D.I.Y. Blood Drip Nails

Hey guuyyys!!!

So I just wanted to share with you this snap of these fun D.I.Y. blood dripping nails that I did yesterday! I LOVE Halloween && now that I have kids.. I'm SUPER into it! Anywho.. I think these nails are fun && with a different color they can translate to *Paint Drip Nails* that you could wear any day!

I used a tutorial from Youtube by the hilarious and super fun AndreasChoice! I just looove her videos!! And if you like these nails & want to try it out... here's the tutorial I used...

xxo

How to NOTD: Chevron Nails!!! :)

Okay so Lucy has some explaining to do! I know.. I know!! 

I have been M.I.A. for a while but soooo much has transpired in the past few months that it's CRAY! If you follow me on instagram and twitter (( @WithLoveCrissa )) then you already know two things... 

One.. I was recently accepted into graduate school... YAAAY!! && let me tell y'all.. it keeps me super busy!! And the other thing is.... I'm expecting my first baby girl!!! SUPER YAAAY 2x's!!! SO YES... I'm very excited, but very busy and all over the place! 

Anywho... I really missed blogging and makeup and everything!!! So here I am again && this post was inspired by nguerriero19. She's a gorgeous YouTube beauty guru that I just discovered!! Once I saw her nail tut.. Ugh.. I just had to try!

Here's a few things you will need:

3 polishes of your choice

base coat & top coat (preferably a fast dry top coat)

tape

scissors

My standard base & top coats are O.P.I. Natural Base Coat & Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.

And here's a step-by-step...

1. Apply your base coat & two coats of your base color. Then to increase dry time in between each chevron layer, apply your top coat.

For this step I used two golds just to achieve my desired gold tone. Milani Nail Lacquer in Gold Lame & Pure Ice in Jaguar. 

2. Next I took a strip of tape, make sure to cut the little jagged end of the tape off, turn it on it's corner and place it on your nail to make a little triangle. Like so...

&& add your second chevron polish color & top coat for fast dry time. I used Wet n Wild Megalast in 2% Milk.

3. Repeat the step with the tape && add your last chevron polish color && top coat. This time I used two colors Sinful Colors Professional in Savage && N.Y.C. in a New York Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish in East Village. I did this mainly cause the Sinful Colors polish is a bad batch and comes off very streaky and matte, so I layered it with the N.Y.C.

And the finished product..

without flash

flash on

 Overall.. I surprised myself!! This will take some time.. and patience.. ((off which I have a short supply of LOL))!! But I had fun trying it out && I've gotten lots of compliments these past few days on these nails!! Definitely try it out && if you do send me a picture or link.. I'd love to see what you guys come up with!! :)

Here's my inspiration... nguerriero19's nail tutorial video...

Hope you guys enjoyed this post!! Until next time...

xxo

Makeup Essentials... Summertime Face

Whenever there is a season change, my makeup routine has to change with it!

Being an oily skin girl.. this is just inevitable!

So here is a peek at the summer products that I use for my face in my makeup routine!

Primer:

Black Radiance Complexion Perfection: Shine Control Primer

Foundation/ Tinted Moisturizer:

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 Sunscreen in Polynesia

Concealer:

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW40

The BR primer insures that I don't turn into a shiny greaseball as the summer heat abuses me! LOL! It really does its job! I stay basically matte all day && it doesn't irritate my skin at all! 

I opt for a tinted moisturizer during the summer because its a lot lighter than a foundation, but still gives me the light/medium coverage that I like! I actually tried the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer before I tried and purchased the NARS version && I found that the LM left me with a slimy feeling on my cheeks and forehead as the day went on GROSS!! However, the NARS version had staying power, didn't turn greasy as the day progressed and generally just fit my skin better! The SPF 30 is a major plus! Gotta protect our skin from that harsh summer sun! 

Finally the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer is a year round staple in my routine! Ahh! It's just perfect! The End! LOL!

Setting Powder:

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Deep Dark

This product works well in the summer to set and keep the tinted moisturizer in place. Also since the NARS TM in Polynesia is actually a bit too dark for me.. this skinfinish helps to slightly lighten and blend it well to match my skin tone!

Contour:

CoverGirl Queen Natural Hue Bronzer in Ebony Bronze

I absolutely love this contour color! It perfectly contours my cheekbones! My only issue... && it's a slight issue... is that its not matte! It has a small amount of gold shimmer to it! But that's not enough to make me stop using it! It blends nicely into my highlight, and speaking of....

Excuse the brokeness.. I have the worst butterfingers! SMH!

Highlight:

Mary Kay Mineral Bronzing Powder in Canyon Gold

This is my favorite highlighter and it lasts FOREVER!!! I've had this waayy longer than a responsible amount of time LOL! Shame I know! But it gives my skin the perfect bronzey summer glow! It has two stripes, the top one darker than the bottom stripe.. I just swirl them together and give myself a nice soft swipe at the highest points of my cheekbones!

And Wah Lah! That's how my summer glow is made! Hope you all enjoyed! What are some of your summer staples? Let me know how you acheive your summer glow! :)

xxo

Obessed.. STILL Inspired!!!

It's so odd how things come together! Today one of my best friends took a MAJOR dive into healthy natural hair... She BIG CHOPPED!!! And AAHH.. I love her hair! I mean it's on HER head && I'm totally loving it and inspired by it! I didn't know at the time that I'd be so moved by it.. but it has caused lots of thought into the idea of starting anew. Why haven't I big chopped yet? What am I afraid of.. What's stopping me? 

I'll admit that having long chemically straightened hair the majority of my life has caused some attachment issues. What's going to happen once my long hair is short? And the big "No No!" of all thoughts... What will my friends and family think? Will I still be as attractive? Oh Boy... sigh.

Anyway.. as I contemplate this and a prospective Big Chop date.. I ran across two videos that put a big happy smile on my face. Not only are they simply fueling my obsession with knowledge about my natural hair.. but they are also inspiring me in such an amazing way. The first is a video that I ran across on Facebook from the New York Times called "Transition."

Transition

The filmmaker Zina Saro-Wiwa presents an Op-Doc on black women’s decision to embrace their naturally kinky hair, rather than use chemical straighteners.

This second video is from a Youtuber I subscribe to, Destiny Godley. Her video is about how diverse the natural coloring of hair can be among people of color! The dark skin and strikingly BLONDE hair among the Solomon Islanders east of Papua New Guinea.. is just so AMAZING && sure to put a big smile on your face! All I can say about this is.. Wow! God is so awesome in his works! Enjoy!! :)

Those kids are so darn adorable!! I hope I've passed along a few smiles && some inspiration!!

Sound off in the comments below!

xxo

Sources: NYTimes && Destiny Godley

What I've Learned... This Month

So this is a new style of post that I wanted to share with you guys. As I'm growing in life.. I'm constantly learning new things about myself & this beautifully crazy, amazing life I've been blessed with. So what have I learned this month??

SIMPLICITY is KEY!! 

And just how have I applied this method of thinking to my life??

Mind:

There's somthing profoundly joyful about the simple task of painting my nails on a bummer emo kind of day! Girly things like this.. Always a mood changer! Also, Im a terrible procrastinator, however, if I simply set small goals for myself each day.. I get TONS done && the happy vibes flow!

Body:

Eating better makes me feel better!

Hair:

Less products & manipulation = Healthier Happier Hair

Skin:

I can make my skin immensely heathier if I simply wash my face 2xs a day! ( with oily skin it's a must) && STOP sleeping on my satin pillow case! (it breaks me out! Gross!) 

Spirit:

Simply praise.. Simply pray.. Simply smile at strangers... ALL good for my soul! :)

So ladies && gents.. How do you keep it simple in your own lives? What have you learned about yourself this month? Sound off in the comments below!

xxo

Solo Gurl.. I Love This!!!

So I've seen this image of Solange Knowles floating about the web && I'm loving everything about it! Solo's style has been majorly winning & such a fashion and hair inspiration to me lately! So ummm.. When.. Where.. && How can I achieve this GORGEOUS GLAM HAIR???!!

Who are some of you ladies hair idols? Show some hair love in the comments below!!

xxo

Transitioning Styles

Here's a look at some of the transition styles I've been rockin' the past few months (March to present)...

My lazy day/I'm in a rush style: 2 flat twists into a bun

Flexirod sets... I do these often!

And when flexirods go south LOL... a messy top pony will do!

My scarves are in heavy rotation!

2 weeks ago, I got my hair pressed & 2 inches cut off!

Now that press lasted all of 2 days! It was so hot.. my hair reverted!  -__-

I'm loving the fact that I got lots of new growth && there is such an apparent difference between my natural hair & my relaxed ends. My hair is feeling MUCH thicker and healthier despite my lack of a consistent regimen. && the fact that since the trim I am 2 inches closer on my journey to a head full of unprocessed healthy hair has me excited!! Whoop Whoop!! :)

BONUS Pic ^_^

After a wash recently I was so amped to see this cute little curl in the back that I had to snap a pic! Haha! Lame I know but OH WELL!! I was too hype!! LOL!!

I've yet to set a consistent regimen, as I'm still trying out products && I'm hair lazy! Any curlfriend's out there with any tips, product suggestions or transitioning advice??

xxo

BEY ONLINE!!

If you're a Beyonce fan like moi.. You will be uber pumped about her new site!

I for one.. LOVE the more personal tumblr portion of her site "I Am" ... it's filled with more photos and videos of Bey that give a closer look at who she really is!! Check out a few pics && links to the official site & the tumblr below!!

www.beyonce.tumblr.com

www.beyonce.com

xxo

FLOTUS... WEERRKK!!!

Just.. WOW!!!

[the end]

xxo

Blast from the past!

Box Braids!!!

Ugh.. I Love.. && I want.. Soon!!!

Peep the Inspo..

As Seen On : iLoveBoxBraids

xxo

Don't Call It A Comeback! ^.^

OMG my lovies... I'm baaackk!!!! Yaaay!!! It's been far far too long!! This is just a quick update post to get the ball back rolling && let you all know what I've been up to the past months + what's to come!!!

1. I WILL be updating the layout & look of this blog! ... I mean it 2012.. it's only right!

1.5. Did you notice... we have our own domain now!! Yaaay!!! LoveTwentyThree dot blogspot is now Withlovecrissa dot com!!! Yeee.. Movin On Up!! LOL!

2. Oh Yeeeaah!! I'm back transitioning again!! I'm so excited about this too! My last relaxer was January & I'm already in LOVE with my new growth!! I'm so antsy about growing it out.. && SOO OVER my relaxed ends.. I just want to cut them off already!! (Patience.. Patience! I know..) Anywho.. here's some photos:

I've mostly rocked curly styles.. via my curling wand! Jan 12 

The last time I let any direct heating tools touch my tresses was when I saw DRIZZY in concert!! So. Much. Fun! Feb.12

The Amaze-Balls braid out that I rocked for baby's birthday festivities!! Which has become my signature transitioning style! March 12

3. Other than that life has been GLOORIOUS (sings) LoL! Motherhood.. is becoming even more of an adventure as my kids are getting older lol! I promise I need a Kids Say && Do The Craziest Things recurring post HA! My health/fitness journey is still a journey lol! I've lost and gained and lost again.. sigh! But I have since incorporated running + P90x to the list of workouts.. Yessir!! RESULTS!! >_<

* Music.. Beauty.. Hair... Life... Love & Random posts will resume!! Yaaay!!! I missed you guys!! *

MUAHS!

xxo