Ooh, Eye Like It!

Thrifty Thursday: Village Discount, Unique & Junior League!

2011-12-22T22:36:00.000-06:00

It's that time again! I hit up three different thrift stores over the past few weeks and raked in some goodies! I also stopped by Crossroads Trading Company to unload a few things that I no longer needed/wanted (in order to fund my thrift addiction and other expeditions). Without further ado, let's get to it...

I*N*S*I*G*H*T (per the tag) = $2.50 at half off Monday at Unique.

This cute little light weight blazer, although a size 8, will be perfect for summer with my white jeans or a nice skirt.

100% Silk Casual Corner Blouse = $1.50 at half off Monday at Unique.

Given my love for stripes, I couldn't pass on this sweet little number. This can be dressed up with nice slacks and a blazer/added under a suit or dressed down with jeans, a denim jacket and some cute black leather moto boots/brown leather engineer boots.

(Can't make out the name on the tag) Dress = $3.00 at half off Monday at Unique.

Though I can't place the decade, there was no way I was leaving Unique without this vintage and COMPLETELY sheer gorgeous dress. It's so feminine (and a little tight) and delicate and just awesome! I'll mos def have to wear some kind of slip or something because like I said, it's completely sheer from the rooter to the tooter.

Ilie Wacs Blazer = $2.50 at half off Monday at Unique.

This can't be anything but vintage 80's awesomeness! As soon as I laid eyes on this blazer it was on and poppington! Though the sleeves are a bit short for me, I am still going to rock this like no one's business...yes indeed. Oh, and this blazer and the dress are made with good ol home grown labor.

100% Silk Joseph A Cardigan = $2.00 at half off Monday at Unique.

This cute chunky cardi was one of those right on time finds. My closet/rack are in dire need of warm threads for the sub-zero Chicago temps ahead, and this 100% silk (yep!) is sure to keep me nice and toasty.

Amber Sun Collection Knit Sweater = $3.00 at half off Monday at Unique.

Purple + Chunky Knit = Win...right? Yeah it does until you wash it and it gets lint on EVERYTHING! That's my fault though for not explicitly following the care instructions on the tag. Otherwise, I love this sweater. It mostly comes to my wrist and is nice and snuggly. Oh, and I LOVE purple.

Steve & Barry's Faux Sherpa and Denim Jacket = $3.50 at half off Monday at Unique.

Absolutely none of my fellow thrifters liked this jacket, but I did not and do not care, I love it! Denim and faux sherpa...what's not to love? Actually, I didn't love the way it smelled after I washed it. This thing smelled worse after I washed it than it did before and it also made everything else I washed it with smell awful too. I rewashed everything with double the detergent and a good measure of baking soda and peroxide and that did the trick.

H&M Black Blazer = $2.95 at Village Discount

After weeks of hunting I finally found the perfect black blazer! This beauty made my day, I may have shed a tear when I found it, lol. Bonus? It's machine washable, BAM!

(No Tag) B/W Marled Sweater = $2.50 at Junior League Thrift Store.

I have a love/hate relationship with this sweater. I love the fit, color and warmth of this sweater but I hate that it's itchy, hairy and it sheds on EVERYTHING! It's like a dog, lol. Very similar to the Joseph A cardi in terms of color, but that's where the similarities end. With a long sleeved undershirt, this promises to be a winter staple for me.

British Crown Colony 100% Silk Blouse = $5.00 at Junior League Thrift Store.

Oh.Em.Gee. I cannot tell you how much I LOVE this vintage blouse! 100% sheer ivory silk, fits like a dream, slit tail back, hi/low cut hem...LOVES IT! The label on this blouse intrigued me, so I did a little research (Googled it) and found these interesting tidbits.

Magenta Foxcroft Blouse = $3.25 at Junior League Thrift Store.

My homegirl Naimah actually brought this hot magenta number to my attention. I wasn't going to get it at first, but in the end I did...and I'm glad I did. I love the color and think it will look amazing with my navy blue blazer. It fits well and it's wrinkle free...always a bonus.

French Blue Eddie Bauer Blouse = $3.50 Junior League Thrift Store.

Last but not least, a French Blue Eddie Bauer blouse. This is another of my fave colors and a wardrobe essential IMO. This blouse can also be dressed up or down same as the striped and magenta blouses.

Whew, that does it for this week's edition of Thrifty Thursday. I did pretty well once again and am, for the most part, very pleased with my finds. Have you gone thrifting lately? Find anything good? Let a sistah know!

Walking In Sunshine!

2011-12-21T18:32:00.000-06:00

My favorite tree/outdoor meditation spot

Those of you who live in Chicago know how rare sunny days are in Autumn/Winter, even more rare are mild weather days. It just so happens that for this "photo shoot" in the Sculpture Park, I got very lucky!

Many thanks to my BFF and the greatest love of my life (besides my children and Alexander Wang) for shooting these awesome photos.

Now on to the OOTD...

This recycled blazer and scarf may look familiar because I love them and wore them together here, lol.

Notice the mixed patterns and colors? Yeeeeah, I'm experimenting y'all, lol!

Scarf from F21

I love wrapping this scarf around my neck/shoulders. Look at my crooked smile, so endearing :-)

Gold earrings were a gift from my Grandmother.

Full length of the entire outfit.

From the back.

Me next to one of my fave sculptures in the entire park.

Another of my fave sculptures.

Sunnies from Target ($5)

My skin was all kinds of yuck in these pictures. It's clearing up little by little though. I'll blog about my skin care regimen sometime in the near future.

Don't the booties look 3D, lol? Want a closer look?

You like? I've worn these once and I'm pretty sure I'll never wear them again. My feet are way to big and wide for these babies :-(

I'm creating a shop to sell some of the items I can't/don't wear or use. My Pink Clarisonic Classic will be another one of the items in the shop. I paid $195 for that brush and can't use it, my skin is just way too sensitive :-(

Blazerless and enjoying the weather and scenery.

Now let's look at the accessories...

Closer?

The Deets:

Leopard Satchel = Alloy.com
Necklace = F21
Leopard Print Faux Pony Hair Belt = ASOS
"Gold" Flake Ring = Charlotte Russe
Faux Stone Ring = F21
"Gold" Three Row Spike Bracelet = Gift from my bestie Shan
"Gold" Pyramid Stud Bracelet = F21
BDG Shirt = Crossroads Trading Company
Kate Hill Blazer = Crossroads Trading Company
Super Skinny Twill Pants = Delias.com
Brown Booties = Alloy.com
Sunnies = Target
Tribal Print Scarf = F21
Gold Earrings = Gift from my Grandmother

And that's that. What do you think of this outfit? I love what I did here as far as the mixing and matching goes, uber proud of my self :-D

Though I'm sure you've seen enough of my pictures, here are some bonus shots!

Don't they look all Secret Garden-ish, lol? My BFF did a totally FAWESOME job with the camera, I was honored and impressed. He made editing the pictures for this blog super hard (as evidenced by the amount of pictures in this blog, lol). In honor of him and his work, I'm posting his picture...

Well not him exactly, lol. Those are his custom Nikes that he designed and received shortly before the shoot. He's so in love with those shoes it's kind of ridiculous, lol. He even has his name on the back of them (you can just barely see it).

Okey dokey, that's enough. Do you like the outfit I put together? Dislike it? Let a sistah know!

What's Your Opinion on MyGlam?

2011-12-15T22:09:00.002-06:00

YouTube Beauty Guru Michelle Phan's new pet project MyGlam is causing quite a beauty stir.

Due to poor lighting (couldn't snap any good photos), today's "Thrifty Thursday" post is suspended. Instead, I'd like to open a discussion about the new kid on the monthly beauty product sample club block. Whew, that was a mouthful right? Just in case you don't know what I'm talking about, here are the names of the beauty sample clubs and some deets, as reported by Katherine at Handmade Reviews:

United States

Beautyfix ($49.99/three months)

You'll choose the 8 products you want to receive and pay $49.99.

Birchbox ($10/month)

Each month, you get 4-6 beauty products ranging from samples, deluxe samples, to full sized. You can review the items you receive to earn points and then redeem the points for $ off the full sized products.

Eco-Emi ($15/month)

Eco-Emi sends out environmentally friendly products, including cosmetics, health, food, and household items.

GoGoGirlfriend ($12.95/month)

Health and beauty samples with two different membership types.

His Black Box ($12/month)

Monthly samples for men.

Julep Maven ($19.99/month)

Hand, nail and foot care subscription.

Makeup Monthly ($30/month)

There have been rumors of this company shipping out discontinued or expired makeup. As there are so many other reliable services available, I do not recommend you try them.

MyGlam ($10/month)

Michelle Phan's service in which every month, you receive a Glam Bag with 4 to 5 full-sized products or deluxe-sized samples.

New Beauty Test Tube ($29.95 + $8.95 shipping = $38.90/three months)

This is very expensive, but the products you get are also more expensive than the others.

Canada:

Loose Button or Luxe Box ($12/month)

Delivers 4-5 deluxe beauty samples monthly.

Glymm ($10/month)

Delivers 4-5 deluxe beauty samples every month.

United Kingdom:

Amarya Beauty Box (£10/month or £120/year.)

Every month you get one or more full sized product plus samples.

Boudoir Prive (£10 + £2.95 = £12.95/month)

You get 5-6 deluxe beauty products every month.

Feel Unique Beauty Box (£9.95/month)

You get 5 deluxe beauty products every month.

GlossyBox (£10 month + £2.95 shipping = £12.95/month)

Every month GlossyBox delivers a mix of 5 product miniatures packed in a beautiful box.

Latest In Beauty (starts at £1/month)

Get monthly boxes for a higher fee or just a sample here and there for cheaper.

Australia:

Lust Have It ($14.95/month or $160/12 months)

Monthly Lust Pack with 5 to 6 premium size samples plus a reward program similar to Birchbox.

And now that you have an idea, let's get to the bread and butter of this post. I have to admit that when I first heard of these "clubs", I wasn't interested. Being a relatively dark skinned kinky/curly haired black woman, I didn't think any of these clubs would be sensitive to my needs or the needs of women like me. In all the blog reviews I've read, forums I've scoured and videos I've watched none of the women like me were impressed with the samples they received. Beauty is a big booming money making industry and there's no sign of its growth abating, this is the reason why beauty subscription clubs will be popular and profitable. But will ethnic women be left out in the cold? Let's take a look at the "stylists" for MyGlam:

These are all wildly popular (based on stats from YouTube) "beauty gurus" from Youtube. Personally, I'm subscribed to three (Michelle, Promise and Andrea) of the five and usually enjoy their videos. Of the three, I like Promise the most because she does transformation tutorials. She once did a tutorial where she turned herself into Mystique (X-Men Character) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana's character from Avatar). Many of Promise's transformation tuts are usually great for any woman to recreate (men too) regardless of her (or his) ethnicity. I like some of Michelle's videos because she has some great DIY's and tips/tricks. I watch Andrea's videos mostly because she's funny. That being said, rarely do I use any of their regular makeup tutorials...our complexions are just too dissimilar. Despite the glaring differences, I still like them and thus, wanted to support their MyGlam venture. I figured that since the three "gurus" I like are women of ethnicity, perhaps they'd make special concessions when approving products for the "Glam Bags". Just in case though, I wrote them an e-mail...

Me:

To Whom It May Concern: I ticked the wrong box for the age question on the sign up quiz, will this affect my subscription at all or is the question strictly for demographic purposes? Also, I'm slightly concerned that none of the gurus on the beauty team are black women. I'm a dark skinned black woman and would really appreciate having a guru that I can more closely identify with. I admire and really like the current panel of gurus, but their tutorials/product choices aren't always appropriate for dark skin. I hope those of us with darker skin tones and coarse hair will be taken into consideration when the Glam Bag products are chosen. Thank you for your time and anticipated sensitivity to my concerns, I'm looking forward to my first Glam Bag.

Regards,
Nicole, A Beauty & Style Enthusiast

Response from Nicole Robinson-Anderson:

Hi Nicole,

The quiz answers don't affect what products you will get in your Glam Bag, so no worries. As far as the gurus, Andrea is actually black, but I do understand where you are coming from as her choices are not always suitable for darker skin. I am black, and a few shades darker than Andrea so even some of the stuff she wears is too light for me. My suggestion is that when you find a look you like, when you go to purchase this, you can take the name of the color the guru used and ask someone who works for the store or brand to assist you in finding that same type of look in your own suitable shade.

Hope that helps!!

xoxo
Nicole with MyGlam

Me:

Hi back Nicole,

Thanks so much for writing back, I appreciate it. In all honesty, your response didn't really address my concerns about the products that may or may not be included in the Glam Bags. It's easy enough to watch a tutorial and switch out products that don't work for my dark skin and kinky hair, my concern however, is about the Glam Bag products themselves. Although I know this service is optional and I don't have to participate, I really want to. As I said before, I happen to like some of the gurus who are on board for this project and they are the main reason I chose to support the venture. That being said, I'm still worried that the needs of dark skinned kinky haired women may not be addressed since there doesn't appear to be anyone who fairly represents them. I'm hoping for the best when my first Glam Bag arrives...

Regards,

Nicole, A Beauty & Style Enthusiast

Response from Nicole Robinson-Anderson:

Hi Nicole,

If you do not like the products, you can cancel at any time for sure. As I stated before, the products sent are not based on skin color, ethnicity, or even personal preference. The point is to allow people to try new things. If the products are not satisfactory for you, just log into your account and cancel, but maybe just try and give it a try for 2 months before you make a final decision.

xoxo
Nicole with MyGlam

**Every customer is V.I.P. at MyGlam**

End transmission. Now, is it just me or was her last response a little snarky? I don't know much about running a business and marketing, but I do know that customer service/satisfaction is key. If you don't do your best to satisfy the concerns of your customers and provide them with good products and experiences, you can kiss your reputation goodbye. I wasn't pleased with the response I received to say the least.

So even though I haven't received my first "Glam Bag" (I've certainly been charged though) I'm considering canceling. I would love to take part in one of these monthly beauty sample clubs, but I need to know that the products I receive will reflect me...or at least be something I can use.

What do you think? Am I being overly sensitive about the e-mail response? Should I stick with the subscription for a month or two and see if I can use/like what I receive? What would you do? Let a sistah know please!

By the way, the His Black Box would make a great gift for your significant other/husband/brother/father/etc. ;-)

Wish List Wednesday: Vintage Vixens

2011-12-14T19:58:00.000-06:00

Yep, it's that time again! Have you ever come across a piece of clothing that seemed to be made just for? Well, I came across three such dresses on Etsy but...they're all waaaaay too small for me :-(

I love these dresses so much and wish I was small enough to wiggle into
them but alas, it ain't happenin' captain. check them out anyway...

This beauty right here is a vintage 80's silk color blocked number. As much as I love her, we cannot be together because she's a size small/medium. If she were more medium than small I could probably swing it, she comes with a one way ticket though and I'm not willing to take any chances she won't fit.

I want her soooo bad! Look at her, isn't she lovely? She's another vintage 80's color blocked stunner. I love the allover damask leaf pattern print and the color/shape of this dress. She's so pretty and feminine...just way too small :-(

When I showed my daughter this dress, she said it was ugly and plain. I strongly disagree. I think this dress is cute, simple and causal. With or without the blazer, I really love this dress. Too bad she's too small for me :-(

I blogged about this beauty the other day and I am still completely OBSESSED! She may look heavy, but she's decidedly light and all the way awesome. My thrifting partner called her ugly and a monstrosity but I whole heartedly disagree. I'm still stalking her and waiting for her price to come down...then she's alllll mine!

That's actually it for this edition of wish list Wednesday because I have another post I need to work on. What's on your wish list? Let a sistah know!

The Rundown: New Year's Eve (the movie) & Other Things

2011-12-12T23:51:00.001-06:00

How you dewin'?

Don't you just love Wendy? I do, lol. Anyway, I'm better than good and working on GREAT and I hope all you loyal readers are doing the same :-)

Last week and the weekend were sooo fun and busy for me! I went to the Refinery29 and TopShop Chicago holiday shopping party last Tuesday, a People Magazine premiere for New year's Eve on Thursday and out thrifting/craft supply gathering/partying/clubbing with my girls on Saturday. By the time Sunday rolled around, I was exhausted, lol.

Let's start with what I wore to the People Magazine premiere party for the new film New Year's Eve...

FOTN (face of the night) = Make Up For Ever Water Proof Eyebrow Corrector in "No 4 Dark Brown Black" (LOVE this stuff, full review to come soon), Mabelline Bronze Glitz Eyeshadow Trio, Mabelline EyeStudio Master Drama Cream Pencil in "Midnight Master" (last blogged about here, full review to come soon), L'Oreal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes in "Blackest Black" (tweeted about the fawesomeness of this mascara, full review to come soon) and Lancome Paris Color Design Cream Lipstick in "Front Page" (fave lippy, soon to be blogged about).

Outfit Deets:

Earrings = F21
Bracelets = F21 & Old Navy
Rings = eBay (seen here) & Charlotte Russe
Necklace = Unique Thrift Store
Scarf = Dollar Tree
Orange Cardi = Alloy
Leopard print blouse = Unique Thrift Store (seen here)
Black Leather Belt = Gap
Dark Brown Super Skinny Twill Pants = Delia's
Brown Booties = Kohl's (seen here)
Leopard Print Satchel = Alloy (seen here)
Black Leather Jacket = Wilson's

I really liked this outfit for a casual night out. I wound up wearing a different coat though because it was freezing that night. Now on to the movie...

NYE is a feel good family oriented film (rated PG-13) directed by Gary Marshall. The ensemble cast features the likes of Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Ashton Kutcher, Common, Zac Effron, Sarah Jessica Parker and many many more of Hollywood's elite. Now, you would think that with a cast like that the movie would be a hit right? Wrong! This movie was snore city! Both me and my girl Kristena fell asleep during the movie. What's more, when leaving the theater and talking to other movie patrons, we discovered many of them fell asleep too. Not a good sign. I just have to say that the acting was bad, the script was worse and the overall flow of the movie was like a clogged drain. I'm so glad we saw this movie for free. The People Magazine swagg bag provided very little icing on the cake. Here's what it contained...

In the bag: An issue of People Mag, sample of Halle Berry's perfume "Halle", a bar of Dove soap, a sample of Taster's Choice instant coffee and various coupons (not pictured). Very underwhelming.

Not much to be excited about right? I didn't think so either. The perfume smelled good though. Here's a pic of me and the girls...

L-R: Liesbeth, Ericka, Kristena and Moi. Naimah couldn't make it.

We were happy to be out of that theater, lol.

The movie was Thursday. On Saturday I went with my homegirl Naimah to the fabric store for some crafting supplies. I picked up some buttons...

I saw some earrings just like this in the thrift store today (blog to come on Thursday) for $10. These buttons were marked for $1.75 but after 50% off and 9.5% sales tax, they were a whopping 95 cents. I'm planning a sweet DIY earring project for these babies. My one regret from Saturday's thrifting adventure was not buying this beautiful piece of awesomeness right here...

It physically hurt me not to buy this vintage sequined blouse, my goodness it was beautiful! It cost $40 and I just wasn't prepared to spend that kind of money on one item. I'm now stalking it until the price is reduced. I hope no one steals it from me.

After the adventures in thrifting, my homegirl and I grabbed some pre-party food at nasty ass Taco Hell. I don't usually eat garbage, but I was STARVING. Good thing we went there too because I found something in the restroom...

Yep, it was my lucky day, lol. I wish it had been a $50 instead. After Taco Hell, we both had to rush home and prepare for the night's festivities: a holiday party and a night of house music at Output Lounge. I only have one picture from the fray...

This was me in a cab on the way to the club from the wack holiday party. No offense to my homegirl or her people who threw the party, lol. It wasn't my type of party though. At the club I had a Long Island Iced Tea (after the Bailey's spiked hot cocoa I'd had at the party) and proceeded to get it in on the dance floor until my knees ached and my legs quaked. It was a great night.

And that was my end of the week/weekend rundown. How was your weekend? Have you started your rotation on the holiday party circuit yet? Let a sistah know!

New In: Attitude, Clothes, Booties, Bits & Pieces

2011-12-09T17:29:00.001-06:00

There's just something about Friday that makes everything feel okay...am I right? I'm learning that no matter what happened yesterday, a new day deserves a new attitude. On that note, today I took some time to reflect on my many blessings and I realized that I'm very rich (said loud and obnoxiously like ATL housewife Nene Leakes, lol)!

Now, I'm no millionaire, but I am nevertheless very rich. I have food, shelter, good health, I'm whole in body/spirit/mind, I have an ever expanding circle of good girlfriends (finally!), my children are whole and healthy and doing well and every now and again, I can indulge in a little (discount) retail therapy :-)

Speaking of which, let's get on to the other newness...

Because one can always use a little help, I picked up the InStyle Secrets of Style handbook. Originally priced at $29.99, I picked this baby up at Half-Price Books for less than $8. Score right? It's filled with invaluable advice and great pictures for every style novice. Get you one!

Remember this dress? It was on my "Wish List Wednesday" post from a week or two ago. She's mine now! I bought her during a 30% off site-wide sale. I love making wishes come true :-)

Because I anticipate the acquisition of a new job in my near future, I picked up two pairs of these Super Skinny Twill Pants from Delia's.com. I had a $15 store credit and all pants and jeans were buy one get one 50% off. As a bonus, I received 15% off my order and 4% cash back when I shopped through Ebates.com. Do I know how to shop or what?

I scored these two striped bodycon skirts from F21 for $7.50 each. I also used a code for free shipping *pats self on back*

As you can plainly see, I got these three double sets of lightning bolt earrings from F21 for $1.50 each (free shipping included). The two love rings were $5 each on eBay.

These tan, faux shearling booties were on my wish list for less than two days before I scooped them up for 15% off their original price from Famous Footwear.

These two pairs of sensible but cute booties were 30% off at Kohl's. Oh, shopping through Ebates.com got me 4% cash back and free shipping :-)

All three of these faux suede booties were had for 20% off and free shipping at Alloy.com. Once again, 4% (daily double) cash back when bought through Ebates.com.

Did I do well or did I do well? Have you got anything new in? did you count your blessings today? Let a sistah know!

Eye Spy Oliva Palermo!

2011-12-07T23:45:00.001-06:00

That’s right, Olivia Palermo (of MTV’s “The City” fame) and renowned fashion blog Refinery 29, hosted a holiday shopping party at TopShop’s flagship Chicago store. The bigger than life, luxe fashion hub is located on Michigan Avenue downtown Chicago on the historic “Magnificent Mile”. Yours truly was in attendance snapping pics, sipping delish non-alcoholic cocktails and schmoozing with all kinds of impeccably dressed style hounds. Caution: This is a very pic heavy post!

Let me start by saying that this store is three stories of completely FAWESOME glass/mirror and wall-to-wall dreamy clothing, accessories, footwear and makeup nirvana! There was so much to see, so much to look at that I do believe I went into sensory overload! I wanted several of everything…and that’s no exaggeration, lol. The best part about this store was the tall sizes department. Though very small (ha, a small tall department, lol) I was super impressed that they had it at all. Most stores only carry their specialty sizes online. I foresee a TopShop shopping spree in my future.

Now let’s get on to Miss Palermo and her styling session. Though I think her looks are a 50/50 mix of hits and misses, many style hounds love her. The event opened with Olivia bringing out 4 models that she’d styled using some of her favorite TopShop pieces from the latest collection:

Close up on the model wearing the chainmail-esque...thingy that I loved...

Closer...

Slightly better pic...

I loved all the looks the models wore…with the exception of the fugly furry pink clutch the purple velvet bootied/goldenrod ankle trousers adorned model is wearing. Oh, those purple velvet booties and goldenrod ankle trousers? I want! I actually want all the pieces the models are wearing, jewelry included, lol. Olivia herself was wearing a very interesting combo:

They aren’t pieces I’d wear together, but I’d mos def wear them. How do I look standing next to Olivia?

I'm wearing: F21 tribal top, Crossroads Trading Company blazer, Alloy stretch super skinny twill trousers, F21 tribal scarf, thrifted gifted necklace, gifted triple row spike bracelet, F21 single row pyramid bracelet, Crossroads Trading Company keyhole ring, Crossroads Trading Company clutch, thrifted tribal earrings, ASOS open toe booties and black Target socks.

She's tiny compared to me, lol. Here are some of the abfab mannequins:

To entice attendees into a buying frenzy, there were free manis, makeovers by professional makeup artists and even hairstylists. I partook of a makeover by a wonderful soul named Matthew. I swear he reminds me of the YouTube “guru” Wayne Goss (GossMakeupArtist). Matthew took me from this…

To this…

I felt pretty damn glam when he was done. Matthew was a true sweetheart and I’m mos def going to keep in touch with him. here are the two of us together:

He resembles Wayne Goss (GossMakeupArtist from YouTube) right?

My homegirl Liesbeth also had a makeover:

My homegirl Nicold (blogger and up and coming Chi-Town accessories designer) had her nails madeover…

After my makeover, I made my way around the room snapping some shots of some snazzily dressed Chicago style hounds:

Jason (in the fur vest) and Bryan both work for the H&M reginal office. They stopped by TopShop to see the haps.

Brittannie (blue beanie and fab Marc Jacobs sneakers) and Bretagne look like Chi-Town style hound royalty.

Kaira(a contributing fashion editor for Design Bureau) was giving me everything in her almost totally vintage shopped 'fit. She's super duper fly!

Sarah (a fashion editor/stylist/fashion show producer) was werrrrrking! You probably can't see them, but her shoes were killing it! Awesome sauce! Her accessories were awe inspiring too...

After eating, drinking and seeing my fill of the first floor, I made my way to the lower level shoe haven. Wait until you see all the goo gobs of shoegasmic shoe porn this place has to offer! Wait for it…wait for it…

Want more?

I thought I’d pass out from the sheer awesomeness of it all! I want E V E R Y T H I N G ! ! !

After I just couldn’t take anymore, I made my way back upstairs to the first floor (I didn’t check out TopMan on the third floor) and snapped some shots of some of the accessories…

The jewelry looks like the fare at F21 (although F21is much much cheaper). The prices were too exorbitant IMO considering it’s costume and it'll eventually turn.

And the hit spinning DJ (she was dope)…

And shortly afterwards it was time to go. I hated to leave without spending a single penny, but I spent mucho dinero on Black Friday (post to come later). After being zipped back to the north side by my wonderful BFF, we decided to hang out at my other homegirl’s house and dish on the haps. And that my dears, is a wrap.

Is there a TopShop in your area? Have you been there or bought from the TopShop website? Let a sistah know!

The Best Budget Gifts for the Holidays!*

2011-12-07T13:48:00.000-06:00

A guest post by Philip J Reed, on behalf of Aston Royal.

Don’t let the onslaught of Lexus commercials fool you into thinking more is more this holiday season. You can brighten a loved one’s day with gifts that are thoughtful, unique and affordable. Below are just a few gift ideas that can make the holidays merry and bright, without breaking the bank:

For the Kids

$12

Hexbugs might just look like little robotic cockroaches, but their unique path-finding capabilities and their ability to right themselves if they get flipped over can make them more fun to play with than you might expect. Their habitats can also be customized and expanded upon endlessly, giving them a greater longevity than you might find with some other toys. Hexbugs also appeals to a child’s imagination. Just don’t let the dog get too close to them! Available from Toys R Us.

$22

Movie tie-in merchandise is sometimes just a cheap cash-in, but every so often something just strikes you as a perfect gift for the lover of that particular film. This replica of the futuristic hat worn by Marty McFly in the second Back to the Future film is definitely one of those! A great representation of one of the most iconic fashion accessories in modern movie history, this is a fantastic gift for fans of the film of all ages. Available from Entertainment Earth (out of stock but if you place an order it will be delivered when new stock arrives.

For Him

$79

For the book lover in your family, consider investing in a Kindle. The price has never been lower and even the least expensive models can hold thousands of full-length books. The Kindle can also support subscriptions to digital versions of his favorite magazines. The sleek convenience of an e-reader can win over even the most skeptical bibliophile but be warned: once you put this in his hands, you might never get it out again! Available from Amazon.

Various prices

While it may be difficult to shop for clothes for the man in your life, a high quality flannel shirt can be a pretty safe bet. With a large number of variations on color, pattern and cut you should be able to find at least one shirt that appeals to him and you’ll probably find many more. Prices vary by size and availability of course, but this can very easily be an inexpensive and fashionable gift to add to any man’s wardrobe. Available from Stetson.

For Her

$100, $65

For an affordable and personal gift for the holidays, you might consider a cross pendant or a crafted Star of David pendant. The pendants pictured above cost $100 and $65 respectively and many more are available from Aston Royal. With a wide selection of beautiful pieces, you’re sure to find one that she’ll love. It’s a fantastic way to make this particular holiday season last forever.

$50

The holiday season can be stressful, busy and of course, cold. So what better way to help her unwind than a nice, warm, relaxing foot massage? Give her the gift of rejuvenation that will last the entire year and beyond. It’ll be one of the gifts that gets the most mileage, that’s for sure and its toe-touch controls means she won’t have to keep sitting up to make adjustments. That leaves both hands free for a book…or a mug of hot chocolate. Available from Bed Bath and Beyond.

Whatever you do this holiday season, take the time to pick out something you know he or she will really love. It’s the season for giving and you can make it unforgettable with just the right gift. Happy shopping!

*Sponsored post

Eye Spy A Shopportunity: Glasses Galore!*

2011-12-05T06:53:00.001-06:00

Good Monday Morning spec lovers and wearers, have I got news for you! Are you tired of paying an arm and a leg for fashionable glasses? Is the cost of a good pair of eyeglasses bringing tears to your eyes? Well cry no more because GlassesUSA.com is here to help! Being a spec wearer myself (I alternate between glasses and contacts) and having two children who also wear glasses, things can get expensive. My last pair of glasses cost nearly $600 with $240 of that cost being on the frames alone. A crime right?

But that’s where GlassesUSA.com comes in. GlassesUSA.com is the premier place to buy beautiful and quality discount prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses. With a brand lineup that includes the likes of Armani, Calvin Klein, Diesel and more and with prices up to 70% off retail, you cannot go wrong. What’s more is that every pair of glasses you order from GlassesUSA.com is backed by a 100% guarantee. If for some odd reason you aren’t satisfied with your new glasses, you can return them for a full refund or a new pair of glasses. Need more incentive to buy? GlassesUSA.com is an Ebates retailer, so you can earn 12.5% cash back when you shop (even more if there’s a daily double).

How excited are you? I know I am! Cheap glasses are right up my alley right now because there’s a depression in these economic streets and I have 6 eyes to provide for…I’m just saying, lol. A few other things I love about GlassesUSA.com:

The handy dandy virtual try-it mirror (see your glasses on your face)

Reasonable upgrade prices for thin lenses and UV/Anti-scratch/Anti-reflective coating

The convenience of ordering online

Price matching

Pay via PayPal

Order tracking

There’s a lot more to love, but you should just check them out. To stay up to date with all the haps at GlassesUSA.com, like their Facebook page and follow their Twitter feed. Don’t forget to take advantage of their early holiday sale either. You can get 20% off any frame in the iSee Eyewear collection and get free shipping within the US, just insert code: iSee20FS at check out. Not feeling the iSee collection? Enter code: BLOG10 to receive 10% off any order of prescription glasses. What are you waiting for, awesome discount eyeglasses await you! Let a sistah know what you got!

*Sponsored post

I've been keeping a secret...

2011-12-01T12:32:00.001-06:00

Over the summer I *ahem* chopped off my locs. I'm almost certain I let the cat out the bag a while back when I twit pic'ed a picture, but I was trying to hold off the big announcement until the video production was finished. It was so hard not to post more recent pictures in the the public arena because I so wanted to share my new look. In the end, I'm glad I waited until the video was finished, it turned out really well.

Some folks didn't understand why I did this big loc chop, but for the most part, many folks were supportive of my decision. My BFF was very supportive, he filmed, edited and co-produced the entire project. Both the hair cut and the video turned out very nice and I'm quite pleased with both.

For those who didn't know, I'd been growing my locs for a little over two years and six months. I had a love/hate relationship with my locs and the energies I felt were trapped inside of them. Because of that constant inner conflict, I finally decided to just chop them off. Take a look and let me know what you think...

In the four months since my big loc chop I find myself missing my locs at times. It isn't an overwhelming feeling of loss, just a slight feeling of nostalgia, lol. I'm enjoying having my head full of soft swirly curls back though and wouldn't change a thing. Have any of you made major personal changes recently? How did you feel afterward? Let a sistah know!

2011-12-01T12:18:00.001-06:00

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Back to business with a blast from the past

2011-11-29T22:29:00.001-06:00

For some reason, this theme song has been on loop and playing in my head for several days now, lol. Now before you say any single thing, I am not showing my age with that clip. Retro channels on cable television are making all the old shows new again and it just so happens that I like reruns. So whatcha got to say now smarty pants, lol? At any rate, welcome back! I've been going through my archives and found goo gobs of things that I've never shared...so guess what? Over the next few weeks as "2011" winds down, I'm going to mix in some old with the new. Cool? Cool.

So I recently ran across my first ever OOTN pictures from a Valentine's Day GNO (girls night out) from "2010". I have to say that I'm right proud of myself for once again stepping out of my rigid little Virgo "everything must match" safebox. Don't get me wrong, the outfit is still tame compared to some of the awesome 'fits I've seen around the blogosphere, but I'm still patting myself on the back for stepping out of my comfort zone. Enough blabbing though, on to the 'fit...

I was very nice in this picture after having had one of the best cocktails I'd ever had. It was sweet and fruity concoction called a Ruby Relaxer and it was yummmmay!

Sometimes I get extra with it, lol. Can you tell I like to read? I know you're looking extra hard at that bookshelf in the background, lol.

One of my favorite aspects of this skirt is the draping. It gives the illusion that I'm draggin' a wagon back there but really...I'm not, lol.

This China Glaze holographic nail polish gave me everything that night, how I loved it so!

I was so sad that I couldn't find a pair of footed tights that were long enough for me because it was friggin' COLD that night. Being a woman of a particular height (5'10) with a 36 inch inseam (long ass legs) can be difficult. But long legs have their advantages, heh heh ;-)

It was a pretty good loc and makeup night. I don't really remember what I was wearing on my face though, probably an assortment of Mabelline products (my fave drugstore brand).

Appetizer, drink and dessert. I can't find the picture of the entree, but it was a Porterhouse steak with grilled veggies. Oh, and it was yummmmay!

Me between courses and then me and my cousin Shara at the after dinner movie. I can't remember what we saw but it was good, lol.

The OOTN deets:

Top = Target
Skirt = Alloy or Delia's (I can't remember which)
Belt = See above
Booties = Macy's
Tights = Target
Earrings = Kohls
Rings = African Festival, Wet Seal and Sterling District
Watch = Fossil
Nail polish = China Glaze OMG collection (don't remember the exact name)

That does it. What do you think? I color blocked before it was trendy, tee hee. As the clock winds down, do you find yourself reflecting on style choices gone by? Let a sistah know!

Bonus! Here's a vlog from that night...

Wish List Wednesday: A little of this and that

2011-11-16T10:34:00.001-06:00

Been a while since I've posted one of these...

I'm still loving the color blocking trend and this dress (coupled with a mustard bag/clutch) would make a great addition to my closet.

I really love this tee because of the contrasting front and back...the stripes make it a win/win.

This cute little dress reminds me of Missoni...only less colorful. Not sure I'd wear it as a dress though, it's a micro-mini and I like more coverage. This could be tucked into pants, jeans, a skirt or worn over black or brightly colored leggings. With some cute but tough looking boots...like the beauties below...

I absolutely must have these, they are D E L I C I O U S ! ! !

And these? Don't even get me started! They are super sexy and just all around want worthy! These with some skinny faux leather trousers or a (reasonable) mini skirt, with a bright high/low blouse and a fringe bag would make my day! Speaking of faux leather...

These faux leather pieces (though kinda shiny and fake looking) make my heart pound a kinda way. I'm loving the strapless peplum number and the sheath has "bad gal" written all over it...it's the zippers me thinks. Due to the shape/length, the skirt can go from the boardroom to the club if you ask me. Blazer and pussybow blouse for the day and crop top for the night with some spike heels....yowzers! I can see it, lol.

No outfit is complete without a statement necklace, and these grabbed my eyes immediately. Want so bad!

Unfortunately, no handbags caught my eye this Wednesday so I've nothing to share. What are you wishing for this Wednesday? Let a sistah know!

Happy Monday...here's something new!

2011-11-14T08:41:00.001-06:00

This is both a greeting and a declaration ;-)

Greetings my marvelous readers! How was your weekend? Mine was juuuuust fine. Today I'm introducing a new segment called "In the Spotlight" where I feature up and coming designers, crafters, entrepreneurs, etc. Though I won't always do this on Mondays, I will try to showcase someone/something new at least twice per month. Is that cool with you? Cool ;-)

I recently had the chance to get acquainted with up and coming accessories designer, Kristena Witherspoon of Kristena Witherspoon Designs. Kristena is a Little Rock transplant now residing in Chicago (Chi-Town stand up!). Check out our Q & A and some of her work...

Click to purchase the "Sugah" reversible Hobo

OELI: Have you received any formal training in fashion/design?

KWD: Yes, I studied fashion design and business at Syracuse University.

OELI: Ahh, New York, great place to study fashion and business. What made you decide to create your own accessories line?

KWD: I enjoy accessories because they can easily change up an outfit.

OELI: Yes, a good accessory can really spice up an outfit. How long have you been designing/creating?

KWD: Wow…about 12 years now. I began designing and selling handbags in junior high and high school.

Click to purchase similar bag (now on sale!)

OELI: So the fashion bug bit you early. What was the first piece you ever created?

KWD: The first piece that I created was a denim tote out of some yardage that my aunt gave me. That was the style that caught on at school. I’d do the exterior in dark denim and the interior in different fabrics. The different interior is what made each bag one of a kind.

OELI: I love bold interiors on a bag or lining jackets/coats. How long does it usually take you to construct a piece?

KWD: Smaller pieces take 30-60 min and bigger ones take 2-3 hours.

OELI: Not nearly as long as I thought. Do you hand sew or use a machine for your bag line?

KWD: I machine sew.

"I Love Life" earrings currently on sale, click for deets/to purchase

OELI: Machine sewing certainly saves you time...and pricked fingers, lol. From where/whom do you draw some of your inspiration?

KWD: Most of my inspiration comes from different cultures and subcultures as well as architecture. I’m highly influenced by the Diaspora and street fashion as well. Recently, the Chicago art and music scene has been a big influence.

OELI: The gorgeous Kente prints and Ankara are certainly indicative of your love for the Diaspora. I like the different shapes of the totes and hobo bags as well, they're very architectural. Do you have plans to expand your line, will we see clothing in the future?

KWD: Yes! I hope to add a line of skirts by summer 2012. I love a nice skirt with a nipped waist and full skirt.

OELI: I hope there'll be pencil skirts too, I'm beginning to love them. Do you take custom orders?

KWD: I currently no longer take custom orders.

Click to purchase

OELI: Awww, sad face. What is the best perk in designing your own line?

KWD: I would say that the best thing is being able to create art that is functional.

OELI: What is the most difficult aspect of designing and creating your own
line?

KWD: I would say that the most difficult aspect is balancing an item’s marketability with the artistic aspect.

OELI: Who are some of your favorite designers?

KWD:

Duro Olowu - bold prints and great tailoring

Korto Momolu - project runway alum and represents my hometown-Little Rock J

Doo Ri - great draping skills

Alexander McQueen - his tailoring skills were amazing and he constantly thought outside of the box

Squasht by Les - Chicago independent designer

NaKimuli - Brooklyn independent designer

Click to purchase this fabulous reversible Hobo!

OELI: I love Alexander McQueen! He pushed every conceivable boundary and his designs really were wearable art...masterpieces! I hope his protege can keep his house alive and well. I'll have to check out the others you mentioned. How would you define your personal style?

KWD: I’d define my style as urban comfy.

OELI: Urban comfy, that's a new one for me, lol. What are some of your favorite stores/websites/catalogs for shopping?

KWD: Secondhand shops are great...DLR is one of my favorite neighborhood stores…Nordstrom Rack is a great place for nice discounted pieces that are staples. TOPSHOP as well...we finally have one in Chicago now!

OELI: I am becoming a thrift master, lol. You can score some great one of a kind pieces as well as some of the more current pieces (at a huge discount of course) at thrift stores. I love TopShop too but their prices make me ill sometimes, bleh. Name your top 3 fashion magazines.

KWD: Some of my favorite ones are no longer published unfortunately. MissBehave and Honey were hot magazines. I read Vogue and Elle sometimes…just to see who some of the new designers are. I prefer the street fashion blogs and natural hair sites. I love seeing how people develop their own personal style.

Click to purchase "Delight" coin purse (now on sale!)

OELI: Yeah, I love street style and personal style blogs too, lol. Do you have any advice for other designers?

KWD: My advice would be to know what your point of view and market is as a designer.

OELI: Great, thanks Kristena!

KWD: You're welcome, anytime.

To see more of Kristena's wonderful wares, check out her online store. She's got some awesome hoods to "protect ya necks" from the Windy City winds (for the Chi-Towners). You can also like Kristena's Facebook page and follow her on Twitter for updates and special sales/promos. With the holiday shopping season quickly approaching, Kristena Witherspoon Designs can take the guesswork out of your gift giving ;-)

What do you think of the new feature? Are you loving KWD? Let a sistah know!

Eye Spy a shopportunity!

2011-11-12T14:24:00.001-06:00

If you're like me, the only time you like shopping is when there's a sale or discount coupon/code involved. I try my best to never ever pay full retail for ANYTHING...it just isn't my way, lol. I've always been a comparison shopping, review reading, coupon clipping, deal hunting, best bang for the buck kinda girl...the current economic depression has intensified that. Because I love a deal and I love passing them along, I've compiled a list of shopportunities for you, my awesome readers :-)

Don't say I never did anything for you!

First up, we have these gorgeous sequined shorts from Lulu's. They'll be perfect for your upcoming holiday parties...and with a $19.25 discount brought to you by Lucky Magazine, they'll be easier on your wallet.

Click here to buy and when you're ready to check out, enter code "lucky3" when prompted. Valid from November 1, 2011, through January 2, 2012, or while supplies last. Not keen on the shorts? Click here for a gold sequined skirt which is $8.75 less than the shorts. You can't use the discount code on the skirt...but then, you don't need to. As a bonus, Lulu's offers free shipping with a $75 or more purchase (to Continental US only). By the way, you can only use one discount code at a time.

One of the best things about shopping online is that you can comparison shop to get the best bang for your hard earned bucks. Another great thing about online shopping is Ebates.com. Ebates is a virtual mall featuring many of your favorite retailers and cash back shopping. If you aren't already a member (and you should be since it's free and they'll give you $5 just for signing up) you're missing out on today's daily double from Yves Rocher France. YRF has been in the botanical beauty business for 50 years and now you can get a whopping 30% cash back when you shop with them via Ebates. YRF also offers free shipping when you spend $40 or more. Hurry, this offer ends today, November 12, 2011! You'll also appreciate all the goo gobs of coupons, double cash back deals and the fact that you can get your cash back via PayPal. So stop procrastinating and join Ebates already!

Click image to purchase your Whoogas!

With the onset of winter (at least where I dwell) you're gonna want something to keep your feet warm and toasty and Whooga ugg boots will do just that. Love the way they look or hate the way they look, ugg boots are suede and sheepskin heaven for severely anemic folks like me. Although I own a pair of UGG brand ugg boots, I see a pair of Whooga brand ugg boots in my very near future. As shown in a side by side comparison picture on the Whooga website, Whooga brand ugg boots have a thicker sheepskin lining than those other ugg boots and as a bonus, they're less expensive. Want an even bigger bonus? Per the above picture, all Whoogas are 40% off. Need more incentive? Shipping is free, all Whoogas have a 1 year warranty and if there's a problem with your Whoogas, return shipping is free! No, I don't work for Whooga...but I wish I did :-)

Click the pic to shop!

Delia's is probably one of my favorite places to shop (they're on Ebates too) because they cater to women of a certain height (I'm 5'10 with a 36 inch inseam, pow!). Their jeans/pants are cute and inexpensive and they always have some sale or promotion going on. Some of their items are kinda pricey IMO, but I primarily buy jeans/pants from them. At any rate, from now until Monday, November 14, 2011, Delia's is offering free shipping on everything with the code "GETFREE". You should also know that Delia's is running a sale on all coats and boots up to 30% off.

That's it for now my little bargain hunters, I'll be back with more another day. Have you spied with your little eye a deal too good to pass up? Let a sistah know!

Thrifty Thursday: The Unique Edition

2011-11-10T23:08:00.001-06:00

Another Thursday, another thrift store :-)

So on Monday of this week, my homegirl and I hit up Unique Thrift Store for their half off Monday special. I'd been to this thrift store a time or two before, but I never really thought much of it. This time however, I went with a more open mind and a goal. I had my heart set on some cute chunky sweaters, a vintage jumpsuit and maybe some blouses. I soooo scored some really cute pieces! First of all, I was up in the place acting like a mini June Ambrose styling people on the spot and giving advice and I squealed with delight every time I found a great piece. It was really quite hilarious, lol. Sadly, I didn't find my vintage jumpsuit but I did find these beauties...

Casa Maclia knit sweater - $2.50

This cute little number is a black knit with washed gold thread and mesh embroidered cocktail glasses. My homegirl hated it upon first glance, but was converted when I tried it on. I knew it was a keeper the moment I laid my eyes on it :-)

Jones Wear tweed blazer - $4.25

I looooove this beautiful fuchsia/multi Chanel-esque blazer! I mean LOVE! The collar, lapels and sleeves have a frayed/unfinished hem and the fuchsia satin inner lining pleases me greatly...greatly I say! And even though it's a petite (le sigh) there's no way I couldn't take it home with me.

New York & Co Argyle sweater - $3.50

I will always love Argyle print everything, it is a classic preppy look that will never go out of style (for me anyway). Though the lighting is horrid, this cream sweater is fab.

Tally-Ho plaid cardi - $2.50

Another picture with bad lighting, but don't be fooled, this Scottish-esque plaid cardi is sooo fantastic! It has beautiful gold buttons with a lion crest that just makes it look so rich to me. Not money rich, but culture rich.

Eddie Bauer crochet sweater - $2.50

At first, I wasn't sure about this horizontal striped sweater because sometimes certain stripes make me look wider than I am. I stuck this baby in my cart anyway so I could try it on and guess what? It looks awesome on me! Oh, it feels good on too, nice and soft.

Nancy Bolen for City Girl vintage denim vest - $1.50

This cute little vintage denim vest gave me sooo much life! When I saw it on the hanger I knew right away it was mine. Everything about it is AMAZING! The buttons are white plastic with silvertone and rhinestone accents, the collar is trimmed in a silver and white snake print, the embroidery work is done in a beautiful silver thread and it has silvertone plastic studs and rhinestones. FABULOUS I tell you!

R (that's all the tag says) tweed blazer - $3.50

Again with the Chanel-esque tweed blazers. I tell you I just can't get enough of them, I just can't, lol. Though the light washes it out, this beauty is black and oatmeal with a gorgeous lace trim all over. It even has the spare button still attached to it. I'm probably going to swap out the plain plastic buttons for something more fabulous though.

Allison Taylor Woman 100% silk leopard print blouse - $1.50

There was no way I was leaving that store without this light as air 100% SILK LEOPARD PRINT BLOUSE. This blouse is some of everything I live for, I mean come on! 100% silk and leopard print for $1.50? You already know, lol.

Christopher & Banks knit cardi - $2.50

Now I know this is a bold piece that not everyone will like but I don't care if no one else likes it, I freaking love it! This cardi fits like a dream and it is seriously cute on me.

Sole' (tag says handmade) crochet sweater - $3

This is another piece my homegirl hated on the hanger but wound up liking when I tried it on. I had no doubts about this sweater's potential when I found it on the rack, I knew it was going to be a winner...and it is. It looks great on me. It'll look even better with some skinny jeans and boots or loafers. Or even a black leather mini skirt. Or black leather pants. Yep.

Maggy London 100% silk cropped blazer - $1.50

I'm still smiling about this little number. I am becoming a grade A thrifter, just stupid good, lol. This 100% silk, cropped, 3/4 sleeve, multi-print gorgeous piece of goodness was one of the highlights of my thrift haul at an unbelievable $1.50. I mean, look at it. You probably can't tell from the picture, but it is dreamy. Loves it!

Unknown designer blouse - $1.50

This blouse caught my eye because it reminded me of mudcloth prints for some reason. Though it's a few sizes too big for me and has horrid shoulder pads, I love it dearly. I'm thinking this is handmade because it has no type of tag whatsoever. It could be satin, silk or polyester...I really don't know as I'm not a textile expert. All I know is I love it.

Summit Hill crochet cardi - $2

Here's another button front cardi I just couldn't say no to. This one also has beautiful gold buttons done in an intricate twist pattern. The cardi sports faux pockets and is a tight crochet with dark blue trim all around.

Mossimo modern trench coat (not sure if that's what it is but that's what I'm calling it) - $4.50

Oh how I struggled with my decision about this coat! When I saw the color I wanted it bad. Unforyunately, it was a little big on me and I noticed a missing button...so I put it down. But since it was half off I thought, why not. Then I noticed a stain on the sleeve...so I put it down again. Then I realized that I have no Cobalt blue in my closet since I returned those beautiful Cobalt blue Chinese Laundry pumps seen here. So I picked it back up, put it back in my cart and the rest...you already know. I plan to switch out the buttons and have the coat tailored to fit. A bit much for a $4.50 coat probably, but you do things when you're in love...with Cobalt blue.

Brass and black bead earrings - $5

Last but certainly not least, I present the cuter than cute brass and black bead stud/elongated arrowhead earrings. Just look at the engraving on these babies, don't you just love it? I certainly do! These caught my eye after I'd already checked out and was ready to leave...but I had to have them!

This was an EPIC thrift haul IMO, I did soooo well despite not finding my vintage jumpsuit. Good thing I'm going thrifting again next week :-)

Have you been thrifting lately? Find anything good? Let a sistah know!

Eye Spy: Shoe news and shoe porn!

2011-11-05T14:42:00.000-05:00

Do you like Rachel Bilson? Do you like shoes? Well get a load of this...

My Shop Suey bag looks a lot like this here bag Rachel is carrying

The word on the style blog streets is that Rachel Bilson is the latest celeb to hop on the "Mint" monthly club trend. What will she be selling us? SHOES!

This is supposed to be the first selection for Shoe Mint. Would you buy it? *Image via ShoeMint.com

Yep, Rachel is teaming up with her celeb stylist friend Nicole Chavez and none other than Steve Madden to bring us a monthly shoe club called Shoe Mint. Slated to launch this month, Shoe Mint will bring us a new shoe every month for $79.99. So what do you think? Interested? I am, I already signed up, lol. If there's one thing I like, it's shoes! Speaking of which...

I LOOOOOVE this video...and shoes of course, lol! Use discretion when viewing because the vid contains strong language. Now moving on to the shoe porn.

I love shoes (and blush) so much that a while back when I had some extra cash on hand, I treated myself to a bunch of both. All of the shoes were absolutely gorgeous! Here are the wedges:

Dolce Vita for Target on the left and DV by Dolce Vita on the right.

Unfortunately, I only kept the brown Dolce Vita for target wedges. I’d actually bought two pairs of the Dolce Vita for Target wedges, but I returned the nude pair because they were very cheap looking and feeling. Instead, I bought the tan leather DV for Dolce Vita wedges online. I wound up returning them also because they were too big in the ankle area. I did score this pair of nude suede DV by Dolce Vita wedges though:

DV Toni by Dolce Vita

They were a near perfect fit and absolutely gorgeous! I wore them with this dress that I bought from GoJane.com:

And here I am wearing the dress:

Unfortunately, better pictures of me wearing the dress aren't available :-(

On to the other shoes...

All of these gorgeous Chinese Laundry pumps also went back because they wouldn’t stay on my feet when I walked (no matter what kind of inserts I used). I really really loved all of these pumps but alas, it was not meant to be. Here are more pics of them:

Nude suede with leopard print interior!?! Looooove! Too bad they didn't work out :-(

This color gave me sooo much life! Again, so sad they didn't work out :-(

You just can't go wrong with a basic black suede pump...unless they refuse to stay on your feet when you walk :-(

Now about the blushes…*sigh*

As lovely as these La Femme blushes looked in the pan and as many great things as I’d heard about them via beauty bloggers and Youtube gurus, they had to go back. Why you ask? Well, because they contain mineral oil and parabens. Yes indeed they do. With my sensitive seriously acne prone skin, I wasn’t taking any chances. And may I just say that I will NEVER EVER in life spend money with MakeupMania.com again. They didn’t have a problem taking my money but they certainly had a problem giving it back. It took several phone calls and e-mail complaints to get a refund despite me being well within my rights to a full refund. I was not a happy camper.

That does it for me. Have you bought anything new? Let a sistah know!

Everyone loves the drugstore!

2011-11-03T23:58:00.000-05:00

What's not to love? You can buy food, reading material, personal sanitary items, makeup, etc. all in one spot...plus they have great sales! Am I right or am I right?

I stopped in my local Walgreens recently because I was notified of their BOGO on Shea Moisture products and a coupon for a dollar off the latest issue of InStyle magazine. I'm as thrifty as they come, so you know I wasn't going to miss out...and I didn't...

You may not have noticed, but I also picked up the new Maybelline EyeStudio Master Drama Cream Pencil in Midnight Master.

Just in case you don't want to click the link, here's what Maybelline says about the new liner:

Product Details

Why You'll Love It

Experience the new generation of liner:
• Oil-free cream formula holds the highest concentration of pigments for more intense eye drama.
• Smudgeproof and waterproof for 16 hours.
• Most intense line for lasting drama.
• Safe for sensitive eyes and ophthalmologist-tested.
• Contact lens safe.

For Best Results

2 SIMPLE STEPS:
1. Start at inner corner of upper eye. Extend beyond top lash line.
2. Extend lower line inward so lines meet in the inner corner of eye.

The product page also offers a tutorial on how to achieve the signature look from the t.v. commercial. You'll have to click the link to see it though because I haven't figured out how to embed it. Honestly, I'm not sure how this liner is going to work out. I swatched it on my hand and then rubbed my finger over it and it faded immediately. It didn't run or smudge, but it did fade. I'll try it on my eyes one my current liner runs out though. Sidenote: The package said this liner would last up to 24 hours but the product page says 16 hours...which is it Maybelline?

For those interested in the Shea Moisture BOGO, the sale ends Friday. Get it while the getting is good! What's your favorite drugstore brand? Let a sistah know!

Bright Color Trouble

2011-11-03T23:29:00.001-05:00

And by that title I mean the lack of. As stark as the above picture is, it's just as beautiful to me. I have a thing for landscapes be they lush and green or stripped and stark. I also have a thing for neutral colors that I just cannot seem to let go of...

Browns, tans, greens, khaki...I just can't get enough! I wear neutrals and earth tones allll the time despite the fact that yellow and orange look awesome on me. There's just something so effortless about neutrals and Cheetah/Leopard print though. I'm also guilty of matching my makeup to my outfit...

Eye shadow look features Maybelline's Enchanted Forest quad

I love neutral/natural makeup. Too much color on my face makes me think I look like a clown. Perhaps because I haven't mastered colorful makeup yet. What I have mastered is moss green and brass! I LOVE that combo...

I've also pretty much mastered my eyebrows and blush application...

Lancome blush in Rouge Glow

Make Up For Ever Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector (Fawesome stuff!)

Most of all, I'm learning to master my self. I can be very self-critical and more often than not, I don't give myself nearly enough credit. Though still in my box of neutrality, I love this look and think the colors are quite complimentary. This look won't win any street style awards for being daring or avant garde, but that's okay...I'm still learning. In the meantime, I'll keep working my way closer to that "edgy style" precipice and eventually jump off...

Outfit details

Tunic - Target
Jacket - Gap
Jeans - Delia's
Glittery belt you can barely see (but is awesome up close!) - Gap
Cheetah wedges - F21
Bag - Shop Suey
DIY Ankh necklace
Multi-chain brass necklace - Target
Multi-bangle bangle (funny, hee hee) - Cost Plus World Market
Wooden bangle with brass/silver discs - Alloy (or street vendor, can't remember which)
Cheetah print earrings - Gift from my bestie
Rings - Crossroads Trading Co, F21 & Charlotte Russe

Photographs taken by my daughter. She's pretty good :-)

Meandering in Milwaukee...

2011-10-25T14:41:00.000-05:00

Did I forget to mention all the time I spent in Milwaukee this year? Well spend it I did! I went to a totally fawesome Deftones concert, I roamed the streets of Cathedral Square during Bastille Days, I attended the Garfield Days Street Festival, I went paddle boating on a pond (what a work out) and I visited the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory also known as the Three Domes.

The Deftones concert was one of the highlights of my Milwaukee adventure! Though I was nearly crushed to death by a teeming crowd of screaming moshing metal fans, it was one the best experiences of this year. Here are some pics of me pre-concert...

I wore a plain gray t-shirt, a multiple chain necklace, Miley Cyrus leggings, black Frye boots and a little black studded bag.

Here are some pics during the concert...

This is one of my fave bands of all time!

And here is an after concert pic...

Don't let the pretty smile fool you, I was in serious full body pain, lol. Here's the after concert reaction video from my BFF and I (beware strong language, so don't watch at work or around young children)...

Funny story about this video, the lead guitarist for the band Dillinger Escape Plan loved this video and posted it on his Twitter and Tumblr page. I was pretty honored, lol.

Now onto the rest of my Milwaukee meanderings. Admittedly, when I hear Milwaukee, the first thing that comes to mind is beer, lol. I don't really associate the beer capital with amazing festivals and beautiful nature attractions...but Milwaukee certainly has plenty of both.

According to easttown.com, Bastille Days is North America's largest outdoor French themed festival held in downtown Milwaukee in Cathedral Square Park. The festival began in 1982 as a way to promote the downtown business district and encourage visitors to explore this neighborhood. I had some of the best food and heard some of the greatest musicians ever while wandering around beautiful Cathedral Square park. There were also tons of vendors hawking handmade jewelry, clothing, bags, fine arts and other wares. I scooped these lovely earrings...

Here are two random pictures from Bastille Days and a picture of me in the paddle boat...

And last but not least, pics from the beautiful Three Domes...

There are three domed conservatories in all, each one with a different theme. There's the tropical dome, the desert dome and the show dome. The above pictures are from the show dome. I'm pretty sure the next two pictures are from the tropical dome...

That beautiful tree (the picture doesn't do it justice) is called a traveler tree. I'm not sure what species of bird that is. He was cute and pretty tame though.

The above pictures were taken in the desert dome. I was awestruck by much of what I saw...can you tell, lol? My OOTD consisted of:

Striped Merona 3/4 shirt (Target)
American Eagle mini skirt
Vintage Coach mini satchel bag (thrifted from Salvation Army for $5!)
Black suede Converse hi top sneakers (from Delia's)

Okay, that's more than enough pictures and whatnot, whew! Have any of you gone out of town/traveled to distant lands? Let a sistah know!

Thrifty Thursday!

2011-10-20T10:30:00.000-05:00

When I got word back in the beginning of August about a job offer, I knew I had to stock my rack with some office appropriate outfits. In my previous positions office attire was so casual that I could wear just about anything (and I often did). Not so much with the new job (that I still haven't started). So I cashed in my pennies and headed to Crossroads Trading Company and Goodwill. Let me tell you, I scored better than the captain of a winning football team on prom night! Check out my loot:


J Crew Pinstripe Blouse = $10 (Crossroads)

Button front pinstripe blouses are an absolute must in the business casual wardrobe if you ask me. This blouse can be paired with just about anything...which is why I bought it, lol.

Express Tee = $3.25 (Crossroads marked down from $6.50)

I've had a love thing for stripes for a few years now; horizontal, vertical or diagonal...it doesn't matter. This shirt is actually kinda big on me so I'll have to belt it or something.

Kate Hill Casual Blazer = $13.50 (Crossroads)

I have been looking all over for a cute khaki blazer that hit me at the wrist and goodness gracious was I overjoyed when I found this! I'm 5'10 with loooong arms and legs so sometimes shopping is a hassle I'd rather not endure. This blazer made my day though.

Truly Madly Deeply Tee = $12 (Crossroads)

Here's another tee that fits me kind of big, I loved the Goldenrod color though (it looks amazing against my complexion) so I had to have it. I may alter the neckline a bit so it'll fit better.

BDG Tee = $9.50 (Crossroads)

The color combo and the stripes sucked me in on this one. I haven't worn it, yet but I'm hoping the fit is decent.

Mossimo Blazer = $6.00 (Crossroads marked down from $12)

Although this one isn't a perfect fit I just had to have it! It's a tad shy of hitting me at the wrist but I loooooves it! It's a tweedy fabric with a beautiful purple/gray/tobacco/tealish green colored plaid and it has a nice feminine shape. It's not quite cropped but it doesn't hit the hip either. I LOVE this blazer!

Gap Tee = $8.50 (Crossroads)

Again, kinda pricey for a used t-shirt, but that's just how it is at Crossroads. I really like the color and soft as silk texture of this tee so I grinned and bore it.

Apt 9 Blazer = $6.99 (Goodwill)

I cannot stay away from earth tones, I just can't. Browns, rusts, tans, mosses, etc. This blazer has a nice feminine shape too thanks to the construction on the back. I'm going to add more bright colors to my wardrobe though and soon...


Josephine Blazer = $4.99 (Goodwill)

Color! My thrifting buddy Naimah actually found this beautiful yellow, cropped 3/4 sleeve blazer (and an identical pink one). I love Love LOVE this blazer! From the silky pinstripe lining to the weave like texture, it is just fab! The buttons are also covered in the same fabric...it's all in the details :-)

Anne Klein Blazer = $6.99

The minute I laid eyes on this blazer I knew I had to have it! I love the navy color, the electric blue lining and the amazing cut! This blazer is just..it just IS! I can't wait to pair it with a Chartreuse or Fuchsia blouse, it is going to be the bees knees!

Jones New York Blazer = $6.99

This this this! Before I even went to Goodwill I knew I wanted a blazer that was Chanel like. When I saw this cute little tweed number, it was love at first sight! Now, it fits like a 3/4 sleeved jacket and it's a tad tight in the shoulders, but ask me if I care? I am going to hunt up some gorgeous fancy buttons and rework this baby and then WERK IT! Ya heard?

AK Anne Klein Blazer = $6.99 (Goodwill)

Again with the earth tones...but look at it though. This is an awesome blazer! The contrasting piping on the front and back cinch it in and give it a great feminine shape and it is really well made. This is going to look perfect with some dark wash jeans, satchel bag and riding boots.

Not pictured is the Chartreuse Gap tee (in the dirty clothes hamper) that I picked up from Crossroads. It was an overpriced $7.50. It was brand new with a tag but it had a small hole in it. Yep, I bought it anyway because the color was everything I live for.

Here's a picture of my Autumn/Winter wardrobe rack:

Notice the lack of color? Yeah, I'm gonna rectify that soon.

That's it for this edition of Thrifty Thursday, I hope you enjoyed my finds. When's the last time you scored a great thrift haul? Let a sistah know!

P.S. I went a little overboard with the exclamation marks right? What can I say, I was excited! ;-)

Eye Spy: Lita, is that you?

2011-10-12T21:54:00.000-05:00

Image via Google Images. Click image to purchase JC Litas via Solestruck.

I'm sure most of you fashion and personal style blog loving ladies are familiar with Jeffrey Campbell and his luscious Lita, but how many of you can afford or want to invest in what some are calling a fad shoe? Trendy or not, faddish or not, I want a closet full of Litas! Unfortunately, unemployment isn't conducive to my luxe shoe desires. That is until I came across these...

Image via GoJane.com. Click to purchase.

And these...

Image via GoJane.com. Click to purchase.

And all these...

Images via GoJane.com. Click to purchase.

And Ohhh Emmm Geeee golly wow, these bad gals!

Leopard. Print. Camo. Wannabe. Litas. Now I really do not like cheap shoes, I mean my poor feet HATE cheap shoes....but these? THESE!?! I had to have them...and so I got them! Yep, sure did.

As soon as they arrived (shipping was quick, just a few days) I snatched them out of the box, put them on my footsies and stomped down my hallway like I was Naomi Campbell. I freaking love these shoes! I wore them out and about for 6-8 hours and strutted on carpet, concrete and hardwood floors and got nary a blister. Now, my feet did hurt after I removed them but that could be because I'm not used to wearing heels anymore. Not to say they're the most comfy shoes I've ever worn because they're not, but they were a lot more comfy than I expected. Here are the pros:

They're a reasonably priced dupe.
They're pretty light weight despite their chunky/clunky appearance.
They can be paired with just about ANYTHING.
They're GORGEOUS (IMO), not incredibly cheap looking.
Did I mention a fraction of the cost of JC's Litas? Yeah, that.

Cons:

The fabrication is not at all durable. Mine came with a spot on them and when I tried to clean it off, I scrubbed a light patch onto the shoe. Treat these babies with a protectant of some sort and DO NOT GET THEM WET/DIRTY.
They will probably hurt your feet if you aren't used to wearing 5 inch heels. Get some Dr. Scholls gel inserts.
There is no grip on the bottom of these shoes and you just might slip and fall on slick surfaces.

These are mos def transitional/test shoes as they aren't durable enough to last as long as authentic JC Litas. All in all, I recommend these babies to anyone with Lita dreams living on a Walmart budget. Oh, I also found the same Leo print booties for a little less here, the black faux suede here, the black faux leather here and the strappy black faux leather here. Actually, MakeMeChic.com has lots of JC dupes and a bunch of other cute stuff. It's a paradise of cute inexpensive shoes/clothes. Now if only I could find a dupe for these babies...

Image via SoleStruck.com. Click image to pre-order.

Absolutely breathtaking right? That my dears, is the new JC Lita Spike. It is now available for pre-order at SoleStruck.com. Please note, your card will be charged at the time you place your pre-order although the shoes won't ship until October 30th. Oh, shipping is free :-)

And that's it for this edition of Eye Spy. Have you spied with your little eye any interesting finds? Let a sistah know!

Eye Spy: New Products from Shea Moisture and Scope

2011-10-11T07:44:00.000-05:00

Well, they're new to me. So yesterday while I was out, I saw something new from Shea Moisture:

According to my Google search, this product was a limited release back in late August to participating Target stores. Fast forward to October and my Walgreens had one, count it, ONE single solitary jar. I should have bought it but I wasn't there for hair products. I'm very good at not impulse buying...sometimes. But back to the souffle. As usual, the new Shea Moisture Organic Coconut and Hibiscus Curling Souffle is certified organic. Unfortunately, that's where the excitement ends. From what I've seen on Youtube, the curly girls aren't liking this new offering from Shea Moisture. Initially it was compared to Kinky Curly Curling Custard (which I hated) but that isn't saying much IMO. The largest complaints about the new SM curling souffle is that it's oily (due to the glycerin perhaps), it takes forever to dry and it doesn't do anything. I'm glad I didn't buy it.

Here are a few videos from a few curly girls with different curl types:

The first review is the shortest and the last one is pretty funny. I'm passing on this product.

What I did buy was the new Scope Dual Blast mouthwash.
This new offering from Scope claims to kill germs caused by bacteria (in lab tests) and eliminate strong food odors. I love the Scope Outlast mouthwash and have been using it for I don't know how many months, so I thought I'd try the new one out. Here is one of the official commercials and some on camera reactions from a release event Scope had. I haven't tried it yet because I still have about two more mouthfuls of the regular Scope Outlast, but I'll do a follow up post once I try it.

So what new products have you all spied or tried? Any verdicts? Let me know.

Been a long time

2011-10-09T20:20:00.000-05:00

It's been the better part of a year since I've written here. I wish I could say things have gotten better but alas...

Well actually, I suppose my attitude is somewhat better...for the most part I guess. At any rate, I came across the loveliest, lust worthy military inspired Zara coat today while surfing Easy Fashion. Can I just tell you how badly I want this coat? I want it so bad, that I'd be willing to sell my teenage Sun for it. Okay, maybe not that bad, lol. Anyway, would you like to see the lust of my life? Check it below:


Image from Easy Fashion

Might I add that I appreciate the overall styling in this picture. I'm just betting that the sweater underneath this fabulous coat is nice and slouchy and warm just how I like my sweaters to be. A very simple outfit that I am going to do my best to replicate.

And for those interested in an update:

My skin is even messier now than it was before. Just a horrid wreck of scars, new acne eruptions and overall fugliness. Not sure what's causing all the commotion because I stopped using my Clarisonic ages ago. I may even sell that damn thing, not sure yet.

Still no resolution to my personal injury lawsuit. I've not heard from my shit lawyer or any of her minions in over a month and my feelings wouldn't be hurt if she were...expired somewhere.

I am still unemployed. I had a job offer that seemed stone set, but not so much now.

I still don't have a car. Walking isn't so bad though because my legs are looking quite nice.

And...well, that's it really. My attitude right now is one of sarcastic cynicism tinged with a tiny bit of cautious optimism. Sounds interesting right? It bloody well is. Oh the language? I'm reading Great Expectations and I've Dickens on the brain. Loves it! Cheerio mates!

Destroy/Create

2011-06-01T13:22:00.001-05:00

I'm not very happy right now. Because I'm not very happy I've not been in the mood to blog or upload videos. My face has become my enemy due to the most awful acne I've had since I was in the 7th grade and well through high school. That picture is from a good face day (no foundation, concealer or photoshopping). Sometimes I don't want to leave my bed let alone the house. My fingers should be bloody from all the job applications I've filled out, my brain hurts due to constant stress and worry and my one comfort is keeping my nose deep in books. Oh, and watching mind numbing shit on television. I've nearly driven my children to mental breakdowns with the many lectures I subject them to about the importance of getting an education and becoming entrepreneurs and not work horses for some wage slave driver. Last hired first fired is no joke...especially when unemployment among black women 20 years and older is at 13.4% (roughly).

Despite my stress and worries, I try to smile. I try to keep a PMA, but that shit doesn't always fly. I find myself throwing pity parties. My losses over the past two years are the confetti. My mother passed in 2009, I was in an awful car accident that cost me my car and job in 2010, I have horrid head/neck/back pains whenever the weather changes, my brother passed in 2010 and here it is a solid year after my car accident and I'm still unemployed and have yet to see justice done concerning the old bat who rammed me twice with her car. Yep, that's pity party confetti.

After the party, I put a spin on things. I tell myself that I have just undergone what amounts to a physical/spiritual volcanic eruption. Although volcanoes destroy everything in their wake in a hellish fiery molten liquid fury...they also create new land masses. Beautiful black sand beaches have been created by volcanic eruptions. When all has been cooled and calmed down, life springs forth from "the ruin". This is what I tell myself because this is what I have seen on those nature shows on public television. I've also seen it in Encyclopedia Brittanica (back before Google and Wikipedia). I have even seen this in my own life.

I have been laid off 4 times in the past 10 years. I have struggled mightily. I have been rocked to my foundation, brought low, crushed. But somehow...I always bounce back. Granted, in the past, the bounce never took so long as this current upheaval. I suppose that's what's really bothering me. Wondering when this shit will be over and I'll be back on solid ground. It's hard to keep a PMA when you have two growing teens who need tons of food and clothing for their ever growing bodies. Let's not even talk about upcoming college tuition. Sometimes I feel fucked and PMA can't be spoon fed to hungry mouths. But I'm devolving again. This is supposed to be uplifting me.

I read something today that shined a light in my darkness...

"This month I choose to only see positive energy wherever I go. If a problem comes up, I repeatedly say: All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good. Out of this experience, only good will come. I am safe. By repeating this, I calm down and give the Universe time to fix the situation in the best possible way for all. My life is a joy!" - Louise L. Hay

And I want to know deep down in the primal parts of my soul that this is true. But sometimes I'm not so sure. But that's the pessimist in me right? I need to kill her so the optimistic realist can thrive...right? Yeah. Now I'm going to go don a billowy gossamer gown and flower garland and dance in a beautiful meadow. < end sarcasm >