Okay? No, kay?

Pretty recently I went through a tough break-up. Luckily, I had close friends and family to offer me love, support, and of course, advice. Something that I heard a lot from people was the line “It’s okay not to be okay”. And don’t get me wrong, I really do think this is great advice. However, it’s interesting to notice how long it takes for people to assume you’re fine without checking in; for me, it was about five weeks. Now, I don’t believe that anyone stopped asking if I was okay on purpose, I just think that time passed and people assumed I was doing just fine. But see, the thing is, most people take about half of the length of the relationship to fully get over a break-up. Based on that statistic, I wouldn’t have really been okay for 9 months. So why do we tell people that it’s okay not to be okay, but give an unrealistic time frame for them to become okay again within?

I think the answer to this question can be seen by looking at a common cycle. Immediately following a hardship like a break-up, we check in frequently with the person being affected. After some time passes, we opt not to bring up the situation for fear that we will bring up old feelings in a healing person. But see, by not bringing up the issue or checking in with the person, we only make matters worse. Even after some time passes, the person who was hurt is most likely still hurting. However, they may not want to constantly bring up their issues to others for fear that they will be an annoyance. By not bringing the issues up and putting on the facade that everything is fine, others believe they don’t need to ask how the person is doing, and the cycle progresses.

There is a solution that can break the cycle, and it’s really rather simple; ask people if they are okay, even if some time has passed. I guarantee that regardless if the person is actually okay or not, the fact that you cared enough to ask will mean the world to them. All of us have our own issues that we deal with day in and day out; simply asking others if they are okay every now and then can make a big difference in everyone’s lives. And if someone says that they aren’t okay, be there to talk things out with them. Being there to listen can truly be a blessing for a healing person.  If I’ve learned anything in the past few months, it’s that sometimes you just need someone who will listen to every little thought thats been running through your mind because if you bottle it up inside any longer, your thoughts just might kill you.

My first piece of advice is to be there for others; talk to them, ask them if they are okay, remind them that they do matter. My other piece of advice is that you should open up to others if you are going through a tough time; no matter the scope of your problems, they do matter, and you do deserve to be heard. Please remember that it really is okay not be okay, and that you can take as much time as you need to heal. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, you will become okay again; it might not be today or tomorrow, but the time will come, I promise. “Open those eyes there’s so much around you, and give this world a chance to save you” -R.M Drake. Be someone’s world, but also let the world save you if you are the one who needs saving. Please.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

Donut you know I love you: pt. 1

Welcome to part one (of who knows how many) of a little series that I like to call “Donut you know I love you”. We can all agree that donuts are totally the “in” sweet right now; cupcakes and macaroons had their time to shine, but now we’re on to bigger and better treats. With all of this hype surrounding donuts, I’ve noticed a rapid increase in the number of donut shops, which has led me on my journey to discover the world’s greatest donut. Now, as much as I love the OG donut shop (aka Krispy Kreme), the world’s greatest donut is most certainly not going to be a boring old glazed one. Honestly, donuts with sprinkles won’t even make the cut here; we are talking full-fledged, gourmet donuts with filling, toppings, and so much more. So if you’ll come with me, we will begin this journey at an Iowa City area favorite of mine: Hurts Donut.

We will start with the name; Hurts Donut. Funny right? It’s like the joke that kids in elementary school tell. Except if you ask someone in the Iowa City area if they want a Hurts Donut, they are expecting an actual donut from an actual donut shop, not a punch to the arm. Anywhere with a pun-ny name is a place I can get down with, so that’s probably why I love Hurts so much.

Who am I kidding, the reason I love Hurts is not because of the name, it’s because of how delicious their donuts are. And also how cheap they are. And also how many different kinds there are. And also how delicious they are (this needed to be said twice for emphasis). Oh I almost forgot this too; they are open “25/8”. No lie, you can get donuts from Hurts anytime of the day, and you can bet that yours truly has been there at some odd hours of the day/night. So I’ve given you all of these reasons why Hurts is so great, and now you probably just want to see some of their donuts, right? Well good things come to those who wait, so let’s talk pricing first.

Even though the individual donut price is good, it isn’t nearly as impressive as the price for a box of them. This might just be an individual opinion because who buys one donut at a time, but whatever. Each donut costs between $2-3 depending on the type; glazed donuts are cheaper than ones with toppings, but also definitely not as delicious. You can also get a box of 6 donuts for either $6 or $10, or you can get a dozen donuts for either $12 or $15. The lower prices reflect letting Hurts pick your donuts for you, and the higher prices reflect you choosing your own variety. But basically, you can get 12 donuts for $1 each; that’s a good freaking deal.

Now on to what really matters: variety and deliciousness. I’ll start by saying I’ve been to Hurts quite a few times since they opened this past winter, and every time I’ve gone in I’ve seen a new kind of donut. They consistently have a wide variety, and although there are some constant classics, many of the types rotate and vary by day. Here’s a picture of the donut case from a recent Hurts run:

I always make it my goal to try a new kind of donut when I go there; this is made difficult when they are all so good and you find favorites, but c’est la vie. I’ve found that the best way to try new kinds are simply by buying a dozen and then sharing with friends (or not sharing, but that’s A LOT of donuts). Below is a recap of just one possible dozen combination you might try:

Donut types listed from left to right, back to front: Sea-Salt Caramel, Worms in Dirt, Cookie Monster, Jesus (aka my favorite because it has cinnamon sugar and caramel), M&M, Butterfinger, Andes Mint, Pink Lemonade, Cosmic Brownie, Peanut Butter Cup, Frosted Animal Cracker, and Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate

Despite the slight bias that can be seen through my description, my roommates and I can assure you that you can’t go wrong with any donut from Hurts. They have a wide selection of filled donuts, including cookie dough, jam, or Nutella (the love of my filled-donut life, see below). Hurts also has a selection of cereal topped donuts cleverly named “Cereal Killers”. I am not personally a fan of cereal, but I know lots of people who love these donuts. In all honesty, I haven’t heard of a donut from Hurts that someone doesn’t like.

I would tell you to take my word for how good Hurts is, but I really feel that Hurts Donut is something everyone should experience for themselves. Thanks for following along on the first stop of my journey, I look forward to sharing more donut shops with you in the future. After all, I’ve got a long list of shops to visit and a large sweet tooth to satisfy.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something

 

We are the wild youth

My first fashion post, it’s so exciting! On March 12th I got to see Daughter perform at First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. It is always fun hearing your favorite songs performed live; my personal favorite Daughter song is “Youth”. If you haven’t heard it, check it out: Youth — Daughter. It was an amazing concert, the band was definitely as good live as they are on record, if not better.

Given the band and the venue, I decided to dress more on the edgy side. The weather was beautiful, especially for March in Minnesota, so I fully embraced the opportunity to not wear a coat. Here’s a recap of my outfit for the night:

I opted to wear a tank-style black dress with a red and gray checkered flannel around my waist for when it got chillier in the evening. Wearing the flannel was great because I was able to wear it over the dress while my friends and I walked around downtown before the concert, but I could tie it around my waist once we got inside the venue (no need to pay for coat check, yay). I also decided to wear black booties with gray, knit, knee-high stockings for a little extra warmth. The gray and black combo on bottom tied the outfit together since the dress was black but the flannel was red and gray. For accessories, I wore gold bangles to match the hardware of the zippers on my booties. I topped the outfit off with a red lip and smokey eye, and the outfit was complete. Continue reading for outfit details.
          

I opted to wear a casual little black dress with oversized pockets. The dress is perfect for concerts because it is lightweight and comfortable, as well as casual but not too casual. The keyhopening in the back adds just the right amount of detail so that it isn’t too plain. This cotton LBD is from Brandy Melville.

          

Over the black dress, I wore a red and gray checkered flannel. As I mentioned, wearing a flannel was the perfect way to change my outfit as the weather changed through the course of the day. This flannel is from J Crew.

Given the simplicity of the top of the black dress, I made sure that my outfit was more interesting on the bottom half to even out my look. To do this, I tied the flannel around my waist, wore bangles on my wrist, and paired my black fringe booties with knit knee-high stockings.

I absolutely love these stockings because of the small details. Over-the-knee stockings are everything right now, but so many of them just look like plain socks to me. I love these gray ones because of the knit detailing seen with the vertical stripes. These stripes add a little flare to the stockings, and also make the legs look longer. I also love the ruffle detailing at the very top of the stockings. Although you might think a black pair would be easier to style, I really enjoy the contrast of pairing gray stockings with black booties. I’ve worn these stockings with riding boots and combat boots as well, and they always look adorable. These knit stockings are from Free People.

One thing that you will quickly learn about me is that I love shoes; these booties are no exception. I fell in love with them the moment I saw them at Nordstrom last fall. The fringe is absolutely addable, and the suede is so soft. I like how the top can be cuffed over like in the picture above, or they can be left uncuffed, which is what I tend to do if I wear them with cuffed jeans. The heel is the perfect height, and because it is a more chunky heel, the boots are super comfortable. The only drawback of these booties is that I don’t wear them nearly as much as I would like to because I don’t want to ruin the suede with salt, sand, or snow by wearing them in the winter months. These black suede booties are designed by Sam Edelman.

As far as accessories went, I decided to keep it simple. I wore two gold bangles, one that was smooth and simple, and one with a geometric pattern. I also wore simple gold stud earrings, which aren’t pictured. You’ll notice that the smooth and simple one is my go-to bracelet because it goes with just about everything. I wore these bracelets to tie in with the gold hardware on my booties. I also cuffed the sleeves of the flannel once I untied it from my waist in order to showcase my wrist. Both of these bracelets are from J Crew.

To complete my look, I wore my hair naturally curly but pulled the front back into a party pony (for future reference, I am a BIG fan of the party pony, it’s definitely become a go-to for me). For makeup, I did a smokey eye in gray hues using the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, and a red lip in Lady Bug by MAC.

Thanks for following along on my first fashion post. Concerts are the perfect time to change up your look based on the genre of music, and the Daughter concert was no exception.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty-Something

 

Hello…it’s me

Hi there, welcome to Stylish and Starving at Twenty-Something! My name is Chloe Sekhran, and I thought for my first post I would introduce myself to the world, so here goes nothing!

As I mentioned, my name is Chloe, and to start out with a little fun fact, I’m publishing my very first post for this blog on my twentieth birthday, which means I’m actually a twenty-something who is writing about being twenty-something; shocking, I know. I am currently attending The University of Iowa to earn degrees in Marketing and Dance, as well as a certificate in Event Planning. Being in college leads me to have a little inner conflict about where I call “home”. I am originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota, but I spend a majority of my year in Iowa City, Iowa. Overall, lets just say the Twin Cities have my heart way more than the cornfields of Iowa (no offense to Iowa, southern Minnesota has lots of corn too).

More about me, I am an only child, and I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Daisy who is just the most precious little thing. The hardest part about leaving for college is saying goodbye to her and my parents, but her excitement when I come home makes it worth it. Here’s a picture of my sweet girl:

Being able to come home to the Twin Cities during school breaks is such an amazing thing; as much as I love Iowa City, it’s great to be able to escape to a major metropolitan area for months at a time. The Twin Cities have so much to offer, whether it’s cute boutiques, a wide variety of cuisine, or one of 10,000 (actually 11,842, we should really update our license plates) lakes to jump in when the summer weather gets too hot. I’m not going to lie, my dream would be to live in either New York City or Seattle, but growing up in Saint Paul and Minneapolis has been the greatest thing I could have ever asked for.

You might have noticed above that I said I was double majoring in Marketing and Dance. No, I am not planning on marketing myself as I dance. Yes, I do get asked that question almost every time I tell people what I am majoring in. So to avoid further questions, let me tell you what I really want to do with my life (as of this second, be prepared for it to change, like, tomorrow). With my dance degree, I hope to perform in a contemporary ballet company after college, and then go on to teach. With my marketing degree, I hope to have a career as a fashion buyer. This all being said, I also have a slight interest in going to Law School post-graduation, but this is partially due to the fact that Elle Woods is low-key my spirit animal.

I guess one major thing that I forgot to mention about me is that I am in a sorority. Yes I love my sorority, yes I love my big, yes I love my little, and yes I hate sorority stereotypes. I  am so proud to call myself a sorority woman, and I couldn’t be happier that I have the chance to be surrounded by 150 other women who share the same values as me, and are always there to love and support me.  I am a member of the Sigma chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, and I am currently serving on the Executive Board for my chapter. As far as stereotypes go, I just think they are insensitive, because all sorority women have different qualities and personalities, and you can’t expect hundreds of thousands of women across the nation to act a certain way simply because they are part of an incredible organization. All in all, I love Greek life, and I think I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to be part of it.

Now, you’re probably wondering what this blog will be about; basically it’s all in the name. I love fashion, hence my interest in becoming a fashion buyer. While I will post articles detailing my outfits for all different sorts of functions, I also hope to feature other posh people on my site. For reference, I would categorize my style as preppy but also fashion forward; I have a pretty wide range when it comes to what I like to wear. You’ll notice a lot of J Crew when I note the details of my outfits, so I think that fact alone speaks to what I like to wear.

In addition to loving all things fashion, I also consider myself a foodie. Although I may be a picky eater, I still am always on the lookout for new restaurants, and have a list on my iPhone of a bunch of places I have yet to try but want to. My weakness when it comes to finding new places to eat is bakeries; more specifically donut shops. The best way to put it is that I am currently on the search to find the world’s greatest donut, and you can bet that when I find it, you all will be the first to know. In addition to donut shops, I have a great love for ice cream, especially during the summer months, and luckily Minnesota does not fall short of ice cream shoppes, so please plan accordingly.

All in all, I want this blog to be a lifestyle guide where I can share my fun adventures with you all. Thank you so much for reading my very first post, cheers for many more to come!

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty-Something