Tip No. 1: Stay away from chlorine as much as possible. I normally tie my hair up in a bun (you can also do a a nice braid updo!) when going in the pool. Sure I like to get wild and go underwater some days but I keep that to a minimum. Chlorine is known for drying out your hair and breaking it so make sure you have a good moisturizing shampoo like Manuka Honey & Apricot Moisture Shampoo.

Tip No. 2: Wear a sun hat! You guys have seen me wear summer hats all over IG all season long this spring and of course I will be doing the same this summer. First, they add such a cute vibe to any summer day (or outfit!) and second they protect your hair from the sun! You are welcome!

Tip No. 3: Don't skip your conditioner! Whether it's summer, fall, winter or spring. You hair needs conditioner all year round. I use the Manuka Honey & Apricot Moisture Conditioner every time I wash my hair. I don't wash it often, only about two times a week. This conditioner leaves my hair feeling healthy and smooth. Then I just towel dry and done. Pro tip: Finish it off using their the Avocado Oil & Shea Nourishing Hair Butter!
 
And that's it you guys! Whether you are out enjoying summer this season or making the best out of your backyard, make sure you protect your hair, long or short! Moisturize, moisturize and yea, moisturize. Happy summer 2020 you guys... let's try to make the best of these days.

DIY Family Photoshoot? Yes, please! Last weekend we did a last minute family shoot at a local beach and to be honest it was short and sweet, zero stress and I love the shots we got. We had originally scheduled a professional photoshoot a couple of weeks ago but I had a little pregnancy scare and had to cancel last minute. At this point, we have so much going on that a last minute shoot sounded like perfection.
 



So whether you don't have a budget for family photos - they can be pretty pricy sometimes - or you simply enjoy DIY anything... this post is for you! I'm so happy with our photos and can't wait to print them and display them around the house.

Here are five ways to save money and still get some pretty nice shots during a family photoshoot:

Tip No. 1:

Ask a friend or relative that you trust or that has an eye for photography to shoot your pics. Or you can always shoot with a tripod and remote! It's actually super easy and you can have full control. I asked my cousin and she was able to capture these sweet images.

Tip No. 2:

We used my Canon EOS Rebel T7i DSLR with a 50mm lens for these but you can pretty much use an iPhone these days and get some really nice quality photos too. I say test the shots first. Select a location and shoot some pics at the time you desire for lighting and location purposes. We shot these at around 7-7:30 pm in June.

Tip No. 3:

Editing makes a worlds difference! I used Lightroom for these and was able to adjust the colors to my liking. I love Lightroom, it makes photos so much more beautiful. In my opinion, editing is everything.

Tip No. 4:

Coordinate your outfits but don't get too crazy over them. Over the years I've learned to not strive for perfection with family photos because kids are kids... and you'll be stressing more than it's worth. As you can see, we are coordinated and matching tones but not exactly the same prints or colors. I made sure the kids were extra comfortable and well fed lol!

Tip No. 5:

Have fun! Sure we "pose" for some pics but the best shots are always the ones we are just hanging out talking and laughing. The kids had so much fun on the sand and we were able to capture that on camera. Don't make your expectations too high, just go with the flow. Trust me! I've done many shoots, pro and not... and the best is to let it go and have fun!

I hope these 5 tips helped you and please DM or tag me if you decided to do your own DIY family photoshoot! I'd love to see!

$13! Yes, and they are the ones I am wearing in my photos above! They are more of an orange color but the quality is pretty good for the price. I love the wide leg look and can see myself using it in so many ways all through winter!

If you ask me, hair care goes hand in hand with self-care, at least in my book it does. I get a lot of compliments on my hair and I've been blessed with thick, full hair - thanks Mom! But of course, I still have to maintain and nourish my hair so that my long tresses are always shiny, healthy and hydrated. So many of you ask me how I care for my hair, so keep on scrolling for all the deets!
 
 
 

The energy in the room was beyond my wildest expectations. I wanted to create a vision board workshop because what better way to start the year, excuse me, THE DECADE, than with a party to share and manifest our dreams and goals? Through the years, vision boards have manifested right in front of my eyes and now I felt it was time to share the hows and whys with every one of you. 

Every one of my guests took home swag bags from our wonderful sponsors: itCosmetics, Sol de Janeiro, NJMOM, MissLola, Yoobi and Kyrz's Closet. Attendees took photos by our beautiful backdrop created by Creative Twist Events, who decorated the space beautifully! Here are some great photos from this amazing night!
 
 
 


 


Thank you all for an amazing night.  And I am forever grateful at the turnout... we sold out 75 tickets - what is life!? I hope that each of you went home inspired and feeling good about your goals and determined to make sh*t happen, no matter what, you got this sis!