Outfit Post | All Hustle, No Flow

Hiya my very loyal and awesome readers. Remember way back when I told y'all I was going to graduate school but that doesn't mean anything to you because I had a 'schedule' and planned to continue posting regularly? Well I failed. Sorry. But I'm absolutely giddy to be back (as I start to dougie)!

Ok, so since I've been gone a lot has changed. Want the cliff notes? I've become mom to another doggie, a stray rat-terrier that I found lounging on my front lawn; I've become a namaste chanting yoga girl; I'm single again and trying to navigate the dating scene aka exhausted; I totally ditched eyeshadow and only throw on concealer and Ruby Woo lipstick when I want to get 'fancy'. Yes, since our last chit chat about makeup it has been almost non-existent in my life. I miss our weekly chats about Nars blushes and curating the perfect brows dearly. I even miss taking 102 photos just to get three decent looking shots for my YouTube tutorials. Oh and how can I forget the most noticeable change? I cut my hair. We all know that boredom coupled with a temporary loss of identity means something and someone is getting cut. In this case it was my hair. One thing remains the same though, I still eat wayyy too much Chinese food.

Speaking of hair...

After I decided that my initial hair cut wasn't short enough I decided to go to a barber. My brother got me an appointment with his coiffeur and I was set. I get there and the convo goes a little like this:

Me: I want the sides tapered a little more and I also want a little more off the top.

Him: (feeling my hair) Your hair is so soft. What do your man think about this?

Me: (I was still attached) He fully supports me cutting my hair. You'll probably need to take a little off the back too.

Him: Yo its killing me to have to cut your hair. You know how many bald chicks walking around wishing they had this thick soft hair.

Me: You are more than welcome to sweep up what you cut and help them out.

Him: I'm saying, its already hard out here for women. Men like hair; long hair, big asses and a cute face. Why you think women out here getting ass shots and weaves down to the floor? They ain't going through all that pain for nothing. Its all to get some attention from men. You got a cute face, your ass is alright but you about to cut all your hair off. You sure you want me to do this?

Me: (with a screw face) Just cut my damn hair.

I probably should have left but I just let him finish my hair. I tried to come up with slick "let me school yo ass" closing remarks before I sashayed out of the shop but I decided to let it go because a wise man (Jay-Z) told me don't argue with fools because people from a distance can't tell who's who.  When I got in the car I chuckled. Men.

Just recently I took my short-haired don't stand a chance self to a local pub (yes I say pub instead of bar because I'm bougie) to kick it with my girls and the same ignorant coiffeur didn't recognize me and tried to "holla".

HA!

Anyway I miss you guys and look forward to chatting regularly again. What's been up with you?

I wish you peace and blessings. Namaste!

The wardrobe
Shirt- Theory
Jeans- J Brand
Shoes- Brian Atwood
Sunglasses- Prada
Necklace- H&M

Damn Girl, Where You Been?

Hey guys! I know I've been missing-in-action but a lot has been happening around my way.  The biggest thing is I will be going back to school to pursue a masters degree. Classes begin next week and I will be going full-time while continuing to work full-time. I know that sounds absolutely nuts but why not? I have no children and I'm still young. Go hard or go home, right?

So what does that mean for the blog? I honestly don't know but I'm optimistic. The cool thing about my program is that it is tailored for working adults so classes are in the evenings. I will be in class three nights a week + studying will leave little time for anything else. BUT I have a plan, a very strict plan, which includes blogging. I love Faces by Tamara and all of you readers so a small part of me will die if the blog falls by the wayside. I'm a pretty disciplined person so I don't for see having any trouble keeping up with the plan, its all in my control. I will keep you all posted on this new journey and what comes of it.

I also have other updates like my hair (will it stay or will it go?), home organization chronicles, wardrobe building, makeup (of course), DIY's and my fitness journey. Remember I shared my little secret with you all? Well I put a stop to that!!

Thank you guys for all the support. I think about you everyday, I really do. I should be back with regular postings and video tutorials within the coming weeks. In the meantime, follow me on Twitter!

Love ya!

Video | My Favorite Lipsticks

MAC Show Orchid
MAC Up The Amp
MAC Girl About Town
MAC Cyber
MAC Velvet Teddy
MAC Ruby Woo
MAC Rebel
MAC Hang Up
MAC Freckletone
MAC Film Noir

I'm BACK!

Hey ladies! Long time no chat. When I decided to take some time away from blogging I did not think it was going to be a whole two months. It still doesn't feel like its been two months because time is literally flying. Can you believe that its going to be July come Friday?? We are past the half year mark, soon we're going to be planning for the holidays and a new year.



So what have it missed? Have you all been keeping up with your goals? What about the spring cleaning we talked about? Me, well I've made some progress. I've sorted through what I wanted to do with my future and I made some progress but more on that another time. As far as the mental spring cleaning, that's a work in progress. After doing an assessment I realized I don't have many negative people in my life (thank God) so all the work that needs to be done is internal. I needed to just enjoy life. So that's what I did and that's what I'm going to always do.



So while away I enjoyed time with my boyfriend, traveled to Pennsylvania to watch my baby brother graduate high school, spent countless hours at the dog park, over indulged in Caribbean and Chinese food, slacked off at the gym, suffered a major breakout, made my own Shea Butter, planted a killer flower bed that I am SO PROUD of, got a pedicure with a design on my big toe (its been years since I had a design lol), walked Coney Island and got a hot dog from the original Nathans, became completely obsessed with McDonald's smoothies, learned how to do the wobble. Its been a good two months.


So I did think about the blog a little while I was gone, lol. While keeping makeup the main focus of the blog, I think I'm going to blog about other things that interest me. I enjoy cooking, home decor, landscaping among other things and I wanted to share those things here. As much as I love makeup, natural hair, shopping and all that jazz; I do enjoy other things. Would you all mind the blog branching out just a little? Let me know!



Lastly I want to thank you all for visiting the blog, tweeting me, liking me on Facebook and subscribing to my Youtube while I was gone. I really appreciate your patience while I took a moment for myself. THANK YOU!

What have I missed? Are there any new blogs I need to check out?

"A friend is one who strengthens you with prayers, blesses you with love and encourages you with hope." Unknown

My girls and I traveled to the mountains this past weekend for our annual girls getaway. This year we decided to check out the Blue Ridge Mountains in Blue Ridge, GA and we had a blast!! Our cabin was gorgeous (even though it was at the very top of the mountain) and the town of Blue Ridge was very quaint and full of character.

I have been fortunate to meet wonderful friends at every stage in my life but when I moved to Charlotte it was particularly hard because I felt I was at the point where people were generally not interested in making new friends. I was (finally) grown, just starting my career in a new city and lonely. After coming in contact with a few bad apples, I met the PERFECT set of friends. I mean these women are truly FABULOUS. Within the 2.5 years that we've known each other, we have made a lifetime of memories. I know that these five women (one is not photographed. She couldn't make it because she was purchasing her first home!!) will be in my life forever and I am so excited to share my journey with them. Our relationships are divine both collectively and individually.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.























Here we are all juiced up sharing our love for one another.

Outfit Post | I Smile...

The days leading up to today have been rough; long sleepless nights, missing my grandfather, thoughts about picking up and moving my life back to Pennsylvania, and loneliness. Today makes a full year since my grandfather left us. I have never experienced a death that affected me so much, to the point where I could no longer mask the pain. I can be a very stoic person, its never been easy for me to express how I'm feeling or talk about what I'm going through but when I was in what felt like my darkest hour my boyfriend read these bible verses to me:

Daniel 10:8-12 NIV 
^"8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. ⁹ Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.
 ¹⁰ A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. ¹¹ He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. ¹² Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them."  

Today is a warm and sunny day the opposite of the cold and cloudy day we buried my Pop-pop. In memory of him I promise to smile all day and be thankful for his life and mine. He lived a full life and touched many. I can hear him telling stories and laughing now.

Just Do It!

I like to think of myself as a pretty creative person. I have projects listed in my mind, created vision boards, filled binders with inspirational quotes and photos all waiting to come to fruition. I've researched, explored, taken classes, even reached out to people for help to make these things happen but as I look over notes/vision boards/journals that I compiled over the past few months I realized I have a ways to go.

The past year of my life has been a serious roller coaster. In August I was involved in a car accident that left me in the hospital for weeks with injuries that still bother me until this day and probably will for the rest of my life. I remember every detail of that day like it happened just a couple hours ago, from the moment I woke up to the moment it happened. I was slapped in the face with my own mortality and it left me feeling scared, alone and helpless beyond words. Exactly 24 days after that I closed on my first home. I was feeling high again and it felt so good. Soon after iKandy LLC went into business. I was finally pursuing my passion for makeup and I was on cloud nine. Then I lost the man who had influenced my life the most, my grandfather. Talk about a blow, it hurts bad, real bad. A couple weeks after that my beloved home was broken into, I never felt so violated in my whole 25 years of living. This chain of events left me feeling weak, confused and down right broken. I do a such a wonderful job of hiding my feelings that the people closet to me would never know. I mean you would have to REALLY know me.

So I said all of that to say, I'm no longer wasting time. Its time for me to revisit the notes, take another look at the vision boards and make it happen. I haven't been myself for a long time but I'm back and so much stronger than before. I'm going to document my projects on this blog. This will still be a beauty blog but just with a little extra flava. Hope you like!

Sexy for Valentine's Day...

I took these photos months ago so I'm not sure what I had on but I had on MAC's Ruby Woo lipstick in the first photo and MAC's Clear lipglass in the second.

Scandalous Beauty??

I submitted this first photo to Erin at Scandalous Beauty for her "I am a Scandalous Beauty" contest. I'm not sure if she is going to feature my photo but I still wanted to share it with you.

Products Used:
MUFE HD Foundation
MAC Prep & Prime Transparent Powder
MAC Deep Blue Green Pigment on lid
MAC Blunt Blush in crease
MAC Vanilla Pigment as highlight
MAC Cork Lip Liner
MAC Velvet Teddy l/s
MAC 3N l/g
Pink/Peach color on cheeks

This is a super easy smokey eye, I hope you try it!

I'm a WHOLE LOTTA WOMAN...

I was playing in makeup and this is what I came up with. Kind of reminded me of the 70s especially with the fro. Hope you enjoy.





Products used:
MUFE foundation in 173
MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in Dark
Rimmel London eyeliner in Noir
MAC Carbon eyeshadow
MAC Naked Pigment
MAC Fascinating eyeliner
Red Cherry Lashes #28
Red Cherry Lashes #602
MAC Blunt blush
NARS Orgasm blush
MAC Cork Lipliner
MAC Viva Glam V Lipstick
NYX Lipgloss in Sweet Heart

My New Foundation

Yesterday I finally purchased Make Up Forever (MUFE) HD Foundation. I've been wanting to try it for a while but couldn't justify spending double on a new foundation when my old one was working just fine. Well yesterday I decided to live a little and splurge and so far I LOVE it!!! Now I'm not completely giving up on my MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 because it has been great to me for years but MUFE HD Foundation coupled with my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Dark gave me a flawless finish.

So if you're in the market for a new foundation, stop by Sephora to check it out. They have an awesome return policy if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase. I'm sure you'll love it!

What's done in the Dark...

Products Used:
NYX jumbo pencil in Black
Pewter(ish) color from 88 Coastal Scents pallette
MAC Carbon e/s
Silver e/s
Lots of Fix +

The Collective Musings of Tamara

Welcome to my blog!! I'm excited to share my passion for beauty with you. I'm the ultimate girly girl who loves makeup, fashion, hair, fragrances and anything else that makes me feel and look FABULOUS! We all know a little lipstick and perfume can work miracles when it comes to how we feel so why not make it a point to feel beautiful everyday.

In this blog I will share a little about myelf, a lot about my business, iKandy LLC, youtube tutorials and more. Stay tuned and stay fabulous!