Beauty on a Budget

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For the last few months I have really been into trying some budget friendly products. Through Instagram I have seen a lot of bloggers talking about products from Trader Joe’s that are extremely budget friendly, but also amazing. Basically I’m looking for the most bang for my buck.

 

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I will start by talking about the Shea Butter and Coconut Oil Hair Mask. I heard about this product through Stylin by Aylin. She is always raving about this product so I had to try it. I will say I am not someone to go on and on about a product unless I really like it, but this product I haven’t stopped talking about. The smell alone makes it worth buying. Imagine the most amazing coconut tanning oil scent… that’s what it smells like. The first time I used it I was blown away. I have pretty wavy hair that gets very big and dried out looking when I blow-dry it. The first time I used this hair mask I was in shock. My hair was softer and the texture was different than it normally is. After I blow-dried it, it was much straighter than usual. It was a very pleasant surprise.

Now I use it a couple times a week. I especially like using it after I have a day at the beach.

My rating: ★★★★★

Price: $3.99

 

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Next up is the Shea Butter and Coconut Oil Hair Serum. After I had bought the Hair Mask, I had come across the serum on another trip to Trader Joe’s. I thought, hmm this is worth a try, even if it’s just for the smell. 

I really like this product. My hair frizzes very easily when it’s humid. Recently, I was in the Keys with my family and the nights were humid. After showering and getting ready to go out to dinner, the last thing I want is for my hair to poof up. This was the first time I had tried this product and I was very happy with the results. It’s a lightweight product so my hair didn’t feel greasy or heavy. It just smelt great and frizz was not a problem. Also, it does add a very nice shine.

 

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A very humid night, but no frizz!

My rating: ★★★★

Price: $3.99

 

 

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The next product worth mentioning is the Moisturizing Face Lotion with SPF 15. Normally I buy the Neutrogena Face Lotion with SPF 15, but the price point was so good, I figured it was definitely worth a try.

There isn’t much of a difference between the two brands in my opinion. The Trader Joe’s brand is slightly thicker, but it is not heavy at all. I like that it has an SPF and my skin has been feeling extra soft since using it. In fact, I have both brands and I have been consistently using the Trader Joe’s brand.

My rating: ★★★★

Price: $3.99

 

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Ok, so this product I came across randomly during a Google search for something unrelated. I came across an article that says its basically a dupe of La Mer. Being skin-obsessed, I recognized the brand La Mer right away. I have read about it in articles and how celebrities such as Beyonce, Blake Lively, Kim Kardashian, and Chrissy Teigen are said to be obsessed with it. So of course when I saw this I was immediately intrigued that I could possibly have a similar product for a fraction of the cost.

Long story short, I really like this product. I have never used La Mer, so I have nothing to actually compare it to, but the consistency is different from anything I have ever used, so I liked that. Also, it is very moisturizing. I put it all over my face and neck before I go to bed and sometimes I mix it into my moisturizer during the day.

My husband likes it because it is not greasy feeling and absorbs quickly. He likes it over face oils.

I have been happy with the way my skin looks when I wake up since I have been using it. It looks brighter and healthier than I remember.

My rating: ★★★★

Price: $8.99

 

All of these products are worth trying, and for the price, you don’t have to feel guilty about buying them.

 

Does anyone have any beauty products from Trader Joe’s that are worth sharing?  ♥︎

 

 

 

 

Go-to Summer Sandals

In my opinion, a shoe can either make or break your look. You can be wearing the most well put together outfit, but if the shoe is lacking, your look can be a wash.

This summer I have been wearing the Cariana Jelly Sandals by Nine West. They have decorative pearls and studs that have been really adding an extra little something to my outfits.

I recently wore them with a denim dress and gold jewelry. Everything was pulled together nicely. Best of all, they are extremely lightweight and comfortable.

What sandals are your go-to this summer? Let me know in the comments! ♥︎

Get Your Best Look Based on Your Zodiac

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It seems like I’m constantly googling things based on my zodiac: which sign my BFF should be, what color scheme I should choose when decorating, and of course what style clothing suits me.

With that being said, I decided to put a guide together that showcases a few stand out items that go with each zodiacs personal style. Let me know what you think!

Aries

Loves bold pops of color.

Product image Express Olivia Culpo High Waisted Stripe Track Pant, $79.90

Maize Clean Pencil Skirt Suit  Express High Waisted Clean Front Pencil Skirt, $59.90

Wilinda Burgundy Felt Hat LuLu’s Wilinda Burgundy Felt Hat, $24

ColourPop WHAT IF Crème Lux Lipstick, $7.00

Taurus

Enjoys fabrics that scream luxury, especially in earth tones.

Product image Express Choker Neck Gramercy Tee– Olive Green, $39.90

Image 2 of LINEN JOGGING PANTS from Zara Zara LINEN JOGGING PANTS, $22.99

product Banana Republic Reversible Rectangular Scarf, $68.00

 Francesca’s Millie Tassel Earrings in Taupe, $24.00

Gemini

A lover of fun patterns and classic styles.

Floral-Print Full Midi Skirt White House Black Market Floral-Print Full Midi Skirt, $49.99

 Unique Vintage Off White Button Up Cap Sleeve Blouse, $48.00

power stretch seamed compression leggings Calvin Klein Power Stretch Seamed Compression Leggings, $59.50

5-pack Rings - Gold-colored - Ladies | H&M US 1  H&M 5-pack Rings, $14.99

Cancer

Appreciates a vintage look and classic pieces.

Day of Delight Olive Green Long Sleeve Suede Dress LuLu’s Day Of Delight Olive Green Long Sleeve Suede Dress, $58

Image of MICHAEL Michael Kors Rollins Small Snake Embossed Leather Satchel Nordstrom Rack MICHAEL Michael Kors Rollins Small Snake Embossed Leather Satchel, $131.20

Romwe Rope Print Satin Bandana, $3.59

 Pandora Vintage Allure Ring, $100

Leo

It’s all about vibrant colors that draw attention!

 Express Olivia Culpo Surplice Sequin Dress, $138

 Express Oversized Tailored Knit Blazer, $88

Maxx Pointy Toe Pump, Alternate, color, CANARY SUEDE Nordstrom Charles by Charles David Maxx Pointy Toe Pump, $99.95

 Francesca’s Sybil Crystal Ear Crawlers, $16

Virgo

Romantic Virgo loves a traditional classic look.

 ASOS Pinny Extreme Tulle Mesh Midi Dress, $36

IVRose Denim Frayed Hem Long Sleeve Shirt Dress - Green, Size M  IVROSE Denim Frayed Hem Long Sleeve Shirt Dress, $30.40

mid rise gray stretch jean leggings Express Mid Rise Gray Stretch Jean Leggings, $50.99

 Francesca’s Kathleen Stone Drop Earrings, $24

Libra

Flowy fabrics with a touch of show-stopper.

Pleated Skirt - Dark blue/floral - Ladies | H&M US 1 H&M Pleated Skirt, $29.99

Product image Express Cropped Double Breasted Boyfriend Blazer, $98

Express High Waisted Sash Waist Ankle Pant, $69.90

Babealert D Nine West Babealert D’Orsay Flats, $89

CHAIN EARRINGS Zara Chain Earrings, $19.90

Scorpio

Scorpio is the epitome of edgy!

high waisted dressy (minus the) leather leggings Express High Waisted Dressy Faux Leather Leggings, $40.99

Knit Sweater - Red - Ladies | H&M US 1 H&M Knit Sweater, $12.99

Greenwald black by Aldo Shoes - Main ALDO Greenwald, $55

BaubleBar Black/Gold Lydia Velvet Choker BaubleBar Lydia Velvet Choker, $16

Sagittarius

Lover of travel with a touch of funk!

CROPPED PLAID PANTS Zara Cropped Plaid Pants, $29.90

Women's L.L.Bean Hi-Pile Fleece Vest Gray Large | L.L.Bean L.L. Bean Hi-Pile Fleece Vest, $59

Image 4 of LEOPARD PRINT HAT from Zara Zara Leopard Print Hat, $39.90

 Stari Lane World Map Airplane Travel Bracelet Set, $16.99

Capricorn

Capricorn keeps it classy and traditional.

Silk Tie-Neck Blouse White House Black Market Silk Tie-Neck Blouse, $39.99

 Charlotte Russe Scalloped Bib Neck Skater Dress, $25

Image 6 of LINEN PANTS WITH BELT from Zara Zara Linen Pants with Belt, $15.99

Coach Coach Swagger 20 in Pebble Leather Coach Swagger 20 In Pebble Leather, $175

Aquarius

Eco-Friendly Aquarius keeps it stylish while doing their part to help the environment.

Dress with Lace - Black - Ladies | H&M US 2 H&M Conscious Dress with Lace, $54.99

Image 1 of MULTICOLORED EMBROIDERED KNIT SWEATER from Zara  Zara Multicolored Embroidered Knit Sweater, $69.90

 Toms Navy Denim Women’s Cabrillo Sneakers, $74.95

color splash seaglass lipstick Tarte color splash seagrass lipstick, $21

Pisces

Whimsical Pisces knows how to pick the right pieces to stand out.

 Top Shop Metallic Pleat Midi Skirt, $95

Maliyah Forest Green Long Sleeve Midi Skater Dress LuLu’s Maliyah Long Sleeve Midi Skater Dress, $57

 Badgley Mischka Pascale T-Strap Evening Shoe, $145

Image of Samuel B Jewelry Sterling Silver Twisted 3mm White Pearl Bangle Bracelet Nordstrom Rack Samuel B Jewelry Bangle Bracelet, $69.97

 

 

Which Zodiac sign are you? Would you wear any of the items I have chosen for your sign? Let me know! ❤

The Ever So Feminine Plunging Chiffon Gown

I should start by saying I didn’t watch the Critics Choice Awards this year, but I had to look into the best looks of the night. There were a lot that left me saying, “I want that,” but my favorite look of the night was from Poppy Delevingne with her plunging cream chiffon pleated gown. It was such a simple look, but so feminine and beautiful.

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Her look definitely inspired me for the next time I have a special event to go to. Paired with some sparkly dangle earrings, it makes for the perfect stand-out look. Below I have listed a few dresses I found searching the web if you want to achieve a similar look without breaking the bank.

#1 LuLu’s DO RE MI BLUSH PINK LACE BACKLESS MAXI DRESS, $100

Do Re Mi Blush Pink Lace Backless Maxi Dress

I love the color blush! It gives the perfect amount of color without going overboard. I feel it works best with nude heels, gold or rose gold jewelry, and a cream colored jacket if its worn in cold weather.

 

#2 Nordstrom Rack dee elly Plunging Maxi Dress, $49.97

 

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This is another beautiful blush colored chiffon gown, however this one is a little more simple without the lace on top and it has a more plunging neckline. I would suggest the same color scheme as stated for the gown above.

 

#3 LuLu’s HEAVENLY HUES MAXI DRESS, $84

Heavenly Hues Dusty Purple Maxi Dress

Here is another gown from LuLu’s! They have a great selection of dresses to choose from and this one is perfect if you’re trying to achieve the Grecian Goddess look. The best part is that this dress comes in 14 colors, so you can really make it your own since you have so many color choices.

 

A few choices for a sparkly touch…

baguette stone oval drop earrings  Express Baguette Stone Oval Drop Earrings, $34.90

 

Tanitha Filigree Crystal Teardrop Earrings Francesca’s Tanitha Filigree Crystal Teardrop Earrings, $16

 

Linear Drop Earrings,                         Main,                         color, ANTIQUE GOLD/ CRYSTALNordstrom STELLA + RUBY Linear Drop Earrings, $48

 

Surviving a Crappy Haircut

You can imagine the horror I felt on December 29, 2018 when I eagerly chose a brand new salon to get my 2019 New Year, New Me haircut, only to leave there feeling like my hair resembled what I will refer to as, “The Rachel.” You know, the hair she sported in the intro of Friends, super choppy and only appropriate in the 90’s. And if it couldn’t get any worse, the one inch I asked to be trimmed turned into at least four.

Needless to say, this is NOT what I wanted for the start of my new year. After spending a couple days crying and making this seem like the biggest problem ever, I decided that I would just have to be patient and let it grow out. In the meantime, here are some ways I am dealing with the haircut from hell.

 

Hair, Skin & Nails Supplements

I have taken Hair, Skin & Nails supplements in the past (I like the gummies) and they seem to do the trick. In fact, I have noticed when I get manicures that if I am taking Hair, Skin & Nails at the same time, my nails grow so fast that it kind of defeats the purpose of the manicure because they tend to look grown out too quickly.

There are a bunch of brands to choose from and you can either opt for the gummies or a caplet.

 

Own It!!

After a few days of doing nothing but stressing over my hair, I just simply felt…tired. I was tired of talking about it. Tired of feeling the need to explain to everyone I came in contact with that I got a bad haircut because I was afraid they would judge me and think I actually wanted it to look like this. So, I decided to own it! This didn’t really make me like it any better, but I am stuck with it for now, so the change in mind set helps. If you received a bad haircut, try something new that can change it up a bit. I recently took a curing iron to it, which only made it shorter, but helped give it an edgier, trendy look. The curls helps to mask its pitiful shape.

 

Glam it up!

This is the time to accessorize. Own a cute hat? Wear it! Have some cute clips you don’t usually wear? Now is the time to get creative! I have recently been taking the giant chuck of short hair that falls on the right side of my face and clipping it back with bobby pins. It helps keep everything in one spot, pushed back where no one can see its unattractiveness. But an even better way to do this is to use clips that add a bit of glam to your look, make it have some purpose. I personally love these Sincerely Jules by Scunci clips.  You can check out the whole collection available at Target here.

 

Statement Earrings

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Another way of removing your hair as the main focus is to try to draw attention away from it with an eye-catching pair of statement earrings. The bigger the better! Sizable, decorative, elaborate earrings are the perfect distraction from a not so lovely cut.

 

Eat Better

In an attempt to do whatever I can to help my hair grow quicker I googled foods that help accelerate hair growth and this is what I found according to Healthline.com:

  • Eggs
  • Berries
  • Spinach
  • Fatty Fish
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Avocados
  • Nuts
  • Seeds
  • Sweet Peppers
  • Oysters
  • Shrimp
  • Beans
  • Soybeans
  • Meat

As you can imagine, I have been added many of these to my diet lately!

 

Avoid Heat Styling

I am the last person to say “don’t blow dry or straighten your hair.” In fact most of the time I do these two things everyday on top of washing my very greasy hair daily. It is simply the only way to keep my hair looking decent. I have a frizzy, wavy texture to my hair, except for the nape of my head where it tends to be softer yet has tight curls. These two things don’t work together so blow drying and straightening are my only hope.

However, in this current hair debacle I’m dealing with, I have tried to skip days washing, blow drying, and straightening by using a dry shampoo added to my routine to absorb some oils early on. I use it on the off day as well to help keep the oil in control. This makes it easier for me to skip days exposing my hair to heat so it stays healthier and can grow quickly.

 

Don’t Go Back

Make up you’re mind right now (if you haven’t already) to not revisit or give a second chance to the person who has you walking around in misery. If the inconvenience of your bad haircut has you telling everyone you know or writing blog posts about it, you shouldn’t go back to “try again.” After all, you are paying for a service and you should be happy with the results. You are essentially stuck with the end product so make sure you find someone who will take the time and listen to what you want.

In my situation, part of what bothered me the most was that I showed her a bunch of pictures that were blunt cut, long bobs. This is not close to what I got. In fact, short with lots of random layers is the exact opposite. Don’t say you know what I want and then deflect to a style you are comfortable cutting that nowhere near resembles what I asked for (ok, I’m getting worked up).

 

I hope some of these tips helped. As a woman I fully know that one bad haircut can completely throw off your confidence. So much so that I will not be posting any pics of said haircut.