Chimere Nicole, Author at Chimere Nicole ⋆ Page 17 of 34

Post Surgical Bras You Need Now

September 29, 2021 fashion, lifestyle

woman in black tank top holding pink ribbon — Photo by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels.com

After any breast surgery the number one concern is comfort and support. The bra you choose makes all the difference in your healing process and I know first hand all surgical bras are not made equal. During my recovery from reconstructive breast surgery I have gone through about 20 different post op, compression, surgical bras. So the bras I’ve picked are top notch and budget friendly.

The biggest challenge I faced was not finding a bra that would fit long term and would be comfortable. Most surgical bras are a bit low cut. For me, the issue was my breast was completed reconstructed and I had sutures covering the entire breast. So I needed a bra that would give me complete coverage and not irritate the healing skin. I went through quite a bit of styles before I was able to get bras that fit properly.

I wanted to share with you some of my favorite surgical bras I’ve purchased over this year. Some I still wear to this day because of the comfort and support they supply. My surgery was very invasive thus I needed bras that would help me heal and give me the coverage I need to feel comfortable. I hope these help you on your journey.

Here are my top picks

I also have a post of all of the things I needed before surgery HERE and after my breast surgery HERE. Also, If you want to learn more about my breast health journey I have another post HERE as well.

The Perfect Off White Suit Under $100

September 29, 2021 fashion

Me and white do not get along. I mean I love white and wear it all the time but trying to keep it spotless has become a part time job and at this point I deserve a check.

I’ve always wanted to own a white suit. In my mind it’s the ultimate power color and it’s just so clean and sharp. It takes the girl boss vibe to another level. A woman in white is not only beautiful but strong and empowered.

A few weeks back I did a photo shoot for my book Girl Yes and I was looking all over for a white suit that was cut to fit my curvy figure. Additionally, I also wanted the suit to provide a level of stretch that was comfortable. After going from store to store I decided online might be my best bet.

Is it me or is it harder to shop in stores now? They typically only have 2 items available per style, now varying sizes, and no employees working.

I wasn’t looking for anything too expensive, just something that would photograph well, fit properly, and make me feel confident. I also wanted quality material. That’s also another issue I’ve been running into lately. These Instagram and online boutiques will have you spending an arm and a leg and getting dish rags for clothing. After one wash the fabrics are ruined and the clothes are two sizes too small. I was delighted when after more than a week of searching I found something.

It came in the form of an off white suit from PrettyLittleThing. My online shopping typically only happens when there is a sale going on and this time was no different. I scored this suit for 65% off. I had to purchase each piece separately however it was still under $100. Not bad for a boss lady suit.

The crop pants fit me like a glove and hang perfectly over my hips. Although I am tall, the length of the pants was also great. The blazer is my favorite. I decided to wear it without a shirt because well, I can and it was the look I was going for. Bold and ambitious, the #GirlYes way.

I am also thinking of ordering this same suit in blue for a new project I have coming up. Prettylittlething has sales very often so I’m sure I will pick up quite a few pieces from the site. I’ll be adding items to my chart in the meantime.

The Look

Blazer: Here, Pants: Here, Shoes: Here,

How I Scored The Biggest Sale on Niche Perfumes Online

September 28, 2021 beauty

You won’t believe the deal I scored on my latest niche perfume. I’ve found a way to score up to 30% off niche perfumes online from a REAL store we all shop at. Yes you read that right. I just found a $325 perfume I’ve wanted from Sak’s for months online for 30% off. Wait until you see who sells it. I’m in complete shock right now.

A friend of mine was kind enough to give me a ton of perfume samples from his collection. This included scents of Tom Ford, Baccarat Rouge, and many more. I fell in love with a few, including one from Parfum De Marly called Delina.

Delina is one of their signature fragrances and retails for over $325 for a 2.5 oz bottle. I was going to wait until the yearly sale on Sak’s.com. They usually have a black friday sale or after the holidays however I was getting antsy. So I did a little digging.

I remembered a few years back when I first started collecting perfumes that I found a few designer perfumes online for a heavy discount on Target.com. So I decided to see if there was a possibility they would have niche perfumes available as well. I didn’t have any luck on Target’s website but I did find it somewhere else.

Niche perfumes are perfumes that are made by actual perfume companies. In contrast to fashion houses and brands that make scents and name them after celebs or the brand. Example, Gucci is a fashion brand that also makes perfumes, cosmetics and more. Niche brands solely make perfumes so they are typically made with higher quality ingredients by professional perfumers.They also tend to use scent profiles not available in other perfumes on the market . They are one of a kind, unique, and expensive because of it.

Now where did I get this amazing deal…

WALMART!

Can you believe it. I was able to get Delina which is one of the most coveted niche perfumes for women 30% off at Walmart.com. They also have Parfums De Marly Delina Exclusif which is also a best seller.

I also came across a few other niche brands on the site. I mean I am really in shock because this is an amazing price. I just placed my order and I will probably do an updated video via Instagram or TikTok. For now I’m going to enjoy the savings and create my list of perfume must haves. Head over to Walmart if you’re looking for scents from Parfums De Marly and more. If you have your eyes on anything you may be in luck, I found quite a few on my list. Below I listed a few other options I was looking into as well. Just for price comparison. As you can see the discounts are amazing. Remember, research everything you purchase online. Money does not grow on trees and we need to be sure we are saving as much as we can.

The Beginning Of A Beautiful Ending

September 20, 2021 beauty, fashion, lifestyle

Mrs New Jersey 2020

The time has come, the beginning of the end. It is now time for me to crown the next Mrs. New Jersey, America. But the question still remains, who is Mrs New Jersey America 2020. She is Chimere Nicole Haskins, wife, mother, author, social media influencer, and entrepreneur.

However these titles do not define me, what I do with these titles does.

mrs new jersey 2020, Chimere Nicole Haskins

Although I wear many hats, the crown I wear each day defines who I am as a women. I am a woman of strength. What I have been able to overcome throughout my life is worthy of a best selling novel. The things I’ve faced during my reign as Mrs New Jersey where meant to derail not only my year but possibly my life. I gone through life saving surgeries, death of family members, and financial hardships that almost closed my business. Through it all I remained steadfast on the things God promised me and continued to walk the path of a true queen. I kept my head held high and continued to serve others.

My reign feels as though it has flown by. In actuality it has been quite the year. I shared on my pageant Instagram page so many highlights from my year of service.

I have been blessed with so many opportunities, faced with many highs and lows, and honored to continue the legacy that is Mrs. New Jersey, America.

One of the many things I set out to do was to impact my community as a whole. Not only with my title but with my time and resources. Pageantry allows for advocacy, this is how I choose to spend my year. Helping others who weren’t in the position to help themselves and bring attention to the issues faced across New Jersey. One of which was poverty.

This was not an easy task.

During my reign the state was still shut down and businesses that were open were operating a 40-60 percent capacity. Families were running low on basic supplies and struggling. Additionally, covid numbers were at an all time high and I was doing most of my community service virtually. However, I am a firm believer that when there is a will there’s a way.

Instead of making excuses, I pivoted my plans. The number one goal was to be of service and that’s what I set out to do.

My plans then changed and I decided to do what I could to help.

My Year In A Nutshell

I partnered with local food banks, community organizers, and government officials to donate and serve food and supplies to people in need. I honestly think I may have found my calling as I learned I’m able to pack hundreds of grocery bags in under an hour. I’m a woman of many talents, lol. I was even able to attend fundraisers and contribute hundreds of dollars to local causes. It is something about a crown that makes people listen. And when you’re in a position to help impact lives you speak with love and generosity. I am honored to wear it as Mrs New Jersey America 2020.

One of the many highlights was competing at Mrs. America. I was able to speak about my legacy project #GirlYes and share my heart on stage. A memory I will cherish forever.

chimere nicole haskins with her book Girl Yes

As I reflect over my year I am filled with so much gratitude. Thanks to the people who have helped me achieve the dream, grateful for the memories, and I remain optimistic about the future. I know this is only the beginning for me.

As I begin to close this chapter, I am filled with joy and my heart is full. Being a queen is about leadership and servitude. I served those in need, inspired other women to do the same, and it has forever changed my life. What this year has meant to me can not be expressed with words so I will forever hold the memories in my heart.

I charge you to dream bigger, give selflessly, and shine. You have the capacity for greatness and in you there is a gift that can change the world around you.

How Does Writing Goals Increase Chance Of Success?

September 14, 2021 lifestyle

As John B. Bejo said and I quote “Focus on your goal like a hungry lion and run after it without any thought except to get it”. Focusing on goals is the key to success. But writing your goals down increases your chances of success. A brief answer to the question How Does Writing Goals Increase Chance of Success will be:

Writing down your goals is similar to constructing a pathway to your success. When you write your goals down, your thoughts get unhindered by which you know what you need to do. It is a source of motivation and manifests your thinking to act responsibly.

How exactly is the fact that writing down goals paves the way to success? Let’s see.

What Evidence From Science Supports This Fact?

Three groups of Harvard graduates were studied several years ago. Those who wrote down their goals were the most successful at reaching them.

Those that “mentally” wrote down their goals were moderately successful. The individuals who did neither were the least successful. The key to success in achieving what you want out of life is understanding yourself and then carefully setting some goals — and writing them down (1).

There are also several other explanations in terms of science that support this fact. Every assessment proved that your focus is enhanced when you adopt the habit of writing down goals. When you are focused, it becomes plain sailing for you.

You have a clear path that gets manifested in achieving success. It becomes possible because you know you have pending works to do. Or else you are in trouble. Or you have tasks to wind up for accomplishing and completing your goals.

My Encounter with This Technique:

I have seen people myself coping up with failures because they learned the knack of overcoming their failures. And to overcome failures, it is necessary to set goals. And to set goals, you have to adopt a strategy.

Personally, to achieve my goals, I jot them down on planners. Writing my goals helps me remembering tasks that are pending. It makes planners the best companion most of us can have. They motivate us to achieve our goals. I’ve recently started to implement gratitude journals into my daily writing. This has done wonders for me. Allowing me to write out my feelings and emotions while remaining gratitude for the blessing in my life.

Here are a few of my favorites, here, & here.

In a previous post HERE, I share 10 reasons why having a prayer journal are important and how they have helped me change my life. I encourage you to take a few moments to read that post. Incorporating both writing journals have been critical to my success.