Since having my schedule change back January, I've been working on self-care and my morning rituals to keep me motivated and feeling good. I know everyone and their mother has made a post somewhere about this but I personally love reading about someone's morning routine. I especially like to know what skincare specifics they use to begin their day.

I set my alarm for 7am every morning. I usually get out of bed between 7 and 8 depending on how late I was up the night before reading or what I have planned for the day.

My next step is skincare, I've been keeping an intense eye on skincare lately. Stress has been wreaking havoc on my complexion and I knew that something had to give - so diet and skincare are front and center right now.

The skincare products I use range depending on how my skin feels that morning or looks but one thing is always for sure - a good cleanse, tone, sunscreen! Glycolic peels have also been a must. I've been using one or the other of the following peels every morning and have seen a great change in my skin texture and clarity in just a little over a week. I'm working hard to decrease sun damage and I feel that these and my evening routine items have been making a difference. Routine and repetition are key.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Peels

Pixi Glow Tonic


Next up are vitamins, water, and making myself a bulletproof coffee (which is now decaf, thank you acid reflux! lol). I love Nespresso personally and they have a decaf coffee for my machine that tastes like a normal coffee, not watery and gross when you think of original decaf coffees.

Nespresso Vertuo Machine - White

Nespresso Decaf

Lastly, I like to sit with my bunnies on the porch and either read something like a self-help book or most of the time it's checking emails and listening to a podcast. I have also been trying to meditate a couple times a week and that would be at this time as well.

I really feel that having a morning routine helps start the day on the right foot. It gives you that time for yourself and to set the tone and pace for your day. Please let me know in the comments what you do in the morning or what podcast you are loving right now.

Blush has made a comeback. It didn't really leave but I feel like bronzing and highlight/contouring took the center stage for a while and blush was getting the shaft. Don't get me wrong I love chiseled cheeks and a glowy bronze look. It's basically my go-to on a daily basis. I just forgot how much blush can awaken the complexion.

Blush is the "I got eight hours of sleep after spending the day in Cabo on the beach and had a multiple O last night" makeup product.


The tip to creating a glowy I just spent time in the sun finish is choosing a blush with a burnt red tone. Not a blue toned red but a bronzed red.

Jackie O. Monroe is a piece of J.Nicole Artistry LLC (my photography and makeup artistry company) and I want to start integrating more photoshoot prep information and steps to complete before your event type of posts. If you have any ideas I'd love to hear about them in the comments.

I get a lot of questions about prepping for a shoot or event, "What should I wear?" "Do I need to prep my skin?" etc. I plan on answering all these types of questions in this series and giving tips and tricks to make the day of your session or appointment the most relaxing and enjoyable.

Summer - the sunshine, music, the waves (in both your hair and the sea). Summer is full of great things and one of them being low maintenance glowy makeup. I love this time of year for the less is more aspect.
I like to let my freckles shine in the summertime. On the regular, I apply a tinted moisturizer or healthy glow foundation, mascara/sometimes falsies, bronzer, some brow product and I'm good to go for the most part. If I want a little more - lipgloss or liquid lipstick and a Mac paint pot or glitter on the eyes. It's all about minimalist and fresh makeup, natural beauty for the win.

I'm not gonna lie, I was drawn to the packaging on this one. The concept is cutesy and retro inspired. I was also curious about the two part brush system.

The pros, it's a nice rick black color, the small section of the brush is great for reaching the hard to grab lashes and ease into the corners. It really lifts my lashes kind of like a pushup bra for your eyes. It didn't flake or crumble. The formula layered well with my Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir for added staying power and length. I loved that it didn't get clumpy either. This is a great mascara for creating the relationship between your falsies and natural lashes too. I like this type of brush for that.

The cons, I didn't feel like I got that feathery look I go for. The texture felt a little too wet but that could have been because my Marc mascara was on its last leg and dry as a desert.

Overall, if you are looking for an inexpensive mascara that lifts and curls like a champ, I would check this out! I don't know if I would repurchase since I just wear it with another mascara or falsies but I might use my Extra Bucks for it from time to time.

With all the festivities who doesn't want to look their best this season? Lashes are one of your best accessories! Whether you like a more natural face or something more dramatic, lashes can make or break the final look. If you follow me on social media you probably know I'm obsessed with lengthy, fluffy fringe.

It's my favorite time of year again and I wanted to do something different and special for my followers. I plan on doing some how-to's, holiday makeup looks, and a bunch of other posts this month to celebrate the year (maybe a surprise giveaway?)! Happy Blogmas and lets get started!

The holiday season is a time of joy but also a time for celebrating and late night shopping whether you are in your pajamas or in your car racing to the next store, you're stuck with those "You look so tired!" comments the following day. Let's not forget the family photos you will look back on and see reflections of shopping bags dancing under those pretty eyes. The following are my favorite products to help with eye tiredness and to brighten those peepers!

If you are looking for a quick eye look that can be daytime friendly but also intensified for night then look no further than this post! I have found the perfect tools for a quick smokey eye look.


I've been wanting to try out the Laura Mercier Caviar sticks since I found out that Sarah Jessica Parker uses them on the daily for her signature smokey look. After finally picking a color I decided to purchase a couple weeks ago. I chose the matte black shade in Tuxedo.

To create the look below, all I do is smudge the stick along my lash line. Add more for a dramatic rocker look or add a little for a subtle smoke. Below, I applied just a little bit but I think it adds the perfect touch for daytime. I use my smudge brush to blend everything out and then apply mascara to complete the look.

You guys know I am long lash obsessed. Whether it's a fiber mascara, castor oil, or a lash primer I need to try it. The one thing I had never tried was a lash serum. Until now.


It all started when I was freelancing a wedding back in April and one of the bridesmaids had the longest lashes I had ever seen. We are talking hitting your eyebrows long here. It was amazing. I thought they were extensions but she said it was the Rodan + Fields Lash Boost. I contacted my friend Meg who is a consultant right away because I needed this in my life.


Let me tell you, I thought I had decent lashes before. I used castor oil nightly and always added a drop of lavender essential oil to my mascara tube. But this stuff really did give my lashes a boost. What I love most about it is that it took away the steps of having to use a fiber mascara. It makes my everyday makeup much quicker. Don't get me wrong, on occasion I'll throw on a fiber mascara for a more dramatic look but for the most part I haven't.

I love the texture of my lashes too. They aren't stubby, they have that feathery look which I always wanted naturally. The overall health of my lashes is nice too. I don't have fallout and they feel thicker and stronger. When I wash my face at night I can feel the difference and how many lashes are really there. And yes, I pet them. lol

Side effects? I consider my eyes pretty sensitive. I get allergies and itchy eyes. But overall I really did not see any side effects from this serum. Maybe a little bit of itch just around my lash line after I swipe it on but that's it.

One tube which costs $150 and lasted me two full months and got me to this place of happiness. You can sign up for an autoship account and then you save $ which is what I did. Overall I'm a super happy customer. Have any of you guys tried this? I would love to see your results!

Here is my (better late than never) 2016 favorites! This collection of products are things I enjoyed throughout the year. They may have been new releases or they may have been oldies but I loved them up! Comment below and tell me what you fell in love with this past year! I would love to hear! I'm always on the lookout for new things to try out.

It's a fresh year and a fresh month! I want to become more social with you guys and hear your opinions on topics so I can get to know you better! So, let's chat!

This week I received an email from Sephora about their digital customized skincare assistant. All you  do is fill out a survey and they provide you a list of products others have reviewed with your skin concerns. It sounds pretty simple and I like the interactive property but I can't help but wonder, would a real life person have a better understanding when they are meeting with me, looking at my actual skin, asking me in depth questions... etc.?

Now, I took the survey myself and it was two questions - "what is my skin type" and "what is my main skin concern"? I answered combination, because it can get oily on occasion but it is winter and my skin is dry as the desert. Just because I'm inching toward my 30's and want to get a head start, signs of aging was my main skin concern.

The results - They give you a list of different products to try out according your answers which include the following categories - moisturizers, facial serums, and face washes/cleansers. I would be willing to give some a try after reading reviews. But what about skin sensitivities? Allergies?

Don't get me wrong, I do think this is a good tool to find a product quick. But for the sake of my skin and what would really make a difference, I feel like a more personalized approach would do more good.