I had a beautiful time with these girlies last night at Mexican Sugar in Plano, TX! π big s/o to the woman that connects us all – my manager Tristyn Beckwith! π Very thankful for you & Estate Five β€οΈ
But hol up, tho – do yβall see the SKIN , SKINNING?! π Used the @iliabeauty#trueskin#foundation for the first time (shade: Catalina SF7) and WHEW! ππ½ Dis is it. DIS THAT ONE!!
But hol up, tho – do yβall see the SKIN , SKINNING?! π Used the @iliabeauty#trueskin#foundation for the first time (shade: Catalina SF7) and WHEW! ππ½ Dis is it. DIS THAT ONE!!
This post does contain affiliate links where applicable. When used, I receive a small commission for the sale that allows me to continue bringing you content just like this. Thanks for the support!
Donβt Be Scurred, Sis!
The use of heat on our natural hair has become SO taboo LOL God forbid we actually CHOOSE heat because itβs what we like and itβs easier than constantly manipulating our natural hair!
Also, I personally canβt stand the βif you wear your hair in a straightened state, that means you hate your natural hairβ narrative. Itβs so tired and also – how accusatory and assuming?!
What if the whole point of us going natural was so we can be FREE?! Free to choose? Free to use heat or wear our natural texture, or do both?!
Weβve all had the battle of figuring out βHow much heat is TOO much heat?β And that is definitely an individual question. (And even better if you can answer it with the support of a trusted hairstylist!)
Everyoneβs hair is different but here are a few rules I live by that might help you answer that question better for yourself!
1. Flat iron only when necessary and only once within a week (no matter what!)
2. Use indirect heat (like hooded dryers) to reset a hairstyle if heat is needed within the same week.
3. Incorporate bond or strengthening products at every step of your hair care routine.
4. Heat protectant before EVERY heat tool. No exceptions!
5. Deep treatment with protein and moisture before EVERY roller set / blow out / silk press.
What did I miss?! Shoot me an email so I can add to this list of heat-styling rules to live by!
*This post does contain affiliate links that if clicked, I will make a small commission from.
I have always loved hosting get togethers and gatherings and ever since watching “With Love, Meghan” on Netflix, I have not been able to shake wanting to host something special for my girlfriends!
Hosting Basics & Essential Things To Keep in Mind
First, we have to decide who we are putting on the gathering for. This time, I had a hosted few of my dear sister friends and their families on a large group trip where we stayed in a beautiful home hosted by Wander. I saw the property online and knew I had to do something just for the ladies!
Edited in Tezza with: Vintage & HSL
The Need
Whether exhausted from running after kids, running up the corporate ladder, or running a business – we all needed some TLC and relaxation. As a content creator and influencer of almost 15 years, I have been to my fair share of cute brand events where different activations and group activities took place. One of my recent favorites was a Tata Harper event at The Joule in Dallas, TX. Tata Harper HERSELF walked us through her skincare routine. We chatted and did every step she does on herself every morning and it was such a time!! When I was thinking about how to level up an afternoon tea party, I knew adding something like this would be just the thing my girls needed.
The Preparation
I started off by budgeting how much I wanted to spend on each person and gave myself a little room depending on if I could find all of the items I’d like to gift everyone. Of course, I did go a tad bit over budget but this was okay because when you’re planning to host for the first time, it can be difficult to determine exactly what you need so be ready for the budget to shift some. I then created a Google Sheet of the items I wanted to include in the skincare activity.
Then, I went on the hunt of the best quality yet cost effective items to fit our needs. I landed on this list and was shocked where I ended up finding most of the items!!
The Shopping List
My first idea was to go to five below or maybe hobby lobby to find items but since I wanted to be able to review pricing easily, I started with Amazon and randomly, Tiktok Shop. Now I had not seen people ordering party items from tiktok shop before but oh my goodness, I found SO MUCH ON THERE! But, there is a caveat. The shipping.
This is where planning about a month in advance was clutch for me. As I began ordering everything, the shipping estimates were all over the place. By the grace of God, every single item made it to my door the day before we left for our trip!
Edited in Tezza with: Vintage & HSLEdited in Tezza with: Vintage & HSL
The Location & Set Up
Initially I had planned on having the party inside because the dining room on the property overlooked the pool and I knew I wanted an outside element to the event. But once we arrived on site, I realized that the outdoor seating area was an even better spot! First, we have to set the mood. I put on this berlioz playlist to get the vibes going. Then, I started setting up my tablescape.
The Tablescape
Here’s everything I used to create this cute table set up!
Originally, I wanted to go full out for the food. You know, assorted pastries and quiches and cucumber sammies. But then reality set in that I was going to have a very limited time for set up in the middle of a group trip of 17! So, cute assorted cookies from a local grocery store was it! And guess what, NO one was mad about it! Sometimes simple and minimal works in everyones favor. Plus, I ordered a yummy loose leaf tea and tea sugar from Amazon for less than $30.
Touchland Power Essence Hydrating Body & Hair Fragrance $17
Biodance Radiant Vita Niacinamide Real Deep Mask $19(4 pack)
The Skincare Routine: Group Activity
I got to play skincare expert this day and take my girlfriends through a step by step skincare routine that I do a variation of on a regular basis. I first chatted with them about what we were going to do and then I facilitated the activity by passing out products at each step, sharing how much, how to and when to use each product. I was there to bring them whatever they needed to journey through the full skincare routine.
Sometimes we forget how restful taking care of ourselves can be and this was a great reminder to us all.
It brought me so much joy to witness and care for my girls in this way. As someone who gets to have experiences like this for work, being able to gift this experience to women I love was a gift to my soul. My goal was to show them how much God loves each and every one of them and based on the feedback they shared, I believe the mission was accomplished.
So, if you needed a sign to host your sisterfriends over for something this spring/summer – this is your sign to DO IT! If this post helped spark some ideas for your next gathering, please give me a like or comment! And even better, share this post with a sister or friend who you want to host a tea & skincare party with.
Revealing A Mommy & Me Collection You or Your Mom Would LOVE!
I had the pleasure of cohosting a beautiful mother’s day event for an intimate group of some of my favorite mamaβs with my twin sister and CEO of Wove, Simone!
During the event, we:
Designed our own Mommy & Me bracelet set, launching exclusively for Motherβs Day.
Collaborated on the details and our guests left with a hand-drawn sketches of their final bracelets.
And our guests got their beautiful bracelet sets in the mail a short time after the event!
Alongside delicious bites of sushi and caviar we had yummy mocktails and cocktails! As we chatted the afternoon away, we offered complimentary jewelry cleaning, had a quick & fun lab-grown vs. natural diamond session, and had on-site designers ready to bring any other custom jewelry ideas to life.
Evoto
Evoto
Evoto
Evoto
Evoto
We had a wonderful time and I hope this vlog helps you feel like you got to attend, too!
Shop Woveβs Petals Collection launching 5/12! SHOP HERE
If you didnβt think it was possible, youβre about to change your mind for good.
Let me put you on to the best-kept secret in my natural hair journey: ROLLER SETS.
Yes, I said it. Roller. Sets.
If youβve ever wondered how I keep my hair healthy, full, and still enjoy the versatility of straight stylesβthis is it. No magic potion. No expensive blowouts. Just a good olβ wet set on rollers.
Letβs back up a second.
My hair is natural, and when I do a wash & go, youβll see all my curls out and proud. But when I want to wear it in a straighter style? I reach for my rollers. And honestly, I do this 80% of the time when I want a sleeker look.
It gives me body. It gives me movement. It gives me life.
And the best part? No direct heat. No flat irons sizzling at 450 degrees. No blow dryers tugging at my roots. Just a classic technique that lets my hair stretch and flow while keeping it strong and thriving.
This might sound simple, but trust meβthis was a game changer.
I used to chase every trend, every serum, every βmiracleβ product, and still struggled with breakage, split ends, and overall dryness. But ever since I committed to wet setting my hair and giving it the gentle love it needs, Iβve noticed a major shift.
β¨ This is the healthiest my hair has ever been. β¨
And I donβt gatekeep. So if youβre trying to figure out how to keep your natural hair healthy and still switch up your style from time to time, roller sets might just be your new best friend.
Iβm planning to break down my exact roller set routine in a future postβproducts, tools, drying methods, the whole nine. Let me know if thatβs something you want to see!
Until then, just know: You donβt have to fry your hair to stretch it. You donβt have to sacrifice health for style. You can have both.
This post does contain affiliate links where applicable. When used, I receive a small commission for the sale that allows me to continue bringing you content just like this. Thanks for the support!
Hey sis! Itβs #RollerSet season and I want to make sure you have everything you need to have the best hair yet!
One of the biggest questions people ask first is: Whatβs the difference between using tension rollers vs. traditional rollers?
If youβve ever wondered why your curls arenβt super smooth after rolling – the first question is, what kind of roller are you using? You see in much of my content, Iβm using Tension Hair Rollers. Very popular in Ethiopian/South African salons because they are designed to really pull the hair taut as you roll, so you get smoother roots and a sleeker finish.
The little βteethβ really help grip the hair! Traditional magnetic rollers that are smooth all around, can be a bit trickier to use. While they are significantly cheaper and easier to find, unless you are very good at rolling, you might see more puffiness at your roots or lingering texture.
+ Helpful Content
How To Roller Set Using Magnetic Rollers. Watch now!
My fourth baby, sweet Emory Grace, turned one last month, and I canβt begin to explain how much joy it brought me to plan her birthday celebration! I blended two adorable themes I found online β βIsnβt She Lovely, Isnβt She ONEderfulβ and the ever-charming daisy motif β into one cohesive vision. The result was a bright, cheerful, and heart-meltingly sweet day that felt just as special as our little girl. It was the perfect mix of trendy and timeless for our ONEderful baby!
Here are all the details on the items you can pick up to make your next birthday party one that is a core memory for all!
BIRTHDAY OUTFITS
To really lean into the daisy theme, we all dressed in yellow and white gingham outfits. The soft, playful tones made everything feel extra sunny and sweet β perfect for an early summer birthday. Emory Grace, of course, was the star in a daisy dress, and the rest of us coordinated in matching accents to tie the whole family look together. It made for some of the cutest photos ever!
The table setup was one of my favorite parts to pull together. I layered a beige linen tablecloth with a cheerful yellow runner, then added a yellow and white gingham accent runner for that pop of pattern. Dried daisies dotted the tablescape and added the perfect whimsical touch. I used wooden cake stands and sourced affordable serving pieces from Walmart and Amazon to keep things beautiful yet budget-friendly.
FOOD
When it came to food, I knew I wanted to be present and enjoy the party without being stuck in the kitchen β so we outsourced! Our local bakerydid an amazing job with a daisy-themed cake, cupcakes, and cookies that were not only beautiful but delicious. For savory bites, we picked up charcuterie boards from H-E-B, which were both easy and elegant crowd-pleasers.
KID’S PARTY FAVORS
To send our little guests home with a smile, I put together the sweetest kids’ party favors. Each one had daisy-themed goodies and small surprises that tied back to the theme. Not only were they a hit with the kiddos, but they also doubled as charming table accents during the party.
PARTY ACTIVITIES
To keep the little ones entertained, we set up a few sweet and simple activities that turned out to be total crowd-pleasers. I created a small ball pit just for the babies β Emory Grace absolutely loved it! For the bigger kids, we decorated our King Swings Cottage playset with daisy garlands so it felt like a magical little clubhouse. And of course, we had a bubble machine going throughout the party β it added such a fun, whimsical vibe and kept the kids dancing, chasing, and giggling all afternoon.