I’m back & OOTD (Easter 2016)

Hi everyone!!! It has been along time since I’ve posted on my blog. These past few months have been difficult me for me and my family mentally and emotionally. Some of you may know that two years ago, my little sister killed three days before my birthday. My family is still grieving and trying to cope with this loss. We celebrated her birthday (Jan. 1st) and her remembrance day (March 15th) while remembering all the good times we’ve had with her.

I’ve also been working towards my 3rd degree and will be graduating with my MAT in Elementary Education. I’m so happy that I will be graduating in June 🙂

I feel like I am able to give my full attention back to my blog and hope that you all will continue to join me on this journey.

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This was my outfit for Easter yesterday. I decided to change after church and wanted a look that was comfy yet stylish. I love denim on denim looks paired with a bold color.

Jeans and Top: Express

Shoe and Clutch: Shoe Depot (No longer available) I love this style and also this style

Necklace: Mirina Collections

I hope everyone is enjoying your day! Until next time……

XOXO

Ra Caiya

Fashionablyeducatedmom

Too Faced Chocolate Bar: Review

Hey guys!!!

I am so sorry that I have been MIA for the past weeks. I have been busy with my family and getting ready for Christmas. I hope that everyone had an awesome Christmas and received everything they wanted. Christmas was great; the kids enjoyed their gifts and we enjoyed our time with family and friends while eating some delicious food.

Now on to the review….

TOO FACED CHOCOLATE BAR

I purchased the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette in October, but really didn’t use it until Mid November.

The palette is in a cute box that looks like a wrapped chocolate bar. The actual palette looks like chocolate too. I think this is so cute! Inside the box, Too Faced included a step-by-step look cards that will help you to create different looks. When you open the palette, the smell of sweet chocolate is the first thing you will notice. This is because the co-founder Jerrod Blandino was inspired to use actual cocoa powder as one of the ingredients in the eye shadows!

In the palette there are the following eye shadow colors:

• Gilded Ganache
• Salted Caramel
• Hazelnut
• White Chocolate
• Marzipan
• Creme Brulee’
• Semi-sweet
• Haute Chocolate
• Milk Chocolate
• Strawberry Bon Bon
• Cherry Cordial
• Black Forest Truffle
• Candied Violet
• Triple Fudge
• Ameretto
• Champagne Truffle

The shadows are very pigmented and there is little fall out when you are applying the shadows. The texture is smooth and creamy and there is not a lot of shimmer in them. That is a plus for me because I don’t like the shimmery consistency in most pallets. I don’t often use eye primer, but I noticed that i don;t have to use it with this palette.

The only con I have is the price. The palette runs at $49.00 on the Too Faced and Sephora websites. This is why I went looking for some similar palettes for those who don’t want to spend that amount of money on makeup. This is what I found….

Dupe Alert!!!!!!!

I ❤ Chocolate Salted Caramel Palette from Makeup Revolution. The colors are similar to the Chocolate Bar, but the best part is the price. It costs £7.99 (around $12.00 USD). The only con is that it’s a London based company. I ordered this palette and I cannot wait to try it out!

Picture Credit

If you have this palette already, please comment below and let me know what you think? If you have the Chocolate Bar, tell me your thoughts on it?

Make sure to comment below and subscribe!

xoxo

-Ra Caiya

Fashionablyeducatedmom

Tasty Tuesdays: Mint White Hot Chocolate

If you are looking for ways to spice up your hot chocolate, I suggest that you try the Mint Hot Chocolate that I found on The Gracious Wife‘s Blog.

I’ve tried it, and I absolutely love it!

Mint Hot Chocolate:

• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups half & half
• 1 bag white chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Optional: A few drops of food coloring
• Marshmallows for topping

1. In a large pot, add milk and half-and-half, and heat over medium heat until steam-y but not boiling.
2. Stir in the white chocolate chips. Continue stirring until chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is creamy.
3. Stir in food coloring and extracts. Stir until smooth. Serve warm.

 Why don’t you try it and let me know what you think? Do you have any other ideas for spicing up your hot chocolate?

Comment below……

until next time….

Ra Caiya

Fashionably Educated Mom

OOTD: Mixing it up…

Plaid and Stripes:

Blanket Scarf: Target

Leather Jacket: Forever21

Striped Shirt: Jcrew (no longer available but I like this one here and here

 

Shoes:Jordan Retro 10s

Jeans: Target

This weather here in Louisville has been up and down. These past few days, it has started out really cold, but by the time we school is out, it’s  in the mid to upper 50’s.

Today was a casual day for me. I have been giving tests to students throughout the school, so I wanted to be as comfortable as possible. This is my OOTD; I hope you enjoy 🙂

until next time….

xoxo

Ra Caiya

Fashionably Educated Mom

My Social Media Accounts

Hey everyone!

Hope everyone is enjoying their week. My coworkers and our students are ready for our Christmas Break 🙂

I wanted to take this time to share with you all my Social Media accounts. I will be having another giveaway soon, so keeping current on my accounts is the one of the best ways. Also, I am one these accounts more frequently, so you will e able to see what I am up more. You will also get to see my family in action lol.

Snapchat:

Instagram:

Facebook:

I just created my Fashionably Educated Mom page on Facebook last week.

Twitter:

For collaborations and other business inquiries,  you may also contact me at:

fashionablyeducatedmom@gmail.com

until nest time…..

xoxo

-Ra Caiya

Fashionably Educated Mom

Men’s Style Mondays: Choosing the Perfect Watch

My husband is a watch fanatic! He has so many watches, and still considers purchasing more. (Sidenote: I can’t say anything because I am the same way with shoes lol). So I finally sat him down and asked him, “how to do choose the perfect watch?” I caught him by surprise, but quickly, he was eager to explain.

Having watches based on your lifestyle:

He suggest having a watch for work and play.  When looking for a watch for work, consider looking for one that is classic and more tasting.

Stainless steel vs. leather:

He feels that stainless steel is more practical than leather and it is more durable. It is dressy enough work and casual enough for other events. It’s also waterproof which is a good thing.

JCPenny

The Face:

The face compared to the person’s wrist is very important. This needs to be considered when purchasing a watch. He states , “Since I am a big guy, I need to be careful because I don’t want my watch to look like a woman’s watch!” Since watch makers are becoming more of a trend, so he doesn’t have problem with that. I personally like the bigger faces.

Fossil

Color:

Color of the face and strap is important. There are many colors, but when building a wardrobe, consider looking for watches that will blend and will look appropriate in business and casuals settings.

Until next time…

xoxo

Ra Caiya

Fashionably Educated Mom

Women’s Style Wednesdays: Finding the Perfect Winter Coat

For most of my readers, if isn’t cold where you are, it will be shortly. I’ve noticed that my coat is getting tighter around my shoulders so I am in search for a new one. I started thinking about what style would work well for my body frame (I’m 5’9 with a slender builder) and it prompted this new post.

Below are some tips and suggestions on how to pick the best coat for your body type along with some selections you can purchase now (or put on your Christmas list for Santa 😉

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Tall:

If you have a taller frame, I suggest picking a coat that is long. Try to avoid roomy, loose, and hips length coats because the cut is overwhelming paired with a tall frame. Colored and cropped coats work well because the colors help to break up the tall frame.

Michael Kors Faux Fur Trim Coat

Petite:

For petite women, try to avoid coats that are long because they will “swallow” you. Try to look for one with a bright color; because it will make your body appear longer, even though black is a practical color. A Pea coat with a decorative belt would work great for a petite woman because it will keep you warm and the belt will create a silhouette.

Micheal Kors Coat

Full Figured:

Choosing the right coat will depend a lot on your body shape, but try to go for coats that will extend past the thickest part of your hips and thighs. This will help to avoid widening your body frame.

Click here for more tips and suggestions

This jacket is from Dillards. Click here for more details.

Gallery Plus Silk Look Coat

xoxo

-Ra Caiya

Fashionably Educated Mom

 

Trendy Toddler Tuesdays: The Children’s Place

I love shopping,especially for my kiddos. Since they are constantly growing, I have to search for great pieces that are stylish yet affordable. One of my go-to stores for my kids is The Children’s Place.

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The Children’s Place….

Has awesome clothes for babies to early elementary school age kids. The clothes are cute and very affordable. Below are a few of my favorite pieces I found on their website:

Baby Girls Short Sleeve Dress

This piece is so cute and would be cute for mommy & me date 🙂

Baby Boy’s Long Sleeve Sleeper

Youngest son Davon had this sleeper. He and my older son Xavier LOVE TMNT.

Girl’s Jean jacket

You can never go wrong with a stylish jean jacket.

Boys Vest and Blazer

These two are adorable! I’m loving the casual look on the boy on the left. The vest works well with this outfit. The suit is great for Church or Easter. Pair the Jacket with some jeans for a more casual look.

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I am always a happy customer when I leave The Children’s Place. The store in my city has experienced sales representatives and I can always find what I am looking for.

Do you have any children stores that you like? Comment below

xoxo

Ra Caiya

fashionably Educated Mom

Note: I am not Sponsor nor am I being compensated by The Children’s Place. I like their store and thought that I would share my experience with my followers. 

Tasty Tuesdays: Eggnog with a Twist

This week’s Tasty Tuesdays is all about the Eggnog. I know this is a drink that can be a hit or a miss with people. I have to admit, I wasn’t a fan when I was younger, but not I can’t get enough of it lol.

I found some cool eggnog recipes…with a little twist.

Hope you try them out for yourself 🙂

Peppermint Eggnog

Source

• 6 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons more sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 cups whole milk
• 12 peppermint candy canes, broken into pieces
• 3 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• Peppermint sticks, for garnish

1. Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Whisk together eggs, egg yolks, sugar, salt, and the extracts in large saucepan over medium-low heat until combined. Pour in milk in a slow, steady stream, whisking until fully incorporated. Raise heat to medium. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 30 to 35 minutes.

2. Pour milk mixture through a fine sieve into a medium bowl. Set bowl in ice-water bath; let mixture cool completely. Transfer custard to an airtight container, and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

3. Process candy canes in a food processor until finely crushed. Sift in a strainer to discard dust. Transfer to a shallow dish.

4. Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Let cool 5 minutes. Dip rim of each cup into melted chocolate, then crushed peppermint. Refrigerate until set, about 5 minutes.

5. Remove custard from refrigerator; set aside. Put cream into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; mix on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into cold custard until combined. Fill cups with eggnog. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint, and garnish with peppermint sticks; serve.

Eggnog with Irish Creme

Source

12 large eggs, lightly beaten

4 cups half-and-half

4 cups milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 1/2 cups chilled strongly brewed coffee

3 cups Irish cream liqueur

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups whipping cream

Garnishes: additional whipped cream, thin chocolate mints

1. Gradually add sugar to eggs in a large glass mixing bowl, whisking until blended. Set aside.

2.Stir together half-and-half, milk, and salt in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, 12 to 15 minutes or just until mixture begins to bubble around edges of pan. (Do not boil.)

3. Gradually stir half of hot milk mixture into egg mixture. Stir egg mixture into remaining hot milk mixture in Dutch oven.

4. Cook mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture slightly thickens and a thermometer registers 160° (about 25 to 30 minutes). Remove from heat, and stir 1 minute. Pour mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a serving bowl. Stir in coffee, Irish cream liqueur, and vanilla; let cool 1 hour. Cover and chill at least 4 hours.

5. Beat whipping cream at high speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into chilled eggnog, and garnish, if desired.

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I have to add that I love these recipes, but I also keep a bottle of store bought eggnog on hand for those days I don’t want to make it from scratch. I also keep some tasty treat on deck to add as well. I like to add:

• Vanilla
• Nutmeg
• Dark liquor (rum is  quite tasty)

 

Hope you enjoyed….

until next time!

xoxo

Ra Caiya

Fashionably Educated Mom

Men’s Style Monday: Holiday Outfits

Hello everyone!

18 more days until Christmas!!!!!! Whoohoo!

In my last post I talked about different Holiday outfits for women. In this post I figured I would give some men some ideas for upcoming events that they may be attending. Since I will be hosting my Holiday party soon, I should give my husband some ideas 🙂

I loved all of these outfits and my husband did as well.

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Plaid:

Source

Maroon:

Source

The Black Suit:

Source

Green with envy:

Source

The Casual Look:

Source

Cute Sweaters:

Source

My favorite is the first one (with the plaid pants). I don’t know why, but I’m loving the pants. My hubby thought the last photo (the sweater) was nice. I can see him wearing that on a day to day basis at his job. This is more of his style and his students are always complimenting him on his outfits.

So do you have a favorite? Are you and your significant other doing anything special that requires you to dress up?

Comment below

xoxo

Ra Caiya

Fashionably Educated Mom