Spring Outfits With Ashley Stewart (Plus Size Style)

This post has been sponsored by PRIMP Network. All opinions are my own.

Hey y'all! Happy Friday! Do you have any awesome plans this weekend? Maybe, if the weather is good where you are, you'll get out and out? I just might do the same--after a few months of being sick, I'm ready for some fun and the sunshine. I think it will do my mind and soul some good.

So! I thought I'd do something a little different today--an outfit post! I admit I'm a little nervous about doing this, since usually I share beauty on here. But I'm stepping out of my comfort zone. I think challenging myself is a healthy thing, so while sharing outfits may be no big deal to you, I'm very nervous to do so. But I'm doing it!

Okay, so onto the outfits! Today I'm bringing some spring style from Ashley Stewart (please click the link to see). Ashley Stewart serves the latest in fashion for plus-size women (size 12-32). They have 89 stores and an online store (click here to shop). New styles are added every day! I love this site because of their cute clothes. I've been so disappointed in other stores for us plus-size girls--the styles weren't cute. It's hard to feel confident if your outfit isn't cute. No more of that, thanks to Ashley Stewart. Seriously, go check them out!

So here's what I chose! First up is this floral off-shoulder top with white pants.

And for my next look, I chose this gorgeous aqua green floral dress:

-->I loved how affordable everything was! And to get you to click on over, Ashley Stewart is offering 40% off select styles with the code PRIMP40. Click here to check it out!
And I made a Spring Look Book video that I've LOVE for you to check out!

https://youtu.be/DI1hC0LZvfQ

Have you heard of Ashley Stewart before?

Which outfit did you like best?

PS: happy birthday to my lil sis!

Spring Makeup Palettes That You Need Right Now

Ok y'all, I am not feeling spring at the moment. It's exactly 3 am and I'm coming to you live from underneath a blanket, my home for all of this weekend. Dang pollen! But the idea of spring--the colors and the newness, I am most certainly all about.

Since I'm sick, I'm keeping this short and sweet. So today I've got a few new spring palettes that have popped up on my radar--I am resisting the urge to use spring and flower puns, y'all--that you need to check out:

Too Faced Natural Love Eye Shadow Collection

$59, which is ridiculous, but look how many shades you get and how pretty it is!!

Tarte Make Believe in Yourself 

Eye & Cheek Palette

$40--Tarte, you get me with that packaging every time. The middle shade is a highlight for cheeks or ryes.

Pony Effect Master Eye Palette #Pastel Master

$35, I included this one for the K-beauty fans out there!

Huda Beauty 3D Highlighter Palette

$45, Now y'all know it's not an ElleSees post without a highlighter in it!! And because I want a glow pretty much any time of year. I can't wait to swatch these next month when it hits stores.

Nars Narsissist Loaded Eyeshadow Palette

$59--a gorgeous mix of shimmer neutrals and the pigmentation is so good. I don't think I own any NARS shadows, just blushes, but this makes me want to see what the fuss is about.

Maybelline The 24K Nudes Palette

$12--FINALLY an affordable palette on here, right? Now we're talking. Each of these shades has golden shimmer built right in, so I this as a complement to any regular neutral palette.

NYX Lid Lingerie Shadow Palette

$10--Remember the NYX Lip Lingerie line that came out last year? Here's the lid version--I think it's clever and for $10, you can't bear it! The top middle shade could be used for a contour maybe?

Which of these caught your eye?

Extra Elle:

Pretty much slept all weekend with this cold(?) that I picked up from the kids at work. I didn't do much of anything. I hope you had a great one!

How To: Spring Hair Color And Quick Curls

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #APassionForHair #CollectiveBias

Y'all, I am so excited about today's post, because I've got a little hair makeover for you! Since spring is on the way, I thought it was time to freshen up my hair. I've had really dark hair for the past couple of years, so I decided to lighten things up and show how I quickly curl my hair. Have you thought about changing your hair for spring? It's so easy, thanks to  Schwarzkopf Keratin Color.

I chose Schwarzkopf Keratin Color--isn't it pretty? This is Intense Cocoa 4.6.

I purchased mine at Walmart. So why did I choose this one?

I chose the Keratin Color because it offers 100% gray coverage. I went gray in my 20s (thanks genetics) so to find something that actually covers my gray is a miracle. I really love the pre-treatment step in this for an even color result.

Let's get into a little before and after. Here's a before.

And here's my after! I love how the Schwarzkopf Keratin Color gives me less hair breakage too. The color is so intense and gorgeous. Plus, the kit was easy to use! But back to the less hair breakage: that's a must since I curl my hair. Speaking of, here's how I get my quick curls:

You'll need--

1.5 in curling iron

brush or comb

texturizing spray

I like to comb or brush my hair and separate it in half. And then I like to grab about 1 inch sections and work from the back to the front. I'm showing the sides because it was easier to take a pic of.  

For the first section, flip the curling iron so the barrel is facing up and the clip is at the bottom, as shown above.

I like to leave the tail of the section out and clamp and roll the iron to my roots. I hold mine for 10 seconds. Release curl and let cool.

For the next section of hair, make sure the curling iron clip is up--the opposite of how you did it before. This will make the curl go away from your face. Repeat the step of 10 seconds for heat.

See how the curls look and how they are opposite of each other? This assures that your curls will stay separated. 

Once curls have cooled, I like to separate them with my fingers to break up the curls and lightly mist them and scrunch with a texturizing spray. It makes them a little messier, which I love!

And now, my hair is ready for spring! To try out Schwarzkopf Keratin Color for yourself, click here!

Have you ever colored your hair at home?

Do you use a curling iron regularly?

What do you think of my spring hair color and quick curls?

A Peek Into My Beauty Room

I love a beautifully-staged Instagram pic as much as they next girl, but let's be honest, that's not real life 100% of the time. Life is messy! Today I'm taking you into my beauty room for a peek of my mess, and how I clean it up.

This is where the makeup magic happens...and the messes. If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I'm a bit of a klutz. I can't help it! I like to pretend it's an endearing quality. ;) The other thing about me: I'm always in a hurry. Always. I wake up, blog, work, come home and blog until I go to sleep. 

Let's check out this mess: This is the result of getting ready for over a week. I've dropped foundation brushes, lip glosses, and mascara wands in this sink. I tapped the excess off of my eye shadow brushes in here, and sometimes the brushes themselves have fallen in. Real life, y'all.

But it's time to clean up this messy moment--it is spring after all! Since I don't have a lot of time, I use what works, is quick and easy.  Disinfectant Scrubbing Bubbles® Bathroom Cleaner is my go-to. Just spray, leave for a few minutes so it can do its thing, and wipe away.

I get mine at Walmart since it's convenient and easy to find--I prefer the biggest can they have. :) Disinfectant Scrubbing Bubbles® Bathroom Cleaner  not only cleans well (it expands into hard-to-reach places), but it disinfects bathroom surfaces too. 

And here's the after. Ah!! Soap scum, hard water stains, makeup and more...gone! All that's left is a clean bathroom with a pleasant scent. I love that scent.

Here's a little video of me cleaning in action:

Disinfectant Scrubbing Bubbles® Bathroom Cleaner for the messy moments in life.

Let's get real: what's your messy moment? Share below!

In partnership with SCJ

4 Ways to Pamper Your Hair for Spring

“This post was sponsored by Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Culture, all thoughts and opinions are my own”

Okay, y'all--it is high time that we get our hair back on track from the winter months. Winter is always so harsh on hair. I'm talking super dry, frizzy, and dull hair. Spring is the perfect time to give hair just a little more TLC to bring it back to life. 

And I've got a plan!

This year I wanted to mix it up a little as far as my hair treatment routine goes--I got a chance to try the newly-released Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Culture. This is launching in select Sephora stores (and online) to help nourish, condition and restore the appearance of hair.

The Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Culture line consists of 4 collections that address the cleansing, treatment and styling needs of all hair textures:

• Brassica Seed & Shea Oils Collection (Smoothing/Style-Extending)
• Coconut & Moringa Oils Collection (Frizz Fighting/Humidity-Blocking) 
• Jamaican Black Castor & Murumuru Oils Collection (Curl-Defining/Moisture- Sealing)
• Dream Come True Collection (Scalp & Strand Nourishing)

A little more about the ingredients:

1. Dual Encapsulation Oil Technology – Our Dual Encapsulation Technology infuses hair with two natural oils – one reparative, the other, style-enhancing – delivering nourishment exactly where hair needs it most. These tiny microspheres infuse hair with targeted, time-released nutrients to rapidly boost conditioning benefits.

2. Natural Silicone Alternative – Brassica Seed Oil’s excellent antioxidant profile results in a natural shine, smoothness and silky softness without the potential for buildup.

The problem: very dry hair

The solution: Deep Conditioning Masque

I got to try some of two of the collections. First up is the Wonderful Deep Conditioning Masque. You only need to use it once a week, for just 15 minutes for hydrated hair. If you color your hair, you'll love this. Sometimes I'll apply it and leave it on for longer while I'm cleaning the house, for example. No parabens or sulfates. It has a lovely vanilla and white flower scent.

The problem: rough-textured hair

The Solution: Brassica Seed & Shea Oils

Next up are three items from the Smoothing/Style Extending line. Let's go from your left to right:

The Silkening Leave-In does just what it says--a liquid leave-in treatment. This liquid leave-in doubles as a nutrient-rich conditioner and is the perfect prep for smooth heat styling without buildup. Hair is left nourished, detangled, and soft. Dual encapsulation technology ensures a smooth finish as tiny microspheres deliver fast-absorbing brassica seed oil, a natural alternative to silicone!

The Silkening Blow Out Creme is what I use before blow drying my hair. It's protected from heat without buildup. 

The problem: dull hair

The solution: Brassica Seed Oil

Finally, the Brassica Seed Oil--Scent and shine in a bottle. No more dull hair! I add just a drop or two in my palm, rub my hands together, and run it through my hair. Instant shine. By the way, all of the products from this line smell like spun sugar and red velvet cream. YASSSS!

Hair problems solved! Now, WHERE TO PURCHASE PRODUCTS: The line is NOT available at all Sephora stores (I have seen it in Atlanta though!), so please use the store locator found HERE: http://mcjwbeautyculture.com/ as well as Sephora.com.

Have you tried Madam CJ Walker Beauty Culture yet?

How To: Glowing Skin & Bright Lips For Spring

In the fall and winter, I want all-matte everything, dark lips included. I blame it on the weather. And then spring happens, and it's glorious. I want dewy skin, I want all the pinks and pastels. I'm trying to mimic flowers, basically. So I decided to share a favorite look of mine for spring, and thought you'd like a tutorial. You can totally wear this, I'm serious. Let's get into the tutorial:

No surprise I'm using this, is there? ;) I like to start off with the eyes. I used the Sweet Peach palette from Too Faced. You can see all about it here.

• Pat Nectar (golden shimmer) onto lid. Since we're doing glowing skin, this accentuates that perfectly.
• Apply Puree into the crease and blend. Add Charmed I'm sure into the outer edge and blend for definition.
• Add a little of White Peach under my brows and Charmed under my lower lash line.

Here's how to get glowing skin:

• Let a moisturizer soak in first for about 5 minutes.
• Apply the Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Stick.
• Add a drop of a luminizing foundation, like this serum foundation from Stila. I also like this one from Laura Mercier or this one from Becca. Use a brush or makeup sponge to blend. I used both.
• I like this combo because I get coverage and a glow from within that doesn't look glittery.

I don't want to lose the dewiness, so lightly set areas that need it with Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder.

I kept brows simple and used a brow used this one from Mirabella, so use what you'd like.

Add a pop of color using Hot Tamale from Maybelline's Bouncy Blush.

Curl lashes and apply mascara. I've been loving this one from Stila. It has an hourglass wand.

And then the star of the show, Zac Posen for MAC in Dangerously Red. I call it a pinky-red. It's matte, but creamy. Not drying at all. Sometimes I like wearing it as a lip stain, as it fades a little darker.

And here's the finished look. Just a soft glow with bright pink lips.

I used the same tutorial here, but with different shadows from the Sweet Peach palette.

Here's a tutorial of the look, a Get Ready With Me talk-through. Play it this weekend while you're getting ready with me.

https://youtu.be/QqlcxfWe-cI

What's your favorite spring lip shade?

Extra Elle:

• A blogging company I work for featured a post of mine in their weekly newsletter. It made my day!
• How is it April? Are you into pranks on April Fools? 

DIY Ombre Crayon Candles

Hey you! How was your Passover or Easter? Speaking of Easter, that's what influenced today's diy. I was helping the Easter Bunny a friend last week assemble baskets for her kids. Inside were the usual treats, like chocolate and jelly beans. There were some Starburst candies too, organized by color. I opened up a few (my payment for helping out) and stacked them up, ombre-style. And immediately a fave diy idea of mine was remembered, but I didn't want to head out for supplies. Instead, I used what I already had, and thought you might like to see. Aren't those types of diys the best when you have everything you need? Keep reading to see how easy this is.

How To: Spring Faux-Marble Nails

Inspiration for my beauty tutorials comes in the most random of places. A snippet of something will inspire me with the end result being nothing related to the original idea. Today's nail tutorial inspiration comes from my dad who just passed away. Seriously--hear me out. My dad was a jack of all trades: a scuba diver, he hunted arrowheads, he played the blues harmonica, and he painted rooms and houses.

When I was back home to see him and my family a few weeks ago, I was reminded of his talent as I walked through the rooms at my Grandmother's. There's one room he painted that looks like faux marble. I've done plenty of marble nails before (see my Christmas Marble Nails for a recent example)  and traditional water marble nails can be a very tedious process. Inspired by that faux-marble wall and the spring flowers I saw back home, I wanted to share an easy version. I'm serious--this is FOOL-PROOF! And you have everything you need to recreate this.

You'll Need:

• base/top coat
• at least 2 polishes from the same color family (one dark and one light)
• bit of saran wrap or tissue paper or plastic grocery bag
• scrap piece of cardboard, thick paper, or paper plate
• polish remover (for clean up)

Paint a base coat to protect the natural nail. Once dry, paint your darkest shade of polish and allow to dry.

Pour a little of the light polish onto your paper plate (or scrap cardboard). Scrunch up a little piece of saran wrap (cling film), or tissue paper or a plastic grocery bag. The more scrunched up the better! I like to keep my piece similar to the size of my nail so there's less clean up. Dab the section into the polish and blot off the extra polish. Then, just dab onto your nail. That's it!

Don't like the design you got? Take another piece of saran wrap and paint the original color on it. Then dab over the light color. You can also use a plain scrunched up piece to take away color. Don't over think it. Just have fun! I also like doing an accent nail in reverse colors. Sometimes I'll add 3 colors of polish for the "marble."

Extra Elle:

• I tried the Starbucks Birthday Cake frapp--way too sweet for my sweet tooth, but I used the cream in my coffee. Win!
• I watched the Justin Bieber Roast. I can't believe I just admitted that. It was hilarious. And completely nsfw. Did I ever tell you about the time I randomly met him on the street 5 yrs ago in Atl? 
• Don't forget this awesome giveaway!

My Sandestin Trip!

I'm back from the beach, and am sharing a few (ok, a LOT) of pics from my trip. Get comfortable and come along with my on my trip to Sandestin! My favorite time of year for the beach is in the fall. Always has been--think smaller crowds, 80s temps, and plenty of fun in the sun. This is going to be so hard to narrow down my pics!

Thanks to my recent trip, I'm rocking the salty beachy wavy hair and have a little sand still on my shoes to prove it. I was going to just share pics of the beach, but had such a great time doing other things that I had to share (almost) all of it. I got to stay at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in South Walton, FL, and it was spectacular. I want to go back riiiight now. You will too.

First off the beach: the water was gorgeous--several shades of sparkling blue--and the sand is the softest I've ever walked on--like powered sugar. The Florida Panhandle has the prettiest beaches in the US, hands-down. Love that Emerald Coast.