Organized Beauty: Life, Beauty & Love

Before & After: Master Bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:46:00 +0000

Bedroom before (not the best picture, clearly)

Recent Shoe Purchases: Charlotte Russe, JustFab, Body Shop

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Justfab.com. Comfy, but they run a bit small

Haven't worn them yet. I don't like the seam down the front of the shoe

Haven't worn these either. However, they were only $9 at The Body Shop

At-Home Pumpkin Facial Mask

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:30:00 +0000

I used about a teaspoon of each ingredient except the canned pumpkin, which I used about two tablespoons. I also only used a teaspoon of the egg white. Honestly, it was a bit messy and didn't adhere to the face very well. I think I used too much of the almond milk, so next time I will take that into consideration. Overall, it makes a nice mask. It did leave my skin smooth and not too dry (although it didn't feel overly moisturized). The mask is supposed to:

Pumpkin makes an excellent face mask ingredient for all skin types, especially environmentally damaged or sensitive skin. High in Vitamin A (skin healing), C (anti-oxidant) and Zinc, the pumpkin soothes, moisturizes and acts as a carrier, assisting the other mask ingredients to absorb deeper into the skin and intensifying the results.

Recent Shoe Purchases

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:08:00 +0000

Before & After: Kitchen and Dining Room

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:52:00 +0000

Before & After: Living Room

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:51:00 +0000

REVIEW: Freeman's Superfruits Rejuvenating Facial Peel-Off Mask

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:04:00 +0000

Who doesn't love a little pampering?!? Purchased from ULTA about a week ago and have used it twice. Overall, I like it a lot. Its claims are:

Superfruits provides antioxidant rich skincare to help combat the effects of stress, the environment and your fun, not so-healthy lifestyle.
Powered by Mega 8 Complex which combines eight of the most powerful superfruits goji, acai, pomegranate, mango, mangosteen, cranberry, noni and blueberry to help purify, detoxify and soothe stressed skin.
Its gently purges dirt and oil from skin while delivering superior nutrients.
It's Fortifies and guards against free radicals and environmental stress.

I haven't been using it along enough to know if it really guards against free radicals, environmental stress, etc., but I can say that it hasn't broken me out, leaves my skin soft, but a little dry (I'm also using Retin-A-Micro, so I'm sure this has something to do with it), smells good, isn't tested on animals, actually has the 8 fruits that it says it does, is easy to apply and peel off, and leaves my face with a hint of a glow. I really have nothing bad to say about the product at this moment.

FML: Delete an Album on Google+ and See What Else Disappears!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:12:00 +0000

Well lovelies, there probably won't be a new post for awhile. Learned the hard way today that when you delete an album on Google+, it will also delete any images tied to your blog and your photos in Picasa! There is no warning letting you know they're all connected! So, if you look at my blog, you will notice that all of my pictures are GONE! The preview is still there, but the pictures are GONE! They claim there is no way to recover them. I'm sure that's not true, but oh well. So, once I can calm myself and re-focus, I will work on locating all of the photos between my three computers, as well as my email addresses, and try best to restore what has been lost.

Kodak Z5010 14MP 21X Zoom

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Can't wait for it to arrive. Nothing fancy-smancy. Anything beats taking pics with my cell phone:-)

Before & After: Office

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:00:00 +0000

I recently moved...again! I'm one person, but I require a lot of space:-) I finally have a real office, which is already becoming my favorite room in the house! It has a black and cream theme, with a touch of black and white. I'm excited to finally be able to take all of my books and magazines out of the boxes they have been in for years because I simply didn't have any place to display them. There are still somethings that need to be done such as hanging curtains, finding a television and a black office chair, but other than that, I'm a happy chica!

Before

How to Combat Dry Skin in the Winter

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:45:00 +0000

It's getting a little chilly around these parts! I tend to rely on essential oils during the winter to keep my skin supple and glowing. I apply at night and again in the morning. During the day if I'm feeling a little dry, I spritz rosewater & glycerin on my face.

I mix my own..one teaspoon of each, pour in a glass container and store away from light.

olive oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil, castor oil and vitamin e oil

'Watch The Throne' Greensboro, NC Recap

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Sun., Oct. 30, 9:17pm: RT @MsWhite: All of these folks are literally just watching the throne right now huh?! Lol...the irony in that is amazing.

The show was to start at 7:30! I understand they didn't have an opening act, but having people wait two hours is not only utterly ridiculous, it's inconsiderate. I was hype when they came out, but not as hype as I would have been if they were, say, an hour late. Honestly, the bitter taste never left my mouth.

So, here's my brief rundown:

*Loved that before the show, they played all of the original songs they've sampled from

*The opening was hot! Loved the two stages and the shark tanks

*Kanye's energy and passion for performing is...mind blowing

*They performed pretty much the entire Watch The Throne album, minus a couple

*Kanye's clearly heartbroken. He made me want to break out 808s & Heartbreak. Somebody give that man a hug.

*"New Day" was one of my fav performances

*Watching Beyonce jump out her seat and rock to "Ni**as in Paris," baby bump and all!

*Jay's "Public Service Announcement" was another fav! It will always remind me of the show at Madison Square Garden before he "retired" and they way the crowd erupted!

*Was hoping for a few more off Reasonable Doubt

*The images on screen during "Made in America" and "No Church In The Wild" were thought-provoking

Overall, the show was amazing. I honestly would see it again because I wasn't feeling so good after an hour in, so I'm sure I would have enjoyed it even more if I wasn't a bit under the weather. The energy from the crowd was amazing and I always wonder how they feel looking out at that many people reciting their lyrics, not missing a word.

Jennifer Hudson- Wonderful Change

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:37:00 +0000

Recent Purchases

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:49:00 +0000

Recent Payless Purchases

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:30:00 +0000

Dalmatian nails

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:10:00 +0000

LoVe

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 03:21:00 +0000

Tea Tree Oil to Prevent Ingrowns

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:26:00 +0000

Tea tree oil works better than any amount of exfoliating or creams marketed for ingrowns. Being an African American woman with curly hair, we all know how it tends to grow back in. After my last wax I started using tea tree oil and did not have one--not even one ingrown. I apply it a few days a week. I also use it on my nose piercing and my eyebrows after having them threaded. Go and get you a bottle.

Review: Signature Nail Systems (SNS)

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:16:00 +0000

Week 1

My experience: I like them a lot. The odors were limited and they definitely were odor-free when I left the salon. They don't require you to use a dryer of any sort; you sit them in front of a fan for two minutes and they're completely dry! They have not faded or chipped in the corners. They are still as shinny as they were on day one. The process is kinda cool. They dip your nails into a white powder and a pink powder and paint some type of adhesive. They dip several times. I will say that it is a bit more time consuming than gel or acrylic, and of course more expensive. However, I think it's worth the price tag ($50 for the initial, $35 for a fill-in). They may be less expensive somewhere else outside of the Brier Creek area, but I'm all about convenience.

Description from Website:

This multi-step SNS process overlays directly onto the nail bed to create a long lasting nails with exceptional durability and shine. The application does not use harsh chemicals, it eliminates the odor that are typically associated with acrylic and gels. The SNS process represents a completely new technology in nail enhancement. Older methods such as acrylic and gels create a barrier that can cause weak, brittle nails and can even promote the growth of fungus on the nail bed. Signature nails are water resistant, yet they allow natural nails to breathe, enabling them to grow long and strong.

This innovative SNS technology was developed by a group of Nail Professionals with decades of industry experience. If you are allergic to acrylic then SNS is for you! Signature Nails are light weight and flexible. It is designed to feel like real nails yet they are also more durable than acrylic. Unlike acrylic and gels, Signature Nails does not bond to the cuticle and are healthier for the natural nail bed.

Signature Nails are:

- Odor free

- No damage to nail bed

- Resistant to chipping & Cracking

- Water resistant

- Healthy for your real nail by adding calcium & vitamin E

-Comfortable

-Breathable

-Maintenance free

Signature Nails are maintenance free with a natural look that does not require nail polish. The SNS process is not harmful to your nails, in fact it can help damaged nails grow back healthier and stronger.

Week 3

Before & After Pics: How To Get Rid of Redness, Acne & Melasma...Adapalene+Ambi Fade Cream+Aczone

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:44:00 +0000

These three products have changed my skin game! Went to the dermatologist in June about melasma and acne. I had acne scars, darkening around the forehead, which actually looked quite red. And as many African American women, the area around my mouth is darker. My main concern was my acne and my forehead. I'm also aware that it will always be a bit of a battle because of my birth control which has a lot to do with the melasma. He prescribed the products below and they are wonderrfullll! I just recently started using the Ambi fade cream in conjunction with the other two and it has made all the difference.

The Adapalene is a retinol, so it's used at night with the Ambi, and I use the Aczone (for acne) and Ambi in the morning before I apply my sunscreen. The Ambi has sunscreen in it as well!

L to R: generic version of Differin Gel, Ambi Fade Cream, Aczone

March 2011

July 2011

Jill Scott- "Hear My Cry"

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 01:10:00 +0000

One of my fav songs on the album.

Cancun 2011: Royal Solaris Cancun Resort, Marina & Spa -All Inclusive

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:21:00 +0000

Royal Solaris Resort, Cancun. All-inclusive. Absolutely delicious food. Vegetarian dishes are available at every meal. If you're a beef eater, you'll love this place. Chicken, not so much. Different theme every night at dinner. The only thing that wasn't so good was the fruit. I was surprised. Fantastic pools, drinks (best margarita of my life) and good music. The place is spotless. They clean 24 hours a day. The pools are cleaned every day or night by hand (yes, workers diving in with snorkeling gear). Would definitely stay again.

Downtown was definitely nice. Hard Rock, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Katsuya, etc. We even went to Walmart (which is where I brought all of my tequila!). Definitely an experience. The bus drivers don't believe it no one standing in front of the white/yellow line! As long as the door can close, stand where you please!

Prices were reasonable, everywhere we went was clean, the people were friendly and I always felt safe. We booked through Expedia and had no problems. The shuttle was on time to pick us up from the airport and take us back at 4:50AM:-( Everything was very organized, so I would definitely recommend them.

Best churros I've had in my life!

Chandni's Spa and Salon: Best Eyebrow Threading & Brazilian Waxing in the Triangle

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:02:00 +0000

This.place.is.amazing. That's all there is to say. Chandni's Spa and Salon is located in Cary, NC in the Chatham Square shopping center. I've been getting my eyebrows threaded there for awhile by a lady named Seema who is great. She has managed to even out my brows and I love her because she never takes too much off. About two months ago, I had my first Brazilian Wax done there by a lady named Ashley. Ladies, she is nothing short of amazing. We all know waxing is not the most pleasant experience and never will be. However, she makes it bearable and not all that painful. She takes her time, is extremely friendly and just helps you feel relaxed. I don't know how she manages to make it so it doesn't hurt as bad, but she does. I've been to other spas in the area and had the WORST waxing experiences (which is why I started doing it myself), but I will go to Ashley from now on. Is it a female-only salon, so no need to feel uncomfortable. I highly recommend anyone in the area to give them a try. Their website is: http://www.trianglesalon.com

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl Episode 7

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:58:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (StacyNicole) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 18:40:00 +0000