Back to business with a blast from the past

For some reason, this theme song has been on loop and playing in my head for several days now, lol. Now before you say any single thing, I am not showing my age with that clip. Retro channels on cable television are making all the old shows new again and it just so happens that I like reruns. So whatcha got to say now smarty pants, lol? At any rate, welcome back! I've been going through my archives and found goo gobs of things that I've never shared...so guess what? Over the next few weeks as "2011" winds down, I'm going to mix in some old with the new. Cool? Cool.




So I recently ran across my first ever OOTN pictures from a Valentine's Day GNO (girls night out) from "2010". I have to say that I'm right proud of myself for once again stepping out of my rigid little Virgo "everything must match" safebox. Don't get me wrong, the outfit is still tame compared to some of the awesome 'fits I've seen around the blogosphere, but I'm still patting myself on the back for stepping out of my comfort zone. Enough blabbing though, on to the 'fit...

I was very nice in this picture after having had one of the best cocktails I'd ever had. It was sweet and fruity concoction called a Ruby Relaxer and it was yummmmay!

Sometimes I get extra with it, lol. Can you tell I like to read? I know you're looking extra hard at that bookshelf in the background, lol.

One of my favorite aspects of this skirt is the draping. It gives the illusion that I'm draggin' a wagon back there but really...I'm not, lol.

This China Glaze holographic nail polish gave me everything that night, how I loved it so!

I was so sad that I couldn't find a pair of footed tights that were long enough for me because it was friggin' COLD that night. Being a woman of a particular height (5'10) with a 36 inch inseam (long ass legs) can be difficult. But long legs have their advantages, heh heh ;-)

It was a pretty good loc and makeup night. I don't really remember what I was wearing on my face though, probably an assortment of Mabelline products (my fave drugstore brand).

Appetizer, drink and dessert. I can't find the picture of the entree, but it was a Porterhouse steak with grilled veggies. Oh, and it was yummmmay!

Me between courses and then me and my cousin Shara at the after dinner movie. I can't remember what we saw but it was good, lol.




The OOTN deets:


Top = Target
Skirt = Alloy or Delia's (I can't remember which)
Belt = See above
Booties = Macy's
Tights = Target
Earrings = Kohls
Rings = African Festival, Wet Seal and Sterling District
Watch = Fossil
Nail polish = China Glaze OMG collection (don't remember the exact name)




That does it. What do you think? I color blocked before it was trendy, tee hee. As the clock winds down, do you find yourself reflecting on style choices gone by? Let a sistah know!




Bonus! Here's a vlog from that night...

August Faves :-)

Dearest fair maidens, dashing divas and glamorous gals,

How are you? Feeling fab I hope :-)

Just in time for the end of August, I thought I'd share the products I reached for the most. I paid for all these products with my own money and I am NOT being paid to promote these products. The views expressed herein are my own and are not endorsed/shared by Google/Blogger/anyone else. Just a little legal disclosure...now on to the faves :-)

First up is this Arm&Hammer Naturals Deodorant. I have a hard time with deodorants because most make my armpits crack, bleed, peel, burn and itch. I have extremely sensitive skin and finding a deodorant that's effective and gentle was almost impossible...until I found this stuff! I love it! It smells nice, it has no aluminum or parabens and it keeps me fresh. I also like it because it isn't an antiperspirant. It's a natural function for our bodies to produce sweat, it's how we cool off and release toxins. Antiperspirants are not safe for the body as they inhibit a natural process and clog sebum producing pores resulting in ingrown hairs and cysts. If you're concerned about sweat stains, try disposable sweat shields for your clothes.

Next up is this awesome Jergens Naturals Ultra Hydrating Moisturizing Lotion. I love Love LOVE this stuff! It works wonders for my children's eczema and it keeps my skin silky smooth and hydrated. JNUHL is cruelty free, paraben free, dermatologist tested and purports to be made with 95% natural ingredients. Though the ingredients list includes such gems as Jojoba Oil, Agave Leaf Extract, Shea Butter and Calendula Flower Extract, some of the ingredients are obviously no as natural. All in all, I still love this thick creamy lotion. It has a nice smell and it does what it's supposed to.

My all time fave shampoo is Giovanni's Triple Treat Tea Tree Shampoo. This stuff gets my locs squeaky and tingly clean and smells oh so good. For a little extra kick, I add more peppermint essential oil (another of my all time faves). Giovanni products are cruelty free and for the most part vegan friendly. The shampoos contain no Sodium Sulfate (SLS),  Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) or Phthalates. The Triple Treat Shampoo and many of Giovanni's other hair and body products are certified organic and gentle for most product sensitive consumers. You should always conduct a patch test on an inconspicuous area when trying new products though.

This oily skin combatant that I recently found is DHC's Water base Moisture. I've been using this stuff all August long and I have to say that I am liking it. It looks and feels like water but it moisturizes with the best of them. My skin feels silky smooth, it appears less oily and it feels refreshed and hydrated all day long. DHC WBM is non drying, has no harsh perfumes, contains no oil and is cruelty free. Thus far, I've had no allergic reactions, very few break outs and have had fewer needs to blot. The only ingredients that prevent this from being the perfect moisturizer are Methylparaben and Phenoxyethanol. I'm not sure if I'll repurchase DHC WBM yet, I'd like to try and find something without the two aforementioned ingredients.

My new fave lip balm is Carmex's Moisture Plus. This stuff has all the greatness of the original Carmex without the awful taste and smell. My lips are soft, supple and ready for kisses every time. One of the best things about CMP is the SPF15. Since harmful UVA/UVB rays can zap moisture and prematurely age sensitive skin, a little SPF goes a long way...even for the deeply melanated beautiful black woman :-)

Degree's Sexy Intrigue Body Spray was my most gone to scent this August. I like this little spray because the fragrance is sexy (per the name), light and unassuming (kinda like me, lol). I also like that it can be stored in the fridge and provide a nice cool mist on super hot Chicago days. Other bonuses include the price point and fragrance strength. Most drugstore sell this spray (and the other Degree sprays) for $3.99 and because the fragrance is long lasting (though not obnoxious) you get lots of bang for your buck. Try it, you might like it :-)

My fave August polishes were the above beauties. I'm in love with the entire China Glaze OMG Collection (I bought all of them late last year). They're a fun bunch of holographic goodness and make me want to flash my nails constantly. Application isn't great and to achieve an opaque finish, I needed three coats. Still, I love my OMG Holo's. Sally Hansen's Blue Me Away is just all kinds of AWESOME! I can't articulate how much I love this color, lol. It's the prettiest most vibrant blue I own and it go owns on wonderfully opaque in two coats. Application is smooth and it dries pretty quickly with no bubbles or streaks.

 

Although I could post more faves, I think I'll stop there, lol. This post is long enough and if my readers are anything me, too much text makes me click next blog, lol. That's terrible isn't it? It;s the truth though. At any rate, I also suggest that anyone interested in the components that comprise their cosmetics check out The Cosmetics Database. This awesome site contains info on thousands of ingredients used in commercial cosmetics. It pays to be an informed consumer ladies and gents. And with that, I bid you adieu...

XOXO 

 

 

Ooh, eye'm hurt...but my nail polish is cute!

Dearest fair maidens, dashing divas and glamorous gals, how are you? Feeling fab I hope :-)

I've been away for a while (again) but it was not intentional nor fully under my control. I've been trying to edit video footage, jot down blog ideas, organize my loc journey clips/pics and just generally get things post ready (amongst other every day things). Unfortunately, I've run into major snags. My internet was down for a minute, my laptop was acting a monkey, I've been stressed and busy and then on May 21st, I was involved in a car accident...

A charming (dripping with sarcasm) old lady ran a stop sign and hit my passenger side shortly after I left work. The same charming old lady reversed her car, put it back in drive, gave it gas and crashed into me again just because she was angry and felt like it. I wound up in the ER being diagnosed with whiplash and strained/sprained back muscles. Nice right? Yeah. So since then, I've been in constant pain and taking pain killers and muscle relaxers. But it's all good. I'm alive and I still have use of all my limbs...though I can't over exert myself. Pain and discomfort are keeping me awake right now so I figured I'd write this blog...I'm a trooper ;-)

In other news, I scored the awesomest vintage dress on Etsy...

Don't you just love it? I bought it last month and wore it the week after it arrived. It fits like a dream and looks quite lovely with my Mossimo Cognac Pollyann Gladiators seen here. I added some brass jewelry and a golden elastic headband for a real throwback boho look. It worked wonderfully :-D All I have is this here head shot of the finished look:

 I'll take some full body shots the next time I wear the dress. If you're wondering where I got it, you can check out Lady80's Vintage Etsy Shop for cute, reasonable deals on vintage clothing, footwear and accessories.




Now for my current nail polish porn:

I'm wearing Secret Peri-Wink-Le by China Glaze. In this picture it looks like a tropical blue, but in person it really is periwinkle. Depending on the lighting, it either looks very lavender or very blue. I love the color though and the application was pretty smooth (despite the messiness seen here). It was opaque in two coats and I topped it off with a coat of Seche Vite. Well that's it for me dolls, I'm getting very stiff and sleepy. Hopefully I'll be back soon with good news, more nail polish porn and other treats. Until then, ciao bellas!

<3