September 2014 Favorites

I’m still in disbelief that it’s October. We have a little less than three more months left of 2014. Holiday season is among us people! Hallmark already has their Christmas décor out and we all know that on November 1^st, the Christmas music will be blaring from every store. But before all of that chaos ensues, let’s talk about some September favorites, shall we?

1.     Dior Ultra Addict Lip Gloss in #452 Pretty Rose – I’ve had this for a few months now but I didn’t really appreciate it until recently. When I first got this gloss the pigmentation actually disappointed me until I realized, it’s supposed to be sheer. In September I began wearing this gloss over a lip liner that is ever so slightly darker than my natural lip color. I apply the liner just on the bottom center of my lower lip and to define my cupid’s bow to enhance the shape of my lips. This gloss just gives the prettiest, healthiest look and is hydrating like a balm. It’s become my go-to gloss for minimal or no makeup days.

2.     Maybelline Color Elixir in #065 Caramel Infused – When I first got this gloss last Fall I was really put off by the scent and taste, so I didn’t wear it a ton. I decided to put it on this past month and have been reaching for it frequently since. The scent and taste don’t bother me like it used to and I love the finish it gives. As my best friend said, “You’re lips look luscious!” and what chick doesn’t want luscious looking lips?! It’s a beautiful shade that enhances your natural lip color. The formula is thick but not sticky and hydrates well.

3.     L’Oreal Miss Manga Mascara (non-waterproof) – This mascara is great! I’m not super picky when it comes to mascara because I have really long lashes, so it doesn’t take much for my lashes to look like something. This mascara makes my lashes look unreal. I don’t wear waterproof mascara often, so I expect my non-waterproof mascara to not smudge (asking for a lot, I know…). But guys! This barely smudges on me! My waterproof L’Oreal Carbon Black smudges like crazy on me and this one doesn’t and I have oily skin, so that’s a big deal. If you’re in the market for a new mascara, give this one a go. It’s become one of my favorites.

4.     Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in shade #240 – This is another product I purchased last Fall and I only wear it during the cooler months because it will melt off my face in a heart beat in the hot summer heat. During the cooler months, when set with a mattifying powder I can actually wear this for a few hours before needed to blot. This foundation is marketed towards people with dry to normal skin, but I’ve been able to make it work for me. Bringing it back out this fall reminded me of how much I like it. It’s lightweight, light to medium coverage, it’s a perfect match for my skin tone, and gives a healthy glow without making me look like a face-planted a bucket of fried chicken.

5.     Formula X for Sephora Base Coat – This base coat is the best base coat I’ve ever tried. Period. My nails won’t chip for a week! I’m really impressed. It’s a sticky base coat so polish really adheres to the nail. It’s a bit pricey for .40 fluid ounces ($10.50), but I always do my own manicures, so it’s worth it.

6.     Estelle & Thild Face Cream, Fragrance Free for Sensitive Skin – I’ve wanted to try something from this brand when Estée from essiebutton on YouTube raved about it. However, it’s pricey (retail for this particular face cream is around $48. I paid $13) and not the most readily available. I was browsing around the skin care section of TJ Maxx and lo and behold! there was this face cream! I snatched it up and it’s been love ever since. This is a thicker, richer face cream that I only use at night on nights I apply a facemask, so about 3 times a week. I used detoxifying masks that can really leave the skin feeling tight and dry. On those days I want a heavier face cream that is really going to hydrate my skin and this fits the bill. It’s too heavy for me to use on daily basis but perfect for when my skin needs a little extra TLC. And the ingredients are natural and organic. Win!

7.     Crabtree & Evelyn Avocado, Olive & Basil Hand Cream – This is another TJ Maxx purchase. I’m always on the hunt to find the best hand cream and this may be my favorite thus far. It smells great, it’s super moisturizing and it has great ingredients. I picked up another in the scent Rosewater. When I apply this at night, my hands feel unnaturally soft in the morning. This comes with a hefty price tag at $20 a pop, retail. I paid $6 for mine. Check out TJ Maxx to see if you can score a tube.

8.     The Body Shop Atlas Mountain Rose Body Butter – I love rose anything. I love the smell, the look of roses and even the taste (if you’ve never tried Rose black tea, you’re missing out). Rose is absolutely one of my favorite scents, right along with bergamot. I stumbled across this body butter at TJ Maxx (one of my favorite stores if you haven’t noticed already). I took one whiff and was like, “Yep, I’m gon need that.” It’s a fresh scent without smelling heavy, or like a grandmother. Yet, there is a complexity to it. With my body chemistry it takes on a warmer quality that makes it appropriate for the cooler months. It’s unique also, which is what I look for in a fragrance. I love it so much I went on The Body Shop and ordered the fragrance mist, the shower gel, the perfume oil and a back up of the body butter. I. Can’t. Get. Enough.

9.     J.Crew Factory Statement Necklace – I’ve been looking for a statement necklace like this for a while, a little over a year actually. This necklace is perfect for dressing up or down. I wanted a necklace like this to pair with button downs and plain sweaters. It’s sparkly without being gaudy. I probably wear it 3+ times a week. I have no shame.

Those are all my favorites for the month of September! What were some stand out products for you this past month?

-Alana 

Sunday OOTD:)

Hey lovely people:)

Just want to do a quick OOTD! Today was a great fashion moment for me because really learned the beauty of basics and how they can create an awesome outfit. I overslept and  I had a good excuse lol. I was out of town for a conference and I've been traveling nonstop for the past month. The events I've been going too have been a great blessing but traveling constantly can wear you down. So - I slept for 10 hours lol. But I had to quickly get dressed this morning and I had ZERO time to think. I quickly put this together :

ALL of these pieces have been purchased throughout the last 5 years of my life. lol.

The flats are from BCBG and I thrifted them from a local consignment shop in 2011 for $10.00. I was incredibly happy when I saw my baby feet size on the inside of the shoe.

The jacket is from Papaya and I purchased it in 2012 at the company's store when I visited the Tanger Outlet in Mebane, NC. I purchased it for less than $20. Around the time I purchased it this jacket was definitely super trendy on UVA's campus. I didn't want pay a lot for it so I was super happy when I came across it and I snatched it off the rack. I am so glad I purchased it because it definitely pulls together a lot of my fall outfits!

My jeans are from Levi's and my mom found these amaaazing babies at Marshall's in September 2013. They were literally $7.99 and the BEST jeans I've ever worn. I am so glad my mom encouraged me to try them on. 

My belt, shirt, and bag are recent purchases. I purchased the gold belt in June for $4.00 from Target. The top was purchased from Aeropostale two weeks ago for $4.99 and I purchased my bag from JustFab last week for $10.00 as a special for a new VIP Member. Can you say - Wiiiiin?! lol. I've been searching for a bag and I've never used JustFab before but I fell in love with this purse. I've been looking at JustFab purses since August and I finally took a chance to make an account. Please check out the site - they have some awesome items.


For me this outfit solidifies why bargain shopping and thrifting for basics and quality pieces are so important. One of my favorite bloggers - Natalie Live from The Tiny Closet really inspired me to really take ownership of my own style. After a major lifestyle change - she decided to stop aimlessly and craft a tiny closet full of her favorite things. She inspired me to not shop just to shop but to shop for what I love and what can be used in many ways. 
NOW - I never purchase things unless I know they can be worn many different ways and to many different events. When I shop - I want to make sure I love every piece in my closet. 

In addition to Natalie - Alana has also inspired me to buy what I love! Before I knew her - I just purchased to just purchase and I never thought of how quality or love of a piece of clothing could truly change my life. She is a bargain hunter as well and we have exchanged sooo many tips over the years. Definitely grateful for Alana being a stylespiration to me <3

So yeah - I loved my outfit today and it required zeeero effort to put together. Definitely wanted to share AND I wanted to encourage you to wear what you love

<3,

Tonyette

                                 

5 Ways to Unwind

5 Ways to Unwind

The older I get the more I tend to feel stressed about things. Stress over work, stress over paying bills and student loans, stress about my future, etc. We’ve all been there. Stress is nothing foreign to many of us. But over the past month and a half or so, I let the stress build up too much to the point where I constantly felt anxiety beyond what was normal or healthy. I’m talking about the type of stress where you’re hungry but your stomach is in such a knot, you can’t eat. The type of stress where you either can’t fall asleep or wake up much too early freaking out because your mind is racing.

Today’s post is about how to manage that stress, and dare I say it, even combat it and alleviate it. Yes, it is possible to be stress-free, well almost as stress free as possible without being so lackadaisical that you take nothing seriously.

Here are my top five ways that have helped me push past the anxiety that I was struggling with (and still tried to rear it’s ugly head) about a month and a half ago.

1.     Create a Relaxing Environment – When I need to unwind it is imperative that I create an environment that is calm, relaxing and peaceful. When I’m wound up and feeling anxious, I instantly feel less tense when I go to my room, shut the door, put on my comfy clothes, light a candle and just sit in the quiet. Creating a calm environment forces you to slow down and reflect. Start by taking a warm shower or bath first that can also help to ease tension. I know that when I slow down and actually take a breather, I find that many of the thoughts that were troubling me weren’t as imposing as I thought they were when I was caught in a more high-stress environment.

2.      Teatime and Recreational Reading – Sometimes when I’m feeling stressed I’ll often make myself a cup of tea and grab a good book that will allow for me to escape reality. It’s another way to slow down and take my mind off things. There is something about holding a cup of fragrant hot tea and diving into a fictional world that sets my mind at ease. We live in a fast paced world and it’s easy to get swept up into the chaos. Sometimes just tuning out the world is just enough to set your mind at ease.

3.     Talk to Someone – I’m extremely blessed to have a great support system. My family and friends are always there when I need a shoulder to cry on or someone to just lend a listening ear and offer words of encouragement. One key thing I’ve learned about anxiety is that internalizing it is one of the worst things you can do. I’ve gotten into the habit that, whenever I feel overwhelmed and anxious, I’ll tell at least one person. Usually that person is Tonyette or my best friend Marianne. Tonyette maybe three hours away, but one simple text and I know she’s going to send words of encouragement and the perfect bible verse to set my mind at ease. Sharing what’s worrying you and then have someone provide feedback allows you to see a different perspective. You’ll often see that the situation isn’t as bad as you think it is.  WE often blow things out of proportion.

4.     Journaling - I started journaling on a daily basis in December of 2012. I’m the type of person that has to write things down. There is something about writing the thoughts racing through my mind on paper that really eases my anxiety and stress. It allows me to organize my thoughts on paper. I often find that when I start writing, some of the smaller things that I worry about don’t get written down because I realize they aren’t as large and imposing as I thought they seemed. Again, journaling forces me to sit, be still, and be quiet. I’ll put on my big headphones that cancel out noise, put on some peaceful music and write. I also include inspirational quotes and bible verses that stand out to me in my journal entries that inspire positive thinking.

5.     Praying and Reading My Bible – I saved this one for last because it’s the most important one to me. There are some things that the longest bubble bath won’t cure, that the best cup of tea and my favorite novel can’t solve. There are those things in life that just wear you down, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. I pray and read my Bible daily. It is a part of my journaling routine. I always address my journal entries to God as letters. It is a form of prayer for me. Nothing eases my mind and gets rid of my stress and anxiety more than giving it all to the Lord. One verse that always comes to mind is Matthew 6:34:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NIV)

One thing Tonyette always says is to take it one day at a time. Focus on what can be done today, then focus on tomorrow. When we stress about the future we are stressing about things that we often have no control over and in many cases,  about things that will never come to pass. There is something so soothing about knowing that God has everything under control. It takes the pressure off me to think I have to have it all figured out when all I have to do is trust in God. He already has it all figured out. He knows that I need for the day and He knows what I need for my tomorrow.

Those are my top 5 ways that I unwind! I hope this was helpful! How do you manage stress and anxiety in your own life?

- Alana 

This face wash is AMAAAAZING.

So....It's been a while and I am super sorry. My life has consisted of being very busy and very sick (colds and allergies). I've also been making some huge decisions and taking in my time with my family, community, church family, friends, and students before my next steps in life. I've noticed that time waits for no one and I have to appreciate all moments. Okay....enough with the deep stuff lol. Grateful for the beautiful, God-fearing, and lovely Alana and her awesome posts. 

I came by to do a quick review of something I discovered over the past few weeks. I've been looking for a new face wash and I went back and forth between an all natural product like Burt's Bees or going with the powerhouse brands like Neutrogena or Cetaphil.

I have very sensitive, very oily, and acne-prone skin. I've definitely battled with acne - all my life and it's been challenging to find products that help. Nothing has really impressed me in the face wash realm. nothing. But one thing I've noticed is that my face feels so much better and look cleaner when my oil is at bay. Products have been able to control it for a while but not for long periods of time. Once my face produces oil - my face freaks out. 

No face product I've tried has helped me keep the oil at bay until....

Garnier Clean Plus Shine Control Cleansing Gel

I picked this up on a whim. I honestly was like "okay...let me pick another product that might not work..." LOL. Honestly - super jaded. smh. It promised to "remove excess oil and mattify skin". I had never used a product with charcoal in it - but I was willing to give a try. 

After one try - I definitely noticed my face didn't break out in oil after 10 minutes. When I used it the morning before I went to school - my oil was definitely under control for at least 4 hours. When the oil appeared on my face - it was definitely a lot less visible and made my face appear a lot less shiny. I appreciate that it has helped with oil production.

A few things I like:

- A little goes a long way

- Oil is at bay...yeeees

- Cheeaaap - price is around 6 dollars. I've seen it at Walmart for around 5. 

A few things I don't like:

- The smell is gross

- The product is very hard to apply because it is gel. Definitely slips off my hands very fast when I squeeze the bottle -  A pump applicator would definitely be a lot more efficient

I've been using this a few weeks and it has been helpful. Like I said before - my skin looks cleaner and feels better when my oil is at bay.  But it can be very drying so I am using it at least once a day - not twice. I also use a moisturizer in the morning or a little olive oil at night if my face is super dry.  I also like to use products with some acne fighting ingredient such a Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide. This gel doesn't but the Garnier Clean Plus line has a Blackhead Eliminating Scrub with Salicylic Acid and the scrub is for oily skin . This product also has charcoal as it main ingredient. I want to pick this up soon and try it! 

Check out both products on Target - the site has the entire collection grouped together. Garnier Plus has products for all skin types and needs!

I really hope this post is helpful to anyone who may struggle with oily skin. It is the struggle sometimes. 

Comment below

<3,

Tonyette

Having a Little Photo Shoot

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine asked if I'd be willing to take some photos for his friend, who is building his photographer's portfolio. I agreed and I was instructed to dress modern; "J.Crew." (J.Crew just so happens to be my favorite clothing store. Their pants and jeans fit me like no other! And the sales are so good!).

So I raided my closet, put something together (ironically, in this case, nothing I wore was from J.Crew), and we went to a quaint neighborhood downtown and snapped some photos.

It was really fun and a bit out of my comfort zone. It was really strange having so much attention on me. People driving or walking by would stare like, "What's going on here?" My appreciation for fashion bloggers and YouTube Vloggers just increased.

That being said, I definitely wouldn't mind doing it again! I got to meet new people and discovered a really nice, locally owned café. I need to visit the café again. Their tea selection is calling my name.

Ok, enough chit-chat. Here are my favorite photos. Cesar is a photographer! Make sure to look him up on his Instagram (@cesarcostaphotography). For any inquires, e-mail him at cesarcostaphotography@gmail.com.

Blazer: American Eagle (Thrifted) / Grey Tee: Target / Calf Hair Animal Print Belt: Brand Unknown (TJ Maxx, 3 years ago)/ White destroyed Skinny Jeans: (Aéropostale, 2013), Leopard Skimmer Flats: Steve Madden / Bag: Mulberry Roxanne / Aviators: Ray-Bans / Watch: Gifted / Rhinestone Link Bracelet: Brand Unknown (Dillard's) 

Top 10 Summer Beauty Essentials of 2014

Like most chicks, I’ve got a thing for beauty products. Makeup, skin care, hair care, if it comes in pretty packaging, pretty colors, and claims to work miracles, I’m all over it.

This summer I discovered some great hot weather beauty staples that really made a difference in my skin and makeup routine.

1.     Rimmel Stay Matte Primer – I have oily skin and in the summer my skin can turn into a grease slick. I’m talking, I just face planted a pile of fried chicken, oily. So makeup products that claim to be oil controlling really appeal to me. I’m a big fan of the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent (I’ve gone through at least 3!). Now primers can be pretty pricey, so when Rimmel released their Stay Matte Primer (I think I paid no more than $5 for mine), I jumped on it. This primer really works for me! It doesn’t control oil all day, but it controls it for a few hours before I feel like I need to blot.

2.     Blotting Papers – Speaking of oily skin, I could not have gone through summer without blotting papers! I just buy the Target brand and they work just as well as the Clean & Clear ones. I used to think there was nothing special about blotting papers. Why not just use a tissue? Wrong! I was so wrong! They do make a difference because they really absorbed the oil on the skin and don’t disturb your makeup as much as blotting with a tissue.

3.     Dior Ultra Addict Lip Gloss Glow in #256 “Negligee Pink” – Man, oh man! This is by far, hands down my favorite lip gloss. It’s not sticky, feels luxurious and smooth on the lips, and makes the lips look unreal! And do I even need to mention the packaging!?  I pair this gloss with a lip liner that is almost the exact shade of my lips and it gives such dimension and shine to my lips. The color is in the nude family, with enough pink in it to not make the lips look dead. It also pairs wonderfully over nude lipsticks. For those of you who love a bronzed, glowing makeup look for summer, this gloss is the perfect compliment. I need to buy a back up… 

4.     Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Shine in “Pink Cognito” – The formula of this lipstick is fantastic! It is so light and smooth it feels like a balm. It is not fully opaque, which for a shade like this ,works well. Pink Cognito is Dior’s Ultra Addict Gloss #256 in solid form, just a little deeper in color. It’s perfect for no makeup days, light makeup days, or those days when you want to wear a full face of makeup and a dark smokey eye. The pink undertones keep it from being too nude on the lips. And paired underneath the Dior Gloss? Perfection!

5.     NYC Sunny Bronzer – I actually purchased this bronzer a couple summers ago, but didn’t start wearing it almost everyday until this summer. It’s only a few shades darker than my skin tone. I just use a blush brush to apply it on the perimeters of my face and down the sides of my nose. It’s the perfect shade, not too muddy, not too orange and blends easily. It just makes the skin look healthy.

6.     theBalm “Hot Mama” Blush – This has definitely been my go to blush this summer and I don’t think it gets enough recognition in the beauty community. It tends to get over shadowed by NARS Orgasm and Benefits Coralista. Now, I own NARS Orgasm and Hot Mama is extremely similar, and as much as I love Orgasm, there is something I prefer about Hot Mama. It doesn’t appear as pink on the cheeks as Orgasm and the gold sheen in it is finer. It just gives the most gorgeous, sun kissed look to the cheeks. I get compliments when I wear this blush. These type of compliments: “You’re face looks so good! Like a magazine add! I don’t know what it is, but keep doing it!” It’s the blush! It’s always a good thing when people can’t pinpoint what it is, and your cheekily thinking, “that my friend, is the power of a good blush.”

7.       NARS Illuminator in “Orgasm” (old packaging) – I apply this after my primer and before whatever foundation I’m wearing, if I decide to wear foundation that day. I was worried at first that this would look like I wiped glitter all over my face. Mixed with my oily skin, I also was scared that this would make me look like a disco ball. Again, I was quite wrong. This gives the skin such a healthy glow, that “lit from within” look. It keeps my foundation from looking flat and dull, especially since I gravitate towards products that give the skin a matte finish. Orgasm is the perfect shade for summer because the gold shimmer in it gives the skin a warm glow. 

8.     Maybelline Fit Me Powder in 240 “Golden Beige” – I rarely wore liquid foundation this summer. Living in a climate that has humid summers, liquid foundations can just feel down right gross on the skin. This powder matches my skin tone perfectly. It’s light and gives me just the right amount of coverage (I don’t like full coverage anything). First, I just apply a little bit of concealer where needed and buff this powder all over the face and my skin looks flawless, without looking cakey or heavy. It looks very natural and feels lightweight on the skin. Perfect for hot weather.

9.     The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner – This toner is very nice! It smells clean and feels refreshing on the skin. I don’t have a problem with this toner making my skin feel tight and stripped. I even started applying it down my décolleté, and down my back and it has really helped to keep my skin clean and clear. Definitely a summer staple!

10.  The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil - This stuff right here is just. So. Good. I purchased it on a whim early on in the summer. I thought it was going to be too heavy for my oily skin, especially in the summer. However, my skin drinks this up! This serum has really made all the difference in my skin. It has helped to smooth out the texture and tone, and since using this I have had ZERO breakouts, even during that time of the month. I already had a good skin care routine that kept my skin clear, for the most part. But once I added this into my routine, my skin went to the next level. In the summer I strive to wear less makeup because of the weather. This has made that possible because I don’t want to cover up my skin with a lot of products. It’s just made my skin that good.

Those are all my beauty staples from this summer. We still have a few more weeks of hot weather left before it cools down for autumn. I know I’m going to get a few more miles out of these products before I switch up for the upcoming season.

What were some of your beauty staples this summer?

- Alana  

Fashion and Faith

Hi everyone! I hope you all are well =D TOMORROW is FRIDAY. We made it to the end of a work week. 

I learned about Fashion and Faith  in late December. This amazing initiative is a blog hub for Christian women to manifest that you can be fashionable and not "stuffy". Ruby Girl Blog is an amaaazing initiative to showcase these fashionable women with awesome blogs. On each Thursday - the writer is encouraging the fashion bloggers to post photos of their outfits! I was excited when I found out about the first link on August 7th - I unfortunately was on vacation AND the kiddies went back to school two weeks ago.  After getting back into the swing of advising and getting back to my regular schedule I finally have time to do it. wooooot.

My sister gave me a dress (bless her heart) yesterday and I wore it to school. Let's just say - it was a hit. I definitely try to showcase my style and put effort into presenting myself in the best manner. Dressing well really helps me focus and I feel so great. Alana told me a few months back "Girl...you better look like you are blessed" lol. I totally take that to heart!! If God gives us an such a beautifully complex body which houses HIS spirit on the inside - why not let that beauty and light shine through? I am so grateful that my sister blessed me with it<3

I paired the red dress with a black studded belt that came with  my college graduation dress. I don't know what brand this dress is (I think my sister may have cut out the tag.  The blazer is from Express - I bought it from Marshall's for $15 in Fall 2013. My shoes are from Cole Haan - I bought them for from the Cole Haan outlet in late Winter for about 89. The shoes are definitely a bit pricier BUT they are great quality shoes - I've had them for about 6 months and I am glad I invested in a good working heel.

Photos were taken with Canon Powershot SX700- which I bought at Target and tripod.

Definitely check out the other bloggers on the site =D

<3,

Tonyette