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5.27.2020

How to Raise Your Vibration


I've been on my spiritual journey and path for a few years now. I didn't understand what this meant or was, until every aspect in my life began to downward spiral. Finding my light and stepping into my divine purpose and mission in life, doesn't mean I'm not tested or triggered by entities outside of myself daily. The same test will constantly reoccur or pop-up in your life, until you have mastered and understand the lesson in the situation. I have a clearer understanding and concept of being in alignment and out of alignment. Balancing my energy and knowing when to recharge my batteries is an integral part of my self care routine. Journaling, reading, writing, or collecting speaking affirmations allows me to reflect and meditate on a particular day or event in life. 

Instead of dwelling on not being the best at something, or having a crappy day. I try to reflect and ask myself at the end of each day, how do I become a better person than I was the previous day? Or how could I handled this situation differently? When you are on a spiritual path/journey, you will be TESTED!. It's important to learn how to raise your vibration and understand the necessary tools you need to keep your energy high and positive. 

When I'm having a bad day or my energy feels low, I try to do things that make me happy. Creating a routine of rituals and habits can take you from feeling all the FEELS to waking up believing you're a SAVAGE! I set my intentions almost every morning by reading or posting uplifting content on social media, or if time permits I like to write in my journal before starting my work day. Speaking life int yourself is life itself. You're the author and narrator of your own story. You are the magician, you create your own magic, love, and light!

In the mornings, at least once a week I take a ritual bath (which is a little bougie)... this consists of me having a slightly longer shower or morning routine. I may do a face mask in the morning or use a body scrub to give me a clean slate to exfoliate dead skin, and to feel pampered. I'm very big on flowers, they're an instant mood booster for me. I love to keep flowers in my home and on my desk. I almost never throw away old flowers, I save the pedals, and preserve them in a mason jar, to look at throughout the day. Scheduling uninterrupted time-off and alone time, gives you time to yourself, to clear your mind, and to free yourself of negative energy and thoughts. 

Raising your vibration is how you take back your POWER. Resetting and recharging is key to self love!

Image Credit: Melinda Wheeler

- Mel
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Sugaring NYC + Sugaring Paste Review


One of my favorite beauty spas and services I like to have performed monthly (like clockwork) is Sugaring. Sugaring NYC is my favorite and go-to salon/spa to get waxed... and let's get a little REAL for a moment. I like to get waxed pretty much everywhere, which includes Brazilian's, underarms, thighs, full legs, and face. Since COVID-19, the Government Shutdown, and individualized city/state lockdowns, make visiting this cute location, nearly impossible, and a luxury, I truly miss! I totally respect this is all necessary to help contain and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

I use to LOVE booking my waxing appointment with my favorite Estheticians (Sugaristas as I like to call them) and go to my happy place, during my 1:45 minute long monthly session. I'm currently missing this cute pink safe haven. Inside of Sugaring NYC is very millennial pink, and their cute backdrops in the main waiting area produces some of the BEST lighting for flicking up great selfies, and catching a Beyonce worthy glow!


I'm very lucky and grateful, to have all the right tools at home to Sugar myself at home, while everyone is at home, and maintaining social distancing. I always keep a container of sugaring paste at home for those worst case scenarios, where I have to skip my appointment, and need a little maintenance to get me by for the next few weeks. Sugaring NYC's Sugaring Paste Organic and made with Natural ingredients, that you can practically eat!


Sugaring NYC, recently came out with a Sugaring Kit, (sugaring powder pictured, not included) and it's the most AMAZING product I could ever come across. Inside the kit you will receive the infamous Organic Sugar Paste, which has been a #1 seller on AMAZON for 3 years in a row,  with 2 easy to use pink applicators, and 2 sets (4 pieces) pink nitrite gloves. I can honestly take this kit with me on vacation if I needed to, all items in the box can easily be stowed away in a suitcase or neatly in smaller storage areas. The Sugaring Kit retails for $25.00, which can be purchased on Sugaring NYC's retail website Sugar Paste or AMAZON. If you're interested in purchasing a lovely kit, you can use my promo code: THEPRETTYSTYLING to receive 10% discount on your order.

I like to warm up my sugar paste for about 10-15 seconds to make it more pliable prior to application. I'm still a newbie at sugaring, and haven't reached pro-status therefore, I love the traditional method of using wax strips. The sugar paste has never gone bad on me, and I typically keep it in a dark cool place for about 2-3 months. I typically on purchase 1-2 containers at a time. The paste literally smells like sugar, because it is made of just that, and a new other natural ingredients. It takes me a little over 2 hours to complete my entire routine depending on the areas of the body to be waxed. Honestly, for this reason, I still prefer to have this process done at Sugaring NYC. A skilled Sugarista can have all my beauty services completed within a hour.

How cool is this? A few months ago my Instagram page was featured and mentioned on the Sugaring NYC website! Sugaring NYC has locations sprinkled throughout the NYC and in various other states in the United States. When social distancing is no longer a thing, check out their website to see if there's a location in your town/city!


Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. I am a Brand Ambassador for Sugaring NYC, if you click or shop with our affiliate link and/or code, you do not pay more or less for the Sugaring Kit or other amazing products sold. I do receive a small commission for products purchased with the affiliate links. All products mentioned in this blog post were purchased with my own money.

Image Credit: Melinda Wheeler

- Mel
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Dream Shoes: First Pair of Manolo Blahnik's


I am absolutely in LOVE, a few weeks ago I purchased my first ever pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes. The first thing that comes to mind when you hear someone talk about Manolo Blanhik shoes, is SEX IN THE CITY, which made the brand very popular and a household name. Carrie Bradshaw aka Sara Jessica Parker's character owned several pairs of satin embellished Manolo Blahnik shoes, towing around NYC, as a successful writer. 


Meghan Markle is also another celebrity, royal, and high-profile woman who adores the shoes as well. I actually wanted a pair for years after Meghan Markle, began flaunting them around as a member of the royal family. These are the BEST shoes I own in my closet and collection. The style I purchased were the BB Pump in a cool tone gray color, with a heel size of 3.5 inches. The material of the shoes are a matte suede material, that is beautifully constructed. This definitely was a big splurge item for me, and luckily the shoes were on sale on the Nordstrom website, and I had an unused gift card from Christmas.

The heel size was a little out of my comfort zone however, the shoes fit like a dream. I have not worn them outside yet, just around the house, and there's very little to comfort to break in. When you put the shoes on it literally feels like walking on clouds. I love a stiletto heel and the slim length of the heel. The cool gray tone of the shoes complements my skin tone very well. My only con about Manolo Blahnik shoes is the fact that they do not come with shoe taps for the end of the heel. I purchased a pair of Badgely Mischka shoes in the past (the price point is more friendlier than Manolo Blahnik) and I received two shoe taps per heel. I just thought that it was a little daunting not to have a matching shoe tap, in case the current one will need to be replaced in the near future. 



Manolo Blahnik shoes can be found at high-end boutiques and department stores like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. These are not the exact style of shoes I have however, I linked something similar HERE.That's it pretty dolls have a wonderful day and week! Stay SAFE!

Image Credit: Melinda Wheeler

- Mel 
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5.08.2020

Updated Curly Hair Routine 2020



I wanted to share my updated curly hair routine, and explain how I treat + style my hair. I grew out my relaxed hair from 2011 to 2012. I was tired of having dry and damaged relaxed hair. I actually had some hair loss from my very last hair relaxer, which prompted me to grow out my hair. I grew out the relaxer few months prior to Hurricane Sandy. I don't remember how many months, I went without a relaxer... it could of been anywhere between 5 to 8 months. I did two big chops, the initial one I had maybe about 4-5 inches of hair. The second big chop, my hair was cut into a TWA. The ends of my hair were very unhealthy and I wanted a fresh start. I'm no longer dependent on the hair typing system however, I would say I have 3C/4A textured hair. Fast forward, to almost 8 years later, my hair is almost bra strap length stretched (or straighten, which I haven't done in about 5 years).


This is what my hair looks like today. I have lots of volume, body, and length! I mainly like to keep my hair 'stretched' meaning, choosing a hairstyle that allows my natural curls to lengthen, making the curls less susceptible to breakage. My wash day consists of a Henna treatment on dry hair, then a cowash, and deep conditioner after every wash and session. Henna has been my secret weapon for a few years now in maintaining healthy, shiny, and voluminous hair.  I first learned about Henna from the hair maven herself, CurlyNikki (much r-e-s-p-e-c-t). Using henna on a consistent or weekly basis can be a little time consuming and daunting for some women. Most women can only commit to a monthly treatment or biweekly. I try to do a henna weekly, because I see significant changes and benefits in my hair. I get looser curls (this is not universal), shiny hair, softer hair, a red tint (ahem... for the two grays I have), and it reduces the amount of time my hair takes to dry.

My Weekly Routine:

Once a week, I apply henna to my hair from either Mountain Rose Herbs or Henna Sooq (my new favorite retailer). The type of henna I purchase from Henna Sooq is Organic Rajasthani Indian henna, which yields a lovely tint and  red coloring on the hair, in direct sunlight. In regular lighting your hair will appear dark and shiny if you already have black hair. I typically like to leave henna in my hair for about 20-30 minutes with heat. Since I've been staying home more often, and less pressed for time, I follow the Curly Nikki routine, and leave it in overnight or for a few hours. Since I switched brands of henna... for some reason my curl pattern has significantly loosened however, the loosening effects is something I've experienced in the past with henna. Lately, I've been setting my hair on perm rods to maintain a consistent curl pattern. Usually, I would just flat twist my hair, and allow the ends of my hair to curl up naturally after twisting. My hair lately, unravels or does not stay twisted uniformed after my henna sessions. The loosening effects of henna are not universal, meaning not every natural, regardless of the hair type, will experience the adverse results.

Once I'm ready to wash the henna out, I rinse it out in the sink with warm water for about 5-10 minutes, until the water runs clear. Then I apply my favorite cowash by Camille Rose Naturals, which the Caramel Cowash, which I absolutely love! After my hair is squeaky clean, I apply another favorite, which is the Curl Junkie Curl Rehab (strawberry ice cream scent) deep conditioner. I've been using this deep conditioner for the past 10 years, and it always provides fabulous results, and my hair always smells great until wash day rolls around again! I usually deep condition with heat under a hooded dryer for about 15-30 minutes weekly. When I rinse out the conditioner, I leave about 5% to 10% left in my hair for extra added moisture and conditioning benefits. 

Towel drying my hair is my second to last step in my routine. Most weekends or whenever wash day is for me (which is always weekly), I like to air dry my hair with an old t-shirt or microfiber towel for about 45 minutes to 1 hours. I find I get better end results, when I do not set/style my hair on soaking wet hair. My last step in my process consists of medium-sized flat twists with perm rods on the ends only using two products. I love the Camille Rose Naturals Curl Love Moisture Milk and I usually apply 1-2 pumps per section, before I flat twist my hair and set with a perm rod. I also apply pure and organic argan oil to my hair before styling and to seal the ends of my hair. I usually take down my hair the following day, and my hair always about 95% to 98% dry, and my sleek and stretched curls are set even further into a secured but loose bun for about 3-4 days out of the week. I like to keep low maintenance protective style for majority of the week. Once things draw closer to the weekend, or when I want and need to dress up, I release my hair out of the bun for a even more sleek and stretched out style, consisting of loose/wavy curls. 

My hair care routine is very simple, a little time consuming, since I use henna weekly as a pre-treatment. Honestly the weeks, where I will be short or pressed for time, I cut down on the length of time I keep hair treatments in my hair. I always sleep on satin and silk scarves, bonnets, and pillowcases. I even stepped things up and purchased some chic silk hair ties for when I wear my hair out. I think once you find great products and a method of hair care and styling that works for your hair and lifestyle, it's easier to maintain natural and curly hair. I mostly focus on moisture and styles that do not cause stress on my scalp or hair. My go-to styles are buns, a sleek textured bubble ponytail, and sleek loose/wavy curly look. I do not apply any products to my hair for the week, unless my hair is extremely dry, once I decide to switch up the style, and my hair is out or my ends are exposed. I apply argan oil for extra moisture and shine, no water-based products are used to spruce up my hair mid-week. To maintain my sleek styles, I apply CURLS Blueberry Bliss Control Paste to my hairline/edges nightly. 

If you have any questions on my updated hair care routine, don't be shy to leave some lovely comments! Take care everyone and stay SAFE.


- Mel














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