cmorekay

life // a fresh start

2016-12-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

i started this blog back in 2011 as an outlet from my long tiring days working for the government. since then, i have created a youtube channel, began modeling, worked in the beauty and cosmetics industry, collaborated with various companies, and getting to know some of you.

i have came and gone.
there were moments where i lost interest, then later fell in love all over again. overall, i have had mixed feelings about it these past couple of years, and i know that those feelings, have a lot to do with the direction my blog has not gone in. i had hopes and dreams of it becoming so much more. but how can something blossom, when there are times you don't want anything to do with it?

i have also been contemplating on a name change for almost a year now. i no longer want my brand to surround around my name anymore. i found out that i can change my blog's name, but it will delete all of the comments i have had with you all since the beginning (i need blogspot and google+ to really work on this). so, i decided to stick with cmorekayeeshia just so the comments won't disappear. you all and i have had some really great conversations under certain posts. i'd hate for that information to get missed, all because of how google+ runs things.

there's also the issue with blogspot themes. with my recent theme, i ventured out some, because i got tired of using blogspot themes and trying to adjust them to my liking. i plan to relearn some html and css coding - like back when i was a beast at coding my myspace pages (oh the days).

...so, what does all of this mean?

it means that i will continue to blog, but over at a new spot - titled ohheykay.

it will still be a lifestyle blog, because i have so much to talk about. but there will also be additional topics like: sex, mental health/substance abuse, topics about careers, education, self-care and time management. i'll also start uploading templates that i use to manage my life (so to speak), so you all can use them to help you out if needed.

as you have seen, i have been collaborating more than usual and even added some affiliates (yay me)!

this blog will remain here forever, unless blogspot or google decides to go away for whatever reason.

....so head on over to ohheykay, there's already posts waiting for you.

life // one more day

2016-12-30T08:36:00.000-05:00

as we are all aware, we have one more day in 2016. & when i think about how my year has went, it has been pretty good. i finally launched my online store, i finished up my last class ever in life, i started internship to finish my last degree ever in life, my handsome nephew was born, i gained additional career experience, i started new friendships (very surprising), & even ended some. this year i accepted who i am even more. i realized that i am not perfect, & that no situation is perfect. a professor at my school told me that i shouldn't label myself as a perfectionist, but as a person who strives for excellence. i actually like that.

i even let myself "bum it out" more than usual. i didn't feel the need to always get dressed up, with my hair done & a full face of make up - which is totally not me, but there were days i just wanted to rest. days where i wore leggings & an oversize top. days where i went bare face w/my hair plopped on top of my head. some days i didn't even shave (even more so not like me)!

i was even approved for a house. something i have been dreaming of for the last 2-3 years. that situation fell apart, but i'll talk about that later over on my new blog. this month alone has been really challenging though. i pray january is much better.

i will be leaving here soon, & blogging elsewhere come next month. i am ready to re-brand myself, & start fresh on a new platform (more about that coming soon). i also want to change my diet drastically. i have been eating poorly for the last 2 years, & that needs to stop. i have a gym membership, & i plan to use that more often, as well as detoxing. i'm actually in the process of looking at companies that meal prep for you. can't wait to do a review on that.

i plan to up the amount i automatically transfer to my savings account come january. i plan to take some time off this year, & that extra cushion will come in handy. i also want to be credit card debt free. i'm not in deep debt now, but i still want to have a balance of 0 as often as possible.

i will put more effort into my store, blog & youtube channel. i pray i can rent a space for my store next year, & to be a vendor at some really cool events. i am also planning to work with some clothing boutiques! i really want to get back to more style posts.

church is a must too. cause God knows i don't spend enough time there. my excuse now is that sunday is my only day off, so that day i choose to either be a bum or run errands. but moving forward, i really need to get the word in.

there are other goals i have, but i'll save those for another day. until then, i hope you all had a great year & are planning for an even more fantastic 2017!

review // glassess shop

2016-09-29T20:05:00.000-04:00

remember the days when glasses were uncool, and people were called names like, "geek," "nerd" and "four eyes?" well, it's funny how times have changed. in the new day and age, you will come across just about anyone, any age wearing a pair of glasses with or without a prescription. and what do you know? it's actually considered cool.

i personally have been wearing glasses most of my life, and i love them. i started out wearing contacts, but those irritated me a lot, and they were way too much maintenance. i am nearsighted, and wear glasses about 50% of my day (while driving and to look at things that are at a far distance.)
i currently own five pair. yes, you read right - five.
i tend to not throw away my glasses, and just keep them in case something happens with another pair.

my most recent pair (lucky #5), comes from glassesshop.com, an american owned and operated online retailer of eyeglasses.

the company provides, prescription eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses! this was my first experience shopping for eyeglasses online. i guess cause there's that fear that something might go wrong when ordering online, but luckiy my experience went well.

although i have multiple glasses as i mentioned before, i still went with eyeglasses instead of sunglasses, since i'd get way more use out of them. all i had to do was provide glassesshop with my prescription, and within a couple of weeks, my glasses were shipped to me.

i decided to go with the men's chato wayfarer, because this style fits the shape of my round face. the shape and size of men's glasses have always been more comfortable to me than women's. and in a lot of eyeglass stores, men styles tend to attract me more than the women's. i selected light brown, because i already have eyeglasses in black, tortoise shell and gray - so i wanted to try something new! i especially love the contrast of the brown frames and clear temples.

their prescription eyeglasses frames and sunglasses come with a 90-day quality guarantee.

all of my readers get an amazing discount of 50% off with the code: GSHOT50

*glasses c/o glassesshop.

shop // kaybella accessories first blogger!

2016-08-27T08:40:00.001-04:00

i am happy to announce that kaybella accessories has our second partnership with natalia pessoa over at xoxomake.com!

she currently has a blog post up about some of our pieces.

all of her readers will received 20% off their total purchase until 9/1 with our code: XOXOMAKE!

check out her review now, and use her discount code!

DIY Sundays // Floating Shelves From Target

2016-05-10T19:36:00.000-04:00

i always brag about how the shopping Gods are always in my favor, & this recent trip to target proved just that. i have been wanting floating shelves for over a year now, & i have a physical list & pinterest board with all of the ones i wish i could buy all at once. awhile back as i was browsing the aisles in target, i stumbled upon a large section of home decor on clearance. & of course i wouldn't dare pass up this beautiful shelf set, originally $25, but marked down to $16.

this is my first place where i have an entry way. one so big that i'm thinking about putting an accent table there to take up some of the space. i purchased two k's from homegoods (one for me & one for kyra), the plant from ikea, tea cup from dollar tree, buddha from ross and candle & holder from bath & body works.

below was my initial set up, but i found it to be boring. so, i updated with a little spray paint & change of decor.

i started by using the valspar spray but that turned out to be a complete disaster. the "micromist" made spraying extremely messy, & the last thing i wanted was to have white paint all over my wooden patio, that i don't own.

so i returned it immediately & picked up rust-oleum.

here is my current version. so light & airy. i love every piece displayed, & it's welcoming when you enter my home.

i hope you all enjoyed this DIY post. i haven't done one in awhile, but i promise to get back on it!

review // Scales 925

2016-04-20T11:06:00.001-04:00

so lately i have been hanging back out with a long time friend of mine.

she wanted to have a girl's night, and attend T.I.'s restaurant/nightclub called Scales 925. i was hesistant, because i have heard a lot of mixed reviews about the place. but i didn't want to knock it, until i actually got to experience for myself.

so this past weekend, we decided we'd go.

it was AWFUL!

they have two options for parking. there's a small lot (fits maybe 20 cars), that's about $10 for 24 hours. then there is valet, which is $20. we ended up paying valet, because the cheaper lot was full. my friend sent us a text to RSVP. we all did, which was to get us in for free. however, when we got there, they charged everyone $20 at the door.

& yes, you're reading that right. we have spent $40 already, and haven't even stepped foot into the club. once we got in, we had trouble getting seated. we were told that we couldn't sit upstairs if we wanted to eat, so we went downstairs and asked a "white shirt" server to seat us. so once he gave us a booth, a "black shirt" server came up and asked who sat us in the booth. we all looked around confused and told her a server did. she told us that the booth we were in was already paid for, and that the booth was considered VIP

so my friend became very upset because it took us 20 minutes just to get that booth. so we asked her where could we be sat next, and she just walked off. so we move down to another area, because clearly, no one cares about customer service. we literally asked 3 different servers if we could get menus, and each one looked at us and said, "okay." but, they never returned.

so my friends go up to the bar, ordered small ass $10-$15 drinks and brings back the menus that we asked for 20 minutes ago. at this point we have been in the place for 45 minutes. another white shirt server tells us, we're in another VIP section, so we got up and sat at the wooden tables next to the bar. a black shirt server walked up to us with this surprised look on her face, asking if we had been served. once again, my friend blew up, because we had been there for about a hour at this point. i then hopped in saying that this has been the worst club/dinner experience i have had in my entire life. she proceeds to apologize, and states that she wants us to have a good time. my friends end up ordering food, while i rejected because i refused to pay another dime.

my friends stated that the food was good, but overpriced. it took about 20 minutes for our food to come out. my server said she'd give us unlimited soda for free, which she brought out hot, in which we had to order more ice. the entire time we had to repeat our wants multiple times to her because she'd forget. she was gone for long periods of time before returning to us. i don't even think she was tipped well....all around our service was just poor.

the dj wasn't that great either, not playing really any current songs. after we ate, we left. we were probably there a total of 2 hours. it was just bad. we expressed how we felt to management, but they didn't seem to care. on the way out, they brought my friend two different cars that weren't hers. it was unbelievable because they gave her a ticket, they could have easily used to find her car. so for an additional 15 minutes, we had to wait for them to locate it.

this post isn't to bash Scale 925, but to make people very aware of what to expect. i read so many yelp reviews after my visit, and most of them stated the same.

i just can't believe how horrible customer service is.

style // berry bloom

2016-03-28T23:12:00.000-04:00

with it finally being spring, georgia still has some chilly weather left over.

for this post i wanted to wear spring colors, but with fall like clothes.

i randomly found this cardigan in ross. it was the only one there, and i just knew i'd love the colors on me. topped with this pretty necklace from target, and a pop of pink on the lips, i have to say this is one beautiful color combo.

boots: forever via traffic // cape: via ross // necklace: target // other jewels: kaybella accessories

style // st. patrick's day fun

2016-03-18T12:45:00.002-04:00

for st. patrick's day, my job had treats and a photo wall set up.

here are a few pics of what i wore during the week.

day one:

khakis: XX1 // jewelry: kaybella accessories // top: via ross // shoes: via ross

day two:
blazer: via ross // jeans: XX1 // jewelry: kaybella accessories // shoes: forever via ross

i hope you all are enjoying your week!
thank God it's friday!!

shop // international shipping

2016-03-12T14:24:00.000-05:00

Kaybella Accessories now ships worldwide!

Keep up with updates!

www.kaybella.bigcartel.com

Instagram // Facebook // Twitter

life // back on youtube

2016-03-11T12:45:00.002-05:00

two of my goals this year is to focus on what adds to my happiness and establishment.

i have spent the last few years not focusing on building my brand, due to lack of motivation and impatience. i also haven't been putting my dreams into action, which is why at this point in my life, establishment is key.

i know this will take a lot of work and energy, but i'm willing to give it my all.

check out my most recent youtube video sharing kaybella accessories, and what more i have in store for this year.

i am also in the process of changing my blogs' name! i have a couple of names in mind, but i want to hear your feedback as well.

leave a comment down below with name ideas!

don't forget to subscribe to my channel!

i'll be coming back with hauls, vlogs, reviews and DIY projects!

review // 2 // laser lipo with skinucations

2016-02-22T22:48:00.001-05:00

so i have completed all 4 sessions of my laser lipo. week four i received my last measurements, and was surprised to see that i went from 17.5 inches to 13.5 inches on my right arm. i will say though, i really don't see a difference in my shirts. my shirts are still tight in the arm area, which i really don't understand how, when i lost inches dramatically on the right.

my left arm went no where. after week two, i began measuring my arms myself to see if i saw any difference before veronika measured them. but i didn't. i still did as i was told, with not having any caffeine, doing my weights and cutting out sweets as much as possible. overall, i am okay with the results, and happy that i at least tried laser lipo.

in the end, i think i'll stick to practicing eating healthier and working out.

if you've tried laser lipo, how did it go? comment down below.

-- week one --

left arm: 17.5 inches // right are: 15.5 inches

-- week two --

left arm: 15.5 inches // right arm: 14.5 inches

-- week three --
no measurements were taken

-- week four --
left arm: 14.5 inches // right arm: 13.5 inches

style // dinner for three

2016-02-08T19:47:00.001-05:00

so a lot of exciting things are going on in my life & the life of those that i know.

this past week, i had dinner with my sister & her baby. she'll be due within the next few months.

i am so excited to become an aunt & can't stop thinking about all the cool things the two of us will be able to do in the future.

i wanted to share with you what i wore to dinner, & also my double bar necklace that you can purchase from kaybella. as you may or may not know, i launched my very own accessory store on 2/1/16!! now that i have my own store, i hope this will push me to do more style posts (which you've probably noticed that i have cut back a lot on...)

hopefully this post will be the first of many new style posts!

necklace & pom pom keychain: kaybella accessories // handbag: H&M // jacket: XX1+ // jeans: old navy // shoes: carlos via ross

shop // kaybella accessories

2016-02-01T21:31:00.000-05:00

i have launched my very first online store!
after having my blog & youtube channel for years, dedicated to style, i have decided to branch out even more.
why not sell what i wear?!

i can't even begin to explain to you how excited i am to be able to provide you all with the same pieces i wear everyday. i am so humbled that my very own business is finally coming to life. for a long time i have dreamed of having my own plus size store, & like most of us, i just never had the drive to put it all into play. after talking about it a million times, i decided at work one morning that i no longer want to just invest into someone else's dream. & that it's about time i start investing in my own.

don't get me wrong, i love serving those in need of counseling services, but i also know that being a counselor is not my only purpose in life. as some of you know, i have a long history in modeling, beauty & cosmetics. because presentation is a big factor in my life for various reasons, there is nothing like adding accessories to finish off a good look.

i remember telling my coworkers that morning that, "i don't wait for opportunities, i create opportunities!!" immediately, i designed my business cards, website & began looking at pieces to add to my store.

Kaybella is your one stop shop for all things accessories!

kaybella carries: jewerly, sunglasses, make up supplies, home decor & cell phone cases. hopefully in the future i'll branch out & add clothing, shoes & handbags/wallets to the site.

for the first few months, kaybella accessories will switch between 25 different items. this means, what you see one week, maybe gone the next week. so purchase when you can.

instagram & twitter handles are: @shopkaybella
like my page on facebook

if you are interested in items directly from my closet, you can go to my ebay profile & purchase new & genlty used items on there. none of my items on kaybella will be on my ebay. these are two differnt platforms with totally different items. if you have any questions about the items, don't hesitate to leave comments!

review // 1 // laser lipo with skinucations

2016-01-15T14:22:00.001-05:00

this month's review is on skinucations, a corrective skincare medispa located in atlanta, ga. the spa is owned & ran by esthetician, veronika hill. at skinucations, they provide various services, such as facials, detoxes, fat & cellulite reduction amongst many others.

towards the end of 2015, i had started doing some research on skincare, laser hair removal & fat reduction. however, due to my finances, i am not able to get all of them done at this time, so i decided to check out groupon. this is where i saw a really great deal for laser lipo. once i figured out how laser lipo worked, the side effects, cost & results, i decided to sign up for a consultation with skinucations based off customer reviews. what is originally an $800 treatment, i got it for $200.

late december, i went for my consultation, which was not only very informative, but fun. i was there for about a hour & a half. veronika is professional, knowledgeable & really down to earth. she was very understanding when it comes to what i want for my health, & even provided me with tips on staying healthy & improving my skincare routine.

she does all of the work on her own in a small suite inside of a huge salon. the suite is calming with dim lights & a light aroma of her brown bottle blend. because the area is very small, there's really not any room for more than two people (so keep that in mind if you choose to go). we discussed my diet, skincare routine & my goals for a healthier lifestyle.

picture // laser machine & pads
i decided to get laser lipo treatment on my arms, because they have been a big problem area for me for as long as i can remember. you know how most people suck in their stomachs for pictures? well, i try to stand facing forward so you can't see how wide & big my arms are. no matter how many pictures i take, my arms are always the first body part i look at.

so for 4 weeks straight, i came in once a week for one hour. i layed down on the bed, she strapped my arms up & placed 2-3 lasers around each arm. the lasers heat up & tighten tissue to boost blood flow & break down cellulite & fat. the radio frequency energy heats the skin without damaging it, in order to break down fatty cells & stimulate collagen production, which improves skin tone & elasticity.

during my stay, i was able to sleep or be on my phone to pass the time. once i was done, she rubbed her brown bottle blend on both arms & massaged my arms for a couple of minutes.

once she finished massaging my arms, she measured them both on week two to see if i had lost any inches. as you can see below, week one went really well. for the first 72 hours after treatment, i couldn't have any sweets or alcohol. & i had to increase my water intake & exercise (especially in the arm area). i also took an epsom salt bath once week to detox.

-- week one -

left arm: 17.5 inches // right are: 15.5 inches

-- week two --

left arm: 15.5 inches // right arm: 14.5 inches

if you are interested & live in the atlanta area, please call for a consultation first. please tell veronika that you were referred by me. she loves hearing that her customers, not only love her work, but are referring others as well.

style // the holidays

2016-01-01T15:12:00.000-05:00

i know i have been absent, but after downloading windows 10, some of my apps are not compatible with the new system, which is crazy. SO, after i complete work for the week, i am going to uninstall it, so i can continue editing photos & videos.

for now, i wanted to share with you some of my holiday looks. the holidays called for lots of black, silver, gold & red bold lips for me. now that i don't work in the beauty & cosmetics industry anymore, i have minimized my use of make up. but, because i have tons of make up, i am forcing myself to use it all up. so, starting next year, you'll see make up and hair looks added to the blog!

i hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

what is the queen wearing?

life // goodbye twenty-five

2015-10-22T11:22:00.001-04:00

l o n g overdue post from my birthday this year.

hands down one of the most adventurous birthdays i have ever had.

a second post will be coming soon with a second vlog as well :)

happy birthday to me // ochos rios, jamaica // cayman island

a day at sea // grand cayman island // flower girl

late nights at sea // squad // my birthday dinner

i hope you enjoyed this snippet of the first couple of days of my trip.
stay turned.

life // chalktoberfest

2015-10-16T08:25:00.000-04:00

this past weekend, i spent some time with my best friend at chalktoberfest. surprisingly, it was a very warm day for october. we had ice cream and sushi, and spotted some friends throughout the day. we walked the entire marietta square, admiring all of the chalk work. never have i been to an event where chalk was the topic of discussion. there were so many awesome pieces. below are some of my faves.

hat, jeans & necklace: XX1 // top: target // satchel: old navy // boots: forever via ross

there will be a video posted this weekend. actually, multiple videos, including those from my birthday. so be sure to check out my channel and subscribe. i'm going to try to get back to making videos. i've had a few requests, which has boosted my confidence to start back!!

life // skydiving

2015-09-29T18:03:00.004-04:00

so for my best friend and my 26th birthday, we decided that we wanted to cross off another activity on our bucket list. she came up with the brilliant idea of skydiving! i had just got off a plane coming in from the caribbeans. i literally had no time to nap, eat or pretty much do anything besides throw on some old clothes & head to the country!

as far as the experience, it was amazing! i like how the facility documents your time there, from the moment you walk in until you land. the employees were friendly and made sure that we were safe the entire time.

my instructor didn't give me time to take a breath before jumping out the plane. we just jumped!! the air took my breath away for about 30 seconds, then i relaxed some. i couldn't really pose in the air like i wanted to because the wind was so intense. however, i did remember to smile, because if you don't, then you might not like what you look like in your photos later. i lost my earrings & my ears began to hurt like they always do when altitude drops. the sun was setting & it was peaceful, so peaceful that i got really quiet to take it all in & my instructor thought i fainted.

needless to say, i didn't. i just really wish my ears weren't hurting so i could really enjoy it to the fullest. when it was time to land, my stubby legs couldn't bend as much as my instructor wanted them to. i can't tell you how many times i had to practice in the air, cause the last thing i wanted was a bad landing.

overall, i enjoyed myself & want to thank my bff for coming up with this idea! i can't tell you all how blessed i am that i have been able to do so many amazing things for my birthday this year.

below is footage of my day skydiving. don't forget to like and subscribe to my channel. i'll be uploading more footage from my trip!

enjoy!

review // flat tummy tea

2015-06-30T14:10:00.002-04:00

i began my detox on 04/28. i thought it would be best if i began the tea after my period, since during that time of the month, my stomach is bloated to the point where it looks like i'm three months pregnant (no seriously, i look like i'm carrying a child...). as you can see the tea is loose leaf and it looks like they've updated their packaging (their tea use to come in clear ziplock bags).

activate tea:

speed your metabolism
reduce your bloating
suppress your appetite
charge your immune system
boost your energy

cleanse tea:

detoxify your system
reduce your bloating
decrease your water retention
cleanse your digestive system

the tea doesn't have a bad taste. surprisingly without sugar i can still stomach it down alone. the cleanse tea doesn't taste bad, but the smell i do not like. i purchased a "T" tea steeper a while back from tj maxx home goods, thinking back then i'd start drinking loose leaf tea. well, it wasn't until i got the flat tummy tea, that i actually began using it. i thought with it having super mini holes, none of the leaves would get in my cup, but as you can see below, that wasn't the case.

the tea isn't marketed as a weight loss tea, but a detox tea. so i wasn't expecting to loose a lot of weight.

-- week one --

for the first week, i had a cup of the activate tea every morning and had the cleanse tea every second night before bed. i worked out twice the first week and i tried to have more water than soda or juice.

side effects: i don't know if anyone else experienced this, but i had headaches every time after i had a cup of either tea. the first morning i tried the tea, when i got to work i had a really bad headache to the point where i almost had to leave work. initially, i thought the headaches were due to stress, since during the time i was detoxing, my best friend was also in ICU. but no, even when i was in a good mood and had the tea on a full stomach, i still had a headache right after finishing the tea. on 05/01, i made sure to pay close attention to if i had a headache or not and i did, both with the activate and cleanse tea. out of the two, i felt really bad at night as soon as i finished the cleanse tea.

i saw very little results as far as my stomach going down in size, but i will say i had more energy and my appetite seem suppressed.

-- week two --

for the first week, i had a cup of the activate tea every morning and had the cleanse tea every second night before bed. during the second week, i had the cleanse tea every third night before bed.

the second week didn't go so well, more so because i lost my best friend. so i had missed three mornings drinking the activate tea. since the cleanse tea i had switched to every three nights, i managed to keep up with those. due to me missing mornings, i knew i'd be on the detox for a third week. i will say that during the first two weeks i felt more energized and wanting to eat less. i still didn't see any changes in the "flatness" of my stomach.

side effects: this week, i definitely didn't experience any headaches, which proves to me that my body just had to get use to the tea initially.

overall, i didn't have any changes in the flatness of the stomach. i did however, feel less bloated. and my energy was through the roof! i didn't feel exhausted during the middle of my work shift, as i usually felt. and as i mentioned, the appetite was suppressed. some days i could go almost an entire day with just snacking, so i had to make sure i ate although i wasn't feeling hungry.

def try to get a good steeper, because those little leaves will eventually end up in your cup. it got to the point where i would pour the tea into the pot of water and let it steep on simmer (if that makes sense). then i'd place a paper towel over my cup so only water would go inside.

for a 2 week pack, it lasted me over two weeks (even with using the correct measurements). mine lasted me 3 weeks. i think if i would've really cracked down on my diet and worked out more than 2-3 times a week, i would've had better results in my stomach area. i looked at other people's reviews and it was 50/50. some of them had flatter stomachs, while others (like myself) didn't. for $32, i don't think i'll be repurchasing this anytime soon.

let me know your thoughts. have your tried the flat tummy tea? is it going well for you?

i wasn't able to find a link to the exact tea steeper i have, but you can check out miss little piggy, string and ball & strawberry for some affordable options. all available on amazon.

style // sandal collection // pastels

2015-06-20T14:55:00.000-04:00

finally, we are at the last collection for the spring!!

i can't tell you how much i have enjoyed sharing my new shoes & tips that i use every time i go shopping. i hope those of you who are friends with me on other social sites have been responded to by now. i know a lot of you on facebook had questions. if not, you can always refer back to my:

for this last collection, the theme is pastels. there's a black pair thrown in because i purchase them after the all black collection had been posted. surprisingly out of all of my shoes, you won't find many pastel colors. typically i play it safe with black, white & brown. i've also shied away from purchasing shoes with rhinestones. this year has been very different though.

just like previous posts, all shoes were purchased at ross.

good old ross. all of which were less than $17 a piece.

for this post, i want to touch on shoe care. i know in the previous post i mentioned the elmer's adhesive remover ($4). you pour the liquid on the sticker and let it absorb for about 30 seconds, then wipe the sticker off. i really dislike when stores place stickers on the shoes. like why not just put a tag on it, so buyers can just cut it off?

during the warm weather months, your feet may also sweat more than usual. then there are the times where you will be barefoot most of the day, & then place your dirty feet inside your shoes. i always suggest giving your sandals or flats a quick cleaning with lysol wipes. if you have enough time, then you can use warm water & antibacterial soap. this will not only keep you shoes clean and hygienic, but also smelling good.

& this is totally up to you, but i do not share shoes. you or someone else you know might have a fungus or infection. there are powders you can sprinkle into your shoes to help with odors, sweaty feet & fungus.there are also creams you can use to help with those issues as well. when cleaning your shoes always let them air dry.

once again, i hope you enjoyed this trilogy. if i can, i will do a youtube video featuring each pair, so you'll know the brand and specific price. also how they look on my feet for those of you have a foot fetish.

be on the look out for future shoe post! cause summer time is officially here.

DIY // declutter // hair & skincare

2015-06-10T13:33:00.000-04:00

i'm at a point in my life where material things are holding lesser value & priority in my life. lately, i have just wanted to get rid of so many things around my queendom, because i am feeling trapped. i've pretty much come to the reality that i do have a lot of stuff, whether i purchased it, received it due to blogging/vlogging, gifts or from previously working in the beauty industry. there is just so much going on within my home & it's way too much for it to just be all for one person.

for this blog post i want to share my hair & skincare stock. plus, tips on organization & how to declutter your space. to give a little background on how i accumulated these products:

10% - blog & youtube

15% - gifts from friends & family

35% - purchased on my own (discounted or clearance)

40% - came from working in the beauty industry (discounted or gratis)

& my collection didn't just come about in 2015, but i have been accumulating for a while (like 2-3 years). instead of using products up & not buying more to add to my collection, i would be using various products & still buying those that were on sale. empties videos on youtube inspired me last year to begin using the products that i have to not only review them, but declutter my space.

decluttering tips:

use what you have. do not over buy. when i was working for a beauty company, they would constantly give me products, but on top of that i was buying things too. i had to tell myself that it was unnecessary to spend my money when i was receiving items for free & in full sizes!
use one product per category at a time. one tip that has helped me get rid of products quickly, is finishing one product completely up, before opening up a similar product. it drives me crazy when i see someone with 5 shower gels open & none of them are no where near being finished. it's easier for me to just use the same shower gel until it's gone. trust me, this works.
one thing i have gotten better at doing is checking the expiration dates. if you haven't used a product 30 days from the purchase date, then maybe you need to return it. chances are you are already using a similar product & don't need the new one at this time. hair and skincare products tend to have a long shelf life, but i still suggest you use them before the 6 month mark.
the quickest way of decluttering is sharing. if you have double (or more) of a product, give it to someone else. even if it's a product you really love, you don't need a dozen of it.

organizing tips:

if possible, organize products by type, then by expiration date. this way you'll be more inclined to use products that will expire first.
if you have more than one of the same product & are using both of them, pour one into the other to add space.
if you have wire shelves & your products won't stay in place, you can purchase cubbies from your local dollar store.
if you have a linen closet, use this space as a way to store your products, if not you can always get plastic office cubbies on wheels by sterilite at target. i purchased a three shelf one for $11 and use it for all sorts of stuff in my bathroom.

* photos do not belong to me.

bloglovin'

2015-05-30T09:48:00.002-04:00

lately i have been on the hunt to find more blogs to follow that pertain to my interest. initially i would just google "fashion blogs or lifestyle blogs" and that lead me no where. then i began looking through the blogs i already follow to see if they had any sponsors or favorite blogs listed that i could check out. that also lead me no where. then, i decided to check out bloglovin', which lead me to a pot of gold. i have known about this site for a long time, i just have never cared about creating my own profile due to all of the social media sites i already have. it's just too much.

but, with me back in the blogging spirit, i figured i'd see what all the hype is about. the first day i followed all of the blogs i'm following on blogspot on bloglovin'. it appears that most of the bloggers i follow, no longer us "blogspot" as their domain, so i stopped getting their updated blog post months ago.

then i began searching for blogs and came across a lot that i am interested in, like: interior decorating, organizing and DIY. i even found out that my blog is on bloglovin' and that i have followers! so the next thing for me to do was to claim my blog. with that being said, i now have my bloglovin' icon under my blog introduction to your right.

feel free to follow me however you like, blogspot or on bloglovin'!

style // sandal collection // brownies

2015-05-27T14:55:00.000-04:00

welcome to part two of my spring/summer shoe trilogy.

my brownie collection is by far my favorite out of the three collections, because most of them are decked out with jewels. i typically don't like shoes with rhinestones, but these aren't that bad due to their size. my inspiration comes from instagram and other bloggers. a lot of ladies have jeweled sandals that cost $50 plus, and i am pretty sure that my shoes quality is very close if not better than the quality of the shoes they have purchased. with that being said, you don't have to pinch out pennies for shoes that you most likely can't afford and/or is not worth the dollar you're paying.

every last pair came from my local ross stores. each pair was under $17 dollars with the average original price being $33.

check out the gold chinese laundry double strap flatforms (1st pair to my right). this style of shoe is super trendy, and although i wasn't planning on buying them, once i tried them on in ross, i actually like the way they look on my feet.
the pair that i have on in the picture is also another popular shoe, which you can find the names of target, traffic and steve madden on the soles. i originally wanted to get them when they were on sale for $15 at target (original $25) but the zippers on all the pairs i tried on kept getting stuck. when i found them at ross, i didn't have that issue and purchased them for $12.
hands down, my favorite pair is the pair to my left by madeline stuart. they are so gorgeous, yet simple. comfortable too. kind of wish i purchased two, for when these get old, i'll still have a nice second pair waiting for me.

tip: always ask when your local store gets shipments, so you know when to show up. stores like ross and tj maxx only carry so many of the same item, and if you wear a popular size, you definitely want to be the first person there to snatch up your item.

tip two: if you really like something (and can afford it), purchase more than one. this is especially good on items that are marked down extremely low.

tip three: i understand that i have a lot of shoes, but understand that i donate/sell my old ones. don't feel bad about buying something new for yourself. i just suggest that you get rid of an item every time you make a purchase.

tip four: when it comes to my shoes, it's important that the inside is clean just like the outside. use a warm rag or even mix water and dish soap to remove dirt/oils. elmer's has an adhesive remover for the stores that like to place their sticker price tags in places that ruin the look of the shoe.

life // memories with kyra

2015-05-21T14:46:00.002-04:00

this is the speech i had written for my best friend's home going, who passed away on May 6, 2015.

"i stand before you all today to share a few memories that kyra & i shared."

the 1st time we met was in ms. gaylor's 4th grade class. i remember you were sitting in the back of the class when you asked ms. gaylor if i could sit by you. she replied saying, "no, because you two will get in trouble from talking too much." & although she tried her hardest to keep us away from each other, we still managed to form an ever lasting friendship.
remember all of those times we'd be on the phone & you'd tell me that your mom said it was okay to come over? & then when i'd show up with my bags, she'd look down & say, "uh. kyra, come here. who told you i said she could spend the night?" but still, your mom let me stay the entire weekend.
in 6th grade we met stephanie, our mutual best friend. who we spent more time passing notes too, instead of focusing on our course work. & the days in band, where once again, we continuously got yelled at for talking too much.
then there was that one time you called me after work to help you design your grandmother's obituary, & you had already been there for 5 hours working on it? little did i know that i'd be there with you an additional 12 hours. we kept giving the fedex people trouble & when they told us the total after being there for almost a full day, we still didn't have all the money we needed. but by the grace of God, we figured it out & was able to give ms. cassandra the best obituaries ever.
do you remember that time we thought kimora went missing, searched the entire apartment & complex, & then when the police came, they found her in your room laughing behind the curtains?
which reminds me. i'll miss having dinner with you two on tuesday evenings after her gymnastics practices at the marietta pizza company.
i'll never forget all the times we use to joke about your driving. how, kimora and I would hold hands and ask God to keep us safe because your driving was ridiculous.
or the day i graduated from my undergraduate studies & you drove all over the world because you forgot where the ceremony was. you made it as soon as i was heading out the door to my dinner...your lateness i will never forget.

we'd always joke that every time we got together, something crazy just had to happen.

& these memories only scratch the surface of everything we've been through.

throughout your entire stay in icu i kept praying to God that he keep you safe & bring you back home to us. i kept thinking to myself that i need my best friend to get better, to come back home & spend time with her family (especially her daughter). the day you called me telling me that you were scared to go under was the last day i actually got to see & hear you up & alert. i never got to tell you that i love you. & you never knew that i came to see you those few times during your stay.

when you passed, i asked God, "did i not pray enough? did i not say the right things during my prayer?" i just couldn't believe that you were really gone. then i realized that during the 16 years we have known each other, i am glad to say that we shared so much time together. because although many of us know so many people, how much time have we actually spent with them? & do we really know their true self? you & i knew each other inside & out. we were fam[ily]. you were more of a sister than my bff.

i'll always love you.

..may you rest in peace.

a special thank you to my friends, coworkers & various people who know how close kyra & i were.

i have shared so many stories about kyra prior to her passing, that i didn't realize how many people saw how special she was to me.

when she got sick, they asked about her status daily & even offered to help out anyway they could. thank you for your kind words, cards, flowers & emails. thank you for all the times you all told me to stop what i was doing & leave to go be with her. i will forever remember how generous & sympathetic everyone was during my time of grief.

thank you.

hair // purple flexi rod curls

2015-05-13T23:25:00.000-04:00

Step One // Roll Hair: i roll mine at night before bed and surprisingly i can still sleep in peace.

some people roll their hair while damp & sit under the dryer. that's fine too, but i don't have an in home dryer, so it's more convenient for me to sleep in them over night.

Step Two // Unravel Hair: in the opposite direction you rolled them in. do not just pull on the rods. take your time slowly unraveling your hair so the curl is still together & then you'll get something like...

Step Three // Separate Curls: finger comb through your hair until you get the desired look you're after. below you see in the back where i have began pulling the hair apart.

Step Four // Finish Her!! okay, that may have been a bit dramatic. i have to remember this is not mortal combat, but anyhow this is the finish product. you can walk out the house like this or you can finish with a holding spray & gel down those edges. this hair holds curl very well, so i don't have to add any product. i just laid my edges down (not pictured) with my carol's daughter edge control & lightly sprayed my hair with their shine mist as well (which i love to the GODS)!!

it's been quite sometime since i've done a hair post, and the only two that i have is based on senegalese twist. i recently purchased three body wave bundles from traces of fiji. the inital wave pattern i really do not care for, so i figured instead of styling my hair with hot tools everyday why not just use flexi rods. i have had the purple flexi rods forever, but because i never knew how to use them, they just collected dust in my closet. using the rods also helps my hair blend with the extensions.

on the third night wearing the extensions something out of no where just prompt me to use my flexi rods! magically, (& yes i do mean magically), i rolled my hair almost perfectly on the first try. woke up the next morning very impressed & my curls lasted for two days without any product on the hair. once i uploaded photos on my instagram, i got questions about how i achieved my curls. i figured, why not do a blog post on it?!

so, since the first couple of weeks rolling my hair with the purple rods, i decided i wanted a different size to mix in with the purple, so i purchased the gray ones (a size down).

hope you enjoyed this mini (or micro) tutorial :)

ps: first time ever uploading a picture completely make up free.