Beauty Tuesday: Grad Edition ~ S is for …

Is having my stats cat on my grad gear bad luck? I didn’t ask for it… She just jumped on before I tried it on!

☼Summer☼ ~ when Shifts & Skaters are in season!

Leave it to this Angel Annie to always come through … all over the place!

Now that I’ve received {drum roll please} …

2 lessons that I teach & practice: (1) Visualization ~ Walking across the stage (2) Self-Fulfilling Prophecy ~ Taking the steps toward reaching this goal

… my doctorate graduation regalia …

Business in the front … Party in the back!

… and accompanying dresses (including the one for my dissertation defense), these are my pieces that I plan to feature in my doctoral grad announcement photos in solid shades that I ♥adore♥:

Shift Dress (more forgiving / less flattering straight silhouette) in Coral (to suit my stylist Dr. Garza‘s taste): Spaghetti Strap Slip underneath Crocheted Lace Overlay * Skater Dress (more figure-framing A-line short skirt) in Mint (close enough to fulfill my Tiffany blue obsession): Strapless Slip layered under Sleeveless Scoopneck Sparkly Silver Lurex Fishnet

✌Both Dresses by Charlotte Russe

Now if only I can pair

• the peach with Soda platforms like I had in H.S.
• the mint with Stilettos by one of my fave ♪singers♪ ♫Gwen Stefani♫ 

This coral shift dress pairs well with these rose gold chunky heels {by Forever  21}! #PrettyInPink

But I could make do with my own!

I can rock out this mint skater dress with these just-as-*sparkly* stiletto heels {by A’Gaci O’Shoes}! #MintyFresh

Since I plan to drive around for my photo shoot, I’ll wear these comfy gladiators in between venues!

Both dresses coordinate with the stones in these gladiator sandals ~ which mi Cuñada and I both picked out for ourselves together!

S also is for …

Suits!

#SoFreshAndSoClean

Beauty Tuesday: Fall Haul

Happy Five-Year ♥Anniversary♥ to my Truck ☼SUNSHINE☼!!!

☼Sunshine☼ looks pristine!

She’s still as beautiful as can be and has sustained the pain beyond the rain, from sleet and snow to hurricanes and hail storms, without damage (knock on wood ~ as in my luxury wood dash trim interior)!

“It’s got 4-wheel drive, dual-side air bags & a monster [hit high-pitch] ♪sound♫ system!” ~ Alicia Silverstone as Cher on Clueless {mine makes the last 2-out-of-3}

Although we’re freshly into ☼summer☼, I tend to think ahead …

… Especially since I anticipate my dissertation defense.

While I’ve already planned what to wear on my BiG day right down to my footwear (yet still debatable), I’m wondering about plaid since it’ll be the look of next season.

I already know that I can *rock out* plaid! Just what the future Doctor ordered: these Doc Martens! {FYI: I have my phone screen shot for a reason ~ to show that I maintain Airplane Mode to prevent distractions during my study}

Perhaps I can go with one of these trendsetting patterns for my graduation photos that I’ll send with my announcements. Come to think of it, I really am treating this like I’m tying the knot! Here are similarities:

Courtship of Dissertation –> Doctoral Degree	Engagement –> Wedding
Proposal (Concept, Defense)	Popping the Question
Wearing my Class Ring on my Left Finger *BLING*	Wearing an Engagement Ring on the Left Finger *BLING*
Committing to my Research Topic	Committing to Partner
Pre-Dissertation Coursework	Pre-Marital Classes
Selecting Dissertation Dress*	Selecting Bridal Gown
Selecting Grad Announcement Wardrobe	Selecting Engagement Announcement Wardrobe
Getting into/Staying in Shape for Events	<– Same as the left –|
Writing Dissertation (way longer to write and present)	Writing Wedding Vows (shorter to present)
Walking Across the Stage	Walking Down the Aisle
Getting Hooded	Getting Hitched
Changing Name to Dr. ________________	Changing Name to Mrs. ________________

* Bearing in mind that I’m picking out how to dress for this milestone, I’m deciding between something stylish or timeless. Someday, as I flip through my Ph.D. grad pics to reminisce or show them to future generations, I must look put-together and NOT like a hot mess! ~ I definitely don’t want to reflect back and think

What was I thinking?

Like Ellen DeGeneres reveals on her throwback segments!

Despite the serious nature of my study and my own detail-orientation of my appearance for my final presentation, I can’t help but find fun in everything to lift my spirits, including with this clip:

Throwback: Papa Jun and Baby Me appear here on page 8 of the June 2015 issue of Blessed Living Magazine!