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

Outfit Post | Cleva

Romper-F21, Shoes-Victoria's Secret, Bag-Michael Kors, Jewelry-Mom and boyfriend









I got a little pot in my belly//
So now a days my figure ain't so fly//
My dress ain't cost nothin' but seven dollars//
But I made it fly//
And I'll tell ya why//
But I'm clever when I bust a rhyme//
I'm cleva always on ya' mind//
She's cleva and I really wanna grow//
But why come I'm the last to know?//

Beauty fades. Period. Growing old gracefully is always the plan but even the oh-so-gorgeous Diahann Carroll finally aged. Or you can have a terrible freak accident (God-forbid) and have your physical beauty taken away. So what else you got?

By and large, I believe we live in a pretty attractive world (as far as I can see, which may not be saying much but still). Whether its natural beauty or surgically manifested, there is a whole heaping set of pretty people in the world. In the next cube, around the corner, in the bathroom, on the train, at the gym doing squats in the mirror directly in front of your man.  Definitely, pretty might get you a base but it won't get you a home run. There will always be a woman prettier, curvier with a smaller waist and bigger donk, bigger tits, longer hair or a man with bigger muscles, washboard abs, a more chiseled jawline and a darker caeser with 360 waves. In order to stand out or leave an impression, you have to be about more than your exterior. You need a personality, or at least a skill or hobby. We can spend an hour blending our makeup to perfection but will that make someone remember our names? Nope! Let's dig deeper.

Alright with me//
Said I'm alright with me//
Said I'm alright with me...//

1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

Tutorial | Evelyn Lozada Inspired Silver Eye and Plum Lip

What I Used:
MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation
MAC MIneralized Skinfinish in Dark
MAC Spiked Brow Pencil
MAC Studio Finish Concealer (Brow Highlight)
Sleek STORM Palatte
Jessie's Girls Silver Pigment
MAC Blacktrac Fliudline
Cover Girl Bronzer
MAC Currant Lipliner
MAC Rebel Lipglass

Beat the Heat with Hassle Free Hair

Its been hot lately, like beyond hot. If your hair is anything like mine, it has been dry, frizzy and down right pissed at the humidity.  Just like every summer, I have been tempted to shave my head Steve Harvey style but then I remember that this heat shall pass. Check out the tips below for learn how to survive the heat with hassle free hair!

Photo Credit

• For styles that are free-flowing such as braid outs or twist outs, use minimal amounts of products that are lightweight. This makes for fluffier, shiner, hair with lots of body. Now you can use a combination of products, however use them sparingly, and choose them wisely. Too much product can make the hair appear weighed down and lacks movement. 

• Get the hair clean before styling, whether you use bentonite clay, sulfate shampoo, herbs, or baking soda, make sure the hair is free from residue before styling. Your hair will be shinier, and have more body if you start with a clean palate.  

• Detangle hair only while loaded with conditioner. Condition for about 15 minutes to let the moisturizing properties penetrate my strands, then detangle, and finally sit back under my dryer for another 15 minutes. 

• If you have tangle-prone hair, try shampooing and conditioning while in four fat braids or twists.  Less hair lost and split while detangling = more retention. 

• When you are shampooing your hair, use your fingertips not your nails to gently cleanse your scalp. 

Tutorial | Bronze Eye with a POP of Blue!

What I Used:
MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation
MAC MIneralized Skinfinish in Dark
MAC Spiked Brow Pencil
MAC Orange Eyeshadow
MAC All That Glitters Eyeshadow
MAC Embark Eyeshadow
MAC Studio Finish Concealer
MAC Blacktrac Fliudline
MAC Teal Pigment
NARS Taj Mahal Blush
MAC Gold Dust Lipstick

Landscape Dreaming

So the big project at Lola (what I affectionately call my home) right now is my backyard. Its pretty much a bare canvas for me to do whatever I want. This project will be DIY for the most part but so I can't see it being too elaborate. But with enough HGTV and wine, you never know.

So here's my yard. The grass needs work.






So one of the major things I want to do, that's going to have to be professionally done, is expand the patio. Right now the patio is really small and the table is pretty much taking up the whole space.





The right side of the yard is lined with trees so its hard for grass to grow underneath. So I'm going to section of that side with some type of brick border and plant greenery and flowers from front to back. I'm so excited!!

I also plan to get a shed to go against the back fence and I will plant some small tress on both sides. There will be a gazebo somewhere in the yard for extra seating and decor but I'm sure exactly where yet. Its important that my dog still has plenty of space to play so lots of grass is a must.

Here's my first mock up. I'm sure I'll be adding/changing stuff as I go along.



And a little inspiration. All of these photos are from HGTV.com.


This pergola is gorgeous and I love the decor.


I love love love this gazebo!


Hostas are my absolute favorite. I plan to have a lot of them.


And flowers of course.


My goal is to have the yard complete by memorial day 2012. I'll have a big cookout to show off my hard work. That seems realistic right?


Do any of you have any experience with landscaping? Any suggestions?

Outfit Post | Patience

It has been nasty hot lately so I have been living in light weight maxi dresses.  I have been opting for care-free hair as well. This is a six day old braid out that hadn't been re-braided for the past two nights so it turned into a fro. I bought a pack of synthetic braiding hair and braided two individual braids, pinned them around my head like a headband. This keeps my hair out of my face and it's chic. I've been wearing my hair in a fro a lot lately because my boyfriend thinks its super sexy. He almost had a heart attack when I pulled out the pack of braiding hair though. It's amazing me how men can love weaved out celebrities but act like they can't stand weaves on regular women. Humph.

My dress is from Forever 21. I have on flat jelly GUESS sandals and my all my jewelry came from street vendors.

Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. Patience is the level of endurance one's character can take before negativity. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast. -Dictionary.com

I named this post Patience because for the past 17 months I have been tested in ways I've never been before. How so? I'm in a long distance relationship. Before February 2010 I would have never thought it a million years that I, Tamara, would be in a long distance relationship. Just wasn't my thing. I need my man near. I need to be able to see him when I want. Just wasn't in the plan. But clearly it was in His plan. So I have been spending the past 17 months traveling to Charleston to see my love. It started off with us alternating weekends. Then that became to much for me so being that my boyfriend hates to see me stressed he said he'll just come to Charlotte every weekend so I wouldn't have to travel. I felt that would have been selfish of me and would have gotten old to him quick so I said I'll come as often as I feel which turned into me going to Charleston about once a month, him coming to Charlotte about twice a month and us having a weekend a part. Its working, but I'm over it. I'm not over my relationship, just over the long distance part. 

I know that these relationships can work. I know for a fact that they do work. I know that there may be people reading this post right now who may be in the same situation but live too far apart from their mate to see them every weekend. Or my three hour drive may seem like a breeze compared to their six hour car drive or five hour flight. I think about those couple too and I pray for their relationship along with mine. 

My boyfriend and I do have a plan to be together. After much deliberation we have decided that Charlotte would be the best place for us (Thank God) but this distance thing is not getting easier, its getting harder. Its harder to say goodbye, its hard trying to shove all of our activities together in a weekend, its hard to have to settle for talking on the phone after a long day when I really need a hug.

I wanted to share this test with you all because I know that there is a testimony waiting. If we remain Patient there are blessings waiting that we can't even imagine. I often have to remind myself that this, my relationship is greater than me. Its about us, our future and our legacy. Its about God. 

No matter what may be testing you. There is an end. It will get better. Just stay faithful and have Patience. God wants nothing more but to bless us with the desires of our heart but we have to earn them. And we all know that anything worth having is worth fighting for. Don't give up! We're not!

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (NKJV)

I Have a Little Secret...

I'm getting fat. Well... let me add a disclaimer: I'm not fat (yet) but I am beginning to pick up some weight and if I don't stop while I'm ahead, it will not end well.  I noticed the extra poundage a while back but I just attributed it to being bloated because for some reason I always feel bloated but I didn't have my "aha moment" until this past weekend when I pulled out a loose fitting summer dress that I hadn't worn since last year and it was tight. Maybe I've been feeling bloated because I've been gaining weight? Duh! All the signs were there; I've been opting to take my dog to the dog park instead of walking or jogging with him, I haven't been to the gym in about a month and prior to that I could only make myself go once a week, and I've been eating all the sushi, Chinese and Caribbean food in sight. Just reckless!

I'm not a thin person by nature. I am curvy. I have a booty. I have thick thighs. Athletic build (I think). So sometimes its a little hard for me to tell when I'm gaining weight (which may be denial). I love my shape, its feminine and when toned can be referred to as "brick house" lol. But the problem is my waist is catching up to my hips, the cellulite is starting to show and my clothes are just tight. No bueno.

So I stated all of this to 1) hold myself accountable 2) inspire someone else who may be feeling the same way and 3) share some tips with you. Exercise is a key component and I plan to start walking my dog regularly again and hitting the gym three times a week but diet is everything. Eating "healthy" is not always the most convenient nor is it cheap but its necessary for our overall health. Below are some tips for adopting a healthier diet from www.blackgirlsrun.com/.

1.) If calories are king, then portions are queen: While most of us already know the importance of reading food labels and knowing how many calories we’re consuming, the area that I’m learning often gets overlooked is serving size. Even when I cook at home, I pay close attention to what’s considered a single serving and measure out my portions accordingly. You’d be amazed how something can seem low in calories until you take a look at the serving size, which is usually much smaller than what any average person would eat. A good example of this can be found at one of the gazillion frozen yogurt shops that have become popular over the last year (which I’m SO guilty of frequenting myself). The average shop lists their ‘original’ flavor as containing about 70 calories. I’ve often heard people praise how “guilt-free” and low in calories this is, however, being the calorie-conscious person that I am, I found it awfully strange that while calories are listed, serving size is nowhere to be found. After doing a little research, I learned that a serving at most fro-yo shops is about 3 oz.—sometimes even less. Given the ginormous cups offered at fro-yo shops these days, (I know you’ve seen them!) that’s not much! In fact, since most of these shops charge by the ounce, as a challenge, take a look at your receipt next time and do the math. I guarantee you’ll learn you’re consuming a heck of a lot more than 70 calories!

2.) Just because it sounds healthy, doesn’t mean it is: Much like the aforementioned frozen yogurt debacle, I’ve learned never to take anything at face value, because while it may sound healthy and “lite,” that doesn’t mean it is. Sure a whole wheat bagel with low-fat cream cheese sounds and is better than its regular counterpart, with an average of 450 calories (not to mention the high carbs) it’s still quite a significant addition to your daily intake; especially if you’re eating it as a snack. A better choice might be an Arnold sandwich thin or two slices of Ezekiel 4:9 bread, which you can top with a nut butter and honey or all-natural apple butter. Also, while salads are always a great choice, if your salad is topped with cheese, bacon bits, croutons and the whole nine, all while slathered in ranch or Thousand Island dressing, hate to break it to you, but you may as well have opted for the hamburger. Instead, try sticking with lean meats, fruits and veggies, and raw nuts and seeds as toppings. And when it comes to dressings, I’ve found that it’s often safest to stay away from the creamy varieties altogether (since they are typically the highest in calories and fat) and opt for choices in the Italian or vinaigrette family instead. A great trick I really love is using raw apple cider vinegar as a salad dressing. It tastes delicious and has zero calories and zero fat so you can drench your salad to your heart’s content! But, hey—if you know you love your ranch dressing and can’t live without it, simply remember tip #1 and just be mindful of your portions. To do this, consider measuring out a serving or two into a small dish and dipping your fork into the dressing rather than pouring it on top. This will not only help you use less, but it’ll also keep you aware of how much you’re consuming.

3.) There’s a substitute for everything: As with my apple cider vinegar trick, I’ve learned that for every unhealthy food you love, there’s a way to make it healthier or find a healthy alternative, and the small changes can make a huge difference. For instance, instead of bread, I often eat sandwiches on two wheat crackers (my fave is Wasa Crispbread), which not only taste great, but are only 30 calories a slice as opposed to the 70-110 a slice of regular bread. Also, did you know that unsweetened vanilla almond milk has almost half the calories of 2% dairy milk? I’ve switched to this and never looked back! I’m also a big fan of Smart Beat dairy-free cheese slices (25 calories a slice vs. the average 70 calories) and lastly, as a huge pasta lover, I’ve found that whole wheat pastas (again watching portions) and spaghetti squash are just as satisfying as the real thing, and I’ve never heard anyone who took my advice on this disagree!

4.) Prepare, prepare, prepare: One of my rules of thumb is “the best way to know what you’re eating is to prepare it yourself.” As a result, something I’ve found especially helpful to staying on track is packing my breakfast, lunch, and all snacks for work. This way I have wholesome meals and snacks in queue at all times, so I’m not tempted to fall into the office juice and bagel trap, eat fast food for lunch, or head to the vending machine for 3 p.m. munchies. Some of my common snacks include: carrots, cucumbers, and bells peppers with hummus; grapes with a Laughing Cow cheese wedge; a piece of fruit like an orange, apple, or nectarine; or a wheat cracker/rice cake topped with apples slices and drizzled with honey, and a little cinnamon. Now, of course I recognize we can’t always eat only our own food since we all love to eat out from time to time, but even in these cases it’s still possible to be proactive. Before I go to a restaurant, I almost always Google their menu to see if I can find the nutrition information, which often times is available on their website. This helps me review my options and make a healthy choice beforehand rather than getting to the restaurant and letting my eyes make the decision for me. Also, as a person who enjoys having a cocktail or two when I’m out, I’ve even recently began preparing on this front since many cocktails have just as many calories as a full meal. I like to keep a few Crystal Light packets in my purse and if the mood strikes for a drink and I know I want to keep it light, I opt for a vodka and tonic (or club soda) and mix in my packet for an instant low calorie cocktail! Works like a charm!

5.) Your freezer is your friend: If you’re looking to adopt healthier eating habits, some common concerns you may have are: How will I make time to eat healthy? Won’t it be expensive? If I buy a bunch of produce, won’t it spoil before I get a chance to use it all? My answer: Frozen is the way to go! Not only do I stock up on bags of frozen veggies (which are pretty inexpensive I might add), I also purchase frozen chicken breasts and shrimp for easy access when I need a lean protein, I freeze my loaves of Ezekiel Bread and bags of Sandwich Thins to preserve their freshness, and if I find that I’m not using my fresh produce in a timely manner, into the freezer it goes! If you think your bananas are useless once they start to go bad, think again! Peel those suckers and place them in a freezer baggy, then grab them later for smoothies, eat them ‘as-is’ topped with almond butter as a healthy and delicious snack, or throw them in the food processor to make yummy banana softserve.

[5 Tips for Adopting a Healthier Diet]

Do you have any tips for keeping your diet in check? Would you like to join me on this [life long] journey? 

Photo Credit

Go Nude...

Do you find yourself wearing black all the time? Why not step out of your comfort zone and try a new neutral? Try mixing hues of khaki, beige and mauve with bold colors in your wardrobe instead of your typical black and watch the impact it makes.

Mid-length Skirts by Marc Jacobs
Sandals by Nicholas Kirkwood

Clutches by Bottega Veneta
Charms by Paloma Picasso

Pumps by Lanvin
Shoulder Bags by Lanvin