Vaseline or petroleum jelly! This is a neccesity for every bathroom and make-up case all over the world. It has a been a staple in health and skin care regimen way before Clinique and Lancome' hit the market.

I use this as a moisturizer for my feet, lips, and elbows. If lotion won't add shine to your skin, you can always count on vaseline,

One of my fav purposes is for under my eyes. I read somewhere that you should apply this under your eyes at night to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in the future. I haven't notice any change considering I am only 24 years old! I will let you know in a couple of years!

Now it does not have to be "vaseline", it could be Walmart's Equate brand petroleum jelly or whatever. That's why I love it so! No matter the name on the jar, the inside is the same. Plus, always under five duckets, unless you buy that super big, economy-size tub.

I don't care whose house you go over, I bet you can find a jar of petroleum jelly somewhere. WARNING: Don't get caught looking, because questions will arise.

Stay Stylish!

I hope everyone had a good memorial day weekend! I know I did! I am still trying to flush all the BBQ out of my system!

Anyway, the previous post about lotions and how some of the cheap products work better than the more exspensive products gave me an idea. I got the idea that I will give one of my fav, fab, and cheap beauty products each post this week. These are products that always work for me and hopefully you!

Today's product is Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque. Any of you who have used this masque know that it is wonderful. I first heard about this product when I was in high school and I use to spend all my spare money on black hair and beauty magazines. I read that Faith Evans or Monica, I can't remember, used this product and so I said to myself "If its good enough for them, then its good enough for me!"

Its perfect for those of you who frequently get pimples, blackheads, or have larger pores. You apply it on your skin and let it stand for three minutes and then you wash it off your face and neck. I will admit that you will look like a stand-in for "The Mask" and feel like you have been shot up with enough Botox to not have in facial reactions for at least two weeks, but all that will vanish once you rinse it off your face and neck and take a look at your new beautiful and smooth visage.

For those of you who have been blessed with pretty good skin (by the way, you people make my pimples hurt), you can also use this as a way to get rid of that one little pimple you get every other three blue moons. Just dab a small amount on the pimple and make a dent in your pillow by sleeping. In the morning, rinse it off and have fun.

All that for under 4 bucks! Can you ask for anything else in today's skincare market! I haven't bought it in a minute, but I think that I will this week. I have already planned my bi-monthly beauty product shopping trip for this Friday.

If there is a product that is very cheap, but very effective, then let me know. I am always looking for products that make me look good without sending me to the

Stay Stylish!

Thanks to a sincere commenter, I noticed that I have never had a post dedicated to lotions. I think that having the right lotion by your side is just as important as having the right sunscreen, make-up,or health regimen.

I love lotions and the evolvement of them over the past decade. There are different brands, smells, and purposes. Some people purchase lotion depending on the smell, while others care about how it improves their skin. My stepmom only ask one question when purchasing lotions; "Does it cut through the ash?"

One brand that has continously help to eliminate dry skin is Vaseline. Vaseline petroleum jelly is the  old-school moisturizer that your grandmother probably still swears by, but that grease leftover is too much to bear. I guess the people and chemist over there at Vaseline realized that grease is not good, so they have bombarded us with numerous other products to help eliminate and cut the ash. One product that I love is their Intensive Care Renew & Protect Moisturizing Lotion. It cuts the ash and contains a dab of SPF to help in the protection of your skin from those evil UV rays. I consider this lotion my all year round multi-purpose lotion. You can use this lotion from head to toe. Major Plus!

Another brand that makes great lotion is Nivea. They have numerous lotions, but the one that I always seem to gravitate towards is the Extra Enriched Lotion for dry and rough skin. Although, I do not have dry and rough skin,this formula always seems to work good for my skin.

Sincere also pointed out something that I have always noticed; the cheaper lotions tend to work better than the slightly more exspensive ones, but there are a couple of lotions that I adore that can only be found at The Body Shop and Bath & Body Works.

The Body Shop makes the greatest product that I love and its their body butter. It's like butter, baby! It comes it various smells and the outcome: scrumptious skin! I personally swoon for the mango, but I do occasionally try the smaller tubs of other fragrant butters. Not only is the smell great, but it eliminates that dry and white layer that we all know as ash! This is a definite fab find of mine from many years ago. By the way, if you purchase 2 full size butters, you can get a free select shower product. Get to it!

I know that the main purpose of buying lotions is how it helps in the improvement of your skin, but there is a lotion that Bath & Body Works makes that does absolutely nothing for my skin, but the scent is to die for. Its their nourishing lotion in Bergamont Coriander and its in their Aromatheraphy line. I haven't purchased this in a minute, but I definitely love it. I bought it on a spur of a moment, but I was happy I did along with the body wash. Do not get me wrong, it does provide good moisture but just not as good as cheaper ones. What it lacks in moisture providence it makes up for in scent.

One area of your body that needs more moisture in the hotter months than the colder ones are your feet. They get more airtime in the spring and summer, so you have to make sure that they up to par and shine with the rest of your body. I usually just apply a nice thin layer of Vaseline and strap on some socks at night and the final result in the morning: silky smooth heels and toes! Recently on one of my expeditions through Walgreens,I stumbled across Vaseline's Petroleum Jelly Cream with Cocoa Butter. I reluctently purchased it. I use this instead of pure Vaseline now, because no greasy residue. It's just as good as Vaseline, but with the smell and feel of cocoa butter. I just use this on my feet,hands, and occasioanally my legs. For now, I have decided not venture off to other areas of skin up north. 

I know that this is just the tip of the lotion drenched iceberg, but these are pretty good products to help in your quest for providing moisture to your skin in these hot summer days. So go buy some lotion and shine up that skin and "moisturize your situation and preserve your sexy"! Gotta love Diddy for that line!

Stay Stylish!

Wow, it has been really hot lately here in Memphis for just May and I have been hating every minute and bead of sweat of it.  During this summer's heat spells, your skin will carry the brunt of it and you will be responsible for its upkeep. Sucks, I know!

I am sure ya'll are tired of hearing about the neccessity of SPF 400 or whatever the highest you can get nowadays. So, I am not going to preach about the SPF or the beauty of water to your skin or the 10 million various lotions and oils you can scoop at almost any store( i.e drugstore, department store, grocery store, and I'm sure if you look hard, liquor store). I am instead going to talk about a very good product for keeping that smooth and glistening summer skin: Body Scrubs!

Gotta love body scrubs! Yet, another space taker in the shower! They help exfoliate your skin and make it appropriate for the lack of summer clothing coverage. I started using body scrubs about 5 years ago when I made a quick and indecisive decision to buy a ginger scrub from Origins. It was in the winter time, so I really loved scrubbing away that dry skin that winter seems to produce oh so well.

Now, scrubs are very important for maintaining healthy looking skin in the summer. They help remove all that yucky dead skin that covers your beautiful and natural skin glow. After you use a scrub, you will instantly notice the smooth feel and look of your skin. If I was a gambling woman or had the money to gamble, I would guarantee that you will feel the same way.

Other than the exfoliating factor, they also have great smells that can linger on your skin and in the bathroom for awhile. Lavender, mint, lemon, spearmint, rosemary, and the list can go on and on! Muy bien!

Although you can probably find a decent body scrub for under $10, I would recommend that you consider investing in good one. Also, when you are wandering around the body care aisle, don't be afraid to untwist or lift the tops of those jars and feel the texture.

You pick the texture of the scrub depending on the texture of your skin. If you have dry and rough skin, then you want a scrub that is thick and grimey. If your skin is fairly smooth or sensitive and you just want a scrub to lightly buff away the dead skin, then you would look for something not so rough, but more liquid-like. If you can't find one or the smell of one is just too incredible to pass up, then don't be too rough rubbing it on your skin. Either way, you will notice and appreciate the appearance of your skin.

Still, after you finish your morning scrubbing in the shower don't forget to slather some moisturizer on your body. Before you stumble out of the door, make sure you have on enough SPF to get you through the day. Oh, what the hell, throw a bottle in your bag, because you never know! You can toss it right next to that big bottle of water that you defintely need for throughout the day! Dangit, almost a skin post without mentioning SPF, moisturizer, and water! Maybe next time, but don't hold your breath!

Stay Stylish!

I know that some people love working tans, real and fake, for the summer. I for one am not one of those people! I do like tans, but lately I feel that they are not meant for me and my complexion. In the summer, I prefer to have a nice, subtle, golden, and sun-kissed look. It looks natural and works in any professional environment.

To achieve this look I opt for lotions and oils that have gold refelctors in them and adds a nice shimmer to my shimmy. I have told you all about my undying love for Jergens Soft Shimmer, but there are some other products out there that can help achieve the same look and appreciation. So here are a few that sit on my dresser for easy summer time usage.

One product that I use is by the Oh So Sexy Victoria's Secret. Its Vicky's Shimmering Body Oil in the Bare Bronze Collection. I like this product because it not only gives me the slight shimmer that I adore, but also does a great job in moisturizering my skin. Can you ask for more?! It contains Vitamin A, C and E, which are very neccessary for maintaining good skin. When using this product, be careful of the amount you use, because the last thing you want to do is look like a big ol' golden nugget walking down the street.

Another product I use is not a lotion or a oil, but a powder. Its by Urban Decay and I accidently discoverd this product when a friend of mine sent it to me. Its Urban Decay's flavored body powder in Honey. It smells and tastes like honey, athough I haven't personally proven the latter. It comes in a cute golden little container and leopard print puff to apply.

I use this powder after I apply a nice and generous amount of SPF induced lotion. I let the lotion dry and then I casually dust this over bare skin that is showing. This is a great option for those who have oily skin and feel that the addition of more oil is not the best thing. Plus, the smell is perfect for the summer!

There are many products out there that gives you shimmer and sun-kissed looks without the tans. These are just a few products that have helped me out in achieving my summertime looks and felt the need to share!

Stay Stylish!

Rihannna, Rihanna, Oh, Rihanna! You can't deny that she is a very beautiful girl and if you have ever seen her on TV interviews, then you can tell that she is probably a really sweet person, too. Plus, if you did not know, she is a member of the "mixed gurl club". Unfortunately,when it comes to her style choices or maybe in this case stylist choice, then the compliments must end.

Her outfit choices are odd and sometimes questionable. She has had fashion hits and misses, but mostly misses in my book.

Her lastest miss was seen at a recent baseball game. I am going to ignore the creepy loking make-up for now and focus on the outfit only! She is 18 years old and can pull off a look similiar to this, but not this! That top is super cute and would probably look great with almost anything, but the jumper had me holding my head down in shame for her.

She has a sick body, so maybe if the jumper was straight down and form fitted from the buttons down, then I would not have such fashion fit for her right now.

Luckily for Rihanna, she is still young and releventantly new to the music scene with enough time for her style and stylish choices to progress. Her music is fairly descent and so is her appeal, which should help her last for a few more minutes in this music game, but her style choices need a hell of a revamp. Let's hope for the best!

Stay Stylish!

Adding a little "umph" to your hair is getting easier and easier by the day it seems like. In the past, if you wanted to enhance your hair color, natural or colored,  you had to just keep shampooing it, getting it dyed or maybe running to the salon to get some subtle highlights. Now that all seems to be changing.

A few months ago everyone started talking about hair glaze craze. Hair glaze is a product that you apply to your hair and it creates a nice gloss to your hair without the harm of ammonia or peroxide. Just when you thought that was it, all of a sudden here comes something that sounds way to good to be true: color enhancing mousse!

The mousse is to temporarily help enhance the color of your hair and is suppose to last throughout 8-10 shampoos without the use of ammonia and peroxide. Still sounds too good to be true, in my oppinion!

I am so tempted to try this, but I am going to wait until the end of the month. Right now I am torn between keeping my hair chemical free or dying it a nice subtle cooper brownish shade, like Christina Milian's. My hair was this shade back in my hair dye addiction days. After I make my decision to stay of stray with my natural color, then I will grab the first color mousse I can find to best enhance the shade on my head.

If you are interesed in trying it before me, then here are two good ones that I heard about.

The first one is by L'Oreal's Color Pulse Concentrated Color Mousse. My friend Tess tried this in the auburn and I will admit that it did add a little extra umph to her hair. Plus, the smell is quite nice!

The other one is Herbal Essences ColorFlirt Mousse. Tess tried to find this one and had a hard time finding it, but I am on the lookout for it myself!  It was even hard for me to find a picture of it online. It was so hard that I found this one on Ebay! I wonder why!

Worth the interest in my opinion!

Stay Stylish!

If you are one of those lovely ladies still looking for the perfect summer dress, then grab your credit card and head over to Bluefly.com

They have having a dress sale for today and tommorrow only. Therefore,you do not hve much time. I strutted myself over there and saw some really beautiful dress and some were actually affordable, for even me!

Go see for yourself!

Stay Stylish!

When it comes to fab shoes everyone always talks about Manolo, Giuseppe, and Jimmy Choo, but not too many people talk about the fab and lushness of Brian Atwood.

His shoes have been around for awhile and strapped and tied on the feet of many celebs, but I just never hear or read people bragging about his shoes over the others.

Everytime I see a pair of his shoes, I start to foam at the mouth and dream about filling up my closet up with pairs of his shoes. The one thing that I love about his shoes are that the style can carry you on for many fab years and not go out of style.

Seriously, can you look at his shoes and still tell me his styles are not up there with the caliber of Manolo, Giuseppe, and Jimmy?! Give me a break!

See more for yourself and then make up your mind!

Stay Stylish!

Well, I have been on the "water wagon" for a couple of weeks now. This morning after I applied my makeup, I noticed that skin looks so much better.

Before my water addiction, my skin looked awful, even with makeup. After I appplied my make-up it use to look so dry no matter how much moisturizer and primer I used. Now my face is smooth and really moisturized, sin y con makeup! My makeup looks flawless and I am so happy! It also has paid of in another way: My Hair!

Lately, seeing pictures of Beyonce and the lovely Lauren London (take note that see was at an amusement park, so she was not in her usual "Fab Mode"!) have made me crave for straight hair again. So, yesterday afternoon I decided to plug in the good old ceramic flat iron and went to "Straight Hairville"! I pin curled my hair last night and now I have healthy, soft, big bouncy curls in my hair! I definitely attribute this to not only my no-heat regimen I have been following for well over a month, but also the increase of water in my diet.

My hair is stronger and my skin is soft and smooth, but most importantly, they are both healthier than ever before. I am SO sticking to this "drinking nothing but water" plan for awhile, especially if my hair and skin continue to look this good and fab! Its not too late to jump on the "water wagon", there is defintely room for more!

Stay Stylish!

Bee and her mom are preparing to release the winter collection for their House of Dereon line and it looks like Ms. Tina is breaking out the sparkles, glitter and those outdated babydoll dresses, again. Recently they did a new photoshoot for the new collection starring Bee and her little sis, Solange.

The line itself seems so repetitive of other lines currently out there (i.e. L.A.M.B and JLO), except with a whole rack full of ugly babydoll dresses that are a step out the "in style" door! I was hoping that this season would be different and have something that would be the "sole creation" of H.O.D, but then I saw something that had me hold my head down in shame as if I am a designer for this line.

 This tank is a blatant rip-off of the L.A.M.B shirt and that other shirts with the dogtags and medallions on it and those are almost a year old. Step up your game, Bee and Tee. Seeing this makes me believe that Bee and Tina have influences from other people and designers behind the scenes. They are taking other people's and designer's ideas and trying to revamp it, but in an obvious way.  More than likely, its the company that they are licensed with.

Let me make something clear; the shirt is cute, but its slightly identical to shirts that have been on the market for a year and they are probably going to charge way too much for this shirt. The jeans and shirts in the current collection look jsut like every other celebrity collection until you scroll down to the price.

 This look that Solange is wearing leaves me speechless. Its too much, but at the same time the pieces, individually, seem to be missing something or in need of reworking. The color or texture or fit could be better. Maybe, it just doesn't look good on Solange. I can't put my finger on it!

All I am saying, is that for the amounts that Bee & Co. are charging for the clothes, they should be a little bit more original and classic. Just because you sew a piece of fur around the hood of a vest doesn't mean that it is worthy of costing an arm and a leg.

Stay Stylish! (P.S. I am still a Bee fan, though!)

I am one of those people who carry an extra pair of shoes when they go to work or, in my case, out to interviews. I usually wear flats there and then switch to those super hot yet work appropriate stilts for the soles. Unfortunately, I am having a hard time finding a pair of attractive and affordable flats. I had some, but they are starting to show their age and era. I need some flats that are still appropriate for work/interview that if I didn't have time to switch, they would still be appropriate for the interview. 

When I was in junior high, I loved, lived, and on a couple of occasions slept in tennis shoes and flats. That all changed in high school when I found the perfect pair of blue velvet 3 1/2 inch wedges. Although, I wouldn't dare to be seen in those shoes today, back then they were comfortable, cute, and got me a handful of compliments as I stomped through the halls. Ever since then, I have been looking over people and flats ever since. Sometimes, the higher the better! In college I even gradually pulled away from dropping some serious change for a pair of Nike Airmax and Air Force Ones, although I do have a couple pair of each over in the corner taking up and space and collecting dust!

I am so addicted to height in the heel area that whenever I wear flats I feel like an old lady waddling around in orthopedic shoes. I am 5' 5, but in flats I feel shorter than I really am. Okay, once again I am getting off subject!

Now back to my "flat" feat! I am searching for a pair of flats that are cute, but work appropriate. Some that are stylish, but affordable. Some that can be pulled off easily, but not too big or tight! Yeah , this is gonna be a "sole search" if I ever heard of one. Wish me luck and drop a note if you see some somewhere that fit into my detailed criteria.

Stay Stylish!

Unless you have been living under a nasty and empty beauty case, you know and/or have used St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I have been using this since I was 15 years old and it has always been a staple in my bathroom shower and counter.

Recently, actually last night, I decided that I would use this scrub on my legs and underarms. So, after I shaved both areas, I gave them a nice scrub with the Apricot Scrub. The result: Pure Bliss! It added an extra feel of silk that shaving cream + lotion just can't achieve alone. I wish I would have thought about that a while ago! I was a little apprehensive to try such a feat so soon after a fresh shave, but look ma, no problems or nasty after effects!

I am sure that other people have tried it in the past and I am just last to try it. I guess I will have to buy more than one tub of scrub at a time from now on! If you haven't tried it, then you should!

Stay Stylish!

That is one of fashion philosophies that I live and shop by! That philosophy is up there with "Quality over Quantity" and I always seem to be preaching them both to my random friends/family when shopping. I was out and about ,wishing I could shop the way that I want, when I was heading to the cramped dressing rooms with about 5 different forms of white tops in my freshly manicured hands. Of course, my shopping comrade of the day pointed it out. So I explained to her my obsession with white tops.

One reason is because they go with anything! Dark jeans, light jeans, long skirts, short skirts, suits or sweats. They are one of the most essential pieces that must be in everyone's closet.

Another reason why the front of my closet is mostly white is because white looks so refreshing on anyone. No matter your skin tone, complexion, or ethnicity; white will brighten up your face and maybe even your mood! Not even your size should deter you from picking up a white top!

One of the best reasons is because you can usually get white tops cheaper than colored and patterned tops and nobody will notice the difference. Every designer or department store has some variation of a basic white top in their collection or store. Unless you are one of those people who are obsessed with wearing the brand on the front and stamped all over, then you will most definitely appreciate this reason.

Last, but not least, is that basic white tops never go out of style. Although I my time machine is not plugged up right, I do believe that years from now people will still be throwing those white oxford tops on to go to the office, a tee to go to run errands on a nice Saturday afternoon, or a simple white tank with denim jeans to shop for more white tees, tanks, polos, and oxfords.

I will admit that just because it is white doesn't mean that it will carry you on for the rest of your fashion forward life. Those trendy white bohemian tops might get you a few stares three years from now, so just don't break those out frequently!

Stay Stylish! (P.S. Have a Happy Mother's Day weekend. Not to late to go get your mom a new white top!)

The one and only Bluefly is having a spring shoe and handbag sale. Up to 40% off! I took a quick browse and saw some super cute stuff at very good prices. Now, can you honestly tell me that this Dolce & Gabanna bag is not the perfect Spring/Summer bag! Just imagine it in another color! Maybe red! I don't what my fascination is with red bags considering I don't own that much red. Who knows!

Back to the sale, the shoe selections are just as incredible as the "bag game"! Go drool for yourself!

Stay Stylish!

I know first hand how hard it is for women of color to find a blush that doesn't fade away within an hour of applying. It is such a beauty pet peeve of mine! When I first started dabbling in blush, circa 1999, I tried alot of the drugstore blushes and they didn't seem to achieve the color I was aiming for.

I gave up blush for awhile, but just when I was about to throw  in the make-up stained towel completely, a purchased paid off! The purchase was a cream blush stick from the one and only Iman's cosmetics line. It was a medium pink cream blush that stayed on all day and the color I choose was scumptious on me. I went on to even purchase a red tone powder blush that achieved the same aspirations I was looking for.

Unfortunately, I can't find her blush stick anymore, but the powders are still in effect and working better than ever. Since then, though, alot of make-up lines have developed blushes and make-up lines in general with high pigmentation or for women of color so that the color last longer and more intense.

One that was recently released and sold at drugstores is from L'oreal Paris and called HIP, High Intensity Pigments. It's for women who love color. Although, if you read the description of the products from this line that range from blush to eyeshadows, you might fear you would resemble a clown, but that is not the case. You can still achieve a natural color, but you will not have to worry about the color disappearing before you leave the house.

Another line that caters to women of color is the new line called Becca. I have bragged about their concealer, but my "Make-Up Mami from Mt. Vernon, NY" sent me a pink version of one of their blushes in Hyacinth and I am so feening for some money so I can try some more colors. The color lasted and did not look all dry, which is a problem I have with most blushes. If that is not enough, it is a winner of Allure's Best in Beauty Award! Enough said!

In conclusion, I have found that most lines made by women of color have a tendency to produce products with high pigments, but I have also notice that other major cosmetic companies, drugstore and department stores, are jumping on the high pigmentation bandwagon. All I have to say about that is: "About freaking time!"

Stay Stylish! (P.S. Notice the 2 new additions to the right, MeiMei for Domesticity and Beauty Brains! Gotta Love'em!)

 and any other lovely ladies having problems attaining or maintaining their "mixed gurl curls"! Here are a couple of things that have helped me keep them moisturized and bouncy, without all that heaviness! Heavy hair is not a good look for hot weather, just my oppinion:

• Olive Oil- I give myself Olive Oil treatments at least once a month, but not frequent. It helps to moisturize your hair and makes it stronger. A plus is that it minimizes the amount of moisturizing products you apply to your hair for awhile. I shampoo my hair at night and then comb a generous amount of olive oil and sleep the dryness and breakage away with a plastic cap or even wrapping it in saran wrap. *hint* Towel on the pillow might be a good idea! Wake up, shampoo and condition my hair with olive oil still in. It works, for me at least!
• S-Curl- I know, very 1986, but it still works. Since I already have a good curl pattern I comb through my hair water down S-Curl in between no-poo days and it just adds a shine to the curls without the heavy hair feel. Plus the water helps take away the destinctive smell of S-Curl
• Ends Only- I only apply moisturizers to my ends, never my roots, because you can mess up the natural oils your scalp produces.  Another thing, if you want your hair to keep on growing then applying products directly to your scalp will defer that. Just like your pores, you don't want them clogged!
• No-Poo treatments- No Shampoo! The only time I shampoo is before I give myself a Olive Oil treatment. Every other day, in the shower I apply a generous amount of conditioner to my hair and comb it through. The last thing I do before I get out of the shower is slightly rinse it out becasue this helps to define the curls when dried, air or heat.
• Hair Forums- This is last but definitley not least! When I still can't get my hair to act like I raised it better than that, I do some studying sessions over at Naturally Curly and/or Black Beauty, Black Hair! Naturally curly has great articles and product recommendations, while Black Beauty is a forum of normal lovely ladies who share and exchange hair info and products and responsible for me learning so much about my hair. Plus, they are really nice and informative on many other subjects.

I hope this helped, but if it did not then go over to the sites I recommended. One thing about beauty and hair is that you learn the most from trial and error! 

Stay Stylish!

Ever since I bought this lip moisturizer, the smell reminded me of something great from my past, but I could not put my hand or nose on it!

As I was walking through a local mall, I stumbled into Origins. I remembered that I use to love buying a couple of products from there. Such as Never a Dull Moment skin brightening polisher. I use to love that stuff. The smell was not bad or good for a matter of fact, but it did do what the name says; brightened my skin.

 I went to the lip glosses and browsed the colors. I picked up a pretty pink one and unscrewed the cap. All of a sudden it hit me, that's were I remember the smell from! This lip gloss smells just like the lip moisturizer, because they both contain mint. The difference in the feel of the mint is that Origins Liquid Lip Color  is a little stronger than the lip moisturizer and your lips feel a slight little tingle! I still love it, so I bought three tubes! Plus, I love the directions Origins gives on how to use: "Sweep on and Smile." So cute! I recommend this one! I bought one in "Hot Sizzle" and two in "Juicy Details".

Stay Stylish! 

Its pouring outside, through with my graphic design project, not sleepy; that means a little cyber browsing to pass time away! I decided to browse something I need no more of: Bags, Bags, and yet more Bags!

 Big Bag Alert! This bag is by Isabella Fiore and it is a "Fab Find' if I ever saw one! Its made with tan woven fabric and trimmed in dark brown leather. It is also hand beaded with Turquiose and brown beads with a PDA/Cell Phone, pen, and card holders on the inside A bag that is practical and somewhat sexy! I love it! This bag would go perfect with a pair of turquoise and brown Manolos I got as a graduation gift from a few of my girlfriends a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, the shoes are taking up space in Mississippi in my dad's storage area. I might need to plan a trip to look to see what other things I have stored there.

 Kooba, Baby! So luscious looking and so many options to pair it with. In the past, bone/beige colored bags always looked a little "less than par" to me, but this helps to change my mind. You could rock this while dragging yourself to work, staggering around a club with a martini in your hand, or casually walking through you fav shopping environment looking for outfits to compliment this bag and vice versa. The only advice I would attach with the purchase of a bag of this color is not to pair it with shoes of the same color. Too much! Ooohhhh, I am thinking a sick and sexy dark brown pump! That would look so hot!

 Since its been a while since I made a Marc Jacon item post, here goes! This bag is a quilted patent leather bag by my fashion messiah Marc Jacobs. My closet door is wide open in front of me and I don't see anything in particular that I could wear this with, but I don't care! I will admit that I am not a big of green, but if this was in a bright, fire engine red....whoa, I almost fainted from the thought alone! Gotta love it!

Stay Stylish!

I remember seeing the lady who invented this stuff on a Oprah some time last year and I will admit that I was intrigued. Its called the One Minute Manicure Spa Treatment for Hands, Feet, and Body. Ever since I saw that episode, I've been desiring to try it, but decided that for almost 30 bucks I might as well go to the salon and get my fav french mani!

Anyway, last week I was "cyberly" walking the categories of Drugstore.com looking for my fav O.P.I polish. One of the recommendations on the manicure and pedicure page was the infamous One Minute Mani! I decided to throw it into my "cart" and race to checkout along with my other unneccesary beauty products. Yesterday, the older and less attractive delivery man handed me my box and once again I sat on the loveseat by the door and clawed through the hideous brown box. After I got out of the shower this morning, I slathered some on my feet and legs! My skin and feet feel great! The smell is a not really my thing, but as long as the product works, so what!

Now, I am not promising that I will make this a permanent space taker in my personal beauty emporium,  but it is a good recommendation for all you lovely ladies who love to take care of your nails, but can't seem to find the time to do so!Perfect for when you can't get to the nail shop on time or your wallet is feeling a little too breezy to splurge, such as myself!

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Hope. I have always loved that word! Anyway, St. Jude Children Cancer Research hospital is a very worthy place, click, adn cause. Its a pediatric treatment and research facility located here in the wonderful city of Memphis that makes it possible for children suffering from cancer to receive treatment without parents having to pay. They provide not only treatment, but a place to stay for those out of town, because the first and only thing on the parent's mind should be their child; not finding a place to stay while going through such an awful and stressful ordeal.

Since St. Jude does not rely on monetary means from family, they look for other ways to raise money via fundraisers, donations and that oh so wonderful Math-a-thon that I actually use to love to participate in when I was in elementary school. Another thing they are using is a little online boutique were people can purchase an assortment of things from stylish designer tees, trendy totes, and wonderful candles, to name a few. The good thing about it is that all the money goes directly to St. Jude.

Designers Donna Karen and Liz Claiborne lend their names and design skills to the tees. I told my mom about the site and she ordered three; one for her, me, and my little sister. If you are one of those late shoppers, then you might find the perfect Mother's Day gift.

For more information please browse the Hope Catalog. They even have the cutest youth umbrella that I want right now, even though I would look like a weirdo. Believe me, these are purchases that you will feel and look good all over!

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I love this bag! It is by Coach and I am in love! Its called the Daphne bag and it is on the shoulder or in the hands of a couple of my fav fab celebs! The bag comes in white patent leather with yellow trim, black leather, and white patent leather trimmed in black patent leather. All are super cute!

I will always have fond memories of Coach. Coach is one of the first designer and "slightly pricey" bags I ever bought with my own money. The first designer bag I actually owned was a Dooney that I got for Christmas in junior high, but back the Coach. That was all the way in 1999, which was my freshman year of college. The bag was the zip Flap Legend in Mahogany. Oh how I loved that bag! I still own it, along with a few other Coach bags I have "collected" since. Unfortunately, the bag has a little wear, but its under the flap so nobody can see it until you lift the flap!

Now lets go back to the Daphne! It looks so luxe and fabolous and roomy! Coach has really done it this time! I will admit that I have not been paying much attention to Coach and their bags, but I think that is gonna start to change. Hey, if they are getting good enough for Jessica Alba and Zoe Saldana, then they are good enough for me!

Uh oh! There's a little stitch unloose in your favorite pants! If you want one, then you better start scraping together that money quick, because this bag is a limited edition and for $698!

Stay Stylish! ( P.S. 3 whole days of no soda *snaps fingers in "Z" formation!)

Today I had quite a productive day; fixed my database, got a pedicure, and endured cloud and rain while enjoying the Beale Street Music festival. Although there were no performers in particular that I wanted to see, I enjoyed the atmosphere.

The sucky part is that I could not wear any cute shoes because of the fear of mud stains. Not all stains are bad, but stains made of mud, spilled beer and various flavors of BBQ sauce are!

I am also happy to annouce that I refrained from anything other than water in satisfying my thirst. It was hard seeing all those strangers and my entourage of girly girls downing soda, beer, and those oh so good and "I wish they were nutritious" Hurricanes! The burden of Beale Street! Anyway, the party is still going, but I ate so much junk and screamed and yelled that I decided that I needed to call it a night. I will definitely be back down there tommorrow for the last day.

If you can get to the corner of Beale and Second in Memphis, Tennessee by noon tommorrow then meet me there. I will be the one with the pink tee, white long shorts, thin gold belt, gold strappy sandals, crying with a big bottle of water with a group of girls guzzling alcohol, but looking fab at the same time!

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I am in dire need of a good summer dress that can be paired with a perfect pair of super, sexy, strappy sandals or paired with an equally pair of cute yet comfortable flats.

I have been searching by feet and fingers in stores, boutiques, and a la online. As I have been searching, I have noticed that most of the dresses that I am drawn to are white. I love white, although I am scared of white in the summer because of popscicles, green tea, and the numerous perfect Saturdays for BBQ. That is a summer essential here in Memphis!

 I am defintiley going to find the perfect summer dress and I am pretty sure that it will be white. Now all I have to do is keep my gams hairless and glistening. Not to mention, keep hopping on that awful treadmill that has been teasing me everytime I walk into my bedroom.

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Yesterday, I am proud to say that I drank nothing but water. Come to think of it, I consumed no sugar at all and I had the headache to prove it. I heard or read somewhere that if your body is use to drink alot of caffiene or sugar, then when it doesn't get any, you get major headaches. I can personally say that is a true statement. I went to bed with a headache and woke up with one!

However, I know that eventually this little water experiment will pay off!

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I forgot that it was Cinco de Mayo! Since my mom is mexican-american, I usually make a mexican dish for dinner. Since I forgot, no tostadas today.

Anyway, last month I bought a thing of Veet no blade shaving cream. It came with a sample of Veet facial strips. The next day I tried to touch up my eyebrows using the strips. It sucked! I followed directions and every thing, but it did not remove one single strand of hair. It did, however, pull the hair out further, which made it more noticeable. I tweezed the hair off and decided I would wait a while before I tried it again.

Today,when I got out of the shower, I noticed that my mexican side was flaring up, which means that my facial hair was showing. I went into the top drawer of my dresser and found the remaining strips and decided to give it another go. Same crappy result! I am so glad that these were free and I did not have to dip into my "beauty fiend fund" and drop some change for this crap.

I will just stick to shaving, tweezing, and waxing, because those strips sucked!

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I know that you all have probably seen the Olay Ribbons commercials. Well, a couple of weeks ago I decided to try it out, because in the summer I love starting my day by taking a shower with a nice body wash.

There are three different Ribbons: the Lotion Ribbons with Aloe Extract, the Creme Ribbons with Almond Oil, and the Body Butter Ribbons with Jojoba Butter. You decide which one depending on how you want want your skin to feel.

At first, I assumed that I should use the Body Butter, but I thought that it would be to "thick" or "heavy" for me so opted for the Creme Ribbons. I tried it and I really liked it. The smell was incredible and it left my skin feeling creamy and smooth. Since I was not set on it and loving it, I decided that I would try another one.

 Therefore, I felt like maybe I should venture to my first choice; the Ribbons Body Butter. I have been using it for a little over a week and I must say that this is the right version for me. I shoud have known, because the commercial for the Body Butter one has the brown sista doing the ribbon dance while the others don't.

I am very pleased with this one. I highly recommend them! I have so many body washes taking up space in my shower, but this is the one I have been using daily!

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I am a fiend to the sweet feel of ice cold sugared up liquid and that is about to change.

 Since summer weather has hit, I have been drinking more water, but not enough. Tonight, while going through my nightly face washing ritual I noticed that my skin sucks. Even with all the skin products and protection. I realized that everything starts from within and that most definitly includes your appearance.

Therefore, I have decided to drink nothing but water. No more sodas; diet or regular sugared up soda! I did this a few years ago when I was still living for my monthly ProActiv delivery. I can't remember how I fell off the water wagon, but I definitely have to climb back on and steer the hell out of it.

 Tonight, as I was cleaning my face with astringent, I noticed so much crap on my the cotton ball. This was after I washed my face with an exfoliating soap, Nuetrogena Anti-Acne wash, and Clean and Clear blackhead remover. You can't tell looking at me, but if you look really close at my make-up free face, then you will see my delimma.

Tommorrow will be my first full day of only water to cure my thirst. Who knows, I might even loose a little weight like I did last time! If all goes well, I might treat myself in a couple of weeks with a little taste of that oh so wonderful green ice tea!

Now I am off to the kitchen to refill my glass with ice and water and call it a night, because since it is the first week of May and I am in Memphis; its raining. Every year; same time, same thing. RAIN!

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When I was in high school a good friend of mine introduced me to the greatest product and it has been a stain in my make-up bag ever since. Carmex!

 Carmex was the only thing she ever used! No powder, blush, mascara, or even lip gloss! I always admired that about her even while I continued to apply layers of gloss and mascara to my own face. Anyway, she use to always pull this out of her pocket or purse; if she carried one. She swore by it, so the next time I went to Walgreens I bought a jar. That was in late 1998 and I have been keeping stashes of it in my make-up cases and bags ever since. Currently I have 5 brand new jars in my possesion as I type, ready to be cracked open!

 Yesterday before my interview I decided to stop by the Walgreens on the corner of Poplar and Massey to kill an hour before my interview. I bought a Fiji water and decided that while I had the time I would pick up a jar of Carmex, because I left mine at home. While I was reaching for that oh so familiar jar, a new looking stick of Carmex caught my eye. It had the words "Mint Lip Moisturizer with Suncreen SPF 30" printed across the front. Carmex, lip moisturizer, mint, and SPF 30; What more could a Carmex loving girl ask for? So, I swiped a stick and went to the check out.

While I was walking out the store with my new find, my water, and some orange tic tacs, I couldn't help but to test it out. I immediately ripped it out of the package and I rubbed it across by unmoisturized lips. I loved it! It enhanced the natural pinkness of my lips. All I had to do now was top it with a touch of my raspberry Burt's Bees lip gloss and I was off. It had the look of Carmex in a slightly harder texture. One thing that I noticed, or should I say my nose noticed was the smell. Those of you who have used Carmex know that it has a strong smell, but the smell was almost dismal and the mint took its place. I love the smell and feel of mint near my mouth, plus it came with the protection of SPF for the harshness of the summer sun.

Therefore, that made it official! I have a new summer love!

Stay Stylish!

I did not realize that once you make a comment there is not place to click to take you directly back to the main page, so I fixed it! No more going clicking "back"! Now just click on the banner and you will go back to the blog. Sorry about that again!

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Back from the interview... and that is all I have to say about that!

Last night,while I was trying to decide which bag to wear today, I decided to venture into the bottom of the bins that harbor my bag collection. I call the bins my "bag bins" and they are currently holding well over 300 hundred bags in 5 bins. Some are inexspensive while some are the opposite. *looks at the Louis Vuitton and Fendi dust bags holding their matching handbag*

I found bags that I completely forgot about, like this pink and yellow Juicy Couture tote that my stepmom bought me for my college graduation. Oh, how I loved it so! It might make an appearance at this weekend's Beale Street Music Festival, unless it rains like it does every year around this time. Gotta love Memphis weather!

Anyway, as I spent about an hour walking down memory lane with different pieces from my collection, I made the decision to find a better way to store my bags. At first I was thinking about a coat rack, but I would need to squeeze five or six in my bedroom. Plus, the last thing I want to happen is for one of those racks to fall over on me in my sleep. Now, I am thinking white shelves or modern/stylish cubby holes. I am thinking Target, or maybe I can butter up my daddy to build me some in his spare time, but he works too much so I might have to stick with the Target expedition!

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Welcome class! One pet peeve that I have when it comes to faces is to see jacked up eyebrows on a otherwise beautiful face. Eyebrows not only shape your face, but draw attention to it and it is up to you if it is good attention or bad attention. So, I decided to share with you what Sephora sent me in my inbox.

 To find your perfect brow follow these guidelines:

1. Start your brow directly above the middle of your nostrils.

2.  Hold a pencil from the tip of your nose to the middle of your iris. Your arch is the highest point where the line crosses your brow

3.  Hold a pencil in a diagonal line from the outer corner of your nose to the outer corner of your eye. Where this line crosses your brow is your ending point.

If you follow those steps, then you will find the perfect shape for your brows. When I was a freshman in college I went and got my eyebrows professionally shaped and then maintained them on my own. I have been doing so ever since. I occasionally go and get them shaped, dyed, and trimmed every now and then, but rarely.

Here are some more tips and tricks:

 Anastasia is this famous make-up artist known for brow shaping for celebrities such as a Jennifer Lopez and Halle Berry. She has her own line and most importantly this kit which helps guide you in achieving the perfect brows. It includes everything you see here. If you are having a hard time getting the perfect brows, then you might want to invest in this kit.

To receive these tips, tricks and more, then go over to Sephora and sign up for their newsletter for free.

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Well, three years in a row my Memphis Grizzlies have been swept in the first round. For the rest of the playoffs I will be rooting for whichever team has to play the Mavs. Now I am depressed, but moving on to the one thing that can cheer me up: Fashion!

One of the turn offs of shopping for handbags online is not being sure of the actual size of the bag. Will it be big enough to carry all my daily neccessary crap? Is it too big of a clutch to hold all night in one hand while juggling a drink in my other hand?

Well there are some shopping sites that have taken that into consideration and now give you the option to see the bag on a mannequin or even a real model, like Esprit.com!

I for one appreciate those sites, because I have been let down numerous times in the past with the misjudging of the size of a handbag.

When I was still dragging myself around my college campus, I ordered a cute briefcase online that I thought was wide enough to hold my laptop, school books, make-up, and anything else that I could squeeze into it. I was also under the impression that the strap was long enough to hold in my hand or toss on my shoulder. When that big, brown UPS truck pulled up and the driver handed my the box I was so excited. I opened the box and pulled out what I initially thought was a miniture version of the bag I ordered. I was so pissed to discover that this was suppose to be my new briefcase for school and work! It couldn't fit my laptop or even my binder! Don't get me started on my thick Advertising book. I don't think I ever used that bag and it is probably at the bottom of one of these big pink plastic bins that I use to store my collection of bags! Therefore, I am very cautious to purchasing bags online.

Other than Esprit, Eluxury.com also gives you an idea of how most of their handbags look on mannequins. Even JLO shows their hangbags on real models and like I said "I appreciate it!"

Now I am off my Dove soapbox and off to bed, because I am exhausted and I have alot of stuff to do tommorrow and especially Wednesday; another interview!

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As I have said before, I love Fendi! Unfortunately, I only own one Fendi handbags, but at least I own it. I decided to browse around Eluxury.com and came across a batch of new Fendi bags. The styles are not those that I would usually look at, but I couldn't help myself.

 If one of my good fashion buddies is reading this, then they are in shock that I would even consider looking at a denim handbag, let alone buying one. I am not a big fan of denim handbags, because I can't imagine what to pair it with, clothes wise. Too much denim head to toe is nauseating, but for this bag I would be willing to look around for something to drape over me in order to carry this bag arround with me! For those of you who feel the same and have the $970 to drop for the delicious denim bag, then by all means go forth!

 Everytime I see a patent leather bag or shoes, it reminds me of Easter. Every year my mom would always buy me a new pair of white or black patent leather shoes and the matching little purse and I would walk around church with the purse in one hand and my big colorful basket in the other. At the end of the day, the shoes would be all scratched up from searching for those colorful eggs in the park behind the church and the inside my purse would smell like melted chocolate with the chocolate stains to prove it. *Memories* Back to the bag! If I had this bag, I wouldn't put a piece of gum in it, let alone chocolate. If you feel the same then grab that $2000 that you have laying around and indulge in my fantasy of owning this bag. They also have a red patent leather bag that is worth dying or killing over!

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When I am bored at home I sometimes search the Program Guide on Direct TV. Some of my search keywords include, beauty and make-up. The shows I usually search for are Bridezillas and episodes of Martin and Sex and the City, but that is not the purpose of this post.

Anyway, I searched for beauty tips and found out that today's episode of The Tyra Banks show was all about make-up. Needless to say, I was all ears and eyes.

I have been dabbling and smearing myself in make-up for almost a decade and I feel that I know alot of tricks myself. Most of the things I learned are from trial and error and unfortunately mostly errors. I had the pictures to prove it, but oddly they have somehow disappeared, !

Most of the things discussed were applying make-up correctly to the different ickyness of unproper cleaning and disposal of make-up. Although I knew most of the stuff that was discussed, I was still intrigued, because one of my favorite models of all time was on there. Not Tyra, but the beautiful Iman. Love her! I love her make-up line and also her voice and I definitely going to buy her book soon. 

Anyway, if you missed the show, you can get a review and some of the tips discussed here. I am might even watch it agin next week when it comes on Oxygen! Gotta love Oxygen!

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Here is a kit by Amazing Cosmetics called the Amazing Perfect. It is suppose to help you achieve that flawless look with one kit. It comes with a concealer, powder foudation, powder set, brush and a DVD that gives you instruction on how to apply.

I saw this a couple of days ago and refrained from buying it. Now, I have the urge to slap my money on the counter.

Yesterday, I bought this book. I skimmed the pages, but I did not read it. I told myself that I would not buy or read another book until I finish the one I am reading now. Well, at least I did not read it. Currently, I am reading Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. The book is good so far, but I can't wait to read and digest the Passport to Beauty.

I'll be back later, but until then...

Stay Stylish!