OOTD's

Here are just a few Outfit of the Days that I've been meaning to upload. I've been pretty busy, but I'm still here!

So I'm definitely a leggings kinda girl. If you wanna see more OOTD's and details on them, let me know.
Until next time Diva's!

Curly Hair Adventures

So as you all know I go back and forth between wearing my hair curly and straight. Usually during the winter I keep my hair straight. That has worked best for me in the past, but this winter the weather has been extremely bi-polar. Earlier this week it was 70 degrees. That's normal in SoCal but in the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia) not so much! I decided that I was going to wear my hair curly after another heatwave passed a few weeks ago. As I was deciding I came across a dilemma, I am pretty lost on how to style my hair when its curly. I usually just bun it or braid it out. As I was thinking about this when I was in Chelsi-World, my friend showed me a picture of this girl with the most amazing curly fro and I was just in love with her hair! Normally, I would stay away from big hair because yes, sometimes I care what others think. But at this point I am 1.) Tired of my straight hair and 2.) At a place in my life where I'm finding myself and I don't give a care what ANYONE thinks of me. So the research began the next day and I came across lots of YouTube videos that were actually very helpful. One stood out to me, because her texture is fairly close to mine and she got straight to the point in all of her videos. She also has a great mixture of shea butter and coconut oil that works miracles on my dry hair (mainly my ends.)  Also, her braiding out technique gives her the curly fro that I so desperately tried to stay away from and that I so desperately want now. MissAriella89 's videos have been a hair life saver!

Of course there was some trial and error that I had to do in order for the style to adapt to my hair, because everyone's hair is different even if it is the same texture. The first day was kind of just a wild and free kind of look. The second and third was just, for lack of a better phrase "a hot ass mess." The fourth day still wasn't what I desired but still cute. And finally the fifth day (today) I'm pretty much there. Either I make the braids too big or too small; I can't seem to get the sizing right. Tonight I plan on trying twisting rather than braiding. Its all in experimenting and eventually I will get the desired affect. I cannot wait until I achieve exactly what I want and I will certainly post about it as soon as I do.

Day 1 and Day 5. Tank Dress: F21, Denim Jacket: WetSeal, Infinity Scarf: H&M

I should have a collective haul coming up, because I have been shopping my booty off these past few days. So look for that in the next few days!
Take care Divas!

MIA + New Stuff

I can't believe that I haven't updated this blog in over two months! This time I actually have a legitimate reason for doing so, and that is because I have been in school. It takes up a lot more time than I thought it would. Since I've managed to find some free time, I'll squeeze in a little post.

I haven't really been keeping up with any beauty trends, but since I am studying fashion; I've been keeping up with EVERY fashion trend possible. Although, I haven't had the time or the money to buy anything sadly I have no recent hauls or reviews. :(

I do have a secret though, a secret that only my fellow bloggers will know about. After the Thanksgiving break, I will be doing a photo shoot! The only other people that know about it, is the people participating. I was actually supposed to do it last month, but things got really hectic. Obviously, its going to be a fashion photo shoot. It is basically telling a story about redefining the standards of beauty; something that I have always been about. I'm extremely excited about it and I know that I may have to delay it because of time and working around other people's schedules. So the current set date is December 7. I hope my followers are looking forward to it!

Curly Hair Routine + Hair Update

As you all know, I've been wearing my hair curly as opposed to straightening it every time I wash it. Just a little background about my hair: I've been natural for about seven years now and only shampoo when I need to and before I do a semi permanent dye. So maybe 4 to 7 shampoos a year.

For the majority of my high school career I would straighten my hair every two sometimes three weeks. Four years of straightening does some damage on your hair, if you care about that sort of thing. So the right thing to do for me was to just screw so called "beauty" and train my hair back to health. 

My routine:

 1. Co-Wash with Infusium 23 conditioner, Aveda wheat conditioner, or Mane and Tail conditioner.

2. Coat hair in Kinky Kurly Knot Today Leave-in and Olive Oil

3. Detangle and bun hair until 80% dry

4. Lightly mist hair with spray bottle filled with water

5. Apply Cantu Curling Cream and Jamaican Locking Wax to hair

6. Divide hair however you want and braid hair making sure hair is a little over damp.

7. Put sponge rollers on ends of hair if you have heat damage.

8. Sleep and Wait until morning. 

9. Hair may still be damp, but that's okay. Separate sections and style braid out how you want.

And that's what I've been doing for the last few weeks when I don't wear my hair straight. I only straighten for special occasions and I usually bun on the second or third day.

When my hair begins to feel dry, i add castor oil to my scalp and olive oil to actual hair. 

I have to say I am loving my hair curly. I used to despise my curls, well I still don't like my NATURAL curls but manipulation works for me. My hair is starting to retain moisture again as well as length. It's back to its healthy state minus the heat damage. 

Ive also been putting a semi permanent dye over my natural color. Just a jet black color to make it look shiny. My natural color is really plain and boring looking, but with the black I feel like I look much better and brighter. My hair is almost shoulder length with the braid out and past shoulder length when straight. I should have done this much sooner and I feel bad for having neglected my hair. But now my hair has thanked me by growing thicker and longer these past few months. Finally!

 

Mini H&M Haul

I went to the mall yesterday in hopes of stopping by H&M and picking up a few what I like to call "samples." Something I've done since the end of my junior year of high school. I go to whichever store and pick up 3-10 staple items for the upcoming season. I didn't realize that I did this until last year. The "samples" usually end up being the main thing I wear for the rest of the season or I build upon those staple items and expand my seasonal wardrobe. With all that said here are my three "samples" for the fall.

Sweaters are a big must for the cooler weather. They can be layered underneath for the colder days or worn with shorts/skirts on the warmer fall days.

$14.95

Hi low hem shirts have been in season for awhile now. The possibilities are pretty endless for what you could pair this with. Although I wouldn't go with leggings or an a-line skirt.

$9.95

Always have an accessory that can tie a whole outfit up together. Ombré has also been in season lately. Since its white to black you could pair this with any solid color and probably pull off wearing this with patterns.

$4.95

Hope you enjoyed my samples for this fall! I'm going to be putting my Curly Hair regimen and a hair update next post!

Fashion, Makeup & Accessories Haul

I actually didn't think I would be posting today, but I promised a friend that I would. Yesterday, I went pre-birthday shopping with some friends and today I went again with my mom. Yes I'm still getting bday presents as an adult, hey nobody has stopped me yet! I actually got quite a few things considering it isn't my birthday just yet. Here is my Haul!

Floating Lotus $19.50

So my first gift is from MAC and its a Cremesheen Glass called Floating Lotus. The lady at the counter said that it was the new season of Cremesheens and that it will be a permanent part of their collection. That is a good thing, because every lipgloss from MAC that I really like always gets discontinued or is limited edition.

Plaid Bralette $12.80

This gift is from Forever 21 and its a bralette or a cropped bustier top. I actually don't have one of these and I have wanted one for awhile. I really don't know what I'm going to wear it with yet, but I was thinking maybe a white button down shirt or even a white sheer top.

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque $15

This isn't really a gift, but it is is something that I have wanted to try for a long long time. My mom and I share hair products so this is also hers. I have heard many good reviews on this product and I've need a masque/deep conditioner for awhile. They did have a bigger jar, but I wanted to sample it first.

Gold Deposit $29

Back to MAC, I have wanted to use this highlighter and/or bronzer for REALLY long time. I never did, because I thought drugstore brands were just as good; boy was I wrong. I know it actually is a bronzer, but in the store I put it on as a highlighter and actually liked it better. I'll probably use it as a highlighter in the winter and a bronzer in the spring/summer. It is extremely pigmented and it doesn't smell like fish. The bronzer that looks exactly like this from Coastal Scents smells like fish, I have no idea why and that is why I'm glad i got this one.

Earrings $8

Next stop was the store I Am that sells the cutest accessories for a pretty good price. I bought these to match my dress for when I go out for my birthday on Friday and Saturday. I will post an OOTN and FOTN also.

Scarf $5.99

Since I've been wearing my hair curly lately, but have also been swimming and going the beach its probably a good idea that I wear something to protect my hair right? Well not only that, but tying your hair up is a cute hairstyle. I guess that's another post that I have to attend to huh?

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation $42

Pretty much the second I got an email from Sephora about this foundation I wanted it immediately. It is expensive but anything Illamasqua is worth it. I mean just trying it on my inner wrist felt nice. Its matte and will probably end up being my HG of foundations! When it was on my wrist, it didn't feel sticky or slide around like MUFE HD Foundation does. I have a gut feeling I will like this foundation.

Wispy & Flutter $8 each

Eyelashes are a must for this weekend! Point blank. I take my birthday pretty seriously, well I take everyone's birthday pretty seriously actually.

Sheer Top $29.50

Last gift was this sheer top from Garage. I can't wait to wear this out!! I love sheer tops and this one I feel can be worn with pretty much anything since its a solid color. Depending on my plans this weekend I might actually wear this.

At the Coffee Shop

So this is my Face of the Day. You can't really see my eyes that well but my face for once has a dewy finish. I used my usual UD Face Primer, Nars Tinted Moisturizer, and I changed my powder to L'oreal True Blend pressed powder. On my eyes I have a matte brown and matte gold and coastal scents eyeliner. This is the look I've been doing for the last few weeks.

That is all hope you enjoyed my haul.

Update

So again it's been months since I've posted. Its been pretty busy still. I decided to apply for school and I've been fairly busy with the applications and transcripts and so on. I went through the same process as I had to when I applied for college in high school. Usually transfer students have it a little bit easier so I thought. I did get accepted, so I am pretty excited about that. I will be a college student at The Art Institute for Fashion and Retail Management. I'm really excited because they don't focus on general ed classes. I actually get to jump into my major right away, which to me makes a whole lot more sense than traditional colleges.

Other than school, I created a polyvore account to put together outfits; kind of like a stylist would. I don't have many outfits yet but as I log on more and become more committed to it, I will eventually have tons of outfits.

My username on polyvore is skinnycurves, so if you have one too then go follow me please! I also have a Youtube account, I only have a couple of videos because I honestly don't know what to talk about! I have to get used to talking to a camera as if I'm talking to an audience. For now I might just have slideshows of some of the outfits I wear when I do get creative.My YouTube account name is also skinnycurves so feel free to subscribe if you'd like. 

That's really all for now. I'll try to post more often but that is not a promise.

http://www.polyvore.com/birthday_outfit/set?id=55595722
Check out my latest polyvore creation.