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Over the last few years, I have become very intentional about what I buy. I don't usually buy things impulsively anymore, and I want to be sure when I spend money on an item that I will really use it and it won't become something that just fills up a landfill. But there are some items I've bought lately and have been really happy with, so here goes!  A new pair of vintage-style jeans from Madewell. These trouser jeans from Ann Taylor. This ecru midi denim skirt from Target. This handbag organizer for keeping my purse organized and switching bags more easily! These D-Bronzi drops from Drunk Elephant. These cinnamon colored trousers from Target. A white v-neck boxy tee bodysuit from Shop Ambitionist. xoxo
Jenise
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 Being confident in my skin has not always come naturally to me. As a matter of fact, I struggle with self-confidence and my appearance on a very regular basis. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here's a moment that I'll likely never forget and that probably causes some of this deeply rooted self-awareness. I recall being in middle school. I went to a Catholic school with a really strict uniform policy, so dress-down days were a real treat. For one such occasion, I remember I put on an outfit my mom and I had picked out at 5-7-9. I was obsessed with the outfit - it had been on a mannequin and my mom had treated me to the ENTIRE getup. Lime green tank top with a white tee underneath, wide-leg jeans, and lime green sandals that matched the tank top perfectly. I remember walking in the hallway at school with friends, and an older girl walked by me and said, "Ay que tacky!" ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's the first time I recall that self confidence being cracked, like a sledgehammer had been taken to it. It happened, I'm sure, multiple times throughout the years, but none as vividly as this. To me, it's always such a reminder to use kind words and to teach my children to use kind words. Words have an impact. Those three words took me YEARS to overcome, and I don't ever want myself or my kids to be the cause of someone else's self-doubt. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Remember this. Every day, in real life and on social media. Your words have impact. If you aren't using your words for good, then you are causing harm. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And that girl? A few years back I noticed that she started following me on Instagram. She likely doesn't remember that exchange. I don't think she's a bad person - a kid caught up in trying to look cool in front of friends. I’m actually grateful to her for helping me grow my skin a little thicker. xoxo, Jenise  Undergarments can be so tricky, right? It's taken me years to find pieces that really make me feel comfortable and are the best options for me. Here I'm sharing my five favorite undergarments and why I like them so much! (Links are affiliate links.)  Aerie High-Waisted Panties I discovered these high-waisted, full bottom panties last summer, and I have stocked up every time I see them on the Aerie website. I have had this pouch on my lower belly ever since I can remember, so sometimes bikinis don't work because they roll down. These really help solve that problem. They have a decent hold but don't dig in anywhere, and I always feel like I have good coverage.  Knix Shortie Thigh Saver 4" & Knix Shortie Thigh Saver 6" If you have ever suffered the indignity of inner thigh chafing from wearing a dress or skirt on vacation, these are for you. My earliest memory of this was in high school. I wore a denim miniskirt to walk around NYC all day and by the time we sat down at dinner I could hardly keep my legs crossed from how much pain I was in. These shorties from Knix are soft and do exactly what they say - save your thighs! They're not shape wear but they do help smooth a tiny bit. They're really comfortable and come in 2 lengths. I tried them out on our trip to Kentucky, where I wore dresses every day - and they held up! No inner thigh chafing at all. Needless to say, they're in heavy rotation this summer! Get the 4" ones if you wear shorter dresses, and the 6" ones if you wear knee length or longer dresses (I got both).  Spanx Minimizer Low-Profile Bra Next peeve when it comes to clothing - the gap on button down shirt. When you're chesty, this can be a chronic issue. I remember making sure I always had safety pins on me so that I could make sure my blouses didn't pop open or that the buttons didn't pull. The Spanx Minimizer Low-Profile Bra helps with that - the bra has no padding, but it has underwire (which is something I absolutely need). It's also got a wide band and thicker straps. I bought it in nude thanks to a follower's suggestion and I use the bra so much that I got myself a second one in black.  Honeylove Cami Bodysuit Again, I'm not a fan of shape wear, because I hate feeling like I'm being squeezed. But this bodysuit is so comfortable. It does a great job of smoothing without pinching, and it has built-in bust support so you can ditch your bra. It has adjustable straps and an adjustable gusset, for a perfect fit every time. You can wear it as an undergarment or as a tank with your favorite bottom. Don't sleep on this! And if you use the code JENISE, you can get 10% off your order. xoxo,
Jenise 
I often get asked where I buy my clothes, and while I do get some things from Target, Old Navy, Ann Taylor, and even Amazon, there are a couple of boutiques in Miami that I shop from very regularly. Have you shopped at any of these local boutiques? What are some of your favorites?
Aria Rose
I shop here for flirty, feminine looks for all kinds of events.
Habit
I shop here for effortlessly chic and casual looks. The owner, Kristi, is a mom and she understands the need for comfort and looking cute on a day-to-day basis. (My white tee in the photo at the top of this post is from Habit.)
FH Fashion House
I shop here for date night looks and statement pieces. Most of my statement tops with big sleeves are from Fashion House!
xoxo,
​Jenise  Can you believe that the last time I went to a nail salon was in February? I wasn't a regular at the nail salon, and I have spent most of my life doing my nails myself. I did enjoy visiting the salon from time to time as a little treat, but the truth is that I have been doing my own nails since I was in middle School, and over the years, I've gotten pretty good at it if I do say so myself. I started out doing my own nails in middle school because attending a Catholic school, part of our uniform rules were that we weren't allowed to wear nail polish. But as a pre-teen, I of course wanted my nails done on the weekends. My parents wouldn't pay for me to get my nails done, especially since I would do them Friday afternoon and had to take the nail polish off again on Sunday night. The compromise was that I figured out how to do them myself. Since then, I just continued doing them myself because it seemed easier than having a standing appointment each week or having to figure out when it was convenient to get to the salon. As a recovering nail biter (I was chronically bad about this when I was in elementary school, to the point where my dad would pay me for every day I didn't bite my nails!), I have also found that if my nails are done, I am much less likely to pick at them and bite them. I still succumb when under a lot of stress or anxiety, but it's a huge help to have them looking nice.  Over the years, I have learned a lot about doing my own nails, and even how to make them last longer. My nails typically make it to day 6 or 7 before starting to chip. Recently, Olive & June sent me a kit and I am kind of obsessed with their polishes, which are 7-free, and the whole kit. If your problem is keeping your hands steady while you paint, their Poppy tool is really helpful! They have a really great series on Instagram, called the Mani Bootcamp, and they share how you can get the perfect manicure at home. Here are 5 things I do to make my manicure last:
 And there you have it! Also - nail polish can go bad. You can use a polish thinner to help the consistency, but if a bottle is too old, the paint is less likely to last on your manicure. xoxo, Jenise  |
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