Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Baby B Gender Reveal!! My thoughts, feelings and reaction







For as long as I can remember I have always wanted a girl. A little mini me that I could do all the girlie things with like manis and pedis. Do her hair and paint her toes, raise her to be strong and independent like mommy but kind and super smart at the same time. I had it all planned out in my head. But you know what they say about plans.....tell God and he laughs. All the while I was planning and praying for a little girl, God was preparing and planting the SON who would be just for me. Touché  God, touché. 

How I found out I was having a BOY?

When I was 8 weeks pregnant I had a VERY VIVID dream of my future son. He came to me in my dream with his cute little face and introduced himself to me. He told me he was so happy to have me as his mommy and he couldn't wait to meet me. He told me his name and said he'll see me soon. 🥰🥰 I know, is that not THE CUTEST! 😩 I woke up the next morning and called my mom and a few friends and told them about my dream. My mom believed me right away and she already knew. My mom has been saying I was having a boy before I was ever pregnant. 🤷🏾‍♀️ I guess Moms just know. My friends assured me I would have my girl and the dream was just a pregnancy dream. I still hoped for a girl but deep down I was already preparing for this man child. At 15 weeks this was confirmed via ultrasound. 

My initial reaction to knowing I was having a SON. 

So I will be 1000% percent honest here, after my dream I cried for 3 days straight. I cried AT LEAST 5 times a day for 3 whole days. There is a whole different vision that comes to my mind as a black mother in America about raising a son in today's society. There were no visions of mommy and me manis and pedis or visualizing my future feminist. Instead I had visions of George Floyd, Travoyn Martin and Tamir Rice. The pressures of societal and cultural norms that are placed on young black boys. And of course the most obvious of them all, how can I, a SINGLE WOMAN, raise a MAN? I don't know how to be a man but I surely know how to be a woman. All of these things combined sent me into a tailspin of emotions. I was a WRECK you hear me. On the 4th day, I wiped my tears, stood up straight and got my mind right. You WILL be the BEST DAMN BOYMOM to this baby, period! *in my city girl voice*😁 

As of today, I couldn't be more excited to be having a boy! I can't imagine another baby besides him and I look forward to the journey of being his mommy every step of the way. I know it will be hard but hey, I'm made for hard things. After all, I'm a Diamond dear, nothing can break me. 😉 So to all of you that guessed BOY, you were right on the money. Baby B is a BOY and coming Feb 2021, stay tuned!!

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Thursday, October 1, 2020

First Trimester Recap: Symptoms and MUST-HAVES



Good Morning dolls! Popping in today to write a quick recap of my first trimester, the good, bad and the ugly. To be honest, before getting pregnant, I envisioned loving pregnancy. I had visions of glowing skin and a perfectly round bump and slaying all the pregnancy looks effortlessly. I figured the ones that made pregnancy look easy were the norm and the ones that had a difficult time pregnant were rare and that surely wouldn't be me! Now don't get me wrong, I'm so very thankful to be pregnant but there are some days (or weeks for that matter), where it is NOT very enjoyable at all. The aches, pains, tender breasts and body changes are all very real. I now understand more than ever the ladies who say growing a human is HARD WORK, it's both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Each week is something new but I'm learning to enjoy the journey overall. 

Here are a few of my favs from my first trimester and hopefully it will help any ladies out there going through the same thing.

Preggie Pop Nausea Candy: While I didn't experience major nausea or tons of toilet hugging my first trimester, I did have that awful quesy feeling constantly. Because I didn't have a constant need to vomit I felt like I was winning overall. However, the constant quesy feeling was quickly subdued when I popped one of these Preggie Pops. I literally kept them by my bed, in my kitchen and at my work desk. I've tried several other pregnancy candies and not only do these taste the best but they worked. Now if you have extreme nausea with vomiting and all I'm not too sure how these would fair but they are surely worth the try. 

Waiting in Wonder Pregnancy Journal: As I was searching for a journal to capture all of my pregnancy ups and downs I came across this faith based journal. It is a daily devotional as well as journal but it helps you along your journey with prayer and bible verses. In times I was doubting my decision or struggling with pregnancy discomfort being able to tie it back to my faith has been very helpful. I prayed for this little one for years and then when the reality of actually being pregnant hit me it hit me hard at times. That and your emotions and hormones during this time are all over the place. This journal helps to center me.

Prenatal Vitamins: Prenatal Vitamins are a must while pregnant but honestly there are so many on the market to chose from it can be very overwhelming. I picked this particular one found at Target because of the organic and whole food ingredients. 

Badger Belly Butter: You guys I have been borderline psycho with the stretch mark routine. I DO NOT want stretch marks and have been trying everything to prevent them. My bestie sent me a bottle of  Bio Oil and I was in love, go bestie 😘! Then came this butter, also amazing. I love it for it's organic ingredients and creamy texture. It spreads easily and lasts a long time, a little bit goes a long way. I snagged this guy off Amazon and so glad I did. 

Pregnancy Pillow: Listen, you need this pillow....period. I can end this point right here just trust me on this. That first trimester I was going through it ya'll. Peeing every hour it felt like and weird body pains. For some reason all of a sudden sleeping in my perfectly comfortable bed suddenly felt like sleeping on a pile of bricks. I was miserable. Until I discovered this pillow that is. It just makes sleeping so much more comfortable. I use this thing while lounging on the couch, in bed and even when I travel. I've only been to family's house but my pregnancy pillow comes with. Period. 

I'm curious to know what were some of your MUST-HAVES or FAVS while pregnant. Leave them in the comments for me, I'm 19 weeks and well into my 2nd trimester but I'm still trying out new products and things constantly. Please do share!

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Sunday, September 13, 2020

I am a Single Mom...By Choice!!





Hi dolls, I know it's been a minute since my last blog post but I assure you it's for good reason! If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook then you would have heard that I'm currently expecting my first child!! I am truly beyond excited and can not wait to embark on my greatest adventure to date. Below are a few questions I've received so far.

How far along are you? 

As of today, I'm 17 weeks (4 months) and due in February. The baby is the size of a pomegranate! 

How did you find out you were pregnant? 

Good ole pregnancy test at home! First Response for the win!

What were your first symptoms?

Lower back pain on my right side. I'm pretty sure those were implantation cramps.

Do you know the gender?

Yes, I do and will be revealing it soon. Until then leave any guesses in the comments below!

Was your pregnancy planned or a surprise?

My pregnancy was VERY planned and took me about 3 years to conceive. 


My journey to motherhood has been different than most but not completely unheard of. A few years ago upon discovery of fibroids in my uterus that would have prevented me from ever getting pregnant, I made the choice to take the path to motherhood solo as a single mother by choice. I chose an unknown/anonymous donor and went to a fertility specialist to conceive. I was able to get pregnant via medicated IUI (intrauterine insemination) cycle. This was after many bad dates, a failed relationship, 2 fibroid surgeries, failed or missed cycles, countless prayers, years of therapy, and lot of tears to now here, pregnant and I couldn't be happier!

Every journey to motherhood is unique and personal. Ask any woman that has had fertility issues (1 in 4) and they will tell you it's an incredibly emotional and lonely journey at times. My journey was no different. I'm telling my story to let you know that if you are a single women in your 30's with fertility issues and WANT children, you do have options and you are not alone and I would be happy to be a resource in any way I can to you. Am I nervous and scared to do this as a single mom with absolutely no backup (i.e. child support, weekend visits etc), without a doubt....YES! I would be crazy not to, but I also know that I have so much love to give and not having biological children of my own was NOT an option for me. I have a great support system and a "village" of people eagerly waiting to pour into my little one when they arrive, so for that I'm incredibly grateful and blessed. Families come in all shapes and sizes these days and I am beyond excited to be creating my own and sharing the journey with you all. 

Thank you again for all the well wishes I've received so far, I tried to reply to each and every one of you. I appreciate it more than you know. If you have any questions for me please leave them below, I'll be sure to do a Q&A later and I'm happy to chat in my inbox with anyone that might have questions for me.  

#BabyBLoading #singlemotherbychoice 


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Saturday, May 2, 2020

The Honey Pot Co Review - My HONEST, UNFILTERED opinion



Hello dolls, this post is long overdue. This post was intended to go up before COVID-19 hit then it just didn't seem right to post but here we are. 6 weeks later and still in quarantine. 😏 So rather than let these beautiful pics, I spent a LOT of time on, go to waste, here we go. 

A few weeks ago when the whole Honey Pot drama occurred where white women took it upon themselves to be offended by Target for featuring brand owner, Bea Dixon in a commercial where she said her company was to pave the way for young black girls to come.  This was not a dig at any other race but simply HER truth statement and encouragement for young black women entrepreneurs to come. White woman took offense to it, threatened to boycott Target, left bad reviews on the website to destroy her product ratings etc. They were BIG BIG MAD. *Insert intense eye roll here*


In response, many black women, including myself, rallied to support this Queen. I went out and purchased every single Honey Pot product I could find and here are my thoughts:


Sensitive Foaming Feminine Wash: This daily feminine wash claims to boost moisture levels down there, calm irritations and balance your pH while gently cleansing the area. It’s gentle enough to be used daily with no itching, irritation or burning. So I will say this, while this was nice to use I reach for this product the least. I personally prefer something with more lather and slip to it and this doesn’t have much. I do not typically suffer from pH issues down there so I didn’t notice much of a difference at all with this product. The website does say that if you typically experience irritation, dryness or infections down there this product would be good for you. 


Herbal Everyday Panty Liners: These pantyliners are my FAV! They are made from pesticide-free cotton and infused with essential oils that give you this amazing “cooling” effect. When I say “cooling” effect think mouthwash for your lady parts. Not in a burning way but in a nice refreshed and clean way. The website claims they help with cramps and discomfort  which I experience heavily, but for me I will say I like anything that makes me feel super clean down there and these do that. I give this product 2 thumbs up, I love them!

Super Herbal Pads with Wings: TMI Alert: I am a heavy bleeder around that time of month so Super is my go-to size when Aunt Flow is in town. I picked these up and I must say I am a fan. These are not Day 1 and 2 pads for me, not quite thick enough but for Day 3-5 they are perfect. I love the soothing effect the herbs have. It does not burn but feels more like a mint or mouth wash for your lady parts. I like it, I think it feels fabulous but beware that it’s coming. Not gonna lie when I wore my first one the cooling effect took me by surprise and I thought I was having a reaction until I read the package and realized it was supposed to do that. Once you are aware it feels good and not overpowering at all.  

Sensitive Feminine Wipes: The sensitive feminine wipes are fantastic. I don’t use wipes every single day but I do occasionally use baby wipes down there. I thought I’d try these instead. I found them super gentle and refreshing but not in a “cooling” way I mentioned earlier. These are made with herbal ingredients but they leave the tingling effect out of these, which I like. A LOT. 


Overall, I really like this line. I love that it’s made with natural and herbal ingredients. I also like that it’s different with the cooling effect some products give you. And last but not least I love that it was created by a black woman! While I don’t see myself continuing to purchase ALL the products I will say the pantyliners and wipes will be an everyday staple for me. I would surely recommend giving the line a try and see what products work for you, that is if you can get your hands on them. If you’ve already tried the line I would love to know what you thought about the products below! 



NOTE: I will say these products are pretty hard to find these days. I routinely check my local Target when I go and they have not been fully stocked for some time. The website is also Sold Out of most products.

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Monday, March 16, 2020

3 Things To Do NOW to get your LIFE Together during this Coronavirus DownTime

The FIT:
T-Shirt: Boo-Hoo; Pants: H&M; Coat: Thrifted; Boots: Boo-Hoo (old)

This morning its business as usual for me. I’ve worked from home for years now, my office is typically the Client site and thankfully my business trip at the end of the month is postponed. I understand the uncertainty and anxiety many have today that don’t have that luxury; I’m praying for you all. I do believe the recent changes and bills passed by the gov’t will help but in the meantime here are 3 things you can do today to help you build a better tomorrow. Plant the seed NOW, harvest the crop later loves. 

1️⃣ Start thinking of ideas for multiple streams of income. That blog or YouTube channel you been thinking about starting. DO IT. That drop shipping business you thought sounded good. START IT NOW! It doesn’t have to be perfect, just START. Are you good with your hands and can make stuff or a beast with graphic design? Start an Etsy shop.....sooooo many ways to make money in the world today, your job doesn’t have to be your sole source of income. 

2️⃣ Do you have a budget? I don’t care if you are broke as hell! If you have money coming in somehow (I.e Unemployment, minimum wage, food stamps or welfare, disability, social security etc) YOU NEED A BUDGET! You NEED to be telling your money where to go, every single dollar should have a job. This is not hard people. I know for a fact in the black community this stuff isn’t really taught from a young age. We have to go through life and learn the hard lessons before we truly learn about this stuff. Let me just say, I have learned the lesson so listen to me when I tell you to START A BUDGET NOW. Do it based on your last paycheck, even if your paychecks are currently on hold. Start with a savings, even if it’s 10 dollars a check, save something! Do you know how handy an emergency fund is right now when you can go buy essentials during this time without thinking twice? It’s priceless. No full set of acrylics or new pair of shoes compares to the peace of mind you feel being able to take care of yourself and your family during an emergency. START HERE. I follow the Dave Ramsey plan and I highly recommend it. I have made 6 figures for the last several years of my life and last year I JUST started to take my budget serious. I was out here living my best life and blowing money FAST with nothing to show for it so I’m NOT JUDGING YOU. Just start now, trust me. 

3️⃣ Do a Life Audit. Listen, you are about to have a LOT of time on your hands. Now is the time to sit down and think about what you REALLY want in life. Start being proactive instead of reactive to life. Who do you spend the majority of your time with outside of your spouse and kids i.e. your friends? The saying is true, show me who your friends are and I’ll show you your future. Surround yourself with positive goal orientated people that are driven and motivate you. (THIS INCLUDES FAMILY!) Now is the perfect time to check your circle and reassess. Establish new connections or mend broken ones. Now is the time people are slowing down and will be more responsive than ever I’m sure. 

That's all for now dolls. I promise I'm not trying to be preachy or a Debbie downer. But as much as I would love to come on here and talk about a product you don't NEED right now I just can't. I feel there is more valuable information I can be sharing with you during these uncertain times. Don't get me wrong I WILL still be sharing the products I love, new clothing I purchased and fun things I'm trying at home while on lockdown so stay tuned for that to come. 

If you found this post helpful or think someone you know needs to hear these tips, PLEASE SHARE!

Be Safe, Be Kind and Be Blessed dolls

XOXO,
Naja
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Monday, March 2, 2020

February Intentional Buy Month Recap: How did it go?


Hello Dolls,

I can't believe it's March already, where oh where did February go? It went by too fast if you ask me. It's honestly all a blur. January was my NO BUY month and February was so hard NOT to buy ALL. THE. THINGS! I started this Intentional Buy challenge as a way to stay discipline and focused on building my BEST wardrobe yet. No more of the days of spending mindlessly on fast fashion I know will tire of in a season. My goal is to build a wardrobe that is timeless, classic and built for any occasion.

So how did I do the first month abiding by these rules I set for myself. Not too bad if I say so myself. Here are my thoughts.

Did I stick to the budget? 
Good question for sure and the answer is surprising even to me. Yes, I am very proud to say I did stick to the budget. I actually spent $497 to be exact, go me! I had all of January to decide what I was going to buy come February 1st. I had my shopping cart ready to go come February 1st. I had my budget spent by the 3rd ya'll! LOL, I clearly wasn't playin.


What did I buy?
So I have a haul video coming soon but in short I bought some key pieces I felt my wardrobe was missing and those pieces appropriate for the season. This is where the difficult part come in. What to get now and what to get later? What was a priority for the upcoming season and what could wait? I will do a separate post on how to compile your Intentional Buy wardrobe later but based on a few things I determined the following was a priority.

- Black Boots
- Gold Bracelet
- Gold Ring
- Cashmere Scarf

What did I WANT TO buy?
High on my list this month was also a black/dark grey wool coat. I have a camel coat in my current wardrobe so I considered the coat not a necessity. My only dilemma at the moment is am I really going to want to buy a dark wool coat in March or will I have my eye on all the Spring things. I have my eye on THIS one from Everlane so we shall see. What I don't want is to find myself next winter having the same, "I need a black coat" conversation with myself.

What have I learned?
I learned that patience and planning is key. Identify the gaps first! Plan out your buys. Know what you need! Also, identify when the sales are and focus on your key pieces ONLY. This is the hard part, sales will make you think you want all the goodies on sale but don't do it doll, stay focused, you got this!

What will I do differently next month?
Next month I want to be a little less structured. I want to buy some more of the moment buys. What do I mean by that after JUST saying that planning is key, lol. I mean I have planned out what I want i.e. a pastel colored suit, however I don't know from where or exactly what color. I want to come across it in the moment and love it. I hope that makes sense. Also, I have a pair of white sneakers on my list but I don't know exactly what style. I just know I want them to be totally white. I will do a bit of research and try on a few to see what looks good on my feet and then buy. February I knew what I wanted and from where. For instance I really wanted to try pieces from Everlane so I bought my key pieces from there. Going forward I will be a little more fluid and less stringent with this.

Anyway dolls that's it for my first Intentional Buy Month Recap. I hope it was helpful and if there is anything else you would like to know please let me know in the comments below!



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Saturday, February 1, 2020

5 Lessons I Learned after NO-BUY January


Finally!! After what felt like 138 days,  January is finally OVER ya'll! Seriously, this month has been ridiculously long. I'm happy to report that my NO Spend is over. I am very happy about that but also thankful for the experience. In hindsight,  it has been a huge blessing and I learned a lot about myself and my spending habits. Here are the top 5 lessons I learned from this NO SPEND month.

1. I have a shopping problem. I knew I kind of had a problem but after this month it is without a doubt that I have a shopping addiction. I found that shopping is my go-to activity for just about everything. I'm bored, cool just go shopping. I'm happy, great let's go shopping! I achieved ANYTHING, oh girl you deserve it, let's go shopping! I also found myself very sad to not receive a package almost daily. Amazon had become a daily dose of happiness. It didn't even matter what was coming, the simple fact that something was on the way for me made me feel amazing. Without that, I found myself feeling slightly sad.

2. I need a hobby. I need activities to keep me busy in times of boredom. Here are some ideas for activities that don't cost money. I did each one of these during this month and found it great alternatives to hitting the mall or browsing some of my favorite online shops


    1. Workout. This can be at a gym or simply taking a walk or popping in a tape at home.
    2. Bible Study. This is one hour a day you can spend fellowshipping and networking with other Christian minded individuals. It feeds your soul which is better than any shopping trip. 
    3. Cooking. Pick an amazing recipe you have never tried before and give it a shot. Cooking can be very therapeutic and rewarding to create something amazing. 
    4. Invest time in to your business. For me this can be through writing and planning. It cost nothing to edit a picture I have taken, or plan out next week's Instagram posts. 
    5. Enjoy the things you already pay money for. i.e Cable/ Netflix etc. 

3. Not Spending money can be very lonely. I mean you end up spending a LOT of time at home. That truly is the best way to not spend money. Stay in the house and for me stay off the computer. If I'm hanging out with friends it seems to always cost me money so unless I got an at home invite of some sort I stayed home. P.S. I got NO invites this month LOL. 

4. Discipline is a muscle that needs to be worked out often. I have created some very bad spending habits throughout the years for sure. I rarely told myself NO. I rarely planned for purchases and if I did it was never for longer than a month or two. I know this has to stop. For one being disciplined about my purchases allows me to think through purchases and be sure it's something I truly want. 

5. I NEED very little. The notion that I NEED something has been my favorite excuse for purchasing an item. When I started this challenge I felt anxiety because I didn't feel I could survive unless I had everything I 'Needed' first. Which is essentially cheating so I didn't do it and quickly realized I didn't 'NEED' much of anything outside of a few household essentials i.e toothpaste/ toilet paper. I also have a LOT of stuff. Stuff I had forgotten about and had tucked away deep in my closet/cabinet/pantry. The amount of duplicates I found in my pantry when I pulled everything out to organize. I had 4 bags of chia seeds an ENTIRE bottle of Olive Oil I had never opened not to mention the amount of almost full hair products I found. Pretty sure I thought I NEEDED all those things when I ran out to the store to waste my money on them. 

So there you have it dolls. My top 5 takeaways from this challenge. In short, am I glad I did it? YES! Am I changed forever? YES!! It felt great to be in control of my money again. That end of the month feeling of 'Where did all my money go?' was not a good one. And worst, it was rarely worth it. I mean I bought crap I didn't give a second thought to and was honestly out of control. I still enjoy spending money but it will be a lot more INTENTIONAL going forward. I plan on being Intentional not only with my wardrobe as laid out in my challenge HERE, but in all purchases I make going forward. So I'm curious to know, would you consider a NO BUY month? If so, what do you think would be your biggest challenge?? Let me know in the comments below. 


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Wednesday, January 22, 2020

How to be Build Your Dream Wardrobe and be Intentional







2020 WILL be the year I curate my dream wardrobe. I have been disappointed in my current wardrobe for some time now. I am the epitome of “I have nothing to wear”! I sit and stare at my closet and find myself totally uninspired. When I’m uninspired by my wardrobe I find myself not wanting to get dressed at all or just wear my default; sweats. I work from home so this is easy to do. I also find myself turning down invites from friends and avoiding social events all together because I don’t have things to wear that I feel comfortable in. To be fair, it’s not all the clothes fault, I am in a weird place with my body and confidence overall at the moment and it affects multiple areas of my life but that’s another post. In addition to working on my health and doing the inner work, the next thing that affects my mood the most is my wardrobe. I think how you present yourself to the world is often a direct reflection of your mood and how you feel about yourself. When I look good I feel good. So this year will be my journey back to looking and feeling good. 

My Goals for this Intentional Buy Year

  1. Make a LIST. Make a list of all the items I NEED and WANT. This list is created after a thorough assessment of my current wardrobe. For instance in the pics above I have pulled out some key pieces in my wardrobe. Many items I have forgotten I had and some new items I picked up during the Christmas sales. I have sooooo many clothes and shoes I don't want and have honestly just forgotten about. Doing a deep declutter and assessment will allow me to see the GAPS and identify what I have and what I need. Building my LIST I will start with the pieces I NEED and move on the the items I WANT. 
  2. Set monthly budget of $500 p/month, initially. (As my income grows and debt lowers I’m willing to revisit this number after 6 months) Setting and sticking to a budget is very important. For one, it will help with planning and keep me disciplined. Having great style does not mean spending a TON of money. You can also spend a ton of money on low quality items. By setting a specific budget my goal is to make it easier for me to be very intentional about how I spend that money instead of spending frivolously. 
  3. Identify Intent: What is my intent of this challenge? Simple. To curate a stylish/seemless/classic/timeless wardrobe that makes me feel confident. I think it comes down to that plain and simple. I want a wardrobe I love and will love year after year with few updates needed season to season. 
  4. Explore/Determine my personal style. This goal is a BIG one for me dolls. If I asked you to describe your personal style into 3 words what would you say? Honestly, I want to know down below in the comments. At one point I feel I had this question nailed but not so much these days. 
  5. Buy only high quality pieces that align with your vision and budget. I have in the past been a quantity over quality buyer. As a professional woman in my 30’s this is no longer ok. I would always rationalize buying 4-5 handbags from Zara (many I never wore) to investing in one quality designer piece that will last me ages. I would ultimately tell me self I could never bring myself to spend that kind of money on a handbag but in reality I DID spend that kind of money…..on bullshyt! I understand the value of cost per wear a lot better and find the pieces I buy on impulse don’t bring me joy past the purchase point. 

So now on to the rules. For me, This is what will make it an intentional buy year because I will be asking myself the following questions: 

  1. Can I wear this piece at least 10 different ways with what’s in my wardrobe NOW?
  2. Does it fit in your clothing allowance budget? $500 p/month
  3. Does this item reflect the woman I strive to be? Does it align with your future goals, desired lifestyle or identified personal style?

THEN Ask Yourself…..

  1. Is this item on “THE LIST”? My 2020 Wardrobe Wishlist is coming soon
  2. Is this a wardrobe staple or replacement of a staple? Wardrobe staples /basics should be purchased first as they build your wardrobe foundation
  3. Is this a trend? Will I be over it next year? Be honest
  4. Can you thrift or buy this item secondhand? Although I haven’t been the biggest fan of thrifting and secondhand items, I do see the extreme value in it and will make a more conscience effort to choose that route. Not only for sustainability reasons but for budgetary reasons as well. 

My purpose of this Intentional Buy year is simple; to wear what I have, invest in what I don’t in order to never have to say, “I have nothing to wear.” As a borderline shopaholic who enjoys buying things just to buy them I do recognize the challenge this will be for me. I am very much a I see it, I want it, I buy it type of shopper. This has not proven to be very smart, sustainable or or worthwhile for me. It’s time to change my spending habits and this is where I begin. So please come along and join me if you like, I need all the support I can get for sure! 



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Monday, January 20, 2020

My Favorite Beauty Products of 2019





Hello dolls and Happy New Year!! Welcome to a new year and a new decade! I’m super excited for today’s post because I’m going to be sharing with you all of my FAVORITE products from 2019. These are products I have been reaching for the most during the year and have been repeat purchases. Because let’s be honest, if you’re willing to spend money on a product AGAIN it must be good! I haven’t done the best job throughout the year keeping you updated on my favs but I’ll do better, pinky promise. I’ll be doing more product reviews and tutorials on my YouTube channel for sure this year. Be sure to head there and subscribe so you don’t miss a download. This week I uploaded a ‘Soft Glam’ look using these products. So if you want to see these products in action head head to my channel! 

So let’s start in the order in which I apply these products to my face 

Starting with skin, I have been loving the Sephora Vitamin C+E Serum drops. They add a boost of hydration to my skin and helps my makeup stay up all day due to the stickiness of the formula. It’s not a bad sticky no worries just more of a tackiness that works well with my primer and foundation. I have been having super dry skin as of late so this stuff has been amazing. It’s not a moisturizer, I add that separately, but it def is a hydrator for the skin. 

Primer: Milk Hydro Primer: This primer is been my go to all year and I must say I love it. It does a great job of keeping my makeup flawless all day long. I mean my makeup looks so gorgeous all day long. My skin has been more on the dry side lately so I try to inject moisture in my routine where I can without making me oily. This does a great job of doing just that. 

Foundation: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in Chai. Jackie went OFF when she created this shade, period. This formula leaves me looking flawless with the perfect healthy glow. I have tried a LOT of foundations this year but this one is number 1.


Concealer: Born This Way Concealer in Butterscotch is the concealer I use when I want to look natural and flawless. It does not cake or crease badly. I have natural creases under my eyes so creasing is a part of life for me but this one keeps my underage area just flawless. 


Setting Powder: Laura Mercier in Translucent is a tried and true favorite. I have yet to find any powder that works as well. No other powder gives me such a smooth finish or 


Bronzer: Queen Collection bronzer in Ebony Bronze is an oldie but goodie. I have tried a few other bronzers this year but I keep coming back to this one. It is my perfect shade that doesn't make me look muddy or have too much shimmer. 


Eyes: Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions palette has been my travel palette of choice. This thing goes with me EVERYWHERE. I can create natural looks or dramatic looks with this little work horse of a palette. I'm hitting pan on 2 shades that's how you know it's real. THAT NEVER HAPPENS TO ME. Similar palette here I want to try next. 


Liner: L'Oreal Voluminous Noir liquid liner in black is another go-to of mine for some time now. To be honest, I will be replacing this longtime fav this year. I find it is amazing when it's fresh but the felt tip dries out a bit faster than I like. I have my eye on the hourglass liner. It's pricey but I hear great things so I will let you know. 


Mascara: Rimmel Accelerator mascara has been a FAV of mine for years now. To be honest it worked for me and I didn't spend too much time venturing out to find a replacement. I will be trying some new mascaras this year just for variety. Until then, trust me when I say this formula doesn't flake or run and keeps my lashes curled with no issues. 


Lashes: Blinking Beaute in Genius. These lashes are my ’special occasion’ lashes but they quickly became my go-to’s for any and all occasions. I LOVE these lashes you hear me. They are a nice and fluffy half lash. The are super flirty and elongate my eye without hiding my eyeshadow. It’s really a go-to for me and I can’t stop using them oh and did I mention I’ve had them over a year and they are still holding up like a champ. 

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