Being Zhenya

Fashion, Beauty, & Thrifting with a little DIY on the side by an ordinary Russian girl from Minneapolis

Monthly Archives: September 2011


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Thrifting for Treasure: Scarves from Z to A!


This Thrifting for Treasure post is going to be different from all the rest that I have ever written! This time I am going to show you the freecycled scarves that I was able to pick up from a person, who lives about 10 minutes away from me.

What is the difference between freecycling and thrifting? The first one is FREE! The only catch is – you never know what you are going to get inside, just like with life! (Anyone noticed me hinting at Forest Gump here?)

So today, I played dress up and took pictures of all the scarves I got this past week! I am also showing the different ways of wearing scarves, and that is always popular! Hope you like it!

1. Check out these lovely fall colors!

2. This one makes a perfect vest!

3. Check out this geometric print!

4. Tied up and Tousled!

5. Very Oriental

6. A Headband!

7. Bun on the side!

8. A Double Headband.

9. Back to School with Saks Fifth Avenue Scarf!

10. Pin it up!

11. Can you find the scarf in this one?

12. Braid it for a romantic look!

13. Bibs aren’t just for Babies!

14. Everyone needs a Good cover-up!

Let me know what you think of these scarves and the ways you would wear them! Have a great weekend you guys,

Xo,

ZhenyAH!

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The Good Old Video Games


When I was about 12 I got my first gaming console (back then they weren’t called that though). It was a hand me down Birthday gift from my cousins – a SEGA genesis. I wasn’t that psyched about the gift, since video games didn’t attract me that much. Besides my loving relatives had also decided to give me password books along with the present. And you know how big of a mood killer those are!

But being a SEGA owner put me in a better social light. I had a better gaming console than most of my friends or kids I went to school with, who still had Dendy (or whatever that thing was called).

When Sam came to visit me in Russia, he made me take it out the second day he was there. (It was put away in a box, at the very bottom of my closet, covered with a whole bunch of other junk :) ) Needless to say, the first game he wanted to play was Sonic 2. Unfortunately the console was so old, the 2nd controller refused to work, and we couldn’t play the 2-player game.

Well, imagine my surprise when a week and a half ago there was a huge Sega game sale on Steam. And they had all of the fun and very long role play games that my mother used to play! Yes, my mother. She got into the whole Sega thing more than I did, but she still needed me to sit there with her and translate what was going on in the game, because unlike computer games these days, none of the Sega games were in Russian.

I was hoping she would pick up some English that way, but ALAS!

After spending about $5 on all of the games both Sam and I wanted, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Shining Force.

You see, Shining Force was the first RPG I got into, even though my mom was the one playing it, I enjoyed watching (that’s also why you will sometimes hear my husband brag about me watching him play video games – it’s almost like a habit for me). The story is the following – The evil guy is trying to release The Dark Dragon and you gotta stop him. The game is fun, interesting, but a bit slow in the beginning, especially when it comes to battles, because the characters aren’t experienced yet. But it gets pretty exciting towards the end. And the game is split into Chapters, like a story book!

When I was in college one of my professors said that playing video games somehow relaxes your brain. Now, I am not defending 24/7 gamers, or people who play WOW – I think they need to get a life. But playing some game, that brings back good memories from your past, a couple times a week is fun and relaxing, though sometimes I know I could be doing a lot of other useful stuff.

Love you all,

ZhenyAH!

 


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Sephora Blockbuster Challenge Day 6


Hi guys!

I am back with my Sephora Challenge Update, and even though I am not posting pictures every day, I want to assure you, that I am faithfully using my palette and it’s nowhere near to being all used up!

Today’s look includes eyeliner. I know that there are many different types of eyeliners out there, but the one I prefer the most is Maybelline Eyestudios. It’s a new one that they’ve just come out with! I have mentioned it several times before, but I really want to encourage you to give it a try and see if you like it. I was never good with liquid liner or pencil liner, so this, for me is my Saving Liner Grace!

This look is meant to make your eyes shine and glitter. I used bright almost highlighter shadows to create it!

I also have to say that I am really loving the Sephora Blockbuster lip sticks and glosses – I was very suspicious in the beginning, but I am totally in love now!

Hope you have a great day!
Love you all!
ZhenyAH!


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It’s not Old until it’s Owl’ed


When I came back to the States this July, I got a very nice hand me down Blackberry. I’ve never owned a Blackberry before, so I was a little confused by it, but after realizing that this phone is magic, and let’s me receive and answer emails and other messages, and moreover post pictures directly to FB and Twitter – I fell in love. And now with iPhone 5 coming out, I can’t even decide what I want to stay faithful to – my love for all Apple products – or the convenience of the Blackberry key board.

But the post isn’t about the phones, it’s about what you put your phone into. I know this is a little of an unfinished project. But I had it in mind for so long. Besides being the DIY guru (if I can call myself that) that I am, I had to give my readers a look at my latest project!

This is a crochet Owl phone case, and as you can tell my Mr.Owl is missing his claws, that’s because I didn’t have a thick needle for the yarn. Anyways, the claws are coming soon…

Now if only my Blackberry could HOOT!

ZhenyAH!

 


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Skin Care Tips 101



These are some tips that I think are rather interesting, I am not necessarily agreeing with all of it. So think of it as the Skin Care tips that you shouldn’t follow, or pick and choose the ones that work for you!

Enjoy!

Having good skin is an underrated facet of looking good, as many females will smother their faces with products to cover any blemishes or marks, but beautiful skin starts from beneath.

Beautiful skin needs three things in order to thrive and be beautiful, you need to understand your skin in a way that you can match products, washes and moisturisers to your skin type. Whether your skin is dark, dry, normal, oily, sensitive or combination skin, finding out which class your skin comes under can only serve to help you find the right products as to complement your skin.

Step 1

The first step to think about when you are putting in a regime to look after your skin is to make sure your skin is as clean as possible. That doesn’t mean using all the harsh cleansers that are around twice a day as they can end up stripping your face and could quite possible give you rashes. The best way to look after your skin is to wash with a mild cleanser 3 times a day.

Step 2

The food you eat is used by your body to replenish the broken skin cells. Looking at your own diet when considering how best to look after your skin is one of the fundamental issues that can really swing the end result either way.

If you eat a lot of oily foods then inevitably you will have oily skin and develop acne, whereas if you eat a lot of natural and healthy foods, your skin will replenish a lot cleaner. It also helps to drink a lot of water as this will help cleanse your body of toxins.

Step 3

As clichéd as it sounds, the third essential step to keep healthy skin is to exercise regularly. Exercise improves the circulation of blood around the body and as your skin relies on circulation to stay healthy. Another advantage of being active and exercising is that you sweat more, sweating more helps flush out your pores and contributes to healthy looking skin too.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, you can buy as many expensive products as are on the market, but without these three fundamental skin care routines, no matter how expensive the products you use are, the best facial care product you can spend your money on is a moisturiser that also doubles up as a sun screen as we all know the effects of the sun on the skin.

Andy suffered for years until he found some high quality dry skincare and moisturiser after a lot of research. Follow him on twitter for some good advice @andym23.

Let me know what you think,
ZhenyAH


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Outfit of the Yesterday


I was going to post these pics yesterday, but since I ABSOLUTELY had to share my pictures of some Hideous Hats, here it is – My Outfit of the Day, September, 25

Sam and I took a walk to the Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun, the pictures are from the latter!

The outfit breakdown (for those who really want to know ;) )

Shoes – UO (probably the most expensive part of the outfit – something around $30)

Skirt – $4 – Steeple People

Purse $3 – Vintage, Steeple People

Belt and Scarf – Banana Republic – FREE (swapped :) )

Shirt Banana Republic – FREE – freecycled in NYC

Jacket – Forever 21 (this jacket is 5 years old, I got it in Chicago, and it’s one of the brands that Forever 21 has since discontinued, I think it was around $15, but I am not sure)

Sunglasses – Steve Madden – from TJ Maxx – $8

Hope you had a great Sunday :)

ZhenyAH!


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The local Headware


Yesterday I found myself in a mall. The place I usually avoid, since as all of you know I prefer vintage shops and thrift stores. But it is what it is!

I was always wondering where people get those weird looking hats – you know, the ones that make your head look like an animal’s? Or it looks like you are wearing an actual animal head on your own?

The one that kills me the most is the Monkey – I think it’s plain ugly! But here are the ones I wasn’t afraid to try on!

And as my husband pointed out – there are no mirrors by these hats, because you shouldn’t see what you look like!

So instead of looking in the mirror – we took pictures!

See if you can find the Angry Monkey Hat in the above pictures ;)

ZhenyAH!


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30 Day Sephora Blockbuster Challenge


Here is what I have 

But do I use it?

So for the next 30 days I am going to mostly use this palette!

Why?

So that these eyeshadows don’t go to waste!

So that these lip sticks don’t go to waste!

And all the other products also get to put to good use!

And to get out of a makeup RUT!

Stick with me to see my every day looks!

Love,

ZhenyAH!


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Thrifting for Treasure – Going for the Maxi


I did it, I thrifted to maxi skirts, which I absolutely cannot wait to wear! I also thrifted an amazing blue necklace and the cutest $3 vintage style bag!

Do you know what’s the best thing about thrifting? Striking random conversations with other shoppers.

Tuesday my friend and I went to the Salvation Army at the Warehouse District of Minneapolis and had several people there ask us what language we were speaking! (I do speak Russian to my Russian friends after all :) )

Today as I was trying on a skirt at Steeple People, a lady told me I looked very cute. Steeple people doesn’t have a dressing room – so whatever you try on – you should be trying on over your clothes and in front of everyone else!

I bet you are dying to see what I got! Well, today I decided to surprise you, and put up a video, instead of pictures! So sit back and enjoy the haul!

Have a great rest of your day, wherever you are!

Love,

ZhenyaH

 


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Sock it up!


Call me crazy, but I a, really digging the new socks with heels fashion trend this season!

Socks have been on my mind a lot lately, especially after I realized that I only have 4 pairs left, and all of those have holes in them! I know, I am worse than a guy! Especially if you take my husband into consideration, his socks are in perfect condition! I should take some sock wearing lessons from him!

Anyways, after checking out the oh-not-so-original Hanes and Fruit of the Loom, I decided that I am going to steal my husbands socks and wear them when I need to work out, or around the house. And my socks, well I am getting a whole new sock wardrobe, and when I do, my feet are going to look fab! Cinderella and her glass slipper won’t compare!

Good luck to you, and good luck to me stocking on the stockings!

Love,

ZhenyaH

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