with love from Guyana

When I initially started this hobby, I had big grand dreams and within a month I felt like the money I’d spent on fabric, supplies, and a sewing machine were all a waste. Just to get a simple shift dress done took me in excess of 7 days of sewing, ripping, and fitting. And darts, how exactly do I sew these to fit my flat chest?Garment construction, despite wearing lots (and I mean lots) of clothes was completely lost on me. What the heck is facing?

Then I got the hang of a shift dress. I made a miniskirt and I felt like I had the hang of sewing down because it was a breeze. So I made the jump to a pair of shorts and for the life of me, no matter what I did, it just wasn’t right. Now, being in Florida and so far away from my mom (who has sewing experience) trying to get her to explain what it was I should be doing via Facetime was no easy task. I even took off the shorts I was wearing and examined them trying to figure out how exactly the crotch went together. I promised her that I had brains and the degree she paid for was legit but I just couldn’t get the hang of these shorts. Again, why did I waste all of this money? Read More

In Uncategorized

Caribbean Made Christmas Presents

michelleandreaDecember 8, 2018December 6, 2018Leave a comment

In trying to keep it local (aka regional – buying from the Caribbean), here are a few Caribbean brands that you can support this holiday season. Of course, these are brands that I approve of and would definitely want for myself.

Immortelle Beauty – do I need to say more? I’ve written about this skincare brand multiple times (here and here) and of course I will recommend it time and time again.
Lotus Box Tattoo – from the time I discovered Ami Aqui I have wanted her to ink me. I am especially taken by her watercolor work and she shared some gift certificates on IG so this would definitely be a good idea for a Christmas present.

View this post on Instagram

Gift certificates available. Any amount can be gifted. #alliwantforchristmasisatattoo

A post shared by Ami Aqui (@thelotusboxtattoostudio) on Dec 5, 2018 at 5:11am PST
ShopShari always blows my mind with her use of bright colors and prints. In her addition to her apparel she has also created a merchandise line and I am particularly fond of these bottles. They are the perfect gift, especially if your new years resolution is to hit the gym or be more active.
The Verdigris and Botanical collections from We Dream in Colour are my favorite from the brand. However, the brand carries a wide variety and there is a lot for you to choose from.
By ASD offers both illustrated coffee cups and custom fashion illustrations which I would have a hard time choosing from for myself.

In Currently Coveting

Currently Coveting: Holiday Accessory Edition

michelleandreaDecember 3, 2018November 29, 2018Leave a comment

In Beauty

snagged, 2018 gift sets

michelleandreaNovember 28, 2018November 27, 2018Leave a comment

It was the week before Thanksgiving and Sephora sent out their coupon sales. The damage began…

Tarte got me with the Quench Squad Hydrating Mini Lip Set. Tarte always gets me with the packaging. However, a sad fact is that I am allergic to Maracuja – an ingredient Tarte likes to use in a lot of their products. I went for this because it didn’t have the ingredient, the packaging is adorable, and they were the right size for my tiny purse. The balms are tinted and come in four shades.

In Beauty

2018’s Best Beauty + Skincare

michelleandreaNovember 23, 2018November 29, 2018Leave a comment

I am a creature of habit. I like to start a routine and stick to it. However, 2018 was definitely the year of me trying new skincare products. A few of them, I fell for and haven’t looked back since and today I am sharing them with you.

1. 1. Immortelle Beauty – The Esscentials line
    Kathryn, the beauty behind this Caribbean brand gifted me two body butters and body polishes during the last holiday season. I have not used any other body lotion or shower exfoliation product since. It is my go-to combination for date night – polish, shave, butter. I think that I have tried all of the scents in the line as well. Going beyond the product, Kathryn’s customer service has been top notch and has surpassed so many other Caribbean creatives I have tried to support within the last 12 months. I try to support Caribbean small business and girl bosses (practicing what I preach), but my support of the Immortelle Beauty line goes past the “Caribbean-ness” and I genuinely do love this product and would recommend it to everyone! You can read my review of the products here.
  2. Stila – Got inked cushion eyeliner
    During the middle of the year, I wrote a post about the quest for the perfect pot eyeliner which you can read here (the ones you have to use with a brush). I am terrible at using pen or pencil eyeliners to accomplish the cat-eye I’ve been complimented on. However, I came across quite a few that just didn’t work out for me. It was either that the color intensity didn’t pay off so I would have to go over the line repeatedly to get the level of color I wanted which would invariably mean that I ended up with lines that were too thick. The Stila ink pot has a very different set up to the pot eyeliners I’d tried before. As the name suggests, it looks like they stuffed a sponge into the pot and then poured the ink into it. The intensity is the blackest of blacks I have ever seen. I would very highly recommend!
  3. Stila Aqua Glow Serum Foundation
    While walking through a TJMaxx, I came across this foundation. So I whipped my phone out and google searched it to see the reviews and what the regular price was. It went from $45 online to $7.99 in the store. I did a swatch match and it was perfection. Plus, it had one of those droppers that I am so into lately. If you’ve been reading this blog, then you know skincare compliments are the number one way to make my day. My skincare regimen is all about having great skin because then I have less blemishes to correct during the make-up process. The combination of that skincare regimen, plus this foundation gave me the most compliments on my skin that I have ever received. It was well worth the $7.99 and I went back to the stores to stock up on what they had in stock. I was sad to find out that the reason it was in TJMaxx was because it was being discontinued! So this glow is for a limited time.
  4. Cleansing oil balms –
    I have tried two products at different price points and have liked them both equally. I’ve used both the Sephora Cleansing oil-in-balm and Clinique’s Take the Day Off. An important part of my make-up regimen is taking it all off at the end of the day. These products do the trick of getting most of my stubborn mascara off without any extra rubbing or lingering greasiness once rinsed off.
  5. CLAY MASKS
    Hello! I have yet to use a clay mask that I do not like. I don’t know if it is mind over matter but I feel like they get all of the gunk and greasiness out of my pores and leave me with healthy, illuminated, grease-less looking skin which is all I want out of life! These are the ones I’ve tried Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay, Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores, and the Coconut and Hibiscus Radiance Facial Mask by Shea Moisture.