Archives for September 2012

28
Sep 2012

Out with the old! In with the new!

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These three looks feature classic pieces that have been in major rotation in my wardrobe. Picture 1: Black Riding Boots Picture 2: Coctail Dress Picture 3: Black Maxi Skirt

As you get older you begin to mature and look at life from a different perspective. This may not be the case for everyone, but this definitely applies to my life. I have a confession to make…I used to be a binge shopper. I used to be a shopaholic. I know this is the case for many women, and some people do not even consider this a problem but it was for me.

While in college and a few years after I graduated I would spend my hard earned money on clothes and accessories. I wasn’t concerned with saving or paying any major bills because I “lived for the moment.” I would always end up at the mall and go from store to store racking up on all of the latest trends. Whenever I was going to a party or to dinner I would HAVE to buy a new outfit. Repeating looks was not my M.O. So I shopped, and I shopped, and I shopped. I would waste so much money on trends or things that I would wear only once. As I sit here and write this post, I think about all the money I could have saved and trips I could have taken if I was more responsible.

I guess this comes with growing up; you recognize your mistakes and you make better decisions. So out with the old and in with the new! I have learned to become a savvier shopper. I plan my purchases carefully. I’ve found that my wardrobe is more polished now that I plan my purchased. Before, my closet used to be filled with trends. I would have pieces that I wore once and never wanted to wear again. I would shop on impulse and end up wasting money because I would never wear some of the pieces. Now that I have a more defined style, I find buying pieces a lot easier. Also I can help my clients define their personal style and avoid making the same mistakes that I did.

 Breaking my binge shopping habit was one of the best things that I could have done. My OLD ways of shopping were not healthy or productive. Now with my NEW found perspective my fashionable life is a lot less complicated.

What OLD habits have you broke? How were you made NEW?

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Categories: Fashion, HGB Exclusive, What I Wore Tags: , , , , , , , ,
26
Sep 2012

What to Wear: Leather Skirts!

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Leather is a huge trend for this fall and HGB has got you covered on some of the hottest and affordable pieces to incorporate in your wardrobe! Leather is definitely luxurious. There is nothing like wearing a rich leather jacket. It changes the dynamic of the entire look. So if you want to incorporate leather in to your wardrobe and not just for outerwear, rock a leather skirt. When I say leather,  faux leather is included. Some people aren’t afforded the luxury of being able to purchase a leather skirt for $150 so faux leather will do. My favorite type of leather skirt is the pleated skater skirt. It is edgy, yet ladylike. You can pair it with a simple white blouse and a pair of black pumps and be ready for work. Now for the evening, a sexy camisole and blazer will be perfect for a date with the beau. I also love the classic leather pencil skirt. I just purchased a faux leather pencil skirt from jc penney for $25 and it will be making it’s debut to the world sometime next week lol. If you do not want to go for the entire leather look for fear of looking like a dominatrix, try going for a skirt with leather panels or a leather waist band. Below are some options for leather and faux leather skirts that you can add to your wardrobe this fall.

 

Categories: Fashion, What to Wear Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
26
Sep 2012

Allure Lounge and TeQava Sparkling Tequila Cocktail

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Mercedes Benz Fashion Week has wrapped and besides attending shows and catching all of the street style, the next best thing would be all of the lounges. The Fashion Week lounges are literally lifesavers. They are located throughout the city and there are tons of perks like phone charging stations, computer stations to blog, food, drinks, hair and makeup touch ups, express manicures, massages, and you can even get a change of clothes. Sounds awesome right? It is! With running from show to show you just need time to breathe and regroup for the rest of your day.

So during fashion week, I had the opportunity to attend the Allure Magazine’s Press Lounge which was held at the Empire Hotel and it was truly an amazing experience. Not only did I get a chance to get a great manicure from Maybelline, I was also able to pick up a few fragrance samples from the designer fragrance bar, and get a great hand treatment from Bioxidea and more.

Maybelline Manicure Shocking Seas

Designer Fragrance Bar

I learned about brands such as Da-Sein, Renzo + Kai, Stop Staring, and Crystal Icing for all of your bedazzled cell phone accessories. Renzo + Kai designs are amazing. They had the cutest cropped sequin jacket and this amazing beaded dress. Definitely a group of designers to watch. There were also makeup artists from Maybelline, aestheticians from Skin Medica for express facials, and hairstylists from Ricardo Rojas Salon on hand for those quick beauty touch ups.

Renzo and Kai

Renzo and Kai Gown

Skin Medica

Crystal Icing

Celebs like June Ambrose and Natasha Bedingfield also stopped by to check out the lounge as well. One of the highlights at the lounge besides the awesome services and products was the drink sponsor Teqava. Teqava is the first sparkling tequila. Yes there is now a sparkling tequila and it is DELICIOUS. The original flavor is so refreshing.

TeQava Sparkling Tequila

About TeQava (Source)

“This vibrant Tequila Cocktail has 100% Blue Weber Agave Triple Distilled Tequila and is new to the US Markets from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. This is the First Premium Tequila Cocktail – Carbonated, Ready Mixed and Naturally Flavored. There is nothing artificial.

Silver Premium Tequilas are being mixed with fresh juices and aromatic herbs to create cocktails. The difference in flavor is immediately apparent. 100% Blue Agave Tequila is used in top shelf Plata or Silver version Tequila and is more complex and more vegetal in component than other grain spirits. After fermentation and distillation, it goes straight into the bottle.

TeQava is a mix of premium triple distilled Tequila and fruit infusion. The color is clear and the taste is an explosion of rich, roasted Agave, followed by a pleasing burst of juicy nectar in the finish.”

TeQava is the perfect drink for a girl’s night out. If you do not like hard liquor, this is perfect for you. The sweet sparkling flavor is not over powering, so if you are not a fan of “hard liquor” this is a must have.

Categories: Beauty Bubble, Fashion, HGB Exclusive, Makeup, Nails, The Munchies Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
24
Sep 2012

Motivation Monday: Making a Decision? Emotion vs. Reason and God’s Guidance

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“The essential difference between emotion and reason is that emotion leads to action while reason leads to conclusions.” -Donald Calne

Emotion- an affective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow,fear, hate, or the like, is experienced

Reason- the mental powers concerned with forming conclusions,judgments, or inferences

What motivates you in life? Do you act off of emotion or reason? I recently had this discussion with a group of people and I have also been experiencing quite a few things in my life that has caused me to sit down and think about what motivates me. Naturally, as a human being, we act based on what we feel. We often say things like “this doesn’t feel right” or even “it just felt right.” We often make decisions based on what we feel, but is that the right thing to do?

How often do we say things or do things we later regret? Emotions are very powerful and can either make or break you. We often go with what we feel, rather than what we know. When it comes to reason, we do not like thinking about the consequences. We act off of instinct and think about the effects later. We can’t always make decisions based on how we feel. Fear is a powerful feeling and if we lived our lives in fear, what would we accomplish? Who would we be? Sometimes the heart lies to us and causes us to make decisions that we would not normally make if we reasoned.

Acting off of instinct can be dangerous. Yes, life is about taking risks, but imagine what your life would be like if all you did was take risks based off of feelings. In this day in age, we need to be informed to make the best decision. I’m not saying that when you reason everything will be perfect, I can’t make that statement because somethings in life are truly unpredictable. What I am saying is when making major decisions like who to enter a relationship with, what career path to follow, or what to do about your finances, those decisions should not be made based solely on your emotions. When you get that feeling in your heart or your gut, you know you should stop and think. Too often we act then we stop and think about our actions, but that is backwards. If you think about your situation, try to gain as much knowledge as possible on what you are about to decide, because this decision can be life changing. We need to think before we act, rather than acting before we think.

Feelings and emotions are temporary and can change instantly. I can’t even count (well maybe I can lol) how many times I felt a connection with a guy and people immediately wanted me to be in a relationship him. I thank God for discernment because I have been saved from a lot of heartache.

In order to make informed decisions you have to reason and look at the possible outcomes. So my prayer for us all is to become spiritual discerners. Learn what God has planned for you and seek his wisdom to help you make a decision that can possibly change your life. I’m not talking about asking God what you should wear to work or have for dinner, but ask God for guidance. One decision can take you on a path that God never intended.

 

Categories: HGB Go Getter Tags: , , , ,
19
Sep 2012

Beauty Bubble: The Perfect Plum and Purple Lipsticks for Fall

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With the fall season comes darker and more rich colors. This applies for clothing and beauty products. Like every season the must have lip color is the perfect plum. Whether you go for a matte lipstick, semi-sheer gloss, or satin finish, this shade will definitely add great dimension to your look. You can go for subtle coverage or amp it up to be a bit more vampy. This color will definitely bring the drama. Below are some great options for the perfect plum and purple lipsticks for fall.

Categories: Beauty Bubble, Makeup Tags: , , , ,