Benefits of Coconut Oil...

Hello fellow bloggers :) I hope everyone's week is off to a great start. Before I get into the blog, I want to thank everyone who is reading my posts. It means so much to me that you take the time out of your day to view my thoughts and opinions about different subject matters, and for that I am GRATEFUL. If you are at all interested, I also have a YouTube channel if you would also like to see any videos I post on a weekly basis (Shannon B)

So one beauty product that everyone seems to talk about is Coconut Oil. What is Coconut Oil? Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm. Some of the beauty items coconut oil can be used for are:

→ Skin and hair hydration
→ The prevention of stretch marks
→ Creation of natural body and face scrubs for gentle exfoliation
→ Gentle makeup removal

Not only for beauty benefits, coconut oil has many health benefits as well including:

→ Contains lauric acid that is essential for heart health
→ Assists digestion
→ Speeds up weight loss
→ Helps to fight infections
→ Improves liver health

With all of this said, coconut oil has many benefits both physical appearance and our inside health. The next time you are at the store, pick up some coconut oil and try out this favorite recipe for a DIY Face Mask:

• 2 teaspoons of coconut oil
• 1/2 mashed ripe avocado
• 1 teaspoon oat bran.
• Mix into a paste and apply to skin. Leave on for approximately 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

"Good For Your Skin" Vitamins...

Happy Monday fellow bloggers :) Thank you for stopping by to read today's post, and I hope you are all having a wonderful start to the week. If not, don't worry, we're only on day one of this week.

Lately I have been really trying to take care of my skin, not only with my skin care routine, but with the things I eat. Part of what keeps our skin healthy is what we put into our bodies, and most of the time, we are not getting the right vitamins and nutrients to show our skin at its' best. Here are four vitamins that are excellent for the skin and what you can focus on maintaining in your diet:

► Vitamin A
Vitamin A is proven to reduce wrinkles, fade brown spots, and smooth roughness. You can find vitamin A,also known as retinoids, in many beauty products. You can usually find Vitamin A in lotions, night creams and prescription products.The best way to use it is at night, as they can make your skin more sensitive to sun. Retinoids can be very powerful, so avoid irritation by applying every second or third night initially and build up to nightly use.

► Vitamin B
Vitamin B boosts hydration, reduces redness and inhibits the transfer of pigment to skin cells, therefore minimizing dark spots. It is specifically beneficial for people with dry or sensitive skin, and some studies support its benefits for reducing rosacea. It can be found in lotions, creams, and serums, and the best way to apply it is in the morning and evening. It’s also great to apply both Vitamin A & B simultaneously, as Vitamin B could calm possible irritation from retinoids, and the combination is said to provide even greater anti-aging benefits.

► Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps smooth and firm skin and fade brown spots by inhibiting the free radicals that trigger wrinkling, sagging, and other aging changes. Mainly it can be applied in the morning, before sunscreen, to protect your skin from free radicals caused by sun damage.

►Vitamin E
Vitamin E is really the skincare superstar. The vitamin has been proven to ease dryness and boosts skin's UV defense. You can mainly find it in sunscreens and after-sun products.Vitamin E is a natural armor against UV radiation, so apply the product before and after sun exposure. Also consider applying Vitamin C and E simultaneously, as the duo provides greater protection against free radicals when used together.

DIY Wedding Accessories...

Good Morning all bloggers! I have some big news to share with you all....

I'M ENGAGED!

It happened on July 1st, and I couldn't be happier!!! :):):) <33333 Now is the big process of planning a wedding, yikes! I have been googling ideas like a mad woman, mostly because our budget is low and I would like to be as crafty as I can with the event.

A great DIY that I found recently are diamond tooth picks, and you initially might think, huh?! These can be not only for a wedding but for a blinged out party or even a fun girls night. Here are the steps involved:

What you'll need:

Flat head toothpicks
Fake diamond cut accents from Michaels
Hot Glue

Lay your diamond on a flat surface and turn them upside down. Take your toothpick and add a drop of hot glue to the flat end side. Stick the hot glue end of the toothpick on the upside down diamond and hold it straight up for several seconds, making sure it dries. Now you can have appetizers that bling and sparkle across the room! :)

Fourth of July Outfit Ideas...

Happy Monday and July 1st bloggers :) I can't believe it, but half of the year is already gone....where did it go?!?!?! Within this week, our country will once again celebrate it's independence on the 4th of July, and many of us like to be extra-patriotic :) Here are some outfit ideas (going from top to bottom) to get your creativity going :) ALL of these pieces you can find at Forever 21 @ www.forever21.com  <33

1. The first outfit is an American Flag sweater shirt that can give a little more warmth for those who are going to be in cooler weather. It can be paired with jeans with stars on them, and red striped flats that give a nautical theme almost. Pair it with a cute patriotic ring and you're done! :)
2. The second  outfit helps display your love for the USA as it has a flag within the word 'Love" <3 This can be paired with cute jean shorts that also resemble the American Flag, and these pair well because the top doesn't have too much of a design to clash with the shorts. Black flats would go well with this because of the shirt, and an American Flag dog tag finishes the look! <3
3. The third outfit is my favorite and gives off more of an edgy look. The shirt is black and white, and had really large arm holes. Because of this, pairing it with a cute bandeau underneath can add a great pop of color to the outfit (keeping with the USA theme, make it red or blue). The distressed jean shorts help keep that edgy look along with the black boots. Adding the bracelet with the American Flag star helps feminize it up a bit :)
4. The last outfit is if you are going to a dinner party or night out that you want to dress up a little bit, but still be patriotic! This cute white peplum top has black stars all over it, and paring it with high waisted black faux leather shorts helps keep the dressed-up look. Adding some cute black heels to it like these just complete the classy-ness of it, and remember to include some American Flag hair pins to show your USA pride :)