Beauty. Inside and Out.

2012-01-21T21:32:00.000-08:00

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!! R&B singer Aaliyah's birthday was the other day & I've been non stop listening to my fav tracks of hers on repeat. So in honor of her, I thought I'd share one of my favorite songs. Enjoy :) xo

RIP Aaliyah <33

Follow me on Instagram!

2012-01-12T11:21:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone! I'm now on Instagram..follow me @ nsav24 & I'll be sure to follow back <3 xo

2O12!

2012-01-03T18:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you all had fun ringing in 2012..I'm excited for a great year! :) I didn't take many pictures from my night but here are the few I did happen to take.. One of my New Year's resolutions is to start taking MORE pics to share..smh I'm soo horrible at that lol.

This year, I didn't plan my NYE night until last minute but I wanted to wear something VERY simple..I usually go for the sequin & glitter overdose hahaha. But I chose to stick w/ all black & a pop of color w/ my royal blue earrings. Did you ladies go all out for NYE..I'd love to know what you all rocked? :)

Here are some other pics from over the holidays..

xo, Natalie
follow me on Twitter! :)

Happy Holidays!!!

2011-12-21T17:30:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Wow, I can't believe how longgggggg it's been since my last post!! I need to start getting back on track on here :) Anyways, just wanted to wish everyone a very happy & safe holiday. & I will be blogging more afterwards & into the New Year (so be sure to check back). I can't believe it's going to be 2012 already!! Time Flies!! Anyways, lots love to all of you & your families :)

xoxo, Natalie

Guilt-Free Pasta

2011-11-17T09:33:00.000-08:00

Penne and Asparagus with Ricotta Cheese
1 box of ﬁber-enriched penne pasta (suggestion: Ronzoni Smart Taste Penne Rigate)
1 pound trimmed asparagus, cut into 2-inch diagonal pieces
2 teaspoons freshly minced garlic
1 cup low-fat ricotta cheese (suggestion: Precious)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup reduced-fat grated Parmesan cheese

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Crushed red pepper ﬂakes, to taste, optional

Directions:1. Cook the pasta according to package directions, omitting any oil or butter.

2. Two to four minutes before the pasta is done, add the asparagus to the water (two minutes for thin spears, four minutes for thick).

3. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water in a small bowl. Drain the pasta.

4. Meanwhile, add the garlic, ricotta, and olive oil to a large serving bowl. As soon as the pasta is
drained, mix in 1/3 cup of the reserved pasta water.

5. Immediately add the pasta and asparagus and gently toss until the pasta and asparagus are coated with the cheese mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Gently toss again.

6. If the mixture seems too dry, add more reserved pasta water, about 1/4 cup at a time, until no longer dry.

7. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the pasta. If desired, sprinkle with the red pepper ﬂakes. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings. Each (about 2-cup) serving has 318 cals, 15g protein, 60g carbohydrates, 7g fat, 2g saturated fat, 18mg cholesterol, 9g ﬁber, 183mg sodium.

Source: Food & Wine Magazine

Healthy Quick Tip of the Day: Olive Oil!

2011-11-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

Make the Switch: Use olive oil instead of butter! Dip your bread in it, use it to marinate your meat, & drizzle it over fish & veggies. This will add healthy fats and reduce saturated fat. :)

Top 10 Fav Beauty Products (at the moment)

2011-11-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

+++ Some of you ladies were asking what type of basic look I do when I go out & ^this^ would be it :) same with my hair! I'm going to do a post very soon listing my routine & all the products I use while getting ready! (PS - please excuse my silly "kissy" face..smh lol)

Top 10 Beauty Products (at the moment):

1. Avalon Organics Vitamin C Soothing Lip Balm - This is probably my favorite chapstick/balm I've used in a long time! It really helps keep my lips smooth especially with the cold weather coming plus it smells & taste like oranges! It's made with super antioxidants Vitamins C & E plus organic Coconut, Jojoba & Apricot kernel oils & nutrient-rich Aloe.

2. Victoria's Secret Sweet Tease Fragrance Mist - this product is from the VS Summer Beauty Rush collection so I'm not sure if it's still available. But this stuff smells SO amazing!! I love using this fragrance right after I get out of the shower..to me, it smells lke a mix of vanilla & sweet candy! YUM!

3. Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 (in tan) - I swear by this stuff!! When I'm in a rush or don't feel like putting on foundation I just reach for this tinted moisturizer & I'm good to go!

4. Jemma Kidd Show Stopper Water-Resistant Bronzer - BOMB bronzer right here lol! I'm obsessed with this stuff. I'm pretty sure it only comes in 1 or 2 shades but this one is perfect for my darker complexion. It comes in a hugee compact which I love, making it easy to swirl your brush in real quick & your done.

5. CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer - (I use shade 210) This concealer is awesome! It's a mix of undereye brightner + concealer. I love it for the fact that it's so creamy & doesn't leave any streaks or cracks under my eyes at all.

6. Lorac Little Black Palette - Let me just tell you, these colors are GORGEOUS! They're individual baked shadows consistenting of golds, bronze, & brown. Perfect for girls who love neutral colors, like myself :) The color pay off is amazing. Probably one of my fav palettes I've ever used!

7. No 7 Natural Blush in 12-Coral Flush - This blush would probably look great on any skintone! I love using coral colors instead of the everyday pinks & whatnot. This blush is hypo-allergenic so great for sensitive skin. It has just the right of sparkle to it & is gorgeous in the sunlight! Love! :)

8. Lorac Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight - This powder highlights your face beautifully!!! It's soo velvety & I feel like it really helps evenout my skintone as well. I use it over my cheekbones & for my browbone highlight too!

9. CoverGirl Line Exact Eyeliner - This liner makes creating a cat eye or winged eye look soo easy! It dries really fast but at the same time easy to fix mistakes! Def my fav liner at the moment :)

10. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Berry Haute (660) - I saved the best for last lol! I'm soo happy I discovered this color! It's honestly the perfect Fall shade. A mix of warm pink & purple..it's great for day to night looks. & I have found myself reaching for this lipstick almost everyday lol! I highly recommend this shade if you are wanting to try out something new but not too too drastic!

Cassie for Idol Magazine Fall/Winter 2011

2011-11-14T18:35:00.000-08:00

Love how edgy this shoot is! Cassie looks sick & gorggg as usual!

Rihanna’s London Tube Yigal Azrouel Navajo Cowl Neck Cropped Turtleneck

2011-11-07T19:02:00.000-08:00

Instantly fell in love with this sweater Rihanna has been seen rocking! ($580 Yigal Azrouel Navajo Cowl Neck Cropped Turtleneck) Definitely a SPLURGE..soo I've been on the hunt to find something similar.

The knit top has two side slit pockets and a draped removable collar.

So cute!!! What do you guys think of this piece? Have you seen anything similar around?

One Love.

2011-11-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a HUGE Trey Songz fan. He's an incredible performer (especially live) with an amazinggg voice!!! & with his new albums Lemme Hold Dat Beat 2 & Anticipation II (highly recommend checking out both but Anticipation II is my fav so far) recently released...I have been listening to anything & everything Trey :) lol. Just thought I'd share a throwback song from his previous album 'Ready' that is honestly so meaningful to me. It's called "One Love" & def one of the best ballads he's done so far. Love it <3

Happy November

2011-11-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

Wow! I honestly can't believe it's November already. & you have no idea how EXCITED I am for the Holidays :) my favvv time of the year. I love everything about Christmas..from the music/movies, all the yummy food, to the warm comfy feeling of a fireplace w/ the one you love. I definitely get into the spirit lol :) !

That being said I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!! I ended up being a (sexy) Nerd..hehehe. Which was a ton of fun & I admit I was a little TOO comfortable dressed as a nerd ;P lol. Here a few pics of my costume I put together myself:

xo, Natalie

New Video: Beyonce - Party ft. J. Cole

2011-10-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

Loving this song & the video is HOT too :)

"Top down, with the radio on..& the night belongs to us."

Jimmy Choo Luisa Aviator Sunglasses

2011-10-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

Hello, Gorgeous!!!

I instantly fell in LOVE with these beautiful shades! Available in matte black, matte white, glistening gold, & metallic silver, the Jimmy Choo Luisa Aviator Sunglasses, retailing for $365, come in an elegant faux crocodile case featuring an envelope-like top flap & a gold-toned, oval metal closure.

Look out for the Luisa shades to hit Jimmy Choo boutiques & Solstice Sunglasses stores in December.

Nicki Minaj Teams UpWith OPI!

2011-10-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

"It’s Mac,

OPI, and a fragrance too
Apparel, I’m dominating every avenue..."

Nicki Minaj is known for her unique, crazy style.. with bold, bright, eye popping colors. So when I heard that she was coming out with her own line of polishes by OPI..I was soo excited to say the least! Nicki will debut the six-shade collection in Spring 2012 which takes inspiration from her recent string of best-selling hits.

I'm definitely planning on picking up each color! I'm loving all of the shades this collection offers :) What do you girls think? Do you plan on purchasing any of Nicki's OPI Collection?

October Lusts...

2011-10-19T20:38:00.001-07:00

Just a few things I've had my eye on this month...

Celebrity Style: Cassie Ventura

2011-10-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my girl, Cassie Ventura attended the CULO by Mazzucco Book & Art Exhibition Launch. Cassie kept it sexy-chic in a coral blazer over a revealing mesh bustier top, black pants & pumps. I love how she added a pop of color with that fab blazer!

Her makeup always looks so flawless! & she always rocks a beautiful glow.

What do you think of her look? Would this be something you'd rock?

New Music!

2011-10-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

Bruno Mars - It Will Rain
This track is such a heart felt love song & the words are so deep! Bruno Mars' voice is amazing..I love it <3

Drake ft. Nicki Minaj - Make Me Proud
2 of my fav artists of all time! I'm def feeling this song & the beat is sick! I'm really anticipating Drake's new upcoming album as well :)

Have a lovely weekend!!!
xo,Natalie

Ladies..I have exciting news! :)

2011-10-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

After getting so many responses asking what type of nail polish can be used to achieve that "matte black" look in my previous ***post (which was an inspiration photo I found on http://www.weheartit.com ) I went on a whim & went to my local Meijer to see what I could find. & right there in the Essie Collection section I saw Essie's Matte About You - mattifying top coat. I needed a new black polish so I decided to pick up CND's Black Jack #538. I've never used any of CND's polishes so I'm excited to try it out :)

***(here's the inspiration photo from my post)

I'm even more excited to try out this look! Unfortunately, I just got a manicure the other day..but I will be trying this look out myself very soon!! I tested the black polish & mattifyer on a fake nail & it looks fabulous just like the pic in my previous post! Hope this helped you girls if you were looking to give this a try :)

xo,Natalie

Healthy Fall Recipe: Spaghetti Squash!

2011-10-12T22:24:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti squash is one of my all time favorite vegetables to cook with! It's a pure vegetable, not processed or refined & it serves just like a pasta, making it delicious with your favorite healthy sauce, seasoned vegetables, &/or protein. & it's so simple to prepare!

Ingredients:

1 whole spaghetti squash
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (optional)

Steps:

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Rinse or wipe & then dry the exterior of the squash.
Use a fork to punch holes in the squash, scattered over the surface.
Place the whole squash in a shallow baking dish, such as a large glass casserole.
Bake it for 1 hour.
Remove it from the oven & let it sit for about 5-10 minutes to cool a bit.
Cut the squash in half. Use a large metal spoon to scoop the seed area out of each half.
Sprinkle sea salt to each half. (optional)
Use a fork to gently scrape the flesh of the squash; it will come off easily in thin spaghetti-like strips.
Serve with your favorite flavorful sauce, vegetables, &/or protein. (I sometimes like to use just a little bit of olive oil to coat the "noodles" & a small amount of fresh parmesan cheese with garlic...yum!)

Enjoy!

What are some of your favorite Fall healthy recipes?!

matte black

2011-10-12T21:42:00.000-07:00

I'm absolutely loving this matte black nail look..so simple but edgy at the same time!

What do you girls think? Does anyone know of a good polish to achieve this finish??

Current Obsession: L'Oreal Color Riche Le Gloss Collection!

2011-10-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

My current obsession right now is L'Oreal's Color Riche Le Gloss lip glosses! Literally B0MB <3 I can't say enough good things about this product. They are soo creamy, have a great touch of color, & smell + taste like cake batter..YUM! They contain Omega 3 & conditioning Vitamin E to really keep your lips moisturized. This by far is now my favorite drugstore brand of gloss :) & at less than $8 each, it's a steal!

They come in these various shades:

Naturally Nude
Baby Blossom - *fav*
Nude Touch - *fav*
Raspberry Splash
Watermelon Crush - *fav*
Saucy Mauve
Really Rose
Red Ravishing
Peach Fuzz
Golden Splash
Violet Attitude - *fav*
Mystic Mauve
Blushing Berry
Plum Rush
Nude Illusion
Chocolate Obsession

Have any of you tried this L'Oreal product yet? Or what are some of your other fav drugstore brand glosses??

Ombre Lips

2011-10-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

Whether it be in fashion, hair color, or nail art...OMBRE is EVERYWHERE. & it's now making its way into makeup! The newest trend hitting the streets is the "ombre lip". It actually creates a 3D effect & can help lips look fuller.

Find two contrasting lip colors that are in the same hue family, such as:

Red & Pink
Red & Orange
Orange & Pink
Purple & Pink
Purple & Red
Wine & Red
Burgundy & Red

Fill in your entire lip with the darker shade. FYI, this is not the 90′s look of a dark lip liner. You must fill in the entire lip. Matte finishes work best, so try a matte lipstick or a lipliner. As with any time you use a matte finish, make sure your lips are in the best condition possible & not chapped or scaly by using a lip scrub such as Lush's Mint Julips I mentioned here.

Then add the pop of color in the center of the lip with the lighter shade. You can use a lip brush or your finger. A matte finish in the lighter shade looks gorgeous, but you absolutely can use a shimmer or slightly metallic finish (this actually will add even more dimension & make your lips look even fuller).

As always, when doing a statement & bold lip, keep the rest of your makeup minimal..especially your eye makeup. A nicely lined eye plus a few coats of mascara is perfect for this look!

Here are a few pics of the trend:

Will you be rocking this new trend this fall??

Music Spotlight: Melanie Fiona - 4am

2011-10-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

Really feeling Melanie Fiona's new hit & music video "4am". She's such a talented, not to mention beautiful singer! Take a look at the video & lemme know what you think :)

Get the Look: Fur Vests!

2011-10-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've really been loving the fur vest trend for this Fall! They're a perfect transitional piece for the colder seasons. Plus, there are soo many ways to rock them! I love how they give off an edgy "rocker" vibe to any outfit...while still keeping it chic!

Whether it be real/faux, splurge/steal...here are some hot picks for Fall 2011:

fur vest

What are your feelings toward this trend? I'm a fan! :)

Happy October :)

2011-10-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's already October! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. So, with Halloween approaching I'm on the hunt for cute costumes! It's probably one of my favorite holidays :) I admit I do like to dress sexy (not too crazy scandalous tho) for Halloween lol..I mean, it's the ONE day a year where us girls get a chance to do so! So, why not have fun with it?! I know some girls aren't into that, which is perfectly fine.. but that's just me. A lot of these costumes are played out though! Ex: sexy nurse, cop, teacher, referee etc. etc.! Anyways...I wanted to ask everyone for some new cute costume ideas or maybe even links to some good sites to check out! Whether it be a costume you can make on your own or buy.. Let me know :) Even if you'd just like to share what you are planning on being/doing this Halloween, I'd love to hear from you guys.

Also! I do have a boyfriend & we usually like to coordinate our costumes :)

xo, Natalie
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