The staples of my wardrobe are hoops and bangles. Mira (look) I can throw on jeans, dresses, sweats for the gym and you can believe my hoops and bangles are nearby.

My history with hoops and bangles goes back to my late abuelita (grandma). Like many Hispanic households she played a huge part of my life. After my mother moved to the U.S. from Colombia my grandma came along two years later.

A tiny 4'11 diva, she was the youngest of 9 kids. Nothing fazed her; she held down her household even after her husband left. She knew she had two kids to feed and worked long hours to pay her way through nursing school. Yet you could always find her looking stunning even on a strict budget.

At the tender age of 2, I met her. I could never say the word abuelita (grandma). One night while we watched TV together I came up with the name Lily and it stuck. As I grew older Lily and I would spend hours together. I was her little sidekick as she roamed around the malls in NJ looking for sales. Her closet was my heaven. She taught me how to walk in heels. I would stumble down the hallway practicing in her tiny pumps.

We shared a love for jewelry and spent hours sifting through her jewelry box. I inherited my love of bangles from her. I would watch her and think how beautiful she looked as her wrist clinked and shined. I sat in her room trying on all her different bangles and admiring her earrings. The day came when she handed me a little brown box, I opened it to find my very own pair of gold hoops and matching bangles inside. We have been inseparable ever since.

What is it about hoops and bangles that make them fabulous? To begin with you have a variety to choose from. You have large, medium, and small hoops. There are simple hoops or doorknocker style. You can dabble between silver, gold, platinum, cubic zirconium, and diamond hoops. They have a way of perfectly falling from your ears. Team that up with matching bangles glistening on your wrist and together they add that perfect touch of feminity, fun and sprinkle of sazon.

The reality is earrings, in general, affect the way your face looks. They can distract attention from your face if you're not wearing making up. They can also create a longer, fuller, slimmer look. It's important that you try on different size hoops so you can have an idea of what you feel comfortable with. Keep in mind every woman has a different face shape they are working with. I myself love to be loud and seen. The bigger the better! It is my way of saying to world mira (look)!

Bangles highlight your wrist which is a sexy part of a woman's body. When do you ever complain about cellulite on your wrist? Nunca (never)!! I strut around my job in my jeans, fitted white tee shirt, wedges, hoops and gold bangles clinking away. They add an extra touch to my outfit in such a simple way.

Pero (but) the best part hands down is the affordability. You can find a variety of price ranges on hoop earrings and bangles in almost any store you come across in NYC. You can happily splurge away for a decent price at your local Mandees, Forever 21, NY & Company, random accessories store, H&M, flea markets in Union Square or Macys.

Like my Lily shared with me, I bring to you; An entry level salary should never stop you from looking fabulous. It is bittersweet for me but Lily went to a better place last June. In my heart she is never truly gone. She lives on every time I wear my hoops and bangles. All I can do is take a moment and close my eyes. I ride the train every morning to NYC and remember her little wrists making music.

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