Ive got that Tunnel Vision for you

" Yeah, I thought it and I achieved it. " Wise words from a man called Drake. I mean, come on,  aren't all his lyrics truthful and wise? I am a true believer in tunnel vision, also known as being a "go-getter". You know when you have that one goal you have been wanting to reach for so long but it seems like it's taking forever?  Tunnel Vision is what you use to get you through all the hardships and sleepless nights that come along with reaching goals, its what reminds you that there is and always will be a light at the end of the "tunnel". I believe in seeking something you want, and going after it without any distractions. Life though, is full of distractions, so how you ask does one even go about achieving "tunnel vision"? 

5 Simple Tips for Tunnel Vision:

1. Set Goals, and stick to them regardless of how many times you fall off, just start over again ( I promise nobody's watching). 
2. Make a Vision Board: grab some poster paper, some magazines, scissors, glue, and cut out everything and anything that looks like the goal and vision you want to achieve. 
3. Likeminded people: Surround yourself with those who appreciate your vision and share the same ambitious mentality.
4. Tune the negativity out: friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else who tells you that you can't or you will never achieve your goals, need to get to steppin. BYE Felicia!!
5. One vision at a time: Many of us overachievers will get excited and want to accomplish many tasks at once, but the main idea of tunnel vision is to focus on one goal and achieve that goal by any means.

As an entrepreneur and future law student, I can tell you tunnel vision is one of the many ways I have been able to accomplish many of my tasks and goals. I hope these tips will help all my business-minded folks out there with whatever their hearts desire! Remember, its not about how many things you can do at once, but how well you do one thing #qualityoverquantity!

Brows On Fleequé: Gucci The Eyebrow Goddess

If my eyebrows aren’t done, I’m not going anywhere. Simple as that. Coming from a middle eastern background I have always had thick bushy brows and upper lip hair to match. Early on in my life I was taught that Threading is the best form of hair removal as it not only removes the hairs but removes the dead skin cells as well and leaves you with soft, glowing skin. I first started going to Vinitas which is a chain Indian threading salon, and realized they were thinning my eyebrows too much regardless of how many times I had told them to keep my eyebrows in a naturally thick shape. Then I decided to try a different spot and chose to go to Ziba, which is another threading salon that has locations pretty-much everywhere. I remember the day clearly, I walked in, signed my name, and told the receptionist to book me with the best eyebrow lady that worked there. After a 30 minute wait, my name is called and I am greeted by the sweetest soul in the world, Audrina A.K.A. Gucci. That was around 7 years ago, and I am so lucky to say that I have remained loyal to her and followed her to every salon she has moved to, whether it be in Glendale, or all the way in North Hollywood. Yes, she’s that good! She will sit you down in her chair and take a look at your brows, listen to what you want, provide her opinion, and work her magic on you. About 10 minutes later, you look at yourself in the mirror and you cant help but fall in love with your face and your eyebrows especially. I’m known for saying “Thank you for turning me into a woman again” jokingly referring to the fact that my hairy features make me look manly and coming to Gucci transforms me into a pretty swan. 

Top 5 Common Threading Questions

1. Why choose threading over waxing or other methods of hair removal?  Waxing tugs your skin and throughout the years you lose elasticity where as with threading it gently removes the unwanted hair.
2. What does threading feel like? Some people feel little or no pain at all, it all depends on how sensitive your skin is.
3. How do I have to care for my eyebrows after threading? After threading gently cleanse your skin and apply a little bit of toner. 
4. How long does it usually take for the hair to grow back?  It varies depending on the persons hair growth. Brow threading is recommend to be done every 2-3 weeks.
5. Is threading affordable? For the most part yes but it depends on where you go.

Ladies, don't forget your eyebrows frame your face, so put down your sharpies, tweezers, and head on over to my girl Gucci at Polish Lounge in North Hollywood, CA,  mention 2some & you'll receive 10% off your service. Also make sure you press play to watch The Goddess go to work on my brows, oh and look at the "flick of her wrists."

Gucci @ Work

Top 5 Sandwiches In LA To Obsess Over

The perfect couple doesn't exist in the real world, but it sure as hell exists in food; it's called a Sandwich. Bread and some sort of filling in between, and you've got a marriage that can't be duplicated. The love I have for sandwiches comes from my middle eastern roots. You name it and we'll manage to put it in between bread. My typical Sunday brunch is a slice of Barbari bread, with some scrambled eggs, a slice of tomato, cucumber, and of course a thick slab of Feta cheese,  (Just thinking about it gets my mouth watering). My Jewish roots on the other hand, make me crave bagel and cream cheese, Shwarmas, and deli sandwiches all the time. Lets not forget about the most famous sandwich of all time: The Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, or in my case Peanut Butter, Banana, and Honey Sandwich (weird I know, but so good)! 

Think about it though: What's not to like? Bread (whatever kind you prefer), with some sort of filling in between (whether it be a protein or cheese); it's never disappointing. Unless you're on a diet, lord knows we all are, a sandwich is a perfect meal that will leave you full and ready to conquer the world. Some may say "Give a girl the right pair of heels, and she will conquer the world." I say "Give a girl a hearty sandwich and bes' believe she will conquer the world." 

There will be a day when my hubby will tell me to go into the kitchen and make him a sandwich, and I'll probably roll my eyes and hand him this list that he can order from. Who am I kidding I'll  probably make him the sandwich and then have him pick me up one of my favorite sandwiches that I have listed below.

Top 5 Life Changing Sandwiches:

1. il Trammezzino- Grilled Breast of Chicken: sun dried tomato, avocado, provolone cheese and basil garlic sauce
2. R+D Kitchen- Dings Crispy Chicken: baby swiss, sliced tomato, and vinaigrette slaw
3. Ta-eem Grill- Falafel in Pita: pick your own toppings and salads
4. Eggslut- Fairfax: soft scrambled eggs and chives, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, and sriracha mayo in a warm brioche bun. 
5. The Carving Board- Spaghetti & Meatballwich: paghetti griddled together like a bun, house made meatballs in marinara sauce, thick slice of melted mozzarella 

Trust me when I say these pictures do not do the sandwiches justice, so make sure you get off your ass and drive to one of these spots for some finger-lickin-good wiches'. Bon Apétit , Beh Tahavon, and Nooshe Jaan. 

Recipe for the "Right" Guy

"He wasn't the right one" A phrase often heard after a break-up or the realization that you have just wasted the past six months to a year with a douche. What does "the right one" even mean? Does he wipe your tears when you cry? Does he open doors? Does he finish your sentences? My Favorite: Does he love you like a fat kid loves cake? To me "the right one" means that he has certain qualities and standards that make for the man of my dreams (Justin Timberlake). Every woman's set of standards to which she feels the guy is the right fit is completely different. As an experiment I met up with a bunch of my girlfriends and asked them what ingredients they look for in a guy that make up the recipe for the "right guy". Some of the qualities included: 

• Communication Skills
• Humor
• Family Oriented
• Motivated
• Intelligence
• Chemistry

Personally, I agree with almost every quality mentioned, but I realized some of the qualities I look for, and base my decision on whether or not the dude is right for me were not even on the radar for my girls. For me it's all about :

• Loyalty
• Ambition
• Open-Mindedness 
• Generosity 

Not much right? WRONG. Finding a guy that posses' all the qualities you are looking for is close to looking for a unicorn, but that's why women like my friends and I have had trouble finding the "right one" because relationships and love are all about the right recipe. A little bit of this, and a pinch of that, makeup the man of our dreams, but recipes change depending on the person, and that person's taste.  

I must say, if anyone is picky, its me. I am slowly learning that dudes are not perfect and neither am I, but it also doesn't mean that I should totally give up my standards. It's really all about balancing the good with the bad. Example: the guys you see who date those bimbos? It's all possible because the dude is willing to compromise a good convo for the fact that she's gorgeous and great in bed. Totally not trying to stereotype, but it's the easiest example I could think of. It's all about the give and take. Keep some standards, but don't overwhelm yourselves trying to find the perfect guy, because he doesn't exist, and whats perfect to you now, will probably change. 

Ladies, put down your lists, put your freakum' dresses on, and go out there and live life. The "right" guy will make his way to you when the time is right, and the ingredients seem fit for the recipe of your life.  So, if there is any advice I can tell you girls out there it's this: stop looking for the "right" guy, finding a dude that has every quality that's on your checklist is going to leave you with gray hair and dry panties.

True Life: I'm Addicted to Lipstick

Reds, pinks, and nudes are only some of the many shades of lipstick I love. If it's MAC, name it and I got it! Growing up, I was the biggest tomboy, my love for basketball shorts and air forces trumped my interest in anything girly, especially lipstick. Back then the most fascinating type of makeup was lip gloss, or LipGlass from MAC, thankfully its in the past! Whoever thought walking around with super glossy and sticky lips was a good idea, sure did like the taste of their own hair on a windy day.  

Around my 17th birthday, I was gifted a MAC lipstick, Hot Gossip to be exact. This lipstick was a hot pink with tons of shimmer, it was so NOT me! Regardless, I wore it in confidence, and received many compliments, and with that my love of lipsticks was born. My obsession is not just with any lipstick in general, its specifically with MAC lipsticks. They are always smooth, long lasting, and come in the trendiest shades. Personally I'm all about the matte finish when it comes to lipstick because it's so velvety, has a retro vibe, and I've found that it last the longest. Im no makeup artist, but pick the right shade of lipstick for your skin tone! This is a cardinal rule in wearing lipstick because someone who is fair like me, usually doesnt look so well in a beige nude, because it tends to wash us out, but when we look for a nude with a pink undertone, its very ikely that shade will look 10x better. Being a fair skinned gal, I can tell you its fun to experiment with different shades because there is so much to choose from. Regardless of your skin tone, make sure you take a moment to try on the lipstick, and consult a MAC goddess before buying the wrong shade. 

Many ask me " Why do you wear lipstick so much?", ummm first of all because I'm a boss ass b*tch and I can do whatever I please, and second of all, it makes me feel FABULOUS! I love to use a light pink like MAC's Nouvelle Vogue or Pink Noveau for my everyday lipstick, a hot pink like Pink Pigeon when I'm feeling flirty, and of course red lipsticks like Damn Glamorous or Ruby Woo for when I'm feeling sexy and powerful. No matter what type of day I'm having, I know there is a perfect MAC lipstick to match my mood, or should I say shade ;). Leaving the house without lipstick is a total sin in my book, very similar to leaving the house naked!. Don't get me wrong, some days I wanna be in "sweatpants, hair tied, chillin with no makeup on" but why not rephrase that to "sweatpants, hair tied, chillin with MAC lipstick on"? 

The funniest part for me is when I'm dating a guy, and I'm wearing a hot pink or red lipstick, and he hesitates to kiss me because he doesn't want lipstick on him. Umm... Byyeeeeeee!  Ladies hear me when I tell you this should be a total red flag, because if he truly loved you, he'd want your "purple kisses" all over him, and when I say all over, I mean head to toe #sorrynotsorry! Lets hear it for the dudes who put up with our lipstick stains, and the multiple personalities that go along with them! 

So my advice to all my babes out there : Throw on some lipstick (Preferably MAC), go out, && conquer the world! 

Below you'll see how addicted I really am:

The Girls

Top row from left : Vegas Volt, Lady Danger, Damn Glamorous, Eden Rouge, Ruby Woo, Flat Out Fabulous, Seductive Intent, Up the Amp, Rebel.

Second row: Nouvelle Vogue, Pink Noveau, Niki Minaj Viva Glam, Impassioned, Pink Pigeon, Relentlessly Red, Ablaze. 

Lip Pencil: Cherry

My Lipstick Case

All my girls snuggled up in their case

Wearing Flat Out Fabulous

Wearing Ruby Woo

Live, Love, Lokai.

Many of you may not know me personally, but for those who do, know that I have had to overcome many obstacles to get where I am today, all the while managing to keep a smile on my face. Fake it till you make it right? Lokai is balance. Lokai is for when you're head over heels in love one day, and get dumped by your boyfriend the next day. Lokai is when you feel on top of the world because you're about to graduate college, but then remember you're in a shit ton of debt. Lokai is working out 5x a week, but eating a cheeseburger with animal fries for your cheat meal. Lokai is work hard, play hard (like the Wiz Khalifa song). Lokai is loving something with every inch of your soul, but having the strength to walk away from it (window shopping; story of my life). 

Some of you may ask "What do the black and white beads on the bracelet symbolize?" The White bead on the bracelet is filled with water from Mt. Everest, to symbolize when you're at the highest point in your life, and the black bead is filled with mud from the Dead Sea, to symbolize the lowest part of your life. No matter what kind of day I'm having, I can always count on my Lokai Bracelet to lift me up and remind me that life isn't always the happiest place on earth, but its also not consistently difficult and gloomy. As the old adage goes "This too shall pass" and "Better days are approaching" according to my fortune cookie.

I purchased my Lokai bracelet a couple weeks after a hectic period in my life. Like the founder of Lokai, my grandmother had also been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and had recently passed away. Once I had noticed the common thread I felt an instant connection with not only the product, but the inspiration that sparked the idea of this motivational bracelet. When I look down at my Lokai bracelet, I am reminded to stay humble in times when I feel like I'm "Ballin," and to stay hopeful, keep the faith, and know that there is nowhere to go but up when I feel like I have hit rock bottom. 

Lokai is whatever you want it to be. So go out there, get yourself a Lokai bracelet, and remind yourself to enjoy every struggle and every success in the balancing act we call life.  

Stay Humble && Hopeful,

Mel

The End of the Beginning is Near!

 Graduation is near, and I can't help but ooze senioritis from every pore. Im over essays, I'm over tests, and I'm sooo over homework. With that being said, I would like to walk you all through my undergraduate career:

• I got accepted to California State University Northridge (CSUN) straight out of high school and at the time is was really my "Plan B".
• My dream school at the time was the University of Southern California (USC) because of its prestigious academics, and college life.
• Little did I know, CSUN was renowned for their amazing College of Business and Economics, and so much more.

But enough of that nonsense, this post is for all my peeps out there wondering what they want to do with their lives. Due to my love for animals I thought becoming a veterinarian and pursuing a degree in Biology was the way to go, I was wrong. Not only did I hate chemistry, and certain biology classes, I found myself contemplating how would I survive a full 8 years of them. No way...No way in hell I was I cut out for that, Im too social, I want a life, I don't want to immerse myself in a field that would make me give up a social life for 8 years. These were all thoughts that crossed my mind when I decided to take a business law course. I just thought that I would take the course to test the waters and see if there would be any chance of me liking the business college. A few classes in and I was in love. I counted the seconds in my biology classes, but couldn't wait to run across campus to attend my business law class, it was like the course had sparked a skill inside me that I always knew I had, but never thought I would be so good at. That talent I am so very proud of is skillfully negotiating and being able to persuade the other side that my point of view is correct. That following semester, I changed my major to Business Law. My change in course delayed my graduation date by one year, but to this day I know it was well worth it.

As I finish up my last two weeks of my undergraduate degree, I can't help but think about how time flew, and how thrilled I am that I found a major that speaks to me, and that I know I will be able to apply to my future career. To all my "Undecided" folks; take your time, forget about how long it's gonna take to get to your goal, take classes that are out of your comfort zone, and who knows what crazy path it might lead you down. Whatever major you choose, and whatever career path you choose to go down, go with all your heart!

Undergrad, done. Next stop, Law School!

What kind of Bitch are you?

Whoever said "Diamond's are a girls best friend" never owned a dog . I happen to have a passion for animals; dogs in particular. I strongly believe that the type of dog you have says a lot about you as a person. No matter what I do, what kind of day I have, I can always rely on my dog Luna to brighten up my day, even if she drives me crazy. The pictures are of me and my gorgeous baby girl Luna, a half Husky, half German Shepard bundle of energy! 

With that being said here are a couple examples of dogs, and what they say about the type of person you are (This is just my opinion don't take it too seriously, although I know I'm right on the money ;) :

1. Maltease- You love attention, and your daddy pays for everything. You also never pick up your dogs poop.
2. Bulldog- You're Lazy but cute, and thats one of the many reasons dudes love you. You also don't mind dog farts, because lets face it Bulldogs are known for farting.
3. Beagle- You're reliable, and you're a sucker for dudes with glasses. Saturday nights for you mostly consist of  chillin' on the couch with good food and good company. 
4. Poodle- Oh you Fancy huh? You love anything french, including french fries, french kissing, and macaroons. Also known as the high society typa' gal.
5. Boxer- You're an athletic bitch, with loads of confidence, and nobody can mess with you. You're usually the girl posting selfies in the gym with #flexin or #gains.
6. Pitbull- Misunderstood, to say the least. You love socializing, and dudes are always attracted to you, which often leads to other girls thinking you're a slut. Don't let them dull your shine though, you're a bad bitch. 
7. Husky- You're the bitch that won't stop talking because you are always energized and hyper for no reason whatsoever. You're the life of the party and the theme song playing in your head is "SHOTS,SHOTS,SHOTS, SHOTS...". 
8. German Shepard- You're a perfectionist, with a tad bit of OCD. You plan everything, and you're always trippin' when things don't go as planned. You're often told to "Take a chill pill". 
9. Golden/Labrador Retriever- You're a people pleaser, eager to make everyone around you happy, because that makes you happy! You're the best listener, all your friends come to you when their douchebag boyfriends are acting up, and you are always there to listen and wipe their tears or feed them ice cream. 
10. Mutts/Mixed Breeds- You're the best at everything, but oh so humble about it. You know how to listen, how to love, and how to be a boss bitch at everything. Your down to earth personality is what makes you my favorite! 

Check out the pictures below of me and my rescue Luna, and click here to find a local Los Angeles shelter to adopt and give a loving home to what could be your new best friend! 

Dating and the City

Whats the point in dating these days? Chilvary? Romance? I doubt anyone knows what I'm even talking about. Our generation is only interested in swiping left or right, giving guys way too much credit for shirtless pics, and listening to the game they spit in hopes of getting laid. Im referring to Tinder, the dating app that bases its "matches" by how attracted you are to the other person. Ummm, what happened to "Don't judge a book by its cover"? I guess thats a thing of the past too. To all of you looking for love, don't go on Tinder, and don't look for love. Let it "come to you" as I've been told. I have always been the type of gal that enjoys being in relationships, but I've come to realize, its all about loving you, loving the city you're in and building an empire for yourself. Coming from a Persian/Jewish culture, my mentality of "do you and all else will follow" is usually frowned upon. In a picture perfect world, us persian gals are supposed live with our parents till our magical prince arrives asking for our hand in marriage. C'mon, this isn't Disney, and I aint no princess Jasmine. 

If you ask me, Id suggest all girls to date. Date the nice guy, date the asshole, date the mommas boy, date the cheap dude and date all the other frogs out there. If you don't, you'll never be able to recognize a Prince from a Frog. If you're looking for me, ill be out somewhere in Los Angeles "DOING ME" and enjoying life, && if my prince happens to come along, soooo be it!

Thats all for today, Stay Tuned for more dating drama...

Coffee Makes the World Go Round'

Necessities in life: Shelter, Water, Food, and lets not forget Coffee. I don't know about you, but I can't function without coffee. I have been a Starbuck's Coffee connoseiur for a while now, but I could never drink it black. Everyone at Starbuck's knows me for my complicated orders which usually include: 3 pumps this, splash of half and half, and oh make sure theres room (Because I drive like a maniac and the coffee needs room to swoosh around without spilling while I drive). I have always preached Starbuck's coffee, because honestly I didn't know better, and I had one of those membership apps on my phone that made it that much more convenient for me. 

It was only till a week ago where I actually had the chance of tasting REAL coffee without adding anything to it. After attending the Nike Air Max Box in Arts District, Los Angeles I decided I needed coffee; after all walking around shoes and analyzing ever aspect of the exhibit made me tired, not to mention it was like 90 degrees. As Breea and I made our way to our car we stumbled upon an Organic Coffee shop called Groundwork Coffee, I personally had never been there before but apparently the company has been around for 25 years. The particular location we visited had just opened and it was the grand opening day! We walked in and were automatically greeted by the staff's warm smiles. I had a sip of some of the samples they had put out, and was floored by the fact the coffee had no milk/creamer, or sugar! I was in a state of Shock/Happiness. The first thing that came out of my mouth was "Where has this coffee been all my life?" The coffee I tasted was the "Bitches Brew" which fit perfectly with me don't ya think? It took me a minute to take in the fact that I was head over heels in love with BLACK COFFEE! Bye-Bye to those days where I needed creamer and sugar substitutes to help me get through my coffee.

The staff was overjoyed with the fact that I had expressed my love for their quality coffee so proudly. I walked out with an Iced Coffee with no sweetener and no creamer, oh and the employees loved me so much they threw in a Peanut Butter cookie. Let me tell you, this cookie was scrumptious! To test my theory, I went over to Starbuck's the next day and ordered a grande Iced Coffee Black to see if I could handle it. I couldn't. Needless to say, Groundwork Coffee will be seeing me more often. Who are we kidding, Im gonna head over there right now! Make sure you do the same!

I'll take ya to the candy shop

Who doesn't like candy? I love me a wrist full of delectable pieces that can take your look from dull to diva, and give you an instant sugar rush!  I'm a sucker for mixing high end and low end pieces to create a million dollar look. I usually pair a gorgeous watch with a bunch of bangles that cost no more than 20 bucks, and have people staring at my wrists like I was Kylie Jenner (y'all know what I'm talking about). For those of you out there that don't know where to start, I recommend first getting an idea for what type of metal tone you like, and there is plenty to choose from (gold, silver, rose gold). Personally I'm all about the gold, but my partner in crime Breea is a sucker for silver, but the trendiest of fashionista's will always find a way to mix the metal tones up. 

Once you have an everyday watch in your favorite color metal, I suggest buying a couple bracelets with your style preference to stack up on your wrist that you feel comfortable wearing; friendship bracelets, colorful jewels..etc. Personally I obsess  over anything that's daring, detailed, and of course diamond encrusted. My Fashion Design Teacher in high school always told us that jewelry is a must, but that it can be over-done, and that it's necessary to "take off one piece of jewelry" before leaving the house. Sorry to break it to you Mrs. V, but this arm candy trend is all about overdoing it. Don't be afraid to stack your wrist full of sparkly wonders, and leave the house with an "over-done" look!   Below is a pic of one of my simple arm candy ensembles, that I love to sport when rocking my everyday fit'. 

From top to bottom:

1. H&M Spiked Bangle

2. Lokai Bracelet 

3. Point A to Point B Gold Plated / Crystal Bangle from Jessi's Jewels

4. "Goal Digger" Bracelet from BCBG Generation 

Its Leather Weather!

Spring is finally here, and I don't know about you, but I'm ready to start flaunting my Leather Jackets! Leather jackets have made appearances on rebellious souls all over the world, including me! Those who know me, will tell you that my "Go-To" look is of course the classic T-shirt and Jeans, but for an edgy element I love to throw on my favorite Genuine Leather Moto Jacket from H&M.  I purchased my leather jacket two years ago from H&M for $179, which might seem like a lot, but it's a staple piece that I highly recommend every girl invest in (Remember: "Quality over Quantity"). For all my PETA-friendly fashionista's, I can assure you that stunning, and wallet-friendly options are out there, just make sure to check the label, since you will probably be tempted to reach for the genuine leather goodness you see ;) . Regardless of how you wear your leather jackets: up with a fancy gown or down with a tank and some ripped jeans, you'll be sure to exude confidence! 

Top 3 Must-Have Leather Jackets:

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