Let me tell you, bellas!

Last night I attended a special event, courtesy of Dove Visibly Smooth deodorant. At a gorgeous place called Spa Soak in the trendy Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago, I recieved a “piticure.” On my way back home, I tweeted the following:

“Just had a Dove deodorant “PitiCure” – just so you know, I have baby smooth Beyonce armpits now.”

The response was overwhelming! Everyone wanted to know — what on earth is a piticure, and where can I get one?

It’s super easy and you can totally DIY.

It’s as simple as that! Click here to learn all about it

My piticure began with a very necessary neck and shoulder massage — I seem to store all my tension there and the muscles are always insanely tight. Sarah, my masseuse worked it OUT for me, and today I am so grateful. I love a good, theraputic massage and clearly I needed one!

After that she cleansed my armpits with Dove’s Cool Moisture Cleansing Cloths — they’re refreshing and durable, and gently exfoliate your skin. Love em!

Then she moisturized my armpits with a little lotion — I believe it was Nourishing Moisture Beauty Body Lotion. Then to end the piticure, I applied some Dove Visibly Smooth deodorant in Nature Fresh.

I’ve been using Visibly Smooth in Wild Rose for maybe the past month or so, and I really have noticed a difference. My underarm hair grows in softer and finer, less prickly and thick. It hasn’t reduced the growth of it at all, but it makes for easier shaving and depilatory use.

After my piticure, I got my nails done by Rachel, a super cute manicurist. We were cracking each other up — and together we came up with a killer color combination!

That’s OPI’s brand new skates, and Essie nail polish in Classical, a really interesting sheer, shimmery pale green for my accent nail. Apparently Classical is a rare enough shade that it’s going for $16 on Ebay. Who knew?

And I gotta tell y’all – I LOVE the layout of Spa Soak! This place is awesome for bridal showers or girls’ afternoons out, or just to go with your BFF. Pedicure stations are set up right next to each other so you can gab the whole time. I love spas set up for socializing!

So even though it may sound weird to have a stranger pamper your armpits, I thoroughly enjoyed my piticure and I’m definitely going to continue the trend at home. I’ll have Beyonce armpits someday!

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My amiga Tomiko shared this video on her Facebook page, and I HAD to post it here for all to see.

The late, truly great designer Yves Saint Laurent was an innovator of style and a champion of black models in the fashion industry. Check out this fabulous AmberMag article for more. Oh, and I am newly in love with Voguespirit, this whole YouTube channel. It’ll transport you to a bygone, much more fabulous era.

I love the rich, meaningful pause he gives between his words — he reveals a true appreciation for black beauty. We need more of this in the fashion industry today, if you ask me. Yves Saint Laurent passed away in 2008 — but of course his brand will live on forever.

Clip is from Yves Saint Laurent – His Life and Times.

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I have only one TJ Maxx card in my hands…and that card goes to…

Commenter #5 – Nikia!

Congratulations!! We’re going shopping!! I can’t wait!!

I need to qualify that by saying this — all of you who entered this particular giveaway REALLY helped give me some fashion direction, and reassured me that I too can survive this winter thang with style. And it was EXTRA hard to choose a winner because I actually KNOW some of you who entered! So please don’t take it personally and PLEASE know we’re gonna hang out soon. Hopefully REALLY soon — there’s a fabulous Red Pump Project event coming up and I really really want you all to come out and party with me!

And if you didn’t win THIS giveaway, hang in there kitty — December is bringing the best giveaways I’ve ever had! So keep reading and keep entering!

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Isn’t she lovely?

The beaming bella you see above is my homegirl Andrea — brilliant blogger of Fly, creator of awesome natural hair You Tube videos, and now creator of unique art that you can proudly adorn your walls with.

These prints are available to you at Andrea’s online store for the I Love My Hair project! This all began as a project for her thesis class, as Andrea herself explains in this post.

I love learning about the artistic process, and Andrea remains a continual inspiration. Her prints range from $25 to $30, and would make a fabulous gift for any Afrobella in your life during this holiday season (don’tcha think?)

Click here to get yours!

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As a plus size fashionista, I’ve respected your hustle for a while now. For years you’ve produced a steady and reliable line of plus size essentials. Tees, jeans, on-trend blouses. I’ve been there as a purchaser when you respected my demographic and sold plus size garments in your stores. And when you made women’s plus exclusively online I will admit, I felt shunned — but I continued to buy. Because I knew, if I was looking for an affordable, comfortable and chic tee, Old Navy would always be there for me with the right item at the right price.

So consider me outraged that you’d try to slide in an item like this super chic belted wool-blend cape — and have the audacity to charge $129 for it.

Those are Gap prices. Venturing into Banana Republic territory.

Old Navy, what are you doing? That prices doesn’t even look right as the cape shares screen space with its outerwear peers — which currently max out at $82.

Old Navy, for years I have loved you as the kind of store I could spend $100 and at least get an entire outfit from. Maybe more, if I really rummaged through the clearance aisle. I see you trying to elevate your style game with this admittedly trendy-yet-classic cape, but really. This is wool-blend. Not even 100% wool. And for an item that’s only sold online that I can’t try on or touch…ich don’t think so.

Consider this some friendly advice from a frequent and fond consumer — stay in your lane and consider your consumer. It’s entirely possible to step up your designs and still remain as affordable as ever. I’m sincerely hoping you find a way. Until then, I’ll be biding my time until this cape comes down to under $50 on clearance. My day will come, if I just wait a while.

Bestest,
Afrobella

PS: my curvy homegirl Marie Denee feels the same way.

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Adopting a dog or cat can mean companionship, sure…but did you know that bringing a pet into your home can mean health benefits, too?

It’s true! According to the CDC, having a pet can decrease your blood pressure, and your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Pets can also increase your tendency to go out, make friends, and get exercise. (Of course, this is more true for dogs than cats. While some people have luck walking their cats on a leash, my Max would never allow a harness within 10 feet of him).

The benefits of owning a pet can go even further than this, especially if you have kids.

Just this morning I saw this amazing and inspiring video about the noticeable effect of a puppy on a little boy with Muscular Dystrophy.

Physical benefits aside, having a pet can make a difference in other ways. A dog can help to teach your kids more than just responsibility. A dog can help to teach your kids how to read. No, seriously!

From this CNN article:

“It sounds implausible. After all, dogs can’t read. How could they possibly help someone learn a skill that they themselves can’t grasp? But it’s a growing trend, and it seems to be working.

The philosophy is simple. Children who are just learning to read often feel judged or intimidated by classmates and adults. But reading to a dog isn’t so scary. It won’t judge, it won’t get impatient, it won’t laugh or correct if the child makes a mistake. In a nutshell, dogs are simply excellent listeners. And for shy kids or slow readers, that can make all the difference.”

When you’re considering what kind of pet to adopt, most people want a cute puppy or kitten. And young pets are awesome, no doubt. It doesn’t get much cuter! But older pets can be equally if not even more awesome.

Here’s why — you probably won’t have to deal with training issues, with an older pet. Click here to watch an amazing video by Petfinder highlighting the pluses of adopting an older pet.

This month’s Afrobella Animals are older and would make great additions to your life.

Rose is a 4 and a half year old Border Collie with gorgeous copper-chocolate colored fur and soulful eyes. She’s available in Huntley, IL – click here to get her details.

And Bill Clinton is an orange striped tabby cat in Miami. (Tee hee!) He’s available at Miami-Dade Animal Services.

Do you own an older pet? Or had an older pet who made a difference in your life? Tell me about him! I love hearing your stories!

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One of the most popular questions I get from my Trinidadian afrobellas is – where can I get these products you speak of? It’s true – in the USA we’ve got a wealth of natural hair goodness at ready disposal. When these products are imported and sold elsewhere, they’re often marked up to high heaven or imported in quantities that don’t meet demand.

Well Trini bellas, there’s a new store for you to check out. Body Beautiful, a brand new beauty supply store has just opened on Ariapita Avenue. I learned of this via my high school listserv — yes indeed, the owner is an alumni of my high school. Hilarians forever!

The store is offering natural bath, body, and hair care products. I’m not sure if Miss Jessie’s or Curls is available yet, but one of my favorite brands, Kinky Curly, is finally available for sale. Click here to read my review from 2006. Since then the brand has expanded to include some new products (the shampoo, the children’s line, and Midnight Miracle which I think I NEED in my LIFE). For now I’ll just say, start with the Knot Today. It remains one of my natural hair must-haves because it is THAT good.

Click here to check out Body Beautiful’s Facebook page, and if you’re in the neighborhood stop by and get what your hair needs!

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Chicago has been having an unusually warm autumn and this bella is not complaining! It just gives me more time to rock my late-summer gear, and get ready for the cold weather that is inevitably a-coming. I’ve been thinking long and hard about the items I need to enhance my wardrobe, and I realize that I need HELP!

True story: I don’t know how to layer. I think I have it down pat, them my husband looks over my outfit and lets me know that ain’t it. (and he’s not exactly Tim Gunn, so I KNOW I’m struggling).

I apparently don’t realize what kinds of garments I need to get through the upcoming wind and cold with style and self-expression. And I don’t quite get how to put it all together to the most fashionable effect.

So I need help from someone who knows how to WORK IT in Chicago’s unfriendliest season. I’m on the look out for Chicago’s most chic, curvy fashionista, to join me on a shopping spree at TJ Maxx!

For this very unique giveaway, TJ Maxx has provided a $250 gift card for one lucky winner’s purchasing pleasure. The winner will use that $250 and join me in shopping for fall fashion essentials. And we’ll film a little video about our coolest finds, to share with Afrobella readers!

Does that not sound FUN?

So Maxxinistas — mount up! Do you have this cold weather fashion thing down? Leave me a comment describing your personal cold weather style. If you’ve got links to photos online, share with me! I’m going to leave these comments open until Wednesday, and choose a winner ASAP so we can go get our shop on! The air’s getting chilly and I’m ready to be in style before Christmas!

*** edited Wednesday at 8:05 CST – Bellas!! You blew me away with your AWESOME suggestions. I’ll choose a winner by the end of today from the 15 comments received so far, so hang in there! And guess what — I have some GREAT giveaways coming up next, so keep reading, keep entering and if it isn’t your turn this time it might be the next time!

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For real, my cute little ballet flats aren’t gonna cut it anymore in this weather.

Currently I have two pairs of boots, and I’m definitely looking for more.

I’ve been stomping the streets of Chitown in my Knot-Tie Ankle Boots, courtesy of Silhouettes. They’re comfortable, stylish, flat (which is very important for me, with my flat-as-a-board feetsies) and be dressed up or down. I’ve worn these with a little black dress and tights, and I’ve worn em with jeans. They look chic with both! I’ve got my eye on those Double Buckle Sport Boots, too!

I was looking for a cold-weather knee high boot that could keep my feet dry and warm while still looking fly with jeans. Also, I have plus size calves (to support my fabulous plus size body, hello) and I need boots that fit comfortably. Most leather zip-up boots don’t do the job.

I found what I was looking for last week at Bloomingdales! But they’re not on their website for some reason… so here’s a link. My salesfriend at Bloomies (shout out to Danielle!) got a real vibe for what I needed, and clued me into Pajar. She says these boots are known for lasting a long time and withstanding the elements amazingly. They fit like a dream, are made of all man-made materials (no fur for me, thanks!) and cost less than $200! SOLD!

Because of my foot-related issues, I can’t afford to mess around with a pair of boots that are purely fashionable. I need boots that are flat, fly, and functional. Boots that I’ll want to wear regardless of season, that feel good and reflect my funky fashion sensibilities. So right now I’m seriously contemplating investing in a pair of iconic Dr. Martens 14-eye boots. My husband swears by his Dr. Martens, and I know they last forever. The other shoes I’m looking at prefer to be known as “anti shoes.”

The MBT Goti boots have a clunky, funky, retro-futuristic Tank Girl kind of pizzazz, and I’d work them with pride.

MBT stands for Masai Barefoot Technology — the shoes have a curved sole and “activate your muscles instead of undermining them.” Hmmm. I’ve read blog posts that sound a cautionary note, but my curiosity continues unabated. I tried on a pair of MBT’s recently and absolutely loved the sensation as I strolled around the store. But are they comfortable for like, a day of walking around the city and going up and down subway stairs? I wanna know. If you’ve worn a pair of these – leave me a comment and let me know if they’re worth the money!

Those are the boots currently on my radar. They’re not the all-the-rage stiletto heeled over-the-knee variety, but I gotta think of comfort first – because if I’m not comfortable, I don’t feel at my most attractive anyway.

I’ll work on another post for you footwear fiends — all about boots for gals with calves like mine! What kind of boots are you buying for the holidays?

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When I had the opportunity to talk with Doe Deere, also known as Xenia, the creator of controversial cosmetics brand Lime Crime, I was both excited and hesitant.

Excited because her makeup brand has a lot of buzz around it right now — Lime Crime is featured in the November issue of Nylon magazine, and I’ve heard many a beauty blogger rave over the range of crazy colors available in their Magic Dust eyeshadows and Candyfuture Lipsticks.

Hesitant because I’ve also noticed many a beauty blogger talking umbrage with Doe Deere herself, and disparaging Lime Crime as a brand.

You can read some of those posts:

here, at Gothique

here at Funny Face’s Place

here at the Examiner (those comments are off the chain)

here at Jessica Allison’s blog

here at Lipstick and Lightsabers (WHAT a great blog name!)

here at Sparkle is My Crack

here at Sparklecrack Central

and…you get the picture.

But for every hater, there’s a congratulator. There’s an army of Lime Crime and Doe Deere fans out there — say hello to Team Candyfuture! And besides the people who admire Doe’s appearance and personality, there are those who really are intrigued by the makeup itself, all chatter aside. I fall into the latter camp.

I heard of Lime Crime before all of the brou-ha-ha began, and the reason I heard about them was because people were raving over this hot new makeup brand, all packaged in pink with sparkly unicorns, dedicated to super intense pigments and bright colors. And I realize there’s a reason just about every post about Doe Deere online generates hundreds of bickering comments — she’s a fascinating figure. And the creator of a makeup brand that targets a very passionate audience.

When we started our interview, I offered Doe two options. We can start out fun and lighthearted and talk about the makeup itself…or we can wade immediately into the controversy and address it right off the bat. Doe chose the latter.

“From what I’ve seen so far, I’m getting positive responses. I’m getting overwhelming support. And it’s just a handful of people who are all linking to each other, First it was one blog, then there were a few more, but they’re all regurgitating the same stuff,” she declared. Doe is soft spoken, she’s got a charming Russian accent, she’s polite and quite sweet to converse with. But make no mistake, homegirl is about her business, and she has worked hard to build her brand.

I broached the topic of the offensive online comments that had been circulating, supposedly written by Doe herself. One that only an extremely foolish businesswoman would write. She denied writing that outright, and in no uncertain terms.

“Certainly not. I would at least know my own company’s name and how to spell it. It’s Lime Crime. Two words,” she retorted, much to my relief.

Doe carefully applying lashes on her model, Atim

That’s one of the major things that’s been bugging me about the complaints against Lime Crime — e mails and online comments supposedly left by Doe seemed so misguided, and out of character for someone who presents themselves as being dedicated to their business. A business owner leaving public messages in which they refer to their customers as idiots = business suicide in this online age. It didn’t make sense to me, and Doe was quick to refute it.

“The only reliable source of information is my blog and my Twitter. I do not comment on other blogs. So any comments that are being passed around aren’t from me.”

“I built my brand on the internet, and I of all people would recognize the power of the internet. I am an internet phenomenon. So I knew I had to address this directly, online,” she explained, in reference to the YouTube video she recently released, in which she speaks out against the critics.

To counteract the accusations that Lime Crime was merely repackaging makeup made by wholesale companies, Doe released a YouTube video in which she makes eyeshadow and a post on her blogazine titled So How Do You Make Lipstick? — and that’s where she draws the line.

“I think they have set an unreasonable standard. Of course I am not going to tell you who is my manufacturer, what are my formulas. Not alot of companies would be as open as I have been. But from now on, I will document every single thing I make.”

Lest you think making makeup is a glamorous task, Doe assures me — “It can be quite laborious and tedious.”

The whole Lime Crime controversy and interview made me realize — WOW this is a world I am completely unfamiliar with. Also, I really don’t think enough about makeup. Or what goes into it. For the most part (with obvious exceptions like Valana Minerals and B.L.A.C, brands I’ve blogged about before), I tend to wear mainstream brands that are available in the drugstore or department store. And it has never occurred to me to try to find out — hey, can I find a replica for Bobbi Brown or MAC or NARS or Kat Von D’s makeup or Lauren Luke’s makeup from a cosmetics pigment wholesaler and make it myself, at home? But there are ardent makeup fans who are doing just that — swatching, comparing and experimenting, blogging about their experience and repping niche makeup brands that truly provide something for everyone. That is awesome. The internet, it is vast and amazing. And I learn something new from it every day.

I knew there was much more I could ask Doe about the online witch hunt going on against her, I could have asked her more about the ongoing Mineral Makeup Mutiny and her thoughts on what else she could do to appease her critics…but I honestly don’t know enough about this online world and the manufacturing of cosmetics to ask more pointed questions. She was certainly willing to answer them, and I appreciated that. But I was ready to talk about this makeup!

Lime Crime is not for the timid. It’s for the young and the young at heart, girly girls who love pink and unicorns and bright colors, who may cite Rainbow Bright or Punky Brewster as style influences. As Doe describes it, it’s “statement makeup.”

I was lucky enough to review two Lime Crime lipsticks, so allow me to break down my results for you.

The packaging is SUPER cute and in the tube the colors are vibrant. On my lips, My Beautiful Rocket was way more subdued than I hoped.

Apparently I need a deeper orange to really make an impact on my skin tone. Also I tend to have dry lips that are prone to peeling…this particular lip color called attention to my peeling lips RIGHT AWAY. I had to rub it off, scrub my lips (a little MAC Volcanic Ash Scrub worked marvelously), then reapply. And the claim that the lipsticks go from tube to lips in one stroke…that didn’t happen for me with My Beautiful Rocket. I had to really layer it on, for it to be even and opaque on my lips.

I think this color would work best for those with lighter complexions, or darker complexions. On a darker skin tone this color would pop! On me it just kind of looked peachy and regular.

But Centrifuchsia, that was a whole different story! Here I am, trying to give you fierce.

Did that work? I was trying to “smile with my eyes”!

I really like this color. I went into it expecting an uber bright obnoxious fuchsia, but instead it turned out to be really wearable and the kind of lippie that would add fun impact to my winter wardrobe. And it lived up to the claim, and totally covered my lips with high impact color with one stroke. REALLY high impact color. In fact, I washed my face, went to bed, and woke up the next day to find my lips were still really, really pink. This worked almost like a lip stain, for me. So if you’re looking for a hot pink lippie that lasts, this could be it.

Lime Crime lipsticks are smooth, not drying (but I always slick on a little regular balm first, because of my dry lips), and the packaging is youthful, fun, super cute. They cost $16 a tube.

What’s next for Lime Crime? Lots.

“We are coming out with an expansion line of our lipsticks. There are going to be a lot of surprises — colors that are wearable, but still unusual. I mean, it’s Lime Crime!” says Doe.

Now that she’s been fashion forward and released the wildest colors in the wheel, is Lime Crime going back to make the kind of colors that are considered more traditionally wearable?

“It’s not going back, it’s going forward! But before it was about being as bright as possible. Now it’s about sheen, or how about a duo tone. Now it’s not as loud. It’ll be a more well rounded collection.”

And there you have it. The stunning model of color you see in photos above is Atim Birungi – I love her hair, I love her lips, I love her style! Gorgeous! And if you click on the Lime Crime site, you can see her lips modeling different lipstick shades, to give you an idea of the color impact on women of varied ethnicities.

Now that you know the Lime Crime story from Doe’s perspective, what do you think? Would this be a brand you support? Or do you agree with the dissidents? I would love to hear your views either way — and Doe’s reading, too! If you’re new to Afrobella — hello and welcome! I do monitor my comments closely for profanity and offensive content. But if you’ve got some respectful and constructive advice for Doe, or her makeup brand in general, please feel free to leave a comment!

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