I am a huge fan of trendy waist belts. Unfortunately, the trendy belt often doesn’t hold your pants in place. Here’s where isABelt comes into play.

This practically invisible belt slips right through the belt loops of any pair of jeans and doesn’t budge. Unlike regular belts, it doesn’t show a bulge through the shirt, or have a big buckle. It’s a black, thin, plastic rubber belt that doesn’t scrunch or slip.

I am constantly doing that “pull [ ...continue reading ]]]> “Low rise slippage, annoying back gap, pants just don’t fit right?!?! isABelt will solve it all!” These words say it all.

I am a huge fan of trendy waist belts. Unfortunately, the trendy belt often doesn’t hold your pants in place. Here’s where isABelt comes into play.

This practically invisible belt slips right through the belt loops of any pair of jeans and doesn’t budge. Unlike regular belts, it doesn’t show a bulge through the shirt, or have a big buckle. It’s a black, thin, plastic rubber belt that doesn’t scrunch or slip.

I am constantly doing that “pull your jeans up” dance to keep my waist in place and stop my jeans from sagging on my butt! The day I wore isABelt I did not have to do a little jump or a little squat to get my pants where they should stay. Although the belt looks paper thin, it stretches and stays where you put it. You can change the width and make it tighter or looser. I started really tight and then loosened up after lunch

It comes in black and clear, and not only keeps the pants in place, but provides a sleek look with no bulge or crease—I am definitely a fan.

Having thick, curly hair, I usually wash my hair every two to three days. The thing I hate about most shampoos is the dryness they leave. The 365 shampoo did not strip my hair of all its natural oils or leave it dry—in fact, it had the perfect amount of strength after my shower.

Plus, the scent is so tropical and energizing; that was really a plus. The mint conditioner sent a [ ...continue reading ]]]> My daily shower never felt this good. The citrus shampoo and herbal mint conditioner balances oily hair, and the peppermint essential oil leaves a clean, refreshing scent.

Having thick, curly hair, I usually wash my hair every two to three days. The thing I hate about most shampoos is the dryness they leave. The 365 shampoo did not strip my hair of all its natural oils or leave it dry—in fact, it had the perfect amount of strength after my shower.

Plus, the scent is so tropical and energizing; that was really a plus. The mint conditioner sent a burst of peppermint throughout my steamy shower, leaving a cool refreshing scent. I usually prefer a thick, ultra-creamy conditioner for my full head of hair; this conditioner was a little thinner than I prefer. However, I still loved to use it due to the strong scent it provided.

The 365 products are organic, which I’ve heard provide better treatment for hair. It isn’t always good to use artificial products on our natural hair, so the 365 was a nice treat.

What makes mornings worse is when I have a pair of jeans and a super-tight pair of boots and just don’t want to struggle squeezing my arm down my leg to stop the uncomfortable scrunches.

Strapdowns are adjustable clear bands that keep your pants in place while you’re putting on your boots. Instead of nearly cutting off arm circulation when trying to pull your pant down to get your boot up, just use the strapdown! You can [ ...continue reading ]]]> Early mornings are so difficult. Waking up, staring at the full closet with nothing to wear, and feeling half-awake would describe mine.

What makes mornings worse is when I have a pair of jeans and a super-tight pair of boots and just don’t want to struggle squeezing my arm down my leg to stop the uncomfortable scrunches.

Strapdowns are adjustable clear bands that keep your pants in place while you’re putting on your boots. Instead of nearly cutting off arm circulation when trying to pull your pant down to get your boot up, just use the strapdown! You can use it on a baggy jean leg, skinnys, leggings and flare pants.

It really works wonders; putting on those knee-high boots just became a whole lot easier. The pant leg doesn’t move up from the band and the sleek look of the jean is flawless.

House music has been popular for a while, but never, like, radio-popular. You couldn’t hear it on the radio; it was used for pump-ups and party playlists—although I, being an avid fan, always listened.

However, recently, more techno/dub-step/club-style music has been incorporated into the radio songs that hit the top 40 list! Not to mention that it’s also now appearing on TV shows—like the infamous fist-pumping scenes of “Jersey [ ...continue reading ]]]> Not to sound like a total trendsetter, but I have been in LOVE with house/techno/party music for a long time, and now I am seeing it appear more and more.

House music has been popular for a while, but never, like, radio-popular. You couldn’t hear it on the radio; it was used for pump-ups and party playlists—although I, being an avid fan, always listened.

However, recently, more techno/dub-step/club-style music has been incorporated into the radio songs that hit the top 40 list! Not to mention that it’s also now appearing on TV shows—like the infamous fist-pumping scenes of “Jersey Shore.”

Britney Spears has been sporting lots of house style in her “Hold It Against Me” and “Till the World Ends,” plus it can be heard in Jennifer Lopez’s single “On the Floor,” “Tonight” by Enrique Inglesias, the Black Eyed Peas’ “Dirty Bit,” and Rihanna and Kesha singles, too. As you can see, the list is long—showing how house music is making its grand public appearance!

My favorite full-out house-style artists are Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta, Kaskade, Tiesto and many, many more. Once you get hooked on these, you’ll hear of many others.

This trend is unleashing right now, which, in my opinion, is a great development. (To understand the pun of the title, check out this song. Amazing, right?)

When I used this organic vanilla honey chapstick from Whole Foods it was different. The smooth application made my lips feel super moisturized. Even later in the day I could feel the moisture restored in my lips. Not only that, but the scent is amazing! It is so sweet, natural, yet refreshing. I feel the [ ...continue reading ]]]> During the cold winter months, my lips get extremely chapped, and I just hate that feeling. I sometimes turn to random chapsticks from the front counter of CVS, but most give relief in the moment and then my lips go right back to chapped.

When I used this organic vanilla honey chapstick from Whole Foods it was different. The smooth application made my lips feel super moisturized. Even later in the day I could feel the moisture restored in my lips. Not only that, but the scent is amazing! It is so sweet, natural, yet refreshing. I feel the need to reapply a bunch of times in school just to smell the scent and relieve my chapped lips.

Overall, this chapstick was definitely a mouth-saver.

Being girls, we pride ourselves in how we appear to others—even if that means spending hours before an event applying makeup and ironing hair. And the truth is, most people don’t realize the angst [ ...continue reading ]]]> Ask any of my close girlfriends—my sisters—and they will all say I am the queen of over-thinking, over-analyzing, over-worrying…the list goes on and on. I find something to worry about that wouldn’t even occur in anyone else’s mind. Maybe I am just a huge over-thinker, but I know that everyone over-thinks things once in a while, especially when it comes to friends, guys and appearance.

Being girls, we pride ourselves in how we appear to others—even if that means spending hours before an event applying makeup and ironing hair. And the truth is, most people don’t realize the angst you endured while getting ready. Maybe they will notice the new eye shadow you’re sporting, but in the end, mostly they are going to just see you as you. So, why do we girls have to over-think it all? Why can’t we just get ready and not think that everyone will be heavily scrutinizing us?

When we receive a text from a guy we are crushing on, why do we have to freak out and sit and plan an answer that will be perfect for the guy, when the truth is, the guy is probably just going to read and respond immediately. Or, for that instance, when they don’t respond immediately, why do we get worried that we said something wrong? Isn’t crazy how girls can care so much about what people think, they sometimes can forget to just sit back and be themselves. If all of these silly things we take into account were to vanish, 50 percent of our emotional bumps would be gone.

So, the question is …Why?

Maybe it is because, being girls, we care about everything, naturally, more then most guys do. So it is only fitting that we give thought to almost everything a little more than guys would.

Some people aren’t as bad, but I am so crazy when it comes to over-thinking. Without a doubt, I would love to just sit back and not think about every little thing that could happen, or every little thing that people think about me at the moment. But I guess it’s just a girl thing that I will have to tolerate.

And it’s not all negative—a positive of over-thinking can be always getting ready to impress, which is super fun to do with a bunch of friends. And to all the girls who disagree with this because they are truly filled with the confidence to strut themselves without a care, I just have this to say: if only we were all like that

Although it may seem hypocritical for me—the over-thinker—to preach, I want to tell you all: really, just be you. Don’t let people’s glares and stares change who you want to be. It can change the way you do your hair, but don’t let it change the way you want to live your life. While over-thinking everything is enough to drive a girl nuts, just sit back and realize that if something isn’t going perfect, maybe it’s just not meant to be.

Image taken from CreativeCommons.org

Say, for instance, you saw a shirt in the store but couldn’t purchase it at the time, and when you go back to the store, it’s no longer there. You might think “Ugh! I so should’ve gotten it then.” But really, it obviously happened that [ ...continue reading ]]]> I am a huge fan of the phrase “Everything happens for a reason.” Maybe it’s my optimism, but I always try to find something good in the negative things I endure. It makes total sense to me that if something bad happens, no matter how severe, it had to have happened for a reason.

Say, for instance, you saw a shirt in the store but couldn’t purchase it at the time, and when you go back to the store, it’s no longer there. You might think “Ugh! I so should’ve gotten it then.” But really, it obviously happened that way for a reason, because when you see an even better shirt next month, you can get that instead and like it much more.

My theory runs from little things like that to big things that can even be life altering. Things that occur that can change a life, in my opinion, happen for a reason. When one door closes, another door opens; when something really bad happens, try and find the positive. It may be hard, but ultimately when things play out, you will see that what has happened had a purpose. Maybe the purpose was to impact your life, so you learn from it, or to impact you with the experience to grow from it. Whatever the reason, there is always an underlying meaning to things we can’t comprehend at first glance.

Image taken from CreativeCommons.org

’Cause God makes no mistakes.

I’m on the right track, baby,

I was born this way”

You’ve probably heard from a television, radio or magazine the news about

Lady Gaga’s recent single “Born This Way.” Since its release, it has rocketed to the top of Billboard’s Pop Songs chart, with the highest plays total for a debuting song in the list’s 18-year history, and it has become one of eight songs (including tracks by ’N Sync, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Madonna and Janet Jackson) to reach the top 10 in only two short weeks.

You [ ...continue reading ]]]> “I’m beautiful in my way,

’Cause God makes no mistakes.

I’m on the right track, baby,

I was born this way”

You’ve probably heard from a television, radio or magazine the news about

Lady Gaga’s recent single “Born This Way.” Since its release, it has rocketed to the top of Billboard’s Pop Songs chart, with the highest plays total for a debuting song in the list’s 18-year history, and it has become one of eight songs (including tracks by ’N Sync, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Madonna and Janet Jackson) to reach the top 10 in only two short weeks.

You may say to yourself: “What’s the big deal here? It’s another Gaga song that’ll come along with another crazy costume.” Let me start off by saying that I am a huge fan. Not only is the beat catchy, but also the message is something we don’t really hear about a lot—or that we need reminding of sometimes.

Gaga chants about being born this way, her own way and an individual way, with absolutely no problems. Well, being girls, we all have our problems, like messy hair or too pale complexions—but are they really problems? Gaga explains that these troubles are not problems at all.

Everyone is beautiful in their way. There is not one type of beauty, which contradicts the ideals of Hollywood glamour magazines. Any page you flip to, you are being told in print what’s hot and what’s not, what’s in and what’s out, what makes you more beautiful and what to trash. Gaga certainly sends a message that explains how all of the information being provided is false, because we are born this way, not the magazine way (no pun intended J).

Not only does Gaga preach for appearance acceptance, but also appreciation for individual lifestyles and beliefs. Race and ethnicity, lifestyles, income, challenges and achievements all vary among every human being, but it is all what made you who you are today. In order to appreciate yourself, you must appreciate why you are who you are.

“Whether you’re broke or evergreen

You’re black, white, beige, chola descent

You’re Lebanese, you’re Orient

Whether life’s disabilities

Left you outcast, bullied or teased

Rejoice and love yourself today

’Cause baby, you were born this way”

So, maybe you girls see why this song is a hit. It is sending a message that we are all told to carry in our hearts throughout life, but sometimes we disregard it when we are feeling down about something.

“Don’t hide yourself in regret/Just love yourself and you’re set.” Live your life the way you want to, and don’t let anyone change who you truly are—inside and out J.

Lady Gaga’s new single “Born This Way” – image taken from creativecommons.org

The Make Magic Twist is flexible—meaning it moves (literally) in every direction, shape and form possible. (Its slogan is “how [ ...continue reading ]]]> There are three words that come to mind when I think of how to describe this item of jewelry: flexible, funky and noticeable. It is super fun and new. It is long and silver, with silver tight beadlike objects all over, with breaks of a bright blue bead. It comes in different colors, too. I have never seen an accessory like this one before. If anyone is looking for something out of the ordinary, this is something to try.

The Make Magic Twist is flexible—meaning it moves (literally) in every direction, shape and form possible. (Its slogan is “how do you twist?!”) When wearing it as a bracelet, you can wrap it around your wrist a couple of times, making it chunky and large. You can wrap it going up your arm, making a huge unique statement. You can also crisscross it like an “X” on your wrist.

When wearing it as a necklace, you can let it hang around your neck super-long to add spice to a plain shirt. Also, you can fold it up, creating a chunky pendant at the bottom of the necklace. I’ve even seen pictures on makemagictwist.com/ of girls wearing it as an accessory in their hair. It really leaves A LOT of room for imagination and interpretation.

The Make Magic Twist is definitely an item that would appeal to those who love objects that stand out and make a statement. It is not just a bracelet, a necklace or a headpiece—it’s all of those things, and more. What more could you want from a fashion statement?

MakeMagicTwist – Image taken from CreativeCommons.org

Recently, I was at a party at which the theme was “Neon Glow.” There were black lights to spice up the ordinary living room and to create a room where everything radiated neon; there were cups and balloons that glowed; and there was the thrill of seeing a transformation of a venue that everyone [ ...continue reading ]]]> I, for one, am a huge fan of themed parties. And no wonder. These are all things I love: dressing up, the excitement of finding something fun for a theme, and the adventure of changing up the style of an ordinary night by playing pretend.

Recently, I was at a party at which the theme was “Neon Glow.” There were black lights to spice up the ordinary living room and to create a room where everything radiated neon; there were cups and balloons that glowed; and there was the thrill of seeing a transformation of a venue that everyone was excited to be in. It was awesome that everyone was dressed up and glowing. Not only that, but there were highlighters going around to get everyone involved in the theme. The bright colors made it so much more fun to be there with my friends.

I feel greater anticipation to go to a party when there is something to look forward to—like, for example, seeing everyone’s outfit of choice. Plus, what better way to recall a party than: “Oh, yeah! The one we dressed up in neon for!” I really suggest that all my sisters pick a theme and have some friends join in on the fun.
I always love being with my sisters—they’re my best friends, my favorite group of people to hang out with. Whether it is watching a movie together, getting ready for a party or picking out crazy costumes for a funky theme, I’m always excited to have a good time. And theme parties add that extra dash of excitement that always results in a successful night with my best friends.

When did you attend the last theme party? - Image taken from CreativeCommons.org