FabFitFun Fall ’18 Unboxing

Bonjour Sweet Peas! I hope that amid the chaos and confusion of this nation that you’re all doing well! We, as women, have a need to stick together and stand up for what is right both ethically and legally. It’s a shame that we are not taken seriously. I have a feeling that soon, that will be demanded! I’m so proud of the women who are fighting against injustice! With that being said please make sure that you vote in the upcoming midterm elections! Now, on with the show!

I heard a knock on my front door and instantly smiled knowing that it was the FitFabFun courier delivering my 2018 Fall subscriptioAlfred \”But First, Coffee\” French Pressn box! You have no idea just how excited I was to receive this box. I had made adjustments to the items I was to obtain upon arrival of the package. However, since I’m not an annual subscription member, I do not get the full perks:

1. Box customization, which means you can pick and choose the designs and colors of certain box products for your seasonal boxes.

2. Early shipping, so your goodies will ship in our first shipping group!

3. Early access to seasonal add-ons!

That was taken straight off of their website.

Anywho, the annual subscribers pay $179.00 annually (+tax ($20.00 savings from the seasonal box subscribers). They are renewed annually. However, the box that I have is the seasonal box (which is charged quarterly/seasonally) and it comes with the standard items that the box is stocked with for that season.

The beautiful part of subscribing to this box is when you receive an email prompting you to purchase customizable add-ons! For example, I added the Spongelle shower sponge and nail polish to my box. I was elated because the sponge can cost anywhere from $14 to $19 on their website. However, I was able to save some serious cheddar by adding on to my FabFitFun ($7) box.

I want to take the time and let you know that Fabfitfun is more than just a subscription box, it’s a community. They have events that anyone can attend (usually held in Los Angeles, CA), they send a magazine inside of the box, they have a blog, and they also have sales and deals outside of the box schedule.

All items that I received are listed here with their value so that you can truly see the benefit of subscribing to the box and how the box pays for itself! The items are full sized, not your average rinky dink sample subscription. Also, this box gives you high quality products.

– Alfred “But First, Coffee” French Press ($22)

– Vince Camuto Luck Tote(black, $128)

– Beauty Blender ($20)

– Simply Whimsical Tea Towels (set of two $14.99)

– Skin&Co Roma Blue in Capri($22)

– Glamglow Bubblesheet Oxygenating Deep Cleanse Mask.

Grown Alchemist Hydra-repair Day Cream: Camellia & Geranium Blossom ($49)

– Cylo Cobra Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds (white, $40)

Cuccio Somatology Yogahhh! Detox Bath ($39.95)

Please keep in mind that this is what the seasonal paying customers received. If you’re interested in signing up, click on this link so that you can be ready for the winter season! Enjoy!

Influenster Tinsel VoxBox!

So, one day, I stumbled upon a website called Influenster while looking for reviews on a particular makeup item. I signed up for an account and found it super fun! To my surprise, I received what they call a VoxBox! This delightful little box comes packed with items to review. This post is to share what all I received in my Tinsel VoxBox!

The first item to review was the little dog toy provided by Barkbox. It was a turkey sandwich that has a little squeaker on the inside. Since I don’t have a dog, I provided the toy to my friend and her dog absolutely loved it!

The next items would be the dry shampoo and conditioner provided by Eva NYC. I like these products. They smell great and don’t leave the white residue like some of the other dry shampoos. I was also impressed to see that they have a dry conditioner. I used these to refresh my hair when I didn’t get the chance to wash my hair. It works well. I’m just not much of a fan of dry shampoos unless I’m wearing braids. The company also provided a coupon! Who doesn’t like savings?

Next would be the Pout Maker Lip Contour provided by Luscious Cosmetics. I’m actually not sure on whether this was intended as a lip liner or as a lipstick. However, the product felt great gliding onto my lips. It was light and the color was nude. Since I’m African-American, it’s been difficult to find a nude color that’s actually nude! Can you even tell that I have it on?! EXACTLY! I will definitely be purchasing this item once sample has ran out. It appears to be a full sized sample.

The next item would be the Gold Bond Radiance Renewal Creme! Ok, I always believed that Gold Bond was for your grandma. It’s been around for ages and my grandma literally used it herself. This particular creme I will not call a creme, but will call it a super moisturizing mixture of rainbows and kitten tears! Once you put this smooth silky creme on your body you will be in heaven. Especially if you have extremely dry skin like myself. My son has eczema and dry skin as well and it works for him too. Gold Bond Radiance Renewal Creme has made me a believer in the Gold Bond line! I am so glad that I received this free sample from influenster during the winter months. It has helped my skin look healthy and has kept my skin well moisturized.

I also received the Vera Wang Embrace fragrance and the Nautica cologne in the box. My son and I were smelling delicious. The sent of pear blossom and green tea was light and I received compliments.

The next product was alright I suppose. The Charcoal Peel Off Mask provided by 7th Heaven. It reminded of an old product that I used in my twenties (I’m no where close to my twenties now. It did leave my skin feeling supple and brightened my skin.

The Tinsel Vox Box was also loaded with coupons! Unfortunately, the Hautelook coupon didn’t work. I have been shopping on that website since 2013. So you can imagine my disappointment when the code didn’t work. I also received a coupon for Country Crock. The coupon offers you up to $3.60 (I believe) of free Country Crock. That’s amazing to me. I also received a recipe from Country Crock.

Influenster offers more than just makeup reviews. It’s for reviewing everything. From dish washing liquid to dog food! I would suggest this site for anyone who doesn’t want to waste time buying a product that stinks! Simply click on the word “influenster” and sign up! You will not regret it!

No; A Jagged Little Pill

     Bonjour Sweet Peas! I was wondering why the word “No” gets such a bad rep. I can’t understand why we feel so badly using or accepting the word “no”. Don’t take it personally, but you will the victim and perpetrator of the word. It will never go away. The word will haunt us for the rest of our lives if we don’t put the thoughts surrounding it in check. 

     Let’s start with how telling people “no” can attract unnecessary guilt and shame. We all have friends and family who believe that we are to accommodate them at their leisure. Or church members who may tell you “do it for Jesus”. Since we have a conscience that drives us to feel “obligated”, telling them “no” impresses upon us a false sense of shame. We are tired mentally and emotionally. We’ve been going on zero fuel for 30 days straight. Our time is being monopolized by everyone else. We think “I really don’t want to do this or that. It makes mean puke a little in my mouth” or “but she was there for me when I needed her”. Another good one is “I’m not busy doing anything, so now I’ll have to____ (full in the blank), maybe I can make up a great excuse” (don’t tell me that you haven’t done it). So, we say “sure” through gritted teeth and then resent the person who asked you.

     Now for those of us who can’t handle the word “no” and who make someone feel bad for having boundaries and knowing how to take care of themselves. I have three choice words for you. GET OVER YOURSELF! If only life was about you and what you believe others should be doing in order to make you happy. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Reality is people have their works that they’re trying to figure out. Let go of expectations and love people for who they are and not what they can do for you. It’s true that no man is an island. We need each other. Furthermore, we all have to share the same Earth. We all have our lives to live. Growing up is about being aware of the part that you play in the disfunction of your world. Think of why you would say “no” to someone and understand why someone would say no to you. It’s not because you don’t like them, or you don’t care about them. You may just not want to do what they’re requesting. 

     Saying “no” is totally acceptable. Also, we don’t have to explain why we’re saying “no”. We tend to expound our “no’s” in order to help ease the blow of using the word. We’re all grown people. Do not feel guilty about drawing your boundaries and taking care of yourself. Do not shame or make others feel ashamed for saying “no”. Honestly, I hate when people tell me “no”. It’s a gross feeling when anything looks, smells or acts like rejection. All the same, I simply hoist myself up and think “I’ve had to say “no” to people before and wasn’t to be cruel”. Just take away with you this message; you have a right to be who you are without feeling shame from others about it. 

Bold and Courageous!

     Allow your fashion to speak up for you. Let it speak your confidence and boldness. Let it say “you are one hott mama”! I absolutely adore print on print outfits! To me, they signify a boldness that cannot be expressed through words. Matching a black and white small to medium sized print with a large scaled colorful print tends to work. The secret is to pay attention to the color palette. Make sure the prints match color wise and you should be good to go! 

The Foundation of Your Foundation

Hey hey Sweet Peas! I was talking to a good friend of mine and we were discussing me starting a blog. She inquired about what the blog would “be about” and I told her that it’s about everything that I love and have learned over the years of my life (I know, that’s a broad but most fitting explanation).  Anywho, we started talking about makeup and I addressed how some of us wear foundation that does not match our skin tone. See, most of us are unaware of the color of our skin’s undertone. Knowing this would help us to determine how to select the perfect shade of makeup foundation. I mean, who wouldn’t want to know the shade that will make our skin look good? Let’s determine how we’re going to figure it out. true-match-multiple

Skin tone can range from fair to deep. This is actually the first step to knowing which foundation you should select for yourself. However, the undertone brings it all together. Have you noticed the L’Oreal True Match line? When you look at the foundation bottles or compact, you will notice that they are not only labeled with the shade name, but the item also has either cool, neutral, or warm written on it. This is used to assist the woman with knowing which shade will match the skin’s undertone. Women could possibly have the same skin tone, select the exact same foundation, and it could look completely different making one person look fabulous and the other look like who would have thought and what for (if you didn’t understand that last phrase, don’t worry. Most won’t!)?!  Moving right along!

skintone
Image found on Google Images

Next, let’s discuss what warm, cool, and neutral signifies. According to StyleCaster, cool is pink red or bluish undertones, warm is yellow, peachy, golden undertones, and neutral is a mix of warm and cool undertones. One of the simplest ways to figure out your undertone is by answering this question. Do you look better in silver/platinum or gold? Whether it’s metallic material or jewelry. If you say silver/platinum, then you would be more of a cool undertone kinda gal. Therefore, gold would be considered warm. Neutral? Well, neutral folks will look great in either. If you’re not sure how you look in silver/platinum or gold, grab a friend to help you. A fresh set of eyes could make all the difference.

cooltonewarmtonechart   I hope that this information will help those of us who aren’t “makeup savvy” or who have never considered skin undertone before. Perhaps this is a completely new concept. Above all, whether you are actually utilizing makeup foundation to solely cover blemishes or to be the base for other wonderful makeup choices, you can rest assured that you will feel much more confident stepping out with the right shades on your face.

 

Fitting in and Style.

conform-quote     Hey hey Sweet Peas! I wanted to discuss the topic of conformity. First, I believe that it’s important to know the definition of conform. After all, what would be the point of talking about it if we have no true idea of what the word means. So I have taken it upon myself to seek Merriam and Webster for their assistance (thanks guys). To conform means “to be similar or identical; also :  to be in agreement or harmony”. In other words, to “fit in”. Why do we find it so important to fit in or to conform. Seriously, we have all wanted to be like everyone else at some point in our lives and lost our sense of self in the process. No bueno!

As John F. Kennedy so eloquently stated, “conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth”. How many ways do we try to look like the model on television or the woman who appears to have it all together? We choose our makeup, clothes, shoes, and accessories based off of what we see other women wearing. Would this be considered conformity? Well, I believe that the motive behind the selection of any of the aforementioned items would be to meet the status quo. We continually want to “look the part” without taking into account what part of our true self we’re sacrificing.

Clothing is indeed the expression of one’s self. It’s how we can convey who we are without saying a word. BoHo chic or classic style, it’s all about personality and taste. How utterly boring would the world be if we all decided that we were going to dress the same or even act the same due to wanting to fit in? Just down right dull!

     What would we do without the people who are confident enough within themselves to care less of what others think about them? Those people give us something to talk about and have us on the edge of our seats waiting to see what they’ll do next. If it weren’t for those fashion risk takers, I don’t believe that I, personally, would love colors and fashion so much.

Found on Pinterest

      So, this is what I believe. The people who are unafraid to wear bold and eccentric fashion are the ones that have the richest sense of confidence and self-esteem. When considering all that it takes to express oneself without worrying about what others will think about them, there must be some respect given. We’ve been conditioned to believe that the opinions of others mean more than that of our own opinions. 

Image taken from Pinterest.

Do not be afraid to express your own opinions about yourself through dress. Create a print on print look by matching your color palettes within the print. Wear pink and yellow together to convey just how happy and sweet you are to others. Be chic in black paired with a bold, “I didn’t see that coming” hue. Find a sleek shirt that only you can rock the proper way with a sleeve that makes people stare. Discover a color palette on Pinterest and try to mimic it in your style. You got this! 

     Your world is the only world that matters and those who want to be in it will definitely understand and appreciate you. Don’t stifle your fashion voice because you don’t think that people will “get you” or because you don’t believe that you would fit in. Create your confidence. Prove your self-esteem. Be bold and be the beautiful you that is life and fashion fearless.

The Color of Depression

Bonjour Sweet Peas! I have always been intrigued with colors and hues and how colors can influence the mood we’re in or the food we’ll eat. I’m excited about my findings! Let’s talk about depression, colors, and the way that they can relate to one another. Colors can speak for us when we don’t want to or simply cannot speak for ourselves. Below is a color wheel that I found online. There was a discussion of a study that was done that shows how colors can represent how we are feeling and a reflection of how we feel. Whether it’s anxious or depressed, happy or sad. mood-color-wheel-100208-02

This is called Color Theory (CT). My main focus here is how CT can relate to fashion and feelings. For instance, someone wearing a bright yellow dress grabs the eye and makes us think of summer and warmth. When we see the color red, especially around this time of the year (Valentine’s Day), we tend to think of love and romance. However, those are just a couple of examples. Red and Yellow can evoke many other thoughts and experiences from our pasts. flower-142083_640

 

So, I discovered that depression may actually alter our visual perception! Interesting right? I knoooow! We are apt to see the world with a blue or gray hue. This study has shown that the world seems more bland or colorless while one is in a negative mood.  How does this affect the way that we are able to dress ourselves when we are suffering from depression? Well, it appears that the clothing selections, while one is depressed, digresses from the usual attire. For women, we tend to wear looser, baggier clothes. For men, they tend to focus more on color. This is a concern because wearing clothes that signify depression could reinforce the negative mood. I’ll assume that the baggy/looser clothes are more than likely dimly colored. This leads me to the question “would wearing baggy/looser clothes that are brightly colored assist in pulling someone out of depression?”. I just find it interesting how the mind interprets and translates the world.

dark-1838140_1280

We can tell a considerable amount regarding someone’s mood, confidence and life story based off of their clothing selections. Clothes represent who we are as a human being. Clothing can cheer us up or make us feel like the ugliest, fattest, “I need to go the gym everyday for the rest of my life” person ever. However, if we know which colors suit us best and which article of clothing flatters our figures the most, we won’t have to worry about our clothes. I will eventually post about methods of discovering your skin undertone in order to find the colors that look best against your skin complexion.

Fashion is huge for me and my bread and butter of life. If only I could afford to dress the way that I would like (Bergdorf Goodman, I hope that you’re waiting for me because I am on THEE way!). Alas, I know what it means to have to survive on a budget and still look marvelous! As I continue to research the field of Fashion Psychology, I will post my findings!

Full Expression

     Hello Sweet Peas! My name is Mary. I am currently a marriage and family therapist intern working towards my license. I have decided to start this blog in an attempt to take you all with me on my journey towards fashion, beauty, spiritual and mental health. I am in no way an expert. However, I do love to research and discover new things. I am also learning (via YouTube) how to sew. It is an exciting adventure and I cannot wait to fully explore and share my findings.

     I would like to start by telling you why I have decided to start this blog. First, I figured that I am always online researching ideas and thoughts about fashion and beauty and the affects that it has on our views and perception of ourselves. Why not share this information that could be interesting to others? Also, I see so many women who seem to have a difficult time with all of the beauty information and tutorials loaded onto the land of cyber, that they would rather go bare faced (this is said for those who want to wear makeup but just can’t get over how to apply makeup properly. If you are natural by choice, that’s wonderful and don’t stop!). I mean, seriously, with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, YouTube and the lot, it can be seriously overwhelming to know how to select and apply makeup. Though, because I like helping and informing others, I will try to be a one stop shop. I will list links that could possibly lead you in a direction that you would like to voyage. I have a passion for fashion, beauty, and talking about ways of boosting confidence and deflecting depression or anxiety. Second, I truly believe that what we wear is vital to how we feel and carry ourselves. The colors and styles that fit our individuality and our mood mirrors itself in our choice of clothes. There are a number of books and research that reinforce my opinions and I am excited to be sharing this information with you! WOOT!  

     Now, for the spiritual aspect of my blog, which is the last but not least reason as to why I started this blog. I love God and believe that He’s the reason as to why I am able to do anything and everything. Therefore, the connection to Him is something that I seek every morning, day, and night. We will also explore how spirituality ties into mental health and how a connection with Him could make life easier. I’d be lying if I said a relationship with God is problem free and that I never go through difficult times, but I have stories of how I survived depression and anxiety because of my relationship with Him. It can be a challenge, especially if we feel wronged by God, or we don’t believe that a truly loving and caring God would allow for us to go through traumatic experiences. The truth is, He does, and we will never know why until He reveals His reason’s to us. Just keep in mind that we are not in control of anything external. However, we can control the way that we process and interpret our life encounters and experiences. 

     In a nutshell, at Sweet Jasmine, we will discuss how fashion, beauty, spirituality and mental health relate to one another and how it can boost confidence and self-esteem and create an instant image of how others view our individuality or personality. I am aiming to post at least twice per month. With any luck, I will be able to post every Sunday. Please tell your friends about this blog and subscribe to updates. I appreciate each one of you and look forward to our Cyber Land relationship.