Thoughts Create The world

I wanted to share with you some of my favourite quotes, They make me laugh, they inspire me, they make me think, I hope they evoke some reaction in you also, and start your day with a ready smile on your lips ...

Gentleness doesn't get work done unless you happen to be a hen laying eggs 

Coco Chanel

As long as you know men are like children, you know everything!

Coco Chanel

Fashion fades, only style remains the same. 

Coco Chanel

(http://www.boobieslifeandluster.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/dos-and-donts-of-style-not-fashion.html)

'I'd like to believe that the women who wear my clothes are not dressing for other people, that they're wearing what they like and what suits them. It's not a status thing. '

Marc Jacobs 

If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you dream it, you can become it.

By William Arthur Ward

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

By Albert Einstein

Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.

By Mark Twain

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

By Thomas Alva Edison

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And Today? Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present.

By Babatunde Olatunji

I shall pass through this life but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it. For I shall never pass this way again.

By Etienne de Grellet

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."   -Jeremiah 29:11

  Enjoy the day Beauties

LA xoxo

Meet Lawanda Wallace

Lawanda Wallace, Consultant

Meet Lawanda Wallace... An inspirational figure who has climbed the ranks in NY's Fashion Scene, I talk to her about her journey, her inspirations and what keeps her on top and confident ....

1.Could you give us a brief overview and insight into your progression into your current career now? 

With a degree in Marketing and a Post Graduate in Fashion Buying & Merchandising from the London College of Fashion (UK) I started my career  in the buying offices of Harvey Nichols (UK) later, moving back to New York working for Saks Fifth Avenue and  Macy’s.  Throughout the past 8 years I've held several positions and moved up the ranks quickly working as a Product Development Manager, Associate Buyer and was later promoted to Fashion Director.  My keen eye for detail and in depth fabric knowledge has complimented my expertise in women’s contemporary, menswear and home & lifestyle markets.   I am currently a consultant for brands - by providing global trend forecasting, identifying new trends from a pattern, colour and print point of view, researching new designers, innovative shop concepts and creating seasonal colour palettes for various retailers, trend agencies or privately owned shops.

2. What are the challenges you have faced along the way and how did you overcome them?

When I first started my career I had work experience in a completely different industry. I wanted to be able to be competitive so I moved abroad and studied at LCF and obtained a postgraduate in Buying and Merchandising. 

3. What characteristics and skills do you admire in the people that cross your path? 

I admire people that step out in faith. People that do whatever they need to do to make their dreams come true... people that challenge themselves to do things beyond their comfort zone. 

4. What inspires you and has enabled you to become the confident woman you are today? 

I get inspired by knowing other peoples stories and processes. What's enabled me to become confident is knowing I am uniquely me! 

Enjoy the day Beauties

LA xoxo

Beautilicious Week- Day 6 - Reem Kanj of FiveFiveFabulous

Reem Kanj Founder of FiveFiveFabulous
www.fivefivefabulous.com

Today, we meet and interview the Superb Reem Kanj, Fashion Blogger & Founder of FiveFiveFabulous.com, Ambassador of Puma, Hoss Intropia, Sun Silk (Middle East)  and Special Lecturer at University of The Arts...

So just to gain a perspective back ground of Reem and why I have chosen to make her the feature of the day, let's take a look at her history:

Reem founded her own Fashion Blog FiveFiveFabulous  in 2009, as a silent retaliation to being labelled 'average' at 5 ft 5". The last three years has seen her swoop from the Hoss Intropia e-commerce launch in Madrid,  Net-a-Porter & Dolce Gabanna commencement to Front Row at London, Paris, NY and Milan Fashion Weeks & to put it in simpler terms soar to tremendous heights. Alongside designing an exquisite Fashion line House of Rena with her sister, she is also sharing her expertise   lecturing at the University of the Arts.



1.What are your staple beauty products that you cannot live without?
I can't live without my Elizabeth Arden hand cream, Kheils lip balm and my tinted moisturiser from Cosmetics a la Carte. 

2. What makes a woman beautiful and in your opinion stand out from the crowd?

I think confidence makes a woman stand out from a crowd and humility makes a woman beautiful. It's also nice to see women celebrate their natural look and not try and achieve a 'perfect barbie doll' image. 

3. You have made a sublime success of yourself at a very young age - What would you say was critical to you along your journey?

Thank you, I would like to think I've only just begun! I think it was a huge factor that I took myself out of a negative crowd when I was younger and re-evaluated my ambitions. I begun to think of my future and with that came a more positive energy, especially with who I began associating myself out with. 

Another factor was being consistent in my work, I don't really like to take days off and always have work in the back of my mind. It sounds like I'm a bit of a workaholic, which admittedly I am but I always make time for friends and family. 

Finally, I know what I want and I have a goal, I think that's important. Make a plan and adhere to it, it's easier to try and control what's in front of you. Of course it goes without saying that you should consider what your dreams are but also bear in mind what is achievable. 

4. Has aiming for the stars fulfilled you and made you a contented woman?

What I'm doing makes me proud but I think I'm content with other aspects of my life. Then again, everything rolls into one. So I guess you could say so. It's always going to be a happy and proud moment when you achieve what you aimed for. In saying that, there's still so much more that I want to do so I can't fully say I'm there yet! 

5. What is the most important lesson you have learnt as a woman?

Nothing comes easy! Work hard and stay genuine. It sounds cliché but you won't believe what you can achieve through commitment and consistency. 

Follow Reem:
Twitter: Twitter.com/ReemKanj

Facebook: Facebook.com/FiveFiveFabulous

Tumblr: FiveFiveFabulous.Tumblr.com

Have a peak at the behind the scenes shoot of The House Of Rena debut collection, shot on a secluded beach in Dubai.... 

Beauty is a whole sphere, and can reach right into the depths of your dreams and desires

LA xoxo

Think BIG ... Be Happy Gain Wealth

We all want to know something - a secret a tip, a fast track way that's going to Apollo 11 our way to our desires, our success or our wealth. Well today's not your lucky day, but it will give you some very useful advise, a huge dose of optimism (who gets anywhere without it?) and allow time for a reality check.... Nothing's going to change unless you do. So today I'm sharing with you rules I've learnt from books, people and quite frankly doing the exact opposite!

• Think BIG , very BIG. Think about what you want. What exactly do you want to achieve? If you're working in say a low paid catering role but want to be a writer, you need to set yourself some goals. Weekly, monthly and maybe an annual realistic, honest goal that you put down on paper and commit yourself to nothing less then sticking to it. (Imagine if there was NO chance of you failing - what would you dare to do?) Take the step. Do it. Have your goals looking at you everyday when wake up.Most people want to be wealthy - but can't be bothered. Nothing's going to change unless you do.

• Firstly decipher between financial 'needs' and 'wants' all the time. With everything.

• Know where you are before you start (financially) you're laying out your tools before you begin your job. So write out all your incomings and outgoings, every small detail. Even adding up those every day coffees, those weekly salads and even those impulse buys which you think are invisible and won't really come out your bank balance! Remember a fool and his money are easily parted, because the fool doesn't have a plan and fritters his money away instead of saving or investing. (No help for the new business idea or career move) In your plan you know exactly what does & does not fit into it.

• Your plan will include all aspects of taking financial control. So debts will be covered as a primary concern. It could involve a new business idea, a career change, no spending excesses, investing money, saving capital, or selling things. It is well known that buying and selling things (doing deals) generates a lot of money. (Think sample sales - how about that as a start, buy and then sell designer products online) Whatever this plan includes... Stick to it.
• Google COMPOUND INTEREST. Learn as much as you can about it...
• Do as the wealthy do, notice the sections of the paper they read ... They certainly aren't choosing the gossip and fashion section over the finance and business!

Just remember, never sit back and wait for money, success or your dreams to fall from the sky... You have hands to allow you to grab a hold.

LA xoxo