Rania Mallouk's Blog, page 4
October 24, 2017
Fashionable Fall Weekend Attire
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Finding cute, yet weather appropriate outfits for the fall can be quite challenging. Often times we are stuck with pants and oversized sweaters, when all we want is to look cute while not freezing our tails off. Now is the time to say goodbye to open toed sandals and shoulder barring tank tops (and catching a cold) and to say hello to figure flattering ensembles that keep you warm while still being fashionable. Luckily for us, there are so many options now besides wool sweaters and cigarette pants – we just have to look for the right coverage, cut, and style. Don’t be afraid of trying your hand at fun animal prints in dark colors. Even though it may have a short hemline, you will find extra coverage with long sleeves and a high neckline. Paired with closed toed shoes and fun accessories, you are now ready for that night on the town – without freezing your tail off. And as the weather gets cooler, you can always pair this type of dress with patterned tights to add more warmth to your ensemble.
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If animal prints aren’t your thing, then opt for a figure-flaterring dress with a longer hemline and sleeves. With delicate details such as ribbing, piping, or even metal attachments, you can take an otherwise simple and boring dress and turn it into a showstopper without even showing off too much skin. Sexy heels and oversized jewelry add another touch of sophistication and class without sacrificing your health. Depending on what your evening entails, you can add a leather jacket for a touch of edginess to offset the softness of this look. Play with your options and you can turn this outfit into anything your heart desires – fun and playful, classy and sweet, or hard and edgy – it’s all in the details and luckily, you are the master of your outfit’s destiny.
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Finally, don’t be afraid to mix in some color or non-animal prints into your fall wardrobe. Plaid has returned with a vengeance and luckily it has been upgraded to outfits outside of our old school uniforms. With sleeves and a high neckline, you once again gain the coverage you desire while not losing style and grace. Knee high suede boots add a twist of fun and youthfulness to this outfit. Since the print can be loud, opt for accessories that blend in and do not detract from the dress.
There are so many choices for this upcoming fall season. When looking for a form fitting dress, make sure that the size is right – that the hemline isn’t too short and it doesn’t ride up in the back. If needed, go up a size (this is not a bad thing!). You can add in jackets, vests, tights to help add more coverage/warmth to your outfit of choice. The biggest thing is to break free from pants and sweaters and try on dresses or skirts. Everywhere from Express to Macy’s to Marciano to JCPenney have a multitude of options for those of us daring to break free from the typical outfits of choice for the fall. Have fun with your options, add in accessories, try different boots or shoes, and make your fall wardrobe one to die for!
October 8, 2017
How to Squash the Voice of our Enemy known as ‘Self-Doubt’
Writing has always been a passion of mine, but for years on end, I kept telling myself that I didn’t have anything to write about, that I didn’t have a story-line that anyone would find interesting, let alone pay to read. So, like everything else that we doubt in our lives, I put my dreams of being published on the shelf, along with every other ideal I had ever held regarding my works of fiction. I kept telling myself that I would eventually write something worth reading, something worth sharing with the world. But the power of self-doubt was stronger then I could overcome…until one day when I finally silenced the little voice in my head and let the voice in my heart be heard. I wanted to touch people on a personal level, I wanted to transport people from their everyday existence into a world of fiction – filled with relatable characters and emotional plot lines. I was finally going to achieve a dream that had been a part of me since I was in high school.
But, the dream was not an easy one to achieve. For a year I tried to find an agent who felt as though what I had written had the potential to be published. Rejection email after rejection email, I once again questioned why I thought I deserved to be published. The self doubt crept back in, and once again, I questioned my talent. What made me any different from the millions of others who had written a book? What made my stories any different from the others who had felt as though their works of fiction were worthy of being read? But this time, I didn’t give up, I didn’t let the rejections squash my belief in myself. This time, I took matters in my own hands and decided to publish my books myself. Why couldn’t I utilize a platform such as Amazon to make my books available to the masses? Why couldn’t I take it upon myself to make my own dream come true?
I think there are too many times in our lives where we let our self-doubt kill our ability to be successful. Too many times we let the voices of those around us make us feel small and incapable of accomplishing what we want. We then begin to believe that we aren’t good enough, aren’t talented enough to be what we want or to do what we want. It becomes a vicious cycle and we drown in the fear that surrounds us. But, when we finally take hold of ourselves, take hold of who we are and what we are capable of, then we can achieve our dreams, can achieve what we set our sights on. When we let our light shine bright we become a blinding force to be reckoned with and we then find the strength to fight for who we are and what we want. We must remember to believe in ourselves, to believe in what we want in life. And we must blaze forward on our journey of self-discovery, powered by our desire to be successful, to be proud, to be true to ourselves. When we learn to silence the doubt, when we learn to ignore the haters, then and only then can we become the person we want to be, do the things we want to do, succeed the way we want to succeed. So, go after your dreams – don’t be the one who stands between you and your goals in life. You’ll never forgive yourself if you do.
