I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday. In the spirit of gift giving, I’m sharing my favorite beauty products to encourage you to treat yourself (or the best girls in your life!)

1 . Fresh Lip Exfoliator- Since the cold weather hit, the air has been drier and my lips have been so chapped. I searched online and found this lip exfoliator by Fresh, available at Sephora for $22.50. It buffs away dry skin and smells like brown sugar.

2 . Make-Up Eraser- I actually bought this at the Junior League Christmas Fair and to my surprise, with just a splash of warm water, it cleans your face completely.

3 . The Lancer Face Kit- This is my favorite regimen. It is used by Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham, Beyonce and many more celebrities. Created by Dr. Lancer, touted as the best dermatologist in Beverly Hills, this product is now available to the public at most high-end department stores. When I learned of the face kit, I wanted to invest, but I was skeptical because of the high price point. Instead, I bought the traveling kit that retails $125 and use it daily. I saw immediate results but I recommend buying the traveling kit as a beginner to see which products work best for you.

4 . Medicated Burts Bees Wax- I can’t live without chapstick and the medicated version of Burt’s Bees relieves chapped lips, leaves a minty fresh taste, and actually heals dry skin rather than just a short term cover up. I always carry this with me and it’s available at your nearest Walgreen’s.

5 . Kevyn Aucoin Concealer- My favorite make-up is the Kevyn Aucoin Concealor. I have had the same compact since last November and it’s still half full, it’s so potent and full of pigment that you only need to blend out a tiny dot for under eye cover up. It lasts long but it’s an investment piece, and can be purchased at Dry A Blow-Dry Bar.

6 . Davines Melu Conditioner- I have extremely dry hair and now that I dyed it, I need color-treated moisture for my hair so once a week. I use my handy dandy Melu from Davines that is also carried at Dry, and smells, well, divine. It’s for dry, damaged and color-treated hair and I apply it to the ends to give it moisture.

7 . Bobbie Brown Hydrating Eye Cream- In the morning when my eyes are puffy, I always dab a bit of this hydrating cream to give my under eyes life. I also use it when I wash my face and am ready to put make up on so it hydrates my eyes. I then apply the concealer.

8 . Latisse- I’ve been using this for years. It’s a little pricey, but when you use it, your real lashes grow so long and so fast that I can’t live without it anymore. The best part is that you’re lengthening and strengthening your REAL lashes. I have had extensions before and you can’t wear mascara, or wet your eyes, plus they cost three times more than you would pay for Latisse.

9 . Skin Medica Brightening Complex- During summer in the past, my skin would develop little splotches since I wasn’t consistently wearing sunscreen— a huge no-no. To correct the spots and even out my skin tone, I bought this product at the Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center of El Paso at Dr. Jabor’s office. It has lasted me a whole year since you don’t need much, and it really brightens your skin complex.

10 . Tom Ford Bronzer - Lastly, I bought this last November and it has also lasted me a whole year. This bronzer is my favorite, and every time I use this product, people ask what kind of bronzer I use. It has a subtle shimmer and blends out nicely, giving me a sun kissed feel, and is especially good for conturing.

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This past year has been a full one, with no shortage of challenges, triumphs, surprises and lessons. This year is also the year where I feel that I have finally found myself, I experienced an “a-ha” moment that has led to growth and personal development. I can truly say that over this past year, I have found out who I really am. I am definitely not the girl you used to know anymore, and I’m proud of that.

After some traumatic setbacks earlier in the year, I was challenged to see who I was destined to become.

In the past, birthdays have been full of tears (and mild depression), probably because every year I never felt whole, or confident that I had accomplished much over time. No tears this year. Although I will celebrate quietly with friends and family, I am happy to share that I feel so fulfilled and surrounded by love. I have finally seen what true happiness means and have learned about what really matters in life and so far 25 has been my best year ever! Why?

I have not only left my previous career to follow my heart and start my own business, but I am free to make my own decisions and choose to do what I believe is right for me and my family—the ultimate freedom.

I connected with my spiritual side and have gotten so close to God that I have a sense of peace and prosperity within, and realize all there is to be thankful for. I wake up with a gratitude and an eagerness for the day.

After these years, I feel that I finally have true friendships and real relationships with people. Im allowing myself to be open, vulnerable and genuine, to be thoughtful, helpful and selfless. I have always been a bit of an introvert but now find myself easy going and ready to take risks.

This year, my marriage reached the “seven year itch”and although some days were tough, we surpassed all conflicts and came out higher and stronger, united. I am now more in love with my husband than I have ever been in my entire life and I’m able to see that what we have accomplished is so special.

I’ve honed a discipline of changing my lifestyle and how to be a homemaker, which I never was before. Taking the extra step to grocery shop, to cook and wash, to wake up early and exercise everyday, sometimes even twice a day.

Lastly, to finally be free from strife, to be loving and kind to others has been a process for me, quite honestly. I’m now able to appreciate my life on earth and make every minute count. This has been a challenging, crazy year, but the best growing experience and truly, the best year yet!

Cheers to 25 and what’s to come.

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Last month, I shared with you all my Spring/Summer 2016 fashion forecasts based on my visit to NYC Market, and now I’m so excited to reveal the stunning layout that is published in this month’s City Magazine!

The article is based on the blog post I wrote, but paired with beautiful photos that illustrate each trend. I am proud to be a contributor to a local publication that produces such high-quality work. Check out the spread, and pickup a copy for yourself at your local Barnes and Noble or Walgreens.

PS. You can catch me this Friday night on News Channel 9, I’ll be chatting about this blog and would love your support. Have a great weekend!

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Although I’ve been blogging for less than 12 months (February 2016 will mark a year!), it has become one of my favorite hobbies. Aside from working on my new business venture, writing for this blog is more than just an outlet— it’s become a source of creativity, a way to tap into and explore my thoughts and feelings, and has even served as stress relief.

It can be hard to set aside the time for creative pursuits, but I find it so important, that I wanted to dedicate a blog post to offer tips for those of you who may be interested in starting your own blog, on whatever topic you’re most passionate about. For me, it’s become an evolving (and public) journal of sorts. I’ve been able to express my thoughts on the blog, and gain awesome feedback from people all over the world. Talk about perspective!

My process:

1 . Create a running list of subjects and topics, sort of an on-going brainstorm of ideas that you’d like to build a fleshed-out story from. It’s helpful to plug these into a calendar so you can work these ideas around holidays, particular times of year, themes and trends to make these more timely.

2 . Do your homework. It’s important for me to stay informed about trends, designers and industry news since I author a fashion blog. My favorite “research” sources are WWD, style.com and other fashion bloggers like Sincerely Jules. I draw on my personal style, and what I see and experience during my travels to keep myself inspired and looking ahead.

3 . Choose your photos! When I’ve committed to a topic, I schedule a photo shoot with my good friend, City Magazine photographer, Dav Amed. We collaborate on ideas and suggestions for backgrounds, poses, and work hard to choose unique locations in El Paso. It can be difficult to find the right scenery, so I love to hear suggestions from my readers. Sometimes a photo or outfit inspires my blog topic, but it’s usually the other way around.

4 . Dress the part. After I schedule the photo shoot, I visit Dry: A Blow-Dry Bar for styling, where I have my hair and makeup done by one of the talented stylists. I usually shop my closet to find the right outfit, depending on my mood or the blog subject.

5 . Write! When I’m ready, I sit down with a cup of coffee in a quiet place to gather my thoughts, and start writing.

As you can see, this is a personal process that will surely vary from blogger to blogger, but having a thoughtful, genuine blog with compelling photos requires planning and work. I’d love your feedback and invite your own updates, questions and requests.

For more, follow me at Gesuina.Legaspy on Instagram, or facebook.com/GesuinaLegaspy

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