Outfit Of The Night-#OOTD

After spending a few months lusting over wide-legged pants, I finally found the perfect pair (well, perfect for me anyways, as each person's preferred width is probably subjective), which I recently wore to a date night outing. I had initially ordered a white cape-blazer to wear with these pants, however, as I am yet to receive it, I ended up pairing it with this old crocheted blouse which I bought  eight years ago at a boutique in Trinidad- I must say I am pleasantly surprised at how well it has stood the test of time.

Pants:custom made, Top: Old (as in 8 years old, hehe), Multi-strand pearl necklace

Two Things

My Vanity

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry for my absence, I know that I've been away from the blog for a hot minute. Work has been super hectic these days, and to compound matters, I have been under the weather with the flu for about a week, believe me when I say the weekend can't come fast enough for me. How's everything with you guys? I hope that you are thriving. Whilst I do not wear ten pounds of makeup everyday, I am a huge fan of make up, and since the MAC store here in St. Lucia recently closed its doors (the closure hit me pretty hard) I have been pondering about where I shall now buy my make-up, I am guessing it will have to be online. So for today's post I am basically sharing a photo of come of my favourite pieces, as I mourn the closure of the Mac Store.

In other news, a few weeks ago, I travelled to the island of Trinidad (where I am originally from) and paid a visit to the Lopinot Complex, which used to be a cocoa plantation in the olden days.

Pictured in front of "The Great House" 

Red Carpet favourites from Cannes

Given the plethora of "nude looks" gracing red carpets recently ( Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez who wore the look at the recent Met Gala come to mind), I must admit that though the look is striking, I am ready to have my fashion taste-buds salivate over something else. I was therefore excited to see the classic silhouettes that remind me of the old hollywood glamour, gracing the Cannes red carpet recently. Please scroll down for a few of my favourite looks:

Naomi Watts wearing Giorgio Armani Privé Silk Multi-Layer Bustier Dress

Rooney Mara, wearing Alexander McQueen

Cate Blanchett wearing Giles

Cate Blanchett, wearing Giles (side view)

Doutzen Kroes wearing Dior

Petra Nemcova, wearing Zuhair Murad

Chanel Iman, wearing Donna Karan Atelier

 *Images used do not belong to me.

XO
Malika

Creme Caramel Recipe

 Creme Caramel 

Hi Loveys,

It's been a while since I've posted a recipe, mainly because cooking and taking pictures at the same time is hard work when its you alone. But this weekend I made a creme caramel for dessert, and garnished it with some wild berries, and took some photos to share with y'all. 

I adapted a recipe I found online (substituting evaporated milk for heavy cream, if you want the richness of heavy cream, where I  used 1 and a 1/2 cup of Evaporated Milk you can instead use 1 cup of heavy cream and 1/2 cup of whole milk, additionally you can adjust the amount of sugar to suit you). 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup of Evaporated Milk
½ Vanilla Bean, seeds scraped out with a sharp knife3Eggs
Pinch of salt
3 Tbsp of Granulated Sugar

For the Caramel:
½ cup of Granulated Sugar
3 Tbsp of Water

Vanilla Beans

Caramel

Ramekins

Creme Caramel after having been baked

Voila!Garnished Creme Caramel on our table

Method:

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Fill a tea kettle with water and let it come up to boil. Place 4 (6oz) ramekins in a large roasting dish with high sides and set aside, and spray them with non stick cooking spray.

2) In a small saucepan, add the evaporated milk, vanilla bean and a pinch of salt, cook over medium heat until it comes to a simmer then turn it off and let it sit while you work on the caramel.

3) In a saucepan, add the sugar and water, cook over medium high heat until the mixture turns a deep amber color. Be attentive at this stage, as you do not want the caramel to burn.

4) Divide the caramel between the 4 ramekins and immediately tilt the ramekins to make sure the whole bottom surface is covered in the caramel.

5) In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and egg yolk with the 3 tbsp of sugar until they are well mixed. Pour the warm milk mixture into the egg mixture and whisk well to combine. Remove the vanilla bean and divide the mixture between the ramekins.

6) Pour some hot water in your roasting pan up to about half way up the ramekins, bake them for about 35 to 40 minutes or until set.

7) Remove from the water bath and let them chill for a couple hours in the fridge or up to overnight. 

To serve, run a small paring knife around the edges and tilt upside down on a plate.

Thanks sooo much for stopping by.

XO,
Malika

Get the Look for Less

A few days ago I came across this image of a long waistcoat from Narcisco Rodriguez. The ensemble got me thinking about long waistcoats and of all the things one could do with high-waist wide legged trousers, wide-legged trousers are so versatile that they are now a definite must. Today's post focuses on where you can get the look for less.   

Side-note: I recently learned about a diabetes study being done by a group of researchers, given the importance of awareness, I invite you to visit and like their page here since health is one of the most valuable things we  can have.

Narcisco Rodriguez, Fall 2015

Narcisco Rodriguez, Fall 2015

DKNYC Long Crepe Vest

$150 nordstrom.com

Long Waistcoat, $129 USD zara.com

Nomia Washed Linen Long Slit Vest

$598 forwardforward.com

Shawl-Collar Long Vest

$41  yesstyle.com

XO, 

Malika

How to Create a Sexy High Bun

Zendaya

Zendaya was recently spotted leaving a New York city studio wearing plaid and rocking a  chic looking high bun, which got us thinking of  all the other stars who've been spotted wearing the style, and just how quick and easy this look is to re-create.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Steps to create a sexy high bun:

• Start off by combing out your hair, adding hair product (e.g. hair oil, hair moisturizer) for smooth and moisturized tresses;
• Carefully smooth your hair with a brush, add smoothing serum or hair gel to your hair and pull your hair into a high ponytail, securing it between the hairline and crown;
• After you have secured the hair into a ponytail, twist and wrap the hair/ponytail upward and around the elastic band for a fuller looking bun;
• Tip: If you're hair isn't very thick, and you want a thicker bun, you can either clip in a hair weft (i.e. an extension) under a layer of your hair before securing the ponytail, or if you do not want to use an extension then, after you have secured your own natural hair in a ponytail, you can  wrap a clean sock around the elastic band (as you wrap the sock around the elastic band, have the sock mimic a donut, as the shape of the sock will determine the shape of your bun since your hair will be covering the sock, additionally, you can use one sock or two according to how big/full you want your bun), then wrap and coil your hair (the ponytail) around the sock, covering the sock completely with your own hair;
• Once you have wrapped your bun, secure it with hairpins;
• To smooth flyaways and add shine, apply some hair serum to your  hair brush or  your hands, and pass it over your top knot and hair. If your hair is curly, you may want to consider applying some alcohol-free hair gel first to smooth it, before applying the hair serum for shine.

La La Anthony

Reese Witherspoon

XO
Malika

denim on denim trend

The denim on denim trend can hardly be described as a new one, since it's been around for some time, but since coming across some recent images on instagram of celebs wearing- and rocking- the denim on denim trend, today's post features their looks as well as links to wear you can shop the skirt- to create your own denim on denim look.

Rihanna in 2013, she was one of the first celebs to wear the trend

Kylie Jenner, March 2015

Kim Kardashian 2014, Beyonce 2014

Jelena Karleusa, Mar 2015

Shop the look here:

Available at Lillyskloset $48 USD

Available on NastyGal $88 USD

Available on RevolveClothing $128 USD

Thanks for stopping by.

Xo,
Malika

What I'm Currently Using: Hair products April 7 2015

For those who know me-they know that I give my hair a lot of tlc: tender loving care, and whilst in truth and in fact I have been the person with the absolute worst hair care regimen in years gone by (I have the pictures of unhealthy hair to prove this), these days I am focused on taking better care of my hair with a special view to regaining definition in my curls. Today, I'm sharing with you what I am currently using, key word being "currently" since I am always changing my products.

1. Dr. Miracles Deep Conditioning Treatment: I recently purchased this inexpensive hair treatment  at the RJ Clarke pharmacy a few weeks ago to treat my hair. It's not my first choice since it contains mineral oil which I am trying to avoid,  but I've tried it before and was pleased with the results, so I'm prepared to use it once again until I find a hair treatment that doesn't contain mineral oil.

2. Elasta QP Olive Oil Mango Butter Growth Oil:I absolutely love this product. I first purchased this in 2013 and have been hooked ever since. It is great for adding moisture to one's hair- and getting dry hair to the point where it holds moisture, when I used other products, my hair would be moist for the first hour or so, but by the time midday came around, my hair would become dry again- as if I hadn't used anything. With this product (in combination with pure coconut oil and the other things I use) my hair retains moisture much better. It has also helped contribute to hair growth in the most beautiful way and it's given life to my curls.

3. Elasta QP Olive Oil Mango Butter Growth Moisturizer: I purchased this moisturizer in January this year at Wings of Love here in Saint Lucia because I loved using Elasta Qp's Mango Butter Oil, and because it doesn't contain alcohol which dries one's hair, or mineral oil, which is not good for you. I use a lot of oil in my hair (mango butter oil, coconut oil etc) and when I am finished applying oil, I like to use a creamy moisturizer to "lock in" moisture- no idea if that's an actual thing, but its what I do- and it's been working for me thus far, as my hair has become softer, shinier, and more manageable. Still room for improvement in my hair- I can't stress that enough- but I am happy with the improvement made thus far.

 4. Coconut Oil: From the looks of how little coconut oil I have left I guess you can say "the struggle is real" hahaha, I plan on going to the farmer's market  at the Rodney Bay Marina on Saturday to buy another bottle- there's a lady there who sells the above pictured bottle of pure coconut oil for $10 XCD (or approx $4 USD). I'm a huge fan of coconut oil, for more on the benefits of coconut oil, read my post here suffice to say, I use coconut oil almost everyday on my hair, especially at the roots and ends, and it's helped to hydrate my hair, and boosted hair growth. As an added benefit its 100% natural- no chemicals whatsoever, and at $10XCD for a bottle that lasts me about two months it's a total steal for me.

5. Pure Shea Butter: I recently received this block of pure Shea Butter from my sister-in-law who is a real sweetheart, I hope to whip it this week- perhaps adding some olive oil etc- to it, making my own whipped shea butter moisturizer for my hair.

Thanks for stopping by loveys, wishing you a fantastic week. 
XO,
Malika

#GirlBoss Review

Hey Lovely People,

After seeing the words #GirlBoss emblazoned across social media since May 2014, I finally got my own copy of Sophia Amoruso's book, and I was so happy that I was able to  read it at last, if you would like to obtain a copy, the book can be purchased here.

For those of who who may not be familiar with Ms. Amoruso, by way of introduction, she is the founder and CEO of the online retail clothing store called NastyGal. She initially launched NastyGal at the age of 22 (in 2006) as an eBay vintage store, and grew the business to the current incarnation as an online retailer of new and vintage clothing and accessories. She grew her business into a $150 million company without borrowing funds- or receiving a large injection of cash from her parents. I kid you not. I was inspired and motivated to learn that she basically became aware that you could sell vintage clothing on eBay after receiving myspace requests from existing vintage eBay sellers, and decided she could do that too. It helped her greatly that she has an appreciation of fashion and styling, and some knowledge of photography-  she was also passionate and invested in creating a good product and doing an excellent job. She didn't have a lot of money to start the store, and has stated in her book that the first thing she sold online was stolen (yes, she admits she used to steal stuff, she also stated she wasn't proud she had done so, and had realized she needed to stop and change course), she bought vintage items at low prices, fixed them up nicely, placed the items on models- or rather styled models in the items- and sold them at a significantly higher price (imagine paying $10 for an item and selling it on eBay for $1000- once the customer is pleased, sounds like good business to me). She states in the book that she kept working hard at what she was doing, and saving her money, and growing her business to the current model.

As I read her story, and learnt that she never attended college, dropped out of community college, shoplifted, changed low paying jobs multiple times, and had poor credit, I started to believe that anyone build the life they want for themselves once they are driven to do so.

Here are a few excerpts from #GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso that resonated with me:

• "You will never regret trying to fulfill your dream"
• "Money looks better in the bank than on your feet"
• "Sell things for more than you pay for them, and save more than you spend."
• "We control our thoughts and our thoughts control our lives"
• "The energy you'll expend focusing on someone else's life is better spent working on your own. Just be your own role model."

Once you have the desire to do something, the idea to create something, and the ability to work hard to achieve it- you can achieve it, so I urge you to take that chance today to make your dreams come true, start asking yourself what you can create, so go to your dreams.

XO,

Malika

Chocolate Lip Scrub

Many of us are familiar with the benefits of exfoliation of the face and body- but are we familiar with the benefits of lip exfoliation?

 Just as we scrub the dead layers off our skin to maintain smooth and young-looking skin we also need to scrub or exfoliate our lips in order to make them smooth. Additionally, exfoliation of the lips has the added benefit of preventing cracked and dry lips.

Whilst I'm sure there are many lip scrubs being sold on the beauty market, since I've turned into a beauty product DIYer in a bid to get away from the harmful chemicals that are contained in a lot of beauty products, instead of recommending brands for you to buy,  I'm instead sharing a DIY recipe that I found  on how to make chocolate lip scrub. See recipe below.

Chocolate Lip Scrub

YIELDS: 2 ounces

1 tablespoon coconut oil

¹⁄₂ teaspoon raw honey

¹⁄₂ teaspoon raw cocoa powder

¹⁄₄ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons fine granulated sugar

1 tablespoon grated chocolate

What you will need: measuring spoons, shallow mixing bowl, glass measuring cup, grater, fork, 2-ounce jar with lid

1. To Make: Create a mini double boiler by pouring boiling water in the bottom of a shallow bowl. Put the coconut oil into a glass measuring cup. Place the measuring cup into the bowl of hot water to melt and stir it a little to help it along. Once the oil is melted, remove the measuring cup from the hot water and wipe dry. Add the honey, cocoa powder, and vanilla and stir the ingredients together with a fork. Add the sugar and mix well. Grate the chocolate and stir it in.
2. To Store: To preserve the freshness of this natural scrub, do not get water into the jar. Label and store this scrub in a sealed jar in a cool dark place, out of direct sunlight, for up to a year.
3. To Use: Apply to your lips in small, circular motions. Massage with a light touch and rinse well. Use 1–2 times per week. Note: Do not use on severely chapped lips, split lips, or open wounds.

 Enjoy and remember beauty is more than just the outward.

XO,

Malika