STYLE WEEKENDER

Laundry Day Using Gain With Essential Oils Laundry Detergent

2020-06-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

This post is in partnership with Gain. All opinions are 100% my own.

I absolutely love doing my laundry, there's something about how it smells that gives me a calming feeling. I'm not sure if it's the fact that my clothes are actually being cleaned or the fact that I love to spend a good few minutes sniffing my laundry after it's done. Well, it has gotten even better since I started using Gain With Essential Oils Laundry Detergent. Oh it's a game changer in the realm of laundry and I promise you, you're going to love it. This irresistible liquid laundry detergent contains no dyes, phosphates, CFCs or parabens. This is especially important to me that I am using a safe product for my family. A little goes a long way and I get to experience the scent of essentials oils in every wear. This laundry detergent delivers such a great performance on my clothes even in a cold wash. I'm a huge fan of essential oils. I use them in diffusers in my home and also for lots of common home remedies. It was a no brainer for me to try this new laundry detergent from Gain and I'm extremely impressed.

There are three variations of scents and we love them all in my home. They are:

-Lavender & Calm Chamomile. I love using this scent for my towels, undergarment, and sleepwear. These are two of natures most powerful antioxidants. It's the perfect blend to experience the most relaxing feeling from my laundry.

-Eucalyptus and Mindful Mint. I love this for my kitchen towels, draperies, linens, and cushion covers.

-Orange & Energetic Grapefruit. This I love for everyday wear. This one is my husband's favorite. You know it's good when a guy has a favorite.

Now that you've seen me talk so much about this new laundry detergent, will you try it? Here's a $1 off COUPON for you. Scroll down to the bottom. Make sure you print and use it by 7/4/2020.

I'd love to hear how you like these new Gain With Essential Oils Laundry Detergent.

xoxo

Keyma

The Best Face Moisturizer With SPF For Working From Home

2020-05-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

This post is in partnership with Olay. All opinions are 100% my own.

Working from home has been my routine for almost two years now. I had it down to a science what my weeks and days would look like. However a lot has changed for me over the past few months. Not only did I have a baby but the current events has really forced me to change my whole work from home routine. I wanted to walk you through what I call my effective new mom, new normal routine looks like.

STEP 1:

I get up about two hours before my baby to get things going in mornings. I head to the bathroom for a quick shower and spend some extra time on my skin. This is my treat to myself in the mornings. Spending quality time to tend to my skin gives me a fresh and energizing feeling. It's like if my skin looks and feels great, I feel good in my overall vibe. My routine is also minimal but really filled with care, especially when it comes to moisturizing and protecting my skin. Olay definitely has some of the best face moisturizers with SPF and I'm loving this Olay Regenerist Whip with SPF 40. You'd be surprise how important SPF is even while working from home. My rule of thumb is, if its daytime, SPF is a must. Olay Regenerist Whip SPF 40 is light, absorbable, breathable, all while giving me good moisture to maintain my skin all day. You know how some SPF products gives that sticky feeling on your skin,? not this moisturizer- it's light as air and that’s why I label it the best face sunscreen. Most days I am make-up free but if I feel the need for a little foundation or so, this moisturizer is also super blendable and works great under my makeup. I feel good knowing I am giving my skin the care and attention it needs and I feel it definitely shows.

STEP 2:

Once I am done giving my face that extra care and attention, I make myself a good cup of coffee. For some of you it may be tea, water, green juice etc. I love the aroma of coffee in my home in the mornings, it just does something to me and gets me into a productive mood. This is also self-care for me. If it makes me happy and get my vibe going, I am all for it.

STEP 3:

I usually crank up the music to my current favorite song while making my coffee. I do a little dance and shuffle my way to set up computer, planner, and essentials to get my day going.

STEP 4:

Once am all done, I then make my way to my computer with a yummy cup of coffee, a moisturized and nourished skin, to get as much as I can before my baby wakes up. Again, this is such a new normal for me but having to adjust waking up 2hrs or so before her is paramount. It makes me one happy mama throughout the day.

I hope you found this post useful. I hope your biggest takeaway is the importance of self-care and using SPF even when working from home. You should definitely try Olay Regenerist Moisturizer SPF 40. I couldn't recommend it more especially if you're in the market for a face moisturizer with SPF.

Have a great day.

xoxo

Keyma

Primers For Dry, Oily, & Combination Skin

2020-05-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys,

Sharing some of my favorite primers for different skin types. Dry, oily and combination. I get asked a lot what to use to help makeup stay longer and I always encourage primers and setting sprays. It's not just any primer but ones that actually are for your specific skin type. How do you know what your skin type is? It's easy to tell. Are you normally oily all over your face, even after you've washed it or worn powder? Then you have oily skin. If you're always dray and cracking at different or all areas of your face, then you have dry skin. If you have a mixture of both, some areas dry, some areas oily, then it's combination skin. I personally have combination skin. I get a little oily on my t-zone (middle forehead, nose, around mouth, & down to chin). Sometimes, I am dry more around the rim of my face or even around my mouth.

So here's a list of some of my favorite primers listed by skin types.

This Tatcha Primer is great for oily skin. It gives a nice blur effect and sits perfectly under moisturizer. Although it's perfect for oily skin, it also serves very well combination skin. This is probably my most used primer and I have combination skin.

This Pop Beauty 'No Shine Primer' is exactly as the name says, no shine. This makes it excellent for oily skin. It mattes out beautifully on the skin which makes for excellent makeup application.

This Dr Brant Pores No More Primer is another great option for oily skin. I love using this along my t-zone. If you've got large pores or pores problem, this is your go to. It seems they have a new packaging. I love it.

For my dry skin beauties, you'll absolutely love this bareMinerals Blemish Rescue primer. I love this brand and their clean beauty products. If you have somewhat a sensitive skin too, this should be mild enough a primer. Try out their line of lipsticks and foundations as well.

Another good one for dry skin. I love the extra boost of hydration this Smashbox Photo Finish Primer gives. My makeup glides right over it so smoothly. I love wearing it at nights if I am going out as it gives my skin that extra glow under my makeup.

Lastly, this Tula Blurring & Moisturizing Primer. This is great for combination skin. It blurs oily areas and moisturizes dry areas.

Hope you found this post useful.

xoxo

Keyma

Beauty Products For Working From Home

2020-05-02T18:51:00.001-07:00

Hi Guys,

I decided to write this post because of a few questions I've gotten about my skincare routine from my followers on Instagram. My skincare routine changes monthly even if it a switch, addition or removal of products. I do use multiple different products in rounds because my skin (as with others) get use to products easily and then it's not as effective anymore. Always mixing things up works great for me.

Considering working from home, our skincare routine will look a little different. A few things to consider are, temperature, exposure to sunlight, exposure to computer/tv screens to name a few. For me, I live in California where the weather is dry most times. It's Spring time now and it's beginning to warm up so that means have switch things up.

Currently I'm using this cleanser (brightens + gives natural glow)in the mornings and this one (great for hydration) at nights. I'm also using this serum (plums and firms) in the mornings and this one (transforms my skin smoother & softer overnight) at nights. For my moisturizer, I'm using this one in my morning routine and this one in my nighttime routine. I do an overnight mask every three nights using this mask. Every Sunday I do a regular mask and this is the one I'm currently using. At some point mid week, and in between overnight masking, I will do a sheet mask while watching TV. I love a good eye cream and I use this one at nights and this one in the mornings. Finally, a lip mask/treatment is so essential as we tend to forget that lip-care is just as important. My go to for SPF is any of Olay's SPFs. I have a wide range and I use it for daily walks as well as hanging out on my balcony.

I have combination skin so my routine might now work for everyone. Here are options for both Dry and Oily skin.

Dry:

Oily:

I've used all of these products before and I can confidently recommend them. I often will try a product and know instantly -this is for oily or dry skin. I'll often give them away to friends and family who are of that skin type and follow-up on how they like it.

Hope you found this post useful.
xoxo
Keyma

Try These Gummy Vitamins For Skin, Hair, Sleep

2020-04-29T20:05:00.000-07:00

I was having a conversation with a friend recently and it led to us talking about how we treat our bodies and how we've been feeling since we've had to quarantine at home over the last few weeks. I personally am obsessed with vitamins. I recently stopped taking my prenatal vitamins but definitely replaced right away with regular vitamins. I'm particularly fond of gummy vitamins (I take pills too) but gummy is a little bit more attractive, easier to 'take' and taste so much better. Anyhoo, I recommended to my friend that she try out these ones that I've been taking for the last two weeks. I figured I would hop on here and share them too. These are all so great and taste so so good. It's important not to eat more than suggested amount even though you'll be tempted to hehe!

I take this Good Skin from Glow Habit and are just so good with my skin. I don't look to Vitamins for a miracle, I do so for maintenance and a mix into my lifestyle. I have a solid morning and evening skincare routine and adding these into my daily care is great. This Vitamin is great to help hydrate the skin from within. It has Hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C which are great for having healthy and beautiful skin.

Again, I am obsessed with this happy hair one, I even notice a change in my nails too. I am unable to go to the nail salon for upkeep so this is good for me. I have some post natal shedding about 5 weeks ago and this has really helped with thickening it back. I figure it's because it has Biotin, Vitamin-E and C. I could tell within a week the difference on my hair.

Okay, here's my trick for restless evenings or if you want to get a good nights sleep. Being a new mom, lack of sleep comes with the territory. Sometimes I'm just so drained from lacking sleep. I take two of these at least 3o mins before bed and I get to sleep as sound as my baby. Those nights, my husband is on full duty and mama gets a little rest. Also, I love that I don't wake up groggy thanks to the melatonin. I also love these ones from Vicks. Both are great.

This HUM Glow Glow is also so good for the skin. They're Vegan and taste great. They are cute little heart shape and just yummy. It also has Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C just like the Glow Habit one.

Try them and see how you like it.

Hope you found this post useful.

xoxo

Keyma

Favorite Hand Soaps That Does Not Dry Out Skin

2020-04-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

Ok, here are some of my favorite hands soaps. All but one I have used for a few years and I love them. It's so important to use hand soaps that doesn't dry out the skin and is actually good for the skin. Three of these are made with clean ingredients. I love that I do not have to worry so much about damaging my skin especially because I wash my hands so much throughout the day.

This Love Beauty & Planet Hand Soap is refreshing and doesn't dry out my hands. The brand is overall very eco-friendly and makes amazing products. They have quite a few different scents in their hand soaps and I have loved every single one I've used. The scent is also very subtle.

Raw Sugar is another amazing brand that makes really good hand soaps. It's soft and gentle on my hands and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth. Also made with natural ingredients. They cold-press real fruits and vegetables to make their products. I use their body wash an dit's amazing. You get a big bottle too for the price which I love.

I absolutely love Mrs Meyers' products and their hand soaps are a staple in my home. I use a lot of this brand in my kitchen and overall my home. I love all of their scents. They usually have seasonal scents to which are just as good as any. Again, doesn't leave your hand dry or cracked. All of their scents are just so good.

Lastly is this Bath and Body Works hand soap. I am especially fond this foam soap and above all things the scent. I don't know why but I love to smell the aroma of this Eucalyptus after washing my hands. This is why I included it in my round up.

I have a hand soap in every room where there is a pipe. Both bathrooms and in my kitchen.

I've used and still do use plenty other hand soaps but these are definitely some of my faves and repeat ones.

Hope you found this post useful.

xoxo

Keyma

Our Destination Wedding In Jamaica

2020-03-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!! Wow, it’s our first year ANNIVERSARY. I cannot believe a year came by so quickly. It’s surreal and so much has happened in one year. We’re currently quarantined at home heading caution to what’s happening in the world with the coronavirus. If it’s one thing, I’m thankful me and my family are healthy and safe so far. This is not the way we thought we’d be celebrating our first year anniversary but we are extremely thankful that we are safe. That is the biggest gift and blessing we could ever wish for at this very moment.

To celebrate, my husband and I went through our photos and videos from the wedding and I thought I’d write a detailed post on how we planned our destination wedding in Jamaica. The reason we got married in Jamaica is because both Lincoln and I are from there. We were both born and raised there we went to high school there (where we met), we spent a good amount of our young adult lives there. It's home at the end of the day and we wanted to cement our love there also.

When we got engaged in December 2017, we knew we it was time to buckle down and plan the wedding we both wanted. At the top of that was a budget. We saved and saved so we could have it exactly as we wanted. We were not going to take out a loan to have our wedding so saving was extremely important.

The first thing we started doing the next day after we got engaged was to look for wedding venues. We got engaged in Jamaica so we wanted to get a head start looking at venues. We stopped at one in Ocho Rios but had a weird experience and that became a no right away. On our way back to Los Angeles, Lincoln was up on the flight looking at venues and came across Trident Castle. He woke me up, showed it to me and I was sold. I loved how beautiful it was and my obsession with castles and Victorian style & genre made me fall madly in love. Our worry was, would it be available and would it fit our budget? Three days later, I emailed them and yes it was available and somewhat yes, it fit our budget. We locked in the down payment and our venue was secured.

One of the most important vendor is definitely a Photographer/Videographer. We knew we wanted the absolute best, and that had to be Corey from Hamulti Media. Thankfully, Corey was available and so we booked him right away. I have always admired his work on Instagram and it was a dream come true to have him capture our wedding. Corey and his team were immaculate. They were extremely professional and did such an amazing job. Their photo and video direction was amazing. My advice, do not hold back on a good photographer and definitely get a videographer as well.

Next, I moved on to finding a decor team. I used Instagram and a slew of hashtags and came across quite a few decor companies but fell in love with New Levels Decor taste and style. It matched mine and that was important. I reached out to them and they were available. Right away we secured them by putting down the deposit. Over the next few months, I took my time to create a mood board as we decided on theme/style of our wedding. We went with all white and hints of greenery. The venue inspired our all white theme, plus I’m always a little unsettled when folks wear loud (neon) colors to weddings. The fear of neon cemented an all white dress code. White doesn’t come in neon, you can’t mess that up haha! I also love the clean and pristine look that all white presents. New Levels Decor did such an amazing job with the decor.

My sister gifted us our cake and we both fell in love with the design from Cake Couture JA. To be honest, she was hard to get a hold of and her follow-through wasn’t optimal for a type-A bride like me, however she promised she would come through and THAT SHE DID. Not only was this cake beautiful, but it tasted great. We went with traditional Jamaican fruit cake because Lincoln and I are not necessarily cake eaters but Jamaica fruit cake we both love. It was beyond delicious.

I had one thing on my wishlist that was a must have and that was fireworks. It was a must and thankfully Lincoln found Event and Entertainment Services and they did an excellent job.

They say a wedding is nothing without an amazing MC and I completely agree. We found and booked Oncall Weddings Jamaica- Damion. I initially reached out to him to officiate our wedding and he convinced me to let him be my MC as well, and so glad he did. He did an excellent job officiating and MC-ing. He really matched our vibe and that was a huge plus. He was young, fresh, hip, and delivered the most tasteful jokes at both our ceremony and reception.

Our DJ was DJ Narity. It was important that our DJ understood us and who we are and DJ Narity was THE ABSOLUTE BEST! Lincoln's Best Man suggested him as the man for the job. We went with him because he was in our age group and we knew he would understand the vibe we wanted. We gave him a genre and a soft list of music and he killed it. He was also great at listening and watching the crowds reaction at our after party to ensure we were having optimal fun.

Sound and Lighting makes for such beautiful decor at a wedding. Knowing that our wedding was an evening wedding and that it would have led up to night, we knew sound and lighting were important. We found BlakTie Entertainment and they did an excellent job with the DJ booth, PA system, strobe lights and uplights.

For myself and the girls, I got Sue Gregg- Sue The Makeup Girl and Rochelle Gordon- Rochelle The Hairstylist as the perfect glam team to make us extra pretty on the big day. They did not disappoint. Myself and my girls looked like a million bucks when they were done.

I really wanted to walk down the aisle to an instrumental. Late one night, I was on YouTube listening to instrumental music and then it hit me, why not have someone play live while I walk. That began my hashtag search for Violinist or Pianist in Jamaica. I found Kemoy Gordon and was blown away by his talent. To be so young and talented. I wanted him. He was available and I booked him pronto. He played beautifully as I walked down the aisle. A moment I will never forget. Read more about my ceremony dress here and my cake cutting dress here. My reception dress is from Martiana Liana.

Finally, I want to talk about our Day of Wedding Coordinator, Chloe from WeddingsByClomo. What a gem we were blessed with. A friend of friend recommended Chloe and upon talking to her the first time I knew she was the one. I had already found 95% of my vendors but I was in need of help because I was living in USA, working my blog, my 9-5 and this wedding planning thing was becoming another full-time job. But again, my Type A personality would not give up all reigns to someone, i.e a full on wedding planner. In retrospect I wish I had just let go and hired Chloe as my full on planner. She would have done just as excellent. She blew what it meant to be a day of coordinator out the park. Chloe and her team were the key and glue to a seamless wedding day. A matter of fact wedding weekend (more on that below). She matched our vibe, understood our style and executed our vision with such precision. See why I wish I had saved myself some stress and had her be my full on planner? Sigh. But Chloe is the real deal and we’ll forever be grateful for her.

All of our vendors were amazing and are to be credited for how amazing and beautiful our wedding turned out. Lincoln and I was adamant on using all local vendors in honor and respect for our fellow Jamaicans and their craft. We paid every single one of them their full 100% fee and it was worth it.

Part 2

Since we were getting married in Jamaica and we had a 70/30 situation where 70% of our guest would be flying in for the wedding and 30% would be be local in Jamaica. However, the venue was remote and distant for everyone one. No one lived close. We ensured giving our guests time to secure tickets, dress code, transportation, child care etc. We also created an Instagram account so we could send mass messages to our invited guests. As for RSVPs and wedding information digitally, we used The Knot Wedding Website and it was seamless and easy.

We wanted to give our guests an experience as we understood the resources that went into making the trip. For some, this was their annual vacation and we wanted to honor that. We planned a ‘Wedding Weekend’ that followed this schedule:

Friday- Jerk Center Hangout at Boston Jerk Center. We got married in Portland, Jamaica and it’s the Jerk Capital of Jamaica. You can enjoy all things jerk- chicken, fish, lobster, shrimp etc and a slew of side plates. For those who were in town, we gathered, ate, music was playing and the vibe was awesome.

Friday night- We wanted to take some of our guests to enjoy the party scene in Jamaica. Unfortunately, being in Portland we were miles away from what we wanted people to experience. So, we rented a bus, took 35+ people into Kingston, on a yacht and we had such a fun time. Once the yacht party was over, we made our way to a local chill spot where sweet reggae music played. After that we went to get street side Jerk in the wee hours of around 3am on Red Hills Road in Kingston. We then made our way back to Portland. 95% percent of our guests were staying in Portland.

Saturday- We invited everyone around to Frenchman’s Cove beach to relax. It was a raining few days leading up to our wedding so the water wasn’t as blue and beautiful but we still had a great time. Lots of laughter, old and new friends and tons of photos. It was all so surreal as if I was in a dream of bliss.

Saturday evening- we had rehearsal and cocktails after, with our families and a few close friends.

Sunday- the BIG DAY. A little back story. It rained from the Wednesday all the way to Saturday afternoon. I was so nervous and worried about our wedding day since the ceremony and reception were both outdoors. The backup plan was to have it indoor and all the vendors were on board with Plan B. Thanks to our amazing coordinator, Chloe and her team, I didn’t have to think about Plan B, instead I used that time to pray to God, there will be no Plan B. Oh my Jesus came through for me and Plan B was out of the door as of late Saturday evening, it stopped raining and Sunday was bright and beautiful with the perfect aura of blessing in the air.

The girls and I got glammed upstairs while the men got ready downstairs. Chloe and her team executed the day so well that we were on time, I was ready however we have a VIP GUEST that ran late and so we didn’t quite start on time.

When it was go time, I said a little prayer, the doors of the castle opened and my first thought was “Oh, everyone looks great in white” haha! I said, I’m Type-A and also a Virgo, perfection and details are my forte.

My girls wore Kleinfeld bridesmaids dresses (See post here & here & also how I proposed to them here), the men were in Friar Tux and they looked Immaculate. We decided to not have our wedding party walk down the aisle as couples because we really wanted them to shine individually. Instead we had the men go in casual suave style and the girls go after in romantic walk down the aisle. We couldn’t be more proud to call them FRIENDS & FAMILY. For us, our wedding party picks are some of the most significant people in our lives. We chose them because they truly love us, individually and collectively and we love and trust them.

I had my brother walked me down the aisle because aside from my husband, he is the most significant man in my life. My

Brother will always be my brother and I know he’ll always have my back. He did such a great job securing me tightly to him and made sure I got down the aisle seamlessly and beautifully.

I have to mention, our wedding party surprised us with a gift at the reception and we were both floored. I literally started crying. We were just served our dinner when I heard someone singing. I leaned over to Lincoln and said “Oh, I didn’t know Trident (the venue) had an in house singer, that’s nice”. I couldn’t see the person, I only heard him. Lincoln responded by saying, “That voice sounds familiar...wait, it’s Lukie-D”. In a bit of cloud am like “Lukie-D, Lukie-D?” He said “yes”. My eyes now starting to circle the room and saw him at the top by the DJ booth singing while making his way down. I’m confused, Lincoln is...why is Lukie-D singing at out wedding- he's a local Jamaican artist by the way. It hit me, and I started looking at our friends at the wedding party tables and saw their delight in our delight and one shouted ‘surprise, it’s our gift to you guys’ I lost it and started crying. I was so overwhelmed with joy and what a thoughtful gift. Lukie-D serenaded us as we ate and it was magical. He made his way to our table and then proceeded to ask the DJ to play the beat of a song. He started playing it and Lincoln turned to me and said “Babe, this is my favorite song” I said to him “Really, I just marry you and after 8 years together and I never knew you had a favorite song let alone this was your favorite” ha! So Lukie-D, Lincoln and our amazing MC busted into an impromptu group band and sang “Just As I Am- by L.U.S.T.” and I rocked out in my chair like a true fan to this newly formed group. It was beautiful and a highlight of our wedding.

The fireworks went off to the sweet melodies of Koffee’s- Toast, and we proceeded to dance the night away and one hour over our allotted time. We ended the night with Jamaican street food we had separately catered for the after party folks (curry chicken back, fried dumpling, fried breadfruit, fritters, ackee and saltfish). I still have curry stains on my cake cutting/dancing dress.

What a dream of a wedding it was for us and exactly how we wanted it.

It wouldn’t have been what it was without our amazing family and friends. We’re so blessed and so thankful that they joined us with their beautiful, warm and loving spirits. Lincoln and I felt so loved and celebrated. A wedding, a weekend to remember forever.
I've posted a one minute video below, I hope you enjoy. If it's not playing, you can also watch it on my Instagram.

Keyma

5 Things To Do During Coronavirus (COVID-19) Social Distancing

2020-03-17T13:36:00.003-07:00

Hey guys, well we are deep in the woods of Social Distancing with the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Many of us have self quarantined. This can feel somewhat repetitive and to some boring. However, doing this is BEST and you are all amazing for taking this seriously and doing your part to help stop the spread. The sooner we can stop it from spreading, the sooner we can go back to our normal lives.

I figured that if we are to make time pass while we’re doing our part, I’d find 5 things we could do to help keep us busy.

Declutter you home. I’m pretty sure most of us have been wanting to declutter somewhere in our home. Closet, garage, bathroom, kids room etc. I plan on declutter my makeup. I have so many and I’m sure some has spoiled and need to be thrown out.
Learn the basics of a new Language. There are so many language apps and websites where we can learn a new language...at least the basics (how to say hello, order favorite food, ask for directions, how to say thank you..). Try Rosetta Stone, Memrise, or Duolingo.
Start a workout routine. I got an email yesterday that one of my favorite apps, Tone It Up, is offering 30days free sign-ups. Take advantage.
Gather all the board and card games you have at home and have some fun playing them (if you’re not home alone). We recently started playing Sequence introduced to us by our friends that recently visited. My husband is hooked on it and I obliged by playing with him. I always end up having fun.
Binge watch a GOOD show. Whatever you are into, there’s something on TV, streaming apps etc to keep you busy. It’s ok to just waste away into a good show. My recommendations are Vikings, The Last Kingdom, Peaky Blinders, Handmaids Tale, The Durrels in Corfu, Love Is Blind, and I jut started James Town. Clearly I have a certain genre of shows I particularly like. Hehe!

There you have it. Easy and simple enough. Let me know any other suggestions in the comments section. Share so we can all try. We’re in this together. Remember to check out the CDC website for updates. You don’t need to consume it too much, once a day is good enough.

Love and light

Keyma.

How I Make Money As A Blogger

2020-03-06T17:03:00.000-08:00

I wanted to write this post in hopes of enlightening the general public about what blogging entails and to explain how it is actually a job. I’m a full time blogger and I work from home. I run my blog like a true business. I’m fully LLC’d, file and pay my taxes, pay myself a salary, and function just like any other business.

I started blogging almost six years ago in 2014. I started out of the need to add some creativity to my life. I needed it personally. I was on the cusp of finishing my masters degree while working full-time. Finishing my masters would afford me the time to blog as I could give it a little more focus. At my full-time job, my dress code was pretty boring to me. It wasn’t a job where I felt free to express my style. It was just the nature of the environment. Because of that, on the weekends, I would literally dress in my best. Ha! This is how I came up with the name for my blog Style Weekender. It was all about fashion and outfits initially until one of my readers asked me about my skincare routine. I wrote that post two days later and it was one of my highest read post for a long time. I then added travel, home decor and a lifestyle section. My blog quickly became a lifestyle blog. It was simple mathematics of meeting the audience needs and sharing my everyday experience.

I worked my full time government job along with balancing and growing my blog for 4.5 years before quitting my 9-5 to focus fully on blogging as a career path-still the scariest decision I’ve have made in my entire life (separate blog post forthcoming). Before quitting, I worked a 40hr 9-5 work week and an 40hr blog week. How is that possible? The hustle. When you love something (my blog) and doing it makes you happy, it’s a no brainer to keep going. This was the case for me. I blogged for over 1 year without making a penny, but it didn’t matter. I was happy doing it because I was passionate about it.

In the earlier years, I would go to my 9-5, leave after work with sometimes two outfits in my car. I would change in the parking lot attend an event, enjoy the event and then leave to the next event all in the name of networking with the brands, PRs and other bloggers. Sometimes I would get home at midnight and would have to get up at 6am to get ready for my 9-5.

On the weekends I worked on my blog. On Saturdays and Sundays I shoot content for the week, I would write my blog and social posts on Sundays and put them on auto schedule for the week. This way, while at my 9-5, I could focus there while my blog is set on clockwork. It took a lot if discipline and drive to maintain this balance. I worked every single day.

Now to the business side of things. I know this is blurry and hard to understand to the outside world but, in and effort help you my readers understand the nature of blogging, I will be as transparent as I can be.

Blogging is a full time job for me now. I get paid to write, share, and posts about brands I use and love. Sometimes brands email and reach out to me other times I email and reach out to them. How am I paid? I am paid based on my combined audience size (Blog website, Instagram following, Facebook Following, Twitter Following) and engagement (meaning how many people read my blog and like/comment on my posts on social media). There are ways to calculate these metrics to argue the level of ‘influence’ I can offer a brand. Based on this and many other factors (see some of the main ones below) we agree on a payment amount.

Some of the other factors that goes into how a brand pays me are:

Usage Rights- I own the rights to almost all of the photos I take and post. There’s a charge for brands to use it on their own channels, sometimes worldwide. A simple way to explain this is if you own a property or item, if someone wants to use it, you charge. This is not something new, photographers do the same with photos they own.

Exclusivity: If a brand want me to work with them for a certain period of time and to not work with any of their competitors, there is a charge. The idea that I would have to turn away a ‘job’ from a competitor for a period of time means I’m turning away a chance to make money. So I’ll work out a fair amount (usually a percentage of my normal rate) with the brand, should this happen. It has happened to me MANY times where I have to say no, I cannot work with you because during this time, I am exclusively working with your competitor. This is important because it encourages me to do my best work while working under a contract because the brand is paying for exactly that. I also do not feel the pressure of ‘oh man, I missed out on a job’. Being compensated well leaves me content and keeps me focus on my agreed upon work.

Whitelisting: This is when a brand decides to go beyond my post and content I put on my own channel, to put advertising dollars behind the content, to even expose their product further. There is a charge for this. Remember, I own the content and this is another avenue for a brand to share their product/s by way of my creation if the content. In a sense using my work to do as much advertising as possible. It’s my intellectual property so yes there is a charge.

Next I will talk about some of the hard work that goes in behind the scenes before we get to that perfect pretty picture on Instagram and on my website.

-1. A brand will reach out to me about an upcoming campaign because they’ve seen that I have used their product, or they think I would be a great fit to share their message. Or, I will reach out to a brand that I love and use their products explaining why I want to work together. If I am doing the reach out, it takes a lot of background work to research who to contact and finding that contact. Sometimes I have to look up online searching for an email through multiple different mediums (google, LinkedIn, Facebook etc). Many times, the email I find is not even the person or department that deals with blogger/influencer relations but articulating that email correctly is key to having that initial point of contact to pass on my email to the right person. I cannot just email a brand and say ‘Hi work with me’. I have to tell them why, how, and when at minimum to garner their interest. Many times it takes even two follow-ups to get a response. I set a reminder to follow-up timely if I do not get a response initially. Once I get the response, convincing the brand in email or on a phone call is key.

-2. Once we have decided on working together (payments already discussed), it’s time to create the content. I often have to come up with the planned out idea of how I plan to tell the story around the product and how I use it. Many times the brand has to agree before I even begin to shoot. I will then shoot the content and the brand has to approve it. It’s all in a legal context of making sure I am representing myself well and well as the brand. This is something very important to both parties. I want the brands I work with to feel confident and comfortable with my work and they want the same for me too. It makes for a fun and seamless partnership.

-3. I will now shoot the content. A lot goes into shooting the content. From the way my hair and makeup is done, nails, props, and overall setting. For me, am I telling the story realistically? Where do I use the product. For example make-up, where do I use it most often? In my bathroom. So, the set-up will be in my bathroom or at my vanity desk or in a mirror in my bedroom or living room. Most women put their makeup on in these places right?! I don’t just shoot my content bland. I’ll set it up as realistic as possible. Sometimes I have to buy extra props. One of my biggest expense is fresh flowers. I love flowers all over my home and I love it in my content too. Since it’s fresh flowers, I am always buying-another reason for me to be paid fairly for my work. A shoot usually take me anywhere from 1-3hrs. From getting dressed, setting up, and shooting. We often take anywhere from 50-100 shots just to pick or find one perfect one that makes it to Instagram and blog (for blog I post more pictures).

-4. Editing photos, writing the blog post and captions. I love editing my photos myself. I will sift through all photos and pick a few as options. This takes A LOT of time to pick and edit. It usually takes me anywhere from 1-2hrs to pick and edit my photos. I have a steady feel to almost all of my photos-bright, happy, and engaging. This is how I want people to feel when they look at my shots. So editing it to fit that mode takes time. I use Lightroom to edit my photos. Writing blog posts and captions takes time as I am telling a story and trying to engage my audience and reader. It is important for this to be done right, especially when it is a paid job. I take pride in doing as best of as a job I can. The brand deserves it, they are paying me and I owe it to myself to do my best work. It takes me anywhere from 2-3 hours to actually write my blog and social posts. After editing and writing, sometimes we go through 1 or 2 rounds of revisions with the brand before it can be posted.

-5. It’s time to post. Now I’m finally at the stage to put the content I’ve worked on out to everyone. If I have a blog post, that goes live first as foundation, then I will share it out on Instagram and other social platforms for anyone who want to dive more into the details of the product and brand. If it’s on Instagram only, I try my best to be concise and tell a story that will capture interest in what I am talking about.

-6. I pray and hope my audience can relate, is interested, or really like or love what I am posting about. My goal is share what I’m into and/or using in order to relate, encourage, or provide information for my audience. If it’s received well, people will like it, share it comment on it, and try or buy the product and service.

-7. I often have to report to the brand how well my post was received. In essence, did I do a good job. There are many ways to calculate this based on the terms of what the brand wanted to achieve (sales, sign-up, exposure etc). This is one of the scariest part for me because I ALWAYS want to say ‘it was well received’ but that’s not always the case. Just the same way at any other job, you want to do well and have your boss happy, but it’s not always peaches and rainbows:). My goal is always to keep a longterm partnership with a brand I love and so this is key in doing that.

Once all of this is completed, then I will be fully compensated for the job. Payment terms are usually discussed laid out in contracts (10/15/30/60/90 days) it varies from contract to contract.

Another way bloggers/inflencers make money is by adding affiliate links to our websites (sometimes on swipe ups on Instagram Stories). For example I’m posting my own thing, no brands contracts attached to say an outfit. I will link it out to website I bought it from but in that link, its an affiliate link. Meaning, if a reader click on the link and buys from that website, I make a small commission. It’s not much for me personally, meaning I cannot pay my mortgage and car note monthly with my affiliate links haha. This is why a combination of types of jobs (direct sponsorship, Affiliate etc) all make-up how we earn. Many bloggers sell e-books, courses etc and that’s also a way of making an income. You may ask, why do we need to be paid? Think about it, if a brand is to put their product on the radio, TV, billboard, Celebrities etc...they pay to do so. We’re no different, we also have audience and so to share some product, we also ask for payment.

Another side to blogging is when we travel with a brand and stay at these amazing hotels, dine at fancy restaurants or settings. Before we get on the road or on that flight there are similar discussions as mentioned above. Many times we travel to an amazing destination and our photos, videos and stories are just so amazing for you the audience to enjoy, because it is our job to really bring you on a journey. We are working and we usually have to be up at the crack of dawn, shooting content, posting, planning for the next day and most times we are on a strict schedule, so strict that many times we do not get time for ourselves to really deeply enjoy everything and be in the moment. For me, sometimes it’s days after returning home I reminisce on the trip and those memories in my head is when I finally relive it and enjoy it. Or, from the photos and videos I took. It’s not always the case but many times it is. Sometimes, I will extend my trip for an additional day on my own expense just to enjoy it. Travel is not always paid...personally for me it’s 50/50 possibility depending many factors.

A side of blogging that is not often realized is all the legal intricacies. For every job I do there is a contract or agreement. It is signed by both myself and the brand. Before we sign, there are usually a few rounds of edits on both end of the contract. Both parties want to protect themselves. On my end, I can generally sift through the contract and edit some of the basics, other times I have to send it to my lawyer to explain what something mean and to adjust accordingly. Of course, the lawyers charges me a fee.

The upkeep of being a blogger is also at a cost-hair, nails, outfits, car for driving to jobs or destinations etc. Many people have the notion that we just dress up, get pretty and take a photo and post it on Instagram and it’s easy. But a lot of work goes into it all. From so many different angles.

Working from home is also great but it can be lonely. What I do love about working from home is being able to fix my schedule in a way that works for me. Somedays I am buried in my Pajamas for 2-3 days all day emailing, writing, editing, posting etc. I will break that up with scheduling lunch dates with friends and other creatives to get out of the house or balancing my errands out for the week so I do get out of the house. I’m personally not a coffee shop- computer worker type of gal. I’ll get distracted people watching or talking with strangers. I prefer to stay in and bury myself in work and taking a break that doesn’t require me bringing work out of the house with me. We have a home owners office space where I live so sometimes I will utilize the space and work there.

Okay guys, there is SO much more I could write. This is just the surface if it all. My fingers are tired and I have to get ready for date night for our first anniversary and first time leaving our little baby girl Tori. I’ll see if I can break it all down into topics if you guys want to learn more. I tried to be as transparent as I could. As with any private business some details are kept within the business. For example I won’t share exact amounts I make per job etc...I however always disclose with (ad, sponsored, or in partnership on my blog and social channels when it is paid). Legally, I have to and I love to do so because it’s important for you my audience to know when I am paid.

Ahh if you’ve made it this far, you deserve a star. Thanks for reading and leave any comments or questions you have below on this posts.

Keyma

Civil Wedding Ceremony Outfit Ideas

2020-03-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Last year on March 2, 2019 we had a civil wedding ceremony and it was beautiful. Many people asked why we had a civil ceremony and we did it for one main reason. We currently live in Los Angeles but our official wedding was to be held in Jamaica, where we were both born and raised. Since Los Angeles was now our home, we decided we wanted all legal paperwork to reside where we live. We just saw it easier and more efficient especially in the future should we need copies of our marriage certificate etc we could easily access them locally. Additionally, it was a way for us to cement our new life in a somewhat new-ish place.

When we initially decided to do a civil wedding, it was supposed to be super low key with just us and two witnesses. Well, that quickly went out of the door when my sister said she’s coming then some of our friends decided that they are coming too. What was supposed to be a four person event, turned into a 12 person event with the majority flying in internationally. It wasn’t planned, it just happened. We packed up our cars on a rainy morning and drove up to San Barbara and got married. It was a light and easy ceremony. We then had lunch with the group and drove back to Los Angeles just in time to relax, change and head out for drinks. To this day, Lincoln and I still reminisce on how amazing our friends and families are to have made our civil ceremony so special. We’re not sure what we’ve done in this world to deserve them but we love them dearly. We ended up having a fun, impromptu and beautiful weekend.

I wore this beautiful jumpsuit from BHLDN, Ferragamo Block Heeled Pumps, and a Fascinator. I bought my fascinator from Monsoon in London but found two similar ones here & here. A jumpsuit was my choice because the actual wedding I was going to wear a dress. I wanted both of them to feel like two different occasions as they were. The next day, I wore this gorgeous white silk dress also from BHLDN (similar here) to dinner at CATCH the following day. My husband is wearing a suit from Asos and Adidas sneakers. I literally felt like a bride the entire weekend. Love is beautiful and I’m thankful for my amazing husband and supportive friends and family.

I’ve linked some really great options that are perfect for a Civil Wedding/Ceremony below.

Stay turned for more wedding content this month. It’s our anniversary month so I will be blogging all about the wedding process and giving pointers and tips. I’ll also finally post a detailed post about how I planned a destination wedding in Jamaica.

Thanks for reading loves.

Xoxo

Keyma.

How To Make A Milk Bath

2020-02-24T21:12:00.000-08:00

During my pregnancy, I had a bunch of items on a checklist of things I really wanted to do which included, taking a picture of my bump, do a shoot by the ocean, do a belly cast, and a slew of other things including a milk bath. I was literally at the nine month mark and I decided 3 days before my due date that I MUST DO THIS MILK BATH. I really wanted one of those flower filled milk baths with all the colors but I was too pregnant to prepare for it. I wasn’t going to have this baby pop out and I wasn’t going to wait another minute. I went into my kitchen, looked around and realized I had fresh eucalyptus-a day old in a flower jar and fresh rosemaryI just picked up from the market that same day. I also had one week old roses that still looked great. My well intentioned floral milk bath turned into a herb milk bath and it was EVERYTHING. I used 5 simple things:

12 stalks Eucalyptus

12 stalks of Rosemary

1 dozen Pink Roses

1 Gallon of Milk (milk powder can also be used.

Luke-warm bath water

I simply filled my bath almost halfway with luke-warm water, then added the gallon of milk. Once I did that, I proceeded to add Eucalyptus and Rosemary. I added the roses last because the water was warm and I didn’t want them to start to wither. Once it was all in, it was go time. I hopped in and my husband took some amazing shots.

For my outfit, I’m actually wearing my bridal robe from my wedding, a white lace bra-let and white lace underwear. To contrast the white outfit, white milk bath and white bathroom, I wore this fun pink lip to match the roses. It was super easy and came out beautifully. I was just so happy I didn’t stress myself out with an over the top photo shoot because this was so easy and so beautiful beyond my dreams.

Robe, Lipstick.

If you’re planning a milk bath, pregnant or not, this is easy and inexpensive. You don’t need much or a photographer. Simply shoot when you have the best natural light or i’d take a lot of photos at home, invest in one of these ring lights. I have one at home and it does wonders when we take photos inside.

Have fun with your milk bath. I can’t wait to do another one with my baby girl now that she is here.

Tag me in your photo on Instagram. I’m at @styleweekender

Thanks for reading

Keyma.

New Beauty Faves To Start The New Year

2020-01-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

This post is in partnership with Walmart. All opinions are 100% my own.

Ah! Happy New Year guys!

New year means new many thing for a lot of us. One of the commitments I have made to myself this year is to take better care of my skin so that I can wear my bare beauty (meaning minimal makeup), get my hair as healthy as possible, and overall fresh feeling in my body.

There are a few products that I absolutely love and does great wonders in my beauty routine that I just wont give up and then there are others I did some research on, read reviews, and have decided to give them a try. With that said, I went ahead and shopped a few new and old favorites beauty products from Walmart. Did you know that Walmart carry a bunch of high-tier beauty products?. I learned last year and ever since, they have been my go to. Let's get into my mini beauty haul, each product and, what I love about them.

First up is this Goody Ouchless Scrunchies Gentle Hair Scrunchie. I've always worn the small black ones but I find that they sometimes grip my hair harshly and pulls on my roots. These are so plush and comfy and also very easy to sleep with. Yes to healthy roots this year.

I'm a cleanser lover and after using this same brand cleen beauty SPF Moisturizer, I decided to give their cleen beauty Rosehip Jelly Face Cleanser a try. It gives a really good lather to remove excess dirt and make up. A little goes a long way. I usually remove as much makeup as I can before I cleanse. I'm incorporating it in my nighttime routine for this reason. It didn't dry out my skin out and I absolutely love the gentle rose smell.

Next is this Earth to Skin Super Fruits Starter Kit. I love starter kits and mini products. This way, if I don't like the items, I don't feel bad throwing out a full sized container. This little set is definitely a keeper though. My favorite in the set has to be the avocado overnight mask. It so good and my face feels super plump and alive in the morning. I've been using the cleanser in the mornings which gives a nice gently clean. Both the eye-cream and day gel are perfect for daytime use. If you're looking for a night time eye cream, I would suggest going with a lighter eye cream, like this, also from the same brand and from Walmart.

In the last two years I have been trying to incorporate more natural and safer deodorants in my self-care routine. I have tried a lot and some I do love, others are ok and, some just not for me. When I saw this Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant Pure Vanilla I had to try it I was more excited that they had it in mini, again for the same reason I mentioned above. I loved the scent of this deodorant upon opening up the jar. It's definitely more on the dry side and I struggled with that the first time I used it. But after using it a few times, I got over it being dry on applying under my arm. The key and most important thing is that it kept me fresh all day. I'm excited to see how it holds up during the summer or humid weather.

Ok, I saved the best for last. Ha! My good-ole favorite Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes, Individually Wrapped. This is my holy-grail make-up remover. Nothing does a better job and when I saw that they now come individually wrapped? I had to get a pack. This is so good because I can simply pop one out of the bag, remove my make-up in the living room while watching TV (which I love to do) and not having to worry to put the entire bag back in my bathroom or leaving it in the living room. If you've never tried these as a make-up remover, do yourself a favor and try them now. I promise, it's worth it.

I highly recommend you try these out especially if you're looking to add clean and safe beauty that actually work into your routine. Walmart Beauty has a lot of other high-tier options too. Make sure you check them out here.

Thanks for reading loves.

xoxo

Keyma

My Holiday Gift Guide From Nordstrom

2019-12-12T13:49:00.001-08:00

This post is in partnership with Nordstrom. All opinions are 100%my own.

Hey Guys!

Today I'm sharing my Holiday gift-guide with you. I know there are a lot of gift guides to choose from but I have made mine super simple and included items for everyone. I've also picked all items from Nordstrom so it's easier for your shopping experience. I find it easier sometimes to just order and do all my shopping form one store, or at least as much as I can. Nordstrom also carry super quality items and they ship out fast. I also love that they have gift wrapping and messaging option on most of their items. This takes the work out of me having to get additional wrapping when the items arrive and they will also ship my purchase wrapped beautifully to my friends and family.

So let's get into it shall we.

First up I got this really cute PJ Salvage Print Flannel Pajamas for myself :) Yes, I got myself something and you should too, I couldn't resist it. I love a good holiday pajama and this one has been on rotation already while I am at home. It's super comfortable, warm and fits beautifully. I'm 5' 9" tall and it fit perfectly. I think it would make a really great gift for any female especially if they love PJs. It comes in about 6 other print styles too. I'm also loving this and this as options.

Next up , I have something special for the men. Most men are super simple when it comes to holiday gifts. They also sometimes do not quite know what they want and I find that they rarely think skincare. So I am recommending this Kiehl's Men's Grab & Go Essentials Set and I know the man or men in your lives will love it. My husband often snag a few items from my skincare collection and usually fall in love with them. I find that if you give them as a gift they will use it. I also recommend this and this for men too.

I picked up this Slumberkins Unicorn Stuffed Animal & 'Unicorn' Board Book for my three year old niece. I love the messaging behind it. This Slumberkins is designed to help kids learn to be true to themselves. If there's one thing I will always encourage and support my niece about to be true to herself. They have other options too such as this one (for self-esteem), this one (for relaxation), and a few others. I think these makes great gift for kids- boys and girls.

Next up is a gift every beauty lover will love. This Skin Gym Jade Facial Trio Set is a complete winner. If I got this as a gift, I'd be so happy. The receiver doesn't necessarily have to be a beauty junkie because most times it's the opposite individual who is so grateful for such a gift. Try gifting this or this too to any of your beauty lover friends or family. They will go over very well.

If you have an acquaintance in your life that does mean something to you but you're not sure what to gift them, I say go with a simple pair of socks. I love the fuzzy and warm feeling of these Nordstrom Butter Crew Socks. Here's a male one that I also think would be great.

Ok, so I couldn't resist this Nordstrom at Home Wedding Cake Ornament as a gift, one for me and I got two more for two of my other friends that got married this year. It such a great gift for newly weds who were married this year. It says 2019 on it and they can have it for years to come as a symbol of joining their union in the year dated on it. I anticipate the joy it will bring me every year I'll put mine on my Christmas tree. I'm also loving this and this as lovely keepsake ornament gifts.

I hope you enjoyed my holiday picks from Nordstrom this year. Remember to select gift option when you shop so your gifts can be wrapped leaving you with more time to enjoy the holidays.

Thanks for swinging by.

xoxo

Keyma

You Need This Folding/Drying Rack For Your Kitchen

2019-12-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

Hi Guys,

I'm so excited to share this home post with you especially because I will be talking about an item and I now cannot live without in my kitchen. It's this lovely Stainless Steel Folding Rack from True Shop Co. I've been using it for about three months now and let me tell you, I cannot imagine what my life was like without it before. It's such a multi-functional piece and serves so many purposes. It's sturdy and looks beautiful in my kitchen.

It goes over the sink whether you have a one or double hole sink. You can place it horizontally or vertically depending on your sink and it's under $25. An inexpensive item that adds value to my life, yes please.

It is multi-functional in the sense that I use it as a drain for my dishes including pots and pans, vegetables, meats, fruits, flowers and I also use it on my counter when I have a hot pot or serving pan. It helps to break heat barrier off my countertop. My kitchen is still new to me since we completed renovation back in February so I am very careful with my quarts countertop.

This Stainless Steel Folding Rack from True Shop is the real deal and does the job. Often I am not quite ready to load of my dishwasher or I may only have a few items so I'll simply hand-wash them and put them on the Folding/Drying Rack. It also helps that it sits over the sink I don't need to put things down in the sink to dry. Additionally, it somehow gives me extra counter space. Whenever I am cooking and washing my vegetables or fruits, I just put them on the Rack, run the pipe, and leave it there to dry. I just love this this Folding Rack.

I hope you found this post useful and I promise you will LOVE this Folding/Drying Rack in your kitchen as much as I love mine. Let me know if you end up getting one and how you like it.

xoxo

Keyma

GiftNow The New Way To Send Gifts

2019-12-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

This post is sponsored by GiftNow & Shopstyle. All opinions are 100% my own.

Hi Guys!

I'm super excited to be sharing with you this new, amazing, and exciting way to send gifts. It's called GiftNow and it is the new way to gift in the digital age. It is super simple and easy for both you and the person you are gifting. Gift-Now is a complimentary gifting service that allows you to purchase a thoughtful gift and let the recipient of that gift choose a size, color, and shipping address. This is such a relief because it rids me of having to text my friends and family with too many questions which could ruin the surprise. The other day I went to lunch with one of my girlfriends and I was wearing this Kate Spade sweater in my photo and she commented on how beautiful it was, how much she loved it, and all the questions that tell you she would want one. I instantly etched it in my mind in an ah-ha moment "I know what I'll get her as her gift this holiday".

I went home that evening, went onto Kate Spade website to the exact sweater, scroll down to the GiftNow feature in the lower right hand side of the product page, and proceeded to gift it to my amazing friend. I didn't need to do anything else but put in her email, pay for it, and send a greeting note. I also added these earrings and necklace for her as an extra surprise. I love that Kate Spade is such a leading and innovative brand to have this feature on their website.

With Gift-Now as an option, I feel like I'm giving a more thoughtful, fun, and engaging gift. It removes the impersonal card or the regular gift box gift-giving. It's saves so much time too and was so fun going through the process. Can you imagine the excitement of my friend on the receiving end?! It will be the same for whoever you are gifting something to. My girlfriend said she felt like she was having her own '"online shopping experience" but in the sense of getting a gift. I loved that she was pleased and had fun, too.

Let me take you through the steps of using GiftNow on Kate Spade's website.

Step 1: Locate the item you want to purchase

Step 2: Scroll to lower right-hand section of the product and look for GiftNow option. Click on it.

Step 3: Enter the receiver's email or phone number. Write a personal greeting to send them. They will be super surprised.

Step 4: Check out and pay for the item/s. You'll get an email and your receiver will also get an email or whichever way you decide to let them know of this surprise. You can also add more than one item to your basket so feel free to mix it up and have fun gifting.

I just love this amazing gifting solution and I love that I get to share it with you in case you didn't know about it. Share this post with your friends and family. You are sending a gift not having to worry about details such as size and color, but more personal than a gift card.

Happy Holidays to you all.
xoxo
Keyma.

Decorate Your Home For Thanksgiving & Earn While Doing It

2019-11-27T09:22:00.000-08:00

This post is in partnership with Walmart & Capital One. All opinions are 100% my own.

Hello there, Loves!

Can you believe it? Thanksgiving is only tomorrow. I feel like it snuck up on me so fast and with that I decided to act fast as well. I love the holidays and everything about Fall. I was not going to let Thanksgiving come and go without decorating my home. I knew the one place I could look to was Walmart.com for a few new pieces to add the feels of the holiday in my home. What's even better is that if you are a Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Card holder not only do you earn 5% back on Walmart.com, the Walmart App, and Grocery Pickup and Delivery, but also 2% back in store, and 1% back anywhere Mastercard is accepted. It doesn't hurt that there are no annual fees too.

I quickly hopped on Walmart.com and selected a few pieces that I knew would make my home ready for Thanksgiving. I also love the amazing benefit of next day delivery that Walmart.com offers on so many of their products. My order came the next day and I was able to decorate my home that same evening.

Below is what my couch looked like BEFORE.

Here's what it looked like AFTER.

I added this beautiful plush Better Homes & Gardens Sherpa Throw Blanket that couldn't be more perfect for Thanksgiving. It comes in about 14 other colors so you'll definitely find your style. It's so soft and cozy and perfect for snuggles after the feast. I also added these Mainstays Decorative Throw Pillows on the other end of my couch and I love how they seamlessly tie into my current decor theme. They are also the perfect colors for Thanksgiving pillow decor as you can easily mix-and-match them with other decor items for years to come. Another great thing about using the Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Card is that you can cover your purchase after the fact by redeeming points on Walmart.com.

I also bought this Thanksgiving Silver Farm Pumpkin Decoration, it says Blessed on one side and Happy Thanksgiving in small writing on the other. I put it right in the breakfast nook in my kitchen. I loved how it came out and added some texture to the space.

Lastly, I had to decorate my dining room table because this where we will eat and gather on Thanksgiving Day. This is what my table looked like BEFORE.

This is what it looks like AFTER. Ah I loved decorating this space. I bought two sets of these beautiful Mainstays Mercury Glass Hurricane and this gorgeous Pumpkin Frame Floral Tabletop Decoration. They brought the table alive with beautiful holiday colors. I couldn't be happier.

It's safe to say, I am ready for Thanksgiving and for our guests to come. The only thing I have left to do is get my grocery to cook a few of my favorite recipes and am not worried because that will be seamless with Walmart.com Grocery Pickup. Guys, don't wait any longer, Thanksgiving is just a few days around the corner. Walmart.com is your best option and will get you and your home ready for the holidays. Don't forget to use your Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Card and if you don't have it, apply for it asap to get all the benefits I mentioned before along with being able to redeem your rewards for statement credits, gift cards, or travel. There are so many amazing benefits plus Walmart has almost everything to cover our needs.

Happy Thanksgiving

xoxo

Keyma

Our Baby Shower

2019-11-21T11:14:00.001-08:00

Last month we celebrated our little girl in an intimate and cozy baby shower with some of our family and closest friends. To tell you the truth, I initially didn’t want to have a baby shower. It's been a long and busy year for me planning a destination wedding, working nonstop, travels etc. The last thing I wanted to do was plan another event ha! But our friends and family kept asking about a shower and then I realized I would have probably regretted not doing a shower later on.

So here we are.

The goal was to keep it small at 30 people, simple chic girly decor and, an easy no fuss morning. We did a brunch and hosted it at one of our favorite restaurant in Los Angeles in their private dining area. The restaurant private space was a good idea because all we needed to do was add a bit of decor, show up, do our thing and then leave.

It was amazing. We were literally showered with so much love, well wishes, good energy, and that made everything worth it. We ate, chatted with our guests, played games, and mingled in love. Our baby girl has no idea how much love and support she already has and that really makes us so happy. I posted a video on my Instagram account, you can see it here. It was a lovely day and I couldn’t feel more blessed, loved and appreciated. Keep scrolling below to see some of the photos.

Some of my blogger friends who came to shower us with love. I'm linking their Instagram accounts below so you can check each of them out.

From left to right...

Cassydy, Carolina, Zia, Michelle, Ravayna, Elizabeth

I decided to keep photos of my other family and friends offline because not everyone wants to be plastered all over the internet. Hehe! However, they were there in all the uplifting and loving sprits I could ever dream of and I'm extremely thankful.

The balloon wall was done by Tat & Co and the florals were done by my lovely friends Vanessa & Art . It was beautiful.

I hope you enjoyed this post.

xoxo

Keyma

aden + anais® Harry Potter™ Limited Edition Collection Makes The Best Baby Shower Gift

2019-11-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

This post is in partnership with aden + anais. All opinions are 100% my own.

As a first time mom-to-be I really had a lot to learn and my oh my I have brought my brain back to college days over the last few months. I've dived into being as informed as I can in this new space of becoming a parent researching products and practices. I recently had my baby shower and it was magical to say the least. Our registry had items that I had fully researched and I find will be practical for our baby, my husband and our overall lifestyle. A few of the the items that were must haves on our registry were from Aden + Anais®. When I found out that they were launching a Harry Potter™

Limited Edition Collection, I knew I had to have it. Plus I was definitely going to gift it to one of my other girlfriend who is also expecting a baby. I knew it would make the perfect baby shower gift. The collection pieces are so soft and beautiful.

Let's get into the pieces I got for my dear friend shall we?

First up is this Harry Potter™ Limited Edition Collection light sleeping bag. How cute is the design? It 100% cotton muslin light sleeping bag that makes for a cozy night's rest. These are such great options for baby because you don't have to worry about loose blankets during sleep time.

Ah this design is probably my favorite in the entire collection, Harry Potter™ classic burpy bibs. Can you blame me? This is also 100% cotton muslin burpy bib and it doubles as an absorbent burping cloth. It's an amazing design that snaps at the back of baby and also slips over shoulder for a non-slip burp cloth. I have to mention again, it's so soft.

Lastly, I got these Harry Potter™ Limited Edition Collection swaddles in a 3-pack. It also comes as a single swaddle too. But with these cute prints, a 3-pack makes a much better gifting option in my option :). I love they they are versatile in that they can be used as a stroller cover, nursing cover, burp cloth, tummy blanket...It's perfect for playtime, bedtime or mealtime. I love gifting items that are useful and practical and not to mention oh so cute.

Are you thinking about baby shower gifting anyone in your life? I highly recommend the aden + anais® Harry Potter Limited Collection. The collection also includes a dream blanket and a classic oversized blanket. It doesn't have to be a shower only gift as well. The holidays is coming up and I promise any parent would be so happy and thankful for any of the items form this collection.
xoxo
Keyma

Meet The Conair Cordless Auto Curler You Must Try

2019-11-08T10:49:00.001-08:00

This post is in partnership with Conair & Shopstyle. All opinions are 100% my own.

Hey Loves!

I'm so excited to share this post with you guys. I haven't done a hair beauty post in a while. Now, meet the newest breakthrough device from Conair -- the UNBOUND Cordless Auto Curler I have been in love with this new device for the past few weeks. I am not usually one to curl my hair often because I get bored just standing there and it takes too long. Well, this Conair UNBOUND Cordless Auto Curler has changed my life and has taken all the work out of curling my hair!

It’s a cordless, rechargeable device that makes getting long-lasting beautiful curls and waves more convenient than ever. It's super easy to use and I love that it is travel friendly -- because it’s cordless you can use it on-the-go without being plugged into a wall (or the hassle of adapters). I won't be taking another trip without it, that's for sure. Let's get into how to use it and how I created these beautiful curls in my hair.

One it’s fully charged, you’ll get about 1 hour of cordless curling time. I fully curled my hair in about 15 mins. It has three control buttons which helps to set the heat temperature, curling direction (left, right, mixed).

Step one: Prepare about 1/2-1 inch section of your hair.

Step 2: Choose your heat setting and select your curl direction. Press and hold the start button to begin curling. The cool thing is that the chamber will automatically wrap the hair around the inner barrel based on the curl direction you selected. So easy! It also has a ceramic easy-glide coated surface, so my hair easily glides over the curl chamber. Hold it until the device beeps to indicate that you're all done.

Step 3: Release the button and pull the auto curler down to reveal your beautiful curls. It’s like a pro stylist is just sitting in your hands without any of the effort!

How simple and easy was that? I am so in love with this curler and I cannot get over it. I'm pretty sure you will be seeing me with more curls moving forward. I was thinking the other day, this is such a great tool for me especially since I am becoming a mom pretty soon. It will save time and keep me fabulous. Another thing I like is how quiet it is!, It barely has a low sound to indicate it is in use. I can see myself using this to curl my hair on the go and literally anywhere when I need a touch up in a pinch... in the car, at the gym, in a public bathroom... Ha!

I'm also thinking about gifting it to a few of my favorite gals this holiday. I love gifting my friends and family practical gifts that I know will change their lives.

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you're looking for a hair curler to change your life, this is it.

xoxo

Keyma

ICY Glam Halloween Makeup

2019-10-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Walmart for partnering with me on this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Hey guys!

It's three days to Halloween and I wanted to share my Icy Glam Makeup look with you all. I love playing around with makeup during Halloween so much more than I do costumes. It's such a fun way to really look different and be creative. I love themed makeup looks too. This look was super easy to create and if you're into icy glam or somewhat fantasy makeup this Halloween, then pick up these three products from Walmart to get it done. Also, I love how Walmart has a breakdown of different types of looks and what products to use achieve the look on their website. It made it so much easier for me to order exactly what I needed. Let’s get into how I did it and how each item served it's purpose.

First up you'll need an icy eye shadow palette. I loved the colors in this Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow palette in Velvet Crush color and I knew it would give the look I was going for. It blended beautifully and It'll be perfect on all skin shades. It has four colors and each color is labelled as to where to apply it. So, if you’re not confident in applying eyeshadow, this is a great palette that tells you where to put what. Plus, it's Halloween, anything goes right?! I added a little bit more of the darker shade to my upper and lower lids because I wanted it to be more profound. Try this eye shadow if you're going for a mermaid look, it's so pretty.

Next I went in and did a mini wing tip with this wet n wild MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner in Electric Purple. This really helped to compliment my lid and added an extra fullness to my eyes. I also lined my lower lids with this liner to compliment the eye shadow.

Finally, this NYX Professional Makeup Face & Body Glitter in Violet is a must for your fantasy/icy look. It served two purpose for my look. I added it to my cheeks to really take this look to the next level and I also tapped it all over my lipgloss (try this lipgloss), to finalize my lips. I loved how it shined beautifully in the dark. OMG I was glistening all evening and into the night. I didn't need to reapply and I wore the entire makeup for about 4 hours.

I absolutely loved this look and the items are used are inexpensive yet quality. I ordered them from Walmart and got them on next day shipping, which is amazing. You still have time to do so, too.

Thanks for reading, loves. I'd love to see your Halloween looks so tag me in them on Instagram (@styleweekender).

Happy Halloween.

xoxo

Keyma

Almost There: Preparing For Baby's Arrival

2019-10-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

This post is in partnership with Walmart. All opinions are 100% my own.

Hey guys!

I'm back at it again and I'm in full mama mode prepping for #BabyOliver's arrival. I still can't believe I call myself mom, mama, or even say the words, my baby! Pretty soon she will be here and I have to be ready. My brain is in full preparation mode and I recently shopped some additional items from Walmart.com that I know will serve our purpose. I figured I'd continue sharing and updating you all what I got and what we're doing in prep for her arrival. Walmart carries a lot of premium brands which I absolutely love and it helps me to keep all my shopping in one place. I'm also impressed and in love with their Parent's Choice brand. It's Walmart's exclusive baby brand and what's cool too is that they are celebrating 20 years of the Parent's Choice brand. That is pretty amazing. We've got a bath tub already from Walmart but I'm really eyeing this Parent's Choice Inflatable Safety Bath Tub for when she gets older. Also, this Cushioned Potty Seat is high on my radar. It's a little hard controlling myself and buying exactly what we need for right now because our condo is so small and we do not have a lot of space. While I do plan to breastfeed (hoping all goes well), I'm considering options such as this Parent's Choice Gentle® Non-GMO* Infant Formula Powder as a back-up and/or hybrid feeding options.

Here are some other need items I got from Walmart premium brand section.

I got this Delta Children Deluxe Water-Resistant 4 Pocket Hanging Wall Organizer. As I mentioned before, our condo is small and so saving space is so important to us. This is perfect and I love that it is water-resistant plus it goes well with our grey wall and a few grey storage bins I also bought from Walmart last month.

I also got this 3 pack Baby Brezza Natural Baby Bottle. I read that these are easy to clean because of the wide mouth. A friend gifted us a Baby Brezza Sterilizer so I figured I would keep it in the family and get these.

We've also been gifted a changing pad from a friend and when I spotted these Hatch Baby Waterproof Changing Pad Liners, I knew I had to get them. I'm just so impressed by Walmart for carrying all these amazing premium brands.

Finally, I got this Seventh Generation Thick & Strong Baby Wipes because it is a brand I use and love in my home. I hope our little girl will love it too.

Overall, I am happy with my preparation progress, even if it means I'm up at 3am while she is up and kicking up a storm in my tummy, shopping all my favorite brands, and baby products from Walmart.com. I'm still so blown away that their in house baby brand, Parent's Choice and that they are celebrating 20 years. They must be doing something good and I am happy about that because I know I can trust and use them for our family.

Thanks for reading, loves. If you have any recommendations for me as a new mom, please comment below or send me a private email ([email protected])

xoxo

Keyma

Pixi Beauty October 2019 Make-Up Giveaway

2019-10-13T20:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys,

I haven't done a giveaway in a while so I wanted to gift one of you, my readers, the chance to win this Pixi Make-Up set worth over $100. This a new set with some of the items from the Pixi Pretties collection. This package includes:

The Layers Highlighting Palette

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

*Bonus Entry: Comment on this blog post your favorite lip shade (Nudes, Pinks, Reds, Berries, or Brights).

*USA & Canadian Residents Only*

Giveaway will close on 10/17/19. Winner will be contacted & announced on this post by 10/18/19. Winner has until 10/21/19 to claim or a new winner will be selected.

CONGRATUALTIONS BECKY BEST. PLEASE RESPOND TO MY EMAIL BEOFRE END OF DAY 10/21/19.

Good Luck, Loves.

xoxo

Keyma

Ideas to Transition & Style Dresses For Fall

2019-10-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hi guys!

I want to talk to you today about transitioning your Summer and also Spring dresses into Fall. I'm a huge advocate for shopping your closet first, then shopping in the stores. If you've shopped or have a few dress (short, midi, or maxi) sitting in your closet, then it's time to take them out, lay them down and see how you can restyle them for Fall. First go for the maxi dresses and those especially with long sleeves. You can wear these types over denim, leggings or style them with tights for lower temperatures. You can also add a cardigan, trench coat or a light coat to warm up the feel of the look.

Next go for your shorter dresses. Even if they aren’t long sleeve, they can still easily be styled. Simply add collard or turtle neck blouses under short sleeves dresses, pair them with tights, denim or leggings. You can also style them with skirts (midi or maxi) add a belt to create a clear divide between the top and bottom.

I'm currently in my third trimester of my pregnancy and I've been shopping my closet a lot, looking for pieces that will work and I've been so surprised and elated about what I have been finding.

I've created a widget below with a few add on pieces to help amplify your outfit after you've shopped your closet. I've also added a few fall appropriate maxi dresses should you be in the mood for shopping some new pieces.

Our Baby Registry

2019-09-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

This post is in partnership with buybuy BABY. All opinions are 100% my own.

Hi Loves!

Ah, I cannot believe our little peanut will be here soon. I feel like time is flying by so fast. I remember finding out we were pregnant and feeling like wow we've got a long way to go. As my second trimester came to an end, I figured, it's time to get the baby registry going and so we did. Lincoln and I spent a few evenings picking out items for our baby registry online at buybuy BABY. We were a little confused and unsure about a few things and decided to set up an appointment to go in and see for ourselves. Thankfully we did because we learned so much. Our consultant spent about 1.5 hours with us as we went through the aisle. She helped us decide on items that would fit our lifestyle, ones that came highly recommend and, customer faves. We are trying our to best to be intentional about what we really need, when we'll need it, and how much we need and she really helped us narrowed everything down. We touched, felt, tried on, and saw most of the items we wanted in store. It was also so clean and organized that we felt confident after and told our consultant, we will stay another hour after our appointment was over. There were just so many amazing baby brands and selections for us to choose from, we really wanted to take our time and do it right. Our registry comprises of items that we know fit our lifestyle and our home. We want it to be suitable and perfect for #BabyOli. Once we were done scoping everything out, we met our consultant at the registry desk to finalize what we had on our list. We can continue to add items as we go along in store or online and I love that option. We've been doing so as we learn of or realize there is something else we'll need. We also got a free goody bag with actual useful samples. Also, whatever is remaining on our registry, we get 15% off the items. Oh and free shipping for a full year if your registry exceeds $1500 (restrictions apply).

Continue reading to some shots of shopping in store and some of the items we put on our registry as well as ones we've have already received.

Here are some items we've gotten so far:

1. DockATot® Deluxe+ Dock in Pristine White. I've gotten so many recommendations on this an dhow much it helps baby to sleep so it was at the top of my list. Glad we got it and it's ready and waiting for our baby girl.

2. 4moms® mamaRoo® 4 Cool Mesh Infant Seat in Dark Grey. Again, another highly recommended item that I am excited to use and hope our baby girl will love it too. It has bluetooth capability, interactive rattles, reclines, and it rocks the baby around in comforting motions. I love the meshed fabric especially for us living in California and will help to keep her cool and comfortable.

3. Munchkin® STEP™ Diaper Pail Powered by Arm & Hammer®. What sold me on this was that it traps diaper scent. We want her nursery space to be comfortable for all of us and so this was a must. We stocked up on the Soda Cartridge and Pail Refills too.

4. Safety 1st® HD WiFi Baby Monitor with Sound/Movement Detecting Audio Unit in White. We definitely had to have a video monitoring system. Our consultant in store really helped us narrowed it down to this one. We feel confident that we picked the right one for us. We are excited about this because when my husband goes back to work, he'll be able to check in and see and hear her. Also, most of our friends and family live internationally and with this we can give them temporary access to see and hear her. I also love that it's easy to check in on a phone. I mean, almost everyone has a smart phone.

5. BRITAX Backseat Mirror. We got two sets of this for both of our cars. It's important for us to be able to safely see her while driving. We also loved that it's shatter proof for additional safety.

6. Safety 1st® 2-Pack Deluxe RollerShade. We also got two sets of these for both vehicles because the California sun can be brutal. We want her to be comfortable and any shade to block some sun rays makes me happy. I also like that it offers push-button release.

7. Burt's Bees Baby® 100% Organic Cotton Knit Terry Changing Pad Cover in Cloud. I love that this changing table cover is organic. I'm trying to my best to use a good balance of some organic products and items on our baby girl. I saw this and I knew I had to have it. I got three of these.

8. Burt's Bees Baby® Alphabet Bee Organic Cotton Changing Pad Cover in Grey This is the same organic changing pad cover as the one above but in a different color. I actually got three of these as well. I love Burt's Bees Brand and pretty much everything they make. I was happy to see that buybuy BABY carried this brand.

9. Just Born® Keepsake Deer Plush Toy in Ivory. There are so many toys to pick from but something about the crisp white color and that cute little bow made my heart smile. I had to put it on the registry.

10. Colgate Memory Foam 3-Sided Contour Changing Pad (not pictured). I also got this changing pad, for which I got the covers I mentioned above. I completely forgot to take a few pictures of it. but I love how soft yet firm it feels. I also love the 3-sided contour which will be great in comfortable while changing her.

11. Leachco® Snoogle® Chic Jersey Total Body Pillow in Heather Grey (not pictured). I'm now in my third trimester and literally a day after my 24 weeks mark, my whole body started to feel a drastic change. My back pain and stomach cramps intensified and I knew it was time for this body pillow. It's been a life saver for me. I love wrapping myself into it. My only drawback is that it takes up a lot of space on our bed because we have a queen. I'm totally fine with it though because it gets the job done:)

I feel so much better now that we've gotten some of the items out of the way. We're still adding more stuff to our registry as we go along and we'll have everything added by the time of our baby shower next month. We thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend buybuy BABY as the registry option for new parents.

Let me know if there are any other must haves I am missing. Thanks for reading, loves.

xoxo

Keyma

Gingham Dress For Fall

2019-09-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Fall, Loves.

It's my favorite time of the year and I am so excited for all pumpkin things, spiced things, vanilla things, plaid things, all of it!!!!!!

Living in Southern California comes with a little bit of a set back when it comes to Fall, though. As far as the weather is concern, we usually don't start cooling down until about mid November and even then it's still so warm sometimes.

I wore this dress during the summer and was a little warm in it. I figured it'll be more suitable for Fall. It doesn't matter what region or temperature because it can be dressed up with OTK boots and a coat or simple ballet flats or ankle boots, and a sweater for warmer weather. I sourced and found many other affordable options at different price points in the widget below.