The Scents of Jasmine

The Happy Planner

2016-02-22T11:03:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone!

I'm back with a new blog post. I want to show you how I plan out my week with my Happy Planner. I purchased my planner from Hobby Lobby (my new favorite store). I was on the hunt for a good planner that I could decorate and was looking into getting the Erin Condren planner, but once I watched a Plan With Me video on YouTube using The Happy Planner I was sold.

The Erin Condren planner starts at around $50 and I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend that much on a planner, so I held off getting it and bought a planner from Target for $13.99. Once I watched Danna Ann's video I was sold on this planner. It's similiar to the Erin Condren Planner, but it's half the price. Plus, I was able to use a 40% coupon at Hobby Lobby. I'm all for saving a few extra coins! Check out her video below!

I've had The Happy Planner since mid December and I love it! I'm a person that needs to write things down, so I won't forget. I put appointments and events in my calendar on my phone, but I enjoy putting them in a planner and decorating it, it makes it more fun! I write down my to do list for every week as well as add in my daily tasks, appointments and daily workouts. Check out some of my weekly spreads. I'm working on getting more stickers to spice up my weekly spreads. I've been looking on Instagram and seeing how other girls decorate their planners and I'm loving all the creativity.

This week is my birthday, so I had to go all out with the decorating!

Sticky pads I purchased from Target's Dollar Spot section.

The Front cover of my Happy Planner.

Inside page of the planner.

Stickers were purchased at Hobby Lobby.

Washi tape from Hobby Lobby.

Make sure you check out The Happy Planner's website. They are releasing new planners and accessories in the beginning of March. You can also purchase select planners at Hobby Lobby and Michael's.

Bridal Party Proposals

2016-02-11T11:34:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone!

Long time, no blog post. I know, I know, I plan on being more consistent with blogging. It's one of my goals for 2016. First off, Happy New Year! To catch you up-to-date with what I've been doing, I have been busy with work, studying for grad school and planning my wedding. OMG! I still can't believe that I'm getting married this year. Speaking of wedding planning, I created some cute boxes that I made for my maid of honor and bridesmaids to ask them if they would be apart of my bridal party.

Leave it up to good ol' Pinterest, to put unique ideas in your head! I love coming up with different ways to gift items, so bridal party proposal boxes were right up my alley.

Bridal party proposals are a cute way of asking your close girlfriends will they be apart of the most important day of your life.. Instead of calling them to ask, I decided that they would love getting a unexpected box. You can create your box however you want. I decided to go with a pink and girly theme. Everything in my box was purchased at my favorite store Target. I'll post the boxes that I made, now that my girls have received theirs.

I added nail polish to the boxes I had to mail because I didn't want to take the chance of the champagne bottle breaking.

Cute cards I added with a special note I wrote on the inside.

I'm so happy I got to see two of my girls open their boxes in front of me.

P.S. I have my own small business creating boxes like these as well as custom baskets. For more information email, JasminesCreations1@gmail.com.

Product Review: E.L.F. Moisturizing Lipsticks

2015-09-01T09:42:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone!

I ordered three lipsticks from Elf and they came in the mail yesterday. I've never tried any of the makeup products, but I do have a few of the brushes they carry. So, I ran across an ad on Facebook and I decided to browse the website. I went straight to the lipstick tab, since I'm obsessed with lip colors! I saw that the moisturizing lipsticks came in a variety of colors and they were only $3. I was immediately drawn to the darker colors since fall is right around the corner. Check down below at swatches of each lipstick and a final review of what I thought of them.

Elf Moisturizing Lipstick in Black Berry

Elf Moisturizing Lipstick in Bordeaux Beauty

Elf Moisturizing a Lipstick in Marsala Blush

Here's a swatch of all three colors: (top) Marsala Blush, (middle) Bordeaux Beauty and (bottom) Black Berry

Pros:

Very moisturizing

Price is very affordable

Gives a nice wash of color

Cons:

Not very pigmented. If you're looking for a lipstick that has a deep color, this isn't it. Although, I think this is perfect for someone who wants to try out deeper colors, but doesn't want it to look so bold. I would call this a tinted lip balm instead of a lipstick.

Tip: If you want a deeper color when using these lipsticks, fill your lips with a lip liner in a like color and put the lipstick on top. I filled my lips with a liner and put Bordeaux Beauty on top and it was gorgeous.

In conclusion, I think the lipsticks are worth trying, I think they're great for everyday when you may not want such a bold color, but you can spice it up with a lip liner when you want a bold look.

If you're interested, check out Elf products at eyeslipsface.com. When I made my purchase it was free shipping and no tax. You can't beat that on top of affordable prices!

My Hair Routine

2015-07-28T11:40:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!

When I'm out and about, I always get questions on my hair:

What products I use?
What did I do to achieve my look?
How do I maintain my style at night?
How long have you been natural?
How do I like being natural?

So, I'm here to answer all those questions and show you pictures of my hair and the products I use.

Natural Hair Journey

Now, I'm not one of those naturals who knows the exact date and time she went completely natural. I decided to grow my relaxer out in 2007. My hair stylist at time suggested that I should, since I was only getting relaxers twice a year and I wanted to grow my hair longer and fuller. When I decided to grow out my relaxer, I had no idea it was called going "natural". In the meantime of the growing out process I would wear cornrows or my stylist would style my hair in a twist out. I would still go to the salon every two weeks, but instead of getting my hair blown out and curled, my stylist would try styles that didn't require too much direct heat.

I'm not sure when I became fully natural, I think it was some time between 2008 and 2009. I had no clue what to do with my hair, so I learned about the natural community on YouTube and started to watch hair tutorials. To make a long story short, I failed miserable at trying to style my hair and buying product after product because it was what the girls on YouTube were using. I even went back to straightening my hair every two weeks because I didn't know how to do my hair. I have never been a person who had the gift of knowing how to do hair. As a young child, my mom would do my hair, but even at a young age I would go to the salon with my mother and we would get our hair done together every two weeks. It took a lot of patience and practice to get to the point I am now with my hair ( I still get frustrated with my hair to this day and I've even contemplated on getting a relaxer. )

Moral of the story is I love being natural. I love the fact I can wear my hair curly one day and the next I can blow it out and wear it straight. I also love the versatility, I also wear extensions, adding hair in for sew-ins , box braids, I love to brush my hair up in a bun and also style my hair in flexi rods and roller sets. FYI I do go to the salon and get my hair straightened. I don't have a routine for when I go, I just go when I want or feel I need a trim.

The many hair styles of Jasmine.

Box braids

Braid Out

Roller Set

Braid Out on blow dried hair

Flat Ironed

Braid Out

Top Bun

Sew In

Blow out

Pinned up Flexi Rod curls

Curls using Perm Rods

My Go To Hair Style

Over the years of being natural, I have found that I get the best results when I braid my hair in individual braids and let it set over night, which is called a braid out. I have tried twisting my hair and for some reason, twist outs look horrible on me. My hair shrinks up and it's just a hot mess! Lol.

I wash my hair once a week and I normally just braid my hair once or twice during the week and pineapple at night ( gathering all my hair in a loose ponytail at the top of my head ). I normally braid my hair in 9-12 medium size braids. When I take down the braids, I separate each braid into 3 sections and when all braids are taken down I fluff my hair into my desired style and stretch my roots with a wide tooth comb.

Products I Use

Shampoo: My favorite is Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo

I'm not too picky on what shampoo I use, just as long as it doesn't dry my hair out and doesn't have sulfates.

Conditioner: Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Conditioner and Curl and Shine Conditioner. Both make it easy for me to detangle my hair and leave my hair soft.

Deep Conditioner: Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque and Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque ( as you can see I love Shea Moisture products!)

As of recent, I have been loving the Dove Hair Therapy Daily Treatment Conditioner for Color Care. I don't have color in my hair. I received this product at an event over a year ago and I just started using it. It is beyond amazing, Thick in consistency and leaves my hair detangled and moisturized. I don't have to use a detangle brush to style my hair.

Leave In Conditioner: Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave In Conditioner This product smells amazing and is a great light weight liquid leave in.

Oils: I love sealing in my moisture and separating my hair with Coconut Oil.

Styling Products: Entwine Couture Crème Jelle Styler The best I've Found for definition, helps with frizz and moisturizing. A little goes a long way. Curls Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Jelly Great for hold and definition. Curls Blueberry Curl Control Paste This product is great for edge control and I love using this on the ends of my hair to smooth the ends and for definition. I also like using Eco Styler Gel either the Argan Oil or Olive Olive Oil one to use when I wear buns and I like putting Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie on top of the gel for softer and a smoother hold.

These are my current favorite products. I love trying new products that get great reviews for my curl type. If you were wondering, I have type 3c curls.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my hair care routine. If you have any questions please leave a comment!

My Life In 2015... (So Far)

2015-07-14T14:38:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone!

Long time, no blog! I know I have been M.I.A. for a while now, but I'm back and I plan on improving my blog and putting up quality posts. A lot has happened since I last blogged. I recently got engaged, I have taken on more responsibilities at work and I have grown as a person. This year has been amazing so far and I can't wait to see what the future brings.

Take a look at some pictures that reflect 2015 so far.

My fiance' and I ( well this was when we were still dating) at Untitled for his birthday in February.

I celebrated my birthday at Sugar Factory on February 27th.

Candy dispenser at Sugar Factory

Red Velvet Martini at Sugar Factory

My bff and I at Sugar Factory

Come shop with me event at Charming Charlie for my birthday.

Brunch at Bongo Room (You must go!!!!)

Scored some pieces form the Lilly Pulitzer for Target line.

Catfish tacos at Luella's Southern Kitchen in Ravenswood. So Yummy!

Paint and Wine Party at Bottle and Bottega. The theme was the Kentucky Derby.

Brunch I hosted for a few of my close girlfriends.

My girlfriends and I at brunch.

My girlfriends from high school.

Curls and Cocktails event with Malisha Dellinger, CEO of the Curls brand.

Blogger and beauty expert Rachel O. and I at the Curls and Cocktail event.

All dolled up for the "prom" I thought I was chaperoning.

Soooooo..... I got engaged on June 5th. It was a prom theme. My parents, fiance' and I.

My beautiful ring!

12 hour prayer at church. You pick one hour from 12 noon to 12 midnight to come and pray.

Fourth of July selfie.

So, that was a little look into the highlights of my year so far. Stay tuned for more posts including, product reviews, wedding inspiration and more!

Nature Box

2014-09-10T15:48:00.001-05:00

Hi beauties! I know I've been gone for a while, but I'm back with a new post.

Nature Box is a monthly subscription box of healthy snacks. Now, I've been struggling with my fitness and health journey and when I saw the different YouTube reviews on this, I knew it would be something that I would love. Unlike any other subscription based websites that I have been a member of, Nature Box is going to benefit me more and I know I'm not going to waste the product.

Every month you can choose up to five different healthy snacks for $19.95 a month. You can also add additional snacks onto your order for $3.00 each. My first box was a success! I loved everything and it's nice to have these snacks, so when I want something during the day, I can grab a healthy snack rather than a cookie or bag of chips. I was sent the Toasted Sesame Stix, Vanilla Macaroon Granola, Whole Wheat Strawberrry Figgy Bars, Pistaschio Power Clusters, Cashew Power Clusters and the Mocha Almond Bar. Also, if you have any dietary restrictions, Nature Box has options for you, such as Vegan, Lactose- Free and Gluten Free. Make sure you check out Nature Box. I have a $10 off code for your first box, check it out below.

Use code B6Q4-4TC to get $10 off your first box.

2014 Met Gala

2014-05-06T08:44:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone! I wanted to share my favorite celebrity looks from the Met Gala last night. I love when there's a red carpet event, especially a black tie event and we can see all our favorites wearing couture gowns and high end fashions.

Check out the pics below!

Jay-Z and Beyoncé in Givenchy

Blake Lively in Gucci

Kim Kardashian in Lanvin

Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture

David Beckham in Ralph Lauren and Victoria Beckhman in a gown from one her of her collections

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen in Ralph Lauren

Suki Waterhouse in Burberry

LaLa Anthony in Cushnie Et Ochs

Kendall Jenner in Top Shop

Reese Witherspoon in Stella McCarthy

Emma Stone in Thakoon

Gladiator Trend

2014-04-24T09:06:00.001-05:00

Hi beauties!

The gladiator sandal trend is really in this spring and summer. I feel like this trend comes and goes every other year. I recently made a purchase from Just Fab, which I will post below. After seeing a picture of Kourtney Kardashian and how she style her knee-high gladiator sandals, I was sold!

Below I have I have some styling options. I would definitely pair knee-high gladiators with a flowy romper or dress with a chic floppy hat and structured sunglasses. Also, I have two options, an affordable version from Forever 21 and a designer version from Stuart Weitzman. Both are pretty much identical, would you save or splurge?

The Just Fab pair I ordered $40.

Kourtney Kardashian wearing knee-high gladiator sandals. ( I will definitely be stealing this look! )

Chriselle from The Chriselle Factor

Rachel Parcell from Pink Peonies

Gladiator Trend by thescentsofjasmine featuring hippie hats

Topshop jump suit
$59 - topshop.com

Blue romper
societyofchic.com

Forever 21 strappy gladiator sandals
forever21.com

Stuart Weitzman beige sandals
farfetch.com

Hippie hat
$37 - sportsgirl.com.au

Circle sunglasses
amazon.comThe Chriselle FactorPink Peonies

Workout Gear

2014-04-10T08:57:00.001-05:00

Hi beauties!

I have put myself on a 10-week challenge. I will be completing T25 Beta and Gamma, which are each five weeks, in addition to running and strength training with my trainer. I will also use the Shred eating program, by Dr. Ian Smith. I'm on week one, day four and I'm excited about the results I will see. Summer is right around the corner and I want to look amazing in a bikini, crop top and cut-off shorts. I'm doing this for myself, I know I'm not a big girl, but I'm uncomfortable at the weight I'm at. My goal is to lose at least 10-15 pounds, tone and gain muscle. I will post my results as the weeks go by. Remember, if you have a goal in mind, stick to it and it will happen!

I created a cute workout outfit for inspiration for all my fit chicks! Who doesn't like to look cute while working out?!?! ( I do! Even though I get sweaty.)

Workout Gear by thescentsofjasmine featuring a victoria secret sportswear

NIKE green hooded sweatshirt
$58 - zalando.co.uk

Women's Moving Comfort Urban Gym Tights
finishline.com

Victoria s Secret clothing
victoriassecret.com

Victoria s Secret victoria secret sportswear
victoriassecret.com

NIKE flexible shoes
zappos.com

VS Sport Hobo Gym Bag
victoriassecret.com

My Spring Must Haves

2014-04-08T09:09:00.001-05:00

My Spring Must Haves by thescentsofjasmine featuring real leather purses

Paper Dolls colorful blazer
dorothyperkins.com

Dorothy Perkins calf length skirt
dorothyperkins.com

Current Elliott blue jump suit
net-a-porter.com

Valentino leather flat shoes
forzieri.com

Vince Camuto real leather purse
shoptheshoebox.com

Brixton tassel hat
swell.com

Coach flower fragrance
coach.com

Girls Day Out

2014-04-07T14:55:00.000-05:00

Hi beauties!

My friend Tatianah invited me for brunch and to see the Ebony Fashion Fair exhibit at the Chicago Museum. We went to my favorite brunch spot, Batter and Berries, located on the north side of Chicago. If you live in Chicago or come to visit, you must check it out. When you arrive, you will have to wait, but trust me the food is worth the wait! Batter and Berries specializes in French Toast, they showcase a limited edition flavor every week. This past week's flavor was Oreo cookie, but the regular flavors included carmel, strawberry and blueberry. The carmel french toast is to die for! You don't need any syrup, the french toast at Batter and Berries is made to be eaten without syrup. The restaurant offers other options such as, a chicken and sweet potato stuffed waffle, omlettes and crab cakes. To top everything off, the restaurant is B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Bottle).

After brunch we headed over to The Chicago Museum. This was my first time ever going and it was really cool to get to see the history of Chicago. If you're interested in going, there is a $7 Groupon for admission. Our main reason for going was to see the Ebony Fashion Fair 50th Anniversary exhibit. The exhibit was beyond amazing! Me, being the fashion addict that I am, was blown away by all the couture gowns and suits that have influenced Ebony Fashion Fair. What I loved most of all were the manniquins. The manniquins were all different shades and depicted gorgeous African American women. Ebony was the first magazine to show African Americans in high fashion. The Fashion Fair, fashion show was created to show that African American women could wear these fashions and look just as good as other women.The exhibit showcased such designers as, Oscar De La Renta, Christian Dior, Issey Miyake, Emmanuel Ungaro, Yves St. Laurent and more. Check out some of the pictures I took (even though we weren't supposed to take them. Shhhh...).

The Ebony Fashion Fair exhibit will be traveling to other cities, so check and see if it's coming to a city near you!

Bucket Bag Trend

2014-04-06T08:59:00.001-05:00

Bucket Bag Trend by jasminejowens featuring a mini purse

Banana republic handbag
bananarepublic.gap.com

Elizabeth and James mini purse
shopbop.com

Banana republic bag
bananarepublic.gap.com

Joie genuine leather handbag
shopbop.com

Yves Saint Laurent red handbag
tessabit.com

Liz Claiborne shoulder strap bag
jcpenney.com

Perfect Spring Outfit

2014-04-02T14:58:00.002-05:00

Happy April! So, it's beginning to feel more like Spring here in the midwest and I'm so excited to build my wardrobe for the season. Here's a quick everyday outfit that anyone can put together with what you already have in your closet.

Happy Spring shopping!

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: Under $50

2014-02-05T11:30:00.001-06:00

So, Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so I have put together a gift guide under $50 for her. Even if you don't have that special person in your life, spend Valentine's Day with close friends and go out on a group date or girls night. Valentine's Day is such a cute Holiday to get all dolled up in red or pink and eat sweets and enjoy the ones you love!

Check out some gift ideas below!

Coach wristlet

Forever 21 phone case

Victoria's Secret perfume set

Victoria's Secret makeup case

Forever 21 lounge set

Forever 21 LOVE stacked ring set

Asos bag

Sephora lip set

Sephora makeup brush set

Style 101: Sequin Pants

2014-01-28T14:26:00.001-06:00

Hey beauties!

I recently purchased a pair of black sequin pants. I was so excited that I finally found them and on sale! Sequin pants are perfect for a night out and they are super easy to style. Since, the pants are quite a statement, I would prefer to keep the top simple or if you wanted to get all the way glam pair them with a sequin top. Check out some options below.

You can pair a plain or a graphic crop top with your sequin pants for a more casual look. Also, pair them with a flowy blouse for a simple chic look.

I also think sequin pants look amazing with a nice structured crop blazer like these options below. Throw your blazer on over a simple t-shirt with some heels and you have an effortless outfit!

Go out and buy a pair of sequin pants and live a little!

*Black sequin joggers from revoltclothing.com

Metallic joggers from Nordstrom

Shiny joggers from glassworks-studio.com

Gold joggers from gojane.com

Crop tops are from Forever21.com

Flowy tank from Asos.com

Blazers from Forever21.com

Gel Manicure At Home

2014-01-22T20:52:00.001-06:00

Hi beauties!

Good ol' Pinterest has done it again! I have discovered Gelous Advanced Nail Gel Coat. I've heard good things about and now that I've tried it out a few times, I really like it!

A lovely blogger I follow via Instagram, @EmilyAnnGemma has a blog www.thesweetestthingblog.com and she posted a DIY gel manicure recipe. I will post it below:

You will need:

Gelous Gel Coat

Nail color of your choice

Top coat (my fav is Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat)

Make sure your nails are clean and filed. You will first begin with 1-2 coats of Gelous. Let dry for about 4-6 minutes. Then polish your nails with a thin layer of your chosen nail color and let dry. Then, you will again apply the Gelous and let dry. After the Gelous dries, apply another coat of polish and let dry. Once the polish dries, apply your top coat.

I'm have been doing this lately and it does last much longer than polishing your nails without the Gelous. I'm still experimenting and waiting to see how long it can last without chipping. When I purchased the Gelous at Sally's Beauty Supply, the cashier said it lasts her a good week. I recommend you all to go out and try it!

Gelous is $5.99 at Sally's.

Happy nail polishing!

Happy New Year!

2014-01-07T17:02:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone!

We've made it to another year! Praise God! I'm so excited about 2014. I have several goals that I want to accomplish this year and some I have already implemented in 2013. On Friday night I took time out to do a vision board. I've been wanting to complete a vision board for some years, but I never got around to it. My friend Joy who has a website, www.BeWorthIt.com, where she discusses how she made her vision board. Go over to www.BeWorthIt.com for more details.

First, I decided to split my goals into categories; personal and spiritual. Second, I went through several magazines and ripped out pictures and words of what I'm trying to accomplish this year. Finally, I placed my list is the middle of the board and the magazine cut-outs around them. Check out the pictures below!

So, I recommend everyone to make a vision board. It's a daily reminder to get up, think positive and get things done! 2014 is the year of GREATER!

DIY December: Lip Scrub

2013-12-10T13:04:00.000-06:00

Hey beauties!

I'm back with another DIY tutorial! This time it's a lip scrub recipe! It's super easy and you should have everything you need at home. Enjoy!

What you'll need:

2 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar ( depending on what size your container is more or less)
1 1/2 teaspoon of Coconut Oil
1/4 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
Small container ( from my local Dollar Tree)

Pack Brown Sugar into the container.

Add in Coconut Oil and Vanilla Extract.

Mix everything together with a spoon.

Add a festive ribbon and now your lip scrub can be given as a gift!

Directions:

Take a small amount of the lip scrub out and rub it onto your lips for about 30 seconds. After 30 seconds you can either rinse the scrub off or lick it off ( which I recommend!)

I tried the lip scrub on my lips and OMG my lips are so smooth and soft! Not to mention the scrub taste delicious!

Happy DIY December!

DIY December: Leg Exfoliator

2013-12-03T12:27:00.001-06:00

Happy December!

This month is dedicated to everything DIY. I want to showcase some DIY projects that can easily be gift ideas as well! So let's get started!

So thanks to good ol' Pinterest, I found a recipe for a leg scrub. I just tried this on myself and it is amazing!

What you will need:

1 1/4 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of oil ( I used Olive Oil, but you can use any oil you want)

3 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice ( I squeezed one lemon)

A jar ( bought mine from my local Dollar Tree)

A funnel

A shaving razor ( not shown)

Mix all the ingredients together as shown below.

After all ingredients are in the jar, put the lid on the jar and shake well to ensure all ingredients are mixed well.

I used this scrub while I was in the shower and according to the blog (http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/07/diy-skin-smoother-for-silky-soft-legs.html) I found the recipe from, you should let your skin soak for a few minutes. After your skin is nice and damp, rub the scrub on your legs ( can be used on your entire body as well, I used it on my arms too) shave and rinse. After you have rinsed, you're going to apply the scrub all over your legs and shave again. Yes again!

My legs feel amazing! I can't stop touching them. Ladies, I think it's important to shave and keep ourselves well groomed in the winter months, just as well as the summer!

I suggest doubling the recipe to make a full jar!

Happy scrubbing!

All Black Everything

2013-11-25T11:59:00.000-06:00

Hey Beauties!

My favorite go to color for fashion is black! You can never go wrong with wearing black, especially ALL black! It's so chic, classic and never goes out of style. Especially for fall and winter, if you wear black leggings and a chunky black sweater paired with a sleek black bag, it makes your look, look so well put together without trying that hard. I'm pretty sure we all have these items in our wardrobe. So, on Pinterest, I kept running across tons of all black outfits and it inspired me to create an All Black Everything board.

So here's some of my favorite looks from my All Black Everything board. Enjoy!

I'm definitely going to rocking some of these looks this season! Are you?

All photos are from Pinterest.

Ipsy Bag

2013-11-21T14:17:00.003-06:00

Hey everyone!

I want to share with youj what I got in my November Ipsy bag. Ipsy was started by YouTube beauty guru Michelle Phan. Every month her team of stylists and herself hand select beauty products that they love and would like others to try. What I love the most about Ipsy is that it is only $10 a month! Every month in your Ipsy bag you will receive five to six deluxe samples or full-size items. I have been a member since July, 2013 and some of the brands I have received in my Ipsy bags are Zoya, NYX and Coastal Scents.

Michelle Phan has started her own makeup line, called EM Cosmetics. Her Lash Gallery Clean Volume Mascara is featured in this month bag and it retails at $20. Again, Ipsy is $10 every month and just about every bag exceeds that amount, so you're definitely getting your money's worth plus more.

Here's what I got in my November Ipsy bag!

Click HERE if you're interested in subscribing to Ipsy!

Fab Finds: Forever 21

2013-11-12T11:54:00.000-06:00

So, I've been noticing lately that Forever 21 has been stepping it up with the quality of items in the store. Forever 21 has always been a hit or miss store for me, with more misses than hits. When I was younger I used to shop there all the time, but over the past few years I feel like the quality of the clothing has gone down and the items in the store were targeted toward girls in high school. But as of lately, I've seen a lot of stuff that I want to get from there. Some of my favorite bloggers and vloggers have been rocking some stuff from Forever 21 and when they say they got it from Forever 21, I'm totally shocked! I've been in the Forever 21 store in my local mall lately and I'm surprised at the quality of the items as well as how cute the stuff is.

So I browsed Forever21.com and put together some items that I'm currently loving. Forever 21 has put the spark back in me to shop there again! Go check out your local Forever 21 for trendy, yet fashionable items that won't break your budget!

Happy shopping!

Girls Night Out / Weekend Recap

2013-11-11T15:19:00.000-06:00

On Friday night, I attended a Girls Night Out event hosted by Shecky's. It took place at Union Station, here in Chicago. Tickets were purchased online on Shecky's website and all you had to do was show up with an I.D. and you were given a wristband. The event provided free goodies and drinks, so you had to be 21 to enter. There were several vendors to buy items from, such as fashion designers showcasing their clothing line, homemade soy candles and jewelry. I attended the event with some of my girlfriends and we had a blast (the unlimited drinks played a part as well).

Make sure you check out Shecky's website to see if there will be a Girls Night Out event in your city!

Some of the ladies at the event doing the "Wooble".

On Sunday I was on the north side of Chicago with my boyfriend after church and we came across this bakery. Both of us have a huge sweet tooth, so we decided to go check it out. When we walked in, we were greeted by the aroma of fresh baked cakes and cookies and as well as the owner Sharon Nathan. Sharon is the owner, but she's a chef as well. Everything is just as delicious as it looks!

Sweet Sensations Pastry offers a wide variety of fresh baked cookies, scones, cupcakes, cake balls, pies and brownies. They also offer Vegan options as well. So decided to try the Salted Caramel Cupcake and the Cookies n Cream Cake Ball. So, long story short, I will be visiting Sweet Sensations Pastry again in the very near future!

If you are in the Chicago area please go check out Sharon and her bakery!

Sweet Sensations Pastry
1918 W. Montrose Ave.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773)275-0697

Weekend Recap

2013-10-28T12:02:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday!

I hope your weekend was just as fun as mine was. My boyfriend and I celebrated four years of dating over the weekend. So, here's some pics of my weekend. Enjoy!

First stop, was to Johansen Farms. The farm provides pumpkin patches, hayrides, petting zoo and other fun activities. Pumpkin patches and hayrides are two of my favorite things about fall. We enjoyed sipping on hot chocolate and warm apple cider. We walked around the petting zoo, admiring all the cute farm animals and we also went on a hay ride through a corn field.

Sunday after church, I had to stopped by my favorite place to get cupcakes in Chicago. Flirty Cupcakes is my weakness and it doesn't help that my church is two minutes away. Please be sure to check them out, you won't be disappointed!

Oh, that's just my For The Love of Chocolate cupcake, chillin' on my Elle magazine.

Sunday night, my love surprised me with dinner at Alhambra Palace, located in the West Loop of downtown Chicago. Alhambra Palace is a Middle Eastern restaurant with gorgeous and intricate decor. On Friday and Saturday nights you can enjoy live belly dancing performances with a live band.

Johansen Farms
680 N Bolingbrook Dr.
Bolingbrook, IL 60440

Flirty Cupcakes
1030 W Taylor St.
Chicago, IL 60607

Alhambra Palace
1240 W Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

My Current Favorites

2013-10-17T12:53:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! I want to share with you a few products that I have been loving lately. If you are frequent on YouTube and watch some of the Beauty Vloggers then you are aware that many of them do monthly favorites videos, where they show their subcribers their favorite products for that month. Well, I don't accumulate many products a month, but I wanted to show you some staples that I have been using and LOVE!

For my skin care I have been loving Trader Joe's Organic Coconut Oil, Trader Joe's Vitamin E Oil and Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towlettes. I use the Burt's Bees wipes to wipe off my makeup at night. Since, they are cleansing wipes, I love the fact that I'm cleansing my face (I can be a little lazy a night and I don't always wash my face.) After I wash and tone my face I use the Trader Joe's Organic Cocunut Oil to moisturize my face as well as the Vitamin E Oil. Just remember, a little goes a long way and it is oil, so you don't want your face to be greasy and clog your pores. A beauty blogger I follow on Instagram posted a pic and she said she's been using coconut oil to moisturize her face and she loves it and I've been getting great results as well!

I also found on good ol' Pinterest, that if you mixing Vitamin E Oil and Coconut Oil is a good natural under eye cream. I prefer to use natural and organic products on my skin. My skin reacts best to them and since I have sensitive skin, I can't use regular off the shelf skin care products.

For fragrance and body I have been loving Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter ( Can you tell that I'm obsessed with Trader Joes? LOL) and A Is For Aldo Women's fragrance. The Coconut Body Butter is amazing! It's thick in consistency, but absorbs into your skin smoothly and it's light in fragrance, so it pairs well with any fragrance. I bought A Is For Aldo perfume over the summer when Aldo had their full-size fragrances on sell for $25. Out of the three womens fragrances I immediately loved this one. The fragrances don't have names to match the scents, but they are color coded; there's a red, yellow and blue. The blue one reminded me of Givenchy's Play (the purple bottle) and why not find a cheaper alternative!

As for hair, I am obsessed with As I Am products. I have naturally curly hair and these products are great for cleansing, moisturizing and styling my curly hair. The Coconut CoWash I use to cleanse my hair. If you're not familiar with co-washing ( as many natural hair women refer it to as), it's washing your hair with conditioner only. Not only does my hair feel and look clean, the Coconut CoWash leaves my hair soft and easy to detangle. The two styling products are the DoubleButter Cream and Twist Defining Cream. The DoubleButter Cream is a thick cream that leaves my hair soft and moisturized. The Twist and Defining Cream is great for twist outs or braid outs and has great hold for defining your curls.

As far as makeup, I keep it simple. I use MAC Mineralize Concealer, just to even out my skin for a flawless face. I love this concealer because it's a medium coverage, blends well with my skin and does not make my face look cakey or have a lot of build up. The mascara that I have been loving is It's So Big Volumizing Mascara by Elizabeth Mott. I received it in my Ipsy bag last month. If you don't know about Ipsy, it's a monthly subscription service that sends you beauty bags every month with products to try, it's just $10 a month! I use this mascara on top of my Loreal Telescopic mascara and I get full, long, voluminous eyelashes. I recently picked up two lipsticks from MAC; Rebel and the infamous RiRi Woo. Both colors are gorgeous, Rebel is a satin finish and is a deep plum color that is perfect for fall. RiRi Woo is a retro matte red color that is perfect for a classic red lip. I have also been loving NYX lip liners. I have quite a few colors to go with my lipsticks, but the one I have shown in the picture above is in the color Cabaret, it's a perfect match with MAC's Rebel lipstick. These lip liners are comparable to MAC lip liners, but are a fraction of the price.

My last favorite is Flannel candle from Bath and Body Works. I'm obsessed with Bath and Body Works candles. You can find them on sell for 2 for $22 quite often. Flannel smells like a good smelling man (the best way I can describe it LOL). The description on the bottom of the candle reads, "Wrap yourself in a warm blend of bergamot, mahogany and delicate veil of musk. I tell you, when I light this candle I want to put on a man's oversize fannel shirt and cozy up by a fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. Yes, it's that good!

What are some of your favorite products?

What products do you suggest I try?

Thanks for reading!