college – Brynne Anika

How to Declutter Your Life

January 30, 2020 by Brynne Anika, posted in FASHION

Look, I’m no Marie Kondo, but I’ve been itching to clean out my life! This winter, I’ve felt so disorganized, unproductive, and all around dysfunctional… It’s a challenge to feel organized when you have so much cluttering up your day to day life! I’m going to go through some tips that have helped me declutter my life lately.

1. Clean out your backpack/purse/travel bag: My bags that I travel with on the day to day can get so messy! You’re always rushing around with them and barely have time to think before you’re stuffing in receipts, an old napkin, or spare change from the coffee shop. Take 10 minutes to go through your travel bags and see what you can throw out. You’ll be able to find your keys easier when you’re in a panic. 😉

2. Clean Out Your Car: The amount of old candy wrappers, granola bars, water bottles, chipotle receipts, and more that I fail to take out of my car is incredible! Try to clean out trash you don’t need, and vacuum your car! It will feel brand new!

3. Sell/Donate Old Clothes: This was a game changer for me… I love clothes, but have so many of them! Over Christmas, I went through my closet in my childhood room along with extra clothes that I took to move to Michigan, and I found so many that I haven’t worn in years! I have been very successful in my clothing endeavors by utilizing my College’s online garage sale and selling things for very cheap. If you don’t have access to an online facebook group, make a Poshmark or Depop! You can sell clothes you don’t wear anymore. Extra clothing that wouldn’t do as well being sold can be donated to your local thrift store or shelter.

4. Clean Your Room: I don’t mean just picking the clothes off your floor and throwing them in the laundry basket because you’re lazy….I talk from experience. Go through what’s under you’re bed, reorganize the clothes you’ve stuffed in your dresser, and even go through your desk papers and throw out what you don’t need. We tend to keep a lot of things we don’t need because we forget about them.

5. Make Your Bed. This is probably the easiest one of them all. Since my bed takes up 50% of my room, making my bed is the main aspect that makes my room look clean. It takes 10 minutes or less every day to make you feel a little put together.

I feel much more relaxed and confident when my day-to-day spaces are clean. It’s easier for me to focus, I spend less time running around, and I can plan ahead a little better. These organization tips might seem obvious, but it’s crazy how easily we forget about these things when we get busy!

I hope this helped you stay a little more organized so you can enjoy the rest of your week!

xo, Brynne

Grow Your Audience Using Hashtags

January 16, 2020January 16, 2020 by Brynne Anika, posted in FASHION

From the birth of Instagram, hashtags have existed along with it. Honestly, they have a bad rep… unless you know how to use them.

Yes, we all know how annoying it is when someone takes a picture of their latte and hashtags: #workinggirl #coffeequeen #ootd #sundayfunday or other words that are otherwise infuriating to scroll through. But guess what? It doesn’t have to be like that.

Hashtags are incredibly important for growing your audience. You can be widely successful with them if you understand how they work. Here are some tips to growing your audience on the gram.

Start Local. If you’re a small business, an artist, or another form of entrapeneur, throwing around hashtags such as #business, #boutique or #theatreartist are not going to help you. There are thousands to millions of pictures with these hashtags! You can easily narrow down who sees your posts by making it local. For example #Tulsabusiness #BostonBoutique #DetroitTheatreArtist. Each of these hashtags have MUCH smaller posts attached to them, but the people who you want seeing your posts will be able to find you! Otherwise, your posts will get lost with the other people who claim to be an #actor, #businessowner, or #marketingstrategist.
Be Specific to the Post you Make. If you took a picture of yourself at the beach, would putting the hashtag #catstagram be an ideal choice? I don’t think so. Take this photo below for example! I’m not just on a beach, I’m in Carmel, California, on part of the California State Route 1 drive. That’s so specific, right? Some hashtags I could use here are #carmelcalifornia #californiastateroute1 #californiaroadtrip #carmelbeaches, etc. If I was trying to focus my hashtags on the fashion aspect of this picture, I could include brand names such as #americaneagle #springsweet, etc.
Don’t Use General Hashtags. If I was at the beach, I wouldn’t use #beach or #sun. Again, where are you? Are you on vacation? Can you hashtag a brand of the swimsuit you’re wearing? The more specific, the better! Millions of people have already used #beach and it takes even more work to be found with general hashtags. In addition, many of the #basic #hashtags have many spam accounts attached to them who copy and paste comments on to your post. As a fashion blogger, I used to get tons of comments asking me to collaborate with brands or asking if I wanted a discount on their products which is the most frustrating thing in the world. Be less general to avoid spam! Since I’ve stopped using those general hashtags, I have received barely any spam comments.
Search for Hashtags in Your Niche. You can use the Instagram search bar to see how many posts have used a certain hashtag. I highly recommend doing this as you can see if your post will get lost or not. Now, popular hashtags aren’t all bad. But if you mix up your hashtags with ones that have millions of posts to ones that only have a thousand or a couple hundred, it will widen your chances of your post being seen.
Mix Up Your Hashtags. I had this bad habit of finding some of my favorite hashtags, making a note on my phone, and copy and pasting the same ones to every post… Bad News. If you use the same hashtags for every post you make, Instagram shadow bans you. Shadow banning is when Instagram senses an account is a spam account and hides your posts on the hashtags you’re making. Therefore, all that research you did was for nothing! I suggest making multiple, RELEVANT hashtag groups and switching them up every time you post. This also gives your post the chance to be seen by more people.
You Don’t Need To Use the Maximum. Instagram allows you to use 30 hashtags per post. You don’t have to use all 30! Again, sometimes using all of them just for the sake of using them is not as helpful as using 10 powerful hashtags for your page. Switch up the amount of hashtags you’re using in protection of being shadow banned.
Put Hashtags in the Caption. When you post hashtags in the caption, the hashtags will be just as fresh as the post is. Sometimes hashtags aren’t as useful when you post them in the comment section because your post has already been live for as long as it took you to write the hashtags. If you don’t want your hashtags to be as seen on your post, find a way to put them at the bottom and add a symbol so they are separated between your caption and your hashtag section.

I hope this post was helpful for those who are wondering how the heck to use hashtags! I started as the most ANNOYING hashtagger and after doing my research, hashtags have helped be get up to 45% of my audience engagement from a singular post, none of which followed me at the time. If you’re trying to expand your audience, do the work! I can guarantee it has been so helpful to my growth as blogger.

xo, Brynne

Real Tea: Mixing Patterns is Cool

December 23, 2019December 23, 2019 by Brynne Anika, posted in FASHION, Uncategorized

Ok you guys: skirts are difficult to wear in the winter… They’re cold, the wind blows them in different directions, and they can be so difficult to pair with other winter wear! But guess what? I’ve got the perfect fix for you!

I am Trends may come and go, but cheetah print is here to stay. I haven’t seen a pink cheetah print skirt in my fashion discoveries quite yet and this one would definitely takes the cake. It’s super flowy and surprisingly warm for the thin material it’s made from. It’s also lined so you don’t have to worry about layering it with anything.

I adore this white pullover! Chunky knits are my winter weakness and I love how cozy this one is. It’s wool and the simple heart pattern is so fun! I love mixing this bigger pattern with the smaller cheetah print. Mixing different patterns is such a simple way to spice up an outfit.

I also enjoy playing with tucking in the sweater or leaving it untucked. You can play with this style depending on your preference.

That’s all for today folks! Thank you always for reading, and you can get this whole outfit from Urban Found! They have stores in Holland, South Haven, and Saugatuck if you’re looking to do some Holiday shopping!

Have an incredible day!

xo, Brynne

Jazz Up Neutrals With Camo

December 22, 2019 by Brynne Anika, posted in FASHION

This winter, I’ve been obsessed with playing with neutral tones and jazzing them up. There are so many neutrals out there besides black and white! I’m really feeling camo this season.

First of all, I’m in love with this gray top! I like the layered look of the long and short sleeves; it gives the whole outfit some extra texture!

Next up are the camo pants! I love the color and they can make so many other colors work with them. Not to mention, the zipper detail on the bottom of the leg is super cute and lets you adjust the leg length.

If you know me, you know that accessories complete the outfit! I love the mixture of long gold levels and smaller silver beads in this necklace. The rounded look is so unique!

Last but not least, I’m in LOVE with this full leather purse! The leather is so well done and soft, and is a great neutral to add to an outfit with brown tones. I would recommend it anywhere!

That’s all for today folks! Again, this outfit is completely styled at Urban Found, you should definitely check them out for some last minute Christmas shopping! They have stores in downtown Holland, South Haven, and Saugatuck.

Have an amazing pre-Christmas weekend, and thank you for reading!😊

Xo, Brynne

It’s Holiday Party Time!

December 20, 2019December 20, 2019 by Brynne Anika, posted in FASHION

I am giving some MAJOR actress vibes with this outfit! (My other side as an artist is coming out.) This might be one of my favorite outfits to style thus far! This is the PERFECT outfit to go to a Holiday party in!

First of all, the statement piece is definitely the fur jacket! It’s vegan fur and the coziest thing in the world! Not only does it look fancy, but it feels like I’m wearing a bathrobe!

Next up we’ve got this awesome knit cream sweater! I love that there’s metallic looking pieces in the fabric which give it a little glam! It’s a great neutral because it’s fun at the same time!

I will forever be a fan of olive colored jeans. Seriously you guys, I love the color because once again, they’re a neutral that can go with almost anything! The high waist with the buttons up the front is such a fun detail!

Last but not least: Statement. Earrings. Urban Found has the best selection of earrings, and I will forever be a fan of them! I love the thread of these and they are the perfect glitzy match to the coat!

All of these clothing items besides the shoes are from Urban Found! They have 3 locations in West Michigan: Holland, South Haven, and Saugatuck. I highly recommend checking them out as they have such great selections and affordable prices for the Holiday Season!

I am so thankful for all of you reading my posts! I hope you have a cheerful Holiday season!!!

Xo, Brynne

Being Creative is a Judgement Free Zone

November 25, 2019November 25, 2019 by Brynne Anika, posted in FASHION, Uncategorized

Throughout the past 5-10 years of my life, my biggest regret has been caring too much about what people think of me. To be honest with you, I had a huge interest in photography that started in middle school. I edited terrible pictures with my tiny digital camera on picnik and edited neon letters and borders around each of them… yikes.

But as I got older, I had a better camera, eye, and knack for photography. It was something I LOVED. The only thing that got in the way was the girls in high school that judged me for it. They would ignore me in places where I was forced to be in the same room with them, whisper about me right in front of them, and make me feel so unwelcome. To this day I’m not sure if all of it had to do with my passion for Instagram and Fashion, but I let their thoughts dictate how much I pursued it… and guess what? I stopped for awhile. For a couple of years I let that get the better of me, and I almost gave up completely.

I stopped caring what those girls thought of me years ago, but the message still haunted me. People are going to judge me. And guess what? They will. What’s going to happen if they judge me? Absolutely nothing. It took me until recently to put my full effort into blogging and fashion. Will people think the outfits I wear are crazy? Will people think I’m trying to shove what I wear/have in other’s faces? I can’t answer that, but what I can say is that I LOVE what I do. I enjoy creating art of all kinds, I love working with others, and if I didn’t do it, I would be miserable.

So cheers to not caring! Cheers to this AMAZING cheetah print skirt and funky teddy coat, and cheers to not giving a crap as I shoot this outfit in the middle of my downtown. Art is meant to be shared.

(The teddy coat, maxi skirt, and jewelry pieces are all from Urban Found. Check out their store website here, and stop by one of their locations in Holland, Saugatuck, and South Haven.

Oversized Jackets: SUCH A FAN

October 25, 2019October 25, 2019 by Brynne Anika, posted in FASHION

Ok, I don’t know about you, but oversized jackets in the Fall are one of my FAVORITE additions to an outfit! You can rock them over a sweater and they don’t make you feel stiff, and they completely pull an outfit together when the weather is so unpredictable!

The jacket that I have on I thrifted and it’s the brand Dressbarn. I almost didn’t get it as I thought it may be too ‘Spring,’ but I think the colors can go for any season. It’s a size Large which is perfect because I’m a size xs/s so it’s great for layering! I’ve linked some of my favorite oversized denim below… Come check out my finds!

Zara: One of my go-to brands as they always have great neutrals and also really funky prints in their products. Their ‘basic’ collection has an awesome black denim jacket that’s perfect for putting on over a cozy sweater!

2. Levi’s One of the original and best quality brands for denim in my opinion. Not only do they have great options on the website, but Levi’s is now carried at TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack if you’re looking to save some money. Regardless, I think Levi’s is worth every penny.

3. Shein

Ok guys… I LOVE the print on this jacket! It’s so fun and also affordable. I’ve heard really good things about the quality of Shein products. If you were going for a neutral outfit, this would be the perfect pop of color!

Friends, I am SO thankful for all of you who read my blog posts… seriously, it’s a gift! Have an amazing Friday, you made it!!!

xo, Brynne

Campus to Real Life: What I’ve Learned

September 22, 2019 by Brynne Anika, posted in Life

Hey everyone, it’s been awhile! I’ve been transitioning from graduating college into the working world and it’s been crazy thus far! This change from undergrad to regular life can be difficult in a lot of ways, and I’ve definitely struggled with it a lot. It’s taken a lot of time and grace to find ways to navigate this part of my life as I’m sure it has for many of us. Here are some challenges I’ve faced and how I’m working through them.

Money

This is probably one of the bigger ones that many post-grads struggle with. I am the most intimidated by money out of all of these still. When you get your job(s), you suddenly are equipped with a lot of money which is great! No more campus jobs and no more class to keep you from getting more hours! Needless to say, budgeting can be difficult because it’s easy to overspend and important things such as rent, groceries, and gas money go out the window. I try save at least $50 out of each pay check to go to my savings account, and I try to limit myself in expenses I don’t need such as going out for food/drinks or buying coffee in the mornings. I also plan things such as grocery lists, rent, and gas expenses for the month to get a rough estimate of how much I will spend.

Safety Job

Here’s where we have to set our pride aside. Most of us have this idea that once we graduate, we will have our perfect dream job and life… very rarely does this actually happen. Alongside my main job is a dance teacher (yay!), I have a job I enjoy which helps me with student loans and my savings. Very rarely do we get our dream job that allows us to fully fund ourselves right away. I’ve noticed that once graduation happens, we put this heavy expectation that we should have our perfect job right away. Honestly, that RARELY happens. (If it did for you, yay yay yay!) But there’s nothing wrong with hustling for what you need to accomplish, saving money, and not being exactly where you want to be!

Downsizing

When I moved into my apartment, I realized how much crap I have. And I really mean it. Crap. I had so much random stuff that I never use such as: clothing, books, college papers I don’t need, etc. I highly recommend going through everything and asking yourself when the last time you used each item was. It will save you a lot of space! Not to mention, you can sell things on Facebook market or donate to a thrift store help downsize and to allow others to recycle items.

Friendships

College makes friendships super convenient. You can run into people on campus almost anywhere (especially on a small campus). But once everyone has graduated and spread out, you don’t have campus and class to keep connections with others. You need to reach out to others and be good at planning quality time. I’m not much of a planner, and I’ve realized that when I don’t follow through with friendships, they dissipate. Even though it may seem ‘forced’ to make plans, I’ve realized I have to in order to catch up and spend time with those I love! Planning is SO worth it.

These little themes of what ‘real life’ looks like can’t even begin to explain how it really is when you’re working through everything. Transitioning to a new chapter in life is super hard, but things come together slowly. If I have learned anything from this first month of the working world, it’s not to worry so much about making everything work perfectly right away. It takes time to adjust and that’s ok! Whether you have your dream job or you’re still figuring it out, I hope you know you’re not going through it alone! Things will work out. 🙂

xo, Brynne

Summer=Yellow Jumpsuits

August 11, 2019August 11, 2019 by Brynne Anika, posted in FASHION

Yellow is not so mellow anymore! I see yellow clothing pieces everywhere this season, especially with jumpsuits! Not only is yellow a fun, vintage color, but paired with a jumpsuit, it creates the perfect summer outfit! Here are a couple of my favorites that I’ve found on the internet!

ASOS has definitely got the ‘it’ look. The floral pattern is perfect for this season, and the ruffled texture on the shoulders is the perfect look for this idea. I like that this piece shows off figure on top but is a little looser on the bottom.

I love this slouchy jumpsuit from Forever 21! It can be dressed up or down depending on the shoes/jewelry combo you could wear with it. I could even see it as a great cover-up for the beach! I would definitely get a lot of wear out of this one since it looks so comfy!

Lastly, Showpo has a great yellow jumpsuit with a classic cut at the waist and bold stripes. This would be perfect for a summer wedding, a date night, or even going on vacation! It’s so flattering where it ties and I would definitely recommend!

Those are all my suggestions for today, folks! If you’re interested in any of these options, the link is under the name of the brand. As always, thanks for reading and happy August!

Xo, Brynne

Feeling Rosey

July 12, 2019 by Brynne Anika, posted in FASHION

Here’s what’s in store today: roses, roses, and more roses. Again, this is an outfit that I can feel really comfortable in but it’s dressy/casual and perfect for most day to day activities. I’m so excited to share it with you!

My bodysuit is from Hollister and although they don’t have it on their website anymore, I’ve got a couple of second options in other stores that I’ve linked below. I also found bodysuits with different backs just in case you were looking for some variety! I especially love white bodysuits as they can go with anything and they’re a great wardrobe staple.

My skort is from Zara, and I was in love when I found it! I’m a huge fan of feeling like what I’m wearing will not fly up when I’m just walking around haha. It’s super comfortable and so unique!

Lastly, I found my loafers at an antique barn, and they’re most likely from the 50’s or 60’s. Luckily enough, I found a very similar pair on Lulus website and they’re super cute and affordable!

Well, that’s all for now folks! Thank you for giving this outfit a look, I’m so pumped for you to get some inspo! (Also pro tip, this ‘fit pairs perfectly with a denim jacket so have at it haha).

xo, Brynne