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for the love of fashion

This Friday, I went to the 2nd annual College Town Kent’s For the Love of Fashion, fashion show! It showed all of the 2016 spring trends that all of the stores in downtown Kent, Ohio will have in stock.

Isn’t this such a cute idea? Wait, it gets better…

College Town Kent, which is a business that markets everything that downtown Kent has to offer to the student of Kent State and the Kent community, hosts a competition between all of the sororities at Kent to see which sorority the money from the show will go to from the ticket sales for the show.

This year the sorority that won was Alpha Xi Delta (AXiD)! Their philanthropy is Autism Speaks. Last year, I loved going to this event, and I know that many others did too since Kent State is number two for fashion merchandising and number four for fashion design in the country.

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The show opened up with looks form UniversiTEES. They showcased all of the various new Kent State apparel and accessories they are offering.

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We could see the models having a great time walking down the runway! There was even some “Dabbing” as you can see in the photo above! My favorite piece from UniversiTEES is the sweatshirt about that says “Home” but the letter O is replaced with the state of Ohio!
CTKFeatured next was Gracylane. The models walked down the runway in all black while featuring all of the latest accessories from brands such as Vera Bradley, Kate Spade and S’well water bottles.

I am definitely need one of the new umbrellas that they were featuring from Vera Bradley’s new collection, because spring in Kent= rain, rain and you guessed it- more rain!

The coolest part of the show was next…

One Love Yoga, a yoga studio and boutique, performed yoga positions down the runway. It was amazing to see the clothing presented in a way that wasn’t just twirling around.

A major trend that was appearing during their time on the runway was tie dye tights! IMG_0878

You go girl! This is amazing, I can only imagine how nervous she was holding this pose in a room full of people.

And finally of the boutiques that were featured was Carnaby Street Style, a London-inspired boutique. The owner, Emma is from England wanted to bring some of her home country to Kent, Ohio.

Their store really featured a ton of pieces that really captivated the 2016 Pantone Colors of the Year: Rose Quartz and Serenity.

Colored jeans, colored hates and floral dresses rocked the runway!

My favorite look from Carnaby Street Style was this fun duo!

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Every model from the show had their hair done by Rush by Dino Palmeri, my favorite salon in Kent! They also had a spot in the show. They named the top hair trends for 2016 are going to be: soft, sun kissed and natural colored hair!

If you’re looking for a great salon that has great prices, Rush is definitely your place.

After the show, they had a mini boutique where you were able to shop the looks of the show. I left with an awesome burnt orange floppy hat from Carnaby Street Style and a necklace that is handmade from the brand One Million Wonders from One Love Yoga.

I had an amazing time at the show and I am already looking forward to 2017’s show.

Did you go to the show? Please share your experience with me!

I hope you had a Happy Monday

 

XODanieSparkle

 

This was not sponsored content, all opinions are my own. 

Your Skin Is In!

Skin cancer is something I have become increasingly passionate about.

When I was going into 10th grade, I was diagnosed with atypical nevi. What does that mean? It means that I had moles that were genetically predisposed to melanoma. I had to have surgery to remove the area of skin. They numbed my back and I was awake during the entire procedure. I was so nervous for the procedure that my mom sat in the surgery with me (I don’t know how she was able to stomach watching them cut into my back). I left that surgery that day with somewhere around 250 stitches.

Here is a picture of my scars on my back from when I had surgery. This was taken today.

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You can only imagine the pain of that surgery.

Melanoma is the second most common form of cancer for teens and young adults ages 15-29 (SO scary, right?!), however it is one of the most preventable and curable!

But just because it is one of the most curable, that does not mean that you should go and start tanning because your risk goes up by 59% for melanoma after the first time using a tanning bed before the age of 35.

Instead, what you should do is go and sign the #Yourskinisin pledge campaign launched by the Melanoma Foundation of New England.  This pledge is to promise to protect your skin because later in your life you don’t want to have to go through surgeries that leave you with 250 stitches.

Do you know if you’re at risk for melanoma?

  • Being a white male over the age of 50
  • Having other family members who have had melanoma
  • Having atypical nevi (what I had when I was in 10th grade)
  • Being born with mole(s)
  • Ultravioliet (UV) light exposure (tanning in a bed and outdoors) 

UV lights are: UVA, UVB and UVC. UCV rays are the most harmful to us. But not to worry! They are blocked by our ozone layer, so they can’t reach us.

This does not mean that UVA and UVB are not harmful though. UVB rays are what causes sunburn and UVA rays are what causes tanning. Both of these cause skin cancer though.

So basically… the more you tan and burn, the greater your chances for skin cancer are!!!

The Your Skin Is In Campaign will begin in January 2016 but you can take the pledge NOW. I did, so you should too!

If you are worried about your exposure to the sun or a tanning bed, you should look for the ABCDE signs for skin cancer.  The signs are the characteristics how a mole can change!

A-  Asymmetrical Shape

B- Borders

C- Color

D- Diameter

*E- Evolution (How the mole has changed over time)

Evolution is the most important for catching skin cancer before it can lead to melanoma!

Another reason to want to protect your skin aside from skin cancer is we don’t want wrinkles sooner than we have to! 😉  

Go take the pledge now! For more information on Melanoma and the Your Skin Is campaign visit:

www.Yourskinisin.org

www.Facebook.com/melanomafdnne

XODanieSparkle

 

*This post is brought to you by the Melanoma Foundation and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. 

Thrifty Thursday: Summer to Fall Bag!

So, Defining Danie reader’s, it’s been a while. I’ve missed you all! School has been more than hectic, which is why I haven’t blogged in what feels like a lifetime.

Look at this amazing purchase that I found. The bag was originally $45 and at Goodwill it was being sold for $17, and then I got the student discount and ended up getting the bag for $15!

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This week’s Thrifty Thursday is based on a bag I found a few weeks ago that was originally from Target. Orange can go for either summer or fall, but adding this scarf definitely adds more a fall-feel. The bag was brand new and I bought it from Goodwill in Kent, Ohio. Goodwill and Target have a partnership where the Goodwill sells the clothing/accessories not sold during the time that they were being sold in Target so they have another chance to be sold again. The clothing/accessories are sold for a cheaper price than they would be sold in Target.

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Although the oranges are not the same, the scarf and bag still complement one-another. The bag has more of a coral undertone and the scarf has a darker orange, magenta, yellow and various colors of taupe! I love the scarf, which I got for only $1.00!

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Take a look inside this bag! It even has the perfect compartment for pencils and lipstick. 😉 And the polka dots are a lovely touch.

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Incorporating thrifted items into your daily outfits is not hard at all! It was a coincidence that I was actually wearing was thrifted over the summer.

I hope everyone is having a lovely start to fall!

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Happy Birthday, Defining Danie!

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I cannot believe it is already Definingdanie.com’s birthday. This first year of blogging has been unimaginable. Defining Danie has opened so many doors and friendships, that I could not imagine not having anymore. I really would like to thank everyone who has supported me through this first year. Thank you for every share, like and follow!

I have definitely learned so much about blogging and about myself through this year-long journey. I cannot wait to see what is next on my journey of the online world! Who knows? If there is anything new that you would love to see on Defining Danie, you have to let me know!

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The number one thing that I think has improved since my first post is my use of exclamation points, haha! (Whoops, I guess that was necessary though…) I think that I was so excited when I first started that I thought that everything just HAD to have one.

Make sure you’re connected at all times!

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New season, new Me!

I cannot believe how long it has been since I have posted a blog post. I missed you all!

I am nearing the end of my spring break. I had a fun start to my spring break! I went to Canada with my sister and best friend for the weekend, and then we drove back to Maryland for the remainder of the break. We went to Windsor, Ontario. It was absolutely adorable for a weekend.

Yesterday, I went to a new salon and had the best hair cut/color I have ever had! If you are in the Annapolis, Md. area, you must go to see Virginia at Possibilities Salon in Crofton, Md.

Before Hair:

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After Hair:

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I went BLONDE! I love it so much. I have always wanted to go this light with my hair, but I was too nervous. I can’t imagine having any other hair color now.

I bought this adorable cup at Target! Tell me it’s not adorable!

I missed you all!

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Event in Kent, Ohio!

Hi everyone! There is a really fun event coming up this Friday from 6-8! I am hosting this event along with a few friends!

The event is called “Thrift Night Out”! Remember that really adorable Goodwill boutique that I wrote about last week? Well, that’s where the event is!

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New Thrifting Store: Blue Boutique!

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Who doesn’t love combining fashion and hot deals? My friend Elise and I went last week to blue/ A Goodwill®Boutique / that carries upscale women and men’s clothing. I am in love with this store and have already been back six times!

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In the picture above, my friend Elise bought this BCBG jacket for only $15! The prices are hard to beat. The most expensive item in the store is $45, which are the real fur jackets (yes I said REAL FUR)! I bought an adorable Ellen Tracy faux-fur vest for $6.

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I also bought the black lace shirt underneath. The shirt with the vest is such a cute combo, and blue has many styles like this. Here are some other cute looks that Elise and I put together (notice the awesome art that is on their walls!):

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As you can tell from my photos, I am obsessed with the poncho-style capes. No matter the look you want to go for, blue has the options for you.
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Make sure to visit next time you’re in Kent!

Their address is:

118 E. Main Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Phone: 330-677-2525

Monday – Thursday:  10 am – 8 pm
Friday – Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm
Sunday:  12 pm – 5 pm

xodanie2

Thrifty Thursday… on a Sunday!

My Finds at the Goodwill in Akron, Ohio! This week I went to the Goodwill that is on Waterloo Rd! 

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Hello Everyone!

I am so sorry for posting my Thrifty Thursday so late! This weekend has been rough. But, have no fear, it is here now!

Let’s start off with the red vest with my monogram. If you read my post last week, you would see that the vest itself only cost me $4! Then, I took it to my favorite monogram shop The Dragonfly in downtown Kent, Oh. The gold thread I chose to get was absolutely perfect for this vest. It really completes it, and it was only $7. YAY! I have already worn this vest three times and it is only Sunday, haha!

Next, are the two button downs! One of my favorite fall looks this year is wearing a button down with a sweater over top with a statement necklace! It is a classic-look! Here’s what I mean, if you’re not sure what I mean:

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I usually wear jeans or leggings and of course some cute boots!

During this trip, I also bought a really pretty frame. I needed one for my certificate I received a couple of weeks ago from my sorority, Chi Omega! The pretty frame was only $2. Frames can get pretty pricey and if you look in Goodwill you will definitely be able to find some awesome frames!

YES YOU DID JUST SEE A FOSSIL PURSE! Guess how much I bought that REAL Fossil purse! $3.40. It was originally marked to be sold for $15.00, but the sales clerk thought that was too expensive for me to pay, so I got a HUGE bargain on this bag! You can say that I am SUPER DOOPER EXCITED. 🙂

And finally, I found this really adorable teal blazer. For my sorority chapter meetings, we wear business casual each week, so, a blazer is a must.

This week, my total at Goodwill was $18.00!

Again, I am so sorry that this post took me forever to put up, I hope you enjoyed this week’s finds! Check out my post next week!

XOXO,

Danie

Thrifty Thursday!!

IMG_3143My Awesome finds this week:

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This week, I had the opportunity to going to two different thrift stores for my Thrifty Thursday! I went with my friend Marie! We went to the Goodwill in Akron, Ohio and we also went to Value Discount Outlet, which is also in Akron, Ohio!

The sweater and the ADORABLE Kent State pajama pants are from my stop at Goodwill. For those of you who don’t know, I go to Kent State, so I thought these pajamas were a must-have! 🙂 …And they just so happened to be my size, so of course I “needed” them!

I am always constantly in need of a white cardigan, but I never find one that I like and yesterday I found this Ann Taylor one that was perfect! It was also a great price for Ann Taylor! (Also, check out Ann Taylor’s website, they are having a great sale right now!)  At Goodwill, I spent a total of $5.50! I saved a little money at Goodwill too with my student discount! I also have a Goodwill card that I rack points on. Make sure the next time you’re at your local Goodwill to sign-up for one! They are so worth it. When you reach 100 points (which is so easy for me! LOL), you receive 35% off of your purchase! You get a point per dollar.

At the next stop, Value Discount Outlet, I found some of my favorite things I have ever found while thrifting! I love love love the red shirt with the white flowers! It’s my favorite material to wear.

Then, I found the grey workout pants! They are Champion brand, which is sold at a number of places, but I usually see it at Target!

At Discount stores, they usually have a “Color of the Day.” This means that the color tag that is on your clothing will be 50% off when it is that “Color of the Day.”

Yesterday, at VDO, the color tags of the day were yellow and green! So, you can see that the items that I picked up had yellow tags meaning that the items I bought were all 50% off! At VDO I only spent $11!

A very exciting piece of clothing that I found was:

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This adorable vest is Craft & Barrow brand! Craft & Barrow is sold at Kohl’s!

GUESS WHAT EVERYONE! I took this picture right before I dropped off the vest to get monogramed at The Dragonfly in downtown Kent, Ohio! The Dragonfly (who you should like on Facebook!) will monogram anything your little hearts desire for $5! They have so many color and script choices, it is almost overwhelming! I could sit in there all day and think of the different pairings that you can get!

This time I chose to get a gold monogram! You can see on the tag for this vest that it was $8, but at VDO, green was one of the tags that were 50% off! So, I bought the vest for $4! And then, my monogram was $5! So, I got this customized-monogramed vest for only $9!!!!!!!! YAYAY!

I will post pictures as soon as I get the vest back!

Thanks for checking out my blog!

XO,

Danie

Thrifty Thursday Halloween Style!

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This past week I asked to be challenged to go out to find certain things while thrifting! One of the challenges was to go out and find a Halloween costume! So, I decided to go out and find a “Home-made” costume and one that was store-made. The items that I bought were only $14. If you were to go out and buy either of these costumes at a Halloween store I promise you will spend over $30. I personally think “Home-made” costumes are always so much cuter and original!

My “Home-made” costume if you couldn’t tell was inspired by Rosie the Riveter! I love her! Plus, her look is simple, and everyone will be able to tell what you are. I did add some of my own clothing in this. But, I bought the things that you also may have to go out to purchase! I bought the jean shirt and the “headband” for my first look! I looked all around Goodwill to see if they had Rosie’s signature red and white polka dotted headband but… I didn’t have any luck. So, I thought outside of the box and went to look in the men’s tie area and bought one that was super close to Rosie’s! Underneath of the jean shirt I just wore a basic V-neck and Jeans with combat boots! I feel like Rosie would wear these two things, especially because they were not the “norm” for women of her time.

Next, for my store bought costume I found this adorable lady bug costume! Please guess how much it was… If you guess $10, then you were correct. I was bummed that Goodwill did not have any antennas. 🙁  But I left the cute red headband on. But, if I were to wear this on Halloween I would go out and buy antennas to complete my look. On the back of the costume there are cute little wings!

I love both of these costumes but, I have to say that I love my Rosie the Riveter one a little bit more! 🙂

I hope you all will think about Thrifting your Halloween costumes this year, I promise it will save you an arm and a leg! I would love to see the costumes that you all find! Please share the pictures with me on Facebook on my page Defining Danie or on Twitter/Instagram @Danieminor13!

Hope you all enjoyed this weeks themed Thrifty Thursday!

XO,

Danie

We_Can_Do_It!