Holiday Fave: Sugar Cookies

Try your hand at this holiday favorite using the recipe below!

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Ingredients:

  • 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour 
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder 
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar 
  • 2 eggs 
  • 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks) 
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
  • Colored Icing, recipe follows 

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

In a bowl, stir together flour and baking powder. In another bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy and light. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture, a third at a time to make a stiff dough. Divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll out a portion of cookie dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters. Place on lightly greased or nonstick cookie sheets. Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minute, rotating baking sheet halfway through cooking time. Cool completely on pans about 5 minutes, transfer to cooling racks and cool completely before decorating. 

Colored Icing: 

  • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons water 
  • 3 to 4 drops food coloring, plus more as needed 
  • Colored sprinkles, optional 

 

In a small bowl, mix sugar and water to form a thick, smooth icing. Stir in food coloring to reach desired shade. Drop icing onto cookies using a small teaspoon and smooth with the back of the spoon. Make additional bowls for additional colors. 

 

Additional multi-colored sprinkles can be added on top of icing before it dries for more decorative cookies, if desired.

Quick Beauty Tip

Old Man Winter will be knocking on our doors in a couple of weeks and we all know that with dipping temperatures comes dry skin and hair. Try this quick tip to remedy your dry skin this season:

  • Draw a bath by adding 2 cups skim milk to warm - not hot - water
  • Soak for 15 minutes
  • Pat skin dry and apply a milk and honey cream to boost the benefits.

And voila! Instantly smoother, moisturized skin. 

 

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Our Favorite "Beyonce" Hair Moments

Today Beyonce shocked the world with the release of her fifth studio album. This self-titled album isn't just your everyday collection of songs. It's a visual album that includes 17 amazing videos. In the midst of all of the stimulating visuals, one thing in particular stood out to us. You guessed it, the hair! Our BEYloved diva rocked every style from beginning to end. Here are some of our faves!  

 

"Haunted"-Platinum Finger Waves 

 

"Blow"- Loose Waves 

 

"Jealous"- Wanded Waves 

"XO"- Wavy Asymmetric Bob

"Blue"- Beach Waves 

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Beyoncé Visual Album

On the morning of December 13th Queen Bey released her album including 14 songs, along with 17 videos to the masses. The self titled album is currently only available for download through iTunes. Mrs. Carter has definitely defined her own rules and pushes people to pay attention to music just like any other art form. The album hits stores on December 21st and we can't wait to get an ear full of Beyoncé and the added video bonuses!

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Scandalous Hair

Love Olivia Pope’s effortlessly classy hair, but don’t know where to begin?  Try our PURE Wavy or PURE Straight in 12 inches, and have your hair wrapped for bounce and volume. When you feel the need, use a large barrel iron or thick panel flat iron to add curls, and you give your look a little more spice. This style is ideal for the professional woman, who may work out in the evenings, and goes for drinks on the weekends.

Scandal Coats

Scandal is the hottest show right now, and with the weather getting colder, it’s only fair that we take a fashion cue from our favorite stylista, Olivia Pope.  With Olivia, you can always expect a light, neutral, effortless class and a bit of spice from her form fitting slacks and blazers. Her coats are no exception.  Leave to Olivia to have a different coat for each outfit. From winter whites to the occasional plum, Olivia Pope knows what works with her skin tone and how to clinch the waist for a sleek, professional look. Grab you Scandal-inspired coat today!

Tis the Season to Be Chic: Holiday Dresses You’ll love

Get these great holiday looks, using silhouettes and textures that bring out your best features. You can use our pure wavy or pure straight hair to complete these great holiday looks.

The A Line

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Classic and elegant, you can never go wrong with an A Line dress

 

The Bodycon

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Show off that figure you’ve been working so hard on all year in a bodycon dress

 

The Midi

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Midi is the new mini, especially during the winter months.

 

Texture

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Be anything but boring in a textured dress.

Haute Hair Alert!

We just love Tika Sumpter's sleek, bone straight hairstyle! It compliments her festive Alice and Olivia pantsuit to perfection. Go from drab to fab with longer locks that blend nicely with darker hair tones! You can achieve this look by wearing our Hysteria, color Ebony in 22".

#MariahHoliday

The sultry icon has a new holiday nail polish line by OPI. The line features 18 new colors; deep reds and great shimmers like "All I want for Christmas (is OPI)", "Sleigh Ride For Two", "Visions of Love", and "I Snow You Love Me". They're super chic and festive, we can't wait to try!

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Favorite Winter Beauty Products

We've got a remedy for every winter woe that you may be facing around this time of year! Check out our list of favs below!

 

Dry Hair and Skin?

WINNER: Organic Coconut Oil

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This is an amazing product and it's also super affordable! It's great when used as a hot oil treatment for your hair as well as a full body moisturizer! Coconut oil smells great and it makes your skin and hair feel and look amazing! It's all natural so you don't have to worry about using any harsh chemicals.

 

Dull skin?

WINNER: Cetaphil

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Are you experiencing dull and dry skin that even your foundation won't fix? You're probably lacking moisture due to the bitter cold weather that you've been exposed to. Cetaphil is a drug-store brand that you can always count on! It's gentle for all skin types and it gets the job done effectively without breaking the bank! Try their cleansers and moisturizers and you'll see what all of the hype is about. Cetaphil is great for leaving your skin fresh and hydrated without all of those extra fragrances and chemicals that most other brands use. 

 

Dry hands?

WINNER: Ahava Deadsea Mud Dermud Intensive Hand Cream

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This stuff is a miracle worker for dry hands! It penetrates the skin layers

to deliver a super hydration and healing! Lastly, this stuff smells AMAZING!

This is carried in your local Macy's and Nordstrom.

 

Chapped Lips?

WINNER: NYX "The it list" pink lip gloss set

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Just in time for the holidays, NYX put together an amazing lip gloss kit to

fit all of your needs! Whether its shine, sparkle, shimmer or moisture that

you seek, it's all in the kit! Plus its only $20! You can't lose!

Tamar's Winter Loversland

Holiday's are the best time to spread more LOVE than usual.  Tamar Braxton does just that with her new holiday album Winter Loversland.  The album features timeless classics including "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", "Sleigh Bells" and more.  The added bonus is Tamar's creative spin on new music including "She Can Have You" and "No Gift"

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Say Yes to Cucumbers

We’ve heard nothing but good things about this facial cleanser. This product is very healthy for the skin. With Soy Proteins and added Green Tea for an anti-oxidant leaving your face feeling soft and refreshed. Also don’t be afraid to try the other products Yes To has to offer .

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Big, Bold, Attention-Grabbing Hair

Sleek, straight hair can be beautiful, but nothing does more for your look than big, bold, attention grabbing hair. If you already have a great length, you’ll want to maximize on volume by curling your tightly using small flexi-rods or by utilizing the Bantu-Knot method. For instant-glam, use textures like Organic Curl and Coil Curl from the Bounce Collection to achieve jaw-dropping curls and coils. The curly look is for any nationality and this season is the perfect time to step out the box!

Clutch it up this season!

Party the night away with these festive clutches as we gear up for the Christmas and New Year's celebration. They are sure to hold all of your most prized possessions while your having a blast on the dance floor (ladies we can't start the nigh off without our Chanel lips stick or Dolce & Gabbana perfumed body lotion!). Check out these simple, yet edge defining clutches below. Think about which ones will you sport with your Indique Virgin Hair Extensions!

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