How To Glam Up a Holiday Sweater

Have you ever been invited to one of those Ugly Holiday Sweater Parties? Maybe you wanted to show a little Christmas spirit at work but you did not want to look corny. Here is your holiday guide to glamming up a holiday sweater. It is really easy. Since those sweaters are so bright and filled with holiday cheer all you have to do is add classic chic pieces. With the pieces that you add I would suggest that they are black just so that you want look tacky or clown like. Here is an example above to guide you. I challenge you to try a holiday sweater look. Merry Christmas!

Hair Files

Pictures from essence.com

Mac Matchmaster Foundation

So I think that I have caught the Mac bug. I did it, I bought Mac's Matchmaster Foundation and I love it. At first I was very afraid of using Mac's foundations. I was afraid that I would look like I was wearing a mask and I was also afraid of breaking out. It seemed like everyone that I knew who wore Mac looked like a clown.

I was having problems with my current foundations. My Nars Sheer Glow Foundation turned really thick and lightened up a whole shade. It looked a hot mess. My Revlon Colorstay started to break my face out and the coverage was too light. Since it is colder outside my Bare Minerals was making my face look really dry. All I had left was foundations that were the wrong color or made me really greasy. So I did not have anywhere to turn. So I went to Mac for help.

The Matchmaster is awesome. I am number 8.0. This is the first time I have found a foundation that really matches my skin tone. It also keeps my face matte without any breakouts all day. I love it. It really looks natural, almost like I'm not wearing any makeup at all. I give it a A+.

Alicia Keys' Outfit: Hot or Not

picture from essence.com

Urban Chic: Jordans and a Birkin

We love it!



Picture from essence.com

Holiday Dress

Style Icon Mary J. Blige

Style File: Kim Kardashian

Today's style file is Kim Kardashian. I absolutely love Kim K's style. She is the queen of casual chic. She is a pro at "glamming up" a tee shirt and jeans. I like that her style is very attainable and affordable. All you need is your favorite pair of skinny jeans, a tee shirt, a blazer, and five inch heels to get the look.

Oily Skin Alert!!!!

I have found the perfect makeup for combination/oily skin. I know, I know it seems like every week I find the perfect foundation. Hey what can I say I am a product junky. This time I think I have found the perfect foundation formula for combination/oily skin. I have combination skin that can turn very oily and I have to use a primer and a finishing powder that sometimes feel like I have too much on my skin. A couple of days ago I was in CVS and decided to try Revlon's Colorstay Foundation for combination/oily skin and I love it. It is light weight and it really does not rub off on my clothes. It has a really nice matte finish that last all day without using my blotting papers. I use to carry blotting papers around like tampons but now I think I can safely leave home without them. I saw a lot of vlogs comparing the Revlon Colorstay to department store brands like Mac and Bobbie Brown. I encourage everyone to try it. It is the best drugstore foundation I have ever tried.

Closet Necessities: Winter Coats

Winter is right around the corner and picking a good coat is very important. You should pick a coat that is stylish, warm, and versatile.

Closet Necessities: Black Skinny Leg Jeans

Next in my Closet Necessities series is black skinny leg jeans. I love black jeans, they are a great alternative to leggings. I am not a big fan of wearing leggings out. I think they are something you should leave at home, but that is my opinion. Get a pair of black skinny leg jeans, they look more put together and they are a lot warmer in the winter.

October Favorites

I have decided that I am going to do a favorites post for each month. In the favorites post I will just feature some items that I used more then others during that month or anything new I may have purchase and add to my routine. So, let's get started. For the month of October fell in love with a couple new items that I purchased and some old favorites that I brought back. The first item is some nail polishes that I wore a lot in October. They are Opi's Ink which is a purple polish with glitter and Avon's Wicked which a really dark red that is almost black. Next on the list is Iman's Second to None Semi Loose Powder, and Iman's Sheer Finish Bronzing Powder in Afterglow over on the right. Then, I have Bath & Body Works Shea Cashmere and Silk Body Cream, Pink by Victoia's Secret Body Mist in Pretty & Pure, and lastly Rimmel London's 16 hour Stay Glossy lip gloss.

IMAN Cosmetics

My new makeup obsession that I am feeling at the moment is Iman's makeup line. I use to wear her foundation stick back in the summer until I got a summer tan and then I was manly using my Bare Minerals and Iman's Oil Blotting Press Powder. Recently I was in the search for a new liquid foundation and I decided to try Iman's liquid foundation. That stuff is like liquid gold. I absolutely love it! The texture is so rich and creamy unlike anything I have ever tried. Then I went out and bought the loose powder and it is like velvet. Now I have only been wearing Iman and since my tan has faded I've been using the foundation stick again. Iman's makeup is the best. I think that her makeup has better color matches then anything else out there, even better then Mac. You can go to the website to find your color. There is function online where you can put the color that you wear in other brands and it will tell you your Iman color. I also love that her makeup is affordable and very easy to find. It is sold in Ulta, Walmart, and other convenient locations. She is right it is second to none.

Closet Necessities:Black and or Gray Shirt

A black and or gray shirt is the most affordable item that you can purchase. They are everywhere. You can even buy them at Walmart in a pack. With a plain shirt you can dress it up just by adding some accessories like a statement necklace or dress it down. There are so many looks you can create with a simple plain shirt.

Closet Necessities: Denim Jackets

There are a few necessities that everyone should have in their closet year round that will making getting dressed in the morning easy. The first necessity everyone should have is a well fitted denim jacket. Denim jackets are very versatile and great for fall. You can wear a denim jacket with anything. Here are some of your favorite celebrities and the different ways they wear their denim jackets.

Old Hollywood Glam

Whatever happened to old Hollywood glamour when women got dressed up everyday? In those days women were very well put together and dressed like ladies where ever they went. Back then going to a picture show (movies) was like going to a fashion show where everyone put on their very best to hit the town. What happened? Sometimes when I go out I see people in their pajamas or just some sweats. How did our society get so casual? How can we bring back those old glamours days? I picked a few dresses that reminded me of that era with a modern twist. These dresses are very easy to wear. Tell me what you think.

Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween. Halloween is a great opportunity to get dressed up in clothing that you would not ordinarily leave the house in. You have a chance to be as scary or as glamorous you can be. Sometimes the hard part is coming up with an original costume that has not already been done before. Here are a few last minute Halloween costume ideas that I thought of and no one at the party will have. Have fun!

I Found a Treasure

I found this awesome conditioner that I wanted to share with everyone. The conditioner is from the Aubrey Organics line that can be found at your local Vitamin Shoppe and it is their Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner.

So a little background information about my hair and how I came upon this wonderful product. I have been going natural for about two years. My hair is naturally waving to curly but, I always wear my hair blown out and flat ironed. My hair is really thick and healthy but lately my hair have been breaking off at the bottom of my crown and I am trying to save it before it breaks off anymore. I know that the breaking is probably from all of the heat I use on my hair so I am trying to go a month with deep conditioning and no blow outs. To substitute the blow outs I have been doing roller sets.

The challenge was that when I do roller sets on my own hair they would come out really dry. So I took to the blogs to see what I could change with my roller sets so that my hair would not come out dry. That is how I found the Aubrey Organics Line. All of the products in the line are made with 100% natural ingredients, which is great for the hair. So, I decided to use the moisturizing conditioner as a deep conditioner and a leave in conditioner. It worked great! My roller sets come out super soft.

I encourage everyone to give this conditioner a try. It is amazing.

My Weekend In Pictures

Even though it is Wednesday I still wanted to share my weekend. Sunday my boyfriend and I took a day trip to DC to be apart of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Celebration and these are just a few pictures that we took.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The Caped Avenger

I have never been much of a fan of capes. I always thought that they were kind of weird looking and they would be hard to function in. Until now. One day I was in New York & Company and I saw it, the perfect cape for my style. It was a black belted trench front cape and there was only one left and in my size so I grab it and put it on. It looked so good on me that I fall in love with it and bought it. The cape originally retails for $89.95 which is not bad and I had a coupon for 40% off. It was a awesome buy. I am ready for cooler weather so I can wear my cape. I have been converted into a cape lover.



picture from nyandcompany.com

Morning Makeup Routine

My morning routine is pretty simple. It incluudes.....

1.Garnier The Brusher gel cleaner
2.T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel
3.Olay Complete UV Moisturizer spf 15 for sensitive skin
4.Makeup For Ever HD Primer
5.Bare Minerals Original spf 15 Foundation in warm dark W45
6.Bare Minerals Tinted Mineral Veil spf 25
7.Nars Blush

My New Obsession

So, right now my new obsession is vintage Dooney & Bourke from the 1980's to early 1990's. A lot of people do not know that Dooney & Bourke bags are made from some of the finest leather and will almost last forever. They are truly some of the best crafted handbags around and they are an American brand that is still made in the U.S.

I do own a few Dooney & Bourke bags already but I wanted a vintage piece. So, I took to the Internet for my search and I found a lot of people were selling these collector's items on eBay for a very cheap price. The bag that is pictured above is the one that I won for only $12. This was a steal. The bag is in mint condition and it is authentic with the label and serial numbers. It is from the All Weather Leather Collection from the 1980's that was originally retailed for $300. I love this bag, it is so classic and chic. I can not wait to wear it.

Get The Look!

Jennifer Lopez For Kohl's Review

Do we like Jennifer Lopez's collection for Kohl's? My first thought of the collection just from the commercials was, I see a few cute items but I do not know if I will be rushing out to get it. So I decided to write this post to get your opinion of the collection. I had planned to go to Kohl's and look at the collection and maybe try some items on. Before heading out to Kohl's I did some online research so I would be papered when I get to the store. I was very disappointed. All of the shirts and pants looked plain and over priced. The only thing that I saw that caught my eye was a trench coat that was retailed at $100. I decided not to even waste my time and gas going to the store. All and all you can find better fashions somewhere else like H&M for a much lower price.


pictures from Kohls.com

Permanent Accessories

I love tattoos. I see them as permanent accessories. I only have four myself and most of them are not visable, but I do have one on my lower arm that can be seen. I dress my tattoos up with bangles and braclets. I feel like if I am naked it's ok because I have my little permanent accessories on. I would love to have a few more tattoos just to complete my collection. Do you have any permanent accessories?

ADRIENNE!!!

This post is dedicated to my sorority sister Adrienne who just moved to New York last month. She sold pretty much everything that she owned, bought a plane ticket, and moved to New York. So now she is starting over with her wardrobe. I can not be with her each time she goes shopping so I am going to start a series of posts dedicated to her to help her rebuild her wardrobe. If anyone has any advise for Adrienne you can leave it in the comment box so that she can see it. In this post today I am highlighting a few staple pieces that I feel Adrienne will need for fall that she can make a lot of outfits out of. All of the items can be found at Target. Adrienne I am not sure if they have a Target in Queens, but if they do not you can find these items at Target.com. I chose Target today because they carry up to plus size, they even have maternity wear and they have designer pieces at affordable prices.

You Got ME All Choked Up!

Next up we have leopard print scarves. Leopard print scarves can dress up any outfit. They are really great for those days that you can not find anything wear. All you need is a solid color shirt, some jeans, a leopard print scarf, and some statement earrings and you have yourself a fabulous outfit. You can find a leopard print scarf in any store. So go out and get yourself a leopard print scarf and be bold.


picture from over40style.com

I Dare You!

I dare you to go out and buy a pair of leopard print flats and wear them with everything. I feel that every woman should have a pair of leopard print flats. They go with everything, and I know first hand because I wear mines with everything. So go out and find that perfect pair of leopard print flats and be bold.



the picture is from people.com

Leopard Is The New Black

I love leopard print. Leopard print matches with everything. I know some people maybe afraid of such a bold print, that is why I am starting my leopard print series. In this series I will show you a few leopard print pieces that you can slowing incorporate into your closet without looking like you just got back from the Jersey Shore. In the installment today I am featuring a leopard print cardigan that I have my eye on from JCPenney and the many ways you can wear it. You can wear this same cardigan to work or even out on the weekend.

Nine West Wish List for Fall Updated

I coming today with two pairs of wedges to add to my Nine West wish list. These wedges look so comfy and most of all cute. This season Nine West have really come up with some really cute shoes. I am so excited for these wedges to come to the Nine West store near me so I can go and try them on and possibly buy them. I will keep you guys posted.

I Am So Tired Of Wearing Sandals

OK, fall is here but where I live it is still warm outside with temperatures reaching the mid to high 80's and I am so tired of wearing sandals. I have been moving my sandals out of the picture and transitioning in my flats. So in this post I wanted to highlight a few stylish flats that can be worn to the office or even on the weekends. All of the featured flats can also be worn with anything from a nice dress to leggings and they are all at affordable prices.

Man Whatcha Got On?

This is my first post about men's fashion. I do not know why I have never thought of if before considering that I have two brothers, a farther, and a boyfriend. I am surrounded by men. I thought that this would be a very good post because some guys need a little help with their look. All of the items that I have chosen you can find at Express. I love Express. They always have easy fashionable pieces that anyone can look put together in. In this post I featured a plan tee shirt with many options you guys can pair it with to look put together.

Get The Look!

Latina Magazine

I wanted to share one of my favorite magazines in this post which is, Latina Magazine. I was first introduced to this magazine when I was college and have been reading it every since. No, I am not a Latina as far as I am aware but, I do enjoy reading Latina each month. I am a fashion magazine junky. Each month I get a ton of magazines in the mail and Latina is one of my favorites. The magazine focuses on styles and trends of real women, who are real sizes. In most magazines they show styles and trends as well but they use professional models who are all mostly size zero and sometimes wearing expensive clothing that everyone can not afford. In Latina magazine they feature real women who are not professional models that are in all different shapes of sizes. The magazine also features clothing and products that are affordable and that anyone can find easily in their hometowns. I encourage everyone to buy at least one issue of Latina magazine and check out what they have to offer. I know that you will find it very refreshing.


Picture is from Latina.com

Beauty Inspiration "Nia Long"

For my personal beauty inspiration I chose Nia Long. I chose her because she is an example of effortless beauty of today's time, in the same way Dorothy Dandridge was during the 1950's. Nia Long always look fresh face with a remarkable glow every time that you see her out at events and even when she is not wearing any makeup at all. Whenever, I am doing my own makeup I envision Nia Long so that I can try and imitate her look. I just love the way that she uses blush and highlighter to pull off a golden look, as shown in the picture. Nia Long I salute you.

Jackets, Boots, And Scarves.....Oh My! Fall Fashions For Less

Nine West Wish List for Fall

Everyone knows that I love Nine West shoes. They are trendy, comfy, and very affordable. I am ashamed to admit that the sales women that work at Nine West all know me. This is just a some of their new shoes for fall that I want. I am going to try and at least purchase a new pair of boots from this list. All pictures are from ninewest.com.

A Blast From The Past

I was digging in my mom's closet the other night while I was helping her find some shoes to wear to an event that she is going to and I found a treasure. I found an old vintage purse that looked really cool and asked her if I can have it. She said that it was ok for me to keep the purse. When I returned home a researched the bag on the internet to get some information. It is an Alentino Nas bag that is made from real frog skin. Cool, real frog skin. Their bags was really big in the 80's. I love it. I think the bag is really fabulous. This is a good example of "shopping in your closet." I encourage everyone this fall to "shop in your closet", or even your mother's and grandmother's closet. You never know what tresures you may find.

Missoni For Target

OK, so I totally have underestimated the fashion sense in my town. The Missoni for Target line came out yesterday and instead of me rushing to my local Target down the street from my house I figured that if I waited until today it will be fine and it will be plenty for me to browse. Wrong, when I went to Target this morning everything was gone. It was only a few pairs of tights and socks left. I assumed since I live in a town where the average age is like 70 (not really) I would be fine, but there is a couple of colleges in the area so I am thinking that is what happened. So, from this experience I have learned not to assume anything and to never put off what you can do today for tomorrow.

picture is from Target.com

Nars Illuminator Review

I love this product. I have been using the illuminator since the spring and it is awesome. The color that I use is Laguna which is the darkest color they have. It is great for the days that you don't want to wear a lot of makeup or if you are going for a bronze look. This product gives a nice dewy look with a glow and I think it will be a nice boost for fall and winter. I either mix it with my Nars Sheer Glow foundation or I put it on over my Bare Minerals.

My Perfect Nude

All summer I have been on the made hunt for a nude lipstick that's looks great on my chocolate skin tone and at last I have found it. The color is Gaga 2 by MAC's Viva Glam collection. I paired the lipstick with a clear gloss and it is fabulous.