Author: Mstldelano

Digital curator, art enthusiast, creator of daily luxurious experiences.
beauty

Review: Yours True Lovely Waist Beads

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Full disclosure: I’m fascinated with anything that connects me to my feminine energy. I’m so into it, I regularly cross the lines of “woo-woo”. Yes, I get a bit geeky about it.

Crystals, aromatherapy, belly dancing, multi-step beauty routines – you name it. All of it is done for the sake of fortifying my feminine energy, because I find that this world tends to deplete that energy constantly.

As part of my continual journey into the wide world of femininity, I researched waist beads. A common accessory in many African countries, waist beads are worn under the clothes to help shape the body, help women stay in touch with their femininity, and even to seduce lovers (I found all of this info here).

Uhm, I want body shaping, contact with my femininity and the magical powers of seduction. So I bought some beads.

I ordered from Yours TrueLovely on Instagram. The owner of this handcrafted jewelry company is Alexis. I didn’t find her store randomly; I actually met Alexis a little less than 30 years ago – our moms used to work together and were pregnant with us at the same time LOL! Coincidentally (or maybe not so coincidentally) she began offering waist beads right around the time that I started researching them. So I placed my order and waited patiently.

She produces such high quality pieces, and the beads were ready in no time. Here are some photos of the finished product:

 

My waist bead is pale pink and gold. I ordered it a little larger than my natural waist size, because I misread the measuring tape (it’s been a while since I measured myself). When I order my next waist chain, I’ll make sure it’s smaller, so I can wear it under my clothes and it will have a snug fit on my natural waist. Here’s a closeup of the jewelry:

IMG_2179

If you want to tap into your feminine essence, I highly recommend that you contact Alexis for your own customized waist beads. You’ll love it!

culture · words of wisdom

Words of Wisdom: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Mstldelano1 Comment

I mentioned earlier this week that I’ve been experiencing some not-so-happy times. At this point, I’m thinking it’s just a little bluesy period that will pass, but even when I anticipate a short period of discomfort and sadness, I like to turn to role models who can encourage me. So this week, I want to shine the spotlight on Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis,, who experienced more heartbreak than I can fathom, but also curated a beautiful life and incredibly touching legacy.

99199179de2dab2298487331e18b1b38

Who more perfectly embodies courage and composure than Mrs. Kennedy Onassis? Twice widowed, an unconventional beauty, and a brainy woman during a time where women were rewarded for merely being pretty arm candy, Jackie had her share of difficulty. However, throughout it all she remained elegant, cool and focused on creating JOY at every step of her journey.

652483979a40a308a4888f44098efced

I find it inspirational that she never just “faded away”: from debutante to First Lady, to perfect business wife to editor extraordinaire, everything she did was done with excellence. I love that she found her strength through her pain and left her mark on history.

540fe67e86fdd_-_jackie-o_vert_children-lg

Private, poignant, and focused, Jackie is the kind of woman that we can all aspire to be, during good times and bad. I love how she focused on what really mattered and let the rest fade into the background.

540fe67eed83e_-_jackie-o_vert_politeness-lg

She came, she saw, she WON.

540fe67f417d1_-_jackie-o_woman-lg

(Photos courtesy of Pinterest and Town and Country Magazine)

life curation

Preparing for 2018: Prioritize Fun

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Oh, you thought that the Preparing for 2018 series was done? Not hardly, mes amis!

Despite all of the more “serious” posts in the Preparing for 2018, I want it to be clear that preparing for the upcoming year is FUN! You should be enjoying this process. If you aren’t having fun, then it’s time to prioritize fun and indulge in it regularly. The best way to get what you want – in an enjoyable manner – is to approach it all with a sense of fun and hopefulness.

I mean, you could work hard, hate making certain moves, and eventually get to the end goal that you desire. Lots of people trudge their way to their goals, and embracing extraordinary difficulties is often praised in our culture (so much so, I’ve seen people go out of their way to make things harder for themselves!).  I’ve seen the notion that the only way to have an “authentic” journey, worthy of a grand goal at the finish line, is to experience many pains and hardships, along with zero happiness as you make those critical moves.

you-cannot-have-a-happy-ending-to-a-miserable-journey-quote-1

But how much nicer is it when you punctuate your journey with joy, levity and adventure? Every day may not be a party, but we’re shooting for, at minimum, periodically pleasant. Having some fun can often give you the push you need to keep going forward with your plans.

And if your plans are constantly depressing, draining, or drudgery, it’s time for new dreams. Seriously. Sometimes what we want has changed and we don’t even know it. Or, we’ve invested so much to get to this point that we’re afraid that we’ll lose everything if we switch gears.

Only you can answer whether your investment (of time, energy, finances or other resources) is worth continued misery. For some, a short period of misery may be worth it. But sometimes, it’s better to scrap the entire plan and start over.

In any case, start prioritizing fun. Remember to do things that make you laugh, warm your heart, or give you a sense of satisfaction.

And do it TODAY. Tomorrow is promised to no one.

 

beauty

Review: Life of a Bombshell Brush Set

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Tuesday, beloveds! I’ve got another beauty review for you all.

I bought these rose gold makeup brushes back when I did my big beauty haul in August. These came from Life of a Bombshell, the company responsible for my Bronze Bombshell palette (I’ll be reviewing that soon!). My order arrived quickly and I was absolutely blown away by the beauty of the products I received.

IMG_1662

I selected these brushes because I love anything in rose gold. The set has ten brushes and, while I didn’t get a guide naming the function for each brush, I’m comfortable outlining the brush types based on my own experiences with certain brush shapes and sizes. Here’s what I *think* these brushes are for (from left to right):

  • Large powder brush
  • Concealer brush
  • Blending brush
  • Angled liner brush
  • Contour brush
  • Eyeliner brush
  • Crease brush
  • Highlighter brush
  • Flat eyeshadow brush
  • Blush brush

Closeup of the blush brush

 

But, being “pretty” doesn’t matter if the brushes don’t perform well. The real test is how well the brushes work when using them to apply makeup.

So, how did these brushes work?

I was VERY impressed with how well these brushes worked! These picked up product and applied with ease. The brushes are soft and the bristles are tightly packed, allowing for an even application. The bristles didn’t shed during product application and they didn’t absorb too much of my liquid products (a bit of a problem when using sponges and other absorbent tools).

These brushes also cleaned easily. I used baby shampoo and hand soap for cleansing. Even when the brushes were brown, black and pink from my foundation, eyeshadow and blush, I easily got the bristles back to white and pink again.

The set was $19, and I feel it was well worth the price! I plan to get another set as backup brushes. If you’re so inclined, check them out!

 

life curation

Keep In Mind

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Monday, friends! I hope today is the beginning of a wonderful and prosperous week for you all!

After having a tough couple of weeks, I came across a photo that I took after eating a fortune cookie. Sometimes, inspiration comes from the most random places . . .

IMG_1435

Full disclosure: I’m generally always working on two or three goals at a time. My bucket list is extensive, so I only do “hyper-focusing” when it’s a big deal. Constantly working on some goal or dream can take its toll: you can feel burnt out and exhausted. It takes a lot of energy to go for what you want out of life.

So, I decided to put them all of my dreams on hold for a while as I explored other options. Sometimes,  putting your attention elsewhere gives you some time to rest and restore before you handle the next leg of your journey. I was hoping that the other options led me to the place and circumstance that was meant for me.

Sadly, it didn’t work out that way.

I felt like I’d wasted my time and energy. I felt kind of low and drained, and not particularly motivated. Worst, I felt frustrated, because I hadn’t made any noticeable progress.

Then I came across this photo. And I remembered who I am, what I’m doing, and that there’s no such thing as wasted time.

That’s worth repeating, so let me say it again: There’s NO SUCH THING as wasted time. There are wins and there are lessons, nothing more. So I may not have had any wins, but I certainly got some lessons.

Now, it’s time to make peace with those lessons, move past my fear of failure, and take my next big step.

The lessons have prepared me. I’m ready.

 

music

Currently Listening to . . .

MstldelanoLeave a comment

I’ve really been into Dua Lipa and her sound. “New Rules” played so much during my last road trip that I decided to check her out and see what other music she’s created. Her music puts me in mind of the many vintage inspired artists from both the US and England (Meghan Trainor, Adele, Amy Winehouse, etc.,). I’m really fond of when she sings in a lower register and channels a really soulful sound.

When I watched the videos, I found another reason to adore Dua: the visuals are striking and innovative without being cheesy.

Here are two of my Dua faves: “New Rules” and  “Blow Your Mind”. Enjoy!

 

style

Tracee Ellis Ross’s New Clothing Line

MstldelanoLeave a comment

During one of my marathon chat sessions with a friend, I found out that one of my favorite actresses, Tracee Ellis Ross, is coming out out with her first fashion line. Tracee has been one of my favorite actresses for many years: I love her sweet, silly but fiercely loyal personality. She seems just as delightful offscreen as she does in front of the camera. That kind of genuine demeanor quickly endeared her to me.

tracee-ellis-ross-jcpenney-glow-tee-dress-gold

She is collaborating with JCPenney to offer some limited edition statement piece that are bold, unique, and distinctly Tracee. Funny enough, I like the pieces but I’m still undecided about whether I will purchase any of them. I love how Tracee is styled for the red carpet and her day-to-day life, but I’m not sure how I feel about the pieces in her line. Each item looks well-suited for her taste, but not like the fashions I usually gravitate toward.

But then again, who knows? Maybe the pieces are the kind that “come alive” when you actually put them on your body. The Glorious dress (see the photo below) is my most likely purchase, especially if it looks good on my body. I do like the colors and pattern, so I may give it a try.

tracee-ellis-ross-jcpenney-glorious-dress-jihan

 

The pieces will be available starting November 12, so check them out and see if there’s anything that interests you. If you like Tracee’s quirky but cute style, you may find your next favorite signature piece within her line.

food · travel

Review: Thai Orchid Restaurant

MstldelanoLeave a comment

As I mentioned a few days ago, I got to do a mini-getaway to Orangeburg, South Carolina. I was curious about the local restaurants, so I hopped on Google and started looking around. I came across what seemed to be a good Japanese style restaurant, only to arrive at the location and see that the menu and ambiance were lacking.

My next choice was Thai Orchid (1155 Saint Matthews Road), located a little under a mile away from the underwhelming Japanese spot. I was surprised at the unassuming exterior of the building: the restaurant was a converted fast food place, complete with the remnants of a drive thru window. However, this restaurant is a case study in why it’s good to not judge a book by its cover.

The restaurant was full of ornately-carved artwork, chairs and tables. The tables were carefully set with sumptuous tablecloths and covered chairs.

 

IMG_2057

The entire restaurant was really a feast for the eyes. But what good is a restaurant if you don’t try the food? I ordered tom yum soup with shrimp and pad kapraw with shrimp.

IMG_2063

My bowl of tom yum soup

 

The soup was tasty, though a bit salty. I would have loved if it had more lemongrass flavor, too, but aside from the saltiness, it was still very good. The other flavors worked really well together, and it was a solid dish for starting my meal.

IMG_2064

Pad kapraw with shrimp

The pad kapraw was also delicious. I only wish that it didn’t have quite so many onions: I loved the flavor but the onions were a bit out of control! Everything was perfectly cooked and positively delectable. The portion sizes were generous and I felt satisfied with my meal.

I also tried the donuts and mango with sticky rice. I regret that I didn’t photograph those, but I did enjoy them!

The service was great, the food was good, and they even had live music for your listening pleasure! I had a great time at this local treasure, and I hope that the city’s residents will continue to support this business. I highly recommend that you try Thai Orchid when you’re visiting Orangeburg!