New York!

Gift Ideas for the Men in Your Life!

The holiday season is officially upon us. Shopping for the men in your life can be a daunting task, especially when they seem to have everything. Below are a few gift ideas for your significant other, dad or brother.

Fragrances by Chanel
Watches at Endless.com

1. Most men love sports so tickets to see their favorite team would definitely be "gift of the year".
2. Electronics are always a great gift, men love them. Gadgets like ipads, ipods, ipod docks, gaming systems, etc will bring a smile to most faces.
3. Stylish watches are always a good gift.
4. Lets be honest, some men don't take care of their undies like they should. That's what we're here for.
5. A stylish leather jacket is always a good look.
6. Cologne; always a great gift.

Feel Good Friday

"Shopping is better than sex.  If you're not satisfied after shopping you can make an exchange for something you really like. "

~Adrienne Gusoff

Casual Jackets at Barneys New York
Boots by Hunter

HAPPY THANKSGIVING + What I'm Thankful For!

I hope everyone have a blessed and safe Turkey Day!!!

This is the last photo my Pop-pop and I took before he passed away. This was taken Thanksgiving 2009.

I am thankful for my family. My mom supports me in whatever I do no matter what. There are times that I am not feeling confident about things going on in my life but the sound of her voice just makes things better. She has been my personal cheerleader since day one and I know I would not have made it without her. 

I am thankful for my boyfriend. He is a huge part of this blog and my life. Even when I'm mean and pissy, he's patient.

I am thankful for food, shelter, good health and peace-of-mind. God is good y'all!

I am thankful for my for my dog Cannon. He is expensive, moody and always in the way but he brings so much joy to my life. He is perfect!

I am thankful for you, my readers. I am thankful for all the love and support that you all show; for coming back, the beautiful comments, for following. You are truly the greatest!

My Definition of Beauty

~Beauty: n. bu-tee- 1.The confidence, health, happiness, balance, love, goodness, etc. radiating from a person. 2. The result, when living a life consistent with ones desires, values, goals and good intentions. 3. A person who looks at the world with bright optimism and hope, with a pleasant confident disposition and compassionate heart.

Photo Credit

With this being a blog focused on makeup and clothing {outward appearance}I thought it would be important to share my definition of beauty for two reasons, 1) it will help you to get to know me a little better and 2) I  received an email from a young lady that really touched my heart. This young lady is struggling with "beauty" and feeling beautiful in general. The email really touched me because I've been there. I didn't always think I was aesthetically pleasing, I questioned people when they told me I was pretty, I even wondered why guys were interested in me. After a lot of prayer and soul searching, I realized what I lacked was confidence and that my perception of beauty was all messed up.

As cliche as it may be, beauty really does start within. To me, being beautiful is simply just being you and being comfortable with who you are. Not conforming to societal stereotypes just because you want to fit in. Rising above the ordinary, being able to smile through adversity, meeting challenges-are all signs of real beauty to me. It has little to do with your appearance but whats in your heart.

I believe there is a difference between a beautiful person and someone I may describe as pretty. When I say someone is pretty I'm usually just describing their outward appearance. I may not know anything about them, never had a conversation with said person... so to me they're just pretty {sometimes the prettiest people can do the ugliest things}.  A person I describe as beautiful has a certain glow that shines from within. Some may even say a beautiful spirit. It really doesn't matter what they look like or what they have on. There's nothing in this world that can take away someone's beauty.

Do I believe makeup can make you feel better? Heck Yeah. That's the whole point of this blog. When you look good, you feel good {and I want everyone to feel good} but if you're lacking confidence or if your spirit isn't right there isn't enough makeup in the world that will make you beautiful.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so be sure to define beauty for yourself and strive to be that person.

Tutorial | Silver Eye with a Purple Crease

What I Used
Face:
MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation
MAC Mineralized SkinFinish Dark
MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Comfort
NYX Cream Blush in Orange
MAC Select Moisture Concealer

Eyes:
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Coastal Scents Palette
Rimmel London Noir Eyeliner
MAC BlackTrack FluidLine
MAC Studio Finish Concealer
Benefit Bad Gal Mascara
Red Cherry Lashes #47

Lips:
Iman Luxury Lip Shine in Expose'

Feel Good Friday

"When you know better, you do better"

 ~Oprah

Day Dresses by Halston
Pumps by Oscar De La Renta

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MAC for Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday 4 Lipstick

Any Nicki Minaj fans out there??
MAC will be releasing a limited edition  lipstick in honor of the female MC named Pink Friday 4 which coincides with the rappers debut album "Pink Friday". The release date for this lipstick is still up in the air; some say this friday, others say next friday but according to MAC LiveChat detailed information will be released on Monday, November 22. I do know that the lipstick will only be available to four consecutive fridays so keep checking back for updates.

The lipstick is a satin finish and  is said to be a cross between MAC's Pink Nouveau and A Girl About Town. How do you feel about the lipstick? Will you be purchasing?

Winter-ize Your Wardrobe

The leaves are changing colors and the weather is getting cooler, so it’s about time to trade in your favorite summer sandals and tank tops for booties and cashmere sweaters. A change of seasons also serves as the perfect motivation to take on the otherwise daunting task of organizing your wardrobe. If you prep now, it’ll be easier to get the perfect ‘I just threw this on, but I’m still totally fab’ look.

 Photo Source

If you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it. Consider donating anything that didn’t see the light of day this summer; you know one of the many rules of fashion - If you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it. I know it can hard to get rid of that cute little dress that we haven’t worn since college but its time.  Just think about all of the room you’re making for fresh fall fashions like a stylish new faux fur vest or a fly oversized clutch.

Organization is virtue. Organization is often the key to getting the most mileage out of your wardrobe, and its also the hardest. You can save yourself a lot of time if you’re not down on all fours looking for the match to your favorite shoe! I’ve seen that some of our fav celeb fashionistas store their shoes in boxes with Polaroid pictures on the front or hang their clothing by color or category, find what works for you. Sometimes you just need to find the right tools (hangers, shoe racks). However, an organization system only works if you take time to use it. {That last sentence was for me LOL}

Store properly. Storing summer clothes is just as important as winter clothes. People take due diligence in making sure their winter wear is protected from wear and tear, moths, whatever, but you should also take time to store summer clothing away properly.
• Be sure to dry clean or wash clothes before storing them, stains can get worse over time
• Clothing should be stored in ventilated areas and bags to avoid mold or mildew formation, and to protect against fading.
• Keep your summer whites away from direct sunlight. White clothes contain colorless dyes that can turn yellow when they’re exposed to sunlight for long periods of time.

You don’t have to put everything away just yet. Don’t put all of your summer goodies away just yet. Many of the trends that were popular this summer will translate well into the fall season. Rock your mini dress with peep toe pumps and tights or layer that cute flowy camisole under chunky sweaters and structured jackets.

Now let’s start packing!

Outfit Post | Love Rain

Love rain down on me, on me, down on me...



Met him on a thursday, sunny afternoon
Cumulus clouds, 84 degrees
He was brown, deep
Said he wanted to talk about my mission
Listen to my past lives... Word?
Took me on long walks to places where butterflies rest easy



Talked about Moses and Mumia
Reparations, blue colors, memories of shell topped adidas
He was fresh... like summer peaches
Sweet on my mind like block parties and penny candy
Us was nice and warm, no jacket, no umbrella, just warm
At night we would watch the stars



And he would physically give me each and every one
I felt like cayenne pepper, red, hot, spicy
I felt Dizzy, Sonya, heaven, and Miles between my thighs
Better than love, we made delicious
He me had, had me he
He made me tongue tied



I could hear his rhythm in my thoughts
I was his sharp, his horn section
His boom and his bip
And he was my love...

Love rain down on me, on me, down on me



The rain was fallin and, and slowly and sweetly and stinging my eyes
And I could not see that he became my voodoo priest
And I was his faithful concubine
Wide open, wide, loose like bowels after collard greens
The mistake was made
Love slipped from my lips
Dripped down my chin and landed in his lap



And us became new
Now me non-clairvoyant and in love
Made the coochie easy and the obvious invisible
The rain was falling
And I couldn't see the season changing
And the vibe slipping off it's axis



Our beautiful melody became wildly staccato
The rain was falling and I could not see
That I was to be plowed and sowed and fertilized
And left to drown in his sunny afternoon
Cumulus clouds, 84 degrees, melody

Love rain down on me, on me, down on me



Dress-Vintage/Shoes-Aldo
Song: Jill Scott Love Rain

Tutorial | Teal Eyes

What I Used:
MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation
MAC Mineralized SkinFinish Dark
Urban Decay Primer Potion
MAC Teal Pigment
MAC Spiced Chocolate Eyeshadow
MAC Studio Finish Concealer
MAC Ambering Rose Blush
MAC Viva Glam V lipstick
MAC C-Thru lipglass

Feel Good Friday

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

~Mark Twain

Day Dresses by Michael Kors
Boots by Alaia

Snacking Your Way to Clear Skin!

My skin has been going a little crazy lately. I've been getting really tiny bumps popping up sporadically on my face. I don't think that its anything that I'm using because I rarely change my regimen. It could be the change in the weather or the fact that I've been slacking on my water intake. Who knows, but it has to stop. So I did a little research on things that I can eat to help with the current condition of my skin.

For those who don't know, I posted about my skin woes a while back. Its been about a year since I've come off of Accutane (acne treatment), I'm contemplating if I should go back and ask for another three month dosage but I know my dermatologist will laugh in my face. If I'm still having trouble after the new year I'm definitely going back. Accutane has done wonders for my skin and I'm a little obsessed now (lol but true). I know one things for sure, I love having clear skin and I do not want to go back to dealing with acne.

Read on for healthy snacks that will have you on the path to clear skin:

Photo Source

Berries [Strawberries, Blackberries, Cranberries]: Berries are chock full of antioxidants! Antioxidants helps to protect your skin from harmful free radicals, gives your complexion a radiant glow, and fights the molecules that damage skin cells which leads to premature signs of aging . Berries also help the body produce collagen which keeps skin, soft, youthful and supple.

Nuts [Walnuts, Brazil Nuts]: Walnuts & Brazil nuts are high in Fatty Acids, so they help lend a supple, smooth appearance to your skin. Brazil Nuts are high in Selenium which helps fight free radicals and also improves the elasticity of the skin.

Oily Fish [Prawns, Tuna, Salmon, Sardines]: The Fatty Acids present helps to prevent dryness, clogged pores, and improves skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis due to healthier cell membranes. Fatty acids regulate the health of the cell by keeping toxins out, and allowing nutrients in. Healthier cell membranes means that your cells are able to retain more moisture, and more moisture means younger looking skin.

Citrus Fruits [Oranges, Lemons, Grapefruits]: Citrus fruits contains high levels of Vitamin C [otherwise known as Ascorbic Acid] that is instrumental in keeping your skin health and youthful. Vitamin C [often found in most anti aging serums and treatments] is a water soluble vitamin which means it cannot be stored by the body. This is why it's important to consume at least a few servings of Vitamin C daily. The Vitamin C found in Citrus fruits acts a powerful antioxidant that aggressively fights free radicals while keeping your skin smooth and firm.

Dark Green Vegetables [Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Watercress]: Like many of the foods mentioned before this food group, dark green veggies are high in antioxidants. The Vitamin A present in green veggies also helps regulate the production of sebum, which is good news to those with oily, acne prone skin. Vitamin A strengthens the cell membrane and also regulates the release of toxins from the cells.

Source

Outfit Post | God in Me

You're so fly, you're so high
Everybody 'round you trying to figure out why
You're so cool, you win all the time
Everywhere you go, man you get a lot of shine



You draw like a magnet, better yet I have it
Everything you wear people say they gotta have it
From the sweat suit to the white tee to the Gucci
You can probably say people wanna get like me



But what they don't know is when you go home
And get behind closed doors, man you hit the floor
And what they can't see is you're on you're knees
So the next time you get it just tell 'em



It's the God in me, it's the God in me
It's the God in me, it's the God in me
It's the God in me



You think I'm so fresh, you think I'm so clean
You think I'm so sweet (what is it you think you see?)
It's the God in me, it's the God in me
It's the God in me




Jacket-Nordstom/Skirt-H&M/ Shoes-Sam Edleman/Jewelry DIY and F21
Song: Mary Mary God in Me

Makeup Brushes 101

Just like any other artist, makeup enthusiasts need the right tools in their kit to paint a beautiful face. If you've been wondering about what different brushes do or which you really need, keep reading.

I will be using MAC brushes as an example because they are awesome; easily obtainable; and I like their numbering system. There are a vast selection of brushes to choose from like Crown Brush, Sigma Brushes, billybBEAUTY brushes and Sonia Kashuk just to name a few. So research to find which brushes are best for you.

Face Brushes

150 Large Powder Brush: Full and dense for dusting loose or pressed powder on face or body.
187 Duo Fiber Brush:  A large full circular brush used for lightweight application and blending of face powder or pigments. This brush is also excellent for applying liquid makeup. It leaves the finish seamless and flawless.
190 Foundation Brush: A foundation brush designed to create a smooth, even finish, flawless look. Blends liquid and cream foundations like a charm.
129 Powder/Blush Brush: All-purpose for blush or face powder. This brush is particularly good for blush application because its smaller so your able to concentrate on the apples of your cheeks better.
168 Large Angled Contour Brush: This brush can be used to contour the face or for applying blush.

Eye Brushes

239 Eye Shader Brush: Soft and dense to shade or blend eye shadow or emollient-based products.

252 Large Shader Brush:  Soft but firm bristles for shading with eye shadow or emollient-based products.

266 Small Angle Brush: For creating sharp, precise lines or filling in the brows.
217 Blending Brush: Used for eyeshadow application and blending.
224 Tapered Blending Brush: For controlled eye shadow application and blending
210 Precise Eyeliner Brush: For precision lining of eye area or body detailing/design.

Feel Good Friday

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
 

~John Quincy Adams

Boots by Pura Lopez
Scarves & Wraps by Erdem