Matchbook

Have y'all hear about Matchbook Magazine? I just happened to stumble upon Matchbook Mag when surfing the internet over the weekend and I absolutely love what Matchbook Mag & Matchbook Girls are all about!


For those of you who aren't familiar with Matchbook Mag, it's an online monthly lifestyle magazine that was first launched in January 2011. Matchbook Mag is described as "a field guide to a charmed life." After reading my first and their latest issue I was instantly hooked, I didn't want the end to come! The magazine does a great job of reeling you in and inspiring its reader to "design a life they adore."

Hop on over to Matchbook to read their most recent issue, I promise you will be inspired and hooked starting with page 1! You can also stay connected with the Matchbook girls through tumblr, twitter, and their blog, The Daily Spark. Enjoy!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Drug Store Buys

I'm interested in investing in two drug store hair products that I have never experimented with before and I was hoping y'all could help me!

1.) Dry Shampoo-I've heard amazing things about dry shampoo, that is if you use the right one. I wash my hair every day because I don't feel clean if I don't. I am interested in dry shampoo for two reasons: 1. for volume and 2. the longer my hair gets the better it looks the second day and if dry shampoo makes me feel like my hair is clean, then I will be happy to skip washing it. Any recommendations? Keep in mind I have dark hair, so I would prefer a dry shampoo that doesn't leave a white residue.



2.) Velcro Rollers-My hair is very thick and super straight and I am working on growing it out. I mentioned to my Mom that I wish my hair had volume on top. Blow drying my hair with a round brush is not an option for me. I am not that coordinated and my hair always gets tangled in the round brush. With that said, my Mom suggested velcro rollers. Apparently one of her sisters uses velcro rollers to add volume to her hair. Do any of you use velcro rollers, if so are they easy to use? Do they add volume?



Any recommendations or tips y'all may have is much appreciated!

Style

I'm interested in finding a style book or two that not only I will enjoy reading but is also very helpful. I briefly paged through Lauren Conrad's style book while at Target a few weeks ago, but I wasn't sure this book was what I was looking for. Any suggestions or recommendations? I don't want a elementary style book filled with basic information, I want a very detailed yet informative book.

Below are some other style books I have seen, but know nothing about.

I desperately need your help and expertise!

Bright & Bold

Call me crazy, but I am actually enjoying the winter weather and still enjoying wearing my winter clothes, but that's not to say I haven't started paying attention to Spring trends. Once of which I am pretty excited is bright colored lipstick.

Not ready to take the plunge? Start with a bright polish!

What trend are you looking forward to for Spring?

Did You Know?

I've always been bothered by the yellow stains that form in the armpits of my light colored tops and are especially noticeable in my white tops after only a few wears. I won't lie I know I sweat, that's why I wear deodorant, but I know its not sweat that is causing the stains, but rather the deodorant.

So to be honest I never gave it much thought because I knew I need to wear deodorant even though it ruins my white tops after only a few wears. So after all these years I decided to get to the bottom of this. While doing some research on this topic I found that most people, including myself, use the terms antiperspirant and deodorant interchangeably when the two are not the same.

Antiperspirants contain aluminum salts. Deodorants do not. And as you have probably noticed when shopping for the product, the majority of the products today have both attributes in their formulas.
However, is almost safe to say the majority of the products in the deodorant aisle are antiperspirants.

Antiperspirants containing aluminum, work to completely stop perspiration from occurring. Whereas, deodorants do not contain aluminum and allow perspiration. They work to kill the bacteria that causes odor when we perspire. Aluminum-free deodorants work to keep us feeling fresh and clean.

Once I understood the difference between antiperspirants and deodorant, I found information that explained what is causing the yellow stains: aluminum. I wish I would have known this sooner!

Not only is aluminum causing yellow stains on my clothing but it also harmful to our bodies and has been associated with a variety of health issues including breast cancer, kidney problems, and Alzheimer's Disease.

Are you ready to discover your inner hippie with me and switch from your regular antiperspirant to an aluminum free deodorant?

Here's one suggestion...

Tom's of Maine also has an apricot and lavender scented aluminum free deodorant if fragrance free isn't your thing. I also found that Addias makes an aluminum free deodorant for women as well.

Are you ready to make the switch? I sure am!

Beauty Products in...Your Kitchen

One thing we all need to be mindful of is the chemicals in the products we put on our skin. The advice on chemicals in cosmetics can be a bit overwhelming, but it's worth it to keep up. Or a really simple rule of thumb is that if the ingredients are things you can eat, then it's safe to put on skin, which makes sense because much of what you put on your body is absorbed into your body!

Below are a few easy ways to get glam using products found in our kitchens.

Olive oil: Use a tiny bit as a moisturizer after a shower (just make sure to let it all soak in before you get dressed).

Coconut oil: For a super moisturizing hair treatment that leaves hair soft and shiny, slather coconut oil onto your hair and let it soak in for an hour (or longer -- we like to throw our oil-slicked hair into a tight bun and hit the gym while the oil is working its magic). Shampoo hair twice and then condition normally.

Baking soda: If you have product build-up in your hair, mixing just a teaspoon of baking soda with your normal shampoo before using creates a clarifying shampoo. Use it just once per week to keep build-up at bay.

Apple cider vinegar: Another hair product build-up fighter that also helps boost shine and body! Mix 1/3 cup vinegar with 4 cups water and rinse your hair with this mixture after shampooing. Follow the vinegar rinse with a cool water rinse and then condition as usual.

Brown sugar: Mix 1/4 cup of brown sugar with enough olive oil (or coconut oil) to make a paste. Store this in a jar and use as a body scrub for your body (it's too rough for your face, so stick with using only on your body). Trust us, this smells like cookie dough and leaves your skin SO SOFT.

Green tea: If you have a cup of green tea at breakfast, save a tablespoon and use it as an antioxidant-rich toner. Just soak a cotton ball in the tea and gently swipe onto your skin before moisturizing. Or, just swipe the tea bag right on your face!

Pineapple: Pineapple and papaya both contain enzymes that help to get rid of dead skin and leave your face glowing. Lightly mash up two tablespoons of either pineapple or papaya, mix with two teaspoons of honey or plain yogurt and apply to your face. Leave on for 10 minutes and then rinse off
with warm water.


Do you use any of the products in your kitchen on your body? If so, please do share!

*All the information in this post can be found here.

Edict: An announcement of a law.

Lucky Magazine is celebrating their 10th anniversary in December and in their December issue they had an article entitled "After a decade at Lucky, these are the 100 edicts the editors, live by." I didn't include all 1o0 edicts in this post, rather just the ones that I thought were most interesting. I hope you enjoy reading and learn something new!

Hair

Beachy waves are always sexy.

Your hair will be shinier if you final rinse is with cold water.

blow-dry side to side rather than (or in addition to) upside down for volume.

The biggest mistake people make in the shower is not getting their hair wet enough--without a ton of water, shampoo neither gets in or out of hair well, leaving it duller than dull.

Braids are sexy, cute, and the only acceptable form of pigtail.

Makeup & Beauty

Beauty products make the best presents: they seem incredibly personal, but there not.

An ultra-pale pedicure makes your feet look tanner. Same with silver.

A bit of face oil patted on over makeup really revives your whole look.

The most powerful anti aging weapon currently available besides injections and plastic surgery--retinol.

Any two shades of lipstick, mixed, are almost always super flattering.

Your favorite highly pigmented lipstick also makes a great sheer cheek stain: Blot on with your fingers, blot again with a tissue.

Self-tanner makes you look instantly thinner and well-rested.

Melted candle wax makes a very fine cuticle cream.

Sunscreen doubters should consider the amazing linelessness of their body parts that never see the sun.

No beauty product can do for you what eight hours of sleep can. AMEN!

Pale nail polish lasts much longer.

If you use face powder, apply it sparingly to your T-zone only.

If you're out of scrub (face or body), remember that ancient implement, the washcloth.

Always apply powder with a brush. Even compact powder.

Underwear

Thong underwear is not a necessity under most clothing.

If your bra is riding up, it's too big (in number, not letter) so swap your 34B for 32B.

Don't by underwear that needs to be hand washed-inevitably you'll end up putting it in the washing machine and it'll get trashed.

Hanky Panky underwear is the only brand that also works when you're pregnant.

Your bra straps can show; your underwear straps never should.

New Clothes

Shop for boots in August before they all sell out.

Always have at least one black tie dress in your closet in case of last-minute celebrating.

Go to Zara on Tuesday when the new shipment comes in.

Don't shop for clothes when you're tan, thin, or in the Bahamas because everything looks good when you're tan, thin, and in the Bahamas.

Every season buy a white cotton Miu Miu top. You'll never regret the splurge.

Looking for a dress when you actually need one will rarely lead to a successful find.

Buy clothes that you'll wear on a Tuesday afternoon, not a Saturday night--few people lead Saturday-night lives.

Don't wear new shoes to a wedding or your first day of work.

Black Tights

Black opaque tights make everyone's legs look good.

Black tights can look great through open-toe shoes (as long as the tights aren't sheer). Nude tights can never look great. Full stop.

The only brands to eve buy blacker-than-opaque tights from: Tabio, Commando, and Wolford.

Packing

Roll. Never Fold.

Check out the weather report--it gets cold in Cuba and hot in Alaska.

Put a change of clothes and a few toiletries in your hand luggage--so your toothbrush (along with the rest of your luggage) doesn't go to Albany when you go to Austria.

Never get on an airplane without a cashmere blanket or huge scarf.

Bring an extra bag: the kind that rolls up really small--in case you really go shopping on your trip.

Pack socks and good snacks in your carry on.

Pouch everything: all your electronics go in one, toiletries go in another, and so on.

Closets

Avoid being featured on Hoarders by living the "one in, one out" mantra: if you buy something new, take something else out and sell it on eBay or donate it.

Color code.

Try on your entire wardrobe every six months with an honest friend or mirror nearby.

Pack two bags: one for Goodwill and one for the maybes. Give aways the first, and revisit the second in six months. It eases you into the breakup.

Salespeople & Shopping

Most useless advice from a salesperson "you can wear it with jeans."

Things that look crappy on a hanger could look gorgeous once you put them on.

If something is expensive, leave it behind for 24 hours. If you're still obsessed with it the next day, buy it.

Biggest turnoff from a salesperson "This is our bestselling ______!"

If you're feeling lost, trail the chicest woman in the store and check out what she checks out.

In-store lighting is not to be trusted. Stand by a window.

Color

Black will always be the new black. Anyone who says otherwise is selling something.

Mixing navy and black or pink and red can look very chic.

You can put almost any prints together as long as they have something in common (color, shape, style).

The one remaining style rule to never break: no more than three colors to one outfit.

Crazy colors can be basics: We've had to resole our coral patent ballet flats a zillion times while barely wearing out black ones.

Tailoring & Fit

It's good to have a pair of jeans hemmed for flats and another pair hemmed for heels.

Fitted jackets and coats always make you feel skinny, even with you're pregnant.

If you have curves and want to wear voluminous clothes, get to know your belts. It's the only way you won't look like a dump truck.

Your waist isn't where you think it is. It's about three inches higher. The most flattering spot for a waisted dress to hit is just under the rib cage.

The stitching at the top of the jeans will never stretch, so size up if it leaves a red mark.

Find a good tailor and be very nice to him. He could be your greatest asset.

Cigarette pants with flats will always make you look feminine.

An off the shoulder top should still skim your shoulder.

Shoes & Bags & Little Leather Things

If shoes are only marginally comfortable when you try them on in the store you can be sure they'll be excruciating on the street.

Always have two pairs of boots in your closet that aren't scuffed up tall black ones and flat brown ones.

If you invest in a Chanel bag, you will carry it for the rest of your life.

By age 30, every woman should own three pairs of comfortable flats, three pairs of walkable heels, and two pairs of total sexpot stilettos.

Know how to use your local shoe repair--they can also clean your bags, punch holes in your belts, and dye stuff.

The best and most comfortable flats are usually the cheapest.

In life you will need four bags- a big slouchy weekend one, two-good-looking but practical work ones, and a sleek evening one. Minimum.

Resole your favorite shoes as often as it takes. You will miss them when they die.

Styling

A long-sleeved gown can be completely sexy. The same is not true of a long skirt and long-sleeve top, which can look completely polygamist.

A leather jacket looks great with a party dress.

Pairing a boyish piece with a girly one will make you look like you know how to dress.

When all else fails, a skinny cardigan can pull any look together.

In a Pinch and a New Found Love

First things first, have you ever caught yourself in a beauty pinch? For example, you are about to go out of town on an airplane that has a schedule time for departure and you haven't had time all week to pick up refills of your make-up? Well if you have you know how I felt last Thursday night. That's when you have to start thinking outside the box as my boss would say. So, I sent a message to my cousin Liz who lives back home and works in the best salon and is a licensed esthetician and make up artist. She is the one who originally did my make up, so who else to better turn to? The easy part: I needed a refill on two products that I am currently using. The hard part: I was using another brand of blush and finally ran out and needed a replacement and I also wanted a new lip gloss. All of this was major because of Kelly's wedding on Saturday!

You know someone is an expert when they can pick out a color blush and lip gloss that will look good on you when you can't be there in person. Liz knew without any hesitation exactly what would work! These are the kind of people we all need to have in our life, whether they are family, close friends, or someone who truly knows you to help you when you are in a pinch. Thank you, Liz!!!

Fast forward to Saturday, I was in my bathroom putting my make up on for the wedding my Mom walked by and and asked if I curl my eyelashes. I of course said no, because anyone who really knows me, knows I like to keep the steps in my routine down to a minimum. Also, those who know me, know I have long full eyelashes and everyone has always paid me a compliment on them and by everyone I mean my Mom and her sisters. I never thought to curl my eyelashes, I thought that was for people with short and sparse eyelashes. Well I am here to tell you, I curled my eye lashes for the first time on Saturday and I can't believe how much bigger my eyes look! I am so happy my mom mentioned it to me because the thought never crossed my mind.

This little $4.00 gadget is now my new best friend!

Thanks Mom!

Do you use an eyelash curler?

What is one product in your beauty routine that you recently discovered and now can't live without?

Five Faves Linky Party

I am linking up with Kelley at The Eclectic Owl you should too!

Here are 5 of my favorite things:

1. Skinceuticals A.G.E Eye Cream

I'm in love with this eye cream. It has dramatically improved my dark cirlces and fine lines. I dedicated an entire post to this product, read more here, I know you will thank me.

2. St. Ives Green Tea Exfoliating Scrub

I have been a long time user and believer in St. Ives Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub. Recently I saw an ad for St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub. Both of these products exfoliate to prevent blemishes and clean pores. I look forward to scrubbing my face (every other morning) with either one of these products, it feels so good! Good bye dirt and dull dead skin, hello radiant blemish complexion.





3. Jello Mousse Temptations

I love mousse. I mean love love love it and these treats are delicious. I have only tried the Chocolate Indulgence, but I am hooked! For only 60 calories, this sweet treat leaves me satisfied.



4. Tide with Febreze

I actually discovered this detergent back in the summer, but I absolutely love how good it smells!



5. St. Ives Softening Whipped Silk Lotion

This has been my favorite lotion for I don't know how long. It's not greasy, it goes on very light, and smells great, all while hydrating and silkening your skin! What's there not to love?

What are five of your favorite products?

You Don't Know Jacques!

One of my favorite fall/winter nail polish colors is OPI's You Don't Know Jacques! I painted my nails this color for the first time this season over the weekend and every time I look at my nails, a huge smile appears across my face! I think nothing completes an outfit more then manicured and polished nails.

If you don't know how trendy taupe is!

What's one of your favorite fall/winter nail colors?

Dark Circles

Do you suffer from dark circles? I went to an all girl’s private high school where we wore uniforms and could have cared less about make up, except on the weekends of course. We had to worry more about wearing the right kind of white socks and making sure the writing on the t-shirts we wore under our uniform polo shirts didn’t show through to avoid getting demerits. There was neither time nor need for make up in an all girl’s school and I didn’t mind one bit.

What I did mind though was my Mom constantly asking me if I felt okay. Every time she would ask this question I would always ask her what makes her think I don’t feel well. And I got the same response every time, well you just don’t have good color in your face and your dark circles are really dark. THANKS, MOM! The dark circles under my eyes are more or less the color of a bruise, dark and somewhat purple. Not only do I suffer from dark circles, but my eye lids are also a little bit darker then the rest of my complexion.

Ever since College, I pretty much don’t leave the house without make up on. And by make up I don’t mean a full face of make up. What I mean is at least a little bit of cover up to take care of my dark circles and any blemishes. Of course, if I am going to the gym or outside to exercise I gladly leave the make up behind.

You might remember reading one of my very first posts on my New Year’s Resolution, which I happen to think, is a fabulous resolution—treating myself to a facial each month in my quest to put an end to my adult acne. It was during one of my monthly facials in February or March the esthetician gave me a sample of SkinCeuticals A.G.E Eye Complex.

She told me it was a great moisturizer for around my eyes and it would help with my dark circles. I hadn’t even mentioned anything to her about my dark circles, she obviously noticed herself, how couldn’t she?! I was beyond excited to give it a try, who doesn’t love trying trying something new. The product information says it can take anywhere from four to six weeks before you will notice an improvement. I kid you not, I noticed a difference in 3-5 days. My dark circles were fading!!!

This product is not cheap, but it is worth every single penny, not to mention I’ve had the same jar for a little over 6 months now and I still have some ways to go.

My Mom and two of my aunts and one of my cousins came to visit in March and everyone noticed how smooth my under eyes are, the fine lines that tend to grab your concealer had disappeared, and of course my dark circles were drastically minimized. Since I already purchased a jar of my own, I gave my Mom the rest of my sample to take home. She was hooked too after noticing such a significant improvement in her dark circles and fine lines!

Say Good Bye to Dark Circles!!!

I Have a Love Hate Relationship...

with my hair that is! Have you ever felt the same way?

Since I can remember, I've always struggled with liking my hair. It was close to 4 years ago now that I stumbled upon my beloved hair stylist, Olga. One afternoon at work, when I had enough of looking at myself in the mirror and wanting to hide in a corner, I picked up the phone and called a reputable hair salon and asked to make an appointment the next morning. I didn't care with who, I just wanted to hear them say someone is available in the morning. That is the day I met Olga!

What you don't know is, starting in 8th grade my Mom's sister, my Aunt Joanie, a hair dresser before she had kids, started highlighting my hair. My natural hair color is a what I call "mouse-y brown" basically nothing you would ever like. To make this story short, I had my Aunt Joanie highlight my hair blonde, heavier and heavier each time. At the time I was in love with platinum blonde and in no time my entire head was that color. To say I loved the color of my hair then is an understatement, but it was time for a change.

It was that morning, 4 years ago, I met Olga and she transformed my hair from blonde to brown and I was in love yet again. It was such a dramatic change when I saw myself in the mirror I felt like I had a complete makeover. It was so drastic that some people had a hard time recognizing me!

From that day forward Olga was "my girl." I was in college at the time so I would plan my hair appointments during my visits home. I continued to schedule hair appointments with Olga up until recently due to the fact it has been harder for me to make it home exactly when my hair is acting up and I've had enough.

Finding a hair salon here was a huge task but six years later I was ready to take the leap. I did lots and lots of researched, talked to a few friends, and finally found a hair stylist here that is as talented as Olga.

Back to my hair, I have very thick straight oily hair. Sounds great, huh? I am the girl you see at the hair salon with enough hair on the ground to make 5 wigs and still plenty of hair left on her head. That might be an exaggeration, but it's pretty darn close to the truth. They have to thin out my hair a substanaul amount just so it with lay nicely otherwise it's this huge over powering hair ball for my small face.

I unfortunately have the type of hair you need to wash every day otherwise it looks like you could fry an egg on top of my head from the oil (not really, but pretty darn close) I am so envious of those of you who only wash your hair every few days and your hair looks better with every day that passes from when you last washed it. Maybe that will be me someday, I can only hope.

I've had my hair short and long, with and without bangs, several different colors, and the list goes on. Surprisingly enough, I'm really not picky when it comes to my hair! I usually tell the hair stylist to do what they think is best, afterall they're the experts, right? And we all know hair grows, so what's the big deal?

I am rarely that person that receives compliments on their hair style but rather compliments its color. Which leads me to believe I haven't found the hair style for me quite yet. Probably because I am always changing it. I am the client that every appointment wants to do something different with their hair, is that bad? I just see it as one of the few things that you can change about yourself and change quickly!

Well if you haven't guessed by now, yesterday was one of those bad hair days that lasted all day. I would catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and think, "yuck!" And if you happen to get lucky like me, that really bad hair day happens the day before your scheduled appointment, thank ga! Because I know there is nothing that a hair appointment can't fix!

Bubble Bath

OPI Bubble Bath is my go to color for my nails. It doesn't matter what time of the year it is or the color of your skin, nothing looks better then freshly manicured nails painted with OPI Bubble Bath. I agree that it is better to keep your nail color simple and subdued while painting your toes something wild and crazy. I have never been to a nail salon that doesn't have a bottle of OPI Bubble Bath available, but it doesn't hurt to purchase a bottle for yourself to keep at home. It will come in handy midweek for touch ups or when your in a pinch and don't have time visit a nail salon.

Happy Shopping!

New Year's Resolutions

You are probably wondering why I am writing about my New Years' Resolution when it is almost the middle of June, but its because I've learned through the years in order to keep your resolution you need to make it something enjoyable and beneficial that will change or improve something you feel strongly about in your life.

As an adult I have continued to struggle with acne, sometimes I think it is worse now then when I was a teenager. I have tried everything from different types of prescription medications, topical creams, and face washes to over the counter products I've read about or friends have recommended. Some have helped improve my acne temporarily others have instantly made it worse, but nothing has caused it to stop completely.

On a trip home over the holidays, my Mom and I spent some time researching natural remedies for adult acne. The more research we did, the more I understood acne at my age is hormone related. It was from that day forward that I altered my diet to exclude certain items all together and a limited amount of others.

Since I was making these adjustments to my diet, I also decided to treat myself once a month to a deep cleansing facial. A facial a month is something we all should be doing, but if you are anything like me, I treat myself and make a commitment to set an appointment for next month and somehow it never happens.

I am very happy to say just shy of 7 months later, I have kept up with my New Years' resolution each month and am truly happy with the results. I still suffer from breakouts, but they are much improved.

What's your New Years resolution for 2010? Have you stuck with it? It's never too late to start...