urban girl love

Love this pic of Kim K.

2011-06-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

"Lorraine Schwartz ought to do. It's big ballin' baby..."

Beyonce's AI Rehearsal

2011-05-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

This video gives me movement. I love everything that this video is. Of course the skeptic marketer in me thought that this was all a ploy to get me to pre-order the album on iTunes (and yes it worked) but I have now listened to this video all of 50-11 times. I love it. Love. I love that she is so raw. I love that her husband can sit back and watch her be great and then want to share that with the world. And I love that I believe her. It's so honest and she sings with such conviction, I just don't think she can fake that.
She makes me want to be in love. Thanks Bey!

Things I need in my life...

2011-04-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

Who is this fabulous necklace by? I need it in my life. Asap.

Upson Downes

2011-04-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for this collection in my city and haven't been able to find the best pieces. But recently an Urban Outfitters in Boston was carrying a number of great pieces of the Upson Downes Collection by William Anzevino. I couldn't really decide on which pieces to get, so I bought them all except for the dress. I really love the mixed materials stories of all the pieces and the great fabric feel. Makes me happy.

I found a couple of more pieces on the website too. Visit here.

Amare Stoudamire and Rachel Roy

2011-04-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

Excited to see what the collection between Rachel Roy and Amare Stoudemire has to offer. The line will be available at Macy's and launches this fall. I can always appreciate contemporary efforts at affordable prices. Wonder if they need a footwear component. Hmm... #wheelsspinning

Love & Hip Hop, Ep. 4

2011-04-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

I used to tweet my life away during my favorite reality tv shows (or really, any reality tv show that I was watching). But now, since I've sacrificed my tweeting privilege for Lent, a friend suggested that I blog my life away about my newest reality guilty pleasure, Love & Hip Hop.

I missed a couple of episodes and one episode that I did see, the second one, was a little dull for me and I was about to give up on the show but then I saw episode four, The Aftermath and we'll, I'm back to getting my fill of trash tv.

Episode four started with a followup to the argument that took place on Episode 3. I wasn't mad at Chrissy for keeping it real with her man and telling him that Somaya's song was weak. I was however, a little annoyed with Somaya for jumping bad at Chrissy. Get over it. Chrissy is not your friend and she doesn't have to like your song and she can tell her man whatever she wants. #ontothenext.

Fabolous's girl, Emily just seems way too nice to be on this show. Maybe at one point in her life she had a little bit more gangsta but I'm thinking after all these years with Fab and having a baby have made her a softee. For some reason, I just foresee her getting cussed out in the very near future (a la Suzie vs Evelyn: BB Wives style).

Maurice the Manager...omg, what were you thinking?! Was this for tv? Did you really speak on this dude and his lady like he wasn't going to come for you? And what are you mad at Somaya for? What would she look like stepping to this man. C'mon...Softee grown men. And why did he try to flip it on Somaya like she asked him to start running off at the mouth? I officially don't like him and he seems like a snake. Somaya, get yourself a new manager. Pronto. I heard Beyonce's dad is available. ;-)

Lastly, how cute are Somaya and XO? I love the way that he just interrupted all of that negative storytelling and made her smile. So sweet! I want them to work out whatever they have going on and be something. They look like they're really into each other. All smiles.

I don't get out of class until 10 on Mondays, so I usually miss it when it airs but I found this great site, wwweztvstream.com, where you can watch everything you missed, virtually immediately after it airs. This is generally where I watch everything since I'm either busy or traveling when it airs. It's the best!

3 Stripes: Nicki Minaj

2011-04-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

Nicki Minaj wore this Jeremy Scott Multi-Button Track Top for the launch of her new camer TRYX by Casio. I might even go buy the camera now. :-) #iwearthreestripes #pinkfriday

Images via The YBF

Printed wedges

2011-04-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

I'm not super into prints when it comes to my clothes, but with my shoes...totally different story. I think these are fun and would look great with khaki shorts.Only $90 at Aldo. Not bad at all.

Joelle James

2011-04-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

L-O-V-E. That's all I have for them.

Shout out to @kellymariedunn for putting me up!

Shattered Nails

2011-03-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

It took me a while to jump onto this nail trend for a couple of reasons. 1. I don't look to Serena Williams for beauty tips. No shade, she's just not the kind of lady that sends me to the nearest drugstore. And 2. Initially I thought this shattered look was a little sloppy-looking. So when I had a gel application done yesterday...yes I caved on my natural nails because as much as I wanted to hang on to them (its been about 8 months), it just wasn't working out for me and I was in desparate need of some artificial assistance...I needed a little coaxing from my nail tech to try the Shattered Topcoat by OPI. I definitely wasn't feeling it at first but after about 12 hours it's growing on. I did by a couple of bottles to try out on different base colors and gift to my girls and see what they think. One thing I do like about it is that it's easy to apply and replicate. Just one top coat on a single coat of your favorite color and you've got the shattered effect.

These are my nails that I painted with the black shatter top coat. I used a light gray color called Moon Over Mumbai by OPI as the base coat.

Right now the topcoat is only available in black but in May, OPI will launch two new shades of the Shatter Effect in red and white. These will be sold in sets around the French Open and they rep Serena's fav colors.

The first Lacquer set includes Spark de Triomphe (silver glitter), paired with White Shatter. I'm sure this will be pretty fresh. The second lacquer set features Rally Pretty Pink (shimmering sunset-pink), paired with Red Shatter

In additon, OPI has three more shattered shades: blue, navy and turqouise. I've always been a fan of navy, so can't wait for that!

The Ultimate Sacrifice

2011-03-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, maybe I'm being a bit dramatic. It's not the ultimate sacrifice but giving up Twitter for Lent has been a serious challenge! I tried to be die hard and not tweet on Sundays either, but now I'm counting down the days until the next Sabbath. And seriously, I'm not sure that I'm going to make it. So I've taken to blogging. In all of these non-tweeting hours that I've had to reflect on my life and my sacrifice, I've tried to figure out what is the incessant need to constantly update complete strangers on my life. I thought the answer would come to me in the midst of some solemn moment and I would be a reformed twitter addict that could find pleasure in reading the newspaper or something like that. Well...it didn't. Because I love to tweet. To this day I've tweeted 11,516 times! I'm going to remain steadfast in my twitter surrender but just know, it ain't easy. #twentysixdaysandcounting

Lil Wayne Wears Three Stripes

2011-01-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

What a great way to start off the new year to see that Lil Wayne is repping our brand! I rep this collection so I was totally juiced to see that he brought in the new year in the adidas Jeremy Scott Bears shoes. I saw a lot of sites saying they were in the $300-range, not true. $180. They launch 2/1. Don't sleep, I have them in pink! :-)

Photo via Upscale Hype

Love: Blackberry Torch

2010-09-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

If I never told you before about my boyfriend (now ex); let me take a minute to introduce you to him. He's a hard body, black and sexy and we used to spend all of our time together. Most nights we slept together and whenever I wasn't near him, I was thinking about him. When he was out of commission, I got the shakes. I'm talking about a serious love affair. He was my main. He was my blackberry.

And I was so hard on him. I used him for everything that he was worth until he just couldn't take it anymore. So he quit on me. Just like that. One minute we were good, staying in constant communication and in the blink of an eye, it was over.

So you know what they say, on to the next. But not just any next. The upgraded next.

My new man is a little heavier but he's SO competent.He's brighter and faster and just...better. It's only been a few days, but he's been taking good care of me. I'm not sure there's anything that he can't do! He responds to just my touch and you have no idea how happy that makes me.

It's a little early to tell, but I think this could be love...

Custom Yankee Fitted

2010-09-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

You know how I feel about customization. I adore it. So imagine how fly I think this personalized Yankee fitted is that reads Jay-Z's lyrics. So cool.

Photos via YBF

Bullet Girl

2010-09-16T01:16:00.000-07:00

I love that this brand, Bullet Girl, takes gangsta and makes it pretty. All of their pieces are made from bullet blanks. They're meant to unearth the beauty in something made for destruction. I like.

UGG x Jimmy Choo

2010-09-16T00:54:00.000-07:00

Not really sure how I missed this, UGG x Jimmy Choo collab. Probably because I'm not much of an UGG girl. I do think that they're super comfy but they make me feel a bit sloppy. BUT if I were to be an UGG girl, I would definitely add these to my wish list!

Fab iPad Cases

2010-09-13T16:52:00.000-07:00

Looking for something fab to carry your iPad in? Try one of these beauties...

Chanel $1555

Louis Vuitton $395

Yves Saint Laurent $795

What a great gift this would make! *hint hint*

Willow Smith

2010-09-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

Is there something wrong with me for whipping my hair back and forth to Willow Smith? I do feel just a tad bit uncomfortable bouncing so hard to a 9-year-old, but hey...it is what it is. :-)

B.O.B. in Jeremy Scott Wings 2.0

2010-09-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

I rep the Jeremy Scott for adidas - ObyO Collection, so imagine my giddiness when my inbox was flooded with dope shots of B.O.B. in these lovelies! I missed the performance but I'm sure it was on fire. #iwearthreestripes

Images via Sneakernews

My Life...

2010-09-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

My life has been absolutely swamped lately but it was a fun summer! I had lots of travel, good times with friends, big purchases and I'm a full time student again! I know...what am I doing with myself? In the midst of all the busy, I totally deprived my poor blog but I'm back on and getting ready to begin posting all the things that I love again!

Happy Fall Everyone!

xo,

Toya

Mary J. Blige - military look

2010-07-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

OMG, it's been so long since I've posted on my blog! Life has been crazy. New job, new house, new everything! But I couldn't not post this look of Mary J when I saw it on my blog roll this morning. She looks so fire! And let's not forget that this is a grown ass woman who is rocking a midriff and army fatigue and not looking the least bit foolish. I am loving every part of her and want to be just like her when I grow up!

Photos via concreteloop

DVF Anthracite Barkfish

2010-04-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

I really love the shape of this bag. Very refreshing! Affordable too at $600. From the SS10 DVF Collection...

Shoe Love: Stella McCartney

2010-04-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

I could easily wear these every day of the week with every single piece in my closet. Well, not quite, but you get the idea. I adore these Ankle Strap Cork Wedge Sandals by Stella McCartney! And while I'm not much of a "pink" girl the subtle color pop on the cork wedge moves me just enough to feel girly. I think these would go best with shorts or summer dresses. Cute stuff!

Look I Love: Zoe Saldana

2010-04-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

You already know how much I love this chick but whoever put this look together has my undivided adoration. I L-O-V-E it! Understated, subtle sexiness and glam all thrown into one! Fierce.

Pictures via The YBF.

Nail Love: China Glaze Khrome Collection

2010-04-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

I saw these hot nail colors in the Honey Gram Newsletter and had to post because all the girls that I know are in love with Minx nail applications but don't want to spend a fortune trying to keep up the heavily celeb-endorsed mani. Now they don't have too!

China Glaze "Khrome Collection" Nail Laquer serves up the same appeal at half the cost. The metallic polish dries to shiny reflective finish similar to a Minx application. The best thing about these colors are that they are only $3.50! Can't beat that. I've yet to try them, but I ordered a couple here. I'll let you know if they own up to the hype. :-)