Cultural Reciprocity

Pravana Vivids Fading + How I Refresh My Color [Violet]

2013-03-05T16:53:00.003-05:00

Just a quick video on how I keep my purple hair nice and awesome!!!!

Thanks for watching...xoxo

Pravana Vivids Fading + How I Refresh My Color [Violet]

2013-03-05T16:53:00.001-05:00

Just a quick video on how I keep my purple hair nice and awesome!!!!

Thanks for watching...xoxo

New Hair Color: Pravana Chroma Vivids - Violet

2013-02-11T13:21:00.001-05:00

Love my new hair!!! What do you guys think?? :)

Quick Tip: Cornstarch & The Oilies

2012-12-30T19:47:00.001-05:00

Do you have oily skin? Looking for a cheap translucent powder? Check your pantry!!!

xoxox

Quick Tip: Dry Mascara?!

2012-11-23T22:52:00.000-05:00

Hi friends!
Did you know that you should be replacing your mascara at maximum every 3 months?! It should be sooner if you come down with an eye infection like pink eye or something.

However, isn't it frustrating when you get a new mascara and it starts drying up within a month?! Major bummer!

Well I learned a nifty trick!

Just add 4-5 drops of contact solution, saline water, or eye drops to your mascara tube, replace the wand and close, and then shake. You can do this as many times as you need to up to the three month mark when you should be tossing that bad boy away!

Enjoy :)

How To: Voluminous Curls for [FINE/THIN Hair] with NO HEAT! - 3a/3b

2012-11-08T09:28:00.001-05:00

Oily Skin Problems!? Vicco Tumeric Skin Cream is the Bomb.com!

2012-10-23T21:21:00.001-04:00

This product is awesome!

Quick Tip: Lemons & Limes!

2012-10-07T20:45:00.000-04:00

Hey there!

So I saw something on Dr. Oz that sparked my interest. There was a lady featured in the audience that said her mother never, ever, ever used deodorant and instead would use lemon under her pits. I did a bit more research and found that apparently it's quite popular.

If you have a sweating issue, foul underarm odor, or dark armpits, then take a lemon or lime, cut it in half, and rub it under the area after showering. The acid in the lemon/lime will react with your own body's chemistry and 'train' your body to not release the chemicals that cause odor. The acid also will lighten your armpits. I also use lemon juice to lighten acne spots, and other areas like elbows or knees! You want to make sure the area is is dry before you put on clothing because the acid can stain your clothing. Feel free to save the wedges in a cylinder and re-use as long as it doesn't dry out. When you first start using it, you want to do it daily but after a few weeks you can go to using the lemon/lime a few times a week and be odor free!

Good luck!

EASIEST Bun Ever!!! (Messy Look)

2012-08-07T20:02:00.001-04:00

Product Rave: Stretch Genie (As Seen on TV)

2012-07-24T18:39:00.000-04:00

Spray and Two Stretchers

I saw a commercial for this product and was instantly hooked! Every woman has a pair of heels in their closet that are fabulous but fit a tad bit snug, whether it's in the toe box or heel bed. For quality shoes, I like to do the ICE method I wrote about in THIS post but for my cheaper shoes, the ice method doesn't seem to work well.

I was quite skeptical because everyone knows that most As Seen on TV products never work the way they are advertised. Welp..this stuff works!! You spray it on the tight areas, place your foot in the shoe, and walk around until it isn't tight anymore. You can repeat, if needed. You can also spray the formula and use the included stretchers overnight for really stubborn areas but I did not need it!

Hands down, this stuff is pretty cool. The formula breaks down the shoe fibers to allow for the stretching. A simple method that works wonders. You can find it at your local Walmart, Walgreens, or CVS for $9.99. Everyone should have this in their closet!

Stretch Genie saved these babies!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2012-07-22T18:48:00.000-04:00

SparkPeople sent me this e-greeting card today for my birthday that I really appreciated and thought was quite refreshing. I will definitely be moving forward, thankful for another year of life, with these words of wisdom in mind.

Product Review: St. Ives Green Tea Scrub

2012-07-11T19:59:00.000-04:00

I took a weekend trip to Tallahassee and had to hit up the travel section for my basic toiletries. Well, I came across this facial scrub by St. Ives and my interest was instantly piqued. I have always loved St. Ives' products, and have been using their Apricot scrub for years! At 26 (almost 27), I still get frequent blemishes and hormonal breakouts so having a good exfoliator is a must for me!

PROS:

Green Tea! This left my skin feeling quite refreshed and awake.
There is a bit of grit to the texture but definitely still a soft creme base.
This left my skin feeling soft, yet clean at the same time.
Smell was not overpowering and was just right.
This product is oil-free which is great for those who have oily or combination skin.
I had a small blemish at the time of use. The next day it was gone (can't get any better than that!)
Price: The travel size was only a buck. I have no clue what the regular size tube costs.
You can find it at your local Walmart.

CONS:

I have soft water at my house. If you do not have soft water and have dry skin, this product may be too drying for you. (If you have combo skin like me, this product is a dream!)

Overall this stuff rocks and will be added to my skincare routine. It is gentle enough for daily use but I will probably use it every other day or a few times per week.

Thrifty Treasure: Mossimo Supply Aztec Clutch

2012-07-11T19:45:00.003-04:00

Took a trip to my local target and snagged another Thrifty Treasure! This summer I have been having awesome luck with vamping my purse game with fabulous and colorful clutches. I am not shy at all to color and love when I spot fun pieces like these! The Aztec/tribal theme is trending right now and is perfect for adding pop to a neutral dress or outfit. They are simple envelope clutches each featuring small pocket on the inside for ID cards and money, in addition to the space the clutch provides. This is definitely one you will only be able to fit a few things in or it will look to boxy or bulky.

These Mossimo Supply Co designed purses were originally $16.99 each. I got them at a frugal $8.48 each! Woo hoo! Target had a variety of purses with fun textures and colors that were one sale for roughly $9 to $15 so go out and check your local Target today!!!!

NOTD: Lavender + Aztec

2012-07-03T17:36:00.000-04:00

So cute!

Love my nails! As always check out Rachael at Foxy Nails in Riverview, FL. She will hook you up!

No Flash

With Flash

NOTD: Pink and Gold Stiletto Nails

2012-06-19T18:28:00.000-04:00

Hey pretties!

So stiletto nails, dagger nails, witch nails, etc. have been making a come back since celebs like Rihanna and Lady Gaga have been rockin them. At first they didn't interest me because I'm not a fan of acrylics but I figured I'd give them a try for the summer. Whhyyy not?!

They turned out SUPER cute and just how I wanted them. I wanted them rounded with a tapered tip which is a little less extreme than your typical pointed stiletto nails because I didn't want to be poking myself or anyone else on accident lol. They are longer than I normally wear my nails so it's making typing a bit challenging but the overall shape has not given me me any problems.

****If you are in the Tampa area I recommend Rachael at Foxy Nails & Spa in Riverview. She takes her time and will give her best shot at whatever you want. Basically, she rocks!****

What do you think?

OOTD: Neon Bright!

2012-06-09T11:42:00.002-04:00

Hollaaaaaa! Could have jazzed this look up with bangles but it's so bright that I thought it was good on its own :)

HAIR:
Outre Half Wig Amber color S4/30
Oversized fuchsia bow from Burlington

MAKEUP:
Monistat Gel as Primer
Tarte Clay Concealer under eyes and blemishes
MAC MSF Natural in Dark

CoverGirl Face Powder for Oily Skin in Tawny
NYC Bronzer in Terracotta Tan for Contour
NYX Mosaic blush for highlight
Rimmel GlamEyes in Extreme Black
Revlon Lip Butter in Orange
MAC Lipstick in Morange
NYX Lip Laquer in Coraliscious

WHAT I'M WEARING:
Neon bright off the shoulder top from Forever 21
Premium dark denim skinny jeans from Papaya
Neon shoes by Mossimo from this post
Blue triangle earrings from Target
Gold rings

Major Spring & Summer Shoe Haul!

2012-06-06T23:00:00.001-04:00

OOTD: Casual Tangerine Tango

2012-05-30T18:31:00.001-04:00

HAIR:
It's a Wig! Juliet in color DX3347 & my own

MAKEUP:
Monistat Gel as Primer
Maybelline Air Nude Foam Foundation in Caramel
CoverGirl Clean Powder for Oily Skin in Tawny
NYC eye definer in Taupe and Wine
NYC Bronzer in Terracotta Tan for Contour
NYX Blush in Pecan for Highlight
Elf Blush in Coral
Rimmel GlamEyes in Extreme Black
Loreal linear liner in Black
NYC 9023C Peach Nude lipstick
NYX Round Lipgloss in Peach

WHAT I'M WEARING:
Tie neck sleeveless shirt from Target
Premium dark denim skinny jeans from Papaya
Toms Canvas Classics shoes in Olive
Olive finger ring from Target
Oversized gold hoops from Target
Red and Jade bracelet from Japan (gifted)

PS. I lightened my brows because my hair is lighter on top but for some reason the camera is capturing them looking grey. They definitely are just a lighter brown with a red tint per the eye definer pencils I used :)

OOTD: Black and Teal

2012-05-07T16:41:00.000-04:00

HAIR:
Freetress Equal Gala in color #2

MAKEUP:
Monistat Gel as Primer
CoverGirl Clean foundation for Sensitive Skin in Tawny
CoverGirl Clean Powder for Oily Skin in Tawny
NYC Bronzer in Terracotta Tan for Contour
NYX Blush in Pecan for Highlight
MAC Mineralize Blush in Hot Planet
Rimmel GlamEyes in Extreme Black
Loreal linear liner in Black
NYX round Lipstick in Tea Rose
Sephora Lipgloss

WHAT I'M WEARING:
NYandCo Long tie black silky sleeveless shirt
Macy's asymmetrical teal skirt (short in front and long in back)
Macy's Material Girl cutout wedges (love!)
NYandCo long ring
NYandCo black studded earrings

Quick Tip: Tea Tree Oil

2012-05-04T16:39:00.000-04:00

I looove tea tree oil. It is an essential oil that has antiseptic and anti fungal properties (lovely!). Mostly I use it on minor cuts or on any unsightly acne blemishes that pop up!

But hands down my favorite way to use tea tree oil is.....for the scalp. If you have an irritated scalp, itchiness, or dandruff, tea tree oil will be of great use to you. I don't have any of those issues, but I do have a tendency to moisturize my scalp after washing my hair. Fresh out the shower I will take a little bit of EVOO or Almond oil and mix it with a few drops of tea tree oil on the tips of my fingers and give myself a scalp massage. HEAVEN! It leaves this tingling sensation and freshness on your head. I love it because I feel like it's a great 'pick me up' for the scalp and feels great. Sometimes after a long day at work I will do this as a stress reliever :)

You can find tea tree oil at most drugstores including Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS for only a few bucks. A one ounce bottle has lasted me forever! Try it out for yourself!

OOTD: Aqua & Sand

2012-05-03T16:44:00.000-04:00

HAIR:

Newborn Free Drawstring Ponytail 'Ann' in color 1b/33

MAKEUP:

Monistat Gel as Primer

CoverGirl Clean foundation for Sensitive Skin in Tawny

CoverGirl Clean Oily Skin Powder in Tawny

NYC Bronzer in Terracotta Tan for Contour

NYX Blush in Pecan for Highlight

ybf Cheek Color Squad

Rimmel Glam Eyes mascara in Extreme Black (love this stuff!)

28 Neutral Palette for all eyeshadows

Loreal linear liner in Black

Katie Perry/Rimmel lipstick in Blush (nude)

NYX lipgloss in Natural

WHAT I'M WEARING:

Charlotte Russe black undershirt

NYandCO Aqua silky tank

Macy's Black high waisted/belted skirt

Chinese Laundry Aqua & Teal Espadrilles (swwwwooonnn!!)

Forever 21 chunky beige ring

Gold toned heart shaped earrings from Samsbeauty.com

xoxo

Thrifty Treasure & Review: imPress Press-On Manicure Nails

2012-04-15T14:14:00.002-04:00

I ordered another pair of FABULOUS shoes from Shoedazzle.com and they included a set of these imPress Press-On Manicure nails. Now I haven't worn press-ons in YEEAARRRSSSS because I have been doing a good job of keeping up with my own nails or I'd go to the salon and get them done for special occasions. Nonetheless, it was manicure day and I was being lazy so I figured I would give them a shot!

Here is what they sent me:

They retail for $6.97 at my local Walmart and the packaging is slightly different in store.

Press-On 'technology' has definitely improved from my Lee Press on days. These have a gel like glue coated on the inside of each nail that is protected by an adhesive plastic cover. Once you choose the sizes per finger you simply peel of the cover, press on, hold firmly, and voila! Manicure in seconds! They claim to last up to a week (7 days). Here is what I found:

Day ONE: No flash

Day ONE: With flash

So immediately I noticed they felt great on my fingers. I'm not sure if they come in varying sizes but this is the length I typically wear my nails at. They felt secure and I didn't feel like they would pop off at all! But even on day one I got two snags. The side got a tear in it but the nail itself was thick and the snag did not affect the snugness of the rest of my nail. I just filed it down and kept it moving but it was still disappointing to see that happen on day ONE.

Snag on the side of my nail

Nonetheless, the rest of the week went fine! No snagging, no breaking, no pop offs! I noticed the most wear and tear around the tips of my nails and that was from daily activity. The color held up and stayed shiny. By day FIVE I definitely 'felt like' I had on press ons and was ready for them to come off. They started lifting slightly and I noticed dirt and food bits getting caught around the rim between where the press on lies and where my nail lies. Also, my nails were growing and started to poke slightly passed the press on. But they still looked good!

Day SEVEN: No Flash

Day SEVEN: With Flash

When it came time to remove them, they were still nicely glued on. The directions say to peel the side or apply polish remover on the sides, wait a minute, and then peel off. I just used a cuticle tool to peel them off but it took a bit of tugging. It did not affect my natural nails at all and in fact, they grew nicely!

Overall, I am IMPRESSED by these imPress nails! For $6 this is really a manicure in a bottle. I will definitely be purchasing these for the future and would recommend them to anybody who wants a change without spending a lot of money! Good luck!!

Thrifty Treasures: Mossimo Neon 'Oki' Shoes

2012-04-10T15:38:00.001-04:00

Hi loves!
I hit the jackpot when I went to Target the other day! I've been on the lookout for some casual slip on styled shoes for the summer and when I saw these neon gems out the corner of my eye I knew I had to check it out. These shoes freakin rock! I also got them on sale for only $9.74 each pair, but regular price of $12.99 is a steal too!!

They come in awesome colors but beware they are BRIGHT! The website does them no justice. I am talking highlighter orange, florescent coral, bright teal, etc. So if you are not interested in being a walking glow stick..then stay away!

These laceless flats only come in whole sizes (no halves) but that is okay. Normally I wear a 7 1/2 in most shoes (flats and heels) but this 7 fit perfectly and definitely left me with wiggle room to spare. :)

Super comfy, super cute. Definitely a thrifty treasure! What do you think?

Outside natural lighting

Indoor with flash

Sooooo cute!!

OOTD: Navy & Brown Chic

2012-04-05T21:04:00.000-04:00

HAIR:
Freetress Equal Ebony in color GF2/30/33 (love love love love!)

MAKEUP:
Monistat Gel as Primer
CoverGirl Clean foundation for Sensitive Skin in Tawny
MAC MSF Natural in Dark
NYC Bronzer in Terracotta Tan for Contour
NYX Blush in Pecan for Highlight
ybf Cheek Color Squad

CoverGirl lashblast in Black
Loreal linear liner in Black
NYX round Lipstick in Tea Rose
NYX lipgloss in Natural

WHAT I'M WEARING:
Navy crop blazer from Macys
Navy pinstriped sweetheart dress

Forever 21 brown and tan earrings
Forever 21 topaz ring
Dark red peep toe pumps from Burlington

OOTD: Casual Orange Pop!

2012-03-29T17:09:00.001-04:00

It's baaccckkkk! I love this blazer!

HAIR:
Yours Truly :-)

MAKEUP:
Monistat Gel as Primer
CoverGirl Clean foundation for Sensitive Skin in Tawny
CoverGirl Clean powder for Oily Skin in Tawny
NYC Bronzer in Terracotta Tan for Contour
NYX Blush in Pecan for Highlight
NYX Mosaic Blush in Love (orange)
Rimmel White eyeliner on corners (I get a lot of compliments when I wear this!)
CoverGirl lashblast in Black
NYX round Lipstick in Tea Rose
NYX lipgloss in Natural

WHAT I'M WEARING:
Charlotte Russe orange and fuschia blazer
Burlington Coat Factory Fuschia long tee
Denim Basics skinny jean from Forever 21 (best jeans ever!!!!)
Gold sandals from Dots (randomly found these!)
Popparazi inspired earrings from Samsbeauty.com (Gold tone..looove these!)
Ring from NYandCo
Necklace from Mom :-)