The only way to celebrate the Polar Vortex is to SLAY! Here in Chicago it's been ridiculously cold, like below freezing cold. In the negatives cold!


I don't know about you guys, but I can't stand winter so I have to make it as enjoyable as possible. Since it was a snow day for myself and many other people in the city, I decided to take a break from my work from home activities and beat my face.

I love everything fantasy, avant garde, whimsical, and out of the box!

I don't know about you guys, but I love saving money, just as much as I love making it. I'm unapologetically frugal. I heard about the ibotta app a while ago and wanted to try it out.

What is ibotta?

ibotta is a cash back app. The app features select stores like Whole Paycheck Foods, Target, Amazon, and more. Shoppers can get cash back on select items from each store by uploading receipts and/or scanning barcodes. Once you get to the $20 threshold, you can send the money to your PayPal or use it with a gift card from select stores.


Does it work?

Hells yes! I got my first $20 last year, and it's legit y'all. So far, I've earned close to $190 from using it. The main stores I shop at are Whole Foods, JoAnn Fabric, Amazon, and Walgreens. It took me a couple of months to get to the first $20, but it definitely works. I just sent the money to my PayPal account instead of getting a gift card.


How does it work?

As stated, there are select stores in collaboration with ibotta and there are select products that you can get cash back from within said stores. So let's say you're at Whole Foods, and you check the ibotta app's W.F. section. A product like grapes can be listed for 75 cents cash back. All you do is regularly purchase your grapes (and whatever items are listed), check mark the grapes, and upload a photo of the receipt. In some cases and for some products you may have to scan the barcode.

Overall, I think ibotta is a really nice app, especially if you want to make some easy pocket change here and there and it's pretty much a great way to save money. Definitely great for college students, families, and damn near anyone!

Sign up with my code "rriuvvs" Ibotta

I've been wanting to try The Lip Bar's products for the longest! It's been on my "Black Owned Make up Products" to try list and I finally grabbed some during their holiday White Box BOGO sale. I purchased "Crown Me", a deep purple matte lipstick for my bff and the "Night Owl" lipstick for myself.

Despite the holiday postal delays, my package arrived in a week. Even if it arrived late, I still wouldn't have had an issue since I'm understanding of the mailing system as a business owner myself.


Size: .24 fl oz

Price: $12

Ingredients: RicinusCommunis (Castor) Seed Oil, PerseaGratissima (Avocado) oil, Caprylic/Capric triglyceride ( derivate of coconut oil), Magnesium Myristate, ButyrospermumParkii (Shea Butter), Kaolin Clay, Stearyl Palmitate, Carnauba Wax, Ozokerite, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Microcrystalline wax, Vanillin, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, [+/-] Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (CI19140), Red #7 Lake (CI45410, CI15850), Red #40 Lake CI 16035,D&C Red #6 (CI15850), Blue #1 Lake (CI42090), Yellow #6 Lake (CI15985)


Here's the look I created with the Night Owl lippie:







Pros:

• Pigmented
• Vegan
• Long lasting
• Unique, bold, beautiful packaging
• Smooth application

Cons:

• Slight sheer finish

Her milkshake brings all the boys to the yard and her fashion brings all the looks to the runway! Give the good sis Kelis her props because she is one of the sole sources of inspiration for today's "edgy" look. Gray hair, pink, blue, and green dyed curls, flashy jumpsuits rocked by your favorite IG models, the singer already been there and did that. Hands down, Kelis has always one of my top five most influential fashion icons.

As a pre-teen growing up in the 2000's, her edginess always spoke to my budding edginess. I already rocked with her, but when the "Bossy" music video dropped when I graduated from 8th grade, it was over. I was absolutely mesmerized by the aesthetics. The short hair, the luxuriousness, the "Mrs Jones" necklace, the grill. It instantly became one of my personal theme songs.


Without a doubt, she was ahead of her time and the Queen of the early 2000's fashion. Not only were her music videos like "Get Along With You" and "Acapella" on some next level shit, but she followed up in her real life style.

Here's a look at her evolutionary looks:

Getty Images