Eye Spy: New Products from Shea Moisture and Scope

Well, they're new to me. So yesterday while I was out, I saw something new from Shea Moisture:

According to my Google search, this product was a limited release back in late August to participating Target stores. Fast forward to October and my Walgreens had one, count it, ONE single solitary jar. I should have bought it but I wasn't there for hair products. I'm very good at not impulse buying...sometimes. But back to the souffle. As usual, the new Shea Moisture Organic Coconut and Hibiscus Curling Souffle is certified organic. Unfortunately, that's where the excitement ends. From what I've seen on Youtube, the curly girls aren't liking this new offering from Shea Moisture. Initially it was compared to Kinky Curly Curling Custard (which I hated) but that isn't saying much IMO. The largest complaints about the new SM curling souffle is that it's oily (due to the glycerin perhaps), it takes forever to dry and it doesn't do anything. I'm glad I didn't buy it.


Here are a few videos from a few curly girls with different curl types:











The first review is the shortest and the last one is pretty funny. I'm passing on this product.



What I did buy was the new Scope Dual Blast mouthwash.
This new offering from Scope claims to kill germs caused by bacteria (in lab tests) and eliminate strong food odors. I love the Scope Outlast mouthwash and have been using it for I don't know how many months, so I thought I'd try the new one out. Here is one of the official commercials and some on camera reactions from a release event Scope had. I haven't tried it yet because I still have about two more mouthfuls of the regular Scope Outlast, but I'll do a follow up post once I try it.



So what new products have you all spied or tried? Any verdicts? Let me know.

Been a long time

It's been the better part of a year since I've written here. I wish I could say things have gotten better but alas...


Well actually, I suppose my attitude is somewhat better...for the most part I guess. At any rate, I came across the loveliest, lust worthy military inspired Zara coat today while surfing Easy Fashion. Can I just tell you how badly I want this coat? I want it so bad, that I'd be willing to sell my teenage Sun for it. Okay, maybe not that bad, lol. Anyway, would you like to see the lust of my life? Check it below:

Image from Easy Fashion

Might I add that I appreciate the overall styling in this picture. I'm just betting that the sweater underneath this fabulous coat is nice and slouchy and warm just how I like my sweaters to be. A very simple outfit that I am going to do my best to replicate. 




And for those interested in an update:


My skin is even messier now than it was before. Just a horrid wreck of scars, new acne eruptions and overall fugliness. Not sure what's causing all the commotion because I stopped using my Clarisonic ages ago. I may even sell that damn thing, not sure yet.


Still no resolution to my personal injury lawsuit. I've not heard from my shit lawyer or any of her minions in over a month and my feelings wouldn't be hurt if she were...expired somewhere.


I am still unemployed. I had a job offer that seemed stone set, but not so much now. 


I still don't have a car. Walking isn't so bad though because my legs are looking quite nice.


And...well, that's it really. My attitude right now is one of sarcastic cynicism tinged with a tiny bit of cautious optimism. Sounds interesting right? It bloody well is. Oh the language? I'm reading Great Expectations and I've Dickens on the brain. Loves it! Cheerio mates!

Destroy/Create

I'm not very happy right now. Because I'm not very happy I've not been in the mood to blog or upload videos. My face has become my enemy due to the most awful acne I've had since I was in the 7th grade and well through high school. That picture is from a good face day (no foundation, concealer or photoshopping). Sometimes I don't want to leave my bed let alone the house. My fingers should be bloody from all the job applications I've filled out, my brain hurts due to constant stress and worry and my one comfort is keeping my nose deep in books. Oh, and watching mind numbing shit on television. I've nearly driven my children to mental breakdowns with the many lectures I subject them to about the importance of getting an education and becoming entrepreneurs and not work horses for some wage slave driver. Last hired first fired is no joke...especially when unemployment among black women 20 years and older is at 13.4% (roughly). 

Despite my stress and worries, I try to smile. I try to keep a PMA, but that shit doesn't always fly. I find myself throwing pity parties. My losses over the past two years are the confetti. My mother passed in 2009, I was in an awful car accident that cost me my car and job in 2010, I have horrid head/neck/back pains whenever the weather changes, my brother passed in 2010 and here it is a solid year after my car accident and I'm still unemployed and have yet to see justice done concerning the old bat who rammed me twice with her car. Yep, that's pity party confetti. 


After the party, I put a spin on things. I tell myself that I have just undergone what amounts to a physical/spiritual volcanic eruption. Although volcanoes destroy everything in their wake in a hellish fiery molten liquid fury...they also create new land masses. Beautiful black sand beaches have been created by volcanic eruptions. When all has been cooled and calmed down, life springs forth from "the ruin". This is what I tell myself because this is what I have seen on those nature shows on public television. I've also seen it in Encyclopedia Brittanica (back before Google and Wikipedia). I have even seen this in my own life.

I have been laid off 4 times in the past 10 years. I have struggled mightily. I have been rocked to my foundation, brought low, crushed. But somehow...I always bounce back. Granted, in the past, the bounce never took so long as this current upheaval. I suppose that's what's really bothering me. Wondering when this shit will be over and I'll be back on solid ground. It's hard to keep a PMA when you have two growing teens who need tons of food and clothing for their ever growing bodies. Let's not even talk about upcoming college tuition. Sometimes I feel fucked and PMA can't be spoon fed to hungry mouths. But I'm devolving again. This is supposed to be uplifting me.


I read something today that shined a light in my darkness...

"This month I choose to only see positive energy wherever I go. If a problem comes up, I repeatedly say: All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good. Out of this experience, only good will come. I am safe. By repeating this, I calm down and give the Universe time to fix the situation in the best possible way for all. My life is a joy!" - Louise L. Hay

And I want to know deep down in the primal parts of my soul that this is true. But sometimes I'm not so sure. But that's the pessimist in me right? I need to kill her so the optimistic realist can thrive...right? Yeah. Now I'm going to go don a billowy gossamer gown and flower garland and dance in a beautiful meadow. < end sarcasm >

I get what I want...

This ASOS Fantasy Leopard print Belt?

Got it.


These ASOS London Rebel Lace Up Peep Toe Booties?

Got them.

This Alloy Leopard Print Satchel?

Got it.

What can I say...I love Leopard print and sales :-)

Chic Bedroom Boutique?

Source

A few weeks ago I was perusing the internets looking at pictures of bedroom boutique setups right? I saw some of the most amazing, most incredibly creative setups ever! Truly, I was salivating over some of the images and racking my brain over how I could implement some of those ideas on my lower than low budget. 


My first thought was to try Ikea and see what options they offered. I've never ever shopped at Ikea but I've heard quite often how reasonably priced their stuff is. The only drawback everyone mentions is the DIY factor. I've also heard some folks say that for the money, the quality of the merchandise leaves something to be desired. IMO, that's nothing a few extra screws, some Gorilla Glue and an,  electric drill can't handle, lol. So to the Ikea website I went and this is what I came across...

$155.96 (not including tax and not sure if this or any of the others is available for delivery)

$151.93

$137.94

$211.94

These options are okay, but they're very cold and institutional looking. It also appears that some of the pieces may require that holes be drilled in the walls and being a renter; I can't go for that. Ikea also has a line of storage systems called Pax, Stolmen and Elga. I found the Pax pieces to be nice, but they're very bulky and my space is limited. The Stolmen system was nice and all, but the prices for those industrial looking pieces inspired the gas face. The Elga system pieces didn't inspire me at all.


With that idea down the drain, my next stop was The Container Store where I found these beauties...

$1,884.19 (not including tax and delivery)

$1,165.12 (not including tax and delivery)

$828.88 (not including tax and delivery)

I thought this would work perfectly as a dual vanity/slash computer work area. The $908.39 price tag, however (not including tax and shipping), is beyond my budget.

As much as I love these Container Store options for their functionality and adjust-ability, they are just too damn rich for my blood. I also love that they're freestanding, which means no need for power tools and holes in the walls.  Additionally, they're a tad bit warmer than the Ikea options. I suppose that I could add some pretty fabric storage containers and hangers to add more warmth and personality, but I wouldn't be able to afford it once I got done paying for the "closets" themselves, lol. A girl can dream though :-)

So after more searching and restrategizing, I finally decided that I'd have to recreate the look I wanted with bookcases, fabric storage bins and a clothing rack. I scouted around and decided to hook four of these bookcases that were on sale at Target.com for $57.99. I also picked up five of these cute marble patterned John Derian for Target media bins that were on clearance for $4.89 each and this black Dolce desk that I plan to use as a combo vanity/laptop workstation. I'm also in the process of trying to find a good quality but inexpensive lighted vanity mirror for the desk. For those of you who'd also be interested in an inexpensive vanity mirror, I'll keep you abreast of my finds. Oh, I almost forgot the garment rack and velvet hangers I found. I absolutely LOVE these slimline velvet hangers! I found some at Dollar Tree a year ago and bought every single last one, lol. Clothes will not slip off of them, you won't have ugly dents in the shoulders of your blouses/sweaters/etc. and because of their slim design, you'll gain tons of closet space. You and your closet will stay winning! 

I saved a ton of money shopping online through Ebates.com using their coupon codes and a store credit I had for a return I made to my local Target store. What's more is that when you spend $50 or more at Target.com, many items ship free. Need more good news? When you shop through Ebates.com you get cash back on all your purchases! Yep, I stay winning :-)

Now all I have to do is wait patiently for my new bedroom boutique design implements to arrive. I am so excited for this DIY project and can't wait to see how it turns out. I'll be sure to post pics of the finished bedroom boutique. Until then, ciao bellas!

Is Paper Crown fit for everyday fashion queens? *Update*

So now that Lauren Conrad has conquered reasonably priced fashion via Kohls, she is set to release a new contemporary line called Paper Crown. The Paper Crown line's price point will range from $140 to $300 and will feature boyfriend blazers, maxi dresses and blouses. There's no word yet on what retailers will be carrying the line, but I'm thinking Macy's might jump on it.

Source

I haven't tried any of LC's pieces from the Kohls line, but I have to say that the above pictures are tempting me to want some pieces from Paper Crown. Alas, it all depends on the fit. I'm no size two and I find that LC's clothes aren't exactly curve friendly...at least the Kohls line wasn't. I guess I'll just have to wait and see...


What say you? Have you bought any of LC's Kohls pieces? Does this new line intrigue you?


*Update* 
You can go to Fashionista.com to see the entire Paper Crown Lookbook.