Category Archives: Chic & Cheap
How to Make a Vitalizing Scalp & Hair Rinse with Honey
We’ve all been pressed for time. Between work, family and daily happenings, it can be hard to get to a salon. Worse, our hectic lifestyles and stress can cause dry hair. Yet, that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything about it. We can care for our hair at home, using two ingredients that can be found in every kitchen.
Prepared by Mauricio Burgos, Professional Makeup Artist and Image Consultant, in collaboration with the National Honey Board, the Vitalizing Scalp & Hair Rinse with Honey is also travel friendly. Simply place the rinse in air-tight traveling bottles, jars or containers and you’re good to go wherever you are!
Because, frankly Ladies, taking care of our outer selves should begin with the tip of our toes and end with shiny, vitalized hair!
Makes two applications
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 10 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 cups water
Preparation:
- In a large bowl, add honey, white vinegar and water. Mix until thoroughly combined.
- Apply this solution as a last step to usual hair regimen when showering.
- Leave on for 5 minutes and rinse out with warm water to achieve vitalized and radiant hair.
- Dry and style hair per usual.
This recipe was created by Mauricio Burgos, Professional Makeup Artist and Image Consultant, in collaboration with the National Honey Board. Burgos believes in complimenting a woman in a way that doesn’t overshadow her overall look, but rather defines her own unique assets. Keeping in line with his philosophy, he created the above Vitalizing Scalp & Hair Rinse with Honey.
Let’s talk! How do you pamper your hair? Share your secrets, and tips, in a comment!
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Moisturize Your Body, Naturally with Honey
Burgos’ soothing tonic will pamper your skin, and senses, in the time it takes you to take a shower. Be forewarned, once applied, not only can the tub become slippery, but as you exit you might be swarmed by others wanting to touch your smooth, silky, deliciously scented skin!
Body Moisturizer with Honey
(Makes two applications)
Ingredients:
- 5 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons rose oil
- 2 cups almond oil
Preparation:
- In a medium sized amber bottle, add honey, rose oil and almond oil.
- Cover tightly and mix by gently shaking the bottle; if necessary, uncover and stir with a thin utensil.
- Use moisturizer in the shower by applying onto wet skin, especially concentrating on dry areas.
This recipe was created by Mauricio Burgos, Professional Makeup Artist and Image Consultant, and the National Honey Board. Burgos believes in complimenting a woman in a way that doesn’t overshadow her overall look, but rather defines her own unique assets. Keeping in line with his philosophy, he created the above Body Moisturizer with Honey.
Let’s talk! How do you pamper your skin? Share your secrets, and tips, in a comment!
Enjoyed this post? Share the love, and smooth skin, on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or Google+.
#Sponsored Giveaway: Payless Christian Siriano Handbag
This is a sponsored Payless Giveaway.
Fun day. Sun day. Everybody come say…
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and
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Enter to win the above featured Payless Christian Siriano Handbag by completing the mandatory entry below.
MANDATORY ENTRY:
Let me know in a comment why this bag will be your fave rave.
EXTRA ENTRIES AVAILABLE AFTER MANDATORY ENTRY IS COMPLETED – LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY TO COUNT:
1. Subscribe to my blog via email or feed. If you already do, let me know in a comment.
2. Follow @MsLatina on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Sample noted below. Provide me with the tweet URL in a comment. One tweet per day till the giveaway ends, so go ahead tweet away!
4. Share this post, or any another, on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Stumble Upon, and/or Digg. Each “share” gives you 1 extra entry. Just let me know which post you shared and your username, if applicable!
Void where prohibited. Must be 18 years or older to participate. No purchase necessary to win. Winner will be randomly selected and notified via email. Winner has two (2) days to respond before a another winner is selected. Entries/Comments must follow the submission guidelines to qualify. Prize is non-transferable.
Disclosure: LOAM received the same item being given. However, this in no way influenced my opinion. Yo! As for my rapping skills, that was influenced by tween. I know it’s cray cray. – Ok, ok I’ll stop now.
ShopBop Wrap Watch: A Must Buy Accessory!
At first I thought ShopBop may be too rich for my blood but once I browsed it’s different categories I found a ton of things that I could afford!
I ordered a La Mer Collections Simple Wrap Watch in Cobra. It is simply gorgeous, definitely a must buy accessory! I paired it with a simple white T-shirt and jeans. I also purchased an inexpensive cell phone case by Marc Jacobs that I picked from the Sale section. Both are shown below.

Shopbop is an online retail store that launched back in 2000. It started out as a small shop with very select items. It now offers tons of items, from apparel and accessories to household items, all for your shopping pleasure.
My order arrived on time, no hassle and properly packaged. Shopbop.com boasts about their great customer service and based on this order, I couldn’t agree more. I’m over the moon with my wrap watch!
Let’s talk! Watches: You either love them or hate them. Are they a necessary accessory or do you think they have become obsolete? Let us know your thoughts!
Finish, You Complete Me #FinishRiseandShine
Awww Kitchen, how I love and hate thee. The food and memories you’ve given me over the years have filled me with joy. Yet, the dishes, oh the dishes, they’re never-ending. They are one of the top reasons I loathe thee.
Do you have the same type of relationship with your kitchen? I have to admit I thought once I had my boys, my dish washing days would be over. I dreamed of assigning them that dreaded chore, as my Mom once did to me, and I am sure my boys will one day do to their own children, but the joke was on me. I’m such a perfectionist, I hate seeing dishes left on the counter and since I detest when the dish washing machine leaves residue, I end up doing them myself.
So, color me happy when Finish approached me to partner with them on the #FinishRiseandShine challenge. I couldn’t pass it up, I had to say Sí/Yes! If it could save me from dish washing doldrums and provide me with squeaky clean dishes, I was all for it! Even better, if the Finish® Quantum® with New Power Gel 10-Pack could make my dishes shine, with an “ultimate clean & amazing shine”, without wasting my time with pre-rinsing, then I could finally enjoy my kitchen time.
To test out the capsules, I made white rice with pollo guisado/stewed chicken. It’s the perfect weekday dish, simple and sabroso/tasty.
As you can see by the almost licked off plate Andrew, my tween, loves pollo guisado! Yet, as hard as he tried he left some streaks of stew – he wanted to lick it but I didn’t let him.
I inserted one capsule in the dishwasher.
Tada, the finished product! Can you see the shine in the picture? It’s so clean you see the word “Finish” reflected in the plate!
Let me know if you would like the pollo guisado recipe in a comment and I’ll post it. Also, if you want to test out the Finish Quantum with New Power Gel capsules yourself, see below!
Have a dishwasher?
Get your FREE Finish Quantum sample and take the #FinishRiseandShine Challenge. Just make sure to come back and share your experience with us and use the #FinishRiseandShine hashtag on the Finish Facebook page!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, created in collaboration with Finish. All opinions expressed herein are my own.
Fun, Sassy Kitchenware for Small Kitchens
Check out my faves from Giada De Laurentiis’ new collection of kitchenware for Target.com.
From pasta machines and pizza wheels to zesters and even a citrus press, these affordable yet high quality items are perfect for sprucing up your kitchen this spring!
To view Giada’s complete kitchenware line, head to Target.com.
Pin Your Worries Away with Acupuncture
The first time I heard about acupuncture was my ‘hippie’ Ecuadorian step aunt. I remember her administering acupuncture to my stepfather while I watched in amazement. It amazed me that it didn’t seem to hurt him at all.
My aunt went on to explain that acupuncture was a form of Chinese medicine that has been practiced for ages, causing my ten-year-old self to wonder what an Ecuadorian ‘hippie’ was doing practicing it. Her response, “acupuncture is for everyone”. From that moment on, I promised myself one day I would try it out. It would be 12 long years later before I finally did.
According to Tracey DeCosta-Beyer, “When people in communities of color first hear the term acupuncture, or learn about it, they may think it is some form of Voodoo and immediately shoot down the idea”. Reality is very different. Ms. DeCosta-Beyer notes that “acupuncture is about opening and moving energy in the body and removing any energy blockages someone may have. These two things help people in terms of reducing stress, anxiety and promoting better sleep.”
Ms. Decosta-Beyer is completely right.
After telling friends I was getting an acupuncture facial, their responses confirmed her theory. They were horrified. Claims that my face could be paralyzed, were thrown at me. Their warnings were grim. Ignoring them, I went to the Boulevard Skin Clinic, located right outside of the north exit of the Elmhurst station. Yet inside, I was nervous.
I needn’t have been.

Located on a very busy street, complete with an ongoing city soundtrack, the Boulevard Skin Clinic was convenient to transportation. However, the ambiance inside the spa was soothing. The aromatherapy, soft music, and the staff’s peaceful energy, set customers at ease, especially this one.
While I waited for my session to begin, I spoke to Seven Brown, a highly trained Esthetician and beauty expert. Ms. Brown explained to me “that [their] practices, one in Harlem and the Queens location I visited, are about getting to know the clients’ skin. We, as women of ethnically diverse backgrounds, have clients from very diverse ethnic backgrounds as well. This allows us to better understand and speak the language their skin speaks.”
Ms. Brown and Ms. Decosta-Beyer both agree that they aren’t a spa that’s interested in only treating superficial things. “We want to get to know our clients and learn more about them. This way we can customize the treatments they choose to better suit them.”
This is exactly what Ms. Decosta-Beyer did. She asked me about my diet, sleep pattern, stress load and what I wanted to get out of the session. It was then that I realized I hadn’t thought about what I wanted in a long time. As a busy mom, and student, I always do what I have to do without dwelling on the why, let alone have someone ask what I want out of anything.
I’ll admit the question threw me off a bit. After giving it some thought, I responded. I really needed help with stress relief. Keeping that in mind, she began the process and kept me fully informed the entire time. She also checked my pulse repeatedly, which I found strange. Noticing my curiosity, she explained that our pulse is the one thing we can’t control; as a result, it is the only true indicator of our state of mind and a true barometer of our energy.
My Session
My session, the Ortho-Bionomy, combines three different parts.
- The practice of moving the body to encourage the body to move the way it is naturally intended to.
- Acupuncture
- A three partsfacial, administrated during different parts of the session.
At first the Ortho-Bionomy felt strange. I never had someone move my body and head around to get it into positions that are comfortable. I was completely shocked at how great it felt, how quickly it put me into an almost sleep-like state, and how gentle Ms. Decosta-Beyer’s hands were. My mind was slowing down. I was no longer thinking about the next task on my To-Do List. I. Was. Relaxed.
After the first installment of the three parts facial, I was calmer and ready for the acupuncture. Ms. Decosta-Beyer took the time to explain the process stating, “The needles are as thin as a hair follicle. You shouldn’t feel pain when I insert them however, if you feel anything that feels uncomfortable to you let me know immediately so I can correct it.” At that point, I received the first of eight acupuncture needles. Surprisingly, although the session is described as an acupuncture facial, I did not receive any acupuncture in my face. The only acupuncture I received was placed on my body.
When the needle first enters your skin you feel a current of energy moving to that area. This sensation is your body’s energy releasing and moving, allowing you to be more receptive to your surroundings. At no time during an acupuncture session should you feel any pain. I will admit the second acupuncture was uncomfortable. I let her know and she immediately fixed it. The following six went in with no problem. She inserted two in each hand and two in each foot. The second part of the facial was a mask, which was applied soothingly, then a thin warm towel was laid over my eyes. I was left alone to relax and enjoy the moment of tranquility and solitude that mothers rarely get. At first, I fought the urge to fall asleep then remembered my response to what I wanted from this session. I was here to relax and that meant letting go so that I could enjoy the session to the fullest extent possible. I did.
Boulevard Skin Clinic and Staff
Ms. Decosta-Beyer is just one of the acupuncturists working at the Boulevard Skin Clinic. She dispelled my fears completely. She has an impressive 16 years combined experience as a Massage Therapist, Aesthetician and an Acupuncturist. However, for me her greatest talent, and one she shared with my favorite Tia, was her ability to make a complete stranger feel welcome and comfortable. Those two attributes helped me relax and settle into my session quickly.
The Harlem Skin Clinic and Boulevard Skin Clinic offers several services in addition to acupuncture. Services like waxing, facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and consultations, which allow you and the technician to speak one on one about what your skin really needs and what will suite your needs the best.
Would I recommend the Boulevard Skin Clinic?
Yes. I highly recommend the clinic and it’s staff.
Let’s talk! Have you had acupuncture? Share your experience in a comment!
Gloria Malone is a teen Mom on a mission to prove that having a child does not limit your life. She is a college student, young parent’s advocate, and speaker. Follow Gloria on Twitter and on her blog, Teen Mom NYC.
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La Carterita / The Clutch
I post things that I simply love or enjoy, for one reason or another. I think there is a history and a feeling to everything.
La Carterita, the clutch, is one of my favorite accessories. I typically go through my day with a huge handbag, or satchel, that I can throw everything into. Having a a large bag validates the odd necessities I throw inside throughout the day. Like a 10 oz tube of body lotion or a wrench (Seriously, you never know when you may need one!).
Yet, I love a beautiful clutch. It gives my back a break. Admittedly, initially I am uncomfortable without my 10,000 items, but eventually I relax and enjoy the freedom my clutch allows.
My perfect clutch? Vintage.
I love it’s history. I daydream about who could have owned it before me. Where did they go with it – a dance, a first date? I also add a little history to it to with my own uses. In time, my daughter will take them over and add her own adventures to those carteritas/clutches.
History - As a child, I recall watching others with their carteritas and knowing they were important. They have an allure of mystery about them, something special. What could possibly fit in such a small bag? Whatever was in there had to be the best for it was all that it could carry. I wanted one; I wanted people to think that of me.
Feeling – When I use one of my vintage carteritas, or even a new clutch, I feel feminine and sexy. I want others to notice and comment on it. If not, I will even bring it up.
My everyday handbag, allows me to be “prepared for a world war”. A clutch, on the other hand, reminds me to give myself a break and live life by the moment. Leaving behind yesterday’s “essentials’, allows me to enjoy the present for all it’s worth. My vintage carteritas might be seeped in the past; however, the memories I carry are weightless and all empowering.
If you don’t already have one, find one with a little history or get a new one that makes you happy. You can begin its own history.
Let’s talk! Do you use carteritas/clutches? Which do you prefer: new or vintage?
Enter to Win Pantene Expert Collection Products (3 Winners)
I’m excited to announce that Latina On a Mission and Pantene have teamed up to giveaway products from their AgeDefy & Advanced+ Keratin Repair product line. The products, valued at over $50, are listed below.
- AgeDefy Shampoo ($7.99)
- AgeDefy Conditioner ($7.99)
- Advanced Thickening Treatment ($18.99)
- Advanced+ Keratin Repair Shampoo ($7.99)
- Advanced+ Keratin Repair Conditioner ($7.99)
To enter, follow the directions below.
¡Suerte!/ Good luck!
MANDATORY ENTRY:
From the items being given (noted above), which are you most excited to receive and why? To learn more about each product, go to the Pantene Expert product page.
EXTRA ENTRIES AVAILABLE AFTER MANDATORY ENTRY IS COMPLETED – LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY TO COUNT:
1. Subscribe to my blog via email or feed, and/or “Like” Latina On a Mission’s Facebook page for one (1) entry EACH. If you already do, let me know in a comment.
2. Follow @MsLatina on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Sample noted below. Provide me with the tweet URL in a comment. One tweet per day till the giveaway ends, so go ahead tweet away!
3. Leave a comment on ANY other post, dated January 1, 2012 or later, for TWO (2) extra entries. Let me know you did so in the comments below.
4. Share this post, or another, on Google+, Stumble Upon, Technorati, Digg, and/or Facebook. Each post shared gives you 1 extra entry. Just let me know which post you shared and your username, if applicable!










