Happy New Year's! (OOTD)

Blazer, Tank: Kohl's / Skirt, Clutch: Asos / Shoes: Jessica Simpson / Tights: Apt 9 (Kohl's) / Necklace: Melody Ehsani / Earrings: Avon

quick party snap! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!

I hope you all had as much fun on New Year's Eve as I did. My fiance' and I attended a big 50 Shades of Grey themed party at a hotel. I'm really happy about the way my outfit came together because up until Sunday, I had no idea what top I would wear. I ordered the skirt from Asos during their Cyber Monday sale and then went back and ordered a blouse the week before Christmas, but my package never came so I was left shopping at the last minute trying to scramble and put together an outfit. I found this Candies tuxedo blazer and Jennifer Lopez metallic tank at Kohl's and it matched perfectly with my skirt. I completed my outfit with my Melody Ehsani necklace and a pair of polka dot tights just for fun.

I"m also happy because this was my first NYE wearing my hair in a natural style. I did a wet flat twist-out with Ecostyler olive oil gel and sat under the dryer for about 20 minutes to let my hair partially dry. Afterwards I put perm rods on the ends and let it completely dry overnight.

Influenster Holiday Voxbox 2012

I received my Holiday Voxbox from Influenster right after Christmas. Take a look at what was inside:

Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal (Not pictured): I received a cup of the cherry pistachio + flavor. I ended up taking it to work to eat for breakfast before even thinking about snapping a picture of it. I'm not an oatmeal eater--I tried it once as a child and didn't like it--but I really enjoyed this oatmeal because it had real cherry chunks and  pieces of nuts (pistachios and almonds) which added texture and flavor. It was tasty and super easy to make (I added water and put it in the microwave but you could just add hot water to make it without the microwave).

EBOOST Natural Energy Effervescent Powder: I tend to steer clear of energy products so I will give this product to a friend to try and report back with their results.

Sole Society $25 Coupon: This coupon made me happy! I've been a member of Sole Society for months but had not made a purchase yet. They have a huge selection of trendy styles and have a number of shoes and boots made of genuine leather and suede at a reasonable price point. I used my coupon to make my first order and my shoes are on the way! If you are not a member, sign up here. Oh and FYI, they have a winter BOGO free sale going on right now!

Goody Quikstyle Paddle Brush: This brush features microfiber bristles that are supposed to help dry your hair while styling. Since I've been natural, I have retired my brushes in favor or finger detangling and wide tooth combs. With that being said, I can't give a full review of this brush but  I did use it briefly to smooth my freshly washed hair up into a ponytail/puff.  I touched the microfiber bristles afterwards and could feel that they were wet, but because I only used the brush on the perimeter of my head I can't say that it removed a great amount of water from my hair. For natural beauties, I would recommend just using a microfiber towel (or a turbie twist) to remove excess water from your hair before styling instead of taking the risk of brushing wet hair to accomplish the same goal.

NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshine in "Nude York City": I actually already own this gloss and it is one of my everyday go to lip glosses that I keep in my purse. It's a basic pink-ish nude shade that is cheap, works well with my skin tone, and doesn't dry my lips out.

Kiss Nail Dress Nail Strips in BabyDoll:  I love the design of these strips, and they come in over 20 different shades some of which (including the ones I rece'ved) include jewels in the design. I applied these last night, and will post pics and a full review after a couple of days! Here's a sneak peek:

*Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary via Influenster. The opinions expressed in this post are my own, and are in no way influenced by Influenster or the brands mentioned.

OOTD: Statement Tee

Tee: Etsy / Bodycon Dress (worn as skirt): Asos / Boots: SM New York (similar) / Coat: Old Navy / Hat: Target (old) 

This T-shirt is so perfect! When I found it on Etsy I hit "Add to cart" without a second thought or a glance at the price. With the shirt making such a (true) statement, I chose to keep the rest of the look simple for this casual look.

Another Reason To Love Elle Varner...

source

We all know that singer Elle Varner is ridiculously talented, creative, gorgeous, and has an enviable mane of perfectly imperfect curls (that she apparently inherited from her father). But is Elle Varner also a bargain shopper?

Ladi Look Back: Year End Review

2012 is soon coming to an end. 2012 was a little rocky, but I can honestly say that I have grown so much as an blogger, aspiring fashionista, and overall as a person.  I have already coined 2013 as the Year of NO Excuses so the seeds I planted in 2012 will blossom in 2013 as I work harder, take risks, and open my life to possibility and change.

My style has definitely improved this year, largely due to me stepping out of my comfort zone and becoming more accepting of my body. Joining the Big Fat Summer Challenge was one of the best decisions I've ever made style wise, and a close second would be planning my look by season (helps soo much with shopping!). 2013 I will continue refine my style and take a few fashion risks (like print mixing, wearing bold accessories, and adding more body con skirts/dresses).  Below are some of my favorite looks of 2012:  

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In the beginning of 2012, I set a hair goal to grow and retain 4 inches. I spent a few months wearing protective styles like sew-ins, buns, and wigs (even made my own!). I perfected my twist-out technique, tried to  improve my wash-n-gos, and tested new products to help with growth. I can't do an official length check yet because I'm still wearing a sew-in, but I'm sure that I've achieved some good growth this year! Hoping for Bra Strap Length (or at least fully covering my tattoo) in 2013!  Check out a few of my favorite hair moments from the past year:

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Thank you all for reading my little blog and sharing in my journey this past year! I appreciate you all, and hope you all are riding with me for another year!