HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year loves!


I'm back and ready to start 2016. As usual I'm spending it with absolutely nothing to do. I'll most likely be spending it laying in bed listening to Spotify and scrolling through tumblr.

I hope everyone had a great holiday season, I know I did! I spent Christmas in the Bahamas playing with the stingrays. My family went on a 6 day cruise and it was awesome! Pictures will be coming soon!

So that's all for now, I just wanted to check in with everyone before the year was out.



Goodbye 2015, hello 2016! I'll see you all in the new year!

List of the Month: Best Shows to Binge Watch

1. Big Bang Theory
2. Dexter
3. Pretty little liars
4. Gossip Girl
5. The 100
6. Scandal
7. How to Get Away with Murder
8. Orange is the New Black
9. Gotham
10. Power
11. Desperate Housewives
12. The Blacklist
13. Flash forward
14. Lost

Black Owned Beauty and Cosmetic Companies

Hey loves!

I'm back with a quick makeup post. I first got into makeup over a year ago. I love the look of makeup and once contemplated going to beauty school. However, my biggest issue with makeup is finding my perfect shade. As a woman of color, it is incredibly difficult to find makeup that matches my skin tone with major makeup companies. I'm sick of looking at L'oreal, Maybelline, Covergirl or other major makeup companies and seeing numerous shades and products for white women and only two shade options for women of color. It's incredibly frustrating so I decided to focus only on makeup products created for and by black women. I did some research and I came across some makeup and beauty companies that cater specifically to women of color.

These are the companies that have gotten the best reviews and come highly recommended. I'm planning to stock up on Black Radiance and Black Opal products soon so expect a product review soon!

• Black Opal Beauty
• Fashion Fair
• LAMIK Cosmetics
• Iman Cosmetics
• Black Up Cosmetics
• Black Radiance Beauty

Buy or Buh-bye! NYX Simply Red Lip Cream Review

Hey loves! I'm back with a new segment for you guys: Buy or Buh-bye!

About a month or so ago I purchased a Simply Red NYX lip cream from a higher end beauty supply store. I was originally going to get the Red Velvet butter gloss but once I swatched the lip cream, I was sold! The shade I have is SR 03. It's a bright candy apple/vixen red. Perfect shade if you're going for a sexy look. The coverage is perfect and the finish is creamy matte.



My biggest issue with this product is how easily it rubs off. By the end of the day, I had stains all over my fingers and my hands. My hoodie and shirt had stains all over it. I ended up just rubbing it off because I was so disappointed. I have worn it on multiple occasions and it happens every time. That is the only real issue that I have but that's enough to not make me buy it again.  I've seen some videos about how to stop that so I'm going to try some of those techniques and hopefully it'll work out.

I'm wearing it here as a part of my Halloween costume!

There is also a Simply Vamp and a Simply Nude line available.
    

Overall Score: 3/5*
Final Verdict: Buh-bye!

*I like to rate my makeup products. It makes it easier for me if I decide to purchase again. I rate based on coverage, texture, kiss tests, consistency and how long it lasts.

All Hallows Eve

Happy belated Halloween everyone! I had bought my costume about two weeks earlier on eBay. It was $30 and I was super excited because I've wanted this costume for years! For the first time ever I actually went out on Halloween. Normally, I don't have plans. I'm not the party/going out type. I'm a homebody for sure but two days before Halloween my best friend invited me to a party she was going to. I grabbed my costume and practically ran out the door!

The party ended up being a dud but we were able to catch a ride into D.C with a guy from the party. He dropped us off at U Street and we wondered around for about an hour or so before we finally decided to hit a hookah bar located downtown. It's called Sawah Diner & Hookah Cafe and we have been there quite a few times before. This time we sat upstairs in a new area equipped with black lights, strobe lights and comfy couches! 

We spent most of our night wandering around the city looking for a place to go. It was a lot of fun though. Of course there were tons of people walking around in costumes. We even saw one guy dressed as an used pad lol! We left D.C around 2:30 but I didn't get home until 4! I was exhausted! 

Check out my costume below!

Me and Imani at the party.

Me and the guy dressed as a used pad.

 Hookah flow!

I hope you guys had a great Halloween. I know I did!

Best Beyonce Songs for a Workout

It's no secret Beyonce's music will keep you dancing but with this playlist, it'll keep you running as well! Hop into the gym and I guarantee this Beyonce playlist will keep you going!

• Get Me Bodied
• Single Ladies
• Crazy in Love ft. Jay Z
• Countdown
• Love on Top
• Bootylicious
• Check On It
• Lose My Breath
• End of Time
• Grown Woman
• Run the World (Girls)
• 7/11
• Ring the Alarm
• Flawless Remix ft. Nicki Minaj
• Irreplaceable

Honorable Mentions:

I LOVE Diva and I would have loved to add the list however, due to it's tempo, it's much too slow to keep you up for a workout. Maybe it'll work out for you. Check it out!

• Diva

August: Ipsy Glam Bag

My August glam bag just came in! As usual, it comes in a pink bubble wrap envelope (see last months post) with the glam bag tucked inside. This month's them is called the prep school bag! Isn't it cute?

So this is what I got this month: Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco Oil Treatment, Trust Fund Beauty nail polish in Elegantly Wasted, Pencil Me In Eye pencil in Boysenberry, Hikari Cosmetics lip gloss in Merlot and Dermalogica Clear Start Matte Moisturizer

Full Price:
Dermalogica Clear Start Matte Moisturizer $12-25 full size
Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco Oil Treatment $6.99 full size
Hikari Cosmetics lip gloss in Merlot $13
Pencil Me In Eye pencil in Boysenberry $6.99
Trust Fund Beauty nail polish in Elegantly Wasted $15

Honest Opinion:
I am in LOVE with the Hikari lip gloss! The color is perfect and the consistency works well. I can easily see myself wearing this gloss regularly. I tried the matte moisturizer but I don't have much to say about it. I don't really care much for moisturizers anyway. I'm not a fan of eyeliner pencils so I'm putting off using that right now. I prefer liquid eyeliner over pencils. I think as a whole, I'm very happy with this months glam bag. I can't wait for the next one!


Overall Rating: 4/5
I really can't wait until my next Ipsy bag comes! I decided I would give it three months before I gave my final decision on Ipsy as a whole. So far, I'm half and half. My first bag was some crap. This bag was so much better so it all comes down to next months bag. Let's see how it goes!

Current State of the Union

In

Saving

DIY

Organization

Out

Treat yo self

Professionals

Clutter

DIY: Dryer Sheets

So thanks to Pinterest, I've been on a DIY (do it yourself) kick. I had seen this idea and put it together a couple of months ago but had never gotten around to actually trying it until recently. I love it! 

The average price of a box of dryer sheets is $3.50 for about 30 sheets per box. Of course it'll only last for 30 loads.

This DIY project cost about the same on the surface but it lasts forever! Since the sponges are reusable, it lasts longer. How long it lasts depends on how much liquid you put in the container. And since typical dryer sheets get thrown away afterward, using sponges reduces waste. 

It's so cheap and simple, why not try it? 

Here's what you need: 

A large canister with a lid

Fabric softener

And a pack of sponges

Combine a half cup of fabric softener and three cups of water in your container. Add in the sponges and you're done! It's best to cut your sponges into smaller sections. That way you're not saturating your clothes with the solution and it allows you to be able to use it on multiple loads at a time.

Total Cost: $2.00

Now all you need to do is throw a sponge into your dryer when you're ready to dry your clothes. Remember to squeeze a little bit of it out of the sponge first! And when you're done, toss your sponge back into the solution and you're good to go!

LaSplash Liquid Lipstick Review

So my latest obsession has been liquid lipsticks. Or any lipsticks for that matter. My ultimate goal is to be a lipstick junkie and change my lip color every day! I currently have about 8 or 9 products now including lipsticks, lip glosses and lip tars but I'm looking to expand. I won't be happy until I have at least 15 or so.

I recently purchased LaSplash liquid lipstick from someone online via an app I have called Poshmark. Poshmark is a app that allows their members to buy and sell items from their own closets. As a member you're able to list all types of items such as clothes, shoes, and accessories. I use it mostly for makeup which is how I came across this lipstick. The shade I am reviewing is called Sirius. I couldn't find this exact shade on the website but I found another shade that they carry that looks almost identical to it. This shade is called Deadly Nightshade.
 
I learned later that Sirius was a part of a special line of liquid lipsticks by LaSplash inspired by Harry Potter. The line has been discontinued but I was able to find some pictures online for you! LaSplash normally goes for about $14 so they're pretty affordable as well.

 See how Sirius and Deadly Nightside are almost identical? I think they cheated with that one! :)

Here's me wearing Sirius. In photos online the color looks much more blue but once I put it on, it looked much darker. It was almost black.

I like the formula. It's very smooth and it does not dry too quickly. A few other people who own liquid lipsticks by LaSplash talk about their odor. I admit, they do have a slight paint smell. It doesn't bother me. It's barely noticeable especially since it lasts for such a short period of time. Once it dries, the smell goes away so it's not something that you have to constantly worry about.

Sirius stayed on my lips for hours! I first applied it around 9 in the morning. I ate lunch around 1:30ish and it stayed on perfectly! I reapplied around 5:30. I did not do a kiss test but I think it's safe to assume it would pass. The only thing that was a problem for me was water. At work, I like to eat a lot of ice so it caused my lipstick to come off. What I found strange was how it came off. The formula chips off into little tiny pieces. I kept seeing them floating around in my ice.

This is what it looked like after a couple of hours.








It looks pure black in this photo doesn't it?








Bottom Line: I would definitely recommend LaSplash to a friend and I would certainly buy from them again! 

My Hair Story

Hello lovelies!

As I previously stated, I'm changing the content of my blog. This will be the first post going in that direction! My hair story will be a general look at the condition of my hair now and what it was like in the past. I'll do more in depth posts on hair products, regimens etc.

I've decided to take more of an interest in my hair lately and fix the problems I currently have. My hair is relaxed and has been for as long as I can remember. My biggest issue right now is breakage. My hair breaks regularly. There are almost always small strands of hair littered across my shoulders. I've dealt with it for years but not anymore. I've relied on my hair dressers to inform me of my hair's overall health and condition. And honestly now that I think about it, only one of the many hairdressers I've had ever addressed my hair's condition. at this point in my life,


My freshman year of high school, September of 2008, I got light brown highlights.


In May of 2011 I got a glue in weave for my boyfriend's prom. I will NEVER make that mistake again!


Shortly after this point I started going to the Dominican salon to get my hair done. Overtime, my hair started thinning out. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of this time to show you the before and after shots. I'll try to find some for you guys later!

In October of 2012 I cut my hair. I was in college at this point and I LOVED it!

From 2012 to 2015 I didn't do much with it. I kept it cut short but in June I decided to grow it out some more. To help myself out with that, I got a protective style. For the last month, I've had faux locs in. They were about bra strap length.


The above photo was taken two weeks ago just days before I cut them out. I am very happy to say that my hair grew about an inch and a half while it was in the locs!!!! I'm so excited! I had been trying for months to grow my hair out without seeing much of a result.

So that's about it for this post. In the upcoming posts, I'll go more into detail about my hair care regimen, products etc.

Upcoming Posts/Content Change

I have so many things I'm doing right now that I have yet to commit to one post every week. I've been working all summer long and taking a math class as well. I just submitted my paperwork to continue work during the school semester but that's not guaranteed. I'll talk more about that in another post.

These next couple of months will be incredibly busy for me since I am taking up a lot of new interests and hobbies. I'll be blogging about that so there will be a content change coming up (see below).

Content Change: So far this blog has been a general look into my life and I think that's the reason I don't post very much. Who really cares about my personal life? lol! So below I have listed the main things I will cover on my blog with a few other posts sprinkled in every now and then.

• Beekeeping
• Candle making
• Wig making
• Ipsy glam bags
• Sewing
• Makeup
• Journey to healthier hair
• Journey to my drivers license

I think that sums everything up for the most part. I have just received my Ipsy glam bag for August so expect a review on that in a few days!

July: My First Ipsy Bag!

I heard of Ipsy for the first time last year. I had just subscribed to Youtuber BREONAQUEEN and she had a video in which she used a makeup palette she had gotten from Ipsy. Here's a video in which she briefly discusses it.

I signed up for it in late June just in time for the July glam bag. So this is how it works: You sign up and for $10 a month, you get 4 sample size beauty products and about 1 full size product. By being a member you get discounts on other products. Like right now on the site, Ipsy subscribers are being offered a Crown Brush MediSonic Facial Scrubber for $49. It retails for $130 normally. Honestly, it a good deal and I'd totally get it if I actually had the money.

This is what it came in, a cute pink envelope.

And here's the makeup bag and an advertisement that came with it.

And these are the products that were inside!

So this is what I got this month: Ofra Cosmetics Eyeshadow and highlighter Bliss, Be A Bombshell lip balm in Ruby, Jor'el Parker Classico perfume, Tarte Cosmetics clay bronzer and Avene Cleanance gel.

Full Price: 
Ofra Cosmetics Eyeshadow and highlighter Bliss: $15
Be A Bombshell lip balm in Ruby: $14
Jor'el Parker Classico perfume: $21
Tarte Cosmetics clay bronzer $30
Avene Cleanance gel: $20 full size

Honest Opinion
When I first opened the bag, I was a bit disappointed. I wanted something different....products I would actually use. I thought I would get some eye shadow palettes or maybe some eyeliner or lipstick so to see none of those things was disappointing. However, i have to say, researching these products definitely did open me up to some brands I normally wouldn't have looked twice at.

Overall Rating: 2/5 

I'm not very impressed by my box but I've decided to give Ipsy a 3 month trial run before I unsubscribe.

Here's how to get your own Ipsy glam bag!

1. Go to www.ipsy.com
2. Sign up for the monthly glam bag
3. Take a short style quiz
4. Wait for your glam bag!

It should arrive in the middle of the month!

Current State of the Union

In                                     Out
Bing                                 Google
Ebay                                 Poshmark
Couponing                        Full price

The BET Awards 2015

So the BET Awards premiered last night and honestly, I barely watched it. My love Nicki Minaj was up for Best Female Hip Hop Artist and won for the sixth consecutive year! She even performed with her boo Meek Mill.

There was a Bad Boy reunion performance including Diddy, Mase, Lil Kim, 112 and Pharrell. I couldn't find a video link, sorry about that!

Zendaya showed up sparkling! Kinda wished she would have worn some pants though.

Amber Rose and Blacc Chyna made an appearance!

I loved Lala Anthony's dress!!!

Gabrielle Union looked amazing as usual!

Janelle Monae slayed!!!!!

Heyyyyyyy Lauren London! ;)

The beautiful and talented Janet Jackson was also in attendance. She received the 2015 Ultimate Icon Award. She shut down the show and never sang a note! She blessed the stage after Tinashe, Jason Derulo and Ciara paid tribute to her with performances of her greatest songs. Ciara's was the best. You can watch it below.

 

Kelly Rowland and Fabolous!

Boris Kudjoe and Nicole Ari Parker looked beautiful together!

Chris Brown's ex girlfriend Karrauche showed up too! Surprisingly, I like her outfit!

Current State of the Union

In

• Inclusion
• Turning 21
• Mine

Out

• General Staff
• Turning 18
• Commitment

Don't Hate Me!

I haven't posted anything in a very long time so I really apologize for that! I took a little break for awhile and then I lost even more interest because I hadn't posted in so long but that's all over now! I have TONS to catch you all up on and I promise I will. I have a lot of different ideas for posts lined up.

By the end of this year I want to have completed at least 3 of these things:

• Learn how to do faux locs
• Get my nipples pierced
• Learn sign language
• Learn how to sew
• Learn how to make my own candles
• Create my own body butters and salt scrubs
• Make my own dream catcher
• Learn how to do my own Marley twists
• Research and take a bee keeping class

In a few weeks, I plan on doing my own Marley twists for the summer and if that goes well, I'll move right on to the faux locs. I'll detail everything here on my blog! Well, everything except the piercings lol!

Alright, I'm off to my last job training session! Bye guys!

I Will Never Bake From Scratch Again

Today can be summed up in one word: cravings. I craved a hot bath when I woke up this morning. I craved Frosted Flakes for breakfast and tuna fish for lunch. None of those cravings, however, bested my craving for chocolate.

I love sweets! Candy bars, cookies, brownies, cake! You name it, I want it. Unfortunately, most of my sweet tooth cravings come late at night when I'm tucked in bed with no way to satisfy my need for a Snickers bar. These last few months I've been able to silence those cravings by having a cup of hot tea at night. I normally add an extra spoonful of sugar to take care of my sweet tooth. That was all fine and dandy until the caffeine from from the tea became my new craving. I found myself needing to have the tea before bed and not being able to go to sleep without it. Eventually, I had to just drop that habit all together.

Moving on to tonight, I really wanted to some brownies so I headed over to Pinterest and looked up a few brownie recipes from scratch. Luckily for me, we had all of the necessary ingredients and got to work mixing everything up. I will never make that mistake again. I ended up with the worst brownies you could possibly imagine.

These were the dryest brownies I have ever tasted in my life. They were horrible! Absolutely disgusting. The whole pan went right into the garbage. Needless to say, I will never cook from scratch again.

The Most Annoying Songs of All Time

This post really doesn't need to be explained. Just press play and relive the torture.

                                                 Harlem Shake- Baauer (2012)

Friday- Rebecca Black (2011)

                                             Party in the USA- Miley Cyrus (2011) 

                                                 Gangnam Style- PSY (2012)

                                                    Stupid Hoe- Nicki Minaj (2011)

                                          Crank That Soulja Boy- Soulja Boy Tell'em (2007)

                                                My Humps- Black Eyed Peas (2005)

                                                  Whip My Hair- Willow Hair (2010)

Baby- Justin Beiber (2010)

                                                         What Does the Fox Say?- Ylvis (2013)

                                                  Blurred Lines- Robin Thicke (2012)

Current State of the Union

In

• Intersteller
• Redbox
• Hunger Games trilogy 

Out

• Gravity
• Movie theaters
• Divergent trilogy 

10 Times Nicki Minaj Proved to be a Feminist Icon

"I always feel it's important for me to show females that they can be in charge of their own situations. When I win and when I lose, I take ownership of it, because I really am in charge of what I do."

"I've always had this female empowerment thing in the back of my mind -because I wanted my mother to be stronger and she couldn't be. I thought, If I'm successful, I can change her life."

"Every woman is multifaceted. Every woman has a switch, whether she's going to be a man-eater, whether she has to kick ass, whether she has to show the guys that she's just as smart or smarter, she's just as talented or creative. Women suppress a lot of their sides."

"If you speak up for yourself, you're a bitch. If you party too much, you're a whore. men don't get called these things"

"Women should be allowed to be as hardcore and sexual as we want because men do it all the time."

"I want to build my empire. In my field, I have always seen men do it, from Diddy to Dre to Jay Z, now it's a woman's turn."

"I stand for the girls wanting to be sexy and dance, but also having a strong sense of themselves. If you got a big ol' butt? Shake it! Who cares? That doesn't mean you shouldn't be graduating from college."

"I just want women to always feel in control. Because we're capable - we're so capable."

"I'm a multidimensional woman. Like all women are. The difference is that I have the balls to take chances."

"When you're a girl, you have to be everything! You have to be dope at what you do but you have to be super sweet and you have to be sexy and you have to be this and you have to be that and you have to be nice. It's like, I can't be all those things at once. I'M A HUMAN BEING!"