No tease, just spray!

I did loose curls today with my CHI ARC curling iron, that I posted about in one of my previous blogs.  That tool is so great because it gets 410 degrees and allows you to get tighter or looser curls depending on the time you hold it and the amount of hair you place in the clamp.  My hair is stick straight so it's difficult for me to get great curls that will last for more than 30 minutes, but with my CHI ARC and this amazing hair spray (below) my curls will hold all day and sometimes until the next day with a retouch.

Like I said before, my mom is a hair stylist and I used to work in a professional beauty supply store so I have used a ton of professional products over the years.  AEROGEL is without a doubt the best hairspray I have ever used that will truly hold your look into place!! It is a TRI professional hair care product and therefore, it can be a little pricey but its definitely worth it!  A little goes a long way with this product, so it will last a while before having to purchase a new bottle.  You can find it on their website starting at $18.75 by clicking here! 

This hairspray is gel based, hence the name, and can really be used as a fixative, gel spray, and root lifter.  I have had a lot of compliments over the years about how much volume my hair has and I never ever tease my hair!  I simply lift my hair and then spray Aerogel over it and hold for 5 to 10 seconds and it stays!  My friends are always asking me to do their hair anytime we go out because they want the volume and height this product gives.  We joke and call it my "concrete spray" because it does not move!  I always like a little height because I feel like when my hair lays to flat to my head I just don't look right, could be a Southern thing ;)

I have been using this hair spray for at least 8 years now and I wouldn't trade it for anything! I get nervous when my can starts to get low. Even today, as bad as I hate to admit it, its been two days since I've washed my hair and it still has height!

Let me know if y'all have any questions!!

Sunshine on a cloudy day

Brightening my day up with this neon yellow and black striped sweater.  It's actually one that I've had in my closet for about 3 years now from Gap and it's an easy go-to because it is very light weight to throw over a tank for any cool weather. Neon and bold colors have really exploded over the past couple of years and easy to find for a bright look! However, I found this super cute one from Forever 21 with an Aztec inspiration for only $22!! Click here to check it out :) 

My jeans are from American Eagle and are the skinny jeans in the darker wash.  Topped off with my simple black heeled boots, also from Gap to complete my casual Friday look for less!!

Let me know if you have any questions!

I got the blues

Still bearing this cold weather, but thankfully most of the snow and ice has melted away so my heels can come out to play :)! The blue pants I have on are from the Loft and are a couple of seasons old, so this color can not be bought but you can get them in black for only $30 on sale!! Just click here! These pants are the Marisa Zip Pocket Skinny Pants in Stretch Ponte.  They are amazing because like the leggings, we love oh so much, they stretch and very comfortable, but appear to be dressier and great for work! My sweater was one of my great TJ Maxx finds for under $20 that I paired with a simple black camisole underneath. I wasn't able to find the exact sweater, but this cute motorcycle inspired jacket from JC Penny (shown below) would give you this same look for less! On sale for $40 now here!
Completed my look with my favorite wedged black booties, that go so easily with any type of hem.  Especially the straight pants to where I can show them off!  My necklace was a gift for Christmas and is a black diamond with the gold chain and I added my vintage gold ball necklace for a simple look!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Outfit of the Day

My work attire today was pretty casual. It's not a secret I LOVE black and gold, so anytime I can pair this scarf with an outfit, I do. This super cold weather makes it even easier to add on layers! I picked the scarf up at Target for less than $20! The sweater is from H&M and one of my favorite places to pick up basic sweaters. They are usually priced from $10 to $14, so very affordable!! The pants are from Guess and fit great because they have a stretchy feel to them. The straight leg style is easily paired with my black wedged booties, or heels, and even sandals in the summer!

Casual Friday

My car dashboard actually said -1 degrees this morning and more snow is on the way, so it's a casual Friday for me!  This look is very simple and some of the pieces I've had in my closet for a while.  The American flag infinity scarf was a gift for Christmas and the navy cardigan with elbow pads was a cheap find at TJ Maxx several months ago. 

I have found similar items that are affordable to get this same Americana casual look! My jeans are from American Eagle (my favorite place to buy jeans) and they are the artist style that you can find here!  AE always has sales, so if you watch it right, you can usually buy them for $30 or less! I love this style because it gives a little bit of a flare at the bottom and helps to slim down your legs!

There are many places you can pick up the American flag scarf at because I actually have a lighter weight one for Spring that I got at Cracker Barrel!  The one shown here is from Free People for only $38 and can be found here!

It's hard to tell, by my navy cardigan has the elbow pads that have been shown a lot this season.  I have several sweaters and shirts in my closet with this look.  I found a similar sweater on asos.com, which is a great place to hunt for all sorts of clothing and accessories!  This sweater has a leather elbow patch and is 100% cotton, so a very durable and lasting purchase at only $46.50.  This sweater can be paired with a lot of looks and a good go-to sweater to grab on your way out. 

My shoes are UGG Dakota slippers that are usually priced around $100.  I have had them for a couple of years now and I love them because they have the amazing sheep skin fur inside and keep my feet nice and warm.  I know that UGGs are very controversial now and a lot of people aren't a fan of their products, but any shoe can be worn with those jeans from tennis shoes to a wedge bootie to complete the outfit. 

The last item that I am wearing to complete my Americana look is my anchor stud earrings, which aren't shown in the actual picture.  They are similar to these Kate Spade studs that I found on Saks Fifth Avenue's website, but I actually found them at a local jewelry store.  There are many sites that carry these particular earrings, but they can be found here for only $32!!

Baby It's Cold Outside #OOTD

It's snowing and freezing outside, so layers are a must today! The sweater I have on is one of my cheap steals from KMART!! Yes, you read that right. They have added several new lines and I think it's a great place to find basic sweaters and blouses for work or casual wear.  This sweater is on sale for $10 right now and you can find it here! It's difficult to see the detail but it's metallic black and gold. I picked up the leggings at TJ Maxx.  They are a thicker material and easy to layer because I have another pair on underneath to block the wind. I found a similar pair that are BCBG on zappos.com, follow this link! My riding inspired boots are from Target and are 2 years old, but they have newer and similar styles for only $50 online, just click here! 

All of my pieces today are pretty basic and very afforadabe, but the great thing is that you can pair them with other patterns, colors, and make them as dressy or casual as you need.  Great items to have in your closet! I love a pop of pink or a neon color to brighten your look!

Benefit Cosmetics & the POREfessional

 

I am a big fan of Benefit Cosmetics because I have used quite a few products of theirs and have been very pleased with each one.  The POREfessional is a balm that minimizes the appearance of any pores on your face, but from personal experience I know that it also reduces the visibility of sun marks, freckles, and blemishes to give you an airbrushed complexion.

The product is only $30 and can be purchased here or other make up retailers, like Sephora!! The first time I bought it I thought that was pretty pricey for such a small tube, but it goes a long way because it is only necessary to use a minimal amount each time.  Its an easy applied balm that has a silky and lightweight texture to it.  It is an oil-free formula with a Vitamin E derivative and helps your make up to stay in place.  You can put it on before or after you apply your make up, which is great for me because I like to do touch ups during the day, especially after long work hours.

I am wearing POREfessional in the picture below, and although its a bit fuzzy because it's a picture taken from my cell phone- it hasn't been fixed or edited in any type of way.  My sun spots and freckles aren't as visible and my complexion looks great with the cover of this product and a very light foundation!

 To watch one a quick video on the POREfessional product to see exactly what areas are good to target, click here!

Another quick product of theirs that I'm obsessed with and wearing in this picture is their World Famous Neutrals eye shadows and the set I have is the Most Glamorous Nudes Ever. It comes with two cream shadows that are great for a base coat and then four powder shadows that are ideal to contour with.  "Call my Bluff" is the lightest shade and great to put in the corner of your eyes to make them appear bigger and brighter.  "Kiss Me, I'm Tipsy" is the darker shade that really helps to accent the creases of your eyes and to place at the base of your eyelashes as a liner or to pair with your liner.  The gold and blush colors, "It's Complicated" and "Gilt-y Pleasure" are two colors great to play with and use to transition the lights and darks. 

With these six colors you can really change your look from a more casual day at work or shopping to a more dramatic eye for your date night or night on the town! The kit is $30, but I have been using mine for a solid three months now so it's definitely worth the money. You can find it here at Sephora! Sephora carries three different sets of the World Famous Neutrals with different colors to find one that better suits your eye color or preference.  The one I purchased is shown below. 

Hope this helps you get that flawless look you've been looking for! Let me know if you have any questions :)

Curls on Curls

Let me first start by saying that I do not have natural curly hair! My hair is stick straight, so it is only the use of good tools and hairspray that my hair will even curl like this! My mom has been a beautician for 38 years, so I am no stranger to different product lines and tools. I was also fortunate enough to work on two different films in Texas and Kentucky about three years ago as a make up artist and hair stylist.  My education got in the way so here I am blogging to you instead of some fabulous movie set :)

The picture you see above is me in my work bathroom after curling my hair that literally took me less than 10 minutes to do! The product to thank for my quick curls is also shown above, CHI ARC Curling Iron. I am in love with this curling iron because the wand actually moves by the press of a button and curls your hair for you! Sounds too good to be true huh? And I'm sure some of you have had experiences with other similar tools.....BUT the big difference about the CHI ARC is that it gets up to 410 degrees!!! With that type of heat your curls will stay in place so much better, even for someone with stick straight hair like mine.  I pull my hair around to the front on each side and just take it section by section to curl on the 1 inch barrel.  It is very user friendly and I came across a video on YouTube to help out for those who are unsure about how it works http://youtu.be/PleKh9ql7Fo.  There are many retailers that sell CHI products but I found it online at ULTA.com or you can click here!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Outfit of the Day

My outfit on this frigid day is inspired mostly by keeping warm in this 3 degree and snowy weather! The jacket above is one of my favorite purchases this season from H&M because it is a cute and quick go-to, especially since about everything I wear has some aspect of black and gold. Unfortunately, I just realized this jacket is sold out so a great affordable alternative can be found at Modcloth.com (click here)!  My bright red pants are a couple of years old from White House Black Market, they are timeless and the wide leg pant that has really come into style this fall/winter season.  WHBM has seasonal colors so these red pants are no longer available, but you can get the classic black by clicking here!

The Aztec inspired sweater I'm wearing is from Windsor Store from last winter, but this print and type of sweater has also been very popular this year and a similar option can be found here for only $29.90!! My black pashmina is one I picked up off the streets of New York for cheap, but a great place to buy those is Steinmart and they are usually under $20!! Love looks for less :)

Home Sweet Home

My quaint, little apartment that I designed last June (2013).  Its no secret that I love black, gold, and blue!! I have been drawn to those colors for years.  My last apartment was also decorated in black and yellow :)

Outfit of the Day

Outfit of the day: My light pink blouse is from Groopdealz.com, which is a great website that has products for real cheap for a limited time.  I think I only paid $17 for this one! My pants are black pants/leggings that I picked up from TJ Maxx for $14.99-- they come in different brands and styles but very comfortable and versatile for casual or professional styles! The nude and suede Mary Jane's are Steve Madden! You can't go wrong with any nude or blush pump to dress up a look!

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New Year, New Blog

I'm brand new to the blogging world, but I'm very excited to start sharing my style and design ideas for 2014 and moving forward!! Here are a few of my past looks in #2013 that I stole from personal pictures, so apologies if the quality isn't as clear.

This is what I wore for my New Year's Celebration.  My necklace is the Trendoro Goddess necklace from Brighton jewelry.  The black top is actually one that I picked up from TJ Maxx and it has a bubble hem line with a v-cut top.  The gold sequin top underneath and my leather leggings are both from Windsor Store. 



I LOVE the jeggings from American Eagle and those are the a hunter green color.  They are super comfortable and accent what little of a butt I do have ;) The brown boots are my go-to because they are very light weight, comfortable, and don't have any extra gold or silver buckles so I can wear them with anything (purchased at Shoe Carnival).  Both the sweater and sweater vest came from H&M.  The vest was purchased in 2011 and the oatmeal sweater underneath was this year, just basic and affordable.