Helloooo friends! Now I don't know about you all, but I am in full Christmas mode! I genuinely feel like I've put up more holiday decor this year than I ever have in my entire life (see my decor here), but I am more than okay with it!
In this week's blog post, I'm sharing a YouTube video of how I turned my once very plain and simple Christmas wreath into a wreath full of holiday pizzaz using holiday decor pieces from my recent Christmas decor haul.
Can you believe we have reached the final month of the year 2021? It feels as if this year has flown by in the blink of an eye and I'm not sure how to feel about it, haha.
This week I'm sharing a YouTube video of how I decorated my home for the holidays. I hope you enjoy it!
Hi friends! Earlier this week I did some home decor shopping for the upcoming Christmas holiday and I'm sharing everything I purchased here with you today!
SHEIN has major sales happening all month long that you need to know about because these deals are too good not to share!
Happening now through November 12th is their 11/11 Anniversary Sale, after that is their Black Friday Sale from November 15th - 27th, and then their Cyber Monday Sale from November 28th - 30th.
SHOP HAUL
I've linked all of the pieces from this haul above for you to check out.
I would love to know, which of these pieces is your favorite? Let me know down in the comments section of this blog post below.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and I hope you enjoyed the video!
Months ago, I wrote in my planner that I wanted to write a post sharing my most-worn jewelry pieces and today is the day I finally get around to it.
Well, sort of.
Instead of sharing all of my most-worn jewelry pieces (which I will share soon) I want to share my collection of pieces from one of my favorite jewelry brands who I wear all the time, Awe Inspired.
Awe Inspired creates beautiful and meaningful high-quality jewelry pieces that are designed to inspire and last a lifetime. This brand is mission-driven, female-founded, and gives back to the community by donating 20% of all proceeds to several charities.
Here is a quote directly from the Awe Inspired website that describes who they are as a company: "We strive to raise inner strength, celebrate diversity, spread feminism, and advocate for social justice every day. And bring a little more beauty into the world with storied jewelry that will inspire awe for generations."
I resonate with that statement so much which is why I'm such a fan of this brand, and the fact that they create and design such beautiful jewelry is even more reason for me to adore them.
Now that you know why I love this brand and why you should check them out. Here are the jewelry pieces that I own from Awe Inspired.
Woman Power Goddess Charm Necklace - This necklace combines the female Venus symbol with a protesting fist and is embellished with a purple amethyst gemstone. I love this piece so much because to me, this necklace represents the strong and powerful divine feminine energy within me. // Available in gold and silver, and in several chain lengths and chain styles.
Virgo Necklace - This is a dual-sided necklace with a celestial goddess on one side and her corresponding constellation on the other. My zodiac signs is Virgo (and so are my sun and rising sign) so I resonate with this sign so much, I feel like she represents me in so many ways which is why I love this necklace. // Available in all zodiac signs, gold and silver, and in several chain lengths and chain styles.
Diamond Moon Locket - This oval-shaped diamond moon locket necklace is a timeless piece and can hold two photos inside. The reason why I'm so excited about this being my very first locket necklace is because I think it's such a significant piece that allows me to carry something special and personal close to my heart. // Available in gold and silver.
Curb Chain Necklace - A classic layering piece like this curb chain necklace is an essential item to have in a jewelry collection. This can be worn alone for a minimalist look or layered to compliment other pieces which is why I love it.
Medusa Necklace - This Medusa necklace is my most worn piece and the one I've had the longest. Medusa has been immortalized as a totem to ward off evil and she remains a symbol of female empowerment threatening patriarchy. For those reasons I admire this powerful and badass bitch. // Available in gold and silver, and in several chain lengths and chain styles.
Mini Ruth Bader Ginsburg Necklace - The Notorious RBG is a legend. She was the court's second female justice and with her fierce attitude she pushed to break barriers allowing her to become an icon. Throughout her career she fought and advocated for women's rights, minorities' rights, gender equality, rights of workers, and other civil liberties. I admire the positive impact she's made in the world which is why I love this piece. // Available in gold and silver, and in several chain lengths and chain styles.
Frida Kahlo Necklace - I admire Frida Kahlo because she was a Mexican artist, visionary, and feminist who defied society's beauty standards, symbolized resilience, and dared to express her genuine personality regardless of judgements. Her artwork was and still is very inspiring as it acted as a tool of powerful expression. For all of these reasons I'm proud to wear this necklace and honor her. // Available in gold and silver, and in several chain lengths and chain styles.
Athena Signet Ring - I wear this ring all the time because I love the style of it and because it has the goddess Athena on it. The war goddess Athena represents wisdom, courage, strength, strategy, and intellect among many other things. A lot of her qualities I admire and so I try to channel them when wearing this piece. // Available in gold and silver.
That rounds up all of the pieces from my Awe Inspired jewelry collection.
I would love to know, which of these pieces is your personal favorite? Let me know your answer by leaving it in the comments section of this post down below.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post, I hope you enjoyed it.
I'm well aware we are now in November now, but how was your Halloween weekend? Did you dress up this year? Go trick or treating? Let me know down in the comments section of this blog post.
This past Halloween weekend was a lot of fun for the most part so today I thought I'd share a recap of how it went.
On Friday night my husband and I had plans to meet up with a group of our friends at a local bar that was hosting a Halloween costume contest. I dressed up as a dark angel and my husband dressed up as the devil in an attempt to match my costume.
Before we headed out to the bar, my sister, her boyfriend, and I pregamed at home like smart adults. Because who likes paying an absurd amount of money on booze at the bar? Not I!
With a handful of double shots in me, that I didn't realize I'd regret so much later, we go on about our mary way. At the bar, I socialized with strangers (as one does when alcohol is in complete control and social anxiety has taken a back seat), played some games (badly) that the bar had set up, and kind-of-sort-of-watched the Astros baseball game.
There were so many amazing costumes on this night but because of my level of drunkenness, it's all kind of a blur. Nonetheless, it was such a fun night!
What wasn't so fun was waking up on Saturday with a hangover that made me feel like crap the entire day. I refused to take painkillers for the pounding headache and chose to ride out the painful train to recovery. Most of this day was spent sleeping, drinking water, and eating nutritious foods. I'd say it helped because later that evening after showering I started feeling a lot better.
Now I know everyone says this the morning after going a little too hard the night before, but I'm not drinking that much again for a very long time, if ever again. My body just can't handle it like it used to lol.
On Sunday I was cured and woke up feeling great and excited about enjoying the day in full. I was feeling so good in fact that I decided to vlog on this day. Click the video below to watch what I did on Halloween Day.
As shown in the video, on this day we were out on the town with our dog and spent most of the day outside and out of the house. Later in the evening, I finished watching the latest season of You on Netflix while snuggled up on my couch.
Overall it was a great memorable weekend spent with amazing people, beautiful weather, and lessons learned.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog post today, I appreciate you so very much. Until next time friends, take care!
If you love a good and affordable designer dupe then this blog post is for you!
Today I'm introducing you to Dossier, a fragrance company that creates clean, non-toxic, and ethical fragrances inspired by designer favorites, all starting at only $29.
I've been using Dossier perfumes for about a year now and can honestly attest to the high quality of both their fragrances and packaging which is why I'm confident that you'll love this brand too.
Each fragrance is delivered in recyclable packaging and includes your scent of choice and a card with information and details about the scent you've selected.
I recently added two new Dossier perfumes to my collection and I'm obsessed with them both!
Here are the two I chose and why.
The first fragrance I chose was this Gourmand White Flowers scent because it's a dupe for one of my absolute favorite perfumes, Flowerbomb by Viktor&Rolf. This dupe retails for only $29, while the original retails for $115.
I own a tiny sample bottle of Flowerbomb and the very first thing I did when I got the Dossier perfume in the mail was to compare the two and I can genuinely say that they both smell shockingly similar, so much so that I cannot tell the difference between the two.
Gourmand White Flowers is described as warm, feminine, and succeeds at being both sweet and sexy with a powdery veil that offers sophistication to the gourmand notes.
Here are the notes in this scent.
Top Notes: Bergamot, Green Tea, Freesia, Berries
Middle Notes: White Flowers, Orchid, Rose
Base Notes: Musk, Patchouli, Caramel, Vanilla
The second fragrance I chose was this Floriental Vanilla scent because it's a dupe for YSL's Black Opium, a perfume I've always wanted to try because I've heard such good things, I just couldn't convince myself to spend over $100 for a bottle. So when I saw that Dossier had a $29 dupe on the website there was no convincing necessary.
Now because I've never owned Black Opium, I cannot personally compare the two. However, based on the reviews left on the Dossier website, many have stated that the two fragrances smell identical to one another. With that said, I can now see why this scent is talked about in such a positive way because it smells phenomenal.
Floriental Vanilla is described as sensuous and yummy and is a multi-faceted fragrance that starts off bright and gourmand, evolving into an intoxicating floralcy with warmth.
Here are the notes in this scent.
Top Notes: Mandarin, Pear, Pink Pepper, Liquorice
Middle Notes: Jasmine, Orange Blossom
Base Notes: Cedarwood, Patchouli, Vanilla, Coffee
Apart from the scents being spectacular, I also want to talk about the high-quality and environmentally-friendly packaging.
Each bottle has a minimalist design and is made of recyclable glass which gives a luxurious feel, the plastic-free magnetic lid is a nice touch to ensure the lid stays put, and the spray tip works great and disperses the product evenly.
I'm a big fan of Dossier for so many reasons, from their affordable price points, their initiatives to be a sustainable brand, their risk-free shopping, and of course the quality of their products, which is why I wanted to share them with you today.
As of now, I have a total of four Dossier fragrances (pictured above) and I will continue adding to this collection as time goes on because there's no way I'm going back to paying nearly $100 for a single designer perfume.
I want to end today's post with a question: Have you tried Dossier? If so, what are your thoughts on their products? Let me know your answers in the comments section of this blog post below.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today and I hope you found this post helpful!
Halloween weekend is in just a few days so here's an easy beginner-friendly last-minute Halloween costume idea that requires no costume at all, just makeup!
Watch my step-by-step tutorial to see how to recreate this eye look from start to finish.
NYX Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Peekaboo Neutral • Available here
Urban Decay Vice Plumping Shine Balm in Name Drop • Available here
I hope you liked this Halloween makeup look and enjoyed watching the tutorial on how to create it.
Thank you for taking some time out of your day to visit my blog and watch my video. I appreciate you more than you'll ever know. Until next time friends, take care!
As I was looking back on past beauty posts I've written here on the blog, I realized that I've never done a skincare routine- which I found shocking! So today I'm sharing my current skincare routine.
Before I begin I'd like to give you a bit of background on my skin type and skin concerns just for reference. I have sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin with hyperpigmentation from acne scars.
When it comes to skincare I like using gentle and simple products that use quality ingredients on my skin. So the products featured in this post are just that and ones I've tried, tested, and gotten my skin's approval.
On the days that I'm wearing makeup, I will use this Derma E Universal Cleansing Balm first to remove my makeup. This product is a cleansing balm that melts on contact and transforms into a lightweight cleansing milk that dissolves makeup, dirt, and excess oil build-up without overly drying the skin.
I take about a quarter-size amount of this cleansing balm and rub it onto my fingers to melt the product then massage it all over my face to melt the makeup. Then I take a reusable cotton round to wipe away the makeup. What I love about this product is that it gently and effectively removes makeup and does so without irritating my skin or causing breakouts.
After using the Universal Cleansing balm, I'll cleanse my skin with this Derma E Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser, and if I'm not wearing makeup I'll skip the previous step and start here. This foaming cleanser is deeply hydrating and gently removes makeup, impurities, and excess oil without stripping the skin of its healthy moisture.
I take about two pumps of this and massage it all over my face then rinse it off with lukewarm water. I love this cleanser because it leaves my skin feeling clean, supple, and hydrated. It doesn't leave a film on the skin nor does it make the skin feel tight.
I use this Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub once a week right after cleansing to exfoliate. This scrub has a fine-textured crystal blend to buff away dullness and smooth the look of fine lines, wrinkles, roughness, and acne scars.
I'm always really nervous when using scrubs because most tend to irritate my skin but this one does not. The texture is so fine and non-abrasive that it's suitable for sensitive skin. After using this I experience zero irritation and my skin feels so soft and smooth. It also smells so lovely, like citrus, from the citrus oil in the formula.
After cleansing or exfoliating I moisturize with this First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration. This moisturizer is formulated with colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and allantoin to hydrate, calm, and soothe skin.
I actually bought this for my husband because he has very dry skin, and he didn't use much of it because he could care less about skincare, so I tried it and fell in love with it. This tube is actually almost completely empty which explains all of the indentations on it from trying to squeeze the last bit of product out, haha. But what I like about this moisturizer is that it doesn't feel greasy, it absorbs onto my skin quickly, it wears well under makeup, and it's nice and hydrating.
For eye cream, I use a pea-sized amount of this CeraVe Eye Repair Cream which helps to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness while the ceramides in the formula help to restore the skin's barrier.
I like how this feels under the eyes as it's non-irritating, hydrating, and a bit on the thicker side but it's still lightweight. This sits well under my makeup so long as I use a small amount.
Once a week I'll use this Flower Beauty Petal Pout Lip Scrub to exfoliate my lips. This lip scrub is formulated with ultra-fine sugar crystals, coconut oil, castor seed oil, and cocoa butter for a smooth kissable pout. I like this scrub because it gently exfoliates and nourishes my lips, and tastes and smells so yummy.
The final step in my skincare routine is to go in with a lip balm, my favorite is this Dr. Bronner's Pppermint Organic Lip Balm because it's ultra-hydrating and smells so good, it's almost therapeutic.
SHOP SKINCARE
These are all the skincare products that I use to care for my sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin and all of which get my skin's stamp of approval.
I would love to know, have you tried any of these skincare products? If you have, let me know by leaving a comment down in the comments section of this blog post.
Thank you for taking the time to check out my blog, I appreciate you more than you'll ever know. Until next time friends, take care!
Earlier this week I posted a try-on haul over on my YouTube channel featuring all of the SHEIN X pieces that I'm sharing in this blog post, however, what I didn't share in that video was how I'd actually style each piece so that's exactly what I'm doing for you in today's post!
As a friendly reminder, you can get 15% off SHEIN by using my discount code Q3YGJESS at checkout, and as always, I will have everything linked in case you want to check anything out.
SHEIN X Manon Pradier Lapel Neck Two-Tone Blazer - I'm wearing a size large for an oversized fit. This two-tone blazer is such a statement piece so styling it can be quite simple since the blazer alone is very interesting. It does have shoulder padding yet it doesn't make the silhouette look too boxy. The pockets on this blazer are faux pockets which is a con but I do love the baggy fit and overall look of this piece.
I styled this blazer with a simple little black dress and paired it with a pair of black knee-high boots and for accessories, I went with a pair of triple hoop earrings and 90's style sunglasses.
The teddy and leather texture combination of this trench coat really caught my eye. I think it's interesting and different. The faux leather detailing is on the button-front closure that goes from top to bottom, the two pockets, collar, and sleeve cuffs. I like the relaxed fit of this coat, it's comfortable, and a nice piece for fall and winter.
SHEIN X Penelope Ping Solid Ribbed Knit Bodysuit - I'm wearing a size medium and it fits true to size. This rib-knit tank bodysuit is a very basic piece but essential nonetheless. The fabric is of nice quality, opaque, and has some stretch. The bottoms of this bodysuit are a happy medium between full coverage underwear and a thong.
I styled the teddy coat and bodysuit together with a pair of black high-rise skinny jeans, chunky black boots, and lots of gold jewelry.
SHEIN X Penelope Ping Cutout Rib Knit Crop Tee - I'm wearing a size medium and it fits true to size. This trendy rib-knit cut-out top has good quality fabric. It's soft, comfortable, stretchy, and opaque. I also really like the split sleeve detailing and chocolate brown color.
Here I styled this top with a pair of baggy black denim jeans, classic white sneakers, and minimal jewelry.
SHEIN X MAY'G Button Front Crop Jacket + Asymmetrical Skirt Set - I'm wearing a size medium and it fits true to size. This set is made of black denim fabric. The jacket has gold detail button-front closure and gold cuff buttons on the sleeves and the fit is roomy and comfortable. The skirt has an asymmetrical hemline in the front, a zipper closure on the back, and a gold button detail on the front with no functional purpose, and the fit of this skirt is also roomy and comfortable.
My styling concept for this was monochromatic so I paired this set with a black corset bodysuit and black croc-embossed knee-high boots and gold jewlery.
SHEIN X Penelope Ping Dual Patched Pocket Drop Shoulder Jacket - I'm wearing a size medium and it fits true to size. The quality of this jacket is so good, it's soft, warm, and comfortable. I like that it has pockets for functionality and I also like the button-up detail because it can give me the opportunity to wear this as a thick and warm blouse in the winter. The fit is oversized in the fact that it has a lot of extra fabric on the sides but not oversized in the sense that it's very long.
SHEIN X Penelope Ping Cropped Rib Knit Tank Top - I'm wearing a size medium and it fits true to size. This rib-knit tank top is another very basic piece but again, essential nonetheless. The fabric is nice quality, opaque, and has some stretch.
Here I styled both the jacket and tank top together with a pair of wide-leg high-rise jeans, classic white sneakers, layered gold jewelry, and gold-framed sunglasses for a casual but cool-girl look.
SHEIN X Penelope Ping Plaid Tweed Jacket - I'm wearing a size medium and it fits true to size. The style of this plaid tweed jacket is chic and elegant. This piece would be great for a professional setting. The fit is comfortable, a bit roomy, and it has a button-front closure and faux pockets.
My styling concept for this jacket was business casual so I styled the jacket with a white bodysuit, white wide-leg denim, a pair of classic nude pointed-toe pumps, a beige satchel bag, and minimal gold jewelry.
SHEIN X Ji Yeon Lee Shawl Collar Puffer Vest - I'm wearing a size medium and it fits true to size. This button-front puffer vest is a great layering piece that is a beautiful warm beige neutral color which makes it easy to style. The pockets on this vest were stitched halfway closed when I received it but I did carefully undo the threading to give me access to the pockets.
Here I styled the puffer vest over a white v-neck collared sweater, a pair of faux leather pants, and classic white sneakers for a casual yet stylish outfit.
SHEIN X Penelope Ping Raw Cut Blazer + Pant Set - I'm wearing a size medium and it fits true to size. The fabric of this set resembles linen which is a fabric suitable for the spring and summer season, however, living in Houston where it doesn't start to feel like fall until late November, I can get away with wearing this now. I digress. The blazer top has a raw hem that gives it interest and the bottoms are airy, baggy, and comfortable. The fit of both pieces is relaxed and overall it's a cute set.
I styled this set with a pair of nude strap heels, a mini bag that matched in color, and minimal gold jewelry for a minimal and monochromatic look.
SHEIN X Penelope Ping Split Sleeve Lace Up Top - I'm wearing a size medium and it fits true to size. This criss-cross lace-up top is so cute and very on-trend. I like the split sleeve detailing, the collar, and the rib-knit fabric is great. It's soft, comfortable, stretchy, and opaque.
Here I styled this top with a pair of wide-leg high-rise jeans, classic white sneakers, layered gold jewelry, and gold-frames sunglasses.
SHEIN X Sarah Fanaye Plaid Print Drop Shoulder Overcoat - I'm wearing a size medium and it fits true to size. The quality of this plaid overcoat is excellent for winter. It's thick, warm, soft, and comfortable. This coat has one singular button in the front and two side pockets and the fit is relaxed. Overall this coat is a great staple piece to wear and hold on to for a very long time since the print is classic, the color palette is neutral, and the silhouette is timeless.
My styling concept for this overcoat was street style meets casual so I paired the coat with a neutral tank top, high-rise baggy jeans, classic white sneakers, a black designer-inspired quilted handbag, and layered gold jewelry.
I hope you enjoyed seeing and reading about how I'd style each piece featured in today's post. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to visit my blog. I appreciate you more than you'll ever know.