Wednesday, April 24, 2013

What I'm Wearing Wed: 35 Never Looked So Good!


{Top from Target, pants from Lerner, Seamless Bandeau Strapless Tube Top, Coach shoes, Fossil watch, earrings gifted}
 Good Morning Gorgeous. I haven't done a What I'm Wearing Wednesday post in a while and I thought since today I turn 35 I would share with you what I was wearing to celebrate my special day.

I didn't know how I would feel about reaching the half way point through my 30s, but honestly I'm so excited. I have accomplished a lot in my lifetime and I know, although I am not a kid, the adventure is just beginning.

Not to sound egotistical, but I think I look better at 35 than I did at 25. . .like a fine wine, getting better with age lol. In all seriousness though, I do. I think it is because at 35 I KNOW who I am. I'm comfortable with me and I simply embrace the woman I have become.

I look forward to all that 35 has to offer and believe me. . .35 has never looked this good!






OHHHH, I can't leave out that today is also my bday twin Hillary's special day (So what we are 10 years apart - she's still my twin and I love her to pieces!). Check her out over at Daisy to Sunflower and wish her a happy birthday as well!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

Hello Lovely.

Do you have a sweet tooth? I know I do!

I'm always looking for recipes that are quick, easy and totally scrumptious. This recipe is sure to fill any chocolate lovers appetite!

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Butter
2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Milk
4 Tbsp Cocoa
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
3 1/2 Cup Quick cooking Oats
2 tsp. Vanilla

Directions:
Add the first 4 ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, and boil for 1 minute. Stir in the next 3 ingredients and drop onto wax/foil paper. Let cool until set.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Friday Flashback

{Feeling particularly I Look Good Today. . .today.}

Hello Lovely.

My heart is heavy today. My mind is numb. This past Sunday I found out my best friend from high school was admitted into the hospital. Her left arm and face went numb and turns out there were blood clots on her brain. Since being in the hospital, she has had a second procedure to remove an additional clot from her brain and now doctors have found clots IN her brain.

I was at the hospital with her last night. I haven't seen this friend in 12 years, although we do keep in touch online. It broke my heart to see her laying there, and made me sit back and think how blessed I truly am and how we should never not take the opportunity to tell someone we love them or simply be the best version of us that we can be.

I'm sorry this isn't the most chipper Friday Flashback that you have ever read, but we are real here at I Look Good Today, and this has sadly been my week.

I'd like to ask for your well wishes, thoughts, prayers and good vibes from my wonderful I Look Good Today friends. I'm certainly praying for a miracle!


{A caramel scented candle that has my home smelling simply scrumptious!}

{Pre Bday haircut. Love having all my layers back!}

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Healthy Hair Secrets

Good Morning Love!

I am always being asked my secret to getting such shine in my hair. I wish I had an easy answer to share with everyone, but I actually do nothing to get super shiny hair, strong, healthy hair. I got the good hair gene - thanks mom and dad! :)

I have read many articles over the years for secrets to keeping your hair healthy and ladies we are in luck. We simply have to look to our kitchen for the BEST conditioners to moisturize and revitalize our hair!

Below are four different masks for each type of hair that you can easily make in minutes using all-natural ingredients you probably have sitting in your refrigerator or cupboard right now!

DRY hair –Olive Oil and Egg

In need of some major TLC?? Combine three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil with two eggs and apply the mixture to your hair and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes before rinsing in the shower.
The olive oil will help hydrate brittle locks, while the protein in the eggs will promote healthy hair growth.


ALL HAIR TYPES — Avocado and Honey

Mask a ripened avocado and mix in a tablespoon of organic honey and allow it to sit for 20 minutes before rinsing it off in the shower.
Avocados are rich in a variety of vitamins and nutrients, including vitamin E and protein, both of which your hair needs to remain soft and healthy. Meanwhile, honey is a natural antibacterial agent.



OILY hair — Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon
Combine 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with the grated peel of an entire lemon and allow it to set for 15 minutes to absorb the excess oil from your scalp, and then rinse in the shower.
Apple cider vinegar will remove build up from styling products and conditioners and strengthen the hair shaft, leaving you with soft, shiny strands. It will also balance hair’s pH level, kill bacteria, and is a cure for dandruff.


DRY, flaky scalp hair — Banana, Honey and Almond
Mash together 1/2 a ripe banana and add two tablespoons of honey and a few drops of almond oil and allow it to set with a shower cap on for 20 minutes before rinsing. Bananas can increase the moisture of your hair, smooth frizz and soothe your itchy scalp.

Choose the one that fits you best and bring your hair back to life!!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Emerald City

Hello Gorgeous!

Pantone announced back in December that the color of the year for 2013 would be emerald, and sure enough, emerald is everywhere now!

I was a bit ahead of the trend cuz I’m just that cool. Okay, so I am not cool, nor am I a predictor of trends. It was purely coincidental that I bought myself a gorgeous emerald top and matching accessories last summer. At any rate, I have enjoyed wearing them and I am looking to add more emerald to my wardrobe this year.

Let’s go window shopping, shall we!? Accessorize with Emerald

A super easy way to add a bold color to the wardrobe is with accessories. If you’re not sure you’re ready for emerald jeans or an emerald dress, how about a pair of emerald shoes or an emerald handbag? Or even just a pair of earrings and a bracelet? Add them to a neutral outfit and you’ve updated your look with very little investment.

See how these green wedges ramp up this neutral outfit.

{LOFT Floral Eyelet Cotton Shell, $44.50 | GUESS Round Plastic Sunglasses With Rhinestone Logo, $82 | BLANKNYC ‘Roll Up’ Jean Shorts, $68  | TOPSHOP Clip Front Crossbody Bag, $56  | Franco Sarto Sachet Wedge Sanadals, $99}

Or try an emerald scarf and another emerald accessory, such as a bracelet or watch.

How to Wear Emerald Jeans

I love my emerald jeans! I typically pair them with neutrals although I do want to try branching out and trying some color blocking this year. I put this set together on Polyvore last year, and while most pieces are no longer available, it gives you some ideas. I like to wear black or gray with my emerald jeans in the wintertime, but in the summertime I found myself pairing them with navy and white.



How to Wear an Emerald Dress

My friend Sarah rocks the emerald like nobody’s business. It’s been her favorite color long before it was the Pantone Color of the Year. The key is to keep everything else neutral and allow the dress to be the star of the show.


{Trina Turk ‘Garden Maze’ Print Fit & Flare Dress, $348 | Gap Flutter Sleeve Dress, $54.95 + 30% off | LOFT Stripe Side Shirred Cap Sleeve Dress, $69.50}


And let’s not forget about emerald nail polish!


{via}


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Have you jumped on the emerald green trend yet? How do you like to wear this fun, bold color!?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Life Has No Remote




Hello Gorgeous.

I have had many conversations with friends, family and coworkers about change, and how we have to be the facilitator of the change that happens in our lives.

I have met so many people in my life that complain, whine and gripe about their situation, yet do NOTHING to change it. Sound familiar to you too? Look, I have all the patience in the world to listen to someones issues, but when I see that there is no attempt (Even if that attempt doesn't work) to do something about it - my patience runs thin.

Have you ever heard the saying, "If nothing changes, nothing changes"?

When it comes to my own life, I think of having a remote in my hand - and I am the only one with access to all the channels! How important it is to recognize that one’s own life is not a spectator sport, and that if we want to change it, then it is up to each of us to realize that firstly change is possible and secondly that WE are responsible for making it happen. No one else can do it for us.

The beauty of this remote we are the keeper of is that we are able to select any program we want - we should have control over how we behave, over what we do and how we do it. But sometimes we continually select the wrong program don't we. I understand sometimes with the "programs" we are tuning in to they might not be what we actually want, but we need to "watch" it through its entirety. However, the trouble of course is we are selecting these unhelpful programs sometimes deliberately or even consciously and then sitting comatose on the couch with our Bon Bons completely glazed over with no intention, urge or plan to change to a better channel.

I've made it a point throughout my entire life to not wait for someone else to make my destiny happen. Why should I? Why should you? If I want something - if you want something - go for it now!

I have seen and heard so many people say,

"Why can't good things happen to me?"

"Why can't I catch a break?"

You can. . .and you will. I'm not saying making life's changes and achieving your dreams is going to be an easy task. Unfortunately reaching those goals means sometimes not being set to the comedy station of life. Sometimes you might need to tune in to a drama. . .even a suspense program once in a while to get to the program of your ultimate choosing.

I understand having a "go get 'em" mindset isn't always easy - and you better believe there are going to be bumps in the road, or "commercials" that will deter or pause you from your regularly schedule program of life. This is when more than EVER you need to be strong. You need to stay focused on your goal and have the determination that no matter what - no matter how hard - I will be successful. I will make the change to better my life.

It would be great if we could live in a fantasy world where wishes are granted like in the olden days of "I Dream of Jeanie", but sadly, our world is not fantasy. Your life is reality TV in its truest form.

Life has no remote. Get up and change it yourself.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Color Your World

We all need a little more color in our life. Let these vibrant neighborhoods around the world inspire you to paint your walls, ceilings, furniture (everything and anything!) with unique colors.

Would you want to live in such a vibrantly colored home? Do you know of any other brightly colored locals?


{Burano Island, Italy}

{Pattaya, Thailand}
 
{Wroclaw, Poland}

{Longyearbyen, Svallbard, Norway}

{San Francisco, California}


{Charleston, South Carolina}