What I Wore..."Husky Red Run"

I found myself in Boston over the weekend to spend a day with some good friends and travel on the Red Line to some cool spots to hang out and let go of the work week. The weather was a bit cool so I had to bring along a blazer to keep in a little warmth and I finally got to break in my new SKCH +3 sneakers!!

Blazer and Top: F21; Pants: Zara; Sneakers: Sketchers SKCH +3

Necklaces: H&M; Ring and Bag: F21

Close up of my kicks

Some pics of my night:

A random E line sign with my Alma Mata

Somedays...I forget how great it is to visit Boston :)

It's Only Natural..."Oils and Natural Hair"

When it comes to having well nourished and moisturized hair, it's important to put a focus on not only the process of cleansing and conditioning, but what you put in your hair afterwards to help keep it that way. The use of hair oils can help aide in achieving and maintaining the hair you want. And while we can find a lot of these products in hair and beauty stores...we can also find some of these products in a very unlikely place...such as the grocery store! Natural oils are often found in a wide variety of company made hair oils, leave-ins and hairdressers, but sometimes the best way to get the most out of something is from the purest form of it. The natural oils of olive, avocado, coconut and others can help lead to having and keeping shiny, stronger, softer and healthier hair. Besides swearing by Vatika Enriched Coconut oil, I also use oilve oil and black castor and love the results! Here's a list of some natural oils that can do wonders for your hair:

• Sweet Almond Oil: While smoothing the hair cuticles to help control shedding, it helps nourish and promote hair growth, shine and thickness.
• Olive Oil: Remember to use Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I often use this if I'm in need of a good all natural deep conditioning and it was also the first natural oil that I used religiously when I first started going natural. It helps control dandruff, moisturizes and gives hair that needed strength.
• Castor Oil: Can help to promote hair growth, thickens hair, moisturizes, reduces split ends and helps prevent scalp infections. Castor oil also helps  prevent thinning. There was a point in my youth when I wore ponytails sooo often that my hair was literally thinning like crazy and castor oil, specifically, Jamaican Black castor oil, helped stop the thinning and promoted hair growth to give me back my beloved strands.
• Coconut Oil: Or the wonder oil, as I like to call it, helps to strengthen, moisturize, thicken and prevent damage to hair. It helps aide in the prevention of dandruff and but of course promotes hair growth. 
• Avocado Oil: I have only used avocado oil a few times in my own hair, but reading the benefits may just have me reaching for it a little bit more, lol. It's great for creating more shine, moisturizing and strengthening hair. Avocado oil is also an alternative to use for deep conditioning.

I am always on the lookout for new oils to try and to reap the benefits of it as well. What oils do you use or recommend?

The Life And Times..."A Weekend in the Hamptons"

Main Beach

Over the Labor Day weekend, some of my fav girlies and I found ourselves in Easthampton as a get-a-way/birthday celebration for my friend Nicole. We had an amazing time going around the Hamptons. We relaxed and took in everything from Main Beach in Easthampton to the sights and shops in Sag Harbor and Southhampton and a night out in Montauk. I decided to try and hone my skills at photography while I was there and took loads of pics of any and everything I could. Here are a few snaps that I took of my mini vacay:

Sag Harbor

Amazing jewelry in a cute little shop

The Life And Times..."Fashion's Night Out"

I made my way down to SoHo yesterday evening to pick up a few items and to attend some of the Fashion's Night Out festivities. Amongst the crowd, I made my way to TopShop, H&M, Zara, Urban Outfitters and Bloomingdale's...before running away from the chaotic streets that make up FNO.
I browsed and bought  and browsed some more while loving the excitement. I also took pics with my brand new Nikon D3100 camera...something that I have been yearning to own forever! I plan on taking a lot more pics with the little beauty :). I spent a good amount of time in Zara, making a list of what I may be looking forward to owning eventually, lol! Here are a few pics of the night:

Crowded streets of SoHo...

Well...I believe you have a protester Zara?!

Style Profile..."SKCH +3 Sneakers"

Isabel Marant wedge sneakers

Ever since Isabel Marant decided that having a hidden heel in a pair of sneakers were the business...a majority of the world (including me)...decided it was the business too. However, the price tag of the Marants are out of control for the average shoe loving woman (at about $800 dollars for a pair...I literally cringe at the thought!). In order to fill the want of the everyday woman, many other designers and brands came out of their workrooms to deliver. Marc Jacobs, Ash and Steve Madden are just some of the options that we have to acquire the look.

Steve Madden

Ash

Marc Jacobs

Now...for me...I spend money where the purchase can be justified (if only for my own peice of mind). And even those other options were not what enough to make me cop them. The Steve Madden version runs you about $200 (seriously). So one day while I was perusing the September issues... I came across...Sketchers SKCH +3, a new line of sneakers that all have hidden wedges in the sole!

Amazing right!? So nice...I bought it twice, lol!

When I saw them I couldn't wrap my brain around Sketchers having a pair of sneakers that I would even consider owning (no offense Sketchers...), but...it happened and they are so tastefully done that the design and materials don't scream...Ewww...but rather Ahhhhhh, lol! I tried them on and was in love...so in love that I copped two pairs... Black and Black/Natural. And why did I pick up two pairs you may be wondering?! Because not only are they gorgeous, but at $89 each... I could just say that they were justified :)

The SKCH +3 line also comes in a wide array of colors, from pink and orange to grey and blue/red multi. If these sneakers catch your interest...snatch them up before they're gone!!

Up close: Black/Natural

Up close: Black/Black

Style Profile..."Fashion's Night Out"

So tomorrow night is the 4th annual Fashion's Night Out in NYC!! For those who are familiar, FNO is a way to get the country and the world out and about in the name of fashion and while doing so....shop, mingle, drink, eat and meet designers and celebrities who are all about getting us to appreciate the excitement too!! I've been to the event every year so far and while I don't always buy something, going out and getting into the mix of things brings a smile to my face...although I am a bit turned off by the crazy crowds that appear ( I may like being in the midst of things, but I'm not a fan of mayhem!). So many stores in NYC are participating, including: H&M, Bloomingdale's, Zara, Saks Fifth and many more!! It's a fashion extravaganza!!! Check out fashionsnightout.com for participating cities and countries.

Every year Fashion's Night Out also sells cute shirts and accessories for the much loved event. Here are a few of the items for this year:

Product Junkie..."Karen's Body Beautiful Luscious Locks Hair Mask"

When I went to the CurlBox and Karen's Body Beautiful meetup back in June, I was given a free sample of KBB Luscious Locks Hair Mask. I can never say no to free hair products, so I made sure to cop one and kindly try it out on my strands.
According to the Karen's Body Beautiful site, the KBB Luscious Locks Hair Mask is an all natural deep conditioning treatment and is said to work best for thick kinks, curls or waves, relaxed, color treated or dry hair. Now I have thick kinks/curls and somewhat dry hair, so my hopes were high on the results.
The description of the product states: "Luscious Locks Hair Mask is a wonderfully nutritious conditioning treatment that you can use  as often as your hair needs it. Conditioning doesn't get deeper than this because everything you need for your hair is in this jar. Saturate your strands with this rich blend of herbs like shikakai and rosemary which are known to promote hair growth, arnica and nettle to strengthen your hair follicles and aloe for much needed moisture. It's called Luscious Locks for a reason."
The description alone had me curious as well to test out the product and see what the results were all about.
After shampooing my hair, I applied the Luscious Locks onto my strands from root to tip as directed and worked it through with a wide-tooth comb. I let the Luscious Locks sit for 20 minutes and then proceeded to wash out the treatment.

My thoughts: As I was adding the conditioner, I noticed that my hair felt very soft to the touch and the comb through was a breeze. I always dread combing through my hair when washing, due to a fear of the knots and tangles that can occur during the shampoo process. After washing out the conditioner, I noticed how soft and manageable my hair was and that detangling was easy to get through as well. The Luscious Locks Hair Mask was true to its word about moisture because my strands which can be quite dry at times, was moisturized and ready for the rest of my styling routine. I also loved the smell of the product (you can take in the rosemary oil as you're adding in the treatment!)

My hair enjoyed the product and it cooperated with the ingredients fairly well. No frizz or unruliness after use, which is a plus. Would I use it in place of my other tried and true products? Most likely not. The results were amazing, but I have received basically the same results with my Nothing But deep conditioner and its less than half the price of the Luscious Locks. An 8oz jar runs you $25 dollars, while the Nothing But Intensive Mask costs about $8.99 for the 16oz jar. And while I do love Karen's Body Beautiful products and understand the price ranges of self owned business...I'm all about getting more bang for my buck, lol! So even though, I may not purchase the product because I found one that works just as great, I will finish up my 4oz sample and I would however, recommend the product in good faith to those who have been wanting to try it out for themselves.