4 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

In the cold winter, nothing is quite as satisfying as a cup of hot coffee. Especially when you’re like me and you’re already tired of the 30 degree mornings and can’t wait for spring – or better yet – summer.

So to get you through the final stretch of winter, here are 4 ways to beat the winter blues:

  1. Work on a Do-it-Yourself project with friends! Make a dry-erase calendar from paint samples, revamp your old bulletin board, or spend some time on Pinterest for more ideas.
  2. Enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea paired with a good read. Whether it’s a magazine or a new book, there’s nothing more relaxing than sipping on a warm drink while falling into the pages of a book. Check Amazon for some great reads at a great price.
  3. Bake your heart out. What’s more fun than baking and then getting to enjoy the delicious result of your baking skills after? Need some ideas? My personal favorites are crepes filled with nutella and fruit, dark chocolate brownies topped with ice cream, and these blackberry pie bars.
  4. Be bright. Just because it’s cold and dreary outside doesn’t mean you have to dress like it is! Wearing bright colors will instantly brighten you up in the winter and make you feel a little bit happier. Try bright-colored nail polish, a pop of color in your shoes, or a fun top.

 

All the above will surely make your winter go by a little bit quicker.

Have some more tips? Leave them in the comments below! 

2018-02-16T20:32:18-08:00January 18th, 2013|Categories: Lifestyle|Tags: , |0 Comments

Beauty Review: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

For beautiful, chapped-free lips, lip balm (and a lip scrub) is a necessity. But with countless lip balm brands out there, from Chapstick to Nivea to Burt’s Bees, it can be difficult to find a lip balm that’s great for you. Luckily, I’ve found a lip balm that I’ve fallen in love with, and I know you will too!

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment is the perfect lip balm.

fresh sugar

I received this as a birthday gift from Sephora (if you don’t know about the birthday gift and love Sephora, sign up to be a Beauty Insider — it’s free and once you accumulate points, you can begin receiving Beauty Insider gifts and a special gift on your birthday!) a few months ago. In the package were two mini Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments: the original – Sugar, and another in Rosé.

Sugar is a clear, not tinted, lip balm while Rosé is tinted a beautiful strawberry red. It has SPF 15 and is made of real ingredients: sugar (prevents moisture loss); a blend of moisturizing oils: meadowfoam seed, black currant, seed avocado, and jojoba; grapeseed polyphenols  (protect, smooth, soften); and Avobenzene and Octinoxate (SPF UVA/UVB sun protection).

fresh sugar lip treatment

The lip balms have an extremely light scent citrusy scent and glide on super smoothly. Rosé adds beautiful, light color to your lips. However, the color doesn’t last very long and is extremely sheer so if you’re looking for a hint of color on your lips, this is perfect. If not, it’s better to wear the fresh Sugar lip treatment (pictured on the left – clear in brown case) and use your favorite lipstick over.

I love, love, love this product and definitely suggest you try it.

You can find the full-size of this product at Sephora for $22.

2019-01-10T09:12:08-08:00January 9th, 2013|Categories: Lifestyle|Tags: , , |0 Comments

4 Winter Skin Saving Tips

With the crisp cool air outside and the heat blasting inside, skin gets tight and dry – meaning it’s calling for some TLC, more than it needs in the warmer months. To keep your skin looking radiant this winter, follow these four simple tips:

1. Stay Away From Hot Water. Though you may want to turn up the heat in your shower and bask in the warmth after a long day, try not to. Hot water dehydrates the skin so it’s best to stick with warm water when taking a shower, bath, or when washing your face and hands. However, if you really can’t leave your hot showers, try to limit the time spent in the shower.

2. It’s Still Sunny in the Winter. It may seem like a summer-only product, but sunscreen of at least SPF 30 is important year round.

Apply it every day to protect your skin from the sun’s harsh rays. Try Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock (This is my absolute favorite sunscreen. It’s not oily, doesn’t make your skin break out and has UVA/UVB protection).

3. Exfoliate. Use a light exfoliator twice or three times a week in the winter to slough off dead, dry skin.

Exfoliating helps moisturizer do its job well. For a budget-friendly exfoliator that does its job, try St. Ive’s Fresh Apricot Scrub.

To exfoliate your lips without spending money on a lip scrub, you can simply brush your toothbrush softly over your lips, as if you were brushing your teeth. Do this once a week and your lips will be super smooth!

4. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize! According to KeSARI Beauty Creative Director Richa Purohit, you should look for “oil-based moisturizers with vitamins C and E.” These types of moisturizers will lock in moisture better than water-based moisturizers.

If you have problem skin and are worried about oil-based moisturizers clogging your pores, opt for a lighter lotion. Make sure to moisturize right as you get out of the shower so that you lock in moisture.

Don’t forget to moisturize your lips with a great lip balm! Try Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 or Bliss Triple Oxygen +C Energizing Cream. As for a lip balm, I’m currently loving Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm because it’s all natural, has vitamin E and peppermint, and is really soothing my lips.

Have a wonderful winter!
xo, Leila

 

2018-02-16T20:32:34-08:00January 8th, 2013|Categories: Lifestyle|Tags: , , |0 Comments

And Here’s To Another Year

2012 was a wonderful year but it’s time to begin a new one and start fresh!

This year was only the beginning of chicisms so I hope to see you in 2013 where there will be more blog, fashion, and style posts on chicisms! Thank you all for the love!

I hope you all have a very happy new year!

2018-02-16T20:32:46-08:00December 31st, 2012|Categories: Lifestyle|Tags: |0 Comments

The Best Last Minute Gifts for Everyone On Your List

You’ve made your list, you’ve checked it twice, but have you crossed anything off of it yet? With a few days left before Christmas, it’s time to get those gifts for all your friends and family! Below are the best last minute gifts for just about everyone on your list:

best last minute gifts

Clockwise, from left to right:

iPhone Olloclip – If you know someone who loves taking great photos and has an iPhone 4/4s, this is the perfect present. The Olioclip is a 3-in-1 attachment lens for the iPhone 4/4s with a fisheye, wide angle, and macro lens. Get it from Neiman Marcus for free rush delivery (with promo code “NMQUICK”) and returns.

Azure Jeweled drops –  No one will ever know these gorgeous earrings were $26. Find it on BaubleBar and receive free shipping and get $10 off when you create an account. You can also create a $50 gift set, here, that includes your choice of carrying case filled with an Essie polish you choose with a matching bracelet, and two more bracelets of your choosing.

Diptyque “Baies” Scented Candle – Give your friend a luxury scented candle from Paris. “Baies” is a candle scented like a “bouquet of roses and blackcurrant leaves” according to the description at Nordstrom.

Boo – the World’s Cutest Dog – Who wouldn’t want this little sweetheart pup? Everyone loves Boo. Get it from Amazon for a better price than other retailers. Click here to take a look at their holiday shipping dates and cutoffs.

Milly geometric print iPhone 4/4s case – For the fashionable woman, nothing else is better than a stylish phone case. Get it from Saks Fifth Avenue for free shipping and free returns with code “holiday” in checkout. You can also request a free gift box and bow in checkout. Order before the 22nd, 4pm EST to get it on time!

Bormiolo Rocco “Giara” bottles – These colorful bottles are a perfect add to anyone’s home for use in the kitchen to hold water or other liquids, or as decor to hold flowers.  Find them at Bloomingdales and receive free shipping through 12/20.

NYC Globe – This musical globe features NYC’s landmarks. It’s perfect for the man or woman in your life who loves to travel or just loves NYC. You can also find more musical globes featuring other American cities like Dallas, Boston, Chicago, and more. Find them here.

2018-02-16T20:33:01-08:00December 20th, 2012|Categories: Lifestyle|Tags: , , |0 Comments
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