Help Lancome Celebrate!

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Today marks the 3rd annual Génifique Day, a one-day national event benefitting one of my favorite charities, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. For every in-store or online purchase of certain Génifique products, Lancôme will donate $7 to St. Jude. According to an article by brandchannel, last year’s events  raised over $300,000 in support of lifesaving research and treatment for children with pediatric cancer and other life-threating illnesses. Time is ticking, so get to your nearest Lancôme store post haste!



Look at these doll-babies you will be helping:

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL!!!



A picture of me circa 6-years-old in my favorite Easter dress.

In honor of International Day of the Girl, I wanted to post a few (of the many) things I would tell my young girl doppelgänger: 

1. Forgive-easily and often. If for no one else, do it for yourself.

2. It is great to dream big; it's even better to have a plan. It is not enough to have dreams, you have to go after what is it you say you want and create a path for yourself.

3.  People need you to be different, both in your forthcoming professional life and personal life. The world thrives off of individuality, so don't be afraid to be your unbridled, amazing self-it liberates others. You are more than good enough so don't be afraid to share who you really are.

4. Fear is actually a great thing. It means you are growing. 

5. There is really no such thing as failure. It is merely preparation for something great if you are wise enough to take advantage. Use the negative experiences(and people) as lessons and know when to let them go.

Ladies, what is one thing you would say to your younger self?

Kerry Washingtons Checks Her Somebody on Bill Maher

This is why I LOVE me some Kerry Washington. I thoroughly enjoy when she flexes her political muscles. She more than holds her own during a debate on Affirmative Action.

               

Yes, Kerry! Please let these people know the importance of diversity and inclusion.

Don't forget to watch Kerry Washington on the new season of ABC's hit series Scandal this Thursday at 9/10 pm CST.

Octavia Spencer Covers ELLE Mag and Talks Bullying

It seems every other day there is a news story about a young kid being bullied in school or a college student succumbing to the effects of being harassed on some social network.      

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Most recently local news anchor Jennifer Livingston has become an overnight celebrity with her response to a "bully" viewer making comments about her weight, which you can view here.

Oscar-winner and ELLE magazine cover girl Octavia Spencer, who directed a short on bullying called The Unforgiving Minute, disagrees with Livingston use of the word bully saying to Jezebel.com: 

"She [Livingston] stood up for herself and I appreciate that. I don't necessarily know that it was bullying." 


The Help star goes on to define bullying as "facing coercion or physical repercussions on a daily basis." Spencer talks about her experience standing up for herself in the early days of her acting career:

“Early on I had to stand up to a producer – I won’t say who, but he is famous, famous.  He dressed me down in a crowded office.  I told him right there in front of a hundred people, ‘You don’t know me well enough to use that tone’…And then I ran to the bathroom and cried like a baby.  But he never addressed me that way again.  And he is known as a yeller."

You can read the entire interview in the October issue of ELLE magazine's "Hollywood Issue." I won't even mention  how she is shutting the game down with this playful, sultry look. The is due out on the shelves October 16. 

WHO YOU CALLING FAT???

I bet whoever wrote in to this news anchor is somewhere feeling silly. Clap back!

Lady Gaga Flaunts Weight Gain With Fashion

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Just days after her weight gain controversy, Lady Gaga attends an event flaunting her curves in a body hugging, red Versace cut-out dress.

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The pop icon recently said in an interview that she gained over 20 pounds and unleashed a fire storm after she released pictures of her in her underwear, completely un-photoshopped with a subtle caption that read: “Bulimia and Anorexia since I was 15."  Soon after she fired back starting a viral "Body Revolution" and wearing these frocks:

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Shout out to Lady Gaga for a saying a big "F@&K You!" to all the critics-and looking kinda dope while doing so.

The Evolution of the Cat Eye

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FRESH (FACED) AS I'M IS

I have been wearing little to know makeup this summer...mostly because of the heat AND I appreciate the texture of my skin without any makeup.  It's something very liberating and empowering about being comfortable enough in your own skin-flaws and all- to go makeup less that I embrace.

There was I time when I would pile on layers of face and go out into the world, and now that seems almost archaic to me now-not to mention time-consuming.

For the summer, my routine has been filling in my brow, BareMinerals foundation in Warm Tan on my blemishes, Love Joy by Mac, and the lipstick, lip stain, lipgloss of the day and I was out the door.

I stumbled upon(scoured) the drugstore for Maybelline's new 8-in-1 BB Cream that I kept hearing about and finally found it in my shade, and it was love at first wear. A perfect way to transition my foundation routine, or lack thereof, into the colder months given it's creamy formula. You should definitely try it.

                                                          Pic courtesy of Life's Little Tales

RINGS, BRACELETS AND STATEMENT NECKLACES- OH MY!

So I have been going through a heavy jewelry phase. The bigger the better-an instance style changer. 

    On the train....

Stumbled upon all types of jewelry candy in the West Village. We learned the beaded bracelets symbolize the call for prayer in Buddhism.

A traditional Tibetan neck dress...this almost came home with me.

Instgram Inspirations

Here are are a few pics I grabbed from Instagram

that gave me free this week:

Glowing skin+big curls+gradient lips+holigram nails

Foiled lipstick+my spa day in BK+purple lips

Beyonce's Box Braids Are Too Dramatic

picture via lorensworld.com 

So I know I have not blogged in a month of Sundays (why do I feel like I start every blog saying this lol), but it is a great explanation for that. I have recently moved to the city of my dreams, NYC!

But that is not the purpose of this post.

So I was checking the news stories of the day online and the first story that pops up was a picture Beyonce's new box braids holding baby Blue Ivy with a headline that reads something to the effect of "Beyonce's Dramatic New Look."

Now one, why is this considered top news of the day, and more to point, why was news of Beyonce's wearing braids considered dramatic according to the media?

Now I am FAR from a Beyonce stan but I happen to love the Beyonce's latest look, partially because I have been jonesing for the throwback Janet Jackson "Poetic Justice" box braids for the past year or more-and now it seems everyone is going box-braid crazy, and I think it is absolutely a gorgeous look.

Perhaps I was reading too much into a headline, but it was something about the way the news story was framed that struck me. What is so dramatic about braids? Or is it just shocking to see BEY in braids? What was more disturbing/disgusting was the negative comments I came across on natural hair forums that seemed offended at Bey's return to hair braids, like she had been long casted out of the natural hair style island. How soon we forget that Beyonce rocked imitable honey-toned braids, twists, afros pre-world domination in her Destiny Child days.

Vintage pic of Bey's natural look via http://charcoal-ink.com/

I believe one of the things that is so great about being a girl is the liberty to change your look.  Black women in particular take pride in being able to switch up our look, so I'm not surprised to see  Beyonce, or any other sista' with a new 'do, especially braids. Hell I am ready to snatch this weave out and get some myself in this heat. But it seems to me that it is something about Beyonce wearing more "ethnic" hairstyles that makes people uncomfortable. Beyonce herself was even quoted back in the day saying how self-conscience people made her feel when she wore her hair more natural circa her "Austin Power" movie days. Fast forward a few months later, we slap in a straight blonde weave, come out with "Dangerously In Love" and the rest is hair weave/music history.

I know I would be quite annoyed if people criticized me every time I changed my look or rocked my natural hair, but it is price of fame I guess. *shrugs*

HAPPY 80th GRANDMA!!!

How beautiful does my Grandma look? I recently flew back home to Chicago to celebrate my Grandma's 80th birthday; I can't tell you what a blessing that is for me and my family. I found this picture of my Grandma aka Big Lenora (yes I am proudly named after my Grandmama) on her vanity and I have wanted to recreate this look for so long, I just haven't gotten around to it. I love this look on her: fresh face, head wrap, long white drapey skirt suit. It's so vintage 70s and I love everything about it. I can't wait to recreate, with a my own twist on it of course :). 

MICHELLE OBAMA ROCKS A 'FRO-IS AMERICA READY?

Picture: Madame Noire 

She doesn't know it yet, but Michelle Obama is my official mentor. Her style, her grace, her life journey is so inspiring to me as a black women-and I haven't even gotten to Barack. As an educated, accomplishment, civic-minded woman in her own right, she is EVERYTHING! 

So when I saw this picture of her this morning, I was over the moon. The First Lady is always so flawless and cutting edge, I was actually more shocked-and disappointed- to learn later this afternoon that it was photoshopped. 

Sidenote: Whoever did this is on point, slicked back edges and all; You totally got me. 

But all of this makes me wonder: How would Americans react if the First Lady did sport kinky locks?  Sure we have come a long way on so many things as a society, but I would be naive if I thought there weren't still some things that are deemed  "taboo" by mainstream society or the uptight, political, blow-hards in Washington. Is natural hair on America's first Black First Lady one? I don't know. But whether the country is ready to see Mrs. Obama with her naturally textured hair or not, I know I am, and I am secretly hoping to see the above pic un-photshopped some time very soon. 

What do you think? Should Mrs. Obama wear her natural hair?

To follow more of the First Lady's style, please visit: Mrs. O 

Chanel No. 5-The Remix

So I went to an amazing art exhibit and saw this painting. Love this artist's interpretation of the classic scent.

SPRINGING FORWARD

"See I'm just forward looking, that's how I really see,
See while you Valentines, I'm thinking Christmas trees."- Lupe Fiasco, "Beamin"

Though it is still very much winter around my parts, as evident by my heavy scarf and thick gloves, I have been anxiously waiting for Spring so I can try out some new looks. Here are just a few: 

Baby-pink makeup palettes (and clothes)

Big bangs

Tribal head scarves interwoven in braids

Orange lipstick+orange nail polish+specs=yes, please (have adored this L'OReal ad for some time by the  by)

My obsession with nail art is sure to continue, only in brighter, bolder designs 

ORGANIZED CHAOS

      The jewelry station

                                                         

Ok, so judging by the looks of my vanities, I may need to bump my yearly Spring purge up a few weeks...

The beauty station...after I cleaned it.

Eh, actually I think I will wait until April to dive into this project lol #overwhelming 

BEAUTY EDITOR MIKKI TAYLOR SPEAKS AT LADIES DAY PROGRAM

                                                             Photo from: Trendy Africa

This weekend,  Essence  beauty and cover director turned editor-at-large Mikki Taylor spoke to a group of over 400 hundred women Saturday morning at Russell Road Church of Christ's 23rd annual Ladies Day Program in Louisiana. 

With over 30 years as the magazine's beauty editor, Taylor has had the opportunity to follow some of the most beautiful, stylish African-American women around, including First Lady Michelle Obama, who is the inspiration of her latest book "Commander In Chic: Every Woman's Guide to Managing Her Style Like a First Lady."  In her speech, she stressed the importance of having your priorities straight and firm grasp on your self worth and spirituality.  


"It has all to do with what we will and what we won't concede to turn your truth," Taylor has said. "I don't wish to see us do more, we wish to see us be more." 


Taylor is also the spokesperson for AMBI skincare, a division of Johnson & Johnson. 

To find out more about Taylor's beauty advice, career, and motivational speaking , please visit: http://www.mikkitaylorenterprises.com/

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL IN JAPAN

I know people feel a certain way about this, but I think this is kind of dope. First of all, I have an ongoing affinity for Japanese girls anyway; their style is just crazy creative and inspiring. [Insert one of my favorite blogs JapanStreets]...Dreaming about the day I go to Japan.

I thought it was quite fascinating the extent to which African-American features-hair, skin, lips-and swag quite frankly are coveted in Japan among its young people. They are beyond dedicated to cosmetically alternating their appearance to look like African-Americans. I am fan of cultural cross blending, so I had to share.