WHY ORGANIC

I started my journey of eating healthy since I was about 20 years old as I had psoriasis, I quit any sodas and fried food except for french fries for sure, the only drink I drink is water and green tea. When I became pregnant, my knowledge and will to eat more healthy and to search for what is good for my baby and my body just exploded, I started using only organic products for my skin as whatever you explore your body for, you baby will do as well and not only the food you eat, I changed all my food with organic food and I reduced any red meat and ate mostly vegetarian food. I immediately saw big difference on my skin, health and hair, I couldn't believe that organic and natural products could do a big difference, I don't loose as much hair as before and I don't use lots of lotion for my body as the products and food I use and eat give my skin the moisture it needs. One of my favorite products that I use during winter and sometimes during summer to make sure I'm not exploring my body too much to the sun is ECO TAN from Organic Skin USA. It's all organic and brings that perfect tan for any occasion, I use it to add extra glam for a night out or a that tan look for the holidays or during day in winter.

When using organic products and food, you know that your body is absorbing almost all of it as it's natural to your body and doesn't include any chemicals or other products that will harm you.

The pic below is to show my love for www.organicskinusa.com and such an amazing product.

  

BIKER JACKET AND LENS BLUR

Living in hot and sunny LA, makes it a bit harder to enjoy the different winter collections with chunky knit, faux fur jackets, boots, chunky scarves etc., but it also allow you to wear soft and light jackets like the one here. It's a perfect jacket for daily wear and brings a beautiful color to your outfit, and the crazy about it is that this jacket is less than 30USD, direct link HERE

So how did I get that perfect blur

When creating a blur to your image in Photoshop, you need to make sure you keep the reality of the image and have a more lens blur. Look at what objects are in the same distance as the image you want to make more appearing to not blur those. Use the 'selection' tool you prefer, I find the 'quick selection tool' to be the best to highlight the area.

Below you can see that I left the area close to my feet untouched, as I don't want to blur this area due to it being in the same distance as me.

Once you have selected the area to be blurted, select Filter-> Blur -> Lens Blur. In Lens Blur I only play with the Radius and have it normally between 30 and 45, depending on the image. You don't want to have too much blur and loose the beauty and reality of your pic.
The first pic is selected without the added blur while the other has a blur with radius 36.
Hope this helps.

XOXO
@taghridhodroj
Bloglovin

FUR, FAUX FUR AND MINI BAGS

I have learned over the years that if something you don't love and need, there is no point to buy it even if it actually is for free. So before any sales, couple days before or a week before, I go hunting online and in store for the pieces that I really like but can't afford or just don't want to pay a lot for or just because the sales are coming, I'm not buying it now. So I have decided to give you the final sales deals below for faux fur and Fur.

The last month I have been spotting boots from Free People but I just didn't want to buy them just because I recently bought Stuart Weitzman boots, so I knew the sales will be here soon and decided to wait, from 606USD, I bought them online for 250USD, which is more than half the price. I will make sure to post them here when they arrive.

Revolve Clothing, with code BLACKFRIDAY20, you will get 20% of additional, below are two direct links to the FUR collection.

ASOS.COM, has 30% of all your order with code BLESSED, below direct link to the FAUX FUR collection.

XOXO
@taghridhodroj
Bloglovin

Revolve closing Fur, HERE

Revolve closing Faux Fur, HERE

ASOS, FAUX FUR, HERE

OVER THE KNEE BOOTS, A MUST THIS WINTER

One of the trends that will be massive this winter if it's not already is the over the knee boots, investing in one or more is a must not only for now but for upcoming winters. I love the over the knee boots with dresses, even maxi dresses with a slit is perfect, and why not just jeans with a simple top as the boots themselves will dress you up. But to invest in the right ones is important and the right color. Burgundy and gray are very popular this season and you can of course never go wrong with black. ALDO, Asos and other brands have really pretty ones and for reasonable prices.

Below are some options for both low and high budget. The Stuart Weitzman ones are for half the price and a good deal, I wish I found out about this website before I bought mine (Mine are not there, but there are similar). I'm totally obsessed with the Sergio Rossi below. Should have them in my wish list for Santa ;).

XOXO
@taghridhodroj
Bloglovin


ASOS, 107.49USD, LINK

Dolce Vita, 280USD, LINK

Stuart Weitzman, 263USD, LINK

 ALDO SHOES, 130USD, LINK

Sergio Rossi, 1460USD, LINK

SMOOTHER SKIN IN COLD AND DRY WEATHER

There are lots of beauty during winter and the cozy and cold weather; the snow, Christmas, the real feel of a blanket and style with layers and jackets for sure ;), but it also brings the challenge of having a beautiful and smooth skin. I always make sure I'm dehydrated during summer as well as winter, as everything you put into your body always affects your skin and hair, the same is with what you expose your skin for. I always think, if I can eat it, then I should be able to put it on my skin, that's my motto. That brings me to what to use on my skin, I normally use a blend of almond oil (for the E vitamin), coconut butter and olive oil, and I use 4 drops only for the face and very little for the rest of my body. I never waste money on expensive lotions or oils if I'm not sure it's 100% natural and organic.

Many have asked me if I smell those different oils, but if you use a small amount and rub it into your skin, you will not smell the oils at all. I also read about cow Milk being a very good source for more younger and smoother skin, so I make sure to buy organic and natural milk with lowest pasteurization to keep the taste and nutrition in it. With that said, my only face mask is a combination of 1 teaspoon of yogurt and honey,10 drops of lemon (C vitamin) and 2 drops of almond oil (E vitamin). I leave it on my face and neck for about 30 minutes and then wash it of, 1-2 times a week.

Below is a look from earlier this week, wearing a shirt I bought from Revolve Clothing, denim from H&M and Jeffrey Campbell boots.

XOXO
@taghridhodroj
Bloglovin

TALLER AND DENIM

It takes a bit to learn those small tricks for the perfect shot or at least a better shot. With serious blogging now for almost a year, I have learned some tricks and ways to make my pictures look better than they did before, but also having a hubby that stands out with taking pictures of me several times a week is a big plus. It actually doesn't matter what outfit you wear, how perfect your hair is or the makeup you have applied, if the photographer doesn't know the best angles to capture the best of you, your pictures will still not have a good appearance. I actually told my husband once that there is a reason there are photographers getting payed and ordered for special occasions, his answer was that the same applies for models and bloggers. So you could imagine the chit chatting we have while making these different shots :). Well there is a cooperation between the two I would say. So how do I make sure my legs and I look taller in the photo.  

I'm 170 cm, 5.6 Feet, so I'm not short but not very tall either. Apart from wearing heels, having bottoms until the ankle and high waist, the magic of looking taller is how the picture is taken, in order to look taller in a pic the camera will need to be in same height as your neck or bit lower, normally they recommend the camera to be at face length, but doing that, will make you look shorter, also lowering the camera more, will make your face look less attractive.
Another important fact, not even related to any photography, is to wear mid or high waist bottoms as your torso will look shorter while your legs will look longer.

Below are two different shots, the one with the OTK boots is taken lower down than the one with the double denim pic, you can clearly see the difference even though OTK boots normally make you look shorter.

XOXO
@taghridhodroj
Bloglovin

FLATLAY AND FALL COLORS

The beauty of fall and winter is not the cold itself but the colors it brings. I love warm colors more than cold, I rarely wear turcos, pink (even though I wear blushed pink), yellow and other cold colors. I love the nude colors and khaki, and with the fall and winter I could just enjoy wearing those. This season I'm totally obsessed with burgundy, khaki and mustard as well as marine. The flatlay below contains those colors and probably my most used garments for this season. So the question is how to get that beautiful flatlay, the steps below will get you if not there, pretty close.

1. Make sure your background (floor) is clear or well defined, I bought a white paper ruler, and yes it is worth it as you will get a clean background, if you prefer floor, that's also fine as long as it has a soft appearance
2. Make sure you have good light, I never use lamps in my pics as it destroy the color of the pieces, I try to take pictures in the daylight.
3. spend time on ironing and/or fold the garment properly (I should have ironed more my pants ;))
4. Find your style, I love having simple and structured flatlays,
5. Place the different pieces in line with each other
6. Take the picture straight up and don't take it in a strange angle (side-wise,leaning angle,etc.)

XOXO
@taghridhodroj
Bloglovin

WESTERN BELTS

One of my favorite places here in LA is Melrose Avenue, you can find everything from vintage, Nastygal to Rag&Bone and Helmut Lang. It's the best place for variety of brannds, styles and ambiance. Also one of my favorite restaurants or fast food is Taeem Grill, love their falafel dishes. You can also find those best brunch places, even though I have tried couple of brunch places at Melrose, my absolute favorite is BLD on Beverly Blvd, a place you must try while here in LA. While out shopping this week, I decided that I wanted to find that western belt that I have wanted for a while, with lots of western shops on the street, I tried them one by one until I found a little shop on 7418 Melrose Avenue, they have a big range of western belts, black, brown, vintage, different styles, shapes and sizes. I bought the one below for just 32USD.
I have also listed some alternatives online for both low and high budget.

XOXO
@taghridhodroj
Bloglovin

FOREVER21, 6USD, LINK

SAINT LAURENT, 445USD, LINK


BOOHOO, 14USD, LINK

BRIGHTON, 95USD, LINK

MONOCHROME GOALS + A GIVEAWAY

Playing with colors is one of my favorites, both when it comes to my different silhouettes but also when making changes to my pictures, I always try to keep as little yellow nuance in my pictures as possible as it actually make big different how your saturation and colors appear in a photo.

You could of course just use lower saturation to remove the yellow nuance in the picture but that will affect all colors in the pic, green, red, blue, pink, you name it.

Bellow I have used the Hue/Saturation function in Photoshop to get a more monochrome look of the picture

1. Select 'Hue/Saturation' from the bottom right 'globe'. 

2. A popup window will appear and you can then select Yellow instead of the 'Master'.

3. In the Saturation, drag the arrow to the left as much as you think you need to, here to -40

4. In the Lightness, drag the arrow to the right, here up to +48

You could of course play with the other colors as well, but this gives you an understanding of how you could color correct your picture, if it has too much red, yellow, blue etc. by selecting the appropriate color to play with.

  Today I’ve teamed up with some fabulous bloggers to giveaway $500 to Nordstrom! One lucky reader will receive a gift card to spruce up their fall wardrobe. How great is that prize? 

 

Simply enter below by completing the rafflecopter and make sure you are following me on Instagram @taghridhodroj and Bloglovin. You'll receive one entry per completion. This giveaway is open internationally and runs until 10/11. Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!

Hosts: Live More Beautifully

SheShe Show // Chic Talk // Living in Style OC // Dress in Sparkles // My Boring Closet // Style in a Small Town // Sophisticated Whimsy // Primp & Proper // Adaleta Avdic // Southern Anchors // The Black Blazer // A Mix of Min // Fashion Fortune Cookie // Lauren McBride // A Taste of Koko // Twentyeightvia // City Peach // Sugar & Something // Mae Amor // Little Styled Life // Style is Everything // Style Me Twice // Taghrid Hodroj // Fashon and Frills // Pretty in the Pines

a Rafflecopter giveaway

LESS BLUR AND COLOR APPEARANCE

Have you ever took that picture and thought, if the light was less/more, the angle was just a bit different and if I just could look more tan or bright, well you could in easy steps in Photoshop do those very simple changes to have your pic from being good to being great or even amazing. I have during my blogging period tried learn how to take that perfect shot and how to make few changes to my pictures to make them more interesting and appearing for my followers. Below is one example of my pics where I easily played with Curves and levels in Photoshop. You have to make sure you don't exceed the darkness of the pic nor the lightning.

In Photoshop, on the bottom right panel, there is a 'globe' picture.
1. Select 'Levels...', move the dark arrow to the right, just where the pic's dark spots are dark enough and where you don't lose the details. The pic below has a value of 34. I left the left arrow as is '255', as my pic is way to light.
2. Now to play with what and how dark/light some of the colors you want to be, select 'Curves...' from the 'globe' on the bottom right. In 'Curves...' anywhere on the line, you can click and adjust the brightness verses the darkness. I pulled it slightly down, closer to the right to make sure I keep the brightness of the pic but make sure the overall silhouette has the right light on it.

Below is before and after, the change isn't huge but the quality is way different. You can better see the color of my Stuart Weizmann boots as well as the beautiful color of my Chloe Faye bag.

For more inspo and alerts of new posts follow me on @taghridhodroj and Bloglovin

BLACK AND BLUES

Leather pants and a simple shirt is the perfect outfit for daily work or a night out as it dresses you up but you still have that simple and elegant look. I always search for the leather pants that don't have that very edgy leather feeling as I could find it too appearing. the once below are from Asos and have a nice fabric. The shirt is from Monki and love how the stripes are merged in color. For more inspiring pics, visit my Instagram page @taghridhodroj

xoxo
Taghrid

DOUBLE DENIM AND STATEMENT NECKLACE

Sometimes I just want to feel comfortable but still keep my style interesting, for that reason small details could make big difference, a unique bag with interesting style or colors, shoes with certain detail or even an accessory that could lift up the entire look. Necklaces are one of my favorites apart from rings. This summer the statement necklaces have been one of the most important accessories to wear and nothing could be better than combining it with a touch of Boho and denim, this one is from Mirina Collections. For 20% of on your order on their website www.mirinacollections.com, use code 'taghrid20'

Don't forget to visit my Instagram account for more inspiration @taghridhodroj

XOXO,
Taghrid

MONOCHROME AND SUEDE

I'm getting more and more attached to monochrome looks, skirts and shorts are my favorite pieces, you could easily combine them with a shirt, top, coat, blazer or just a bikini top if needed on the beach. For a perfect touch, I always add a colorful piece, could be heels, purse or even a small accessory that lift up the black and white outfit. Here in suede skirt from Mango, top from Nastygal and heels from Pour La Victoire, and of course my favorite bag Chanel Boy. Don't forget to visit my Instagram account @taghridhodroj

XOXO,
Taghrid

BOHO AND MAXI MEETS

I'm very addicted to dresses, I think I have over 70 different dresses and they keep adding, the reason to the overflow of dresses is the simplicity and the elegance it bring, you can put on a simple little black dress and you will look flawless. Lately I have been very obsessed with nude/neutral colors. Wearing a vintage dress here from Wasteland with sandals from TopShop, love the little gold detail on the sandals and for just being for 45USD. The Chloe Faye bag is a perfect cross over bag and when you don't feel for bringing big bags which I normally do to fit all the baby stuff, such as diapers, sipping cup, towels etc. The watch is from Fjord Time Pieces and different accessories from The Peach Box. Don't forget to visit my instagram account @taghridhodroj for more inspiration.

BLUSHED OR NUDE

So I have been debating what word to use when I want to explain a blushed/nude color, beige will some other call it, even champagne has been discussed to be a preferred word than nude. Michelle Obama was corrected during an interview as she explained to the interviewer that she was wearing nude, which is a common color word in fashion. The interviewer explained it in a word of 'Champagne' instead. Anyway, my preferred colors for this summer are blushed and nude colors, like the dress below from Anthropologie. Don't forget to visit my IG account @taghridhodroj

50 SHADES OF BLUE

I haven't seen the move fifty shades of grey, but I have decided not to see it after all the different reviews and the content of the movie, can't find it interesting. The outfit I'm wearing though, has lots of blue in it with different colors, shapes and fabric. the geometric garments are coming back now for spring and summer and nothing could be better than these pants from Zara. Also the 'Sac' is must have and I fall in love with this one from TopShop. The top from French Connection, I have owned it for over 5 years now, I love how it feels on my skin and that it's simple but still have that gorgeous back. I hope your week has started fabulous. Much love @taghridhodroj
XOXO
Taghrid

THE DJUNGLE AND ENDLESSLY GREEN

I mostly love to wear simple but still chic outfits, green is one of my favorite colors and having a tan makes green perfect on the skin, also T-shirts are very comfy and could be wear with anything in any occasion, I can't count my T-shirts, and I could buy at least one a week. Army and green is generally the color for summer and nothing could be more perfect than wearing green leather shorts, hope you are enjoying your week. Don't forget to visit my IG account @taghridhodroj
xoxo
Taghrid

EARLY COACHELLA FEELING

Have you ever bought something, used it couple of times and through it away and then regretted it 3 years later, that's exactly how I feel today. I bought this gorgeous suede vest with fringes for about three years ago, I used it couple of items and when I had to move, I just decided to through it away and some other pieces. I just felt for wearing it today with my new fring skirt from Zara and my beloved shoes from Dolce Vita. The hat is from TopShop and shirt from Asos. The bag is from Alexander Wang.

xoxo
Taghrid @taghridhodroj