The Happy Planner

Hi everyone!

I'm back with a new blog post.  I want to show you how I plan out my week with my Happy Planner. I purchased my planner from Hobby Lobby (my new favorite store).   I was on the hunt for a good planner that I could decorate and was looking into getting the Erin Condren planner, but once I watched a Plan With Me video on YouTube using The Happy Planner I was sold.  

The Erin Condren planner starts at around $50 and I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend that much on a planner, so I held off getting it and bought a planner from Target for $13.99.  Once I watched Danna Ann's video I was sold on this planner.  It's similiar to the Erin Condren Planner, but it's half the price.  Plus, I was able to use a 40% coupon at Hobby Lobby.  I'm all for saving a few extra coins! Check out her video below!

I've had The Happy Planner since mid December and I love it!  I'm a person that needs to write things down, so I won't forget.  I put appointments and events in my calendar on my phone, but I enjoy putting them in a planner and decorating it, it makes it more fun!  I write down my to do list for every week as well as add in my daily tasks, appointments and daily workouts.  Check out some of my weekly spreads.  I'm working on getting more stickers to spice up my weekly spreads.  I've been looking on Instagram and seeing how other girls decorate their planners and I'm loving all the creativity. 

This week is my birthday, so I had to go all out with the decorating!

 

 

Sticky pads I purchased from Target's Dollar Spot section.

 

 The Front cover of my Happy Planner.

 

 

Inside page of the planner.

Stickers were purchased at Hobby Lobby.

Washi tape from Hobby Lobby.

 

 

Make sure you check out The Happy Planner's website.  They are releasing new planners and accessories in the beginning of March.  You can also purchase select planners at Hobby Lobby and Michael's.

Bridal Party Proposals

Hi everyone!

Long time, no blog post.  I know, I know, I plan on being more consistent with blogging.  It's one of my goals for 2016.  First off,  Happy New Year!  To catch you up-to-date with what I've been doing, I have been busy with work, studying for grad school and planning my wedding.  OMG!  I still can't believe that I'm getting married this year.  Speaking of wedding planning, I created some cute boxes that I made for my maid of honor and bridesmaids to ask them if they would be apart of my bridal party. 

Leave it up to good ol' Pinterest, to put unique ideas in your head!  I love coming up with different ways to gift items, so bridal party proposal boxes were right up my alley. 

Bridal party proposals are a cute way of asking your close girlfriends will they be apart of the most important day of your life..  Instead of calling them to ask, I decided that they would love getting a unexpected box.  You can create your box however you want.  I decided to go with a pink and girly theme.  Everything in my box was purchased at my favorite store Target.  I'll post the boxes that I made, now that my girls have received theirs. 

I added nail polish to the boxes I had to mail because I didn't want to take the chance of the champagne bottle breaking.

Cute cards I added with a special note I wrote on the inside.

I'm so happy I got to see two of my girls open their boxes in front of me. 

P.S. I have my own small business creating boxes like these as well as custom baskets.  For more information email, JasminesCreations1@gmail.com.

Product Review: E.L.F. Moisturizing Lipsticks

Hi everyone!

I ordered three lipsticks from Elf and they came in the mail yesterday.  I've never tried any of the makeup products, but I do have a few of the brushes they carry.  So, I ran across an ad on Facebook and I decided to browse the website.  I went straight to the lipstick tab, since I'm obsessed with lip colors! I saw that the moisturizing lipsticks came in a variety of colors and they were only $3.  I was immediately drawn to the darker colors since fall is right around the corner.  Check down below at swatches of each lipstick and a final review of what I thought of them. 

Elf Moisturizing Lipstick in Black Berry

Elf Moisturizing Lipstick in Bordeaux Beauty 

Elf Moisturizing a Lipstick in Marsala Blush

Here's a swatch of all three colors: (top) Marsala Blush, (middle) Bordeaux Beauty and (bottom) Black Berry

Pros:

Very moisturizing 

Price is very affordable 

Gives a nice wash of color

Cons:

Not very pigmented. If you're looking for a lipstick that has a deep color, this isn't it. Although, I think this is perfect for someone who wants to try out deeper colors, but doesn't want it to look so bold. I would call this a tinted lip balm instead of a lipstick. 

Tip: If you want a deeper color when using these lipsticks, fill your lips with a lip liner in a like color and put the lipstick on top. I filled my lips with a liner and put Bordeaux Beauty on top and it was gorgeous.

In conclusion, I think the lipsticks are worth trying, I think they're great for everyday when you may not want such a bold color, but you can spice it up with a lip liner when you want a bold look.

If you're interested, check out Elf products at eyeslipsface.com. When I made my purchase it was free shipping and no tax. You can't beat that on top of affordable prices!

My Hair Routine

Hi everyone!

When I'm out and about, I always get questions on my hair:

•  What products I use?
•  What did I do to achieve my look? 
•  How do I maintain my style at night?
•  How long have you been natural? 
• How do I like being natural?

So, I'm here to answer all those questions and show you pictures of my hair and the products I use.

Natural Hair Journey

Now, I'm not one of those naturals who knows the exact date and time she went completely natural.  I decided to grow my relaxer out in 2007.  My hair stylist at time suggested that I should, since I was only getting relaxers twice a year and I wanted to grow my hair longer and fuller.  When I decided to grow out my relaxer, I had no idea it was called going "natural".  In the meantime of the growing out process I would wear cornrows or my stylist would style my hair in a twist out.  I would still go to the salon every two weeks, but instead of getting my hair blown out and curled, my stylist would try styles that didn't require too much direct heat. 

I'm not sure when I became fully natural, I think it was some time between 2008 and 2009.  I had no clue what to do with my hair, so I learned about the natural community on YouTube and started to watch hair tutorials. To make a long story short, I failed miserable at trying to style my hair and buying product after product because it was what the girls on YouTube were using.  I even went back to straightening my hair every two weeks because I didn't know how to do my hair.  I have never been a person who had the gift of knowing how to do hair.  As a young child, my mom would do my hair, but even at a young age I would go to the salon with my mother and we would get our hair done together every two weeks.  It took a lot of patience and practice to get to the point I am now with my hair ( I still get frustrated with my hair to this day and I've even contemplated on getting a relaxer. )

Moral of the story is I love being natural.  I love the fact I can wear my hair curly one day and the next I can blow it out and wear it straight.  I also love the versatility, I also wear extensions, adding hair in for sew-ins , box braids, I love to brush my hair up in a bun and also style my hair in flexi rods and roller sets.  FYI I do go to the salon and get my hair straightened.  I don't have a routine for when I go, I just go when I want or feel I need a trim.

 

 

 The many hair styles of Jasmine.

 Box braids

 



 Braid Out

 

 Roller Set

 

Braid Out on blow dried hair

Flat Ironed

 



 

 

Braid Out

 

Top Bun

 

Sew In

Blow out

Pinned up Flexi Rod curls

Curls using Perm Rods

 

 

 

My Go To Hair Style

 

Over the years of being natural, I have found that I get the best results when I braid my hair in individual braids and let it set over night, which is called a braid out.  I have tried twisting my hair and for some reason, twist outs look horrible on me.  My hair shrinks up and it's just a hot mess! Lol. 

 

I wash my hair once a week and I normally just braid my hair once or twice during the week and pineapple at night ( gathering all my hair in a loose ponytail at the top of my head ).  I normally braid my hair in 9-12 medium size braids.  When I take down the braids, I separate each braid into 3 sections and when all braids are taken down I fluff my hair into my desired style and stretch my roots with a wide tooth comb.

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

Products I Use

 

Shampoo: My favorite is Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo

I'm not too picky on what shampoo I use, just as long as it doesn't dry my hair out and doesn't have sulfates.

 

 

 

 

Conditioner:  Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Conditioner and Curl and Shine Conditioner.  Both make it easy for me to detangle my hair and leave my hair soft.

 

 

 

Deep Conditioner:  Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque and Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque ( as you can see I love Shea Moisture products!)

As of recent, I have been loving the Dove Hair Therapy Daily Treatment Conditioner for Color Care. I don't have color in my hair. I received this product at an event over a year ago and I just started using it.  It is beyond amazing, Thick in consistency and leaves my hair detangled and moisturized.  I don't have to use a detangle brush to style my hair.

 

 

 

 

 

Leave In Conditioner:  Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave In Conditioner This product smells amazing and is a great light weight liquid leave in.

 

 

 

Oils:  I love sealing in my moisture and separating my hair with Coconut Oil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Styling Products:  Entwine Couture Crème Jelle Styler  The best I've Found for definition, helps with frizz and moisturizing.  A little goes a long way.  Curls Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Jelly  Great for hold and definition.  Curls Blueberry Curl Control Paste  This product is great for edge control and I love using this on the ends of my hair to smooth the ends and for definition.  I also like using Eco Styler Gel either the Argan Oil or Olive Olive Oil one to use when I wear buns and I like putting Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie on top of the gel for softer and a smoother hold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are my current favorite products.  I love trying new products that get great reviews for my curl type.  If you were wondering, I have type 3c curls. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my hair care routine. If you have any questions please leave a comment!