Formation!

Go AWFFF ladies!

What's Next?

After a 2 year hiatus… Ahhhhh, I have been inspired… to live again, to breathe again, to write again?

     Well for the moment let’s get into the write again part. Do you ever feel uninspired? Do you ever wonder what’s the point in perusing a dream or goal when it seems so out of reach? I found myself feeling just that way. For a writer, there is no instant gratification… not many social media likes or beautiful photography to share, not many people frequenting your site with cash in hand to buy your hair growth pills, or body slimming tea. For a writer (specifically a blogger) it’s pretty cut and dry. You have your opinion or your interpretation of the world. Hopefully a million people can connect with your view and you can turn that into a brand or business. Bloggers are essentially a product with no product to sell. Who would want to buy the thoughts of 32 year old still trying to figure out this thing we call life herself?

      I lost my passion for a while. As the world turns, we see an overwhelming flux of social media personalities and overnight sensations. I found myself wondering what was the point? How can I say what’s already been said a million times before and make it interesting enough for you to read it once more from me? How can I make the world feel my energy?  I guess you can say I was looking for a sign of some sort to lead me in the right direction in terms of my writing, hell, in terms of my entire freaking life (insert crying emoji for dramatic effect).

     The last few weeks have given me the “sign” I needed to purse my passions unapologetically. After visiting my home state of Michigan I found myself literally back where I started six years ago, surrounded by my best friends and my family. Isn’t it funny how when you’re at a fork in the road, you go back to your comfort zone? The things I hated about living here years ago didn’t seem so bad. The winter didn’t seem so long and the shopping didn’t seem to be as dreadful (with exceptions).  Surrounded with people who love me. Genuinely love me. No conditions, no expectations, no exceptions. Funny how people say all you need is love, but you never really get that until you need that.

     Blessed with the flair of being dramatic, I was looking for this sign of what’s next in everything. I’m talking Life Coaches, Counselors, Psychics, Tarot Cards and my favorite advice givers on earth Bartenders. I didn’t actually visit with a Psychic but I was not above it. Isn’t it funny how the older you get you find yourself doing things you said you would never do?

     One day while drinking a glass of my favorite wine Rombauer Chardonnay or 5 o’clock Gin… I can’t remember. Same difference. I received an email from an old friend asking to use one of my posts from over 2 years ago for his ahh-mazing travel website. Flattered and a bit astonished, I immediately replied “absolutely, if you would like for me to write anything else for you in the future, just let me know. I would love to help out.” Insane, isn’t it? Here I am with my very own blog that I haven’t even so much as looked at in about 2 years, receiving an email from someone I very much admired asking to feature one of MY blogs on his travel website. After a few days of going back and forth with him about the details, I decided to check my blog stats. To my surprise you guys have been checking my blog quite faithfully. There hasn’t been one day within the last year (I can’t see further than that) that someone hasn’t at least checked me out. Flattered I must say. I started to think… where would I be by now if I didn’t stop? What if I fought through whatever curve balls life had thrown me and thugged this here writing thing out? What if I didn’t take 2 years off and stayed with it? A few days later I received another email. A woman was thanking me for a post I wrote eons ago about a blow bar. 

     Is this the sign I was looking for? Certainly seems that way. I started to think about how fearless I was at one point in my life. I would get an idea in my mind and I would pursue that idea relentlessly. Before I had thoughts of getting married and building a home. Before the idea of buying new cars, Chanel bags and Louboutin’s were the symbols of success. Intuition and thought was all the reason I needed to go. 

     What’s next? I don’t know. I do know I have a responsibility to myself to write. It may not be everyday or every week, but I will write. A very wise woman once said "just keep swimming" and that is what I intend to do. Thank you all for your continued support. 

 

Small Plates

The absolute cutest thing ever!

Sometimes a girl just wants Mac & Cheese ya know?!?

Bellami Clip In's

I get asked about my hair more than anything so I decided to let you guys in on a little trick I've been doing for a while when I want to extend or change the look of my Sew in's.

Chanel & MAC

What a wonderful day! I finally decided to buy Chanel Foundation, Powder and Blush. As many of you know I love makeup. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to look into my makeup drawer, see all the neatly stacked contents and add a new friend to the collection. Yumm! I can just gag thinking about it.

Nubian Skin

Have you guys seen the new ad for Nubian Skin? Isn't it lovely, stunning, gorgeous & just everything?!? As a woman of color “nude” shades are rarely ever a true nude for me. From lipstick, shoes to undergarments it can become a task just simply finding the proper hue to match my skin tone. I am so excited to see companies design products with women of color in mind.

5 things I noticed about Hairfinty.

 1. My scalp itches like crazy almost immediately. So much so, I sometimes skip on taking the pills twice a day.

Guess who’s biiiiiiizzzzzzaaack?!

Peach-stock, Subculture & Gloss Volutlé 19 on lips

Just in time for fall with a few updates on fall makeup looks and tips. It's been a while since I’ve blogged… life happens and moves have been made. As you all may know this blog is a hobby for me so when it comes to my long list of priorities “my baby” gets pushed to the bottom of the list at times. Sorry for the wait!

Las Vegas Wrap Up

With only a few short months left in my Las Vegas stay I decided to share a few of my favorite lunch, dinner and happy hour spots that may be a bit off the beaten path. My lust for life tends to take me out of the heavily frequented spots along the Las Vegas strip to the places the locals tend to hang. I must say I was very impressed with wide selection Las Vegas had to offer practically hidden in plain sight.

Style File: Kendra's Fashion Challenge Vacation to Epcot

When I received the email from Kendra Thorton this week I was shocked and over whelmed to say the least. For those that do not know who Kendra is let me briefly fill you in. Kendra has been featured as a travel expert on TV shows across the country. This amazing momma of 3  has made regular appearances on ABC, NBC and CW networks in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. Kendra’s Fashion Challenge is centered on her upcoming family vacation to Disney’s Epcot Center in Orlando Florida this spring. In planning her upcoming getaway, Kendra found many helpful Orlando reviews on Gogobot. Gogobot is a new travel site that provides helpful information on various travel destination throughout the world. I will be using this site in the near future for my families upcoming trips. In this challenge, I am to create a daytime look appropriate for Kendra to roam the famously family friendly grounds of Epcot with her hubby and 3 children.

Copy & Paste Friends

While I was doing a little Sunday cleaning M.A. stumbled on an article about friends who copy and decided to share it with me. As I know he could care less about the drama that can consume us ladies and our friendships I thought it very kind that he had me in mind so I immediately stopped to read. I have had issues with this in the past and no matter how I tried to explain myself or how much I prayed about it, I just could not seem to shake the irritation…  

Las Vegas Fashion Week

Las Vegas Fashion week has come to a close and I had the most amazing time connecting with wonderfully talented people. I hope you enjoy looking at a few of my favorite moments from this weeks past shows and events!

5 Steps To the Next Level!

We all know that a vital part of adulthood is staying on top of our game and handling business. I’m not talking about paying bills and going to work… I believe that is the minimal living requirement. What I am speaking about requires going over and beyond… I’m talking about the work that isn’t required but it gets you that much closer to where you’re trying to go. I decided to help out by giving you guy's my 5 steps to get to the next level in whatever area of life you want to improve.

Las Vegas Fashion Week

Every winter the world’s top designers allow us to get our lives with their Fall/Winter collections. This year I will be attending Las Vegas Fashion week and I am super excited to see all of the shows.

Personal Problem

Today I woke up mad… No particular reason…. I had a wonderful evening but somewhere between watching a movie on Netflix and waking up this morning I some how wound up on the wrong side of the bed. Has anyone else ever had this happen to them as well?  Have you ever been having a good day and suddenly think of something someone said or did and that thought takes you right back to that moment? That argument where you should have said more, or that shade someone was throwing and you let it slide… Yes, this too has happened to me. In times like this I have to work extra hard on myself.

Big City life, Truths and Myth

When I was planning my move to Los Angeles I had a laundry list of ideas on how “Big City” life would be. For some odd reason I imagined that I would be robbed or car jacked within the first year and all haters would be left in the small city that I was leaving. Moving to a big city for me was one of the most challenging and rewarding times of my life but not for the reasons I thought. I get a lot of questions from people wanting to move to a big city so I decided to give you guys a list of things I found to be true and false. I hope that some of my Truths and Myths help you guys finalize the purchase of that one-way ticket!

Black Girl In A Blow Bar World

As many of you guys know, I am team natural (no Chemicals, Relaxers or bleach in my hair) and have been so for over the last two years. While the benefits of being au natural are too many to list, I often cringe at the thought of wearing my hair in its natural state. Many of my naturals love the idea of wearing their hair in the kinky coils and curls God gave them and at times I feel bad for not wanting to go all mother “wash ‘n go” with the rest of the team.

Because I do love a good blowout and press, I know all that heat on your hair can lead to heat damage and even worse breakage. In my search for healthy alternatives to the normal process of blow-drying your hair then following the blowout with a flat iron, I stumbled upon blow bars. Now I know what many black women are thinking… “Aren’t Blow Bars for white women”?  To answer that question… Absolutely not! Blow bars are for ALL women, In fact, I was so impressed with the care and treatment of my hair that I decided to share my experience with all of you lovely ladies.

Drunk in the Kitchen? On the Balcony? In The Studio?

 I don't know exactly what room Vin Diesel was in when he "Got his life" but it is clear and evident that he found it. I don't know if it was the black and white or the Camouflage of the shorts but I was with it.

In The Business of Everybody Else's Business

It’s been almost a year since I read any gossip sites or tabloid magazines. For some that may not be a big deal, but for me that is HUGE! I was addicted! Everyday some celebrities business was on display for the world to see and I was all up in it hunni. 

About Last Night

Last week I had the pleasure of checking out the new date night movie “About Last night”. I'm usually not a movies kinda chick. I very rarely get excited to go to a movie these days unless it’s something I really want to see. After seeing the previews on TV I really wasn’t sure what to expect but I will say I was pleasantly surprised! This movie was hilarious. The story line was very cute and relatable. I recommend you guys make this your next date or ladies night venture.

In theaters Valentines day 2014.