{ ...And everything and everyone in the kingdom lived happily ever thereafter...ish. }

Bye Bye, Google Reader! How to Keep All Your Favorite RSS Feeds! (And Stay Up To Date With thereafterish.!)

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Mae

So, in case you’ve been living under a ginormous rock without your smart devices, let me tell you that Google Reader is going kaput, deadsies, zilched, finito, GOING-GOING-GONE on July 1st. When Google announced the demise of the simple, 1.0 style, yet much beloved RSS aggregator back in March, one could practically hear the collective horrified screams from hundreds of thousands of frustrated bloggers the whole blogosphere over.

At that time, with just three months before the ultimate departure of the world’s most popular RSS reader, a big gaping hole was left for someone to step up to the game and into some very big shoes. Now we’re down to about two weeks left, and the clock is ticking.

So how do you save your Google Reader RSS feeds or stay subscribed to your favorite blogs without losing the organization you’ve so meticulously curated in Reader? No worries! We have options. TWO.

{ How to Keep Your Favorite Google RSS Feeds After Google Reader Goes Kaput! }

{ Stay up to date with thereafterish.! Add me in your favorite new reader options! }

Right after the Big Announcement that Google was pulling a major dick move by pulling the plug on our favorite RSS reader, I took to, well, Google, to search for a suitable replacement. Of course, I considered migrating my favorite subscriptions–all several thousand something of them (yes, seriously) to Bloglovin’, the Fashion Blogger’s darling created by the darling of a Fashion Blogosphere Darling (AKA Matthias Swenson and Carolina Engman of Fashion Squad). But then I thought better of it. More on Bloglovin’ later!

Numerous tech blogs and reputable gadget and nerd sites actually recommended Feedly, which allows users to sign in via Google and import RSS feeds intact directly into Feedly. The integration into Feedly from Google Reader is actually seamless: All your folders and favorites and reader counts are exactly the same at the moment of import. It’s totally brill, and my pick for the most righteous alternative to what’s been the Golden Standard for years.

Feedly is available as a browser app for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IOS, Android. As long as you sign in before Google Reader dies on July 1st, 2013, you can migrate to Feedly with the simple press of a button.

{ Feedly’s browser app immediately gives you the option to import directly from Google prior to July 1st. }

Press the “Import Your Google Reader” button when you install the app in your browser, then sign into your Google Account and authorize Feedly’s migration app.

{ Sign in with your Google account to seamlessly import all your favorites into Feedly. No hassle. }

That’s it! That’s all you have to do! BOOM!

When the Google Reader melt-down date comes, you will experience a reset of your RSS Feed counts as Feedly’s self-sustained synching technology detaches from Reader. After that, your RSS feeds will still be in the happy, organized place you had them, if only with read counts a little off.

For the most part, Feedly functions a lot like Reader, except faster, and with Social Sharing to our favorite platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Linked In, etc. It even kind of looks like Reader on the home screen, but with a sleeker, faster interface.

{ Feedly’s home screen is a decidedly sleeker take on Reader’s simple 1.0 interface. }

Here are more details on how to keep all your favorite Google Reader RSS subscriptions with Feedly:

Transitioning from Google Reader to Feedly
Feedly Launches Cloud Before Google Reader Shutdown
Feedly Gets Its Own Syncing Service, Detaches You From Google

{ Don’t forget to subscribe to thereafterish. by using Feedly’s search function to add me! }

Don’t forget to subscribe to your favorite weirdo Fashion/Hawaii Life Blogger! Click the “+ Add Content” button on the left sidebar, and type in my blog name “thereafterish.,” and you’ll be able to subscribe when my blog pops up in the search results.

Feedly is [obviously] my new reader of choice.

But then, of course, there’s Bloglovin’–choice of Fashion Bloggers the world and blogosphere over–which also offers an option to import your Google Reader subscriptions.

{ Bloglovin’ has a Google Reader import function. }

I also performed this function just to see if Bloglovin’ could live up to Feedly’s functionality and easy to navitage interface. The integration was easy enough, however, and worked fine. My RSS folders were there, surprisingly, but the read/unread counts were off.

The home feed displays the summary view/truncated view of a blog post along with a small thumbnail from the post.

{ Bloglovin’s adorable, but frustratingly brief home feed. }

What I don’t like, is that it’s ONLY the summary view. When you click on the title of the post, it immediately takes you to the site without expanding to the full post within Bloglovin’ the way Google Reader and Feedly do. I mean, it’s not a BAD thing–most bloggers will want the conversion and click over anyway. But that’s not the whole point of an RSS reader. You want to read the whole thing before you go over to the site to comment, right? You want everything in one place without having to navigate to multiple sites. (I.e., the whole concept behind an RSS aggregator.)

So that’s my gripe with Bloglovin’. I won’t be using it regularly, but I do still like it for keeping my very favorite fashion blogs in one place, and I’ll be using Feedly for everything and anything all together, including fashion feeds.

To perform the migration, click here:
http://www.bloglovin.com/import/reader
.

For more information on how to integrate to Bloglovin’ from Google Reader, read IFB’s article: “How to Move Your Google RSS Feed to Bloglovin’.”

Don’t forget to Subscribe to thereafterish. on Bloglovin’, if you decide to go with it…

So, yes! You can save your Google Reader Feed with Feedly or Bloglovin’. There are other options out there, but these two are the best ones I’ve found so far, and I don’t intend to do more looking. Whatever your choice, it all comes down to preference.

Let me know if you found this helpful! And if so, don’t forget to share this post to all those super good sharing tools (below) so your friends can help figure out what to do before July 1st!

Good luck, lovey!!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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Shoe Porn: Me and the Legendary Shoe

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Mae

Aloha, Lovecat,

If you’ve been reading me for awhile, you know I have an unhealthy emotional attachment to certain pairs of shoes.

{ Shoe Porn: Mae and Her Jeffrey Campbell Cage Heels }

thereafterish, ootd, hawaii style blog, shoe porn, cage heels

{ BUT DOSE SHOES DOH: THOSE JC Cage Heels }

This pair is no exception.

Let me tell you a little story.

Long ago, in a land far away from here, when I saw a pair of beautiful platform cage heels crowning the bronzed and beautiful gams of a gorgeous fashion blogger (Rumi), it was love at first [online] sight. I thought about them for days and weeks. I even might have had a dream or two about them; me traipsing about the streets, getting captured by street style photogs, me romping meadows (don’t ask me where I got this–I’m a city girl) with these stunners and a white lace eyelet dress and a flower crown, my girl friends and I sipping cocktails and staring at our mutual shoe porn envy… Yes, it was most definitely some kind of immediate shoe love.

After six months of vacillating, I bought them at an incredible mark-up at Urban Outfitters, but I honestly didn’t care about the (affordable, but over-priced) expense, because they were insanely comfortable, and distinctly different and edgier than anything I had in my wardrobe at the time (2007 or 2008). But, it was not to be in the Happily Ever After of Shoe Lovers History. After less than a year of wear, the pair of shoes and I went dancing, and, after that ill-fated but glorious night [at least I think it was glorious--I was more than intensely drunk for more than half of it, so I can't remember much at all other than snippets of memory of me teleporting around the three different clubs we went to], those shoes and I had to part ways. The shoes were broken to the core, and I was left heart broken, bereft of fabulous, unique and edgy shoes–a large gaping need was left in my closet with these splintered shoes as a painful reminder.

More than a year later, enter the Knock Offs. Not only were these a pale glimmer of the original, these were a copy of the ones I had bought, which they themselves were a rip-off of some other, unattainably-priced glittering fashion house original. These new shoes were, in so many ways, just like my first pair… but in so many others, not at all. Taller, less comfortable, decidedly of less quality construction. Yet I wore them and delighted in having them… if only to hail the cherished memories of the original.

I still love them. I don’t care if they’re too tall and the cheap wood of the soles emanates strange smells from time to time. They look almost exactly like their predecessors. In this case, although nothing is exactly the same as the original, it is certainly more–and better–than nothing at all.

Nowadays, though, after reaching the ripe old ThirtySomething age, I wear flats or flat sandals or even slippahs (as we call flip flops here in Hawaii) more often than I will slip on a heel. And, more often than not, that errant pair of heels I don are wedge heels, which, in terms of comfort, are SO much better than my beloved stilettos. All my favorite spiky 4 incher and aboves are boxed in clear boxes, looking down at me lovingly from their perch high up above my clothes in my closet, lying in wait ever-so-patiently for that rare day I choose one for that special Somewhere to Be With Minimal Walking Required. Gathering dust and age, these are relics of a different time… when I would stop at nothing to have and to hold the perfect pair of shoes.

I might be a completely different person now, but I still do adore THAT PAIR.

Oh, what a girl will do for her shoes.

THE END!

(Read the full, silly story HERE: “A Story About a Girl, Her Lipstick and a Journey With THAT Pair of Shoes.”)

{ Are you a shoe lover? What’s the weirdest or most extreme thing you’ve done for shoes? }

Rock on, Lover!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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Architecture of an Outfit: Two Dorks and Mint and Coral Color Block and Floral Maxi (Feat. EliSharon)

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Mae

Aloha kakahiaka! – Good morning, Lovecat! Ahh, Saturday!

Sharon of Eli*Sharon and I got a little dork-tastic in our summery garb when I visited Mau‘i last month. I rocked an outfit I’ve worn two or three times since this trip, because I was rather impressed with the mint and coral color blocking of the ensemble, and I totally suck at color blocking. And of course, I’m always in love with Shar’s incredible sense for color, as illustrated by her perfect floral maxi dress and denim combo.

{ Architecture of an Outfit: Two Dorks on a Sidewalk }

And, because we were such dorks and felt silly posing in front of a fancy French restaurant, we ended up making fun of ourselves as bloggers, and giggling away as our husbands shot away. As a result, we ended up with a ton of silly photos and only two normal ones.

thereafterish, elisharon, ootd, color block, floral maxi skirt, maui travel, mytravelgram

{ The only normal pose we got, I think? }

{ Close up details of the outfits… normal pose #2. }

thereafterish, elisharon, ootd, color block, floral maxi skirt, maui travel, mytravelgram, kate spade oh lala necklace, ariel gordon initial necklace

{ Initial necklaces, boobs and smiles. }

Now, time to make fun of blogger poses we often do.

{ Typical Blogger Poses 101. Her: The look away pose. Me: The hand on hair, look down, legs crossed pose. }

{ The turn away, head down, hand in your hair pose, and I’m just laughing and awkward. }

{ Action shot of us laughing because we couldn’t stop talking and be serious for one second. }

{ Shar forcing herself to stay still while I snort and giggle. }

{ Endless giggles. }

{ Hand and arm parties. }

{ Color blocking and matching outfits. }

{ Outfit Architecture }

Me: Zara coral pleated maxi skirt. (SIMILAR 1, SIMILAR 2. >J. Crew Vintage V neck T in mint. Target braided belt. Ariel Gordon gold Initial necklace (bday present from BFF Lily). Kate Spade Gold “Ooh La La” necklace (Sold out – SIMILAR). Gorjana Griffin leather color block clutch, won. (SIMILAR) Marc Jacobs heart locket watch (discontinued), (SIMILAR, same line). CC Skye gold screw bangle. CC Skye gold mini spike bangle.

Sharon: Floral Maxi Dress. Cropped denim jacket. Studded bowler bag. Silver crystal initial necklace. Heart ring. (All items similar to originals.)

Then her husband, Eli, stole my scarf. My husband and his mum (who came with us to Maui) got tired of watching us and waited for our fashion dorkery to end in the car. I wonder how many people passed us, wondering “what the heck?” #Dontcaretossmyhair

{ Eli, AKA the Pirate, AKA Uncle Pirate, workin’ his scarf tying skills with my star scarf. }

Although we ran into each other earlier in the day wearing completely different outfits, all of us ended up doing costume changes and showed up to dinner in Lahaina town with somehow matching ensembles. Me in mint and coral color block and a maxi skirt and her wearing floral maxi with warm tones that matched my skirt! Awww, bestie mind meld.

{ Ran into them earlier in the day at Whole Foods… Cutest couple… fiercest couple eva! }

I love my bestie.

{ BFFs. }

If you’re ever wondering what hanging out with Sharon and me is like, just refer back to this post. Giggles, outfit shots, great food and lots of horsing around. We’re fun. TRUST.

Ok. It’s, like, 3:30AM and I need to rest up for my hike. Hope your weekend is BLISSFUL, FULL OF ADVENTURE, or BOTH.

Rock on, Lover!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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Architecture of an Outfit Preview: Goofy Summer Color Blocking and Florals (feat. EliSharon)

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Mae

Aloha, Friends,

I was kind of late on the uptake last night (fell into a mental stupor after I got home, and didn’t get up to work on the blog). Instead of blogging, I did laundry, ate dinner, walked the dog and cleaned up the dining room. All in all productive.

But, since I am working on this during my lunch break, I’d better make this quick! I have good things in store for you this weekend, I promise. (Probably published during dindin.)

{ Architecture of an outfit OUTTAKES… DORKERY with colorblocking, Ugly Face (me), Beautiful Florals, and my fantastic best friend Sharon. }

{ Besties. }

{ Dorkery = Two Dorks Sitting in a… Taking outfit shots in front of a resto }

{ Uncle Pirate stole my scarf. He is good at Dorkery, too. }

{ I’m an expert at Ugly Face. }

So you’re seeing kind of what our outfits look like here, but I’ll give you more detail in tomorrow’s style post (plus links to similar pieces as per uzh), and expound on my how to find happiness by doing things that scare you musings on Sunday’s Post.

See what I meant about Ugly Face? I’m a pro.

HAPPY ALOHA FRIDAY, LOVES!

Rock on, Lover!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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Day in the Life: Night Hiking Koko Head and Honolulu Skyline

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Mae

Aloha, Lovecats,

If you’re making vacation plans to come to Hawaii you might want to try out something a little less touristy and try hiking Koko Head in East Oahu near the legendary Hanauma Bay.

{ Day in the Life: Koko Head Rematch and a Night Hike Virgin De-virginized }

From the top of Koko Head, an eastern volcano vent cone on Oahu less famous than its super popular (but much shorter) big sister, Diamond Head, you can get an amazing view of East Honolulu, the Marina town of Hawaii Kai, parts of Hanauma Bay and epic sunsets over the city.

If done in the evening, the sunsets blaze golden, peach, lilac and scarlet over the Honolulu skyline, the outline of Diamond Head in the distance, and the sloping ridges of the Ko‘olau Mountain Range that separates the south shore from the east shore (actually the remnants of the single super large Ko‘olau Volcano).

And, if you guessed from my vlog… this has something to do with this Monday’s post about doing something that scares you.

More tomorrow. Hoping you’re still open to the idea of doing something that scares you witless. It’s worth it. Happiness is born when you challenge yourself to do things you keep telling yourself you can’t do… but is within reach, and reasonably enough to do, if you just push yourself. Just extend a LITTLE beyond your comfort zone and you’ll see what you can accomplish. And you will find happiness along the way!

This weekend: May’s Favorites – Beauty, Skin and Fashion and stuff Hawaii-related. (I know, I know, it’s almost July already…)

Rock on, Lover!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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Architecture of an Outfit: Monochromatic Blues

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Mae

Aloha Kakahiaka~Good morning, Lovecat!

Have you ever wondered how to rock blue from head to toe? In my effort to learn how to color block, I accidentally put on an all blue outfit. (Since I work in a creative/media environment, I can wear this to work. LUCKY ME!)

At the end of the day, my husband, boss and landlord had all commented on how very blue I was. Accidental Monochroma-chic! (Hey, Kristy! Holla!)

{ Architecture of an Outfit: How to rock blue monochrome head to toe – blue maxi skirt, navy tank, blue polka dot clutch and gold accents! }

thereafterish, ootd, hawaii style, blue monochrome, how to wear blue monochrome, blue monochromatic, polka dot clutch

{ I’ve got the blues. The Monochromatic Blues, that is. Silky blue maxi skirt with navy tank and polka dot clutch made by my BFF Eli*Sharon. }

{ Feeling silly with the husband shooting. }

{ Accessorize a simple outfit with shiny gold accents. }

thereafterish, ootd, hawaii style, blue monochrome, how to wear blue monochrome, blue monochromatic, polka dot clutch, gold arm party

{ But keep the Arm Party down to a minimum. Let the simplicity of the outfit speak for itself. }

{ Outfit Architecture }

Bamboo Sky silk/poly blend blue maxi skirt (Alternative: Reiss silk teal maxi skirt.) Eileen Fischer organic cotton ribbed tank. BR snakeskin skinny belt (alternative: Snakeskin skinny double wrap belt, Gorjana <3). BR heavy gauge gold chain necklace (Alternative: Gold chain choker, CC Skye <3!). JewelMint Birdcage bangle (Waitlist). Marc by Marc Jacobs locket watch (discontinued). Eli*Sharon polka dot foldover clutch (Alternative: Polka dot clutch, Betsey Johnson).

*EDIT* If you want an amazing clutch like this, please contact Sharon via her website EliSharon.blogspot.com, and let her know you saw her amazing polka dot clutch on my site. You can commission her to create one of these gorgeous pieces for an affordable price.*

{ It was an accident! But a nice one. }

thereafterish, ootd, hawaii style, blue monochrome, how to wear blue monochrome, blue monochromatic

{ My jewelry display. MESSY. }

I’m really glad this worked out. I think I’ll be trying this combo again, but maybe with a different color family.

Have you ever done something by accident that totally turned out well? Do tell!

Rock On, Lover.
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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Life Inspo: Do Something That Scares You

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Mae

Aloha, Lovecat,

Here is our Mantra for Monday and your week: FACE YOUR FEAR.

{ Life Inspo: Face Your Fear, Do Something That Scares You, Move Forward and Conquer }

Sometimes I believe six impossible things before breakfast, lewis carrol quote, six impossible things before breakfast, hand written illustration

{ Hand drawn illustration by Foolishfire. Lewis Carrol was amazing. }

You know how FDR said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself?” You know how you heard that quote when you were in grade school and everyone expected you to understand exactly what that meant, as if there was some profound lesson to be learned that you’d realize the very moment the phrase was dropped? And remember feeling like, “Yeah, I think so!” but really in your head, it only made sense halfway?

You don’t really get that FDR is basically The Man at that age, that he was pointing out the ridiculousness of the feeling of fear in and of itself.

You think that, now as a grown up, you’d know that already. That fear is irrational, that there is nothing in it if you can face it. If you face it, you can just tell it to shut the hell up and beat it in the face and keep moving forward.

But until you really own your fears… really DO something that absolutely terrifies you and look it in the mouth, stare straight at its ugly, gaping mouth with sharp, razor-like teeth, FDR’s words really don’t ring true, don’t really make that much sense. You have to look into the wretched, loathsome, beastly visage of Fear itself, and really understand it for what it is before you can really give it the finger.

Fear is just a feral housecat, starved, half-alive, dressed up in the suit of a Bengal Tiger with a tape-recorded roar. The moment you realize that fear is just something else–something small–something born of a tiny anxiety in your head… at that moment, you have the power to seize the Bengal Tiger suit off that little pussy and then kick it with all you’ve got.

Granted, sometimes fear is justified. Like, sharks in the ocean. But does that keep you from going to the beach and enjoying paradise? Or car accidents that kill thousands of people every year. Would that keep you from driving? Or sheer heights on cliffs. Or, say, the possibility of a plane crash–would that keep you from traveling? Things like this are logical. However, if it prevents you from living a life uninhibited and free to find happiness and adventure and dreams… then your life is wasted.

Most of the time, fear is nothing but you holding you back.

Face your fear. Find your path to happiness when you destroy your roadblocks. I did this weekend. And I will tell you more about it this week. I feel ten stories tall.

Hoping your week is fearless.

Rock on, Lover!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

Image credit, Foolishfire.com

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Architecture of an Outfit: The Grown Up Onesie

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Mae

Aloha, Lovecat,

I’ve been kind of lax on the outfit/style posts lately. For example, these photos were taken in February. Oops.

Is the jumpsuit a grown up onesie? Yeah. It is. But, like the maxi dress and maxi skirt, it’s easy to wear. Jumpsuits or catsuits can be very, very chic, and many designers create casual cuts perfect for everyday, but with more lux fabrics, sleek lines and deep necklines, these pieces can be worn more formally. I’ve seen these on numerous red carpets and at weddings.

{ Architecture of an Outfit: Jumpsuits, a chic option for casual or formal, the grown up onesie. }

thereafterish, ootd, how to wear jumpsuit, casual jumpsuit

{ The grown up onesie: The Jumpsuit. Dress it up or dress it down. }

{ Sea-inspired vintage statement belt, reminds me of the amazing place where I live. }

thereafterish, ootd, jewelmint birdcage bangle, birdcage bangle

{ My favorite jewelry piece, the Birdcage Bangle. }

{ Outfit Architecture / Details }

Wholesale Onesie, Causeway Mall. Vintage gold statement coral belt. Marc by Marc Jacobs gold heart locket watch (no longer available). Aldo leopard wedge heels. Jewelmint birdcage bangle (sold out, sign up for waitlist). Shrug, Missoni.

{ Alternatives }

JUMPSUIT: One shoulder black jumpsuit (high end). | Draped sleeveless jumpsuit, RACHEL Rachel Roy.
SHRUG: Cropped wrap shrug, Missoni.
BELT: White wrap belt.
SHOES: Leopard wedge heels, Steve Madden.
BRACELET: Gold filigree cuff, Kendra Scott. | Brass quill cage bangle, Barneys.
WATCH: White leather watch, Marc by Marc Jacobs.

{ On top of a mountain, it gets kind of cold. Shrug it off. }

thereafterish, Koko Head, Hawaii Kai, Honolulu living

{ My street and my view of Koko Head crater, a volcano vent you can see in East Honolulu. }

The only downside to wearing a jumpsuit? Unlike a onesie, which has that ever-so-functional buttoned @ss-flap thingy, a jumpsuit needs to be almost completely taken off in order to go to the bathroom. If you, like me, drink a ton of water during the day… well, you can see how this presents a problem.

The price of convenience: easy dressing in the morning, hardships in the loo. What can you do?

Who knew I’d be wearing a onesie after the age of thirty? Go fig.

{ The only issue: gotta take it all off to go to the toilets. }

Would you wear a grown up onesie? Yea or Nay? Tell me in the comments!

Rock on, Lover!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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Glowy Summer Makeup Look Tutorial (Guest Spot)

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Mae

Aloha, Lover!

Fellow Hawaii/Pacific Island style blogger, Jessica of Frikken Duckie, invited me to guest post on her blog (Guest blog post HERE). I thought I’d do a tutorial on this makeup look (Posted about HERE:

thereafterish, makeup look, easy makeup, simple makeup how to, coral color

{ Kissed by Coral makeup look with coral colors for a healthy, spring glow }

Drop by Jessica’s blog to see how I achieved this glowy chic and easy summer makeup look with a video tutorial! <3 (I'll be posting this video later on this month for those of you who missed it.) Also, be sure to enter Jessica’s HUGE giveaway that includes ad spots, jewelry, giftcards (to Sephora and Starbucks!) and makeup goodies!

Rock on, Beauty Lovers!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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Life Inspo: Be Wise to Be Happy

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Mae

recite this, wise men put trust in their ideas, ralph waldo emerson quote, life inspo, life inspiration, how to be happy

Be wise. Trust in the power of your ideas, not your problems.

Making a life worth living is to put faith and action behind the truth of your ideals and ideas for where and who you want to be, and not get bogged down by where your feet may be planted at the moment. It is simple to let misfortune sink your resolve. But that is the easy way out.

The path to happiness and having a good life is not rooted in the circumstances of the present, but in where your actions take you. If you act on the conviction of your ideas and trust yourself, you will find what you are looking for.

Put your money where your mouth and mind are. Obstacles can only be overcome by moving forward past them. So get moving. Trust. Believe. Get it.

Rock on, Lover!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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Architecture of an OutVid: Boom-Boom POW

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Mae

Howzit, peeps,

If you wonder if my personality is kind of in your face, then my outfit will definitely have you convinced it is (regardless of whether it truly is or not!). Or, maybe, I just wear my mind on my ~~sleeve~~ chest. It’s like, BOOM BOOM POW, SAY HI TO MAE!

{ Architecture of an Outfit VIDEO: Comic Print Dress, Leggings, Jelly Flats, Arm Party and Cropped Denim Jacket }

This is what I was wearing yesterday! I’ll get better pictures of the dress later.

{ OUTFIT ARCHITECTURE }
Cropped Denim Jacket: Vintage
SIMILAR: Cropped acid vintage wash denim jacket, True Religion
Comic Print racer back dress: CoverupbyVP (c/o)
SIMILAR: Comic print body con dress, PLNDR
Organic tank dress: Emami
SIMILAR: Lux cotton tank dress, Bella Luxx
Leggings: Target
Jelly shoes: Crocs
SIMILAR: Melissa Zigzag flats, and Melissa Campana Flat

If you enjoyed that, hop on over to my YouTube Channel, where I do beauty tutorials, reviews, style videos and document the gigantic, beautiful adventure that is my Hawaii Life.

Have a rockin’ weekend! I know I will! <3

Rock on, Lover!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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Life Inspo: Making a Life VS. Making a Living

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Mae

Aloha, Lovecat,

What’s the difference between making a life and making a living?

thereafterish, life inspo, Winston Churchill quote, Make a living by what we get make a life by what we give quote,

{ Winston Churchill’s wisdom: Making a living vs making a life. }

Life is an input output type of mechanism. You get out of it what you put in. If you’re so focused on making a living and identifying yourself by what you do, rather than making a life by what you give and give back, you lose yourself to a vain (and often fruitless) pursuit of happiness that may not result in true contentment.

Seeking happiness is not just the journey of the search, but the process of planting seeds along that path that will yield a bountiful harvest that brings happiness to the world around you.

Wishing you happiness and enlightenment today. Happy Hump Day!
Rock on, Lover!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

Img: credit ReciteThis.com via Huffington Post Women (FB).

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I Used to Love You

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Mae

I stalked you quietly from my silent window this morning. It’s been ages since we last spoke. You seemed happy, thrilled, a little calm. A light hit your face and illuminated it against the darkness in the room.

You tell other people how happy you are being alone, surrounded by a gaggle of happy, giggling girls and your mounds and heaps of work that keeps you busy and fulfilled. You tell other people to surround yourself with good friends, lady friends, and that they are a great source of happiness and strength. I used to be one of those good lady friends who brought you happiness and contentment. I used to love you. You used to love me. We used to share insider jokes and chortles under our breath. We used to walk the neighborhood, to our nearest sweets store, excited for the next sugar-induced giggle spree.

Those were good times.

Then you ended them. And badly. I still have no idea why.

It was a mistake to look through my window at you again. You’re content. But you’re happy without me. So I’m happy for you, yet regretful. It’s a bittersweet, wistful sort of happiness for you. Sort of wishing I were a part of it to share it all with you.

I used to love you. Now I’m just a footnote in your book of life in the section of people you used to know. I should learn how to file the era of our friendship in my footnotes as well.

—-
Friendships end for whatever reason. Some can grow with you and some grow out of you. But all serve a purpose: teach a lesson, help you mature, broaden your horizons, or serve a more selfish purpose, if only to be there to make you feel good.

It was a mistake to look back at her again, the friend I loved so much. I should have been happy with that she is living a dream and wish her well. Instead, part of me hoped she missed me, too. Don’t do that. Don’t brood. It doesn’t suit you. And don’t look back. Looking back only makes you stumble on your way forward.

Anyone who makes you feel less than, for any reason… F*ck ‘em. Thank them for whatever they gave you and move forward. You deserve to live the best version of life you can. Regret only serves to diminish what you have. Move on. Life is too short to spend time and energy on people who don’t treat you with love, dignity and respect you deserve.

What’s In My Makeup Bag (day)?

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Mae

Aloha, Lovecats!

People love the whole “What’s in my Handbag” and “What’s in My Makeup Bag” posts on blogs, YouTube and Pinterest. I’ll admit, I’m pretty obsessed with them myself. I love “What’s in my vanity” skincare and beauty posts… it’s like a sneak peek into the habits, beauty secrets and personal lives of the bloggers I admire and love. They’re pretty addicting, really.

{ What’s In My Makeup Bag on a Daily Basis for a Spring and Summer Easy Makeup Look? CORAL COLOR EVERYWHERE. }

thereafterish, what's in my makeup bag, makeup look, easy makeup, simple makeup how to, coral color

{ Spring and Summertime makeup look essentials. }

{Tokyo Milk makeup bag | Shiseido eyelash curler}

{ All about the eyes: my eyes are my favorite feature to highlight, even though there’s nothing particularly special about them. }

{In order of appearance: MAC pigment in Vanilla | Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes waterproof liner in Champagne (nude) | Black waterproof eye liner (MUFE – Similar to Rimmel above) | Lioéle Artist Auto Eyebrow Pencil in Grey Black | Kiss Me! Heroine Make Curl & Long fiber mascara (waterproof) | Chanel Correcteur Perfection concealer }

My eyes are my favorite feature to enhance and highlight using makeup. They say eyes are the windows to the soul, so you want to frame them as best you can. I focus on waterproof liners, mascaras that lengthen, hold curl and volumize with formulations that will withstand heat and my oily skin, preventing makeup migration.

I never neglect my eyebrows. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then you need to make sure that you have great frames, and eyebrows are the frames. If you have naturally full brows, you’re all set. I have thin, sparse brows, which, if I were much, much older, would only make my age prominent. Thin brows have an aging effect. Thick brows have a youthening effect. Filled-in brows make a face look alert, polished and healthy.

A sure fire way to look awake is to disguise dark undereye circles. So I even out with a correcting cream gel concealer by Chanel. It does correcting of the dark circles as well as helps to conceal any other areas I want to even out.

{ Coral kisses make a pout pop. }

{Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Kiss Me Coral | Revlon Super Lustrous gloss in Coral Reef}

I like bright lips. It’s perfect for summer to wear a pop of bright, neon-ish coral. I think coral is a wonderful shade for all skin tones. It brightens my medium/golden olive complexion perfectly.

{ Even out! My face essentials for summer. }

{Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay Pressed Powder | Korres Wild Rose Mineral Foundation in Medium Beige | Illamasqua Blusher Powder in Lover (bright apricot)}

The most essential thing in hotter weather aside from a gorgeous, glowy flush, is even skin not covered in tons of makeup. Lighter foundation is an absolute must. So I turn to mineral foundation to not only help me get out the door faster in the morning, but also to even out my splotchy skin without the feel of a heavy base. I bring a pressed powder with a hint of coverage in my bag for touch ups.

{ Refresh! Vitamin Face Mist }

{Sanitas Moisture Mist}

Vitamin Mists with hyaluronic acid in them are an essential during the spring and summer. If the heat or constantly-running air-con zaps the moisture from my skin, leading to lackluster, dull and dehydrated (not to mention uncomfortable!) skin, items with a cooling effect are a life saver. Hyaluronic Acid helps to pull moisture from the air and attract it to the skin and help lock it in. It’s also a great anti-aging ingredient. And the mist is a nice way to set and refresh makeup. This is small enough to stash in my handbag daily.

And here is how a look with these items will look (with a bit of eyeshadow in gold).

{ Kissed by Coral makeup look with coral colors for a healthy, spring glow }

Stay tuned for a how to video on this!

What’s in YOUR makeup bag this spring? Would LOVE to see!

Rock on, Lover!
Me ke aloha ~ With love + aloha,
Mae Xx

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