Easy Tousled Beach Waves

Today’s video is inspired by one of your most frequently asked questions… my hair. How I curl it, how long it takes, and what products I use. Well my darling, today I give you all the answers <3

I promise this takes no time at all once you’ve perfected your own style and curl type. I do have a few tips that will help create that beachy, relaxed, messy hair don’t care vibe, regardless if you’re a pro with that curling iron or not.

  • depending on the length of your hair you want to use a curling iron with a barrel big enough (or small enough) to create loose waves and not those tight poodle-like curls. Unless that’s the look you’re going for
  • product in your hair to help with the style is always a plus! Some people don’t need product at all.. I need a salt spray, a texturizing spray, and a hairspray 😉
  • curl away from your face. For at least the sections that frame your face and then the other sections you can alternate between directions of the curl to create an even more natural look
  • be sure to cover the entire barrel with your hair. You can ensure this by wrapping your hair around every part of real estate on the curling iron instead of double wrapping (stacking) your hair around hair that’s already on the barrel. Make sense?
  • I like to curl sections of hair that are about one inch wide but depending on the thickness of your hair you may need to use smaller or larger sections and splitting my hair down the center just makes for a bouncier side part once it’s all curled
  • I don’t leave my hair on the curling iron for too long, once I’ve picked up another section of hair I release the hair from the barrel and move on. This ensures a nice wave and not a tight curl
  • I pull the curling iron downwards, almost giving it a lil tug at the end as you see in the video. This technique will reduce bounce in the curl but not in a bad way. More in a relaxed wave kind of way and less of a spiral curl
  • this is a big one- leave the ends out. This will help your curls look more like messy, imperfect waves and less uniform. I leave about an inch of hair out from the barrel
  • sectioning your hair out can be helpful but as you’ll see in the video I just eye ball it. If you miss a piece you can go back over it before you spray it but to save on time I don’t usually pin my hair into sections
  • the texturizing spray I use towards the center of my hair and at the roots, kind of scrunching the ends with my fingertips to frizz them out a bit and give them more volume. And more of that distressed look

Products I used: 

Hot Tools Curling Iron

IGK Beach Club Texture Spray

Dry Bar Sea Salt Spray

Davines Hair Spray

What other hair styles would you like to see? Up next are my top 3 easy hairstyles on the go!

 

 

 

 

Layering, Stacking, And Mixing Metals

Ever since I can remember, my mom has been the most beautiful woman in the world. Always smelling lovely, always looking her best, and always wearing every (clap) single (clap) piece of jewelry she owned. She was my very own Mr. T! She inspired me today with this post- all about layering, stacking, and mixing metals.

I love layering my necklaces, stacking my rings, and mixing different metals – rose gold pieces with gold are my favorite to do. So I wanted to share with you my favorite ways to layer and stack, along with my favorite places to shop for all these dainty beauties.

Madewell – I love their earrings and necklaces (as seen here) and all their leather goods

Gorjana– one of my go-to shops for layering and dainty pieces especially rings and bracelets as seen here

five and two– another one of my faves for layering, especially necklaces as seen here

 

Do you like this dainty style of jewelry? I’m always on the prowl for great accessory places to shop, so if you love any in particular let us know so we can all check them out <3

 

 

 

 

This cutie baby. I was 16, she was just a few months old, and like a baby model!

Then And Now

FYI this is a book. Do you remember that movie from the 80’s where a group of friends reunite after many years and the entire film revolves around one pivotal summer? That’s today’s theme as I revisit my past- except it includes many pivotal seasons, with friends- except you’re my friends, some old and some new.

It feels pretty fitting today being International Women’s Day and me reliving moments that heavily revolve around women literally saving my life in certain moments. This is for them and for you.

Perhaps it’s a defense mechanism we use to protect ourselves from getting too close, but sometimes it’s just easier for us to put others in a box of expectations, like four walls full of assumptions that are usually far from the actual truth. At the end of the day we’re all more alike than we are different and we’re all moving through something. I think the more we share our stories the more we can help one another. Here’s some of mine

15 and pregnant

I was actually 15 when I got pregnant with Corrine and 16 when I had her. I lost all my friends, my HS gently asked me to leave and continue my studies from home, and I disappointed every single person I respected.

What I learned– no one gets to decide YOUR life but you. I fought to keep Corrine when my family wanted me not to have her (ps they LOVED her when she was born. Not the point). I fought to finish my HS education and graduated a year early with the Presidential Award and a scholarship. So when someone tells you that you can’t do something, tell them to watch you, and then strut your ass away like you’re on the brightest most biggest lit runway of life.

Leaving a love. 

Whether you’re ending a marriage, breaking up with your significant other, or fleeing in the middle of the night because your life depends on it, you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. I left a marriage, I left a relationship, and each time it didn’t get easier. What helped is when friends (lookin’ at you Kiki) took us in and let us stay with them when we had no where to go and I didn’t want us to sleep in our car again.

What I learned- leave before it’s too late. Before you hate each other, before it becomes too toxic that you no longer respect one another enough to be decent. Before you throw wrenches or take a fist to the face, before you can’t leave. Ask for help, reach out to a friend or a family member, say something. Don’t stay because it’s comfortable, because you think you need them, because you don’t.

Child custody and being broke af

I fought for years for Corrine to be in my custody. I fought by myself and for myself. He had a lawyer, a really good one. I had no one and nothing but 2 jobs, a mattress on the floor, a broken tv, and a shit ton of debt. Did I mention I was running from the repo company for a year? And I did it because I had this little human looking up at me depending on me for coping skills and I swear you can do it too. When I had no love left for myself I still showed her love. Even when I felt like I had none to give and was worthy of none in return, she made me the woman I am today.

What I learned- I have to love myself for Corrine to ever know what love looks like or feels like. It’s so important the things we say to ourselves when no one is listening. I had to lean on women in my life for them to see the light in me (and show it to me) when I couldn’t find it in myself. Lean on friends, check in on the strong ones- they probably need it most, and I hope you love yourself more than anyone could ever love you.

Life today- meeting Joe and the happily ever after

Joe’s the first relationship I’ve ever been in where I feel safe. Safe to be myself, to feel my crazy, to be insecure, to be outrageous and uncontrollable. You’re worth someone that will only compliment your happiness and never control your life or determine your worth.

What I learned- how to get out of debt, how to set goals as a team, how to BE a team mate, how to stop trying to control everything. How to let go… oh ya, did I tell you I’m a type A control freak? In all seriousness, the worries I had as a single mom don’t hurt me anymore and to be honest I’m still coping with that reality. It’s another life not having to live like someone’s gonna take everything away from me if I don’t hold it tightly. Joe brings that security to our family, the feeling of grounding which is so important. I’m super independent but I can finally let that feeling like we could starve or be homeless go. We haven’t struggled like that in years but it’s still hard for me to realize that I’m not struggling any more, I mean I still struggle, but it’s different. We all struggle.

I know that was a lot but I really wanted to share some things and to also tell you that you’re not alone. Take from this BOOK of a post what you need. And if you need to hear that it’ll be okay I promise it will.

Tell me something pivotal in your life and what you learned. 

 

 

 

 

My No-Makeup Makeup Look

The ‘no makeup’ makeup look… it’s all the rage! That “I just woke up and rolled outta my down comforter bed, in my cashmere robe, my perfectly fluffed hair, and did NOTHING to my mug” look, is what the aim is here. For me that just means bold brows, youthful hydrated skin, and that glow from within.

To be clear though, I did not wake up like this. This no makeup, makeup look took me a quick minute to perfect and now I love this all mostly natural look.

Here’s my step by step and the products I used are listed in order below:

YSL Blur Primer

Kevyn Aucoin Foundation Brush

Urban Decay Naked Concealer

Beauty Blender

MAC Prep + Prime

Ardell Stroke A Brow

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel

NYX Royal Blue Felt Liner

Tapered Crease Eyeshadow Brush

Huda Eyeshadow Palette

Nars Dolce Vita Blush

Morphe Blush Brush

Anastasia Ashton Liquid Lipstick

In natural daylight vs outside under the sun, still fresh with a lil somethin somethin 😉

What’s your easy no-makeup makeup look? Do you love that au naturale appeal or you a full face kinda person?

 

 

 

The Perfect Nudey Pink Lippie

I live for a good nudey-pink lip and you’d see that with one glance into my lip balm bag … evidence below. An entire bag dedicated to lip hydration! For the longest time I only wore lip balm or lip glosses because my lips have so many lines in them that I just didn’t think that lip sticks were flattering on me. Don’t get me wrong, I love their fullness but with fullness comes the lines which made wearing lip sticks (especially matte ones) look dry like the Sahara desert. Recently though I’ve found some really beautiful formulas that are hydrating and smooth just as they are rich in color and luxurious in texture.

Sharing with you here my go-to, mostest-favoritest, nudey-pinky lippies … from lip gloss to lip sticks, and even lip balms. Because you can never have too many lip balms 😉

Truffle bag

Fenty Gloss Bomb

Anastasia Kristen and Vintage lip glosses

Anastasia Dead Roses lipstick

Pat McGrath Sunset Rose lip gloss

Becca Truffle Lipstick

Bite Beauty Praline lipstick

Surratt Beauty Nu De Soleil

Yves Saint Laurent Dream Me Nude tint-in-balm

Indie Lee Lip Treat

Kopari lip glossy

Hanalei Lip Treatment

If you’re a lip gloss lover like yours truly than give these a try and let me know what you think. My favorite is when a lip stick can double as a gloss and even better when a lip balm can double as a lip gloss!

Which are you, a lip gloss or lip stick kind of person? Is there a brand or formula that you can’t live without that we should all try? Share below!

 

 

 

 

 

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Revamping Our Space + Working From Home

I’ve been waiting a long time to finally reveal to you our space revamped! This has been a long time coming, it all started back in September of last year when I became interested in home interiors and then fell deep into a West Elm love affair. I never really cared about what our home looked like, just that it was cozy and clean. Now I care all the cares.

Joe and I both work from home and we live in a two bedroom apartment with Corriney and our two puppers. That means there’s not much room for us to escape one another or to hide out between editing meltdowns, which I have on occasion a lot because we each don’t have our own offices. We knew we wanted a fresh start but we didn’t want to start over because we plan on moving within a year. That meant not investing too much on new furniture or creating big projects. Enter Anita Devlin!

Anita is founder of We Heave Ho, a business where she focuses on rejuvenating your space and clearing your clutter, without sacrificing your life savings … or your grandmother’s china that you’ve been holding onto (hi!). She came in with a no fuss attitude and we were ready to throw out all the things creating chaos. It was a match made in heaven! She did our entire home UNDER budget … that’s 5 spaces all revamped and all for under $1,000! Our living room, Joe’s office, my set, my vanity, our bathroom, and our closet, here goes!

THE BEFORE – our entry way, living room aka Joe’s office/ theatre

THE AFTER 

 

So now you walk into our living room and don’t immediately see Joe sitting at his ginormous desk in the middle of our living room. Instead, you look over to see a beautiful cabinet and lots of pretty plants, and not Joe’s office which is so cleverly hidden behind it all. The cabinet holds all of his filming equipment and his desk drawers hide all the things that used to take up space on and around his desk.

 

Our living room is now a real living room (mismatched couches and all, we’ll replace the L couch later shhh don’t tell Joe) where we can sit and entertain or I can sit and work on my couch ‘set’. I was spending so much money renting out other people’s spaces to work out of and now I can feel creative in my own. For now, Anita helped me juje up the L couch to better match my theme.

She also completely redesigned our living room so that our offices work around our living spaces and not the other way around. I’ve never seen Joe so happy to organize his desk 😀

This nook by our front door makes me so happy, something about the wooden modern bench next to brushed gold metal and pops of black and white … Anita and I decided these are our colors and you’ll see them throughout our entire home.

My vanity in my bedroom was a big change for me! Anita had a running theme going throughout this entire revamp process, 1) open up the space and make room for living with the focus on creating work space around your living space and not living space around  your work space 2) use what you already have to redesign instead of refurnish and 3) don’t get rid of anything you don’t want to, just get rid of ‘things’ that don’t serve you… like the 27 outfits I haven’t reached for in over a year! I was most scared for her to re-do my closet… that’s another article post on its own.

BEFORE

AFTER

So she shifted the location of my vanity and it opened up the room like she said it would and gave my area more access to sunlight. My mom’s gold china that she gifted to me yearssss ago now sits near my vanity and I get to look at it and think of my momma every time I’m getting dolled up. So perfect for this piece.

Our dresser got some lovin’ too with some added plants, some shelving, and cute storage to tuck away all of my skincare products that didn’t make it onto my vanity. Behind our bedroom door that once hung my shoes now hold all of my toiletries and knick knacks that were piled high. Heave Ho pro tip: shoe organizers with clear pockets are perfect for this kind of storage. You can see how we used that in the third photo of the carousel.

My favorite part, besides the fact that Joe now has a space that we don’t have to live around… these two babes. They’re called the Female Support System and they’re here to give our keys a lil ‘lift’ 😉

Also, that nook by our front door … SWOON! I sit there sometimes and take off my shoes and just look around for a bit, it’s all a work in progress just like we all are. Deep, I know. It’s raining here in L.A. so. And honestly I could design and re-design over and over again, forever. So I’m going to be content with this until we move on to another home and call Anita back over <3

Do you agree, could you revamp your home over and over again and find things to change up and switch out? Please go check out We Heave Ho and give them a follow to see this entire home revamp in real time! She has a series launching that shares with you how to do all of this, on trend and on a budget! Stay tuned! 

P.S. I’m gonna take a moment this week to link you here to all the furniture, companies, and decorations featured in our revamp <333

Coconut donuts!

Valentine’s Day Ideas When You Have NO Idea!

I hope today, right now in this moment, is not the first time you’re remembering that it’s Valentine’s day. I have mixed emotions about this holiday honestly – I’m a romantic at heart, but I also think every day should be special right?! I’ll save my love rant for another day, for now, if right now you’re scrambling to find a gas station teddy bear and some chocolates that will pass for the “I totally had this planned out” impression well here’s your guide to ‘fakin’ it ’til ya make it’….to the mall!

Valentine’s day gift ideas for when you have NO idea!

So it’s crunch time…. you forgot the thoughtful gift – you’ve been busy! You skipped out on making breakfast in bed to rush out to get a gift that’s you think will be more personal in gesture than making that breakfast in bed idea. Well there are a few things you can do to make it seem as though you totally had today in the bag! Also, this is for men and women, all of the ideas listed below will work whether it be for your boyfriend, girlfriend, fiance, husband, wife, child, pet goat…..all of them:

  1. Breakfast in bed – before you rush out the door to frantically find a teddy bear that’s larger than life, why don’t you just cook their favorite breakfast meal and serve it to them in bed? This will work every time, it’s so thoughtful! AND it’s budget friendly, just use what you have already in your fridge
  2. Hand picked flowers – great for men and for women, hand picked flowers are the cutest gesture, it’s sweet and Earth friendly and you can find them anywhere in your front yard… or a neighbor’s…PLUS they’re FREE! Unless your neighbor comes after you with the garden hose
  3. Love notes – love notes are great because they’re building blocks! Leave them around the house, in the bathroom (extra points for notes left in heart shapes and smiley faces), on your loved one’s car, all with personalized messages to show them that you care, that you listen, and best part…it buys you time. To either make a reservation or go out and get their favorite icecream
  4. Dinner cooked by a real life chef – yep that real life chef is YOU bud! Nothin’ says ‘”I love you”, more than a home cooked meal made with love. And bacon. Besides, all the restaurants will be over crowded and over priced. Save yourself the cold sweats of having to call around to make a last minute reservation and set the dining table for two
  5. A love basket – this is my all time favorite go-to gift! You get a basket, or a bucket, or a shoe box, whatever – you fill it with their favorite items, trinkets, snacks, and a couple of tickets to the movies and BAM, YOU are the most thoughtful gift giver evaarrrrr!

Now I’m not saying these gifts will blow them out of the water with surprise and romance, but it will make your gift more interesting, and personal to your relationship, AND it’s not super expensive or super over the top ‘buy a star and name it after them’ status. Those are for movies like “The Notebook”.

If all else fails, make them some ‘love donuts’. Picture below along with the recipe. It’s gluten free because… love. And remember, “if you’re a bird I’m a bird”.

coconut donuts
xoxo- Jess

Gluten free donut recipe for my love, Corrine.

What you’ll need: (yields 12 donuts)
For the Donuts:
1/2 cup GF flour or coconut flour
6 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2/3 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

– Mix wet ingredients together and then stir in sifted dry ingredients, bake in a donut mold for 15 minutes at 350 degrees

For the Chocolate Glaze:
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons hot water

– Mix ingredients all together in a bowl and then glaze over the donuts once they’re cooled, top with sprinkles and kisses and you’re all done! Enjoy!
Coconut Donuts!

Sharing A Secret Family Recipe!

If you asked me to name a dish that reminds me of my childhood, a memorable tradition is having Shrimp Patties at every holiday and family gathering. Being one of Corrine’s favorites, my mom’s take on this Chamorro staple is what sparks nostalgia in our home the most.

My mom lives in Tennessee and we live in California so cooking together is difficult and recreating recipes without her close-by is even more difficult. She’ll say, “oh Neni (‘baby’ in Chamorro), it’s a pinch of this, a dash of that and stir, stir, stir.” My inability to convert a ‘pinch of this’ into any form of understanding just makes me wish she were here even more.

Luckily, the technology behind the new GE Appliances Kitchen Hub, releasing in May, will enable us to feel more connected; Whether it’s looking for recipes on YouTube, asking Google Assist to read me the ingredient list or calling my mom via video chat so she can supervisor the “pinch” ratio- it’s going to change the way we cook at home. To bring your families back to the kitchen together, GE Appliances has launched a special job search for the Great American Grandma! Any grandma can enter HERE and you can nominate any grandma! The fun part is:

  • it’s a year-long contract that will pay $50,000 for 10-15 hours of work per month, plus five new, top-of-the-line GE Appliances kitchen products and a GE Kitchen Hub for Grandma
  • Grandma will have THE best job ever! She’ll focus on sharing content on social media, sharing her secret recipes, telling all the family stories, and having all the fun!

Who will you nominate? Are you a Grandma ready to share your favorite secret recipes? What family stories will you tell?!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to GE Appliances for sponsoring this post!

Shrimp Patties

My mom's version of this traditional Chamorro recipe:
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 1 (10 oz) can evaporated milk
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 lbs medium raw shrimp peels and deveined
  • 1 (10 oz) package frozen mixed vegetables thawed and drained
  • 5 cups oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl beat the eggs together with the evaporated milk
  • Add in the flour, dry ingredients, and seasonings. Mix together with a whisk until smooth
  • Combine the shrimp and mixed vegetables and stir well
  • Heat your oil in a large pot under medium heat
  • Drop the batter into the oil by the spoonful (we used a large wooden spoon) and fry until golden brown. We flipped the shrimp patties half way during frying to ensure cooking on both sides
  • Use a bamboo skewer or toothpick to pierce the center of the patty, when it comes out clean they’re ready to be removed from the oil
  • Allow any extra oil to be soaked up by paper towels
  • Garnish with fresh chives and ENJOY!

A GIRL’S GUIDE TO GALENTINE’S DAY!

Love it or leave it Valentine’s Day is this Sunday and there’s been a flood of holiday themed treats and DIY posts. Who am I to stop the momentum? We’re celebrating Galentine’s Day today so grab your favorite gal pals, a bubbly drink, and lets start baking!

Today’s menu includes frosted cinna-hearts, pita heart-wiches, and a dessert skewer … not in the shape of a heart. See, we’re themed! Hearts everywhere!

For your frosted hearts you’ll need one package of cinnamon rolls and some sprinkles!


Unravel the cinnamon bun and split it into two halves and then shape the two into a heart!


Bake per the directions on the packaging and then drizzle the frosting over top and sprinkle with ALL the sprinkles!


These pita heart-wiches are super easy and super yummy! Just take 2 pitas and layer them up with turkey, cheese, cucumber, or whatever your favorite fillings are. Then cut them up and enjoy! They’re especially enjoyable when you use a heart shaped cookie cutter!


I sliced a few of these in half which made them look like broken hearts, which still tasted delicious AND fit the theme of my next post ‘the achy-breaky Valentine’.


The macaroons  were from Trader Joe’s and after you thaw them out it’s as if you picked them up fresh from the bakery! Salted caramel is my favorite!

For the dessert skewers just take a paper straw (I got these from the dollar store) and stack your favorite pastries, alternating between them. I chose snickerdoodles and blueberry muffins! Almond milk and another straw for sipping and we were set!

That red glowing drink you see in the background is cherry-cranberry juice spiked with our favorite vodka!


I hope this inspires you to enjoy a holiday with your friends, Valentine’s day ins’t just for lovers! It’s a day to celebrate all the loves! If you really don’t feel like celebrating and you just hate the holiday all together, then I have a post for you on Sunday (yes ON Valentine’s Day, see what I did there) with menu items like Bleeding Heart Brownies and Sour Cherry Puckers, so stay tuned for that!

Here is my most recent video, our first installment of Pinterest DIY-Not! I made Melt My Marshmallow treats and Cherry Whiskey Smashes! They were just as delicious and they sound!

Do you have any plans for Valentine’s Day? A Galentine’s day celebration perhaps? Share with me your plans so we can all live vicariously through one another and P.S. if you aren’t Subscribed to me on YouTube please do, I post videos twice a week! See, so much sharing! xx