Neutrals in November

A lot of has happened in the world recently and with my boyfriend away the one thing that brought me comfort was spreading positive vibes. He’s on a plane back to me and I’m really excited about seeing his tired face tonight.

Politics never make an appearance on the blog since we all have different views(which I respect) but wanted to throw out a reminder that our actions speak louder than words and now is a great time to help those in need.

Now that I got that off my chest I wanted to dive into a new style I’ve been obsessing over: winter neutrals. I’ve been seeing it on my feed, Pinterest, and all over New York. Naturally, I had to give it a go myself.

Neutral skirts for this look were ruled out since it’s basically an accident waiting to happen (well, at least for me). So onward to pants!

I got these pants from NYDJ – have you heard of them? They promise to lift the booty (YAS Please!) and tuck the front to slim and flatten the front (aka no fupas). So far I’m loving the thick material and the fit. If you find a pair you love, order a size down for the best fit.

Also, I’m kind of wishing that I took some back shots of these so y’all can see the booty-lifting action for yourselves. Oh well, next time.

Turtleneck: J. Crew (on sale!)  Poncho: NYDJ  Pants: NYDJ  Bracelet: Kenneth Jay Lane + Monica Vinader  Purse: Sorial  Boots: Bed Stu  Lipstick: Cranberry Cream via Clinique

Another piece I picked up from NYDJ (I got lost on their site for a bit –whoops) was this cowl neck short sleeve sweater. I’ve been on the mad hunt for one similar to the one Blair wore so well years ago and found it on the site. I’m so happy I went forward with the sweater. It’s been on constant rotation since I’m pretty much obsessed with turtlenecks so wearing two at once is like heaven. Yep, I’m an oddball – but the look came out great right? Haha.

Well, it’s time to get back to work and keep moving forward and onwards into the holidays! I for one need to take advantage of the time and get my to-do list completed.

Photos by Lydia Hudgens.

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Easy Updates for Any Home

Today's shop has been sponsored by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! 
#LoveAmericanHome #CollectiveBias

I'm a fan of changing my space to change my energy. It's something my mom & tias (aunts for my non-Spanish speakers) have been doing since I was a wee kid. Seeing their love for color transform an apartment into a home was impressive mainly because they worked with small budgets with their favorite store. Yet, each time they "flipped" a room it would come alive with personality, love, and leave memories behind.

Well, now that I'm out of the nest and not loving my lackluster room it was time to call in the heavy artillery - my mom & tia (the budget professionals).

Their first call of action was decluttering my room. The ladies went in and sorted through worn out clothing, ratty blankets, and damaged necklaces to clear out valuable floor space (and sanity).

Next, they came up with a color palette that the bae and I both agreed on: black, gray and white. Trust me when I say that the ladies wanted something a little more colorful to spice up the room, but compromise is key in a relationship. This also meant that all bedding that fell outside this color palette were donated to the local animal shelters.

Once the color palette was decided they rearranged furniture with those that were in other parts of the home so the bedroom had one singular aesthetic instead of being a mish-mash of bookcases.

After those first three things we made a list of want was needed from our local Walmart and shopped strategically: my tia grabbed me all new black bedding and a few accent pillows, my mom made way for a new rug and a few containers to help keep my jewelry organized, and I bee-lined for the American Home™ by Yankee Candle®.I'm sort of a candle freak and love how a scent can bring you back to a certain memory, help you unwind, and all around add a great atmosphere to your home.

I may have gone a little overboard but I ended up getting American Home™ by Yankee Candle® in Warm & Happy Home ($14.93), Pumpkin Apple Harvest ($10.93), and Delicious Cranberry ($14.93) which you can find online here or in the Home & Candle section of your local Walmart. They have a huge selection and the price is amazing for the bigger sized candles. And remember to only burn them when in sight.

I've been loving the last fragrances for the holiday season as well. As a bonus, whenever I smell the Pumpkin Apple Harvest I'll always remember how my tia made fun of my inability to cook.

It's crazy how a new home fragrance, color coordinated sheets and [massive] decluttering can go a long way. They've turned my least favorite room into the most delicious spot to hang out. Not to mention being able to have a few laughs with my favorite people.

Last but not least, my tia & mom got me a little surprise to go with my mini room makeover. A collection of calaveras to add a little flavor to my room and the best home cooked meal I had in while. Well, they tried teaching me how to cook arroz blanco but they didn't want to risk burning the rice again (whoops).

How do you update your home? Is it a family affair like mine?

The Power of Face Mists

The one component of my overall skincare regimen that I absolutely love to use are face mists. You can even call it my favorite topic to gush about and with five years of face misting under my belt I’ve become a bit of a pro.

If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon, you should! Misting is so amazing for your skin and leaves you looking fresh and glowy. They also serve a multitude of purposes, such as:

· Extra Hydration: In the AM mist your face before applying moisturizer/essence
· To Soothe: After a workout (/Classpass) session, mist to soothe your flushed skin
· Seasonal Prevention: Mist throughout the day, when your skin starts to feel a little too dry (i.e. winters) or too hot (i.e. summers)
· Makeup Extender: Mist after applying makeup to set or extend

Don’t confuse face mists with toners, the latter is meant to be used right after cleansing. If you were to use a toner after applying makeup, all of your hard work would be whisked away in one swipe (tear).

Besides stocking my shelves with face mists, I tend to carry them on my person too. If you’re ready to take the plunge (come on in the water’s great!!) here’s a list of my top favorites:

1. Avene Thermal Spring Water
After years of paying high shipping costs to get this into my hands, we can finally purchase this stateside and for really cheap too! It’s so hydrating and reduces visible redness. It’s incredibly gentle and soothing as well. I’d call this my A1 mister. Personally, I love using this in the AM before applying essence/moisturizer and after an intense workout.

via lauraneuzeth.com

2. Derma e Purifying Toner Mist
I’m a huge fan of the brand’s all-natural approach to skin care and am always testing out new things from them. Recently I tried their Purifying Toner Mist and absolutely loved the mineral and antioxidant-rich toner. Also, this is awesome for those of us living in big cities since it helps rebalance and fortify skin against pollutants. Because of the packaging, this is a must for your purse.

via samanthamariaofficial.com

3. Botanics Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz
Love the scent of this and the price point is amazing. This is another great AM & PM mister. Since this does come in a bigger bottle, I’d recommend using after cleansing. Once you mist use a cotton pad to sweep away any remaining traces of makeup. But, however, you do use it, your skin will be left feeling fresh and dewy.

4. Glossier Soothing Face Mist
Saved the best for last! Glossier has been killing it in the skincare game and their Soothing Face Mist is so bomb. It’s made with rosewater, aloe, and glycerin, which leaves your skin extra, hydrated and feels so great (read: refreshing). I use this all day long or whenever I need a makeup refresher. (P.s. all of Glossier’s goods are uh-mazing, click this link for 20% off your purchase).