Dress Like it’s your Birthday…Everyday
When I think of birthdays, I envision multi-colored confetti sprinkled all over a room, so why not feature that kind of inspiration in your wardrobe. There should always be at least one item in your closet that screams, “Party over here!”. Add at least one glittery, muti-cored staple piece to your collection, and Happy Birthday!
Iron Fist Twinkle Toes Platform Shoes - Multi-Colored Sequin, $50
Rare Multi Sequin Mini Skirt, $70.08Iron Fist Twinkle Toes Platform Shoes - Multi-Colored Sequin, $50
Sterling Silver Multi Color Necklace/Earring Set, $22.99
White Strapless Confetti Dress, $110
Thanksgiving inspired beauty products to try
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I can’t help but to begin fantasizing about all the yummy foods that will be laid before me. During Thanksgiving dinner, I skip the main course and go straight to the goodies: the side dishes and dessert…yum! Here are some beauty products inspired by Thanksgiving side dishes and desserts, you might want to try…just be sure not to add them onto your plate 
Sides
Cranberry Sauce – What’s a Thanksgiving meal without cranberry sauce? Sweet and salty cranberry jelly is the perfect accompaniment to turkey, and now, your hands. I adore this mini Winter Cranberry hand sanitizer from Bath & Body Works.
Winter Cranberry Anti-Bacterial PocketBac® Sanitizing Hand Gel -$1.50
Sweet potatoes – I love the taste of creamy, nutmeg-seasoned sweet potatoes. In my house, sweet potatoes aren’t complete unless they are topped with soft, chunky marshmallows. Just the thought of it, is making my mouth water, which is why I love the idea of a sweet potato flavored lip balm.
Sweet Potato - Lip Balm - $3.25
Dessert
Pumpkin Pie – Perhaps the food that is most synonymous with Thanksgiving, other than turkey, is pumpkin pie. No Thanksgiving meal wouldn’t be complete without the spice-infused dessert, and now you can take a shower with it…well, not an actual pie, but when you’re lathering on this Spiced Pumpkin Bath & Shower Gel from The Body Shop, you will swear a pie is baking in your oven.
Spiced Pumpkin Bath & Shower Gel - $5.99
Pecan Pie – Nothing beats the smell of pecans smothered in a sweet butter sauce and baked to perfection, so why wouldn’t you want to rub that decadence onto your body? These pecan pie sugar scrubs are infused with maple syrup, and can be used as a skin exfoliator, or as a 1 minute facial.
Sugar Cube Scrubs, Pecan Pie with Maple Syrup - $6
Jewelry fit for a Princess
You don’t have to be Kate Middleton to wear jewelry that makes you feel like a princess. Show off your exquisite taste for the finer things in life by wearing gems that dazzle, and are so extravagant that even Elizabeth Taylor would envy your charms. Just don’t go too overboard; you want to feel like a princess, without the princess budget. Here are some budge-friendly stunning jewelry, sure to make you feel regal.
- Oval Blue Topaz and Diamond Accent Frame Earrings in 10K Gold, $126.65
- Created Ruby & Diamond 10K Yellow Gold Heart Key Pendant W/ Chain, $139.00
- Michael Valitutti Two-tone London Blue Topaz and Sapphire Ring, $169.99
- Sterling Silver / 24K Vermeil Peridot-Color / Royal Blue Quartz Doublet & White Topaz Pendant- $95.40
- Lauren by Ralph Lauren Necklace, Gold Tone Green Stone Pendant, $44.00
- Lafonn Canary Yellow Pendant Necklace, $120.00
- Gold over Silver Onyx, Red Garnet, and Diamond Accent Ring, $86.99
Beauty Secrets from my mom: #1 Cocoa butter
image from blackskinlightening.com
Since I was a little girl, I’ve always watched my mom massage Palmer’s Cocoa Butter all over her body, including her face. She takes a small washcloth, dips it into the butter in circular motions, and briskly applies it to her skin. She is approaching 60 now, without one wrinkle in sight on her perfectly soft, youthful-looking skin. When she wasn’t looking, I would stick my little finger into the jar and bore a hole through the butter, because I liked the way the smooth texture felt against my skin. To this day, she still inquires about the mysterious hole that used to show up in her cocoa butter years ago.
Just the other day, as I thought about writing about the benefits of cocoa butter, I decided to sneak into her room and bore a hole through her butter the way I did when I was a kid for, um, research purposes. Do you see the trouble you all make me get into? The soft, creamy, lightly-scented cocoa butter brought back memories of my childhood, and I walked out of her room with supple, silky hands.
Cocoa butter is the natural vegetable fat that is extracted from the residue of fermented cocoa beans, the fruit of Cacao Trees which is located mostly in tropical jungles, and is traditionally used to make chocolate products. It has a soft, chocolate aroma, and has been used in skin care for years.
Nothing beats the moisturizing properties of cocoa butter, which melts as soon as it makes skin contact and is absorbed very quickly. It creates a second skin for your body, since a thin layer of oil is left behind, acting as a barrier between skin and the environment, making it the perfect choice for people who suffer from dry skin condition such as eczema and dermatitis. It can also be applied to burned skin to soothe irritation, and the appearance of scars. It is also acclaimed for its ability to prevent and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. The butter is also known for its ant-aging properties, so I think my mom has the right idea, applying it onto her face every night. Like I said, the woman has absolutely no wrinkles. Here are my favorite Cocoa butter products you may want to give a try:
1. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Original Solid Formula - My mom uses this every day to keep her skin moisturized. It’s also great to use for stretch marks, burns, and to reduce the appearance of dark spots.
2. Dove® Nourishing Care Shea Butter Beauty Bar – I suffer with eczema, especially during the cold winter months. This soap leaves my skin silky smooth, and keeps skin flare-ups at bay.
3. Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Stick – I always have a small stick of coca butter in my bag at all times. It comes in handy to treat dry skin, tame unruly flyaways, and condition cuticles.
4. Cococare Lip Balm Cocoa Butter – Keeps lips soft, supple and protected with this lip balm.
Lands’ End Spring/Summer 2012 Preview
Yesterday I traveled to Paris, was whisked away to California, then stumbled upon a vineyard wedding, and finally relaxed on the beach. Sound like a dream? Well, not quite. This was the set up at the Lands’ End clothing line Spring/Summer 2012 press preview event that I attended yesterday evening. The clothing retailer took attendees on a journey across the country, with intricate table stagings and the fashions to match each destination. The sailor preppy vibe was predominant in this collection for both men and women, with a majority of the clothing, from shorts to dresses, featuring deep navy blues, pin stripes and ship anchors. Soft, lightweight fabrics in the collection contrasted with the thick knit crewneck sweaters I encountered on my journey through the different settings.
Lands’ End was a brand I used to shy away from, but items from the retailer are slowly starting to make their way into my closet, as lately my fashion sense has desired to develop a more sophisticated aesthetic, so I was excited to have the opportunity to preview the upcoming fashions. All of the pieces are great for layering, and offer a more updated and chic version of the iconic preppy style the retail chain is known for.
How To Wear Gold
One of the biggest trends for the fall season is metallic colors that sparkle. While metallic shades of red, blue and green are beautiful, the look of gold will always be dazzling to and beloved by most, if not all fashionistas. While few people can get away with wearing head to toe gold, everyone can show off this glam color and make it their own. Here are a few tips on how you can wear gold and look brilliant in it.
Chain It Up
Thick gold chains were all over the runways this fall. You can wear one that’s fitted and close to your neck or opt for a longer chain that you can wrap to create a layered look.
Get Smokin
Create a beautiful smokey eye makeup look for a night out on the town. Gold eye shadow will look great with any eye and hair color as well as any skin tone. However make sure to try out a few different shades to find the one that best highlights your eyes.
Mix Textures
Mix and match different textures to create a whole lot of eye candy. If you’re wearing a simple black dress try a hammered bracelet to give it dimension. If you’re holding a reptile clutch you may prefer a chunky smooth gold bangle.
Get Rich
While pastel colors look pretty, when accessorized with gold dark colors they look stunning because of the contrast between shiny and dark. Some great fall colors that you can try out with gold are orange, brown, navy and black. This fall, purple and hot pink are worth giving a shot as well.
Brush Up
Jane Iredale Sunbeam Bronzer
Bring out your inner goddess by applying some bronzer to your face. This will give you a pretty glow and bring out the best of your features.
Get Moving
Wearing gold shoes will add a lot of personality to even the simplest of ensembles. Whether you’re wearing a comfy flat sandles, ballet slippers, wedges or strappy stilettos, you can’t go wrong.
Age isn’t a factor that you have to worry about when it comes to wearing gold. It looks great on everyone- all you have to do is put it to work.
This post was written by Aleya who works with Amara Gold where you can find fashion gold jewelry that is eco-friendly and will stand the test of time.
Celebrity Shoes…and where you can get them
So I’ve done a post like this before, and it’s one of my favorite types of articles to write AND to read. Because celebrities are thought of as having access to exclusive fashion goods, I love investigating what they are wearing, and where you can go to get the same exact thing. That’s right! Keep reading to learn how you can walk in the same shoes as Hillary Duff, Fergie, and Selena Gomez.
When out to lunch with her mother and hubby Mike Comrie in Beverly Hills, CA, Hillary Duff chose to wear leather buckled 4 inch heeled boots by Vivienne Westwood. You can buy the same except boot at Zapoos Couture for $399.99.
Hillary Duff wears Vivienne Westwood Skyscraper Seditionary - $399.99
Back in July Selena Gomez wore head-turning studded taupe suede ankle booties while promoting her film “Monte Carlo.” You can buy the same shoes at My Wardrobe.com for $354.75.
Selena Gomez wears Sam Edelman Putty Renzo Suede Ankle Boot Stud Heel - $354.75
Leopard print is so in this season that not even trendsetter Fergie could resist adding the animal-print to one of the booties in her footwear line. She wore her leopard print Women’s Gatsby Too Oxford bootie at Nordstrom to debut the Fergie Footwear Fall 2011 Collection in Los Angeles, California last month. You can get them at Nordstrom for $139.95.
Fergie Women's Gatsby Too Oxford - $139.95
