Slowly saying goodbye to summer

I walked out the door this morning and was hit with an instant feeling that summer is slowly leaving making room for fall. The chill in the air and the cool breeze got me thinking about all the things I need to do to get ready for fall. Prepare the house for back to school, switch out clothes to allow for more layering and all the fun things I can't wait to do!

 

Here is collection of my goodbye summer hello fall musings...

 

 

 

 

1. Thinking of doing a big hair transformation, cut and color 2. celebrating my 30th birthday with fun festivities  3. candles, candles, candles
4. preserving the flavors of summer

5. dark and plumy nails 6. busting out the boots 6. healing soaks in the bath

 

I'm sad to see summer pass bye but I know she will return.

 

xoxo,

Ronita

 

Weekend Fun

This past weekend was one of the first weekends I have gotten together to get out of the house. This weather has been a mood killer for me. I'm working through it though.

 

I wanted to see what was going on in the city and boy was it a busy one.

 

First Stop: Super Saturday Cincinnati

The boys are signed up for a 6 week enrichment class. Roman is doing Ooey Gooey Science and Tre' is doing an Engineering Class. They love learning and exploring new things.

 

 

Next stop: Findlay Market for their Annual Mardi Gras celebration.

Music, beads, crawfish and booze...what more can you ask for ?! Well, the boys were a bit disappointed when they realized there were no parades like what they experienced last year.

 

While we were at the market, we of course had to get our Pho fill at our favorite Pho spot...Pho Lang Thang. This is a cure all noodle bowl soup!!

 

One of my final stops was to visit my favorite ladies over at LUSH Kenwood. They were having their Valentine's Day Party and I knew I couldn't miss it!!!

 

 

I'm looking forward to getting out this weekend to celebrate Valentine's Day with some of our close friends!

 

I love Cincinnati!

 

xoxo,

Ronita

New Year New Hair...going for a little red...

It's been a while since I have blogged but 'm back!!

The past month and a half has been different for me but one thing that I have missed is my blog!!

So here I am back again...

SheaMoisture (one of my favorite hair brands) has come out with a line of organic hair dye. I have been itching to cut and color my hair for awhile so here is my chance. I can't wait to pick up a box of the vibrant red! My hair is dark so we will see how it turns out..

Stay tuned for my results.

P.S. the packaging is amazing...check out this write up about the new product.

xoxo,

Ronita

Have a LUSHly Happy HalloEve

It's Halloween eve and I will be bathing the family in this soothing concoction of lavender and Tonka absolute. It's sure to warm and calm on these cold and (snowy) nights.

xoxo,

Ronita

{my cold weather beauty products}

Cold Weather Beauty by mrsrjdean featuring ojon

Fresh lip care / Face care, $12 / Body cleanser / Aveda beauty product, $44 / Ojon / Carol's Daughter carols daughter / Shea moisture / Ojon , $29 / The

Cold mornings, cold nights...add these yummy products and a warm drink (my pick is I'm cider at the moment), your body will thank you!

Here are my beauty picks to combat these chilly days.

Soothing baths, creamy washes, hydrating hair fixes, and soothing balms.

I just discovered this new product at Trader Joe's and I must say it smells delightfully and at only $4.99 it sure beats it's $20.00 cousin.

(via)

What are your cold weather beauty must haves?

xoxo,

Ronita

{Vampy Lips Vampy Tips Fall/Winter 2012}

This fall and winter I will be rocking a deeper darker lip and deep dark tips. I am loving all the choices out now for the vamp look.

I will alternate between this look and a blood red look. My picks for the reds to come.

What's in your fall/winter makeup bag?

Vampy Lips Vampy Tips Fall/Winter 2012 by mrsrjdean featuring essie nailpolish

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics matte lipstick / Lancôme sheer makeup / Iman black lipstick / Revlon lipstick, $12 / Ellis Faas beauty product, $35 / Essie nailpolish / Butter London nail polish / Essie nail polish / Nail care

{glitterati}

HAPPY Wednesday!!

xoxo,

Ronita

{weekend snapshots}

1}brotherly love: the boys right before swimming 2}CSA box #6 3}fresh picked flowers from my farm CSA

4}dinner from Mahogany's on the Banks- Plum Loco wings (dinner club-girl's night out), fries and mac and cheese 5} my first Love Club sample box

I hope you all had a great weekend. We sure did!

xoxo,

Ronita

{August sample box round up}

This post is a bit late but I wanted to share my August sample boxes.

Glossybox

Shampoo and conditioner that I gave away, a duo lip gloss, body balm, foot cream and fragrance towelette.

Birchbox

facial cleanser, hydro silk razor, viva la juicy fragrance, show stopper double sided tape

curlBox

Cantu curl cream, Carol's Daughter's Curl Cream, deep conditioner, twisted sistas sample

Julep Maven

3 beautiful polishes and one lip gloss!

I have a bit of a problem and now have some of my friends at work addicted.

I am going to have to cut back soon...real soon...

Until next month!!!

xoxo,

Ronita

{LUSH Cosmetics' Emotional Brilliance Color Line}

Yesterday, on my lunch break I took a fun trip to my local LUSH. I have been hearing a ton about the new Emotional Brilliance Color line and being a LUSH-lover I had to check it out!

***

When I arrived I was greeted by a lovely associate who began to tell me about the line and how it's based off emotions.

The first step to choosing your color  is to do a guided color reading...

You relax, close your eyes, clear your mind, and when you open, select 3 colors that you are drawn to...

The colors you choose and the order you choose them have significance.

Here is my experience.

I selected ...

1. Fantasy (gold eyeliner)

2. Feeling Secure  (bluish eyeliner)

3. Ambition (reddish orange lipstick)

According to LUSH co-founder and inventor of Emotional Brilliance Rowena Bird, the order in which you choose the colours reveals your current state of mind.

1. Your first colour choice symbolises your strength or weakness (Fantasy)

2. Your second resonates with your primary subconscious need (Feeling Secure)

3. Your third choice represents your talent, the thing that will help you to achieve that subconscious need (Ambition)

After the reading I played around with all the colors and was very impressed with how pigmented and smooth they were. LUSH has done a great job with these not to mention all the great ingredients they contain. I'm not sold on the color reading part but it's great marketing and adds a little allure to the product.

The only draw back which is a big one in my book is the PRICE...at $22.95 a bottle they are very expensive BUT would be a treat to own.

Also included in the line is a translucent powder, brightening cream and bronzing cream.

***

Here are some campaign photos I found via OliveCoCo Online Magazine....

Great job LUSH!!!

xoxo,

Ronita

{July Sample Boxes}

I love getting mail every month. I love trying new beauty products. 

What better way to do both than receiving monthly subscription sample boxes. 

Here is this month's lineup.

My Shade of Brown 

Beauty and cosmetic geared towards women of color.

Nail polish pen, Pooka Pure and Simple body scrub, Butterfly Beauty body creme, Juicy Mist refresher

curlBox

Haircare products geared towards natural beauties.

2 full size Motions Natural you! shampoo and conditioner, Jane Carter Solutions condition and sculpt, shearadiance nourishing hair cream

BirchBox

The first sample box program.

Stila lipgloss, Über snackbar, Coco de Soleil hair gloss, Ada Cosmetics bronzer, Harvey Prince perfume sample, and BirchBox earbuds

Julep Maven

Nail polish and nail product box.

I received these beauties over a few shipments but my July box included the two glitters, a white pearl and lipgloss

GlossyBox USA

Beauty products sourced from all over the world.

AHAVA velvet cream body wash, FirstAid Beauty Smooth Shave Cream, Wella Moisturizing Treatment, Ofra cream eyeshadow, vbeaute eye treatments, Perfume Organics perfume sample

Some of them I LOVE and some of them I can go without. I guess that's the point...sample before you commit. 

Do you try sample boxes?

xoxo,

Ronita

{special delivery}

I love getting packages in the mail.

June curlBox

June Birchbox

...and my new coffee table book!!

xoxo,

Ronita

May Sample Boxes

My Shade of Brown

curlBox

BirchBox

May sample boxes have been something like spectacular!

My Shade of  Brown sent some yummy samples for body and hair. The mango body wash smells so delightful and the body oil is so rich. I can't wait to try the highly pigmented eye shadow on my next night out. 

curlBox, curlBox, curlBox. It was the founder's birthday month and not did she outdo herself! 3 full size products that so far have been amazing on my hair.

This was my first Birchbox and I have to say I wasn't that impressed. The only thing I like was the Ojon hair repair. 'm thinking if they looked at my account they would have known that I don't need anti-aging cream. I will stay a member for a few more months to see if I like it but if not I will be canceling my subscription.

Do any of you get sample boxes? 

What has been your experience?

xoxo,

Ronita

Product Junkie: March curlBox

It's finally here!!! What a wonderful way to start off my weekend.

Today, I came home to find this beauty outside my door.

My curlBOX

Per it's founder Myleik curlBox is...

An Exclusive, Affordable & Effortless Way to Experience Products for Curly Hair


Many years ago when I decided to wear my hair in it's natural state, I was most concerned with feeling beautiful and confident with the way my hair would look. I loved to wear sequins, bright bold lips and slick, shiny materials. Would all of this fabulousness go with my fuzzy 'fro? Of course it would!


At that time the products for naturally curly hair were few and far between. Now there are so many to experience that we don't know where to start!


We want to help make the selection process easier on you and your wallet.


Thank you for signing up for more information about . Our mission is to introduce you to some of the most interesting products to enhance your style that you've been hearing about ... but haven't had a chance to experience. We also want to introduce you to some of the most amazing brands by having them send their brand new products to you first! It's all about hair, beauty and confidence and rest assured that membership will have it's benefits.


Prepare yourself for the Experience!


See our full website at www.curlBOX.com

and a little something extra from one of my favorite companies..SheaMoisture!!!

If you can get on the April list when it opens I would highly recommend it. 

Toodles,

Ronita