Pick 6| Fall 2017

Better late than never right? Winter is basically over (not that mother nature got word of it) and I'm ready for Spring to ... spring. But before we move on, let's dive into some of the items from Fall that left a good impression on me.

Hair| Cantu for kids leave in condition
Button's hair loves moisture, as most of our tresses do. I've decided to revisit a product that I hadn't used since my college years. Her hair of course love water but with this product, her curls P-O-P.






Fashion| Denim Tops
I spent Fall dressing what I considered to be comfy cute. Thanks to my denim tops, I've been able to easily throw together an outfit and still be comfortable as I transition from day to night. I love Ava & Viv's denim tunics and button downs as they are long, loose and easy to iron. I wear them with dress slacks, leggings or skinny jeans.

Beauty & Skin| Kemi Organics Oyl
I was introduced to Kemi Oyl via an event's swag bag few years back and honestly forgot about it. I rediscovered it right before the start of Fall and started incorporating it in my hair and body oil mix. This oil blend mixed with what I normally use leaves my hair soft before I even add a cream conditioner. Not to mention, the fragrance is wonderful.




Accessories| Hematite Ring
I've been researching energy crystals/stones, their properties and benefits for a while and this Fall, added a hematite ring to my arsenal. Hematite is a stone that has been known to convert negative vibes/energy into positive vibes as well has help calm people during stressful moments. 
I have relied on this ring almost as much as my worry stone during times of anxiety and keep it close by for meditation. It now isn't so much an accessories but a necessity.





Random| Sweet Potatoes
I know I'm not to the only one that associates sweet potato with Fall. In all actuality, I eat them year round but this Fall I cranked it up and enjoyed many meat free meals that consisted of a sweet potato mash, spinach and basmati rice. They played savory role in my meals seasoning them with salt, pepper and garlic.




Share with me! What have been your recent faves? 

Pick 6| Summer 2017

So, I guess Fall is finally in full swing because honey... There is a chill in the air. Welp! With that being said, let's jump into my Summer favorites.

Hair & Skin| Water
I have made my routine simple over the years because my hair likes what it likes so, you'll see I have posted about water before but hey, we're made of water and we thrive from it so....yeah. I still spritz my hair with water before applying product to assist with moisture. Adding water before products helps with the softness of my hair. 






Fashion| Faux Locs
Beauty bounces back to hair. I took a chance twice on faux locs and... ABSOLUTELY LOVED THEM! As much as I love locs, I'm scared of this permanent style but wanted to see how I'd look with them. So, this is a new style in my arsenal.







Beauty| Coconut Oil
I love coconut oil: cook with it, mix it in DIY body scrubs as well as hair and body pomades. Now, I've started using it for makeup removal. I don't wear a lot of makeup currently as I'm trying to take better care of my skin but I still fill in my browns and wear mascara. My mascara is hard to remove so applying coconut oil nourishes my skin and removes product easily.

Accessories| Fitbit Flex
My fitbit flex is an accessory I attempt to wear everyday (other than my ring). I keep it on to see if I can beat my personal best day-to-day/week-to-week. Even though it is an older model, I keep it fresh/new for me with difference bands

Random|Space Saver Bag
With the transition to cooler weather most people rotate their wardrobe... I haven't done this yet however, something that makes it easy it to switch out clothes in my closet is moving them into space saver bags and sliding them under our bed. I use these bags for clothes, linens and scarfs. Since I haven't rotated my wardrobe, I simply open the bags and pull out what is needed and put them back under the bed.



What were your Summer Faves?

Dollar Tree Mini Haul

Hey hey! 

I have a new [somewhat still] new love for Dollar Tree and would like to share of the items that I have purchased over the months so....Let's jump into my: 

L.A. COLORS| Color Balm

I shared these balms in my Pick 6 For Fall, They are dups of Baby Lips by Maybelline. I purchased both to see which one looks better on my skin tone and I do prefer the color Ka-Pow (balm to the left). The color payoff is nice considering it is $1 and you can kind of customize how sheer you'd like to color: For a sheerer look, I put a regular/clear moisturizer on before applying the L.A. COLORS balm. 

Sassy+Chic| Nail Stickers

I have yet to use them so fingers crossed that they work just as well as the Essie ones that I found in here before. I really like the different designs that are offered so much that I used them a stocking stuffer for Christmas.

OPI| Nail Lacquer

Yes! DT had the nerve to sell opi polishes!!!! I tried to purchase as many as I could because they also were used as gifts to friends, family and co-workers. The 3 colors that I tracked in Dollar Tree were: Rollin' In Cashmere (left), Next Stop...The Bikini  Zone (middle) and I Carol About You (right)

Women's Fashion Socks

In my opinion, you can't beat socks for $1. I think this is a good buy due to the different patterns also. 

Stickers

I have been collecting a couple sheets of stickers to continue working on our family photo album(s). 

Kraft Paper| Lables

I feel like you can never have too many labels. Especially when you have storage containers to rotate out items like decorations and tools. They also come in handy in the kitchen for cooking and/or baking ingredients. 

ClipClicks| Color Ink Pens (8ct)

This was also a good deal in my opinion; 8 pens... all different colors... for 1 buck! I like using them to signs and decorate greeting cards and to use when taking notes (sometimes I enjoy color coding my notes). I have purchased so many packs to keep on standby and to give to people.

Coffee Cups

Another items that I used and gifted are these coffee cups (a knock off version of k-cups). I really like the simplicity of the packaging and it doesn't taste too bad either

What interesting items have you spotted at your local DT?

Pick 6| Fall 2017

Clearly Fall has come and gone and I failed to share my...

Hair| Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
To keep my hair mosturized with a light hold, I use this product. It seems to be made for a more looser curl pattern but does the job keeping my hair boosted with H2O as it helps pull moisture out of the air for your curls.












Fashion|tights/leggings
I have never been a big fan of tights but I cameacross some cute ones in Rose's (think of a cheaper version of Ross). I even found a pair of leggings that have a fleece lining to keep you warm. And all were under $10.00.












Beauty|L.A. Girl cosmetics setting spray
I have posted this before however, I'm still enjoying L.A. Girl's setting spray. It is light weight and doesn't leave my skin looking too oily after applying. 





















Skin| Shea Moisture African Black Soap
My skin is finicky so I have to switch up cleansing products as the cooler seasons come; Neutrogena products seem to dry my skin out more in the cooler months so I have started switching to black soap. I always have coupons for Shea Moisture products so I'm able to grab a few bars every now and then. 

Accessories| L.A. Colors Color Balm lipbalm
This is a product found in Dollar Tree. It is [in my opinion] L.A. Color's version of Baby Lips by Maybelline. Note: for best results, use after applying a true lip moisturizer to keep sheer

















Random|Keurig
I'm late on the train for Keurigs but I'm loving it.

I purchase a lot of K cups from discount stores like Ollies, Ross and Dollar Tree and have some that are gifted to me. Big thank you to the person who gifted me this guy. I also use the warm water to prep oatmeal and food for the little one.

Easy DIY| Sensory Gel Mat

Hey hey!

Being a new mommy and being a mommy to a child that is still small, I have been listening very carefully to Button's pediatrician and physical therapist on what we can do to help with her development. 

One thing that I really want to take on is DIY projects that she can use because most of them are cost effective and... I LOVE TO CREATE!

Now that Button is improving in her motor skills, I wanted to go ahead and make her a sensory gel mat to help her out and to give her something to be interested in during tummy time.

What You Will Need: 

• Large or Jumbo freezer bags
• Hair Gel
• Pom Poms (or anything soft )
• Duct Tape
• Clean place to work

Luckily, I found all the items that needed/wanted at Dollar Tree (>>>click here<<< for my Dollar Tree Mini Haul)

Step 1| Pour

Take your freezer bag and fill it with hair gel. I was able to find Jumbo bags and clear hair gel but feel free to use whatever you are able to find. With the bag being larger, I purchased 2 bottles of gel.

Step 2| Add

Now that the gel has been poured, you can add your "entertainment". I chose to use soft pom poms however, you can use round buttons, foam figures...Again, whatever your able to find that is soft, flat and will NOT puncture the bag.

Step 3| Close

Now that all of your items are in the bag, ensure you have taken out as much air as possible and close it up. Something that assisted me in closing the bag was rolling the opening of the bag down one time after closing it and then applying my duct tape along the top to keep the bag folded down

Step 4| Complete

Now that the bag is closed, you can use more duct tape to create border around the bag. I doubled the layer of tape to enforce the bags edges. 

And now your little one has a new toy to play with. It was fun to make and keeps Button's attention while we trick her into a little tummy time. 

Have you ever made a sensory gel mat? If so, what items did you use and where did you find them?

Pick 6| Winter

Hello loves! Springs has sprung in a sense so I wanted to share my favorites from Winter:

Hair| Whipped Shea Butter
This item is nothing new to the blog as I have shared the recipe on how to make this lovely whipped shea butter and talked about it in previous Pick 6 Posts. I use it on my hair and body a lot during the colder months for conditioning. Want to know how to create it? CLICK HERE

Fashion| Joggers
I am pretty frumpy when I don't have to leave the house but when we have company over... I try to look semi decent. Joggers help me achieve this. I have found them at Target and Rose's (a store similar to Ross and Marshalls). I have an Aztec print, dark and light grey pair that stay in heavy rotation.







Beauty| Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes.The best mascara I have used so far. It really defines my lashes. Also, I am "multiple application" gal and it makes my lashes look great.

Skin| Facial Brush
Such a simple product makes such a difference. I purchased this from Dollar Tree in a recent haul (Click Here to view my recent haul) and have been using it very often. I rub it on my black soap bar and scrub my face at the end of the day for some deep cleaning.






Accessories|Nude polishes
I like more natural nail colors during the colder months, so I lean towards nude polishes. I have a few from various brands (Sally Hanson, essie, and charming charlies) but my favorite is "Over The Taupe" by opi. I've have been using this up when I have my pampering days.





Random| Baby's First Years Bottle Warmer
This item is a God send. When it was given to us I had no clue that I would end up using it as often but this really comes in handy for those middle of the night feedings. I load up a cooler with Button's milk and take it upstairs for the night and this warmer sits right on the nightstand. I can changer her diaper and the bottle is warm by the time I have finished.


So, what items were you loving on this Winter?

Dollar Tree Mini Haul

I have become a fan of Dollar Tree over the past few years as they have some items that I [personally] never found there prior. Other than cleaning supplies, I have found e.l.f. products, glue guns, essie nail decals and other items that have wowed me.

A new DT recently opened by my house and of course I went in to take a look at their inventory and ran across some really nice items and wanted to share what I found: 

Books | Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe

I own and have read some of Mary Monroe's books before and was very surprised when I saw this book in Dollar Tree. Retailed for $24.00.

Books| Special Occasions Craft book

Pretty cool book on paper crafts; banners, cards, place cards and more. This book is full of cute ideas and even has templates in the back to cut out and use as a guide. 

Beauty| Face Mask with Charcoal

I have a regimen that I try my best to stick to when it comes to skin care, One thing I enjoy doing at least once a month is a face mask (on that rare occasion when I have a full day of pampering). I figured why not take a shot at this mask at DT because I enjoy using mask with charcoal and well....it was ONE DOLLAR.

Beauty| Cooling Face Mask 

To contribute to my full pampering day, I will incorporate this cooling face mask to my day to help with puffy eyes (which may or may not have gained with our new addition finally coming home for us to love on). You simply place the mask in the refrigerator for a few minutes and then put it on for a few minutes to combat the puffiness. 

Beauty| Facial Brush

I actually use this facial brush every night before going to bed to assist in exfoliating and clearing my pores; I dampen the brush and rub it across my Shea Moisture Black Soap then clean my face. I have noticed that it helps my face out a lot to clear up dead skin and avoid using a wash cloth which can house germs. It also comes with a brush cover. I since gone back and purchased 2 more.. 

What interesting items have you found in your local Dollar Tree?

Pick 6 | Summer 2015

Well hello and welcome to Fall. This season came in with cold rain and wind from Hurricane Joaquin. It is really making me look back on the past weeks of warm weather. With that being said, lets jump into my...

Hair | Entwine Couture Exotique Butter-Creme Hydrator
No major changes with hair this summer as I'm still rocking with the Butter-Creme Hydrator from this past spring until it is all gone. I can apply the hydrator to my hair WITHOUT spritzing with water and my hair feels soft and rejuvenated.

Fashion | Tank tops
For years I wasn't a sleeveless gal because of the amount of fat on my triceps. It makes it hard to find blazers and/or blouses that fit properly so, I hid under tops that actually fit. This summer, I have thrown all that out of the window because... It is too hot to hide. Now, that doesn't mean I'm wearing halter tops but I have been in and out of Target buying tank tops. I like the Ava & Viv tanks and have them in grey, aqua, burgundy and black.




Beauty | Couture Couture by Juicy Couture
While this fragrance has been around for a while, I was introduced to it in December of last year. The top notes are citrus based (mandarin oranges and grace fruit) which for me fit perfect as a refreshing summer fragrance. I've really been observing the packaging of items and this bottle is very cute.


Skin | Water
I have shared water has being one of my Pick 6 in Spring  2014 when it came to hair. It has definitely helped me this summer in keeping my skin clear of breakouts. I fell off horribly and have been enjoying juice and SODA (yikes).



Accessories | My wedding ring
For a few months I hadn't been able to wear my full set due to *clears throat* fat[ter] fingers (lol). I have finally been able to wear them now and didn't realize how much I missed them. Sir upgraded me this past Christmas after he saw me [online] window shopping. (Sorry, I'm not giving details on where it came from).



Random | knee highs 
Now you are probably wondering "is she seriously TALKING about rocking knee highs... And in the SUMMER of all seasons?!" Yes I am, BUT... not the way they were intended; with me still rocking the undercut, a puff is my signature hairstyle however, I know it puts stress on my hair. To make it a little easier to wear and put less tension on my hair, I use a knee high in place of a ponytail holder; It gives me the ability to adjust it as loose or as tight as I want unlike a ponytail holder.
I simply tie the knee high around my hair and carefully pull it until I have the desired height and tension.

What items did you enjoy this summer?