Happy New Year!!

Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year!

Bah Humbug

Truth be told I am not a big fan of the holidays. Plainly put they are overrated! People running around spending money that they can't afford to buy mess that most folks don't want or need.
Of course my children get gifts but I will never be the kind of parent who goes overboard on gifts. Someone shared with me that their family buys 3 gifts for each kid...something you want, something you need and a surprise. I like that idea.

Truth be told...the holiday are all about food for me! As long and I get to go home and my mama cooks, I'm HAPPY!!

If You Stay Ready...You Ain't Never Got to Get Ready

As the New Year quickly approaches, I have begun to reevaluate my health and fitness. I will turn the big 4-0 in 2010 and if I want to continue to look fabulous into my 50’s and 60’s I will need to take a good hard look at my health, nutrition and fitness. Don’t get me wrong it is not my goal to be a size 4, but I know what an acceptable weight is for me, where I fell and looks my best. The ideal number on the scale or jean size will be different for all of us, but it’s important that we all eat right, exercise, and take care of our skin and hair so that we can approach the next 40 years with fierceness!!

The comedienne Mo’nique has a saying “If you stay ready, you ain’t got to get ready.” I have found these to be words to live by in recent months, and she is 100% correct. If you make fitness and health a priority you don’t have to scramble before that Hawaiian vacation to try and loose 20 pounds to be at the weight you know you should be. If you floss at least once a day you don’t have to freak out when you realize your dentist appoint is a month away and you haven’t flossed in the last three months. If you get off your butt and do some type of exercise 3 to 4 times a week for at least 20-30 minutes, you won’t feel so sluggish and run down.

We are all busy with work, friends and family, but we have to make sure to take care of ourselves or there will be none of us to share with other if we are spent. And speaking of friends…we have got to stay connected!! Spending time with your divas and divos is a MUST! Kicking back and laughing and having fun…hell just plain getting out of the house is what we need to do to recharge our batteries.

I say all of this because I have fallen into the same traps, but I am making a commitment to eating well, exercising, taking care of my skin, hair and nails, spending time with my girls! My goal is to “stay ready, so I ain’t never got to get ready!” Don’t get me wrong I like to indulge in meals out, cocktails, sweet treats, buttered popcorn at the movies…LOL I will still do all these thing, but moderation is key. If I eat well and exercise all week there is nothing wrong indulging 1 night. Now this is not carte blanche to eat yourself sick, but go ahead and have dessert or order that steak, because you have being doing everything all week to stay ready, so come Saturday night you ARE ready.

I hope to post more about health, fitness and nutrition. The bottom line is, if we are eating well, exercising and drinking plenty of water, our hair skin and nails will look great because we are taking care of our bodies from the inside.

I don’t know about y’all but I’m gonna take Mo’nique’s advice and “stay ready!”

Make it Work Ladies

As many of us quickly approach 40 and some of us are already there...I want to take a minute to talk about style. Now I'm not saying I'm Miss Fashionista, but I try to keep it fresh and modern. Dressing old and frumpy only ages you and trust me I am not trying to look older than my actual age. With that being said...remember there is a such thing as age appropriate dress. I am not 21 and I do not try and dress like a 21 year old...you will not catch me in a mini skirt, but you will catch me in a nicely tailored, fitted, just above the knee pencil skirt. Trust me ladies and gents no matter how young you look, you don't look 21 and you look like a fool dressing like one. I;m saying this because I recently ran into a friend who looked like a straight clown, dressing far to young and foolish for her age. So lets keep it classy ladies...we are grown and it's time to dress appropriately...fresh, fun and stylish! Take a look at Tim Gunn's 10 Essential Wardrobe pieces:

Tim Gunn's 10 Essential Elements
Must-Have Basic Wardrobe Pieces for Any Woman

The Ten Essential Wardrobe Elements as devised by Tim Gunn are practical pieces around which you can build your wardrobe. Tim Gunn is the star of a reality makeover television show on Bravo called Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. He became well known from Bravo's hit TV show Project Runway, where he counseled contestants on their stylish creations.

The Ten Elements are mostly classic pieces, but what's important is whether they fit you properly, are not outdated, and bring out your best features. The following is the shopping list of Tim Gunn's 10 essential items, with helpful hints from this article's author. If you would like more advice from Tim Gunn, read his book A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style or watch his show on the Bravo channel on Thursday nights.

Basic Black Dress - The basic black dress has been around for a long time. It is often called the "Little Black Dress", and it's true that shorter skirts on the basic black dress, when they hit you in the right place, can be more flattering than a long black dress.

Trench Coat - The trench coat is one of the pieces that is both classic and currently a hot fashion item. Most any store sells this piece now. It is great for fall and you can pick it up in a wide range of lengths.
Dress Pants - Although it doesn't say black, this is probably what you want to look for. Black is flattering on all figures and goes with everything.

Classic Shirt - The white shirt is a definite classic. But it can also come in many different styles to make it look trendy and not dated or like a man's piece of clothing. Find one that accentuates your best attributes and minimizes trouble spots. For example, if you have wide shoulders, stay away from large collars.

Jeans - Everyone has a pair of jeans, but does everyone have a pair of jeans that make them look great? The wider leg, low-rise jean style has been popular (and still is) but a narrower leg is coming back along with a higher waist, which eliminates the unflattering "muffin top" look.

Any Occasion Top - Find something you look great in that can look respectable under a jacket but bring on the fun after hours.
Skirt - If you need dress pants then you also need a skirt. A skirt is womanly and can be flirty or businesslike. Nowadays women do not wear many skirts or dresses, which makes a lot of them fall into a rut of dressing sloppily or like men. See number 8.

Day Dress - Women also are not wearing as many dresses anymore. It was certainly liberating to go from the '50s when women wore dresses every day to wearing more practical pants for gardening, exercising, and so forth. But the dress does not have to be abandoned altogether. They can be very flattering, and there is nothing wrong with "dressing up" for daytime.

Jacket - A jacket does not have to be masculine. Find one with a proper, fitted shape. Women's jackets should follow the silhouette of a woman's body and accent the hourglass curve at her waist. It is also a perfect piece to put with the skirt or dress pants, and white shirt. Or make it casual with a pair of jeans.

Sweatsuit Alternative - As mentioned before, women wear fewer skirts and dresses these days. But some women have taken casual to the extreme and spend days on end in sweatsuits. It is possible to be casual and comfortable without looking like a slob. Find a comfortable material (that's why this doesn't say jeans again – denim is not as comfortable as a nice soft cotton) that you would want to wear every day. It could be khakis, cords, a cotton dress, or much more.

Bonus: One Indulgent Trendy Item

(In the second season, the Jacket replaces the Blazer on Tim's list, and the Any Occasion Top replaces the Cashmere Sweater.)

Now comes the fun part. Go shopping! Use this list as a basic guide to forming your wardrobe. When you want to have fun with new styles and colors, try it in your accessories: purses, shoes, and jewelry.

I'm Addicted to a Deal and Pretty Things

I am going to stop lying to myself!! I like to but products and can't stand to pass up a good deal. It's true...I need and intervention, but until Dr. Phil shows up on my door step I will remain caught in this vicious web of product addiction.

I know I was supposed to stay clean until May 2010, but I can't seem to keep my nose clean for more than a week. Just when i was doing well, Sephora has 20% off for friends and family, so being frugal I place an order for things I was planning on getting anyway and save 20% in the process. Then Sephora sends me a Beauty Insiders VIB coupon for 20% off November 12-15 and i'll be damned if I don't use it...LMAO

To add insult to injury I get Lucky Magazine...for those of you who aren't familiar with Lucky, its basically a source for shopping and style...showing trends and where you can buy them as well as offering "Lucky Discounts."

For example I ordered this bag from Spiegel...regularly $39 (which is a steal), but Lucky Readers got it for $23...i had to snap it up. Lucky will have offerings for places like Kohl's Department store to Marc Jacobs. I also snagged these boots from Chinese Laundry regularly $99, but I got them for $80 with the luck discount and they are SOLD OUT in the gray suede right now.

I mention all of this to say I can't put down the pipe...lol So as long as I am not living outside my means, there is nothing wrong with a little online shopping every now and then. I set aside a few bucks each month to spend as I choose and I never spend more than that amount..heck most of the time I have a surplus that rolls over. So you won't hear anymore talk from me about curbing my meager spending...a few products never hurt anybody, nor have a handbag and a pair of boots all for 100 bucks!

CUTE Via Spiga Bag - - at TARGET? NICE!

Target.com has these awesome Daily Deals, not sure if you've seen them yet, but there are some gems out there...like this one today.

It's cool because, they're only out there for one day, then they're gone...and the shipping is always free.  NICE!




Via Spiga Caldo East West Shopper
Target Daily Deals Price $79.99
List Price: $185.00
You Save: $105.01 (57%)

Walmart

Let me start by saying that I am a very frugal shopper. There are certain areas where I may spend more on somethings than others, but on the flip side there are other areas where getting things on the cheap is my primary concern. One of the areas where I am frugal is "trendy" clothing. I refuse to pay hefty prices for clothing that will be out of season next year. For the most part I stay away for really trendy stuff, but I do like to pick up a few pieces here and there. With all that being said....run to your nearest Walmart and hit up the Miley Cyrus & Max Azria collection..you heard me right folks...I said Miley Cyrus. Now most of this stuff is for the kids but she has a few pieces for the grown and sexy ;)

First of all I love Walmart...I rarely go to Target...Walmart is my spot for basic household essentials. I actually buy a lot of my kids clothes there too...they are both at ages where they grow out of things quickly so there is no way in hell I am going to be dropping big bugs for clothes that they will grow out of in a few months.
Anyway, I bought these 3 blouses none of which cost over $14!!

Too Faced Cosmetics

Even though I am not allowed to buy any type of product (self induced intervention)until Spring 2010 (this means NO to hair products, makeup, skin care, perfume..nothing!) I had placed 2 orders before I fell head first into product junkydom.
In an effort to make myself feel better, this Too Faced Cosmetics haul cost me next to nothing. I had a 20% off coupon in addition, the purchases I made were all fro the clearance section where things have already been reduced by 75%...so i spent about $30 bucks total on all of these products.
Let me start by saying that you can purchase Too Faced Cosmetics at Sephora, as well as from their website

OK...so this is the crap I bought :)


I bought two Candy Bars, which are eye shadow & shimmer bar combinations (I use them as eye shadows. The cost $25 but I picked mine up for just $10 bucks. The first color palette is Tropical Truffle and the second is called Thin Mints.

Then I picked up a few Status Glosses as Too Faced calls them. From top to bottom the colors are Private Jet, Champagne Wishes and Billionaire Boyfriend. These will set you back $19.50, but I paid $4 bucks....GO ME!!!


The last gloss you see laying across the top is a Diamond Gloss in the color White. For you MAC heads...MAC came out with a Dazzleglass in the color She-zam which is described as sheer sliver gloss with silver and red pear. This Diamond gloss is a great dupe and I only paid $4 for it....the regular cost is $14.

If you want to try Too FAced Cosmetics, use this coupon code TFVINTAGE between 11/9/09-11/22/09 and get 20% off. Happy Shopping!!

My Favorite NARS Blushes

Since I am not allowing myself to purchase any type products..hair, makeup, skin...NOTHING until Spring 2010, I figured I would get my product junkie fix by sharing with you my favorite blushes by NARS Cosmetics.

Crazed (raspberry red with shimmer)


Cactus Flower(shimmery poooy)


Taos (desert rose with shimmer)


Taj Mahal(burnt orange with shimmer)

I'm so sick! (cough, cough)

OMG, I am so sick...my daughter recently got over pneumonia and bronchitis and now I have the flu.

I think I jinxed myself by telling someone "Mother's aren't allowed to get sick, we don't have that luxury"...well, the joke is on me, because I am ill!

But what if I did get too sick, too sick to take my daughter to school, or pick her up, or take her to after school programs? What would I do? I guess Mothers are allowed to get sick, just not TOO sick.

To this day we have no idea when my mother is sick or in any real pain. She's spent so many years taking care of everyone else, that she's learned to mask her pain.

My mother was lying in the hospital after a hysterectomy (with NO PAIN KILLERS), and when asked if she was in any pain her response, "just a little discomfort". Ummm, MOM, they just removed your uterus, you don't have any pain relief, and all you feel is a 'little discomfort'? Either ma is a soldier FOR REAL, or she's just learned that her pain doesn't exist.

I swear to you, the day after she was released from the hospital, she was rearranging the living room furniture...nuts!

I've decided that my pain is real, my throat really hurts, my chest is really congested and my body truly aches...I am going to be a big baby about it, and someone's going take care of me...dammit!

Any volunteers? LOL

Last Night I Cried

I'm sitting in the theatre watching previews before my movie starts and up pops the trailer for the film Push or what has now become known asPrecious. I've seen this very same trailer at least a dozen times online and was moved to purchase and read the book Push by Sapphire because of my profound reaction to the trailer, but nothing prepared me for seeing the very trailer I have seen a dozen times on the big screen...large and in living color. When I tell you I cried like a baby....I cried because I know Precious Clareece Jones...I have seen her in the faces of many, and although her story is not my own, in some ways I can relate to Precious. Take a look at the trailer for yourself, maybe you will be moved to read the book or see the movie. Because Life is HARD, Life is SHORT, Life is PAINFUL, Life is RICH, Life is PRECIOUS!

Dreams Do Come True - Gemini Magazine Here I Come!

A couple of weeks ago I was looking for a new and different website to show on our Sites We Love feature.  Not having much time to scour the web, I decided to put my Twitter followers to work.  Not long after sending a tweet asking if anyone knew of a site I should write about, @GeminiMag responded asking if online magazines would qualify.

Curious about what this magazine would have to offer that is different than every other woman's magazine, I said "of course".  @GeminiMag promptly sent me the password for the current issue and I proceeded to read.

What I found excited and intrigued me, I immediately started writing the feature found here.

The next day, @GeminiMag (who is Sommer J, founder and publisher of Gemini Magazine) read my post and sent me a direct message letting me know how much she loved it.  She asked if I would like to write an article for Gemini Magazine's upcoming issue...

HELL YEAH, I WOULD!

Of course, I tried to be a bit more professional in my response to her, yet still wanted to convey my excitement regarding the project.  Sommer then had the magazine's Fashion Editor, Rocky Grate (@PlusModelRocky) email me...it was all happening so fast!

After submitting my article, I received an email from Sommer saying how much she loved it, and that both she and Rocky agreed they needed to have me on board as a staff writer.

WTH was going on?!  How did a feature for my little fashion blog turn into this?!

Dreams do come true, I have always dreamed of opening a magazine and seeing my name connected to an article, or looking on the inside flap of a book and seeing my picture and bio there.  Having my words resonate with someone, make them laugh, question society, or just see a little bit of themselves in what I have written...that is what has always brought me the greatest joy.

I love to write and have been writing for years.  And now I get to do it "officially"!

So, can I call myself a writer now?  LOL

Special thanks to Sommer Johnson (@GeminiMag) and Rocky Grate (@PlusModelRocky) for allowing me the opportunity live my dream.

Catch my first article in the upcoming issue of Gemini Magazine!  YEAH!

Stylista Steals

Random Thoughts of a nearly 40 Something Urbanite

I need to be in Fiji or Bora Bora right now...no kids or husband.

Today is one of those why the hell did I get married days...folks need to check they self.

Republican generally does not equal poor folks...and poor folks need to remember that ish.

If you know you aint got shit, why the hell would you want to bring someone else along for the "I aint got shit" ride?

Lord I can't wait until February...La Juana it's about to be on an popp'in! We got to get our party on at least 1 night before we punk out like some old ladies, sitting around watching movies, drinking wine, and talking smack.

I need to get paid! I will not do 2 different jobs and be paid only for 1. I feel a pay increase coming...my pocketbook is twitching...hee hee

Having children after age 35 sucks donkey balls. These folks who have them at 40 and over are NUTS!

I am NOT ready for winter yet.

If you see me on the phone don't start talking to me...WTF!

I love youtube...some of the folks on there bring me such joy and they don't even know it.

My neighbor is becomig a man...it's interesting to watch her transformation.

I'm gonna have to cut somebody.

Great Products for Maturing Skin

Over the last year my skin had changed drastically. Last Fall my shit was dry as hell..I mean my face was seriously parched, and finding the right products to quench my skins thirst was no easy task. No one wants to look greasy when trying to combat dryness...the key to quenching thirsty skin is not to slather Vaseline on it! Finding the right moisturizer, face wash and exfoliant is key as our skin begins to mature.

After reading an article about our First Lady Michelle Obama and her skin regimen, the author mentioned that she uses Alpha Hydrox Wipes which help to exfoliate dead cells, allowing healthier more radiant skin to emerge, diminishes fines lines and wrinkles, improves skin's firmness, and immediately reveals brighter, smoother, more even-toned skin. Can we just say that these wipes deliver! I use them weekly, or sometimes twice a week for an exfoliating boost. The key here is that they are not drying at all. Often times products containing glycolic acid can irritate and dry out the skin but these wipes have a pH balance of 3.7 which means they are good for all skin types and won't leave your face looking like scorched earth when you are done.

While I was on the site purchasing the wipes I noticed they had other products as well, namely a face wash, daily moisturizer and exfoliating cream. What make this discovery so fantastic is that you can buy these 3 products and several others in a .75 oz. trial size for just $1.50 and in some case they offer buy 1 get 1 half off. What a bargain when you want to test out a product to see if you really like it and thank goodness I spent the whopping $4.50 to try out these 3 products because I am hooked and have ordered the full size product to incorporate into my skin care regimen.

The Alpha Hydrox Face Wash is for all skin types, is soap-free, fragrance-free, oil-free, has a pH of 6.8, is gentle enough to remove eye makeup and leaves no residue. I love this stuff, it is the only product I have come across that works all year on my skin. It removes the right amount of oil leaving my skin well moisturized...not overly oily or overly dry.

The Alpha Hydrox Daily Moisturizer is fragrance free and great for hydrating normal to dry skin types.

Last but not least, the Alpha Hydrox Exfoliating Cream is for all skin types, is fragrance free,has a pH of 4 and is great for those who have slightly sensitive skin or for first-time users of products containing alpha hydrox acids.

If you want to try some of these products on the cheap by purchasing the sample size (which is enough product to last at least 30 days) for $1.50 you can buy them here.

L'Oreal HIP Kohl Eyeliners

How quick can I get my butt back to Target and return this mess?!?!?! Generally I like most things in the L'Oreal HIP collection...I have at least 7 of the HIP Eyeshdaow Duos, but I have finally stumbled across something that does not tickle my fancy...HIP Kohl Eyeliners. Not a fan people!

I picked up 2 of these bad boys at Target at $10 bucks a pop last weekend...one in a plum color and the other in a gold color. I guess this is what I get since I'm not supposed to be buying any kind of product until spring. Anyway, in my opiion all these kohl liners are is crushed eyeshadow in cute little packaging with an applicator that is similar to that found in "pen" eyeliners. This product is nothing special, and I expect special when I pay 10 bucks for a makeup product in Target!

They will both be RETURNED this weekend and I will take my $20 buck and go blow it on something else i don't need...LMAO I will take something back in a heartbeat people...have receipt will RETURN!

Fashion, Technology and the Savvy Stylista

True Stylistas are always ahead of the fashion curve, never followers, always trendsetters. But what about the technology curve? Being the technology geek that I am, I’ve learned a few things about being an early adopter, and although there are some similarities, there are also some major differences…

Ahead of the Fashion Curve

• You may be out of a few hundred bucks when the season is over.
• People may say they don't like it at first, but give it a year, they will all be wearing it.
• The firsts are always the best, everything else is a cheap or watered down copy.
• Being known as fashion forward is hot!

Ahead of the Technology Curve

• Depending on the item, you may be out of a few THOUSAND bucks when the upgraded version comes out in Jan...but, you just have to buy the new one, right?
  
• Everyone will be envious at first, but it will suck when their patience pays off and they get 2.0 instead of 1.0 - “Really, YOUR IPod touch doesn’t have a speaker?”
  
• The firsts are rarely the best, they’re almost all like beta versions of what’s to come.
  
• Being known as the chick who gets a new mobile phone or IPod every 3-6 months is not okay…there must be better ways to spend money.  (this is sooo me!)

In my experience, being ahead of the technology curve only pays off for the few months before the companies release the next, hottest thing…But being an early fashion adopter ALMOST ALWAYS PAYS OFF!

Smart Shopping Stylistas!

Sweet Jesus These Shoes HURT!

DAMN DAMN DAMN…I HATE wearing shoes that are not comfortable! I bought there cute little flats (at least I think they are cute) to wear this Fall. In less than 24 hours the temperature here has dropped 30 degrees and the wind is howling…so in my opinion Fall is here and I can break out my little ballet slippers with touch of flair. All I can say is that these heffas HURT! They're not to small mind you, it’s just that material around the toe cleavage area is not as soft as it could be. Now my butt is out $100 bucks and I’m gonna have to find some kind of cushion support to put in these bad boys. I refuse to walk around with my dogs barking...NO WAY…you end up with hamma toes…lol

Dating and the Single Stylista - Safety First Ladies!!

I am a single mother of a beautiful, smart and independent 13 yr-old...I like to date, meet new people and have new experiences.

That said...safety is always top of mind.  Sure when I was younger and had only myself to think about I was careless.  I would met men in non-public places, I would have them pick me up where I lived, etc.  But these days, that mess is a NO, NO!!  Not only because I have a child, but because people are CRAZY...does it seem like everyone has lost their damn minds, or what?!?!

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, I joined a dating website.  I male friend of mine mentioned it to me, and although he was not having good luck with the women he was meeting from there, I thought maybe the men were worth checking out.  Plus, its been a slow summer, and I was bored.

I logged in, setup my profile and waited...I read every message I received (I'm not saying I responded to all of them, but I definitely read them).  Just when I thought this site was full of child-molesteresque looking guys and those who look like they have someone locked in the basement...along comes Terry.

Terry seemed like a good guy...good looking, but not beautiful, humble, smart and very nice.  We sent message back and forth for a few days, and then we exchanged phone numbers.  We had many conversations over the next week or so...getting to know each other along the way.  He made me laugh...(that's the way to get me for sure!)

Last Sunday, I'd decided that I was ready to meet him, but before I go on a date with anyone, I do a few checks...this is where the safety part comes in ladies!!!

Google is the first step, I put in his first, middle and last names...Nothing.  A little weird I thought, but nothing to be shocked about.  Some people don't come up in Google searches.

So then I went to Zaba Search, the White Pages, and Pipl.com...Nothing again!  Hmmm, now I'm really suspicious.  I searched Google for the name of the company he said he owned...Nothing.  What company doesn't have a website?  THERE AREN'T ANY!

I had one more avenue to try...as we had been chatting on the phone, I had his cell phone number.  I paid $5.00 to do a reverse number search, and I'm glad I did.  The number was listed to someone named Steve (Not Terry).  What was interesting is that the middle and last names he gave me where the same.  Damn, what have I gotten myself into?  I put Steve's name into Google...wow!  There's "Steve" on Facebook, Myspace, even Twitter!  And guess what??!!  The pics of him on those sites were not of the same guy on the dating website.  They looked very similiar, but definitely not the same guy.

Not being someone who avoids conflict or pussy-foots around, I called him, and explained what I found...Here's what he said...

"I was going to write you an email explaining everything before things went any further.  I am Steve and Terry is my friend who is cheating on his wife.  He asked that I set up a profile using his pictures and information, but I would monitor all of the prospects.  If I found someone I liked, we would talk on the phone for a few minutes to see if they would be an easy lay for Terry, then I would pass her off to him.  But, I never passed on your number because we had a connection.  Everything we talked about was real, you were talking to me.  Do you hate me?" (Blah, Blah, Blah...yeah, everything was real...except everything WASN'T real).

My response..."Nope, I don't hate you, but we will never speak again."  End of conversation.

So...I called Nikki aka The Flirty 40s, to tell her of my latest and greatest dating drama.  She asked me if I had checked him out on the state courts website...why no, I hadn't.  In all my research I didn't know about this site?!?!  Nice.  As she enters Steve's name into the website, all she can say is  "Girl, stay away from him!"

This "man" had a LONG LIST of arrests & judgements.  Including, but not limited to:  Time spent in PRISON for Terroristic Treats and Stalking & time spent in PRISON for theft.  Let us not forget that he owes $20,000 in child support on which he has not paid a dime!!

Moral of the story...know the men you are meeting and dating!!!  And if a man gets offended because I checked up on him...then he is not the man for me.

Some people may call this research excessive...You be the judge!!

Random Thought of a Nearly 40 Something Urbanite.

I don't understand people who want nice things but don't want to take care of them.

I met the most down to earth real estate agent the other day when I was being nosey and looking at a house in my neighborhood.

I will have to keep him in mind when I start the hunt for new digs.

Why do kids cost so damn much? Maybe if my hope was for mediocre kids htey would be cheaper???

You know sometimes you are just tired...sick and tired.

I missed my grade school impromptu reunion...Go St. Agnes!! I'm hoping they have another meet-up around the holidays when I will be home visiting...he I'm gonna personally make it happen.

St. Agnes was good times man...what a wonderful environment for a little brown girl and Sr. Delores don't take no mess!

You know what's funny...I am no longer in contact with anyone I went to high school with, but I am still in touch with a number of people I went to grade school with...telling don't you think?

BH you are testing me.

Mind over matter.

Putting me first is harder than it sounds.

I miss my swagga..I definitely need to go on a swagga hunt..lol

What the hell am I supposed to do with myself on Sunday nights when it's cold as hell outside and TrueBlood aint coming back on until June 2010...DAMN!

LaJuana...where the hell you at? Who you hugged up with that you all MIA? And I must have the phone number for bustas since you big pimpin with multiple #'s.

JG-Keep your butt in the bed until that baby is done cooking!

I want to learn how to ski.

I'd make a good chocolate snow bunny.

Anyone do "hot" yoga?

I Love a Deal!!

Grabbed these cute little sandals at Macy's on clearance today...SWEET! Can't wait to rock them next summer. Oh how I love a deal :) Make sure you click photo to enlarge these babies.

A Little Sippy Sippy

This is my favorite drink. Possibly my most favorite drink ever! It's called an Asian Pear Cosmo and they serve them up in the Twin Cities at the Westin Hotel. I love this hotel by the way, if you are ever visiting Minneapolis check it out...it's located downtown and is the perfect blend of comfortableness and chic. Sidebar....Tom and Ben stayed there a few years back when they were passing through and they loved it too.

Now back to my "drank." This sucker is strong yet refreshing. It's made with pear vodka and Asian pear puree that the chef whips up fresh daily...for this reason, once the puree is gone it's gone until the next day when the chef makes a new batch. Those are the ingredients folks..no fillers! It's great in summer or winter because it's refreshing but has the crispness that I generally associate with colder months. And if you have ever had an Asian Pear you know that they have more texture to them than a traditional say Bartlett pear and some would say a different taste as well.

The cost is $10 bucks a pop, so your bar tab will add up quick but they are so damn good.
One more note about the Westin Hotel here...it use to be a bank (built in 1941), so the bank vault is now the wine cellar. The bank's old conference rooms and offices are now private dining areas. It's really a very lovely and cool hotel.

Forever 21...Not Just for the Kids!

Ladies and Gents don't sleep on Forever 21 when it comes to hair accessories and costume jewelry..they have some great deals on cute, trendy items for all ages! Now the clothes may not be appropriate for us 40 something...every once in a while I will find a cute and age appropriate top...I snatched up this one for under 10 bucks, but generally speaking the clothes there are for 20 something set, but that doesn't mean we can't troll the endless table of earrings, bracelets, bangles, rings, hats and hair accessories.
If you have a forever 21 store in your area I suggest you make a trip there for great fall accessories on the cheap, otherwise check them out online and order that way. I do know that in some states there are stand alone Forever21 stores that only sell accessories.
Here's a peak at some of my accessories from Forever21!!

A Product Junkie in the Making

I just had to post these pictures of my son walking through the mall carrying his Lush Cosmetics bag..LMAO Don't sleep folks, men should take care of their skin too and you can never start to young. I use Lushs' Dream Cream on both of my kids who have very dry sensitive skin. Check out this old post about Dream Cream and Dream Wash.

Sephora Whore Part 2

Sephora Whore part 1

The Importance of Vanity

To put it more bluntly (and to riff off that Hollywood icon of vainglory, Gordon Gecko), vanity is good. Vanity is right. Vanity works. You may not like it (or perhaps you do), but caring about one's appearance, in the right way, is no character flaw. It is actually an essential trait in a world that lavishes its attention, money, jobs, respect, and all-around deference on good-looking people (and, perhaps more important, on those of us who are less prepossessing but who better our looks through hairstyle, grooming products, diet, and exercise).

The dirty truth is that everyone -- everyone -- cares about their appearance. It has always been so, from the first time a caveman dyed a pelt and wore it over his shoulder instead of that so-last-season loincloth. Those who say they don't care are lying, says Anne Hollander, Ph.D., a cultural-fashion anthropologist who has written several books on the social, historical, and spiritual implications of fashion. "Of course men and women care how they look. There's no way not to, unless you're invisible." She suggests putting such claims to the test. "Tell them, 'Here, wear this tutu and go shopping.' They'll care."

Still, raised eyebrows are understandable. Society ranks vanity right down there with lust, sloth, greed, gluttony, and envy. In Western art, the trait straddles a steed as the Whore of Babylon. Embracing it is, in a word, a sin.

But what if it were defined differently? What if vanity were simply knowing that attentive hygiene, a healthy body, confidence, and clean, white teeth could actually pave the path to a happier, healthier, more-fulfilling life?

The wisest among us, even history's sages, believe that it just may be possible. "Most people dislike vanity," Ben Franklin wrote, "[but] I give it fair quarter, wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the possessor . . . therefore, in many cases, it would not be altogether absurd if a man or woman were to thank God for his/her vanity."

As it happens, "productive of good" could summarize the findings of nearly every major study on vanity. The benefits of caring about one's appearance are real, they're spectacular, and they're quantifiable.

The kicker is that although we all have vanity, and to some extent indulge it, we have been conditioned to reject it, scorn it, make fun of it, avoid it, and underrate it. To act otherwise would open the door to admitting the unthinkable: that the most self-centered of sins could actually be our salvation.

~Nikki (portions of article courtesy of Men's Health Magazine)

I'm back and Sephora and MAC Got Me Again

I've been gone for a bit, but I'm back! The end of summer is always a busy time. Trying to enjoy the fleeting days of sunshine while also preparing for Fall and back to school. Damn winter always seems to come back every year :( The one good thing about Fall/Winter is Fall Trends and I am all over the Fall makeup trends even though I swore I wasn't buying shit else.

I popped into Sephora(yes in a Sephora whore) to return a nail polish I had ordered online and there it was in its satiny flesh....the Smashbox limited edition Majesty Palette. I had seen it in magazines recently but this was my first time seeing it in living color. The color screamed Fall and I had to have it. Plus with limited edition stuff you have to get it while it's there, otherwise you will be out of luck so I gave in to my indulgences and dropped $42 bucks on pure luxury.

And I couldn't stop with the Smashbox Palette. I have been lusting after the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Danmed for months...at least 6 months! These pencils/lipsticks glide on like butter! I have to admit that I in no way need another red shade of lipstick...I have several shades of red MAC lipsticks, but I bought this because it's a fierce shade of red but more importantly because of its texture...it's truly like velvet and fells like you are wearing nothing at all. These lip pencils as NARS calls them are a breakthrough in lip stick technology (stop laughing..I'm serious)!

OK...and since I was in the mall, I rolled through Macy's to nab the latest by MAC. Erin from Scandalous Beauty has had me spending all kinds of cash for the last few years when she raves about a new MAC item. The great thing about Erin is that she is a brown girl so when she wears a look I get a really good visual of what the colors will look like on me. As a result I was suckered in again and picked up the In the Gallery quad and Young Thing Lipglass.
Check out Erin rocking the quad and lipglass on YouTube. She has tons of informative makeup tutorials...I just LOVE me some ERIN!

And I swear I ain't buying shit else in regard t makeup until the spring!

~Nikki

Random Thoughts of a Nearly 40 Something Urbanite

I detest laziness...it bothers me at my very core.

Don't get it twisted, if your laziness does not infringe upon me, I'm cool...but if it does I pray that all the gods give me strength.

Who says there's no dick like new dick...emmm hmmm folks is a mess!

I've decided to venture into the world of nail polish..what an easy and inexpensive way to update a wardrobe.


Please please please don't let me be one of those people on the plane with screaming kids.


I need a bigger house..or maybe everyone needs to move out of this one but me...ROFL


Don't ever say what your kids won't do...that phrase is the kiss of death.


I'm convinced that very few of us human beings actually make what I deem to be "good parents."


If you can't do something right, leave the shit for someone who can do it right and don't get pissed off about it cuz your ass is lazy.


I LOVE me so True Blood..gonna have to order up me a t-shirt of something..lol


Does penis size matter? Be truthful now.


Should a person remain loyal despite their own happiness?


Politics at the work place..how do you "get along?"


I have a damn sore throat and cough...grrrrrrrrrrrrr!


Men cheat to escape the realities of their lives...yes you have 3 kids and a paranoid wife, but a side piece every now and then will allow you to escape that reality for a few hours.

Why does it seem that folks who would make the best parents have the most difficult time conceiving and a looser cat sack can get knocked up in an instant.

The 2nd Best Mascara in the World!

Wanna save a couple of bucks? Yes, we know Dior has the best mascaras in the world, but Prescriptives has one that comes in a VERY CLOSE SECOND...In fact, I find it easier to use than Dior.



Prescriptives False Eyelashes Plush Mascara

This mascara does not clump, and leaves lashes so thick, soft and noticeably longer. Actually, it really is like you're wearing falsies. LOVE IT!

Addicted to COACH???

For those of you who can't get enough of everything "COACH" they are having a special promotion just in time for Fall (summer goes by much to fast)! Email us at and we will forward you a coupon for 20% at Coach Outlets!
Now boys and girls this offer is only good at Coach Outlets so you have to get off your butt and actually go to the outlet store...sorry for all of you online shoppers.


Grab up those man bags, purses, wallets, scarves and other Coach goodies!! Happy Shopping! ~Donna

Play Pretty Beauty

Play Pretty Beauty specializes in natural-based products with no mineral oil or petroleum oils, hash detergents, drying SD alcohol or lanolin. The company makes body washes, soaps, candles, scrubs and their famed whipped body butter creme.

About 6 months ago I purchase the whipped body butter creme in the Nohea Ani scent which is described as:Hibiscus, cress, muguet and violet blossoms combine with luscious fruit to seal the deal on this sophisticated blend. It reminds us of a Hawaiian hibiscus flower being carried by ocean breezes. Nohea Ani loosely means lovely breeze in Hawaiian.
I also purchased the whipped body butter cream in the Island Sorbet scent, described as: A luscious fusion of papaya, orange, grape, pineapple and apricot flesh bring this fragrance to life. A sprinkle of tonka beans (a bean-like fruit that is sweet and aromatic) and you've got papaya nectar at it's most fresh and juicy. One whiff and you're hooked!
Pros:
I have to admit that the Island sorbet is my favorite of the two cremes. They both have lovely light scents that are perfect for hot summer weather when fragrances and scented lotions can be overwhelming.
Cons:
This product just wasn't moisturising enough for me. When I pay $16 bucks for an 8 ounce lotion I expect that my skin will be moisturized all day long, but this creme didn't perform. I found that my knees and elbow were ashy/dry/rusty...whatever you want to call it a few hours after applying the creme. I ended up adding Jojoba oil to the product for additional moisturizer. Needless to say I won't be purchasing the whipped body butter cremes again...at $16 dollars a pop i shouldn't have to add anything...ya feel me?!?
But here is the GOOD NEWS...the ladies who own the company are smart. If you have a company that sells a variety of products ALWAYS send your customer a free sample of some of your other products. The ladies at Play Pretty Beauty included with my order a free full sized bar of their soap in the Island Sorbet scent (the same as the creme that I purchased.) Generally I don't use "soaps" because most of them really irritate my skin, but I decided to give this one a try...and I LOVE IT!!
At $8 for a 4 oz. bar they aren't cheap and I must admit I would never just order the soaps alone, but when my aunt was visiting she used my whipped body butter creme and loved it, and it moisturized her skin just fine. As a result I will be buying her a jar for the holidays, and when I do I will add a few bars of their soap for myself to the order! Even though i didn't like the initial product that I ordered, by adding free sample to the order they are getting a return customer...its a win win.
Note: If you are going to provide free samples of other products to a customers order...make sure it's big enough that they can get at least 5 uses out of it to determine if they really like it our not.

~Nikki