The Next Level: Hiatus

Mid-Month....
Mid-Challenge...
Mid-Everything...

Just taking a break. Going to the next level on some things, need to focus.

Hiatus, begins...now.

Nicole Charnel

Until my return, check out my hair blog with my cousin Jess, The Natural Brownies.

Natural Hair: Marley Hawk

Orignally posted on The Natural Brownies

I am LOVING  this marley hair! Use and reuse!
SN: I am thinking of washing it. Do you wash your synthetic hair that you reuse?

So the next style I did after my Twisted Bun Updo, was this one...

My Marley Hawk.
Loved this one. Best part was, since I didn't flat twist the sides, it only took me 30 minutes to create!
What I did to the sides was a simple twist. Sort of like mini french rolls to towards the middle.

Even though it took little time, it lasted me a week. And because of the quickness of the do, it was ideal for that night when I was dead on my feet but had to work the next morning.

Let me know if you like it, I will do a tutorial on it.
(I originally tried to film it and my camera died in the middle, lame.)

UPDATE: Only a month left of this Summer of Protective Styling. Excited to check my Growth in September and start wearing my hair out again.
Next style, Marley Twist again (2 weeks). Yes, I love them.

Nicole

of NicoleCharnel.blogspot.com

"One Second to the Next" Documentary

CONFESSION: I text while driving all the time. SMH.
This has definitely scared me straight.

Have you seen this yet?

Nicole Charnel

Inspiration: Why Blog

I blog to INSPIRE! Not just in one direction, but in ALL.

I love blogging. I love to read others and be inspired to write my own. This way I get a chance to connect with beautiful and talented people across the globe that I would never meet otherwise.

In my morning reads, I came across this article about blogging and a blogger's reason for starting a blog.
I personally decided my reason for blogging on day one. But sometimes you can lose sight, like with anything else.  So this article helps with just that. You can also take this and adapt it for anything that you do that is your creative outlet.
Enjoy!

Nicole Charnel

Originally published on ProFresh Style.
Found through The Feisty House.

I was recently emailed by a gal who has been blogging for a while and has started to get frustrated at not reaching these goals she set for herself. I’m obviously deciding not to share as those are private to her and I’s conversation. Either way, it lit a spark in me and made me realize that no many are speaking the truth behind blogging and the realities of it all. So this being a stranger and for no other reason than me being me, I decided to give it to her straight as I won’t any of you, my best friend or in front of a room at a conference.

I decided to share with you this email I wrote in response to her to maybe either: 1. Help with any frustrations or 2. Resonate and spark something inside of you. Peace and blessings ya heard.

(DISCLOSURE: For those of you who know how I talk and write and all that good stuff, this is familiar but for all you newbies. Hold back on the defense tip. Take it in and think about it.) xprofresh

—————————

Hey girl!

Thanks for emailing. Listen, totally hear you. I’ve been blogging for 5 years now and it’s no where near what people think it is.

1. I’m broke, brands don’t pay shit unless you have an agent (which I don’t advise, I’ve turned down opportunities that sounded good at the time but wouldn’t be worth sacrificing my brand)

2. The life I’ve created on the blog, although definitely more realistic than most blogs, my life isn’t actually all that great and exciting. And to a lot of people, it looks as if I’m successful. Boo, I’m far from it.

3. I work a full-time job (which is my career choice), blogging money is never enough and I hardly have time to actually blog. With all that said, the blog should never, ever, ever be about the money or making it a full-time gig.

Here’s my advice. You’ve got the normal requirements for a blog: white background, clean layout, beautiful images and cute style. But…. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?! Here’s the thing: there are 2 million fashion blogs in the U.S. alone. That’s 2,000,000 and counting! So think about your blog and be honest with yourself when answering these questions:

What do you stand for?
What is your purpose?
Who is your audience?
Why should they care?
What makes you different?
Why did you start a blog?

And there are a few things to remember. 

1. It’s not about money
2. It’s about working with brands
3. It’s not about becoming famous
4. It’s not about getting free shit

If those are the reasons you’ve started your blog, it’s time to reconsider. Don’t be unrealistic with yourself because only you know the truth. If you have started your blog for any of those reasons, go back to those questions I wrote above. If your answers don’t lead to a conclusion of, “I wanted to start a blog because I had something different to say/contribute/add” then blogging just may not be right.

This all prob sounds harsh but listen boo, the blogging world is ridiculous. It’s nothing of what it used to be. Blogging back in 2008ish, was about saying something in the open air just because your friends didn’t understand you, so at least you could tell the internet. Now, it’s just incredibly corporate feeling: with politics, bribery, deceit and disgusting individuals all around.

For the rest of her article and advice, click here.

Nails: Creamy Purple Mani

Subscription boxes, ugh. How I love thee.

My second Julep box came in and I got two more unique colors. 

A creme purple named: Sylvia 

And a creme mauve named: Veronica

I liked the purple the best, so I paired it with the tan I received in my first box. 

I loved how rich the purple was. The color came through well with one coat but I liked the result of two coats better. 

The polish lasted about 2 days without chipping, but I also have my hands in water a lot. My polishes tend to chip quick...might be my top coat as well. 

Overall, I definitely liked the color choices but I think I am going to cancel my subscription. At the beginning (well when I started doing my own manicures), I wasn't confident enough to pick my own colors. I guess I thought I was gonna mess them up or pick the wrong color for my skin tone. But the more I play with colors and try to build my collection, the more I realize it's all about what colors I like, not necessarily my complexion and matching. 

Also canceling will save me more money. I have been really focusing on my saving lately and my budget...but I will save the deets on that for a later post. 

Anywho...to cancel or not to cancel. Or I could just change my type of collection. Which collection next: 'It Girl' or 'Bombshell'?

Nicole Charnel 

Random: Night-time Travelers

Me and my sister love driving at night.

Strange maybe, but it is just freeing and calming. 

Night air. 

Cool breeze. 

Sleeping babies (LoL). 

We can conversation or just sit in silence. 

Good times.

My dad use to fuss at us about it when we were younger. How we would always wait till it was late to go to the store or out to eat. Or how we would want to be the first driver on the late night road trips. But now he just accepts that we are awesome nighttime travelers. 

Nicole Charnel

When you take a road trip, when do you prefer to drive? Day or night?

#31WriteNow Challenge: Delay

With full intention of continuing, I am 2 days off. 

I went out of state for the weekend and didn't have any wifi. 

Yea, who doesn't have wifi!?!? 

Well this place didn't. Smh. 

Ugh. Anyway, I was without uploading capabilities.

And now I am a tad behind. 

Eh, I got time! And some inspiration, thanks to the FAMILY!

Headed home now (blogging from my phone, yea why I didn't think of this, Smh),

10 hours...too long...so tired. 

Eyes.Lips.Face Haul

If you have ever shopped in Target for makeup, you have seen this brand.
They are one of the cheapest but price doesn't always denote the quality.
E.L.F cosmetics has great variety and great products!
Especially if your testing out techniques (highlighting, contour, cat-eye, etc.), you can buy everything you need at a low price.

Anyway, now that I am done signing their praises, lol, E.L.F. is currently in their anniversary month and they new sales every day almost!
As you know, I am a sucker for a sale! So I had to get something.

Check out what I got!

So many goodies!
I purchased a train case, four lip stains, an eyebrow kit, translucent powder, oil blotting sheets, three brushes, face setting spray, and an eyeshadow palette.
How much do you think I spent? You will never guess!
Only $38! That includes shipping!

I just had to get the eyebrow kit, since I'm trying to perfect my technique 7 look. And the lips stains were also a must, trying to find the best colors for my complexion.

I definitely got a good sale on this one and added a lot of good essentials to my makeup collection that can help me get better with my application.

Now its time to play in my makeup!

Nicole Charnel

Do you own any E.L.F. products?

Sweet Lips

Yes, I have big, juicy, sweet lips.
How? Why?
Homemade Lip Scrub. Yes.

So I have been really into lipstick lately and I want to where nudes as well as bright colors. But one common problem I was having was my peeling lips.
Cute color + top of crusty lips = NOT CUTE

Needless to say, I took to YouTube and checked out my favorite beauty bloggers and how they maintained their luscious lips and wear lipstick almost daily.
Thanks to ItsMyRayeRaye and Beauty by Lee, I discovered the secret of the scrub. Check out how I did it...

Brown Sugar Lip Scrub

Ingredients:
1 tsp Brown Sugar
1 tsp Honey
1 tsp Olive Oil

Mix. Scrub. Rinse Moisturize.
Done & done.

My lips were plump and smooth. And they stayed that way for half the week!
No need to purchase, just head to the kitchen.

Nicole Charnel

Do you use a lip scrub?

#VanityisReal

DIY: Button Earrings

So I have finally done it!
A DIY project that turned out and I can wear proudly!
BUTTON EARRINGS

I am in love! Just another thing to get addicted to, lol.
But this could possibly be productive...Sounds like its time for an Etsy Shop...

Nicole Charnel

Would you like to purchase some handmade Button Earrings?

August Blogging Challenge

So I saw this post on Sunday from one of my favorite blogs...

It sounds incredibly difficult, but trust that you can do it. You can find inspiration for posts everywhere. Loiter on Twitter, read books, have conversations with your friends, observe folks on the streets. There is never a shortage of things to talk about.

Fellow writers and bloggers. I’d love for you to join me in this so we can do it together. Because with more people involved, we have more folks to hold us accountable.

Here are the rules:

* Put up a new post on your blog at least once a day for the next 31 days

* The posts can be written in advance (it doesn’t count as cheating if you schedule some)

* Use the hashtag #31WriteNow when you tweet the link to your posts

That’s it, that’s all. You control the content, length and all that. The point is that everyday in August, something new is on your eCrib for your readers to enjoy.

So, who’s down to join this #31WriteNow CHALLONJ? Lemme know!

Posted by: Awesomely Luvvie

I think am definitely up for the challenge!
I didnt see this challenge right at the beginning of the moth so I am starting a little late but I am going to still do 31 days...just to get the full experience.

Now to think of some things to write about for the next 31 days...and plan time to write, geesh! WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!

Nicole Charnel