EmilyBracey

TV, that is. Over Valentine’s Day weekend I made a trip to the Big Apple to audition for the second season of a fashion reality show on the E Network. In general, reality TV looks fun, but this one really caught my eye because it was basically a competition to become the global ambassador of the company brand. After watching every episode of the first season I felt it was very sincere and unlike all other reality shows. So, I filled out the lengthy application with great excitement and waited for a reply. Less than a week later I received an e-mail saying that they would like me to create a 5 minute long video basically saying everything I already answered in the original application. With the help of friends and family I whipped up a video showcasing my personality, style, and answered all of their questions. Four days later I received another email saying that they would like me to come to NYC for an interview in one week. I was SO ecstatic! After reading all the information I was under the impression that I was going to a professional job interview. The email suggested bringing any work with me, i.e. a portfolio. For the next 6 days I learned EVERYTHING and ANYTHING there was to know about this company, all the names of their dresses, the past 6 collections, the board of trustees, ect.. I turned into a walking encyclopedia for this design house. On top of all that work, I took off a week at my job to redo my entire portfolio and fashion journal. My bank account was also pretty stressed out too after purchasing a new portfolio case, getting my nails done, buying a dress from the company, and going to NYC in general.

Saturday morning comes along and I am all ready. I show up around 11:30am and see about fifteen other girls waiting in line, which I expected. By noon there had to of been over 200 girls. By one o’clock, none of us had been seen. Mind you, it was under 10 degrees. So, finally they explain the “audition process”. One would think they would take us on a first come, first serve basis. Of course not! Let’s pull random people from the line who look like they read every issue of Women’s Wear Daily and poured every trend in the past 10 years all over them. At about 3:30pm (still standing outside) they probably met with a dozen girls and then finally decided to move us inside so we didn’t freeze to death. On the bright side, some guys from the crew went to Starbucks and got us all hot chocolate, but when it comes to air it’s going to look like the girls who work there got it. Heaven forbid! After another hour of waiting I finally had that two minute group interview! All they asked me, “What do you do?”. And on to the next group of frozen fashionistas…

I’m not really let down about the whole experience, more baffled. If I would have known to wear high strappy stilettos, striped old socks underneath them, cargo pants, and look miserable standing in line (which apparently means your edgy?) I would have done so. But silly me, I took it seriously.

And still I smile 🙂

Where Did the Summer Go?

Seriously, when did I blink and have two seasons flash before my eyes? The severity of this situation is probably more dramatic than it should be because I just got back from a fabulous vacation! Las Vegas! Three days ago I was laying out on a rooftop, under a cabana, pool side. This morning my hair froze because Western NY decided two weeks of Autumn is two weeks too long. Western NY? Yes, I moved back home after graduation. Why? Because I was blessed with an awesome job in retail at Chautauqua Institution. Plus, my boss is hands down better than yours. Don’t you fret, Big Apple, I’ll be back before you know it. As for this summer: My mornings at the gym, long days at work, and nights at the bars all contribute to me only opening my Laptop five times since my last post. The past few months have flown by, but my list of “what am I going to blog about because I’m not in NYC right now” is pretty lengthy… Tutorials, DIYs, life rantings, stories, experiences and more; they will all be blowing up your inbox these next few days. I have a lot to say and as usual I’ll be very opinionated about it all. Hope all is well with you, dear reader! Stay fabulous!! XOXO