Love Will Save The Day!

Hello Beautiful People,

It was 108 degrees this weekend in the Show Me State, but it was only 94 degrees today; so enjoying the coolness inside. Thank God, for air conditioning. When the weather is like this, it is great to wear something comfortable and breathable.

Sheryl Crow has a new line on HSN and her pieces are hip and retro. I liked the new vibes of the rocker-chic style. I purchased the jeans below because it really describes my enjoyment of music and effortless style.
I styled the jeans for a casual Monday at work.

Love Will Save The Day Style Embroidered Jeans by Sheryl Crow

Love Will Save The Day Style Embroidered Jeans by Sheryl Crow

The Missouri History Museum has a Civil Rights exhibition now, so I purchased the T-shirt at the Museum shop; so cool.

Even though I work out hard, I do not always like showing my hips. Word to the wise, body shaming has to stop so here I am in the jeans without the Tommy Hilfiger chambray shirt. On the right pocket is an embroidered star and guitar. These jeans are so unique and out of the box. I think I am singing, I am just looking at my expression. Too funny!

Love Will Save The Day by Sheryl Crow Jeans

On the left pocket of the jeans is , “Love Will Save The Day,” which is a lyric from one of her songs.

Love will save the day lyric on the pocket

Here’s more information about the lyrics

The Song, Love WIll Save The Day by Sheryl Crow.

Here’s an interview she had down earlier this year.

When I wear the jeans, it is not just about a pair of jeans but there’s a meaning behind the clothing. The Sheryl Crow embroidered jeans are on clearance on HSN for $39.95 (Good deal) and please take a look at her collection click here on Sheryl Crow Style.

ME Chic Permanent Hair Reduction Device

Hi Beautiful People,

Today was the cool day of the week on the weather report. But with the temperature topping out at 90 degrees and a heat index of 97, still still hot! But I am not complaining.

I have been looking for a hair removal device for my underarms. As soon as I shave under my arms, the hair comes right back in only two to three days.

I did not want to try waxing (OUCH!) and the epilator that I had tried before was not that great of quality (DOUBLE OUCH!!). I had seen other devices on the market, but they were not for people with darker skin tones; which I never quite understood completely. And in addition, some of these devices cost up to three hundred dollars or more. I saw a demonstration for the ME Chic. I considered this device as a great one to try because it works on all skin tones and hair colors; is FDA approved, it cost under two hundred dollars and came with an unconditional 90 day return policy to see if you like it.

ME Chic Permanent Hair Reduction device

Not much hair grows on my legs or on my arms; so the main area that I wanted to test was under the arms.

Below is a video on how to use it. It seems pretty simple. Just turn it on and every time the light blinks; I move to a different location. The company claims that it will take about seven weeks to see a noticeable difference, thus the reason for the 90 day trial.

After ninety days, I will be back with a full review.

 

JT Style File: Classic Dooney and Bourke Croco in the Summer

Hello Beautiful People,

With slightly not as hot temperatures; but thick humidity, I have been going solely natural fibers because they are breathable and don’t stick to my body. When I say natural fibers I mean, cotton, rayon, and linen blends. When going through my closet, I realized that a lot of my summer dresses are polyester. I am not going to get rid of them. I  will not wear them right now. Even though Missouri is not a southern state, it feels like it. Maybe it feels even warmer because we had a warm winter. Well when I think about 100 degrees is 100 degrees no matter the way you slice it.

Dooney and Bourke Croco Leather Satchel

Dooney and Bourke Croco Leather Satchel

I styled myself casual and cool for church.  It’s really warm outside but can be chilly in church so I have on long sleeves. My blouse is by Joan Rivers and my pants are from the brand Margaritaville that was on HSN exclusively a couple of years ago. My sandals are from Earth Origins that were purchased from DSW. My glasses were received at a discount from OTTICA.com, and my wing necklace was purchased at JTV.com.

Summer Style

Inspiration

The picture of the flower in the upper left corner of the collage is a Crepe Myrtle that is in our backyard and  bursting with colorful flowers. Bees are getting drunk on the nectar.
The crepe myrtle and the Hibiscus flower were the inspiration for the pants.
I have been hearing that it’s chic to wear neutral colors. That’s fine if that’s what you want to wear. However, I have never been like everybody else, even when I tried to fit in I stuck out of the crowd. I realized that it’s okay being different, peculiar, and not average.

Who wants to be average?

How to Maintain a Healthy Mane

Is your hair your favorite feature? Do you want to keep it looking as beautiful as it is right now, or even better, do you want to make it look even better? Here are some simple things you can incorporate into your beauty routine, which will help you get and maintain a healthy mane:

JT Flower in the hair

Rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar
Before you shampoo your hair, rinse it in apple cider vinegar. Doing so will help to get rid of product build-up and keep your hair in healthy condition. If you also rinse with apple cider vinegar after washing, it will give your hair an extra bit of shine, which is never a bad thing.

Only Shampoo from Roots to Mid-Hair
Instead of shampooing the whole of your head, just apply your product of choice from the roots to the middle of your length. When you rinse it out, the lower part of your hair will still benefit from the shampoo, but you won’t have had to use quite so much product to achieve it.

Use Sulfate- Free Shampoo
Products that contain sulfates will strip all of those important natural oils that keep your hair healthy away, which is why they are best avoided. Here are the best shampoos and conditioners that are sulfate free, and which will help to keep your hair healthy. If you can choose one that is also free of silicones, that will be even better for your lovely mane.

Don’t Brush Hair After Showering
If you can help it, you should never brush your hair when it has just been washed, and it’s still wet. Your hair is weaker at this time than any other, so brushing it can and does cause breakage.

Put Some Honey on It
You might be more used to putting honey on your toast, but putting some of the sticky stuff on your head will not only moisturize your hair and scalp, but it’ll also kill off bacteria that caused dandruff. If you’re worried about your hair getting all sticky and gross – don’t because honey will dissolve in water, leaving you with clean, fresh and silky-smooth hair.

Wash with Cold Water
If you can stand it, washing and conditioning your hair with cold water is the way to go. It will seal in more moisture and make your hair shinier than washing in warm water. I must mention that you should never wash your hair in hot water – that will cause damage and leave your hair sad and dull.

Mask with Coconut Oil
Coating your dry hair with one of the coconut oils at http://www.elle.com/beauty/hair/tips/g8087/coconut-oil-hair-products/, covering it with a shower cap or plastic bag and leaving it for a couple of hours, or even overnight if you can, will leave your hair looking and feeling amazingly soft and it won’t be greasy at all. Just make sure that you shampoo your hair before applying water or you’ll be left with a greasy mess that you won’t be able to do anything with for days!

Keep it Silky
If you want your hair to be silky smooth and free from split ends and broken shafts, t6hen you really do need to invest in a good set of silk pillow cases. Your hair will slip and slide across them, rather than being dragged, so it will be less likely to break or lose moisture.

Use Heat Sparingly
Hairdryers, straighteners, and curling tongs might give your hair great style, but if you use them too often they will dry out, burn and even break your hair. Instead, try to use Velcro rollers or styling serum to style your hair. They might not be quite as convenient, but they will help to prevent damage.

Wash Every Other Day
No matter how much you might want to, you should never really wash your hair every day. Doing so strips the oils from your locks and makes them dry and brittle. Washing your hair every other day, or even less frequently if you can, will leave your natural oils intact and keep your hair looking healthy.

Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet that is high in healthy fats, leafy green, fruits and vegetables will help you grow beautiful hair from the inside out. You’ll notice that your hair is thicker, shinier and more attractive after just a short time eating a clean diet, so why not give it a try.

Do you have a beautiful head of hair? What are the main things you do to keep it that way?

FTC Disclaimer:
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.

How To Make Your Family Funds Go Further

It’s not easy, or cheap, providing for a big family; they eat enough food to feed a small army, all the kids have different extracurricular activities you need to pay for, and you always try to set aside enough money so you can all enjoy a nice summer vacation together. While there is a lot of advice out there to help you improve your family’s finances, there are also a few things you can do to make your money go further. Some tips do involve a few budget cuts here and there, but overall they are just ways of spending your money wisely. If you impart a few of these money-saving tips to your children, you’ll also teach them to be financially responsible when they grow up.

Cut back on unnecessary luxuries
There are two different kinds of luxuries; there’s the necessary kind, which helps you to relax after work, provides you with an outlet for your stress, and which doesn’t cost too much money so cutting it out won’t make too much of a difference to your budget. Then there’s the unnecessary kind, which costs a lot of money, you barely use, and you might not even miss if you stopped doing it. For example, you might pay around $25 a month for your gym membership because you got a great deal, you wanted to get into shape, and it’s the only thing encouraging you to exercise. Unfortunately, if you don’t go to the gym at least three times a week, you’re usually not getting your money’s worth out of the membership. This is especially true when there are so many way to work out for free in the comfort of your home. Magazine subscriptions are another drain on your savings. Try cancelling all your subscriptions and only renew the ones you actually find yourself missing, or just buy the occasional issue when you see it in the stores.

Workout at home to save extra money

Look for bargains
Don’t assume that the first price you see is the best price you’re going to get. There are plenty of websites such as Groupon that will give you excellent discounts on family days out, occasional treats for yourself, or even bulk household items. Believe it or not, if you want to get free stuff there are websites that can make that happen. You can legally get free things on Amazon, such as music, Kindle eBooks, and even a way to get cash back. Finally, there are always thrift stores, Craigslist, or eBay, where you can find hundreds of items at a fraction of the retail price.

Shop smart
Buying groceries on a budget is a struggle for a lot of people for various reasons. The best thing you can do to keep your food bills low is to find ways to reduce the amount of waste you throw away each week. Fortunately, there are several more ways to reduce your food bill each week, including shopping for cheaper store brands, buying non-perishables items in bulk, or sticking to a shopping list. You can also save money on food by avoiding takeaways, packing a lunch to take to work, or freezing your leftovers to eat them later.

Shop wisely

Cut down your energy bills
If your energy bills are the biggest expense in your household, the easiest way to start saving on this is to make your home environmentally friendly.  Start by switching to energy efficient LED bulbs, unplugging all appliances you’re not using, and insulating your home so you don’t need to turn up your thermostat as much. Doing these small things can reduce your energy consumption, saving you money on your bills each month and helping the environment. If you want to do a little more to help your energy bills, you can improve the insulation in your building, and upgrade to double-glazed windows; doing this will reduce the amount of heat that escapes your house by at least 25 percent, which will cut down on your use of the thermostat each winter. Finally, if you have enough in your budget for new appliances, you could shop around for an energy-efficient fridge. Refrigerator technology has made dramatic strides since the 1970s, so you’re actually wasting more money by not buying a new fridge. Any other eco-friendly appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, may seem expensive initially, but it is estimated that you will use a significantly less amount of energy with a green appliance than you will with its predecessor.

Learn to repair clothes

There was a time when people knew how fix tears in dresses, holes in socks, and prolong the life of pantyhose. Clothes nowadays are made from very cheap material, therefore are more prone to tearing and wearing out. Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to fix these clothes, so they end up throwing them out and buying new items merely two months after they just went clothes shopping. Save your wallet the hassle of another shopping spree by learning how to repair the holes in your jeans; the cost of a sewing machine will certainly pay for itself with the money you save on new dresses. Once you’ve learned how to sew up the rips in your clothes, you can put off clothes shopping with a few more tricks. If you dresses are a little shorter than you would like, or your shirts pinch a little too much around the waist, you can lengthen them using lace, or use fabric inserts to add some length to shirts and sweaters. Oversized dresses can be hemmed slightly, or turned into a comfortable, baggy shirt.

DIY
Sometimes the best way to save money is by doing little things by yourself. When things break around the house, try doing your own home repairs instead of calling a professional (as long as it’s nothing too serious). Blocked pipes can be easily sorted with a solution of baking soda and vinegar, and then using a plunger to push out the blockage.

DIY is not just limited to fixing things that are broken. There are plenty of home remedies online for face masks, or hair products, which only require things you’d put on your grocery list. You could even set aside a Saturday and do a spa day in the comfort of your home for a fraction of the price.

Caffeine lovers can save dollars every week by brewing their own coffee at home instead of getting a takeaway from a cafe. A really good coffee machine will soon pay for itself with the savings you make from skipping the visit to your local Starbucks. If you also go to cafes for the delicious pastries, then learn to bake your own treats at home.

Transportation
With the price of gas constantly changing, your car is an unpredictable money pit, and that’s before you even factor in the monthly payments, insurance, and unexpected repairs. You can save money and still keep your car by only using it for long trips, such as family vacations. In the meantime, there are plenty of public transport options to suit your lifestyle. Monthly bus passes are more than worth their value if you take the bus to work every day. Carpooling with a colleague splits the cost of gas, and can reduce traffic if enough people get in on the scheme. Finally, if you’re going out for the night and don’t have a volunteer for designated driver, Uber can save you the trouble of standing out in the cold to call a cab.

FTC Disclaimer:
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.