Happy Holidays!

I am going to use my holiday break to continue to work on my jewelry line. I want to have pieces available for purchase by the beginning of February. I am of course creating unique pieces and devising my marketing plan. I pray a wonderful, loving Christmas day for all and a joyous and blessed 2011.

Thank God I was introduced to this site...

So I stopped by NaturalChica today as I so often do and she had up a post about a Thank God I'm Natural Give Away. Of course my curiousity got the best of me so I clicked on the link to check out the website and I am so glad I did! I found a Thank God I'm Natural fitted tee in Pink and Green! Get this, it's budget friendly, only $20 plus $4 shipping and handling. I will definitely be ordering one (maybe 2) of those shirts this Friday! Can't wait!!!

Check out Thank God I'm Natural site and store, TGIN <-click here. You will find so much more and the shirt comes in several different colors including the classic, chic black and white. Here's the super cute shirt I will be purchasing! cutetee

unexpected loss

I have realized that what the "old" people used to say is true, you never know when it's your time to die...

let your loved ones know you love them while you can.
enjoy your life no matter your situation.
let that hurt and anger go.
forgive.
believe God is REAL.

What's a Woman to do?

Ok...seems as though I have a fan...not a cool, supporter type of fan...but the seemingly crazy kind that wants to do what I do. She wants to be an AKA which is probably the main reason she has tried to befriend me. I can read people and that will get her no where with me...This person has gone so far as to tell someone that they stayed up all night making a special bracelet for them when in actuality I MADE THAT BRACELET...I really believe this grown woman has been purchasing my jewelry and selling it to other people as her own. She all of a sudden makes jewelry...ugh. It disgusts me and turns my stomach thinking about how she has been acting lately.

I just had to vent.

In other news, business is still great! I am gearing up for a Breast Cancer Walk/Run to raise money for a single parent mother with two young sons.

I have been receiving special orders left and right from my Pink For Barbara collection! Super excited about what's to come and how this will help other women in their fight. I make everything from earrings to neckalces to bracelets to keychains.

Lord, thank you for this talent. I owe it all to you.

Let me get back to work....

Pink For Barbara

Pink For Barbara is the name of my collection (apart of my jewelry line which is coming soon) that is in honor of my grandmother. IT HAS BEEN GOING WELL! Praise God. I have received much support and donations. Since Breast Cancer Awareness month's official ribbon color is pink, everything in my collection is of course pink.

I also made a pledge to myself to wear something pink every day this month. Since it was my mom's mother who passed I got her on board to wear pink every day too. This should be fun...you'd think that with me being an AKA I'd have tons of pink but that seems to be soooo not the case.

Peace and Love.

Praying for a CURE

Today is the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness month. In honor of my grandmothers, aunt(Barbara,R.I.P. and Wanda who is a survivor and Aunt Rose who is a survivor) and countless other women who have dealt with this disease, I created a line of handcrafted jewelry (made by me) that I will be selling throughtout the month. A percentage of all sales will go towards research and support with the SistersNetwork Inc. and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I am extremely excited yet nervous about putting my designs out there to the public.

In other news, I went ahead and did a mini big chop! I was going to wait until I had went a whole year without a relaxer but chopping about 3 months early won't hurt! :)

pictures to come soon. Since I cut my own hair I need to have it tweaked by a professional. I can't keep my hands out of it!!!

Sweet September

The month of August was pretty hectic for me. I had some major changes in my daily schedule and towards the end of the month I was overcoming bronchitis and a mean sinus infection...the season is getting ready to transition and so am I! I really like to wear layer my outfits and wear jackets and cardigans, so I am really excited about the fall fashion scene. There has been so much going on that I want to touch on....

For starters I am excited about seeing Lauryn Hill doing shows and re-entering the music world. The Mis-Education of Lauryn Hill is still one of my favorite albums (technically I have the CD,lol). I am anxious to see what styles she will bring to the game fashion and music wise.

It's the start of football season (Go Buckeyes! although I live in the south now Ohio will always be home). Football classics are underway...great food, great music and for my fellow greeks your one of many times to shine in your letters. Shout out to my beautiful, elegant, classy and oh so pretty sorors...skeeeeee-weeeeee!

And...I think I may actually watch the next season of Dancing With the Stars to support Brandy. I really hope she does well.

Congratulations KeKe Palmer!

Yesterday, actress KeKe Palmer (Akeelah and the Bee, True Jackson VP) graduated from high school at the age of 16. She hopes to attend Howard University and is currently working on her sophomore album. What a blessing and a beautiful example to young women every where.

God's Promise

I was flooded with design ideas so I went out in the rain to go shopping for material. Upon leaving Hobby Lobby, I spotted God's Promise, the most beautiful, perfectly arched rainbow. Everyone in the parking lot was in awe, pointing and smiling. I used the camera on my phone to take a pic. I didn't get the full view and the picture doesn't do the actual sight any justice. It's always good to stop and appreciate nature and life. It puts things in perspective. Enjoy the pic.

Todays Look: Relaxed,Chic and Budget-friendly!

These 4 pieces paired together create an instant relaxed yet chic look. The grand total of this entire outfit....$64.79 (taxes and/or shipping and handling not included in total). Those shoes are so darling to me and can be found on modcloth.com. Everything else can be found on none other than Forever21.com.

The gray tank top as well as the chain necklace can be paired with other things to create new looks.

My transitioning helpers

In my transitioning to natural hair process I have discovered that these products right here have really helped me get through these past 5 months.



Hello Hydration by Herbal Essence...Thanks to my niece and the many natural hair blogs(that I've become addicted too) this has made my hair soft and easy to get the comb through when detangling. It lives up to it's name and has "hydrated" my hair.



Coconut Oil-this seems to tame my frizzies. I used it mixed with EVOO and honey once as a pre-shampoo treatment and I liked the shiny results.



Extra Virgin Olive Oil-I tried this as a hot oil treatment once last year because I saw Tyra talking about it on her show. I think I kept it on too long but it did leave my hair really shiny. Lately I've been using it to give my hair some sheen.

SHEA BUTTER! SHEA BUTTER SHEA BUTTER! 100% raw shea butter has been my best bud even before my final decision to transition. It makes my hair totally soft, manageable and shiny. It's been my moisturizer a softener for my edges. It's great for my skin too.

Organix shampoos. I have used the Green Tea one and the Pomegranate one. Keeps my scalp clean.

I am still learning and looking for products that will make my hair say wow! :)

Laila Ali Professional hair care line: Where is it?

According to the August 2010 issue of Essence, beautiful boxer Laila Ali has a line of organic skin and hair care products. Laila is dedicated to having a product that is not damaging to hair and also good for the planet. The products are SULFATE-FREE (yay!) and contain shea butter, hydrolyzed wheat protein, alpha pulp and acai (I haven't researched the benefits of acai on hair) havenand gogi berries. Prices range from $8-$15, pretty affordable, and can be found at CVS, Rite Aid, Target and Walmart...the problem is I want to try the shampoo and conditioner but can't find them anywhere! Has this line even debuted yet?

Earrings I hand painted. They look really cute on.

Coolin' in the Shades

Keep your eyes protected this summer in style with these chic and affordable sunglasses from Forever21.

All I See is Fireworks!

I took this pic from my phone while at the Fireworks show on the river.

Fireworks show on the river. Firework displays in the neighborhood. Ribs. Chicken. Potato Salad. Games. Laughs. Happy Independence Day!

Dress Alike...

My rendition of Solange's chic and simple summer time outfit. This look is perfect for an outdoor dinner date at an upscale lounge or restaurant

One shoulder dress can be purchased at ardenb.com

Pumps are DV by Dolce Vita this shoe is the Maiya Pump and can be found on shopstyle.com

On Her Own

I found these pics from Solange's photo shoot for Refinery29. I love how she is totally doing her own thing fashion wise and music wise. From reading her interview I see she and I have many things in common. We both LOVE shoes and work our wardrobes around them.

FIERCE!

P.S. I have a vintage Chanel just like hers except mine is in creme. I mentioned it in one of my fashion posts before.

Take a look...

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. I am very passionate about black history so this was definitely a treat for me. There was everything from videos to pictures to original artifacts. The Institute sits across from 16th Street Baptist Church which is where the 4 young ladies were killed due to a bomb explosion in 1963. There's a re-creation of the jail cell in which Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"(it was actually read aloud in a recording of his voice which was really cool). It took about 2.5 hours for me to walk through the entire museum (this includes stopping to read/listen to information. Plus I didn't take a guided tour.) This a very nice and well-kept facility in a great location.

I have explored the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN (which is built around the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was killed) and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati , Ohio (this one is a must see!) and the BCRI is very comparable to these. If you are ever in Birmingham or you just love history like I do be sure to stop by the Civil Rights Institute!

I ran across this picture today while looking for pics of what celebs wore to the BET awards. I have been a fan of these young ladies since their mid to late 90's hit show "Sister, Sister". They have totally come into their own over the years. Tia and Tamera looked FAB on the red carpet! Here they are with BET's CEO Debra Lee.


Back in the day...

slow makeover

It's amazing how just making simple changes like changing the background of my blog page has made a drastic difference. Just like fashion! The simplest touch can make something go from boring to jazzy. More changes will come as I learn how to make this blog truly fit my personality.

Product Review: Mimosa Hair Honey

I received the Mimosa Hair Honey as apart of a gift basket given to me on my birthday 2 months ago. I used a tiny bit of it that night just to say I tried it. I was in the process of using up some other products I had. Now that those products are gone I have been using the Mimosa on my scalp and on my ends.

The Mimosa Hair Honey is a product of Carol's Daughter and can be purchased via carolsdaughter.com for around $16.50. The scent to me is a bit citrusy. It's not a strong scent which is great because I can't do strong smells. It's a light pomade, not overly greasy. I use it immediately after shampooing and conditioning my hair. When used on my scalp it's been very soothing and has kept my roots and edges soft. When used on my hair and ends it has provided a light shine which I like because I don't like for my hair to look dry. Another plus is it's kept frizziness to a minimum. It's great for every day for use. I am still searching for products that work well with my hair and so far this product will stay around.

Trey Songz: My Moment

Be sure to watch/record Trey Songz: My Moment tonight on BET. It's a 10 part Docu-Series all about Trey of course. Showtime is 10pm/9pm central. The preview for the show was aired immediately after the BET Awards Sunday. Since the BET Awards went over their scheduled time all post shows were pushed back so quite a few people may have missed the sneak peek. Of course I stayed up to watch it (as well as record it) and I am looking forward to seeing all 10 episodes. It has truly been a long time coming for Trey. He proves that with diligence, patience and determination all things are possible.

It is YOUR moment Trey...Shine! Cause that's what stars do.

My natural hair idols...

Yes, I am still on my journey to natural hair. I am 5 months in and I am so proud of myself for making it this far! I am currently wearing a curly "protective style" ;) I have done so much natural hair research it's ridiculous. I have a few hair natural hair idols that, unbeknownst to them, keep me motivated...and they are...


Esperanza Spalding, Corinne Bailey Rae, Laura Izibor

These women are fierce,musically talented naturals. I can't wait until my hair is completely natural. *sigh*

CB's tribute to MJ...theeeee best!

So it's been a minute since I've posted anything...shame on me!! There were so many things going on that I have been wanting to talk about but just haven't found the time to do so...but I am back and ready and what better way to start posting again than by talking about Chris Brown's performance at the BET Awards last night.



It has truly been a difficult year and some change for Chris Brown. By now every one has heard and/or gave their opinion about the volatile situation that he and singer Rhianna were in. As soon as the media caught wind of that they went in on Chris something terrible. I IN NO WAY CONDONE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. Just like Chris, we have all done things or been in situations that we are not proud of. No one on earth is worthy of putting judgment on anyone. Forgiveness is very pertinent to life. Bottom line,whether you like him or not, Chris Brown shut that stage down with his tribute to MJ. Everyone KNOWS I am a true Michael Jackson fan and Mike would have been honored. CB's performance was so heart felt. As Trey Songz said (and I paraphrase) he truly left his heart on the stage.

*singing* how about a round of applause...standing ovation...

Other than that...the Prince tribute was good. His facial expressions were hilarious. I was really wanting to see him perform. BET hyped it up like he was going to perform. I enjoyed El DeBarge too. I love old school music so any music made before the year 2000 really gets me hype, my emotions flowing, etc.

ALWAYS IN MY HEART

RIP Michael

well put together!

I have been admiring this young ladies sense of style for a while now. She is maturing into a beautiful young lady. Ke Ke Palmer is always well put together, never too grown looking. Here are a few photos of her and her classy, tasteful style.

pretty...

Some pretty things I'm eyeing...vintage, classy and versatile. Items available on forever21.com and modcloth.com

just posting

So, I celebrated my birthday last Monday, April 5th (Praise God for another birthday!). I didn't do much. Did some light shopping, went out to eat and relaxed. As a matter of fact for the rest of the week I relaxed. Joyce Meyers once said even our soul needs a vacation, let God handle it. I did a little traveling, which gave me a chance to put some things in my life into perspective and it also allowed time for my creative energy to flow. Driving alone always allows me time to reflect on me, uninterrupted. I have a few design ideas rolling around in my head, now I just need to get them out! I don't know why that seems to be the most difficult part to me. I pray God helps me in that area. I didn't even touch the computer last week!!



So....I see that Chrisette Michele shaved her hair off. Actually a friend of mine told me about it but I am just now seeing the pictures. I like it on her and her reasoning behind it inspires me that much more to continue on my journey to being a natural hair woman.

Product Review: SheaMoisture Hair Masque

Last night I finally had some free time to stop by Target and view Miss Jessie's line of hair products. Miss Jessie's just does not fit my budget right now! Besides that I was reading the ingredients to one of the products and I saw that it contains MINERAL OIL and from my research and talking to a friend that has been natural for 3 years, mineral oil is a no-no for hair. Needless to say I did not purchase any of their products. Right below Miss J' s was The Jane Carter Solution line. Since I didn't recall hearing to much about it, I bypassed it, but I hope to try it soon. On the very bottom shelf of the display was a product called SheaMoisture. I picked up the deep conditioning hair masque (mask) the very thing I was looking for, read the ingredients and decided to give it a try. Plus it was only $9.99...I have read a few things by ladies who say they do pre-poo conditioning treatments for about a day and then proceed with their regular hair care regimen. Since I am serious and excited about going natural I decided to give it a try for my hair although I never read about anyone else saying they have used it before. I put a generous amount of the mask on my hair ( I dampened my dry hair a little first), I combed the mask through my hair starting at the ends and working my way up (I'm learning!), put on a plastic cap and got in the bed. Throughout the night I could feel a slight tingling sensation. The mask contains Sea Kelp which says it detoxifies hair, so maybe that's where the tingle came from. I left it in close to 8 hours, the tingling began to get to me. I had to wash it out!

The scent of the mask wasn't very strong. I am sensitive to strong scents so it was cool for me. The product isn't real liquidy or real thick. It seemed to emulsify when put it on my sectioned off hair. I have very thick hair so I had to rinse longer. I ended up leaving a bit of it in (it says that it is ok to leave some in) because it clung to my un-relaxed roots and I was getting tired of trying to get it all out. Once it was all rinsed out my scalp felt a bit revitalized (could've just been my imagination, lol). I proceeded with the rest of my regimen, wash, condition and air dry. After all that and my hair was completely dry, my roots were still super moisturized from the hair mask! I think I pretty much like it. I went to it's website, they have a few more products. The story behind it's creation is heartfelt. Will definitely be using this again soon!

You can find this product at Target or check them out at http://www.sheamoisture.com/

SheaMoisture ingredients:

deionized water

Shea Butter (didn't feel like typing it's scientific name)-deeply moisturizes and repairs damage to hair and scalp

Argan oil-says it restores shine and rebuilds hair elasticity

Cetyl Esters

Sea Kelp extract- trace minerals detoxify hair follicles of impurities and residue

Pathenol (vitamin B-5)

Ammonium salt

essential oil blend

avocado oil

lonicera caprifolium flower(honey suckle)

lonicera Japonica flower extract(Japanese honey suckle)

tocopherol (vitamin E)

Hyssopus Officinalis Extract

Salvia Officinalis leaf (Sage)

Equisetum Arvense Extract

Soybean oil

Daucus Carota seed oil (Carrot Seed oil)

Songz in the Key of Life

I saw these pics last night and couldn't resist posting them on my blog. The whole look of the pics remind me of the pics of my granddaddy and my granddaddy was a sharp dresser in his time. I even have pics of granddaddy in similar outfits and poses. These pics are totally artistic, vintage and I LOVE THEM! Get it Trey! I picked my favorite three

Trey channeling the days of old for a Complex Magazine photo shoot. Here's "Songz in the Key of Life":

So Vintage! pt.2

So you know I had to add a few pieces from Forever 21 that I am also interested in...
I have some like these in tortoise shell but I like these plain brown ones too...

This necklace is so cute! I love bows.

I actually have a Chanel purse like this in creme. It was my grandma's. This pink is nice.

Cute! love the bow! It comes in brown and baby blue also. Black and white is so classic though.

I love these! The only color I don't have them in is black!



I love pearls and this ring is so chic and upscale.