Shop My Instagram

Friday, June 30, 2017

The Natural and Yummy Way to Healthy Skin


  If you want healthy, glowing skin, exfoliation, about twice a week, is a must! As our skin ages (and p.s if you're like me and tan in the sun then we're only accelerating that process), the process of cell regeneration slows down. Which is basically our body naturally shedding dead skin. If we don't exfoliate, then dead skin piles up on the surface of our skin making it look dull and dry. And basically, without exfoliation, all these amazing and expensive moisturizing and anti aging skin products we're all obsessed with these days is doing no good whatsoever because we're putting it on dead skin cells so we can't absorb it. If we exfoliate first and slough off that dead layer, we're putting it where it needs to be, which is the fresh and generating skin cells, allowing it to penetrate deep into our skin.
     All that being said, I want to share with y'all my new favorite way to exfoliate my body (we can talk about face exfoliation later if y'all want). With all the sun and salt we are getting in the summertime, exfoliation is super important for soft and glowing skin. Who doesn't want that?! I'm not kidding when I say I can look at my skin and know when I've been lacking on exfoliation because it looks so dull and just plain ugly! And what we do for our skin now we will be thanking ourselves when we're older! Trust me, ask your moms.
     This coffee scrub is the NATURAL way to exfoliate. Unlike the list of ingredients of things you can't pronounce in an exfoliator on the shelf, this scrub has three simple ingredients without all those added chemicals and toxins that our skin absorbs directly into our bloodstream. Yuck! And it literally didn't even take me five minutes to make. When I was in the Bahamas, I went to an all natural skin care store and the lady that owned the shop had the most beautiful, young, and glowing skin I have ever seen! She was like 60 and had wayy better skin than me with hardly any wrinkles! I asked her what her secret was and she said "honey, everything I have ever put on my skin is all natural. All these chemicals in skin care products is doing more harm than you think. Your skin is simple and it just needs simple and natural things to stay healthy." The conversation I had with her was such an eye opener and has made me pay so much more attention to what I put on my skin!
     In addition to the exfoliating properties of coffee that is in this scrub I also want to share with y'all the benefits of putting coffee on your skin. (And from drinking it, ohh yeahh)

  • It's a rich source of antioxidants, which bolsters our body's natural defenses against the free radicals in he environment that wreak havoc on our skin. 
  • Protects against skin cancer!! 
  • Makes skin smooth and bright 
  • Minimizes the appearance of CELLULITE by drawing fluid from fat cells and dehydrating them. Heck yes! 
  • Protects skin against aging 

     Brown sugar is a gentle exfoliator (because exfoliators that are too coarse can actually irritate your skin) and coconut oil penetrates your newly exfoliated skin with a surge of intense moisture.
Here's how:
1 cup of coffee grounds (I used leftover coffee that I didn't use)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup of organic, unrefined coconut oil - I found a jar at tj maxx for $5
Some people will say to melt the oil so you can mix it, but I just mixed it with my hands and the warmth from my hand has it all mixed up perfectly in seconds.
WARNING: It smells so good you will want to eat it. Hence Laylo's interest in it LOL
Wet your skin and rub the scrub in a circular motion all over your body, focusing especially on areas of cellulite and extra dry skin. If you're patient enough, let it sit on your skin for a few minutes to give the coffee some extra time to work its magic. Then rinse it off with water. I like to wash my skin first instead of after because the coconut oil is left on your skin and makes it soooo soft and shiny but not that greasy feel you get when you put coconut oil directly on by itself. Your skin will eventually absorb the oil, leaving you super moisturized.
P.S. be careful not to slip in the shower/tub on the oil!
You can also use this on your face if you would like since it's a gentle recipe, but my face is super acne prone so I try to avoid a lot of oils.
     Y'all try this out and let me know what you think! I'm super excited about using it this weekend at the beach for smooth, soft, healthy, glowing, tan skin just in time for the 4th! What are y'alls plans for the 4th?!
xoxo,
mDk



Tuesday, June 20, 2017

The Cutest and Cheapest Summer Dress


















          Hey Y'all! I hope everyone's summer is off to a great start! My life update is that I graduated UNC Nursing School, passed the nursing boards (the worst three weeks ever of endless studying!), and am waiting for my start date on July 10th at Duke University Hospital's Pediatric ICU! Until then, as y'all can tell from these photos, it's tanning and exercising to make up for the lack thereof during those long weeks of studying!
          I am so excited to share this dress with y'all! I have come to really enjoy shopping with Shein. Not everything is perfect and not everything fits me #biggirl, but the past few times I have ordered from them I have been super happy with my purchase! (See one of my other favorite summer dresses on my last post). This dress looks so stylish and expensive, but is only $20!!! (17 if you give them your email address!)  I am SO impressed with the quality and am loving these colors. I ordered a large and it's a little short but I think the sizing is perfect. I love finding quality and cute dresses for so cheap because I tend to only wear things 1-3 times so I don't like spending a fortune on clothes. I will be wearing this dress out and about with these wedges for a more sassy look and to church and orientation with flats for a more professional look.
         They are also having an independence day promotion where you get $5 off $55, 15 off 105, and 40 off 200. Some of their pieces I am currently eyeing right now include this perfect and sassy white top for $13 because white tops are a summer necessity since they go with everything, this top for $16 that is perfect for July 4th, and this top is so stinking cute and only $9! Also, if you don't have the pink and green palm dress that literally every blogger has this summer, Shein has it for only $14. And I am obsessing over this $13 pink and white off the shoulder dress and really need this palm leaf top in my life. I seriously could spend hours on this site, y'all. So much fun! A lot of people have asked how long it takes for things to get shipped (P.S they have free shipping) and I would say it takes about a week and a half.
Thanks for visiting! 
xoxo,
mDk


Friday, April 21, 2017

The Perfect Off the Shoulder Dress














          Spring has finally sprung in North Carolina. In fact, it felt like the middle of July in Chapel Hill today! I have found the most PERFECT spring and summer off the shoulder dress for every occasion. And for only TWELVE DOLLARS!! Like, don't walk, run to this link to snag one. Or four... There's white, navy, army green, red, and seersucker. The other colors are only $19. I wore this to church on a spring day (okay, I wore it to church twice...) because unlike a lot of dresses that have cheaper prices, it's not hoochie mama short but is so cute and trendy! It's classy but cute and fun (and comfortable) enough to wear out and to all your spring time events (y'all know you got weddings and graduations to go to!). It can be easily dressed up for a fancier event like a wedding or dressed down for a more casual look with sandals. I love this so much I am about to buy it in army green!! With pink earrings? Oh girl! I sometimes worry about the quality of clothes when they are so cheaply priced, but this is honestly such an amazing find. I am wearing a large, but it is a little big on me so I could have definitely worn a medium. 
          If you're like me and are on the off the shoulder dress train (but also on a budget) here are a few others that i'm eyeing! 1 2 3 5

        DRESS NECKLACE
xoxo,
MDK

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Oversized Sweaters and Pom Pom Sneaks











Another one of my favorite go to outfits this season is going to be jeans or leggings with an oversized sweater and these pom pom sneakers that are SO hot right now! This is an outfit that is great for going to class in because it's comfortable and not a pain in the butt to walk to class in but is so cute and says "Hey, I tried today!" I am obsessed with how cute and fun these shoes are! Also this sweater is the bomb because it's so big it covers my bottom and makes me feel a wee bit smaller :) I'm wearing a large and probably should have ordered a Medium because the arms are a little long and bulky on the large. I just noticed that this sweater is now sold out, which makes me sad because I was just about to buy it in Carolina Blue! This one is very similar!! These earrings are also my all time favorite pair of earrings. I love wearing them with casual outfits like this to dress it up a little and add a pop of color.
This picture was taken before the snowpocalypse. Snow days mean admiring its beauty from the inside in my pjs with no makeup for me... How is everyone else enjoying the snow?!
xoxo,
mDk

Monday, January 2, 2017

Finally, A Pair of OTK Boots That Fit!

BOOTS HERE! (limited sizes and color on the link below...)

I am so so excited to share this pair of boots with y'all! I have searched and searched and have had such a hard time finding an OTK boot that will fit this big leg! Well, if your legs are any larger than a toothpick and can't fit into most OTK boots, these will DEFINITELY work! And even better, they have a tie and tassel on the back. But the best part is that they are on SUPER SALE. Leggings, a sweater, and boots is currently my favorite outfit and are so easy to throw on. These leggings are my absolute favorite because they look just like black pants because they have pockets, belt loops, and buttons, but they are actually leggings. They are thicker and less athletic looking that yoga pants. I call them my fancy leggings :) I tried the double strand necklace trend in this outfit but i'm not so sure it's for me... What do y'all think about this trend? I got my sweater from tj maxx not too long ago so you might be able to still find it, but HERE is a sweater that is exactly like it in a different color for under $50. Pair it with leggings or jeans with tall boots or booties and a statement necklace! Thanks for reading, mDk
 
BLOG TEMPLATE BY DESIGNER BLOGS