2017 Holiday Gift Guide:For Her

I'm so excited to share my gift guide with you ladies.. and gents looking for those gift ideas. I don't know about you guys but I think it's so much easier shopping for ladies as there are so many ideas out there and hello Pinterest. Guys are a little more difficult, my man is anyway. I'll have that gift guide coming next. For now, let's get to all the fun...  

  

I'm a pink lover so naturally, most of these items will have blush, pink, or rose gold tones. You can always change the colors if you're digging another color.  

  

If you follow me on social media then you know I have been loving my grey Hunter boots  but I've linked some below that are on sale. They come in different colors of course so pick your fave.  

  

1. Hunter Rain Boots
 Originally $155- on sale for $89.99  

https://api.shopstyle.com/action

These bad boys don't go on sale too often so if you're looking now is the best time.  

  

2. The rose gold Lumi Phone case  

Originally $59.95, on sale now for $49.95 

http://shopstyle.it/l/psGC 

  

3. Pink/Grey Blanket Scarf -$55 

http://shopstyle.it/l/psHf 

I'm linking a similar one for a little cheaper... but those blanket scarves are worth every penny.  

The one below is a little easier on the budget at $10 bucks.  

http://shopstyle.it/l/psHy 

  

The famous Kylie Lip kit has been sold out lately but I found another similar product that's easier on the wallet. I've heard amazing things as well. I plan on trying this out asap if I don't get it from Santa. ;)  

4. Maybelline Gigi Hadid East Coast Glam Lipstick and Lip Liner Kit- $16.99 

http://shopstyle.it/l/psJb 

  

5. Clarisonic Mia Fit Holiday Set 

http://shopstyle.it/l/psLR 

This set is normally $271 and is now on sale for $219. The mini Clarisonic alone is priced at $234. This is honestly a killer deal. I live by my Mia 2 Clarisonic but when I travel I always wish I had this thing. Those brush heads are around $20-$30 a piece so you're really getting a deal on this one. This is a game changer for me with my skin. I have some texture issues and this is the only way for me to really handle it. The Clarisonic is amazing for deep cleaning and anti-aging. We all know exfoliating is the secret to preserving. 

  

6. Chanel COCO MADEMOISELLE Eau de Parfum 

$75–130 

http://shopstyle.it/l/psQt 

This is an item I would never purchase myself but every time I smell it I just obsess over. It's such a classic smell you can wear winter or summer. You can't go wrong with this gift. It's not usually on sale but it's worth every penny in my opinion. I don't think too many women will complain.  

  

7. LC Lauren Conrad Bunny Ring Holder Trinket Tray 

$24 

http://shopstyle.it/l/psSc 

We all need that ring dish on our night stand and I thought this piece was just darling and a classic color.  

  

8.Friends - Layla Leather And Rose Gold-Tone Headphones in Copper 

http://shopstyle.it/l/psS2 

I think these headphones are a deal at $124 compared to the competitor, they are normally $177. 

  

9. T3 Tourmaline-$230 

T3 Twirl 360 Motion-Sensing Auto-Rotating Curling Iron 

http://shopstyle.it/l/psVe 

If you're a beauty junkie you have likely seen this item floating around. I've watched several reviews and have friends that own this one. It's well worth the money and just look at the colors. Yes, please.  

If you want something similar that works but a little cheaper I found this Revlon curling iron with the same look for $27.99. 

Revlon Rose Gold Curling Iron 

http://shopstyle.it/l/psXC 

  

10. LC Lauren Conrad Sweater Knit Pom Pom Ballet Slippers with Sleep Mask 

Normally $32 now on sale for $17.99 

http://shopstyle.it/l/psVZ 

It's not Christmas in my world without getting jammies or slippers every year. I've been really impressed with Lauren Conrad lately. She has a very feminine chic line that's very affordable. This set comes in different colors.  

  

So there you have it, there are many options for that special lady in your life or even yourself. I'm hoping Santa brings me a few of the items too. Let me know if you're shopping around for anything else or have any creative ideas. 
All opinions are my own as always.  

You can find all the items below if you want to purchase anything on the list. Happy Shopping everyone!  

          

        

Hair Extension Review

UPDATED AS OF 12/26/2020

STILL LOVING MY EXTENSIONS

Direct link to Hidden Crown-Hidden Crown Halo

Hidden Crown Halo VS Sally's Euronext clip-ins 

I have been wearing hair extensions for about ten years now so I've had my fair share of them and I've found my favorites after many trial and errors. I've had the fused extensions and beaded all done at the salon.... I've had several brands from Sally’s over the years and then I ran across the lovely Halo from Hidden Crown. I had become tired of repurchasing extensions from Sally’s that only last 6 months if you get lucky and I’m not into going to the salon every six weeks or so for the touch-ups. Sally’s clip-ins are more than half the price of the higher end extensions that last longer and look better. To me, extension's are an investment and I'm used to wearing and having them complete my look. Once you have them it's just hard to go with out. If you're a blonde you know the struggle of growing your hair out. If you go with the cheap brand it will show, it will show even more if you don't take care of them and try to wear them longer than you should. There’s nothing wrong with wearing clip-ins just be sure to replace them when needed and take great care of them. You don't want to be the girl with thin uneven fried extensions in the room. (Sorry) If you have ever used a Sally brand of clip ins you will know the struggle of the time it takes and of-course the low quality for the price you pay. I started researching the weight grams one night with other companies and realized pretty quickly the best bang for your buck and reviews all lead me to Hidden Crown. I'm currently on my second Halo and I can honestly say I don't know how I ever lived without this thing. It takes me literally five minutes to throw it in and it always looks amazing. Take a look at the video at the bottom and you will immediately be sold.
Note: All opinions are my own as usual. I’m just sharing a great beauty secret that I think many struggle with. This little beauty find made my life so much easier.

I am wearing my halo here in the shade 60/8 and I have the 20' piece, I take mine to my hair dresser and have her cut layers in it to match my hair style. If you are looking for more volume than length I would suggest getting the 14' or 16' so you can cut how you like. I also have a second piece I wear in the 16' inch more for simple every day looks. 

link to my exact color- Blondedlights hair hidden crown in 60/8

Hidden crown pictured above in both photos.

COST

Hidden Crown Halo price- 20’ $350. This piece is more pricey and ranges depending on which item you pick. The longer and heavier the hair the more pricey the hair will be. If you price out other crowns or even clips- ins, this is the best bang for your buck. I usually go for the longer ones but the shorter crowns are a little less expensive. The layered crown with the 20’ is $449. Personally I would have my stylist cut layers to match my own hair and save you some cash. I know this sounds like a lot if you don't wear extensions a lot or even if you usually wear clips ins. I’ve worn them all and this is the best option for me and a happy medium with time, money, maintenance, and general wear and tear on one's hair. I always go with the longer ones just because they will get stringy or worn eventually and a little trim goes a long way. I still like to keep some length but I usually get some layers in my crown before wearing. I just think it looks better but this isn't necessary for everyone.

Halo

Euronext Clip-ins

Sally's Euronext Price -18’ $169.00

PROS AND CONS

Hidden Crown takes time to order, color match, and size. There are some salons that will do this for you and Hidden Crown does have a list of available salons on their website. There are several salons in Nashville that offer this service. This will add on to the cost with a nice little service charge. If you are familiar with working with hair extensions it is pretty easy. I can color match my own hair pretty easily after years of getting my hair colored and wearing extensions. Hidden Crown will also help color match if you email them with a pic. They send an alternative similar color swatch as well with the package. You are able to send back if you're not happy with the hair and they make it very easy to exchange. You do have to pay for shipping and they offer rush shipping once processed. Again though if you are really going to invest in good extensions this isn't too much in my opinion, If you want a salon to do this they can easily do it but it is quite a bit more expensive. While it is more expensive to me it's still easier than getting the 6-week maintenance on salon-style extensions, the price initially and every 6 weeks, not to mention the damage to your hair. The halo will last you a year and a half to three years if taken care of properly. My first halo was going pretty strong at a year and a half but I somehow lost that one. I don't usually wear my extensions daily so that is worth noting. I will typically wear them on the weekend, any trips, or if I’m just getting dressed up. These are real remi hair with great quality. You can wash them and treat them like normal hair. I do tend to treat mine very gentle and only wash when needed. I try to use very little hair product but hairspray is always needed lightly. The only negative here is that you cant just go into the store and pick out your hair. Even with the clip-ins though I feel like they still need a trim before they look decent so they have some downtime with me anyway. Another plus is they now send you a nice bag to store with a hanger to hang your extensions and store properly. Huge plus and you won't have to buy the cotton bag to store your extensions in, Most don't come with the hanger. This little invention is magic.

Sally’s Euronext  Clip-ins Hair Extensions
The best thing about these extensions is the easy access. Once you purchase extensions at Sally's they are a final sale and cannot be returned so be sure to color match well while in the store. I wouldn't recommend coloring these extensions as they are already pretty frail. There have been many times when I run and get mine last minute for an event. I think the quality has gone down over the last few years. They are very thin and only last 6 months if you are lucky. If you prefer clip-ins over a halo I would suggest looking into a better company online that offers more grams/weight. They all shed and the thinner they are the quicker they will fade and you are left with thin uneven fried looking ends. I always get them trimmed and try to brush them gently and keep them stored in a nice kit or bag. You can treat them the same also but I would only wash as needed and be sure to use a great conditioner on these. Clip-ins are generally better for updo's in my opinion and that is a pro along with easy access, however, the quality and price point easily kill that to me. You will end up spending the same amount of money after two sets within one year.

Grams/weight

Hidden Crown-140 grams with thick ends and double drawn.

Sally’s Euronext brand-80 grams with 8 clip in pieces. These pieces typically need to be layered on your scalp and are all different lengths.

Overall opinion

I do see the benefit for some ladies to get the clip ins from Sally's but I'll tell you its so much better to save your money if you can and try the halo. You won't regret it. I do still have a pair of clip ins that I've worn maybe three times for updo's. You can wear the halo for updo's but I don't like the feel of it. You can see pictures of me wearing my halo religiously on all my social media pages. I even wore the halo on my wedding day and had two different styles. Hidden Crown truly has made a product that is so easy and versatile for everyone, best of all it leaves no damage to your hair. That's a win-win for me. Let me know in the comments below if you have tried a halo or if you are getting ready to try one soon. I have a link below for you all.

Update- I've been using the Long Sexy Hair products to care for all my extensions and thought I would share. If you are looking for a shampoo/conditioner to keep your extensions healthier and longer consider trying this product. It has worked great for me. You're welcome ladies!

Photo from Pinterest and Lush to Blush

-Links to shop-

Hidden Crown Halo 

Hidden Crown Extensions

Sallys Hair Extensions 
Remy Hair Extensions

Eyebrow Microblading: My experience (Part 1)

Blogging in the beauty world often leads me to all the new exciting techniques and styles that are trending. I've had my eye on this new technique for awhile mostly because I think we can all understand the struggle of getting our eyebrows to look good. After connecting with Amanda from Agape MedSpa I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share this experience with my followers. 

First off, for the record I am not a pro at doing eyebrows but I have had my fair share of time researching and testing out the best products for myself. While I do feel like I have learned enough to do a decent job it still takes me the longest time to do them properly while applying makeup. I figured if this will save me 5-10 minutes getting ready, all the better. 

Just like most girls I plucked way too much during high school so I'm left with pretty thin eyebrows but I do have a natural arch in my brows so I'm thankful for that. Take a gander below at this all natural goofy photo I found. You can see my brows in the oh so natural state.

Before

Immediately after

-Basics-

 This new trend is a semi-permanent brow tattoo. The Esthetician  will create tiny hair strokes with a special tool and pigment that is matched to your brows. This tattoo only scratches the first layer of the skin, where as normal tattoos go into the third layer. The Esthetician will decide which color is best with your eyebrow shade. Amanda made sure I was ok with the shade before applying. I had an example to show of my ideal shape. If you want something, in particular, be sure to find examples and take with you.  

My ideal shape 

At first, I was skeptical after hearing a few friends tell me about their personal experience. I thought possibly it could be the person they used and  I was correct. This service should be taken seriously and you should do your research when looking for someone credible. Check your local laws and be sure to look at their work first. You can never be too careful when dealing with that type of thing. I did check out Amanda's work obviously and I knew quite a bit of ladies that had been going to see her. My mind was at ease for the most part. I didn't know what to expect pain wise but was pleasantly surprised when I learned I was getting numbing cream applied 30 minutes or so before the actual procedure... While it was a little uncomfortable it wasn't anything unbearable. 

 I also had the pleasure of meeting the Medical Director Dr. Newby. He was very kind and asked about my experience. The tiny things make a lasting impression in my opinion and I can't say enough good things about this spa and their attention to detail with their clients. 

I was absolutely blown away by my experience and results. I am obsessed with my new eyebrows, especially when I wake up in the morning and they are pretty much perfect. Who wouldn't love that?

-After Care-

Once you have the first application it takes awhile to heal. The first ten days are really important as you cant get your brows wet and it's crucial not to scratch or pick at the healing scabs. I've learned that this can make your personal results better or worse depending on how well you follow this simple instruction.This was a little hard for me but I made it with Amanda's one-on-one help and advice. I tried to wear minimum makeup and wash my hair in the shower every few days. I took as many baths as possible, used dry-shampoo to help, then, of course, applied the cream Amanda gave me to help protect my brows while I showered. I was particularly careful while showering and applying/removing makeup. I didn't wear any eyebrow makeup for two full weeks then it was very minimum. I'm still waiting to get my touch up in November. I will update this post with new photos but I am loving my results so far.  I would recommend Amanda to anyone looking in Tennessee or the surrounding areas. I personally drive 2.5 hours from Nashville just to see her. She is located in Chattanooga TN, at Agape MedSpa. If you are interested I would advise you to book now. She stays booked at least six weeks in advance. She is well worth the wait and you won't regret it. 

-Other services-

Amanda offers many other services that I'm very interested in and I plan on getting a few more in the near future. She is licensed in TN and you can find her work on the website or her social media pages below.  When I first noticed her skin I was so insanely jealous. I've never seen such flawless skin. I plan on possibly getting a chemical peel or micro dermabrasion with her soon. If you have had these types of services please feel free to tune in and let me know your experience. I personally have had a few different types of facials but not the peel. I have no doubt it will be amazing but I'm curious on everyone's thoughts. Part 2 will be up shortly.. If you would like to book an apointment with Amanda please see the information below. 
XOXO

-More on Amanda-

AMANDA BOOKER (LICENSED MEDICAL AESTHETICIAN)

The Brains behind the Beauty!

Amanda‘s dream and passion for helping men and women regain self confidence is brought to life with each client who comes through the door at Agape’. “The amazing privilege to creatively and passionately enhance the appearance of another human is a privilege that I humbly respect. Nothing is more rewarding to me than the opportunity to work in this field and help my clients regain self confidence and feel as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside. I personally feel that confidence is a very important aspect of our lives. When you look good, you feel good.”

The Aesthetics Industry is growing rapidly and offering new services and technology every day. Amanda continues to further her education and training to stay on the cutting edge of Medical Aesthetics in order to offer the most advanced procedures and state-of-the-art technology under the supervision of Agape’s Medical Directors with an emphasis on patient safety – delivering superior patient results in an inviting, contemporary environment.

Amanda has trained under some of the top Plastic Surgeons and Injectors in the South. With over five years of experience in the Aesthetics field, Amanda is passionate and dedicated in helping each of her clients find the best method to address their skin care concerns and enhance their natural beauty. She believes that educating her clients on being preventive and proactive is key in anti-aging. Amanda‘s artistic eye, grace and emphasis on detail sets her apart in this industry.

In 2013 Amanda won 1st place in the State of Tennessee Skill USA Aesthetics Competition. She then went on to compete against all 50 states in the National Aesthetics competition bringing home the BRONZE for 3rd place in the Nation.

Amanda has been thoroughly trained and certified in Allergan Injectables, Galderma Injectables, Alex/YAG Laser, IPL, Fraxel Laser, Ultherapy, Coolsculpting, BTL Exilis Ultra, Micro-Needling, PRP(Platelet Rich Plasma) injections for Hair Restoration/Facial and Body Rejuvenation, Thermiva, Dermaplaning, Medical Grade Chemical Peels,Micro-Blading, Master Make-Up Artist, SKINCeuticals, and Obagi.

Amanda lives in Chattanooga with her husband Keitha, and their children Canaan & Sydney. She enjoys art, music, fashion and traveling with her family. She is actively involved with local nonprofit organizations.

Website-http://agapemedspa.com/
Agape FB page-https://www.facebook.com/agapemedspa

Agape Instagram page-https://www.instagram.com/agapemedspachatt/

Amanda's intagram-https://www.instagram.com/amandabookerchatt/