Pucker UP!

Here are Four new lip colors to try.

We've been seeing this deep purple color popping up in the office and all over town, and when done right, it can be a total makeup home run. Don't shy away from the dramatic look — it just might be the "new you."

  

 When the weather's got you feeling a little bleh, smearing on a bright red lip can pull you right out of the doldrums. And, with an orange undertone, the shade's given an updated, seasonal perspective that everyone can get into. 

If you're wearing a neutral or monochromatic outfit, a hot pink lip gives your look some seriously chic oomph in like... 10 seconds flat. Apply in the a.m. and wear all day, or add it on just before running out of the office, and you're set for the night.

It might feel counterintuitive to go neutral during the winter, but this clean look is really editorial and was favored by tons of designers this past runway season. Plus, it's super easy to pull off!

 

Black is so Back.

To Mix & Match or Not!

There is Salt & Chocolate. Taylor Swift & T.I. Sometimes the best combos are ones that seem like an unlikely fit - and the same goes for fashion.   Here are some match-ups are begging you to let loose and try something a little crazy.

Sweat Shirts & Blush Tones

Wallpaper Florals & Leather

Spots & Spots

Iridescent Sheers & Pastels

Marled Knits & Brights

Raspberry & Plum

Nail Trends for Spring.

Buckle up kids — this season's nail polishes are making their big debut and they’re the raddest of the rad. We were having a hard time choosing between all of these fresh new nail trends. 

Animal Print Abuse.

As mentioned before ~ I am a die hard animal print lover but I have given up purchasing any animal print for 2012.

Here is a quick do & don't to wearing animal print that I have practiced over the years.  

Animal print Don't

• Pick your print and stick with it. Just one print, and one piece. Leopard not only doesn’t go with zebra, it doesn’t go with other leopard either.

• Start with accessories.  There’s no shortage of amazing handbags, belts, pumps and bangles with just enough Animal Print to participate without over-committing.

• Keep it simple. Let your Animal Print be your statement, and keep everything else simple and neutral.

Animal print Do's

Sans Free & SPF Safe.

So I decided to go a few days without makeup ~ one thing that I have not forgotten was wearing SPF.  My favorite is Clinique's Face Cream with an SPF of 30.  As a woman of color SPF is important!  Women of color are susceptible to skin cancer, skin discolorations, and, yes, sometimes black does crack.

I have gotten use to regularly applying sunscreen just as I would a moisturizer.  So if you are skipping your makeup don't skip the SPF.

Grab some GAP!

So I did some browsing online today and ended up on  GAP.com.  I am always looking & hunting for a bargain.  I noticed that they had a 30% online discount as well ~ which girl turns down a discount.  These are the three (3) pants that went from my wish list to my shopping cart.  I can not wait to experiment with them ~ the different looks.

1969 lightweight supersoft always skinny jeans

1969 mid-weight snakeskin print legging jean

skinny moto pants

Can I have Cindy Crawford's genes?

Kaia Gerber

Good genes, you know? If you have Cindy Crawford as your mother, you probably won't be going through an awkward phase when you're ten. Instead, you'll be flaunting your flawlessness as the face of Young Versace. 

Meet Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford's ten-year-old daughter. The child model looks incredibly fresh-faced, age-appropriate, and stylish, even considering that socks-and-sandals pairing they've put her in.

Michelle Obama joins Twitter.

The First Lady of the U.S.A. officially joined twitter on January 12th.  Her id is @MichelleObama.  I wonder it she would get more followers than @KimKardashian ~ well her marriage and her husbands stint in the White House lasted more than 72days, lets hope her presence on Twitter lasts more than 72days.  

Ri Ri vs. Becks

Riri's New Year Resolution clearly was not getting in shape by the summer ~ she got in shape by January.  With the flagship of underwear ads Emporio Armani now signing her as a model for their line she is obviously going to give David Beckam a run for his money.

 

Bee is for Beyonce or rather a Fly.

So maybe we're having a bit of music  but admit it, there's a whole lot to envy about Beyonce: her voice from the gods, her killer body, endless stream of awards, an enviable closet, rock-steady marriage, and beautiful new baby...the list is literally endless. One thing we're not so jealous of? A breed of housefly was just named after the singer because — wait for it — it has a "glamorous golden rear end," which, if you didn't know, makes you a diva in the insect world.

Update Facebook beyond the Grave.

It is not secret that most of us spend time updating our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pixable etc status.  Now there is an App on Facebook which allows you to connet beyond the grave or kind of.  Israeli company Willook has created the soberingly titled If I Die Facebook app. Simply install the app on your page, choose three "trustees" (i.e. people who can be relied upon to confirm your sad demise) and record — by text, image, or video — a message that will be published to your feed, upon your death. Once your trustees alert If I Die that you've left this world, the app will post your final testament to the Internet, be it a long elegy to yourself, a loving goodbye to all your friends and family, or a spectacular kiss off to all those haters out there (or all three).

Hair Extensions Hype.

Hair extensions can be a wonderful thing — in moderation. They're definitely great if you need a little extra volume, or want to add some extra-length when your stylist gets a little scissor-happy. But the key to extensions is that they should look natural — ideally, you don't want anyone else to know they're there.

 So many questions, so few answers. Look, we're all for experimenting with different colors, textures, and lengths, when it comes to hair, but we also don't want our locks to bear any passing resemblance to anything from the animal kingdom. But maybe that's just me?

To Beer or not to Beer.

I recently had lunch with a friend and we went to a local lunch hot spot.  When I was asked what I wanted to drink I decided on my usual Cranberry Juice & my friend opted for a Mixed Drink.  I was a little perplexed cause it was a work day and we both had to go back to our respective office.  Is it really okay to have a drink during a work day?  Each company has policies about drinking on the job and some disciplinary action if caught drinking on the job.  My view ~ if you have the urge to drink ~ drink water. 

Happy Birthday Aaliyah!

Remembering Aaliyah! The R&B world lost a young & shining star when it lost Aaliyah Dana Haughton.  From her role in "Romeo must Die" to my favorite album "One in a Million".  Rest in peace Angel of Music.

You are "More than a Woman".

 

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation."

May we remember the lives & struggles that have won us freedom.   

Moody before Monday but Wakeup with Makeup.

It is Sunday & that means preparation for work on Monday.  As a woman that entails ~ planning out the wardrobe for the week and getting my bag organized.  Monday morning usually finds me in a rush with not time to do my makeup.  I recently came across a Youtube blogger who makes makeup application easy.  Wonder witch one I will try tomorrow morning.

http://www.youtube.com/user/MissGlamourGirl1992?feature=g-all-lik

Profile Pictures Lessons.

We are all guilty of it ~ taking up that camera & posing in the bathroom or setting a timer & then posing in the chair.  Yes! Guilty!  No matter what social network we are on, twitter, facebook ~ the profile pic is as important as the rest of the pics in your albums.  It is a friend or a strangers first impression of you.  Here are a few tips to try to get that gorgeous profile pic that is social network worthy.

Lighting Lessons ~  Areas with soft (shaded, cloudy, morning-or-evening) light always make for beautiful photos.

Party Time! — If you've got a camera that lets you play with the shutter speed, change it to the "nighttime" or "slow-sync shutter."




There's An App For That — If you've got a smart phone, tablet, or computer, you can add cool filters to your photos with a variety of applications.

Don't Futz With "Fun" Filters — You may have played around with them for your Friendster or MySpace profile, but it's time to grow up, stop making your face glow green and blue, and avoid using those stock filters.

Learn Some Photoshop Basics — Removing red eye, auto-adjusting levels, and upping the contrast are all really easy tricks you can do to make your images really shine.

No Selfies — Taking your own portrait is one of the biggest faux pas around. Mirror shots or extended arm shots are only okay if you're 15 and getting ready for Homecoming. If you have to, there are ways to maneuver the camera so your arm isn't in the shot, but don't think you're fooling anyone...

Get Natural — If you want to avoid that "senior photo" look, the best thing you can do is to use an activity as an opportunity to take a new profile picture.

+1s Allowed, +5s, Not So Much — If you want your BFF or significant other to join in on the fun, that's totally okay. It starts getting confusing, though, when you're posting a huge group shot as your own profile picture. Which one are you again?

Caption This! — A picture might be worth 1,000 words, but sometimes, a few more sentences are necessary. Utilize the caption function to add a backstory to your photo and encourage comments and likes.

2012 Color Trends!

So you are an island girl like myself.  Dressing the part on the weekend can be hard.  Gone are the days of matching your makeup to your clothes & to your shoes.  Gone are the days of the Lime Green, Yellow & Bold Pink ~ leave it for the ladies who do that well.  In 2012 why not try mixing it up a bit on the weekend.  The five most flattering trends to follow leading into spring are:~

70's Appliances ~  From Harvest Gold and Almond to Avocado Green, the slightly muted, "natural" colors on the runway reminded us of Gram's kitchen (in a good way).

Layered neutrals ~ In soft oatmeals, browns, tans, and grays, neutral tones were often worn one on top of the other, for a layered multi-dimensional effect.

Pastels ~  Girly shades like Blush Pink, Mint Green, and Robin's Egg Blue.

Graphic Black & White ~ The whites were stark-white and the blacks and inky-obsidian… and when paired together, the results were stunning.

Tangerine Tango ~  This sunny hue has already cut its way into designer psyches, popping up mostly in dresses and coats.