Five Friday Favorites

August 21, 2015

Ahh, finally it's Friday. I'll be spending my weekend catching up on lots of work and prepping for my vacation. There's also a 5K, a few home improvement jobs, and lots of blog shoots - so basically no sleep. Since I'm running on no sleep I wanted to share a few things from this month that have been keeping me sane.

1. Thin Tea Detox
Anyone else been seeing all sorts of teas & tea detoxes pop in and out of your feed for the past summer. I'm no stranger to juice cleanses so I immediately said yes to Thin Tea when they offered to let me try their 28 Day Detox. Curiosity got the best of me but I'm glad I said yes. They have a free eating plan listed on their site to go along with the detox which is bookmark worthy - it's robust and filled with helpful information. After my first initial week of tea-toxing I feel less bloated and more energetic throughout the day. Drinking tea twice a day has also helped me increase my water intake.

2. Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Shampoo + Conditioner
I'm a huge fan of Carol's Daughter and regularly stop by their booth in the Atlantic Terminal Mall to pick up a few hair musts (usually conditioner). I tried a few other collections but never their Black Vanilla one so I gave it a go this month. The scent is fabulous, not too heavy, and the frizz control and moisture prolong my curls. So instead of washing my hair every other day I can go two days without a wash (or massive tangle problem). There's nothing to hate so make sure to add this to your shopping list.

3. Devachan Salon & Spa
How weird that I would list two brands known for their curly hair expertise back to back right? Well, the truth is that I love the DevaCurl line just as much as I love Carol's Daughter but the price points for products are a bit easier on my wallet. I go through conditioners biweekly if not weekly and for some reason I go through DevaCurl conditioners even faster. So I rather save on the products and splurge on the haircut - which Devachan does a fantastic job at! I always feel leaving like a million bucks and each cut is customized to your curl structure. No hack jobs here! If you're in the city I highly recommend it and bring pictures when you go too.

4. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
My co-worker recommended this book and you guys... IT'S REALLY GOOD. It took me a little bit to get into the story at the beginning only because I've been so overwhelmed with work - BUT, it's really good. Add this to your reading list and prepare for the movie which is coming out next year!

5. Frank Original Coffee Body Scrub
I've been a fan of this body scrub for a few years now. I especially love using it during my morning shower - the smell just wakes me up. Besides being filled with natural good-for-you ingredients it also targets and smoothes out cellulite, stretch marks, eczema, and psoriasis. Since last year they've expanded to include a few face products along with body lotion and body balm which I plan to try out soon!

What are you guys loving or hating this month? Let me know in the comments down below!

Five Friday Favorites

July 10, 2015

This month I found happiness in the beauty aisle (and Amazon) and it was glorious.

1. Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Avocado + Quinoa Co-Wash
This new-to-me brand consists of naturally derived ingredients and does an impressive job at keeping my curls hydrated and clean. Not to mention a little bit goes a very long way. I tend to go through bottles very quickly and so far this one has lasted through the month. I will admit that it's probably best to not use this on your scalp - better to aim on the midway on the hair-shaft and down. I did and it left me feeling a little too hydrated on top but then again it's the most gentle co-wash I tried ever.

2. Probelle TouchnGrow Plus Nail Hardener
I've been going through some nail drama lately - they feel brittle and tend to crack, especially my thumbs and forefingers (social media probs). Let me just say that if you feel something is abnormal about your nails do not google it. Actually, do yourself a favor and never google anything that relate to abnormalities or illness - you'll drown yourself in paranoia. ANYWAYS, I did a little research and came across Probelle, it's a little pricey but over the last two months my nails have had less breakage and have grown stronger. When I run out this will be a definite re-buy for me.

3. Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask
THIS. I LIVE FOR THIS. The scent of this alone sends me over the edge and transports me into a whole new world. I swear it's just that good and for $162 it better be. I should also mention I received this as a small deluxe sample - the day I can afford $162 mask will be worthy of a blog post all on its own haha. This mask promises to act on the signs of aging and immediately hydrate skin. I'm not too sure about the anti-aging claims but each time I've used this my skin feels plumber and smooth. So, lesson of the story is if a store is giving away free deluxe samples of this find a way to get more than one.

4. Gucci Envy Me
I finally finished my bottle of Marc Jacobs Daisy and wanted to try something new, different, and a bit daring. Now, Gucci's Envy Me is nothing new but something I wanted to try for the longest. The hints of jasmine, peony, and sandalwood are basically 100% perfect for summer. The scent stays on forever and can last through the hot summer heat. I did a little more digging and found out this fragrance in particular has a strong cult following after since it's inception in 2008 which should speak for the scent itself.

5. SeabuckWonders Ultimate Hair, Skin & Nails Softgels
I always wanted to try out a supplement that benefits my hair, skin and nails and I finally decided to take the plunge with SeabuckWonders. These supplements Biotin & Omegas promote hydration, elasticity and regeneration. I'll give another update at the end of summer on how my hair and nails look but so far my nails like I mentioned have become stronger (in collaboration with the nail hardener) and my hair more resilient after taking these daily. But, so far so good!

Tips on Surviving a Music Festival (In Style)

June 22, 2015

Mama... I survived FireFly, a tropical storm, and outdoor camping.

And I managed to shower (YASSS). There was a stiff price to be paid every single time I wanted to rinse my body clean in a tiny portable shower of the mud and sticky sweat - but I did it. Let me just say, $8 showers were the cat's pajamas during this excursion.

Looking back (way back) there's been so many different festivals I've been to but a few key tips have been tried and true throughout the entirety of my festival-going career.

1. Stay covered
Shady spots at a festival are few and far between. When you do happen to come across a spot with shade, it's usually crowded and not fun. To beat the heat make a hat and a pair of sunglasses your best friends. Most importantly protect yourself from the sun - wear sunscreen and keep layering it on!

2. Comfortable Shoes
Wear them or die. Well, not exactly die - but your feet will majorly hate you the next day. These festivals tend to take place in huge fields and you'll end up taking around 30,000 or more steps going from stage to stage. Sneakers or boots with great arch support are your safest bet.

3. Don't Forget the Essentials
A festival's ATM will rob you blind with fees if you let it. Don't let it rob you blind. Instead bring cash to the festival. While you're at it bring a refillable water bottle since water isn't cheap either. Ladies, bring TP (toilet paper) and an antibacterial gel/spray - porter potties can get real nasty when combined with the heat and thousands of people.

4. Shorts Are Your Best Friend
My very first festival (Warped Tour) my friend was feeling the moment and went for a crowd surf. Let's just say we ALL (including the band) knew exactly how high she wore her pantyhose. So shorts, wear shorts. Even if you're wearing a dress, wear bike shorts. You'll be sitting on the ground, dancing in the crowd, possibly crowd surf - you'll be glad you wore them.

5. Reconsider the One-Piece
Yes, bodysuits, rompers, and jumpsuits are cute. But, you'll be going into gross porter potties that feel like poop saunas. Do you still want to wear that one-piece bodysuit? We all know how much effort goes into pulling one on and off - choose wisely.

6. Less is More
When it comes to makeup, less is more. The few times I've attempted in wearing a full face it has melted off and scared off my friends. I still wear mascara and cheek stain, but by the end of the night that too has evaporated off my face. Still need that coverage, try finding the perfect BB or CC cream at your nearest Ulta or Sephora. If you're curious as to why my brows are looking on fleek it's because I had them temporarily dyed prior to FireFly - highly recommend for my brow girls

Eye Glasses: Warby Parker Lipbalm: EOS Tee: thrifted (similar) Denim Shorts: Zara Boots: Dr. Marten Bralette: Old (similar)

7. Opt for a Braid
For the first time ever in the history of music festivals I went full-braid to a festival. For my curly-haired girls, it's life changing. I felt and looked great and didn't have to worry about knots or styling my hair the next day. If you're camping at the festival, consider going the braid route.

8. Leave the Goods at Home
Festivals can get messy and chaotic. Anything that is irreplaceable or valuable, please leave it at home. You'll avoid major heartbreak by following this rule. At Coachella and FireFly, I noticed a few festival-goers even used throw-away phones instead of their fancy Galaxy or iOS phones.

9. Cellphones are Basically Useless
Wondering how festival-goers are able to go through an entire day without their phones? Because they're basically useless. The service is spotty if you find any to begin with and there's no wi-fi. Every single time I've done Coachella or Governor's Ball text messaging becomes obsolete. Your phone will most likely die due to it constantly searching for service before it'll even send that text message through. If you're with friends I highly advise setting up meeting points within the festival and coming up with a Plan B and C.

10. Have FUN!
Create those memories that will last a lifetime.

Have any awesome tips on how you survived your last festival? Leave them in the comments below.

Photos by Jamal of Style Society Guy.

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