Summer Cocktail Recipe with Alize Passion Fruit Vodka

Friday nights are here for unwinding which means every lady (and beau) could use a nice cocktail.  After a long week of shuffling kids, meetings, errands, and miscellaneous tasks there’s nothing better than a sexy beverage.  Even better, why not invite the girls over for a drink, dinner, and movie?

Below, I wanted to share a cocktail recipe to help get the weekend started:

FullSizeRender (92)
Friday night cocktail

2 shots of Alize Passion Fruit Vodka

2 shots of Cranberry Juice

toss in ice and fruit

Compliments of Alize
Compliments of Alize

Don’t forget to add a special touch to your glass with a charm and a nice platter of treats!  Also, pour a glass of Alize to make a yummy Sangria.  If you like this post, click here: Sangria Sundays

alize-11-300x231

Product Review for Alize Passion Fruit Vodka

Handbag Gallery 2015 – Designer to Moderate Price

 

One fashion item that unites all women (across the world) are gorgeous handbags.  We love them and they keep us organized. Handbags also serve various purposes in our life and can upgrade any look!

For example, we have kids and purchase a different “style” handbag; we start a new job and purchase a different “color” handbag.  The options are endless because retailers and designers work actively to suit our fashion needs.

Everyone has their favorite fashion accessory and personally, I prefer a new handbag.  In the gallery above, I’ve shared a few bags that might suit your liking.  The purses range from designer to moderately priced.  I’m also very fond of the rich hues shown in gray, dark purple, and taupe.

Also, stay connected to this website because I will share an interview from The Purse Paparazzi handbag collection very soon!

Sally Hansen Reformulated Miracle Gel Top Coat and Shades

These days, bigger is better when it comes to beauty. Following the major success of the first Miracle Gel launch, Sally Hansen has done it again, developing  the new & improved volumizing Miracle Gel Top Coat – adding to the award-winning Sally Hansen Miracle Gel collection: the most buzzed about at-home nail system and the closest thing to a salon gel manicure at home.

When partnered with the Miracle Gel shades, Miracle Gel Top Coat volumizes as it protects. The Top Coat formula delivers 2x the volume to your manicure – creating dramatically fuller-looking nails with a high-gloss, mirror shine finish.

The result: the look of a gel manicure at home, without the trip to a salon! Miracle Gel’s simple application takes just two steps. First, apply two thin coats of Miracle Gel color to clean, bare nails. Then, apply one coat of the new Miracle GelTop Coat. Natural light does the rest, creating a manicure that resembles a UV / LED cured gel polish and up to 14 days of color and shine. The next best thing to a salon gel manicure, without using an UV / LED light AND removes easily with regular nail polish remover.

To coincide with the release of the new top coat, Sally Hansen announces a total of 20 new vibrant colors of Miracle Gel.

The Tribal Vibe collection adds seven new sun-baked shades to the permanent line up: Cream of the Crop (ivory with a hint of warmth), Tribal Sun (fiery coral like the setting sun), Rhythm & Blue (mirrors the hue of a bright blue sky), Totem-ly Yours (an appealing dusty rose),  Per-Suede ( the color of rich reddish leather), Terra-Coppa (melds the gleam of copper with the earthy appeal of pottery) and Buffalo Nickel (a cool, classic silver white).

5 4 3 2 1 unnamedAnother new collection, Boho Chic, brings together seven festival-ready saturated shades for free spirits everywhere: Rhapsody Red (updates classic cardinal red with a blue undertone), Tipsy Gypsy (a bubbly, bright pink), Boho a-Go-Go ( a deep, creamy eggplant), Beatnik ( a statement-making cobalt), Mintage (a medium-toned mint), Fish-teal Braid (an aquatic turquoise), Miss Wanderlust (packs colorful glitter into a soft stunning coral

1211109876

In addition, limited-edition duo packs pair the new Miracle Gel top coat with one of six summery colors: Blue Hue (a subdued, milk-glass blue), Teal Twin (a dark gemstone teal), Geo-Mint-ric (a vibrant spearmint), Get it Bright (the color of freshly sliced watermelon), Block Party (a tigerlily orange, tinged with coral),Up the Ante ( a medium-toned plum)

18 17 16 15 14 13


Miss Black USA 2015 Returns to the Nation’s Capital

Miss Black USA 2015 Returns to the Nation’s Capital with Contestants Competing for Top Honors

Not Just Highlighting Beauty, but Education, Confidence & Self Worth

photo-miss-black-usa-color

On August 9th, 2015 Miss Black USA will make its return back to the Nation’s Capitol to crown Miss Black USA 2015. The big night will be held at the Theatre for Performing Arts at the University of the District of Columbia. The pageant will be hosted by Kalilah Allen-Harris, M.D. who is an actress, physician and a former Miss Black USA (2007). The crowning event will also showcase a special performance by Grammy Nominated Singer, Producer and Musician Johnny Britt performing his hit single “Beautiful Queen”. In addition, the newest addition to this year is Miss Black USA will be live streaming through the website www.MissBlackUSA.org.

Miss Black USA was founded in 1986 to provide educational opportunities to outstanding young African American women. To date, the pageant has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships. It’s mission is to provide educational opportunities to outstanding young women of color and to develop the “whole woman mind, body, and spirit”. In addition, there are two key factors to the Miss Black USA pageant.  The belief of scholarship and community. Miss Black USA celebrates scholastic achievement and believes that education is the key to lifelong success and empowerment. The winners of the Miss Black USA title is provided scholarship opportunities. For community, the two leading social issues are health and education and the winner will use her civic platform to promote awareness of these issues during her reign. When asked about Miss Black USA and what the pageant offers the African American community, founder Karen Arrington states”Miss Black USA redefines what it means to be a courageous, compassionate & a CONFIDENT black woman today! Eighty percent of Miss Black USA queens are in graduate or professional school. They represent a new generation of powerful and intelligent Black women not portrayed in mainstream media. Anytime you are part of a subculture, it’s important to have your own reward system and need more role models and we need them now.

Leading up to the crowning on August 9th, contestants will participate in a series of preliminary competitions. All preliminary competitions are open to the public and the Miss Black USA Talented Teen & Jr. Teen National Pageant will also take place during the kick off week. The full list of events is below:

  • 8/7/15 – Miss Black USA Fitness & Evening Gown Preliminary
  • 8/8/15 – Miss Black USA Talented Teen & Jr. Teen National Pageant
  • 8/8/15 – Miss Black USA Talent & On Stage Q&A Preliminary
  • 8/9/15 – Miss Black USA Pageant
  •  

Tickets for all preliminary events, Miss Black USA Talented Teen & Jr. Teen and Miss black USA Pageant are on sale now at www.missblackusa.org.

Miss Black USA would like to thank the following: Arik Air, The Kairaba Resort, Lamik, NYS Collection Eyewear, Beautiful Textures, Contemporary Family Services and Anestasia Vodka.

 

Teen Vogue Back-To-School Saturdays: Arundel Mills Mall

Teen Vogue will host it’s Back-To-School Saturdays event at Arundel Mills Mall on Saturday, August 8, 2015 from 1 – 4 p.m.  I grew up reading Teen Voguegetting all of my makeup and fashion tips right before school started.  I will forever be a fan!

unnamed

 

EVENT DATES: 8/8/2015 – 8/8/2015

Join us before it’s time to hit the books with a sneak peek at the hottest back-to-school trends at Arundel Mills.

DATE: Saturday, August 8th

TIME: 1-4PM

LOCATION: Fashion Court near Starbucks

Cupcake and mocktail bar will be available as well as a Beauty station.

Show your back-to-school fashion discovery using #foundatsimon #contest, for your chance to win $2,500.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter Contest by: 12/31/15. To enter and for Official Rules, go to www.simon.com/foundatsimonrules

If you like this post, click here: Teen Vogue Handbook Careers in Fashion

Ann Taylor Safari Looks and Style

imageService (21)

imageService (22)

Take a cue from celebrities like Diane Kruger and Olivia Wilde and be adventurous with your style by incorporating thesafari trend into your wardrobe.  Ann Taylor offers a variety of elevated khaki styles with cargo pockets and accessories in exotic and earthy palettes that are sure to spice up your ensemble.

Take on fierce femininity with a midi-skirt or flattering cargo skinny jeans paired with a light sweater or jacket for an easy, in between season look.

imageService (23)

Accentuate your look with printed flats or a tortoiseshell belt to make a statement. Add a pop of color to your neutrals with a pair of red pumps that will leave you looking sophisticated in your safari look.

image001 (2)

Target Lainee D’Orsay Pumps – Nude Pumps for Women of Color

I shared a post last month titled the “Nudes Pumps Collection Spring 2015.”  Since that time, I decided to research a collection of affordable nude pumps for women of color.  I love my red bottom shoes but we shouldn’t sacrifice cost for real fashion and style.

FullSizeRender (90)

After searching the internet for months (and canceling my shoe order) I found myself shopping at Target. Something told me to visit the shoe department because I am a sucker for a good sale. Sitting on the rack for $20.00 dollars was the Lainee D’Orsay Pumps!  I was super excited because although they’re not considered to be a nude pump, this shoe is the exact color of my skin complexion.

Lainee D‘Orsay Pumps

I like to wear nude pumps when I’m hosting Lifestyle Segments at the news station.  They’re also a great style option for attending fashion events or date night.  I have truly mastered the art of mixing “high and low end pieces” to create a total look.  For example, thrifted jeans with a Nordstrom bangle; dress from Target paired with a Louis Vuitton Neverfull.

Lainee D‘Orsay Pumps

I also discovered the Melanie Classic Pumps which are very similiar to the Patent Red Sole Pump.  For future references, I will always visit Target to find a sale on stylish shoes!  Follow me on Instagram @kwest1908 to keep up with my shopping deals.

This is not a sponsored post – 

The links in this post contain affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

 

Safeco Insurance® Launches #MY60 Campaign

My360_HeroImage

Long summer days are a natural time for Americans to re-focus their time to do more of what they enjoy, but it can still be challenging to make any extra time. In fact, according to a new survey by Safeco Insurance, more than four in five respondents agree they need an extra hour in the day with 70 percent admitting they would use that extra time to do something for themselves.

The survey results showed that people are working longer hours, but 45 percent are realizing less happiness in their extended workdays.  Nearly half say that finding just sixty minutes more in their day to do something they enjoy would make them happy and relaxed.  Topping the list of activities for a “do more hour” were personal hobbies (40%), having alone or personal time (29%) and trying something new (22%).

With over half of respondents admitting to feeling more inspired to find free time during summer, Safeco is launching the #MY60 campaign to encourage people to take back 60 minutes of their day over a 60-day period. Safeco is inviting consumers to visit www.safeco.com/MY60  to find tips and checklists on how to create and maximize a “do more hour” for themselves. The site will also feature expert advice from Jonathan Alpert, a Manhattan-based psychotherapist and author of the book “Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days.”

“Part of Safeco’s mission is to help both our customers and independent agents get more out of life from getting more involved in their communities to tackling a new challenge,” said Matthew Nickerson, President, Safeco Insurance. “We hope Safeco’s #MY60 campaign will empower people with the tools to help them find an hour or any extra time in their day to do what makes them happiest.”

The survey also demonstrated the tug-pull feeling Americans have on how much time they spend on things they have-to-do versus things they want-to-do, with respondents aspiring to a near 50/50 split. However, the study shows a different story as respondents report actually spending two-thirds of their time on have-to-do activities as opposed to only 33 percent focusing on want-to-do activities.

When it comes to managing time, 66 percent of those surveyed believe they are only somewhat successful or not successful at all with their time management. In fact, only one-third of respondents feel that they successfully manage their time and complete daily to-do lists.

There are also negative consequences to not having enough hours in the day to get through everything. Over half of respondents admitted to using a negative behavior such as overeating to cope with not accomplishing everything they need to do. These behaviors are likely having a negative impact on relationships. One-quarter say they withdraw from other people and 24 percent become angry with others to cope.

“The best way to avoid negative behaviors stemming from not having enough time to do it all is to change your thinking about what needs to be done,” notes Alpert. “Carving out an hour in the day of ‘me’ time is essential to personal happiness.”

Alpert offers several tips to help find an hour a day to do more including:

Change your thinking. “I’m so busy” and “I don’t have time for anything” are negative comments that are sure to keep you feeling overwhelmed. Think more along the lines of making good use of the time that you do have or having perspective that you can only do so much in one day and to accomplish what’s reasonable for that given day.  Empower yourself to think “can” and “will” instead of “can’t” and “have to.”

Track how you spend your time. Do this for one week. Many people are entirely unaware of what they do hour to hour and where the day goes. The simple exercise of noting what you’re doing each hour can have a huge impact. Track your time and know where you’re spending it.

Determine which tasks and activities are vital and which are optional. Structure other tasks around those that are vital. Schedule your day by doing the important tasks first, using the first 15 minutes of your morning to organize your work area.  This is when you are freshest and energetic. So often the less important tasks get in the way of other things that need to be done which can be distracting.  It’s often easier to do the things that aren’t as important, but fear can lead to procrastination and ends up keeping us stagnant.

For additional tips and more information on the #MY60 Challenge, visit www.safeco.com/MY60.

About the Study

Safeco Insurance commissioned ORC International to conduct a quantitative methodology to measure attitudes towards time management and balancing leisure time with work and essential tasks. During April/May 2015,  a 10-minute online survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of approximately 2,000 adults aged 21 to 75 within ten major media markets (approximately 200 for each: Boston, NYC, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, Charlotte, San Francisco, Columbus, Philadelphia, Phoenix).*”Total” reported is an unweighted average of these ten markets.

 

About Safeco Insurance

In business since 1923 and based in Boston, Mass., Safeco Insurance sells personal automobile, homeowners and specialty products through a network of more than 10,000 independent insurance agencies throughout the United States. Safeco is a Liberty Mutual Insurance company.

Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance is a diversified insurer and the third largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2013 direct premiums written as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Liberty Mutual Insurance also ranks 78th on the Fortune 100 list of largest U.S. corporations, based on 2014 revenue. For more information about Safeco Insurance, go to safeco.com.

Sponsored Post

Luster Premium White – Product Review

Lately, I have been an advocate for teeth whitening products because it’s an area that’s overlooked.  Having a beautiful smile is just as important as getting a spa manicure.

It goes beyond the ordinary whitening system and expands to owning a flouride and stain removing toothpaste. Luster Premium White has re-launched their Power White Deep Stain Eraser® Fluoride Toothpaste, a two-in-one daily fluoride + peroxide whitening toothpaste, with a completely new flavor and formula which is free of sulfates.

There’s only word to describe this toothpaste: AMAZING! After professionally whitening my teeth I wanted to maintain the results with Luster Premium White.  I used my normal dental regimen but incorporated this toothpaste for brushing. It worked wonders on my teeth and the flavor was nice as well.  Remember, this particular toothpaste has fluoride + peroxide which makes it a two in one formula.

unnamed

More about the product:

Power White Deep Stain Eraser® Fluoride Toothpaste – SULFATE FREE ($ 6.99)

This two in one toothpaste will not only cleanse your teeth and freshen your breath, but it will also whiten surface and deep stains. There is no need to buy a separate cleanser and whitener. Power White Deep Stain Eraser® Fluoride Toothpaste combines these two steps in one.

·         Removes up to 95% of surface stains in just 5 days

·         No sulfates (SLS free)

·         Uses 2% stabilized hydrogen peroxide for brighter, whiter teeth – 2X the leading brand

·         Whitens safely above and below the tooth’s surface

·         Developed by dentists

·         Results in zero tooth sensitivity

·         Enamel safe peroxide whitening

·         Fluoride toothpaste formulated for daily use

 

Best for: Daily maintenance, replacing other toothpastes, fast whitening, and getting at deep stains.

Luster Premium White products are sold at Walgreen’s and Walmart, among other retailers nationwide

this post is a product review and items sent from the company