JC Penney Jewelry Haul

I scored a few items from JC Penney's after Christmas sale.  I've had my eye on jewelry from the MNG by Mango, but it had been out of my price range until now.  If only the clothes would go on clearance...sigh.  Anywhere, here are the items I picked up:

New Year's Eve Looks

New Year's Eve is the biggest night of the year for me. It's the one night of the year where I know that I'm going to go out, have a good time, and look as fly as possible lol.  My NYE plans have been finalized, so now it's time to plan my outfit! I've come up with 3 looks based on dresses that I already have in my closet.


Option 1:

Platforms at Neiman Marcus
Bracelets by Bebe

Pigment & Lipstick: Hautelook Haul

Have you heard of HauteLook, aka my new best friend? HauteLook is a website that hosts sale events by top brands in apparel, beauty, and home, and even offers travel deals.  I've seen deals discounted anywhere from 30-75% off of retail price, but most of the beauty products have been at least 50% off.  In the past few weeks, they have featured events by Urban Decay, Stila,  Luminess Air Beauty, Too Faced Beauty, and NYX Cosmetics.  Here are a few items I scooped up:

Urban Decay Original Primer Potion

 

Urban Decay Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizer

Stila Prime Color Set

Stila One Step Make-Up Foundation

Stila Pro Artist Palette

Crown Brush 10 Matte & Shimmer Blush Palette

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas! Hope your day is filled with family, food, fellowship, and joy!

A Ladi's Tresses: Today's Hair

For this style I just pulled my hair back into a banana clip.  To achieve this texture on the ends, I slept with my hair in about 8 twists (no rollers on the ends) and tucked the twists under a bonnet. In the morning, I just took aloose each twist with a little oil on my hands, and fluffed to create more volume.

Act Like A Ladi...Dress Like A Diva: Military Inspired

Act Like A Ladi...Dress Like A Diva is a series showcasing my outfit of the day (OOTD).


I found this cute military style jacket at JCPenney. I love the color, the military inspired details, and it can be worn 3 different ways (open like shown, as a double breasted jacket, and completely buttoned up like a straight jacket).   Best of all, between a coupon and the jacket being on clearance, I scored it for only $13!

Jacket: JCPenney / Shirt: Target / Jeans: Old Navy / Boots: Seychelles (purchased from Endless.com) / Jewelry:  Body Shop (earrings, ring seen here)


With my hair, I just took aloose my mini-twists (that I had in for a week), created two flat twists in the front and secured them with hair pins. 

Holiday Hair Gift Sets

This weekend I was doing a little shopping in Target and--like always--I stopped by the hair care aisle to see what products were on sale.  To my surprise, I came across these little gems:

SheaMoisture, my favorite hair care line has hair kits! I love SheaMoisture because the line features all-natural, quality ingredients and the products are affordable (most full size products are $9.99).   For $19.99, each kit comes with 4oz sizes of the brand's most popular products.

The Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Kit comes with the Curl & Shine Shampoo, Curl & Style Milk, Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Hold & Shine Moisture Mist to moisturize and style textured hair.

The Raw Shea Butter & Argan Oil Repair and Transition Hair Kit includes the Raw Shea Moisture Retention Shampoo, Restorative Conditioner, Deep Treatment Masque and Reconstructive Elixir to restore and strengthen damaged hair.

Either of these kits would be perfect gift for a healthy hair enthusiast, or someone transitioning from relaxed to natural.  Actually, one may end up on my own Christmas list ;)

Pigment & Lipstick: Weekend Green FOTD

Hey guys,  I just wanted to do a quick FOTD post focusing on my makeup from this past weekend.

Items used:

 Maybelline New York Stylish Smokes eyeshadow quad in Emerald Smokes.

Wet n Wild Eye Expressions creme eyeshadow and facial illuminator in Avant-Garde.  I just used the facial illuminator on my cheeks.

CoverGirl Wetslick Amazemint lipgloss in Freedom of Peach.

I used the same foundation (L'Oreal True Match) and  primer (E.L.F eyeshadow primer) mentioned in my last make-up post.

Here is the final result:

Act Like A Ladi...Dress Like A Diva: Weekend Green

Act Like A Ladi...Dress Like A Diva is a series showcasing my outfit of the day (OOTD).

Sweater & Jeans: Old Navy / Boots: Madden Girl (purchased from DSW) / Jewelry: Kohl's  (earrings); New York and Company (bracelet); Body Shop (ring, seen here)

Lately I've been in love with asymmetrical hem sweaters.  This one is cropped in the front and long in the back, and is oh so comfortable. I paired it with some casual brown booties for a day of shopping and a lot of walking.  

I decided to style my hair in two-strand twists to give myself a break from daily styling.  I'm planning to do protective/low-manipulation styles until the end of the year when I will straighten my hair for New Year's Eve festivities.

Pigment & Lipstick: The 5 Minute Face

For as long as I can remember, I've been a fan of TLC's What Not To Wear.  Although I love Stacy London's sass and Clinton Kelly's wit, my favorite person on the show was the make-up artist Carmindy.  Besides having a fabulous name, Carmindy had such a positive energy, looked flawless, and made makeup appear simple, as if anyone could do it.  Her signature is the "5 Minute Face," a quick, beautiful every day look that even the laziest and most sleep deprived ladies could find the time to create.

Now, in my quest to be more Ladi Like, I want to start wearing makeup more regularly, and there's no better way to do it than to create my own 5 Minute Face!

Here are some pics of my first attempt:

• I applied my foundation (L'Oreal True Match in Caramel Beige/Warm 7) mixed with moisturizer.
• Applied E.L.F eye shadow primer on my lids.
• Used a pale, beige shade from the Coastal Scents 88 Original Palette along my brow bone, and swiped a shimmery brown color from the same palette across my eyelid.  
• Applied some black eyeliner.
• Used the E.L.F Wet Gloss Lash And Brow Clear Mascara wand on my eyebrows and eyelashes.  
• Last but not least, a swipe of clear lip gloss.

I didn't time myself, but it didn't feel like it took much time to put this look together. I'm going to play around with some different shades in the palette and tinted lip gloss and keep trying!

Fall Wish List: Sweaters & Tights

I've talked about footwear and outerwear, so now it's time to move on to the outfit.  There is nothing more classic than the sweater dress and tights combo, but the look has gotten an upgrade from when you used to wear it as a little girl ;)   Bold colors, patterns, cutouts, and accessories take a simple sweater dress from cute to smokin' hot.  Check out these styles on my wishlist:

Day Dresses by Gianni Bini
Black Dresses by Calvin Klein

I love the variety of patterns and colors that are now available for tights.  These styles below can instantly inject some fun into your look:

More Asos...

Have you ventured out and bought a pair of wild, printed tights? Let me know in the comments!

Do You Have A Signature Style?

What defines your style?  Is there a signature style element that you find yourself drawn to, or a particular item in your closet that you find yourself always working into your outfit?

We can learn a lot from celebrities about the importance of a signature style.  To be famous, stars must have a style that is unique to them, making them instantly recognizable and looking effortlessly put together. 

Take  Janelle Monae for example.  When I  think about her, the image that pops into my mind is that of a perfectly tailored tuxedo and a fierce natural pompadour. 

Nicki Minaj is another example; no matter how crazy her look gets, most of the time she still rocks her signature hair (i.e. a blunt bang).

Finally, the queen herself Beyoncé  is no stranger to a red lip. She rocks it often, and she wears it well!

One of my goals for 2012 is to develop my signature hairstyle.  I want it to be quick, easy to achieve on a daily basis, and can work for all occasions from the office to happy hour.

Do you have a signature style? Share in the comments what makes up your signature look!