Shopping Haul: $5 Tops

After blogging about the new changes to JC Penney, I had to go check them out firsthand! When I stepped into the store, I could instantly tell a difference. The layout appeared much cleaner, brighter, and more open. I noticed several signs advertising Best Priced items with many boasting prices of $5 or $8 and up, so I quickly made a beeline for those racks.  I was able to find 4 tops that I loved and fit me perfectly. The best part is that they were only 5 bucks a pop! Here's what I got:

The Blueprint: Solange Knowles

The Blueprint is a series highlighting celebrities who epitomize the word style.  Each look is a lesson in fabulous...watch and learn! 

Solange Knowles...singer turned actress, deejay, and spokesperson has recently added model to her resume. She has been known for her eclectic style, fashion risk-taking, and fab natural hair.  Here are some of my favorite looks:

Glam

Colors & Prints

Act Like A Ladi...Dress Like A Diva: Workin' Girl

Today's outfit is a look I put together for work.  My office is pretty casual, I can wear jeans everyday but sometimes I want to jazz it up a little bit.  With my hair pulled back this week, I felt like being a little sophisticated so I pulled out the blazer and some trouser style jeans. 

2012 Goals: January Update

Develop healthier eating habits 

I tracked calories everyday this month using the Myfitness pal app.  My daily calorie limit was 1340 net calories (I got extra calories on the days I exercised). I was able to keep my net calorie count below the limit until the 29th when I let a cupcake and some goldfish crackers get the best of me :(

Limit restaurant meals to 4x/month or less 
I went out to a restaurant once every weekend this month, but each time I researched healthy menu items beforehand to make sure I didn't go over my calorie limit. I cooked dinner at home more, prepared more salads, and snacked on fresh fruit.  I cut out sodas for the most part...there was one occasion where I had to have one so I just pulled out a 1oz shot and had a shot of Coke ;)

Work out 3x/wk

I'm proud to say met this goal this month! I exercised for 30 minutes for 12 sessions this month, and got in a couple of extra mini-workouts.

Develop my health/wellness “glam squad” (family dr, dentist, poss dermatologist and masseuse)
Haven't made any progress with this one.

Retain hair growth (4+ inches).

I wore my hair in some sort of bun or pinned-up style for most of the month.  I only wore it down in twist/braid outs on Saturdays and I had about 2 days during the month where I wore a wash-n-go. On Sundays, I hid my hair under a satin bonnet and a hat. I've  been moisturizing (and even made my own moisture spritz!) and sealing nightly, and made sure to cover my hair in a satin scarf or bonnet every night.

Limit use of pain medicine to 4x/mo

I failed on this one during a week where I had headaches almost daily, probably due to a combination of poor sleep habits, tying my scarf too tight, and being out in the cold air. I did experiment with using peppermint oil and massage to relieve headaches. 

A Ladi's Tresses: Protective Styling

As you know from my 2012 goals post, I want to grow my hair and retain length this year. One of the things that I'm doing to meet this goal is to incorporate more protective styles into my hair regimen. My main focus is on protecting the ends of my hair to prevent split ends, but this is not my only requirement for a protective style.  I need a style that is easy to do, doesn't require a lot of time or maintenance, and is a style that I can still feel pretty while rocking it.

Here is my first attempt at a protective style:

This style is simple, quick (2min or less each morning), and would look good either dressed up or with a casual look.  With my next style, I will put my creativity to the test to come with something cute...or at least scour the internet for a style that I can re-create ;) I'll be sure to share!