Everybody Needs a Cleanser

I’ve always had pretty clear and smooth skin, but during about the past year and a half as I’ve continued to learn more about my skin and have some occasional breakouts whether they are random, hormonal or from traveling and a change of weather I’ve realized that no matter how clear my skin usually is I needed to create a regimen and find products that work best for me and what my skin needs.

I’ve always enjoyed face masks whether that was buying them or creating my own and I’ve always loved natural oils on my body but I have in the last year began to realize how important it is to have a daily facial cleanser and I’ve also found a great love for retinol and oils like Vitamin E, Coconut oil (i’ve used a little on my face for about 2+ years), and almond oil for my face. Your skin can continue to have a natural glow by taking care of it. Our bodies are like plants and they grow if you water them, nourish them and take care of them by treating them with proper care, love, and respect. By drinking lots of water, eating properly and having adequate amounts of sleep and activity you will see the change in yourself, how you feel, how clear and glowing your skin is etc.

People always ask me about my skin and what I do to keep it so clear but I honestly don’t do too much, I’m not that girl with a 1,000 step skin routine, like if you have that it’s completely fine but I’m just not that girl (I also don’t have the patience for that). My routine is drinking LOTS of water (I’ve gotten much better over time, and as far is what I actually do as my routine is I use my cleanser, rose water spray and an oil (retinol, Vitamin E, almond) on a daily (I’m making it a habit).

i’ve been using this Vitamin C and Manuka Honey gel cleanser by NOW Solutions for about 2 months now and I absolutely love it! This big bottle was $7.19 from a health food store (but now products are also sold at Whole Foods). This cleanser is so lightweight and refreshing and leaves my skin feeling clean and glowing. It’s perfect for me because it’s straight to the point and does exactly what I need it to do. No matter how clear your skin is or has always been I’ve learned how important it is for every skin type to have some form of a cleanser. I love this one and I can see myself continuing to use it for a long time to come. Everybody needs a cleanser and I’ve definitely found the one that works best for me.

Just Pull it Together

Turtleneck: Lexi Drew Boutique// Pants: Forever 21// Patent Leather Jacket: Lexi Drew Boutique// Coat: Forever 21//

I’m going to be honest in the Winter it’s a little harder to shoot, not because I can’t figure out any good outfits because we all know fashion is at it’s best in the Fall and the Winter but because it’s too cold outside and it make me not want to even get out the bed. In Michigan we’ve gotten sporadic snow days but we haven’t had a bad Winter (Fingers crossed it stays this way for the rest of the Winter) it’s just been brutally cold lately and it really has been making it feel like a drag to shoot or do anything for that manner, but I always want to bring you guys some content!

With the look that I have on it’s great for the days that I don’t feel like doing much but want to put something together good enough to get some content. Turtlenecks are one of my favorite things to wear especially well fitting ones and in the Winter they are best to wear because they can be styled any kind of way and they keep you warm. I put on this turtleneck and these thick black pants that give you more of a baggy look and added this bomb patent leather jacket. But even once I put the outfit together I still felt like there was something that was missing but when I added the beret and the plaid coat (one of my favorites) that’s when it all came together.

Like I told you guys before sometimes to complete a look all it takes is a good third piece or coat and a good accessory and here that reigns true. In the winter sometimes it’s hard to want to want to do more than the minimum or go out and take a thousand pictures for a handful of good ones but when I see the final photos that come out just the way I wanted it makes me want to continue shooting and creating content.

How I Saved Money While in College

So y’all should know by now that I graduated college back in May 2019 from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Business and Marketing. But as a recent graduate and a person who did this whole college journey for four years there is so much advice and information that I feel I can pass on to current college students, people that will be in college soon and people who are almost done.

People try to make it like going to college isn’t hard and it’s just school etc. but I’m here to tell you that college is hard AF, it is like a full time job, homework and assignments take blood, sweat tears and hours to do, there will be overnighters, there will be procrastination (because it just happens sometimes), there will be some grades you don’t get that you may have wanted and you will be exhausted. For some it’s more than just attending school like for me I was a full time student as well as internships and jobs at the same time and sometimes multiples all at the same time. But one thing that you can do to minimize your stress is minimize spending money or spending as much money because that “broke college student” thing can be very real especially when going out to parties, eating out etc.

So I’m here to give you some tips on how to save some money while in college….

1. Cook at home as often as you can: If you have a kitchen available to you in your living space whether that is on or off campus then you need to stop eating out and just go grocery shopping and cook at home because that will save you a lot of money. As a student and also working and being out and about its easy to just grab some fast food, or grab a coffee or grab a snack but those small prices daily and sometimes multiple times a day adds up.

   • You can meal prep and take snacks with you to have throughout the day so that you can minimize stopping at places like Starbucks or a cafe to buy food or snacks.

   • If you are a coffee or tea drinker and like Starbucks or anything else like it start minimizing how many times a week you go and make your coffee or tea at home some days because that money daily adds up quickly

   • Try to cook majority of the days out of the week, and eat breakfast at home before you leave the house. You can treat yourself but don’t make it an everyday thing.

2. You don’t have to go to every party: I know that when you’re in college parties and going out with friends kind of become apart of your norm but you don’t have to do it everyday. Most of the parties end up being the same each time and the same people are there so if you miss one or a couple you will be fine. You and your friends don’t always have to go out to have fun, you can group together the food you have and get wine or drinks and go over one person’s house or to one person’s room and have a great time (me and my friends used to do this all of the time) and honestly after sophomore year partying gets old.

3. Use the hell out of your student discount: There are a lot of different businesses brick and mortar and online that offer student discounts or promotions at certain times throughout the day, but a lot of the time its not advertised so you have to ask. You are a student and you pay a tuition for every year (per semester) so get as many discounts as you can because you deserve them all.

   • Unidays and Student Beans are apps and websites that you can sign up for using your school email that gives you coupon codes for different online shopping stores, for ordering food online etc.

   • StudentUniverse.com: Flight discounts for students

   • Movie theaters and restaurants: Ask if they have a student discount (normally they do)

4. Go to the free stuff!!!: When you’re in school there are some events and parties that will cost but there are also some free events that may have light refreshments and some parties and clubs that may be free before a certain time. You don’t always have to come out of pocket if there are options for you not to.

Ask any place that you go if they have a student discount it doesn’t hurt to ask. I graduated but will be using my student id until I can’t any more, they got a lot of money out of me while I was in school so I’m going to milk it as much as I can to get some too.

You Can Love Social Media but You also have to Limit it

I am a person who loves Instagram and I follow people who motivate and inspire me and are involved in the things that I am in or that I am striving to be apart of so I would say I keep what I indulge from others on social media pretty healthy but regardless of how positive or motivating your timeline is everyone needs a break from Instagram and all other social media platforms.

When on social media we may get caught up in comparing ourselves to others and what they are doing and what we feel we should be doing or where we think we should be but we all have to realize that you can’t compare your chapter two to someone else’s chapter 100, you don’t know what people had to do to get where they are now or how long it took them and you may see what their good days look like but you don’t know what their bad days look like, Instagram can be a highlight reel for the great things that are happening for people but it doesn’t showcase everything and you have to remember that.

You need breaks to reset and decompress, sometimes you have to take a break because being on social media so much and being on your phone so much can mess up your creative process and block you from creating new ideas that are truly original and truly your own. Also with being on our phones so much we get so caught up in thinking that that’s reality and forget to live in the moment. When you are enjoying life and indulging in great things your first instinct should be to really enjoy it not to pull out your phone to post on social media, if something bad happens in your life your first instinct should be to get on social media. We have to get out of the habit of being so attached to our phones and trying to create a persona online and actually live the reality that you are so fixated on showing to social media.

Social media is great for many things but it’s even better to not have bad attachments to it.

How to REALLY Change Your Mindset for the New Year.

Every year everybody does the same song and dance with creating New Year’s Resolutions and then forgetting about them by the second week of January because they had no real focus or discipline and no proper planning. I want to be the first to tell you if nobody else has that nothing in the New Year will change if you still have the same mindset, ways and habits as the previous year. You won’t just change and accomplish all this stuff out of nowhere you have to actually have the mindset and work ethic that you want to really change your life, you want to accomplish new goals, you want to get to a new level, you want to do new things, you want to reach certain financial goals etc. Stop feeding yourself lies and things that sound good and get to work for real and take your life and growth more seriously.

You don’t have to wait until a New Year to decide that you want change and that you have goals that you want to reach, as soon as you get in the correct mindframe of wanting to get sh*t done then you will do just that but until then you’ll just be sitting writing down all of these goals that will never get accomplished. You need to change you mindset to have the work ethic to get things done, you have to change your mindset to put focus towards the goals you have set, you need to learn how to have discipline. Another way to get serious about the goals you want for the new year you have to make realistic goals, you have to know what you are capable of physically and mentally and start off with things within that, start small and then continue to get better. Also you don’t have to jump to the top, there is no elevator to the top you have to take the stairs so stop making vague goals like I want to be successful or the best like what does that even mean? You’re not going to wake up tomorrow and automatically wake up with Beyonce level success.

So when trying to create new goals for the New Year be realistic with yourself, learn discipline, get focused, you will have to make sacrifices, and make goals to please yourself not to please anybody else.

Why Tidal is My Favorite Music Streaming App

So I had apple music for a short period of time but I’ve always had Tidal and I don’t mind paying the extra price because I love it! I may be a little bias because I am a huge Jay Z fan and he’s my favorite rapper but aside from that I do honestly love the app. It’s so sleek and clean and very well put together, also they offer more than just music, they have different podcasts on there, some festivals are streamed on there, some fashion shows have been streamed via Tidal, interviews with music artists and it’s just overall a great experience. Any music that I ever want to listen to for the most part is all on there and the perk is that every time Jay Z and Beyonce drop music I know that I will have access to it instantly because most times its only available on Tidal for the first few days or weeks.

Also aside from just available music and other content as soon as you open the app they have the newest music already there so you don’t have to go searching, there are playlists created of artists’s top picks, there are playlists/mixes created of you of your most listened to music and similar songs (They’re always on point too so clearly they’re capturing that good data over at Tidal). They put together best tracks of the year and of the season like best tracks of the Summer, they suggest to you new tracks and albums that you may like, and yes I’m sure Apple Music or any of the other streaming services may or may not do this too but I guarantee you that Tidal does it better.

Tidal has everything to offer and it’s like the Bentley of music streaming services! I don’t even feel like I need multiple streaming apps because having this one app offers it all. I love my music and Tidal gets the job done.

More Important Ways to Gift During the Holiday Season!

We’ve began to take the joy away from the holiday and replace it with a monetary value. We don’t enjoy the holiday season because we’re rushing to get gifts, we’re rushing to place orders so that things get here in time, we are rushing out to the malls, we’re going broke and spending money we don’t have on gifts, we are prioritizing buying gets over our own financial goals, bills and possible debt etc. But I’m here to tell you that the price of a gift should not be more important than the thought that you put into it for the person you’re shopping for.

There are many different things that you can get for someone aside from a physical gift, or something frivolous like clothes, shoes and bags that you may not need or can’t afford. And sometime we just simply don’t know what to get people or you’re shopping based off of what are current trends instead of buying them what they really need. I know this post is late and I know Christmas is in two days, but this post is for my last minute people, my people buying gifts after Christmas (yes this is okay, do things when and how your pockets allow, if they love you they won’t mind), and for my people who want ideas for next year.

For your friends or family members that are business owners or entrepreneurs and you want to gift them with something ask them if they need any equipment and try to give them money towards that or pay for it if it’s not that expensive such as money towards a new laptop, a printer, labels, packaging, money towards inventory, business cards, flyers, ads, gift cards they can use anywhere, Best Buy gift cards, masterclasses, courses, books etc. these are things that they actually need and that will be beneficial to them compared to clothes or shoes that they may not even really care for or wear that often.

For your other friends or family instead of spending a bunch of money on something you can maybe take them out to their favorite restaurant, take them to do something they really enjoy, pay for a manicure and pedicure, pay money on a small bill or a little towards it, buy things to help enrich their knowledge or something they want to begin doing etc.

Start thinking about getting people things they really enjoy instead of being worried about spending the most money or buying the most stuff. The thought is really what counts, don’t forget that the gifts are not the most important part of the holiday and you don’t want to go broke trying to impress people because if they really love and care about you they will understand if you can’t afford to buy gifts or if you have to get them something later.

Click here to watch my Youtube video about Black owned businesses you can shop with for the holiday and low cost gifts you can get people.

A Coat with the Shoes and Bag to Match

Turtleneck: Lexi Drew Boutique// Jeans: Thrifted// Jacket: Forever 21// Bag: Zara// Boots: Possibly Akira//

So as you all should know by now, Fall and Winter are may favorite seasons (I say it in about every post) and you also probably know that I love a good coat, but there’s nothing like a good shoe, coat and bag combo. The shoes, coat and bag don’t have to be matchy matchy and I actually prefer them not to be but when they just flow and all just kill as a unit its perfect!

Now the shoes, bag and coat that I’m wearing with this look all matched, but I only put them all together because the colors were a perfect match but they were all different in their own way and all stood out but tied each other together. Also this look plays on the concept of taking a basic outfit and heightening it by adding different accessories to it like outerwear, a cute bag, jewelry etc. At the bare minimum this outfit is just a white turtleneck and a pair of jeans which is very casual and I just made it pop a little bit with the things I added to it.

Also if you look at the three pieces I’m sure they look much more expensive than they actually are. All of these pieces were from fast fashion retailers and under $50, but they are of good quality and look great. You can get higher quality pieces without paying a higher price and they will look great and you’ll be able to add them to different looks to add something more like I did with this bag, shoe and coat combo.

Creating Can be Hard When you Do It All

I’ve touched on this before on my blog, but I wanted to touch on this again as the year is closing and the decade (which sounds CRAZY), I want to talk about the actual difficulty of owning your own business or businesses and being a one person show because people may make this journey seem so easy and it can be misleading.

When you are a one person show you are the person in charge, the assistant, the accountant, the content creator, the marketing manager, the product developer, the PR team, the planner, the photographer, the videographer and so much more and it can get very hard. When you have so many different tasks that you are responsible for and then you also have to think of the new ideas it can drain you of your creative energy. When you have so much to handle you aren’t able to have free space to think freely or creatively or randomly. But also as the person that does it all you have to figure out when you can allot time to relax, to unwind, to freely think, to create new ideas, to keep your creative juices flowing, this is non-negotiable. Your business relies on you and your ability to keep thinking of new things so you HAVE to give yourself space to do that and you have to give yourself space to relax sometimes or else you’ll always be running against a clock and a to-do list.

Also as a business owner you probably have other responsibilities outside of your business or businesses such as a 9-5 or multiple jobs or hustles, children maybe, going to school etc. so your business may not be your only responsibility so your plate is full and it can get hard to continue being upbeat and having continuous great ideas flowing in. There will be off days and don’t think that there won;t be, but if your goals are worth working for then it will be all worth it in the end.

If you have a lot within your business and your personal to handle to free up time you can use different apps to delegate tasks, you can use the phone that you’re always on to set reminders, take notes, set alarms and put it on do not disturb or airplane mode so you can get more done. Planning ahead is what will also help for you to allot more time. Also having time management and discipline, take certain days off, take time from irrelevant things and apply that time to things that matter. The journey of doing it all by yourself is a hard one, but there are some ways to lighten the load.

I released an EBOOK!!!

So on November 18th I released an Ebook, it was the first time I ever did something like this and the first ebook I ever put together. It turned from an idea to weeks of procrastinating it due to self-doubt that was masked as procrastination to writing it all out then designing it and turning it into the beautiful digital piece that I created. After I released it and posted the first photo announcing the release on my Instagram I wanted to put down my phone and walk away from it (Lmao but seriously) simply because this was my first time creating something like this and I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my sh*t. But to my surprise my followers (and even people who don’t follow me, but saw my ad) took to it very well from reposting on their stories, liking, commenting, texting me and purchasing the support was so unexpected but I’m so grateful. I didn’t go into this with any expectations or hopes I was just proud of myself for doing it and being able to witness the fact that I did this and did it beautifully although I had never done anything like this before and that there was reward enough for me.

The Ebook is called “How to Live a Stylish Life: The Basics” by ShaKayla Eaddy (me!!!) and it is all about teaching people what style is, how to attain it, how to find your own style, what are basic pieces that you need, how to shop, how to build the confidence to rock your style and how to seamlessly and confidently execute. This ebook has so much content and valuable information, that usually would cost much more to receive through booking a wardrobe service or consultation with me, but I created this ebook to help people get started with their style on their own for ONLY $5!!! That price may sound crazy for all of the information that’s in there and how long it took me to put together and create, but i wanted this Ebook to be affordable and it was the first of its kind that I ever made so I wanted to be reasonable, but the support has been crazy, waking up to PayPal and Square notifications was a dream that I was living after I released my Ebook that I was just so grateful for and shocked about.

At the beginning of 2019 I would’ve never thought that I would have been closing the year where I released an ebook but everything happens for a reason and God will push you out of your comfort zone to make amazing things happen. MY 2019 wasn’t going the best (I won’t say it was bad because I learned a lot but it could’ve been much better but now I see why things happened the way they did) but since the second week of October so much has been happening for me and I’ve been able to cross off so many of the goals I had for 2019 just in two months and that is something that is unexplainable. When you count yourself out God counts you back in, and releasing this ebook was one of the many amazing things that has happened for me in the past couple of months.

Get uncomfortable and you’ll get SO much done. Also when things aren’t going the way that you planned that doesn’t mean that they won’t happen!

To purchase your cop of my ebook click here.

Favorite Fall/Winter Basics

Like you all probably know by now my favorite seasons for fashion are Fall and Winter and my favorite season overall is Fall. In these two seasons the fashion gets so much better, you can do so much more and be so much more creative. The clothes have so much flavor and versatility, you can layer however much you want without any questions being asked and you can wear the most amazing third pieces and coats.

I’ve told you the pieces that are necessities for the season and keys to having a great wardrobe for the fall and the winter, but these are the basics that will become your favorite and some of them can even be worn year around.

The Fall Favorite basics include a white button up preferably oversized, turtlenecks, Boots both in tall and short and heeled and flats, a durable everyday bag, blazers (both oversized and fitted), Sweaters (chunky, different sleeves and materials, short or long), a trench coat, fur (faux or real we don’t discriminate and we love both), statement third pieces, and cute flat shoes that are chic and fashionable.

All of these items are versatile, can create so many different outfits, can transfer seasons and you can get different versions of them all in different styles, colors, price points and textures. If you would like to create a simple yet very very effective wardrobe for these cold seasons all you need is the right pieces! Having the right pieces allows for you to put together the most amazing looks without having to try too hard to do so. Get the best basics and spend less time on choosing your cloths that you can spend doing other things. Comfortability and being cute can go hand in hand if you have the right pieces.

Add to Your Wardrobe, Don't Subtract from Your Bank Account

Blazer: Thrifted// Jumpsuit: FashionNova// Boots: Ego Official// Glasses: Local Beauty Supply Store//

So on my blog all of you that are avid supporters of my blog or any of my other content platforms should know that I am all about affordable fashion, deals, and getting the most for your money. If you know me then you know I shop everywhere, from thrift stores to regular retail stores, if I like it enough to buy it then I get it it doesn’t matter where it’s from.

This entire outfit was probably less than $50, the blazer is a men’s thrifted blazer (I love the details, the structure and the shoulder pads, its my favorite) and it was probably $3-$5, the jumpsuit was a basic piece I got from Fashion Nova that is great to throw on under anything and it was probably $15, the shoes I may have paid $35 or $40 when I got them a couple of years ago and I had a discount code which is how I paid that price. Now babyyyy these beautiful glasses were literally only $5 from the beauty supply store, yes I said $5 and I got them in this like brown tortoise shell and solid black! You literally gotta stop sleeping on the Beauty Supply and $10 stores.

There are so many places that you can shop and get quality looking pieces but not have to spend that money. Stop only shopping at stores because of the name if that same piece is available somewhere else for a cheaper price. Get more for your money whenever you can and ALWAYS look in the sale section. Looking in the sale section doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with the pieces there, they just are probably out of season or didn’t sell well. If you have that eye of finding the best pieces and knowing what you like in your wardrobe then you can shop anywhere. Every time I go shopping I’m look for PIECES, I’m looking for things that can create many different outfits, that can be worn 1,000 different ways, and that have some form of a statement.

Get less for more and stop being so ready to break the bank when you don’t have to. Find those discount codes, look in that sale section, go to that thrift store, shop at those fast fashion retailers, have patience to look and happy shopping!

Looking Classic in the Fall

Jumpsuit: Fashion Nova// Jacket: Zara// Shoes: Boohoo// Bag: Forever 21//

Fall is my favorite time for fashion, everything just gets better. You can be more creative, pieces are more versatile, I love cute coats and jackets and you can layer. Also you can turn your outfit up just based off of the accessories that you add. You can do a plain canvas and dress it up with cute boots or an amazing third piece.

For this look it’s literally just an all black simple look, I started out super comfortable with this fitted FashionNova one piece jumpsuit (That I love because it’s a basic piece that you can do whatever with) and then to dress it up I added this super cute and well fitting Zara blazer (Love this blazer and the fit, structure and quality is bomb) and I added these cute snake textured boots and these very elegant gold and silver earrings, all of these pieces together looked amazing and took no time to put together.

Aside from the outfit being cute I just want to show you how easy it can be during these cold months to put together cute outfits, you literally don’t have to do too much or have all the pieces from all the stores that you want to look cute. No matter where you’re going you can put together a cute outfit quickly that is simple but is dressed up or down based off of the pieces you added to it. Having the ability to know your style and what pieces work for you and being able to see what you can add or take away from an outfit to make it great is a skill that you can become better at by taking the time to just learn what pieces fit your style, trying different outfits on when you have spare time, trying new things and different styles but just getting to know the things that you like and the things that look good on you. Have fun with your clothes and your style, especially in the Fall and Winter when you can get so creative and you have so many different options for everything.

Pattern Beauty... I'm in Love!

By Black women, for Black women.

So I’ve always loved Tracee Ellis Ross, especially since Girlfriends (one of my favorite shows ever) and still to this day, she represents so much amazingness from her hair to her fashion and style to all of the roles she’s played. She is an effortless icon and an amazing black woman. Back at the end of September she released via social media that she was releasing her haircare line Pattern Beauty that she had been working on for 10 years and as soon as I heard that I was so excited because I love her hair and how she stays true to it and her curly fro is one of the things she is known for. So after her release via her website she then later released the line in Ulta Beauty stores. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago I went into Ulta to get something from the line and I was so excited, everything about it was amazing from the marketing, the packaging, the store set up, the product variety and the size ranges.

When I got to the store I knew exactly what I wanted and went straight to it, but the Ulta Beauty employees kept telling me how amazing the product was and how it has been flying off of the shelves, they loved the product during training and certain products like the leave-in conditioner were sold out. I was already excited but their comments made me even more over the moon and excited to purchase and try the products. Not only was the leave in conditioner sold out but so was the brush and I even went to a different store just to see if they had the leave-in and they were out too but that was all good signs to me because I was just happy to see that this amazing black woman had created such an amazing product for us, by us that it’s flying off of the shelf. I purchased the ‘medium conditioner for curlies’ and the ‘hydration shampoo’, and I instantly was in love seeing that the conditioner bottle was bigger than the shampoo bottle because you know we use more conditioner than shampoo (or at least I know I do). I spent $45 for the two products, the conditioner was a 13 fl. oz. bottle for $25 and the shampoo was a 9.8 fl. oz. for $20, yes you may be thinking that’s expensive but natural hair care products aren’t cheap especially good ones and at least you get a lot of product for that price, and also after using it the quality of the product is definitely worth the price but I was willing to spend that price for the simple fact of supporting her and her brand

After using the shampoo and conditioner I can say that Pattern Beauty has a customer in me for life. They were both amazing, you didn’t need to overuse your product, it was easy to work with, smelled amazing and was very smooth. The conditioner is my absolute favorite of the two. Now let’s get into these result!! The results I got from using the shampoo and conditioner were so amazing that It almost made me want to shed tears, my curls were so defined (and this is my first wash after getting my hair redyed red less than two weeks prior), my hair was so soft, fluffy and bouncy, my three strand twist came out perfectly and my hair smelled amazing. I can say after using these two products I’m not even thinking about another shampoo and conditioner and I can’t wait to try the other products (Well when they come back in stock because many of them are sold out even on the website). I will rave about this product to any and everyone because it amazed me from the marketing, the branding, the campaigns, the way Tracee showcased it to beauty editors during fashion week, and the quality of the product itself.

Knowing your audience, what they need and how to get it to them is the formula and Tracee Ellis Ross mastered that with Pattern Beauty.

I will be doing a product review on my Youtube Channel so make sure you’re subscribed .

You can't go into Fall Without Red and Burgundy

Essie Nail Polish (from left to right): berry naughty (416) and wrapped in rubies (408)// OPI: Red// Lipstick: Fenty Beauty ‘Stunna’// Lipliners (front to back): Mahogany and Ruby Woo//

I am in no way a beauty guru or an expert in make-up nor do I know how to do it, but I do wish to learn one day. But one thing that you can’t tell me about that I do use as one of my only beauty products that I do know about is lipstick and my favorite is red! All year around one of my signature lippies are red (Ruby Woo by MAC and Stunna by Fenty Beauty) and I also love a good burgundy lip and a ombre red and dark burgundy lip look. Using beautiful and deep tones like red or burgundy for lip colors makes everything look so much more put together to me. If you take any of the tips from my past two blog posts about having a great Fall Wardrobe and then you add one of these lips colors then you are all set for the Fall. All lip colors may look different on different people but find your perfect tone of red or burgundy and rock the hell out of it with confidence!

Also I always love a good red nail and it looks even more amazing in the Fall and winter because it is that color pop that you need when everything looks or feels more gloomy. I’ve always admired a good red lip and red nails, it’s like the perfect combo all year around. Give me a red lip, some lashes or mascara and some good/clear skin and I’m all set.

Rock your deep tones and look fabulous in your great wardrobe and this is guaranteed to be a great season.

Keys to a Great Fall/Winter Wardrobe

1. Layers

   I LOVE layering, whether it’s taking some summer or spring pieces and adding longer sleeves or a jacket to make it fitting for the Fall and maybe even the Winter. You can do this when you purchase great pieces that can be used in transition and aren’t too specific to any particular season except for maybe the cut. Also with layering it also allows for you to remain warm yet still fashionable, like doing a turtleneck with a blazer, a sweater over a shirt. Also layering can create an edgy and chic look if done correctly. You can look very fashion forward by layering and be warm while doing so.

2. Uniform

   For you to have a successfully fashionable Fall season you can create yourself a sort of uniform and minimalist wardrobe that allows for you to still be stylish, but not have to do so with so many different pieces. You can choose to have a few major key pieces in your closet but use different accessories, third pieces, and mix and match to switch things up. A lot of the times our closets can mostly be filled with pieces that we no longer wear, that we can’t fit, that no longer fits our style and that may possibly be damaged, so it is best if you go through your wardrobe and donate, sell (great option because you can use that money to go purchase new clothes that fit your style and your needs) or dispose of the things that you don’t need. Also in the Fall and Winter when it is raining or snowing you need to get out of the house in a timely manner due to the weather so you want to have clothing that is easy to go through and see all at one without hassle.

3. Warmth

   In the cold seasons yes you want to be cute but the most important thing is to make sure you stay warm because colds, germs, high winds and cold temperatures are going around and you don’t want to feel any of that. Stay warm by layering, getting pieces with thicker materials, getting more quality and structured pieces that keep their shape and their comfort. Buy pieces for this season that are cute but don’t corrupt your warmth. Also when it because fall and winter we actually have to check the weather before we decide what we wear so that we aren’t surprised when we step outside and it’s a blizzard or a thunderstorm and you don’t want to not be prepared.

4. Implementing color and having a balanced palette

   Now I am a HUGE fan of continuing to implement color into your wardrobe for the colder season. The weather is already cold and the skies are gloomy and leaving your house can be a drag but you still want to look upbeat and vibrant and not allow your spirits or style to get down because of the change of weather. You can choose neutral tones if you want but it doesn’t hurt to ass some whether appropriate brighter colors in there too such as jewel tones. You can do vibrancy and neutral tones are the same time and in the same season you just have to do it strategically.

5. Accessorize

   In the colder months you want to make sure that you can remain comfortable and warm especially in cities with weather like Detroit, Chicago or New York. You can choose to get pretty basic pieces and dress them up with accessories to make them different whether that’s cute shoes, a third piece, jewelry, a cute bag, a cute lip etc. You can dress your Fall uniform up or down and not have to jeopardize your warmth and comfortability for the strong and cold winds. You can create a uniform of wearing the same colors or the same basic pieces but make them look like different outfits by mixing and matching and adding the right accessories. You don’t have to be plain and drab like the like the weather outside.

6. Start with the Feet

   In cold weather I have such a hard time with shoes because I never get around to buying more flats and boots when 90% of my shoes are heels and even though we want them to be they aren’t always suitable for the current weather. If you know that you don’t have warm and also cute shoes for the Fall then you need to take the time to purchase some wherever you can find options that fit your budget. Get options that have basic colors in the but also some with prints and cute designs and a few pairs with color. There are so many different sights that you can find affordable options.

7. Effective Cost-per-wear

   If you can only wear it once or while it’s “trendy” then its a waste of time and money and you need to put it back. I am wholeheartedly a person that believes if you can’t wear it a minimum of five different ways then you need to put it back. I am all for a versatile wardrobe and pieces that can create multiple different uses and not just something that can be used for one purpose. Make sure that whatever amount that you pay for something you can get at least half if not all that amount of wears out of it, if you are spending hundreds of dollars on items you should be getting your money’s worth. To determine if an item has an effective cost-per-wear you need to evaluate is that item of quality, is it durable, is it versatile, do you have other items to go with it etc. Having items with a great cost per wear allows for you to easily create a uniform for the new season.

8. Tailoring

   An outfit can be amazing, but if the fit is off then it will mess the whole look up and if the fit is off in this particular season you can ruin your clothes. Such as pants being too long and dragging on the grown because you’re wearing boots or flats and you can ruin the bottom of the hems of your pants and no one wants that! Find a good tailor that you can trust that can fix anything you need done to your items. Like if you find an oversized sweater for the fall or winter but you want it taken in in certain places. If you want pieces changed you can get a tailor to do that, if you need a button or zipper fixed you can have them do that, your tailor will be someone that has your front, back and sides and will be your best friend.

I hope these tips help you to build a great wardrobe for the fall and winter season so that we can all look absolutely fabulous!

Drink Your Water and Mind your Business to Get ready for the Fall.

The year is almost coming to an end, but don’t underestimate the things that you can still get done in the few months that you have left of this year. If you have goals that you want to reach then strive for them, put your focus on and get ready to start putting some action behind your talking. Drinking your water and minding your business shouldn’t just be a phrase that you see on social media but a phrase that you implement into your everyday life.

If you haven’t yet done the things in your personal life that you’ve wanted to do then you have no time or business getting yourself into what others have going on and what they have or don’t have. So much good comes from minding the business that pays you. Sometimes you need to get off of social media and stop taking hours to scroll and put that time into doing something productive (we’re all guilty of this), people have to stop worrying about pleasing strangers on the internet with a false reality and focus on being pleased with themselves In real life.

It can be a new day, a new week, a new month, a new season or even a new year but there is no time limit or time restraint on changing your perspective, setting new goals, getting disciplined, getting focused, starting that project, going after those clients, marketing that product or service. Get to it, turn that misdirected energy towards something that’ll benefit you. You can say all of the positive things or look at the most motivational quotes but if you don’t change your mindset and put time and effort into your goals they won’t happen.

Fall Fashion Necessities

Jacket: Lexi Drew Boutique// Turtleneck: Lexi Drew Boutique// Pants: Thrifted// Boots: Forever 21//

Fall is upon us and it is officially over for the hot days and we are knee deep in the fall weather from the leaves falling, weather in the 40s and 50s, strong winds and gloomy days. So here I am to help you make sure that your wardrobe is prepared for this changing weather, there are some necessities that you need and I’m here to inform you!

Fall Necessities:

1. Oversized Blazer:

   As you’ve probably been seeing oversized blazers have been on trend for awhile now and it is one of my favorite pieces to have in my closet. An oversized blazer is a masculine trend that you can make feminine and put with so many different looks. You can make your oversized blazer sexy by wearing it with no bra or shirt underneath and showing skin with a long neckline or wear it as a dress with bomb shoes and jewelry. Or you can make it casual by pairing it with a t-shirt and jeans or dress it up in a feminine way by pairing a skirt or pants with it. There are so many things that you can do with oversized blazers and third pieces during every season.

2. Neutrals

   In the Fall and Winter it is great to have a great balance of colors and neutrals. I find that in the Fall the best colors for a great wardrobe are jewel tones like emerald green, red, burgundy, gold, silver, orange, mustard yellow, purples, deep pinks and deep blues. While Neutrals include nude, tan, brown, black, white, grey, (red is a neutral but we already mentioned that color). When Fall comes around things seem to become more gloomy but you don’t want your wardrobe to be. No matter what your daily activities are or your profession you want to have a great balance of color in your wardrobe especially for the fall and winter, this doesn’t mean you need to overflow your closets but you can have key pieces in these different colors that you can mix and match.

3. Great Bottoms

   So when the weather starts to change your bottoms choices may start to become limited, you can wear pants, skirts (you can have different lengths and add tights when necessary and if you choose), and culottes so that you can be warm and be cute. Also you want to make sure that your pants are a good fit so that when its raining or snowing it won’t mess up the hem of your pants. Having bottoms in different colors or even the same colors in different styles will allow for you to make many different looks this Fall instead of having to recycle the same looks. Also if you want to wear shorter bottoms like shorts or shorter skirts or even dresses it’s still possible and you can add thigh high boots (because why not) for extra length and fashion).

4. Sets and Separates

   Everyone loves a good set, and when it’s cold outside you can throw on a set and add the necessary accessories like your bag, jewelry, coat and shoes but at least your canvas (which is your outfit) is set and ready to go and also with it being a set it takes less time to put pieces together. Also the great thing about sets is that you can wear each piece separately and make a lot of different outfits with each piece which is a great cost-per-wear and also attributes to the versatile wardrobe that I always talk about. Also getting sets allows for you to get that minimalistic wardrobe and even a uniform for the new season. Who doesn’t like being able to make 10 different looks with two pieces. (You can always find sets in the co-ord tab on fashion websites.)

5. A durable bag

   In the Fall you need both a durable and great quality small cross body bag and a big tote bag, both should be in one of the neutral colors (tan, brown, black, white, grey, and red) or a few in each color so that they can go with many different looks. As far as a great quality and durable tote bag you need one so that you can fit all of your necessities for throughout the day such as for work, the gym, laptop, journal etc. and also your change of shoes for if you need to wear a certain pair from one destination to the next and then change into the shoes that go with your outfit on the way there. You can invest in a great luxury bag so that you can have it for years to come or go to a fast-fashion retailer and get one for the season.

6. Great Coat

   As I’ve been telling you for years your coat is apart of your outfit and it is what people see in the fall and winter and it can make or break your look. It’s possible to be both warm and cute, I know I personally hate an ugly coat and love for even my outerwear for the colder months to look stylish and fashionable. You want coats that are in one neutral color at least but also a fashionable coat that still serves its purpose for the season, something with some color. This is also another item that you can invest in to last several seasons instead of just lasting for one to two seasons for one year.

7. Leather

   Great leather is something that you can get low-end and high-end, but it is definitely something that is on trend for this season from full outfits, separates, to shoes, and coats. People are loving leather and it is a great texture to have in your closet when it is great quality. It may be pricier than you may be looking for but there are still low-end and high-end options. In the colder weather not only is it great to still implement color into your everyday looks but also texture like leather and snakeskin which helps to also shield from the cool winds but its still very stylish. A great fast fashion option for great leather pieces that are a good quality (Some better than others) include Zara, MissGuided, ASOS, and Topshop. But by investing in high-end leather goods from places like Louis Vuitton, Balmain, Net-a-Porter, and many more. Leather is a very popular trend right now and is something that you can wear from head to toe if you style it correctly.

8. A great bold Lip Color

   Like I keep reiterating color is still important in the Fall you just want to make sure that they are deep and beautiful tones and not on the neon side that was fit for the summer . Deep and bold hues look luxurious and elegant. Colors like a dark burgundy, an ombre red, a pop of red like Ruby Woo or Stunna by Fenty Beauty, and a great nude/brown. Fenty beauty, MAC Cosmetics and NYX Cosmetics are my favorite. You can have on a dark colored neutral toned look and spice it up with a deep colored burgundy or brown or have on a jewel tones look and add a red lip for more chicness.

9. A great hairstyle

   In the Fall to still feel stylish and continue to be fashionable you can change up your hair and maybe instead of going dark you can do highlights and look into colors like brown or blonde or even some reds just to brighten up your face and give you a fresher look. Going with brighter colors in your clothing choices and beauty products allow for you to not get into gloomy and being down while the weather gets colder. Also not only can you implement some bright color but you can also do a cut if you’re looking for a new look. A new look also may be the change you need to make you feel refreshed inside.

10. Pant suit

    A great pant suit has always been one of my favs but it is definitely on the fashion forecast for the Fall and the Winter. It is another piece or look that is usually viewed as being masculine but looks great on women too. A great pant suit can be tailored to fit great in the right areas and still give you the sophisticated and chic masculine yet feminine look that you desire. I suggest having a great suit in the neutral colors but also a great suit in colors like pink, red or green look amazing too. You can purchase your suit as a full set or each piece separately, it all depends on your preference and what you find when shopping. You can thrift or purchase a suit low-end or high-end. (Thrifting the jacket and then getting it tailored to fit your body is cost effective and still looks great. Also a little tip, shoulder pads look great especially if you decide to go with the oversized blazer look.

11. Blouse

    As I previously mentioned (in #3 Great Bottoms) when it gets cold outside your bottom options usually start to become limited and even though you may have different pairs you may find yourself wearing the same style of pants due to comfortability and they are suitable for the weather but one thing that you can do to make sure that you don’t look like you’re wearing the same thing everyday is to have amazing blouses, from blouses with great necklines, texture (leather, snakeskin, lace), amazing sleeves (such as balloon sleeves), ruffles, bows, different colors etc. A great blouse can do great things for limited wardrobe options when its cold out and you can find great options any and everywhere.

12. Boots and Flats

    So a main dilemma that I usually encounter in the Fall and Winter when it comes to choosing outfits are shoe options. When its raining and snowing outside I always end up resorting to the same boots or shoes which changes my outfits to be certain things or being tainted by bad shoe choices. But if you’re like me you need to invest in more cute flats and boots , because all I have is a bunch of heels and those aren’t always functional shoes when it comes to doing a lot of running throughout the day (which is when your good quality tote bag comes into play to hold your change of shoes). When looking through your closet to examine what you need for the new season if you have a lot of clothes that you can wear then focus on getting shoes to go with them.

My skin is going CRAZY!

So with traveling, stress and lack of sleep my skin has been going CRAZY! I usually get minimal to no breakouts and have pretty good skin, I do a face mask probably once or twice a month and I use my cleanser, rose water spray and retinol oil (because these are products that work for me) maybe once a week. My skin isn’t something I usually pay too much attention to as far as buying products because my skin is usually really good but as of lately it has been going crazy and everyday it seems to be something new. It may look clear and glowing on the outside and to others but to me I see the breakouts and how frequently I’m getting them and that’s not normal for me and what I’m used to my skin doing .

So as I stated previously these are the products I use when I do use something and I use them because I like them and they get the job done and I’m not a person who wants to be doing a 1,000 product regimen. But lately since my crazy skin problems I’ve had to use them more often and I’ve decided that I need to look for some really great products that do the same as these and create a regimen. When I’m used to something being a certain way ALL the time I don’t like when things randomly start changing which is exactly how I’m feeling towards my skin. I have been in skincare research mode and looking at different people that I like on Instagram who are interested heavily in skincare and are knowledgable about great products and I am taking note of what products I want to try, what services I want to go get done by an esthetician and what things I need to change so that my skin can go back to normal.

Your body will find its way to tell you that you’re doing too much and It may be a different way each time, but you better listen. This time my body chose to tell me to slow down through my face and I definitely didn’t like it so now I get the message loud and clear. Listen to your body and pay attention instantly when something seems to be out of wack. I drink lots of water daily and my skin is still going crazy so that shows that there are other issues.

So within the next few weeks I will start to purchase products that I really like and feel that they will work great on my skin based off of research, I will create a regimen that I can use weekly and get a great cleanser that I can use daily. As well as find an esthetician where I can start getting a monthly or bi-monthly facial. I am not a huge like skincare regimen junky but I love great skin so I will definitely be getting strict with a regimen!

Pay attention to your body!

Hair Clips, Hair Clips and more Hair Clips!

I usually don’t bother myself with paying close attention to the current trends or what everyone is wearing because it gets old very quick and I follow the beat of my own drum but this particular trend was super cute when I first saw it and I was definitely intrigued. I will admit the first time I saw it I thought it was super cute and could be used for photoshoots etc. but didn’t think I would ever want to try it, but on a whim I decided to give it a go.

There are so many different places that you can grab all types of clips from, the most popular are the pearled clips and the silver clips with the different words made on them. This trend gives you a fun and playful spin to class, elegance and editorial. When worn with the correct outfit it can give you many different looks, whether they are dressed up or down.

For this particular look I wasn’t doing anything this day and decided to just put the clips on with a low bun and a chill outfit and it turned out super cute (don’t mind the wrinkled pants, the wrinkles wouldn’t come out). Like I said before you can definitely dress the trend up or down, and do different style of the clips, you can look on the internet for different ideas on how to wear them if you want to participate in this trend, but I do feel like they go with certain hairstyle not all.

Now y’all know I’m all about a good deal and I don’t condone over paying for things especially something like hair clips that you can literally probably get at the beauty supply store. There are stores and companies trying to charge crazy prices because they’re on trend but you can head to amazon, or your local fast fashion store or boutique and they definitely should have what you’’re looking for.

Also style and fashion is playful, your style should be tailored to you and you shouldn’t take yourself to seriously. You may not like trends and trendy pieces that everyone is wearing, but its okay to like a trend and decide to play with it whether you every wear it outside or not. Have fun and see what’s cute, and if you like it then nothing else matters especially not anybody’s opinion.