Cleaning Out The Closet...

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I am currently in the process of cleaning out my closet.  I'm going to be listing some items on eBay, and am giving you all, my beloved readers, a heads up!  I have quite a few things to list and will be listing them periodically throughout the week.  One of my personal favorites of the items I'm listing has already been listed.  I'm getting rid of a Marc by Marc Jacobs bag.  This is definitely a great addition to anyone's Fall wardrobe, and the list price can't be beat.  I'm practically giving it away, seeing that the retail price was $450.  Take a look, and bid with confidence!  

View auction  HERE

P.S.  I created a new eBay account named after my blog/youtube, hence the 0 feedback.  I'm an AVID & professional eBayer. haha  You have no worries.

Enjoy the rest of this holiday weekend!

EDIT:  SOLD. (you girls are fast!)

Girl Crush Alert : Jessica Szohr

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I get "girl crushes" for different reasons.  Sometimes it's because the girl may have awesome style.  Sometimes it's because she's pretty.  And, sometimes it's because she's both.  So here I am introducing one of my current girl crushes...Jessica Szohr of Gossip Girl.  I don't watch Gossip Girl, not because I have an issue with it or anything, but because I already have a huge arsenal of shows that I watch but barely have time to keep up with.  Anyway, isn't she gorgeous?  I think she has pretty decent style.  From what I hear she's biracial (Hungarian & African-American).  Turns out to be a nice mix...


Luv Her Look: Shala Monroque

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Let me introduce you to (if you didn't already know) to Ms. Shala Monroque, one of NYC's many "it" girls on the social scene.  She has captured the attention of various fashion magazines and sites because of her unique, eclectic but very sophisticated style.  She is currently Editor-At-Large for Pop Magazine.

I think she is pretty cute, and I appreciate her style aesthetic.  It's a tad too girly for my own personal taste (I'm a bit of a tomboy), but I like how she puts things together.

Sunday School at Social Resto ATL

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Now that I'm a wife and mother, I don't go out as much as I use to.  When I do go out, I now prefer a more "low key" atmosphere that has good music, great drinks, and a 25+ aged crowd.  So I definitely make it out to this monthly event brought to us by DJ Salah Ananse called Sunday School.  It takes place the 4th Sunday of every month at Social Resto Cafe & Wine Bar (which is the cutest little restaurant, complete with good international cuisine, great drinks, and an attractive staff. lol). 

The music is an eclectic mix of House, AfroBeat, Soul, etc., with an eclectic crowd to match.  There's also live percussion along side the DJ, courtesy of John Roberts (google him).  So you know it's all the way live!

If you're ever in ATL, you definitely need to check it out.







KEEP READING TO SEE MORE EVENT PICS...




I'm on Youtube!!

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Well, I've finally made my very first video! It's just an intro and I felt hella awkward making it, which I'm sure will fade over time. Anyway, this vid isn't in HD quality. I'm new to all of the video editing, etc. and accidentally took it out of HD. But future videos will be in full HD so that you can get a nice clean view--promise!! Anyway, I plan to post a new video, some hair tutorial perhaps, by this weekend. Let me know what you all would like to see! I also plan to do all kinds of videos, not just hair. We'll see what this video thing evolves into. Bye for now, and take a look...


Hair Fanatic: An Ode to Buns...

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First off, just wanted to let you guys know that my pocket HD video camera has been ordered--so I will being doing videos VERY soon!  Yay for me!

Anyway, while I'm waiting on that...I decided to do a quick little hair post on buns.  I'm not going to go into the full shpill on how great they are as a protective style and can be a vital ally in growing hair, etc.  Are they my favorite style?  No.  Do I feel like I'm at my ultimate prettiest when I'm wearing one?  Rarely.  Do I STILL wear them fairly often.  YES.  Why do you ask?  Well, for one, I've let go of the notion that I am supposed to look my ultimate prettiest every single day, which has been pretty liberating.  Now before you think WTF, let me explain.  You know how when it comes to make-up, there is a differential between a "day time look" and a "night time look"?  Well, I apply the same reasoning to my hair. On a day-to-day basis, why should I have hair flowing down my back, or big and curly, etc?  If I do that, then what will I do when I'm getting out on the town and want to look "special".  So, these days I've rationalized in my head (maybe out of convenience. haha) that my hair only "comes out" for occasions, i.e. a night on the town, etc.  Keep in mind, this is pretty easy for me because now that I am a wife and mother of a small child, I rarely do anything spontaneous.  If I'm going out with the girls, I will know a day in advance.  If me and hubby are having a "date night", again, we will know at least a day ahead.  When you have a little one, rarely does a spur of the moment type situation (be ready in 5 minutes!) happen.  Preparations have to be made.  So I always have a chance to take down the bun and do a braidout/twistout, flat iron, or whatever.  Lucky me. haha The plus side to all of this, is that I leave my hair alone for the most part which equals healthier hair.  Of course, when I just get that urge to let my hair out without a reason, I do.  I just wait until I get that urge instead making it an obligatory  thing, which in turn stops me from feeling like doing my hair is chore.


So here are a few pics of my buns in the last couple months.  I will be doing hair tutorial videos soon, as well as all kinds of other types of vids.  Stay tuned.

Done with 3 twists



"high bun" done with flat ironed hair. (bubble gum wall in Seattle, don't ask)


Done with 3-4 braids


The simple "don't quite pull the hair all the way through the holder" bun

Take a Listen!: Esperanza Spalding album $3.99 Today!

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Hey guys, just thought I'd give you all a heads up!  Go download Esperanza Spalding's last album "Esperanza" for $3.99 on Amazon.com.  It's the deal of the day, so that price won't stay so low.  She has a new album coming out later this month, by the way.

If you don't know who she is, this is definitely at a suitable price to take a chance and get to know her.  She's an awesome jazz artist, who happens to be young and gorgeous with enviable natural hair.  Thank me later!

Beauty Buff: Revlon Custom Creations

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Let me start off by saying, I am NO make-up guru and don't "do" a full face very often, but when the situation calls for it, I will wear a little foundation with some mascara, a little blush, etc. I've always prided myself on being a "natural" beauty, but there comes a time (and age) that every woman should learn a little bit about make-up and how to enhance what she has. Plus, no matter how "natural" of a beauty you are, make-up gives a polished and sophisticated look that is a must when the occasion calls for it. Contrary to what you see on YouTube and other sites on the net, you don't have to spend a ton of money on make-up, either. There are plenty of drugstore brands that do the job just as well. Which leads me to my current favorite foundation: Revlon Custom Creations Foundation...



I use the Custom Creations in 060 Deep.  What I like about this foundation is that it works great by giving a nice light coverage.  What makes this product one of "my favorite things", is that it creates "custom" shades.  In the summer, I tend to be outside A LOT, whether it's working out, taking my son to the park or pool, or whatever--I get really tanned.  Instead of having to go out and spend more money on a darker shade of foundation, I just click my Custom Creation to a darker shade.  As autumn and winter come up on us, I'll eventually click back to a lighter shade.  I think this is really convenient and am surprised other make-up companies haven't thought of this.

The only downfall, is that the 060 Deep seems to be the darkest shades that is made in this line.  I consider my skin color to be a light brown shade that gets a darker medium brown during summer, so my only complaint is that Revlon has seemed to have left out my darker skinned sistas.  Maybe if this line gets more popular, they will expand the shades.

Also, I use this foundation to make my own tinted moisturizer.  I basically mix (70/30) of my favorite facial moisturizer with this foundation.  Works great!

Hair Fanatic: Going Darker & Braidout

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I lightened the top half of my hair last April.  I was ready for a change, I'd thought.  And though, I didn't get my hair as light as I wanted due to using a semi-permanent black hair dye months back, I was pretty happy with the red shade I'd gotten.  Well now, 4 months later, I'm bored again. lol  This time, I decided to make the change temporary because I know that I have a pretty short attention span and will probably want to return to the lighter hair eventually.

Clairol Jazzing #94 Ebony 3 oz.What I used is Jazzings by Clairol.  I used two shades that I had been stashed in one of my beauty drawers for a while.  The colors were Red Hot and Ebony.  I decided to mix the two, which I assumed would make a dark brownish red shade.  I may even use the Ebony by itself next.  I've used Jazzings for many years, and they wash out pretty quickly.  So, using it to get a darker shade will probably wash out over the course of a month, but the subtle return to my original color will give me a gradual change in color that should keep my short attention span satisfied. haha


I finished off with giving myself a braidout.  The products I used are coconut oil, which I apply immediately out of the shower.  Then as I take sections to braid, I apply a shea butter/olive oil blend and then EcoStyling Gel (olive oil).

This time I chose to do cornrow braids instead of box braids.  I do tend to do box braids more often, however.

Braids for braidout

Braids - rear view



Results



Side view

Also, the finished results are after sleeping on the braids overnight, taking them down and then stretching the hair with a warm blowdryer.  I didn't take pictures of my hair straight out of the braidout before stretching.  I realized that after the fact.  Oh well, next time.  Hopefully, I'll be able to show you my method soon on video. Stay tuned!

P.S. Hair rinses give great shine!