Happy Weekend! xo

Hey Guys!

Just want to wish you all a happy, fun weekend!

I'm supposed to be heading to the beach again this weekend, but it looks like it will rain! :/ But, I'm hoping that the forecast will change! 

Well, here's to a happy, SUNNY, weekend!!

XOXO ,

Moni

OOTD: Hello Neon Yellow!

Hey Guys!

Today I wore one of my fave colors for summer - neon yellow! I paired a neon yellow tank with a sheer camel-beige polka dot top with some light blue jeans. I thought it was a bright, fun color combo on this overcast day! I believe bright colors lighten up your mood, which I am all for!!

Enjoy your weekend lovelies!

XOXO,

Moni

Tank - Conway

Polka Dot Top - Charlotte Russe

Jeans - Old (finally fit back into them!)

Shoes - Nicole

Fab Find Friday - e.l.f. Beauty Products @ Target!

Hello Beauties!


I was totally stoked when I discovered Target's amazing selection of cosmetics and beauty products! We all know that Target offers great prices, but I was especially pleased when I saw the variety of quality beauty products that they offer - from makeup to makeup brushes, removers, nail art decals, name brand nail polishes and more! My fave find was the e.l.f. line of cosmetics and beauty products. They offer makeup products brushes and applicators and ranging from $1-$3! Here are some items that I scooped up and would recommend:


Tinted Moisturizer:


I recently ran out of the SkinnyGirl tinted moisturizer I usually use and thought I'd give this one a try.  There are lots of tinted moisturizers out there and some can be quite expensive.  I'm not into spending the big bucks on basic cosmetics so I was pleased when I saw that e.l.f. offered this moisturizer for only $3! It's lightweight formula is great for summer and it has spf 20, which is a must. 





Makeup Remover Wipes:


I love this concept. Long gone are the days of rubbing your eyes with a piece of cotton soaked in makeup remover trying desperately to remove stubborn eyeliner and mascara. I normally use Pond's & Nuetrogena for this kind of thing, but e.l.f. offers a good alternative.  They are also $3 a pop, so you really can't go wrong.



Eyeshadow brush:


OK, so I'm always floored when I see how expensive makeup brushes are! I mean I can understand the expense for makeup artists, but I'm pretty practical with my makeup application so I don't require anything fancy.  Target offers an array of e.l.f. makeup brushes for only $1! Ah-mazing! I grabbed this lil guy and am pleased with the results! C'mon, at $1 each, they're totally worth the try!









Have any great beauty finds? Please share them in the comments below! :)


XOXO,
Moni

Enjoy Your Life!

Check out these cool quotes that inspire me to live and love every day that is given to me. Sometimes I get trapped in the work/gym/cook/clean/events/appointments flow of life and become so busy that I neglect to appreciate and enjoy the life God has given to me. I constantly need to remind myself to take it easy and enjoy life and even its most simple pleasures. I literally make a choice to smile more, overlook "special" folks and their behavior and not stress out over stuff - whether it be my husband's socks on the floor or an unexpected bill. I trust God and know I'm on His side and He's on mine, so there's no need to for me to operate out of fear and anxiety. Today, I make up my mind to enjoy my life and not take myself too seriously and encourage you to do the same!

XOXO,

Moni

OOTD - Coral, Black, White & Gold

Hey Dolls,

Just thought I'd check in and share today's outfit with y'all. I bought this dress a few months back from one of my faves, TJ Maxx for $25. I love its forgiving shape and pop of coral waistband. I paired it with gold flats, a matching cardi and a multi-colored stone necklace. I thought it all worked well for a corporate cas chic look.

Hope you all enjoyed your day so far!

XOXO,

Moni

Beach Tanning Tips!

Hey Beauties!

This past weekend I hooked up with friends and headed to la playa (beach in espanol)! :)

So, I'll be honest, in spite of all the news reports & my new found crows feet, ahem, I mean "laugh lines" - I still love to tan! But in my 30 years, I've grown wiser on how to achieve a healthier tan and avoid sunburn and skin damage! Check out my "tan technique" below:

Tan Technique:

Leave the house with a sunscreen of at least an spf 15 or above already on your face. Your day time face lotion should already contain sunscreen. If not, buy one that does. :)

As soon as I arrive to the beach and set up shop, I lather up my back, chest, neck and face again -including ears- with spf 15 or 30.  I apply a tanning oil with spf 8 to my legs and arms since they rarely burn and my legs are especially white and the hardest part of my body to tan.

Once I'm lathered up, I lay in the direction of the sun and rotate with the sun as it changes it's position. This may sound weird, but it is key to obtaining an even tan.  Once you're done on the first side, lather up your backside and turn over.  I usually tan for 30 minute intervals on each side, so I can get a good gauge on my tan progress and this also helps prevent burning.

Remember, ALWAYS reapply sunscreen after (even before) getting in the water, even if your sunscreen is "waterproof."  Multiple layers of sunscreen really helps prevent burning and skin damage.


Tan Line Tip:
I also try to wear strapless bathing suits and bandeau tops to avoid ugly tan lines.  But, if you do get tan lines, apply sunless tanner after you shower and this will help blend in the uneven skin tones. I also usually apply self tanner every couple of days in between beach visits to amplify & maintain my tan. This really helps achieve the ultimate "golden glow" and blend in any inconsistencies in color. The best part is, when you apply self tanner to already tanned skin, it looks super natural and rarely ever looks streaky!

Don't forget your hat to help protect your face and hair!

It's always fun in the sun! ;-)

Have any beach or tanning tips to share? Include them in the comments below!

XOXO,
Moni

Fab Find Friday!

Hey Loves!


I'm starting a new weekly post called "Fab Find Fridays" that will feature something fabulous each week, whether it be a beauty product, an amazing store, salon, sale, bargain or a beauty technique. I'm always on the look out for new products, great deals and time saving beauty tips, and I'd love to share these with you in these weekly posts.


Check out this week's Fab Find Friday!


  European Wax Center - waxcenter.com





Now, there aren't many things I hate about summer, but bikini waxing is definitely one of them! Now, yes we should all be well groomed all year round, but let's face it ladies, this is not always the case, especially during winter months.  During those cold pale days, you can get away with moderate shaving and trimming and take a break from the aggressive pulling and plucking.  But it's summer and waxing is the best way to ensure a clean, bare beach look.


But, where should you go for a waxing or should you just do it yourself?  Well, there are a variety of spas and salons that offer waxing, but the better ones (and you do want a better one) will definitely cost you ... until now!  Check out European Wax Center.  They are a nationwide chain of quality wax "spas" that offer a variety of waxing services for men and women.  The best part is that you get your first bikini line wax (or other promotional wax) free! Yup, free, no gimmicks. If you want a more extensive waxing like a full bikini wax or Brazilian wax, you get 50% off your first visit. They also have a rewards type program that offers you $5 off a visit for each friend you refer to the salon.  


I recently went to the European Wax Center in Rutherford, NJ with a friend and we both had good experiences.  They used quality hard wax, the place was spotless and the staff friendly.  But, yes the waxing still hurt like heck. :-/


They also have a pre and post waxing skin care line which was nice but overpriced. It seems as if you could get similar products at your local drugstore for much less.


For those brave mavens that aren't afraid of a DIY bikini waxing, check out my post on DIY bikini waxing for some tips: http://monismix.blogspot.com/2012/05/skinny-on-diy-waxing.html


Have a wonderful weekend!


XOXO, 
Moni

OOTD - Vibin' Biz Cas Style

Hey Guys!

Just a quick note to say hello and share today's outfit. It's a bit of a quiet day today at work, so I'm taking advantage of it by relishing in the sounds of Pandora's 90's radio while responding to emails. To me, 90's music is THE BEST MUSIC EVER. I mean - Goo Goo Dolls, Alanis Morisette, The Cranberries, Sheryl Crow, Pearl Jam, Gin Blossoms, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Bush - the list goes on!

Hope you lovelies have a wonderful, relaxing post 4th of July!

XOXO,

Moni

Shirt: JC Penney

Slacks: TJ Maxx

Shoes: Marshall's

Bracelet: W. 31st Street Wholesaler (see previous post - http://monismix.blogspot.com/2012/07/mixing-and-matching-bright-colors.html)

Gotta Love Fashionable Bargains! :-) 

Mixing and Matching Bright Colors!

Hey Sweets!

Check out this cool color combo of neon yellow, cherry red and beige! It's an unlikely color combination I saw on one of the many reality shows I watch - Big Rich Texas (I know, I know, I was embarrassed even admitting this!) but those Texas gals have style! LOL

I rocked out this combo with some cool spiked and python print bracelets I scooped from this fantastic wholesale jewelry distributor on West 31st Street, NYC.  Details are below.

Let me know what ya think of this look and have a beautiful day!

                                     Shirt & tank top: Conway

                                     Necklace/Bracelets: W. 31st Street Wholesalers (see below)

                                     Pants: Old Navy

                                     Shoes: DSW

If you're in the Manhattan NY area, check this place out. 

They have cool, trendy pieces at great prices!

XOXO,

Moni

Simple steps to nourish dry, brittle nails!

Nail art, nail polish and gel polish, oh, my. I'm a huge fan of the the nail art/nail polish boom! I think it's great that everyone has stepped up their nail game.  However, it seems as if with each polish change (and I do 2-3 per week), my nails get more and more brittle and therefore crack, peel and chip easily. 

So, I've identified a few simple steps to help nourish dry, brittle nails to strong, healthy nails!

Step 1: Use a gentle moisturizing nail polish remover like Sally Hansen's Moisturizing Nail Polish Remover. ($2-$3 at drugstores).

Step 2. When your nails need a trim, use a nail file instead of a nail clipper since nail clippers can create more ridges and cracks in nails. 

Step 3. Buff away any unwanted ridges. A buffer is my manicures best friend. It gives the illusion of a smooth nail bed and can even gently remove unwanted cuticle regrowth!

Step 4. The Olive Oil Soak. Do this as often as possible in between polish changes, sort of like a "deep conditioner" for nails. Once your polish is removed and your filing and buffing are done, dip your tips into a small bowl of olive oil for 5-10 minutes. Then wash and dry your hands well to remove oily residue. Now, you're ready to begin your polish routine!

Step 5. Use cuticle moisturizer daily. While many of us use hand moisturizer daily, it's also important to target your cuticles to give them the moisture they need. This helps prevent unruly cuticle regrowth as well as prevent hang nails. (Try Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream, $8 drugstores).

Hope these tips help! Got any great nail tips to add? Please share them in the comments below!

XOXO

Moni