LoveBrownSugar

Ask LBS: How Do I Start A Blog? 5 Easy Steps

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:05:00 +0000

It's the last day of January everyone! Yes, we're officially one month into 2012. Raise your hand if you haven't given up on your New Year's Resolutions yet! Mmhmm...thought so.

So at the beginning of the year, I received quite a few emails from readers who were empowered this new year to start blogs. First of all, I'm so incredibly excited to hear that many of you are embarking on the blog journey in 2012. It's an awesome one. Not easy and not for everyone, but if you do it right, you'll love it. So here are my top 5 tips for starting a blog...

1. Start with a passion.

Finding your niche and sticking to it is one of the absolute best things you can do when starting a blog. I mentioned this one in my Ask LBS: How Do I Get My Blog Noticed post. Considering how congested it is on the internet these days, the only way to attract new followers is to somehow be different. Express your true passions and not only will you love it, but the people who read your site will come to love it as well.

2. Find others + connect.

Me & blogger friends at FNO 2011 (read post here)

The amazing thing about blogging is that you don't have to go it alone. In fact, making friends and connecting with people who have similar interests can help put your blog over the edge. Poll any successful blogger, and you'll undoubtedly find that a large source of their incoming traffic comes from...gasp...other websites! Digital friends are some of the greatest assets you can have. They'll promote your site for you, attend events with you, and even snap pics for you. So don't be shy, get social. Literally. Use social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr and more to meet new people who share interests similar to yours. You might have a broad interest like fashion, for example. But is there something specific you can drill down to? If you're true love is indie fashion under $50, that's much more specific and there are groups and communities dedicated to finding others just like you.

3. Choose the right host.

So this is the big question plaguing the blogosphere. Which blog host is best? Honestly, there are blogs hosted on Blogger that do equally as well as ones hosted on Wordpress, that do equally as well as ones hosted on Tumblr...and I can go on and on. Use whichever host suits your needs! If your primary concern is monetization of your site, you might consider Wordpress and Blogger hosting better for you. If you just want to express yourself creatively, Tumblr might work best for you. If you're better in front of the camera, consider a YouTube channel. Evaluate the pros & cons of each, then go with the flow!

4. Get the right tools.

Source: MyDamnBlog

If you're a foodie and you're creating a blog about your adventures sipping cappuccinos and trying the latest prime rib in your city, you might want to invest in an amazing camera to document your food journey. If your blog focuses on interviewing really cool people, you might need to have a tape recorder in your arsenal. Think long and hard about the type of content you plan to post, and what tools you'll need to make that content as engaging as possible.

5. Just Do It!

Source: I Have A Degree In This

Don't delay or wait for "just the right timing". Unless your blog is based around a product launch or a huge event, do it now! There are people out there waiting to hear what you have to say. Live, blog and be merry.

So there you have it! My top five recommendations for starting a new blog. Anything to add? Share with the group in the comments section!

LoveBrownSugar Chic: Spikes & Stripes

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:58:00 +0000

I'm at it again with another statement cape. What can I say? The post-Xmas sales had me at hello...

I scored both this Pendleton cape and these Deena & Ozzy spiked booties at Urban Outfitters. I love the subtle pops of color the cape adds to any ensemble. And a statement platform is always a plus in my book. Height, style & comfort = win.

Cape: Pendleton via Urban Outfitters (Buy HERE). Shirt: H&M. Tights: Old Navy. Platforms: Deena & Ozzy via Urban Outfitters (Buy HERE). Bag: H&M. Snake Cuff: H&M. Ring: Street Vendor.

Photography by Ugonna Igweatu

Kickin' It: Tiffany & Co Launch Party

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:10:00 +0000

Last night I had the pleasure of attending Tiffany & Co's launch party for their new gallery True Love in Pictures launching on WhatMakesLoveTrue.com. Curated by lovers & street style photographers Garance Dore and Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist, the gallery focuses on capturing true love and celebrating it (so cute).

Source: WhatMakesLoveTrue.com

I'm not gonna lie, I was most hyped about seeing Solange DJ (as I always am - check out this post from Fashion's Night Out, love her!) and taking pics at the photo booth. Solange wore an absolutely stunning Christopher Kane neon dress. She looked amazing, per usual.

I went with one of my blogger besties Jessica of Glamazons Blog.

We had a blast taking pics at the photobooth, and of course being surrounded by jewelry worth more than our own homes...

I rocked my fave new Zara cape, a turban and my new hair! If you follow me on Twitter, you probably know since I tweeted about this on Sunday. The birthday is coming up so I had to turn up the drama. More updates on the new 'do to come!

Be sure to check out the WhatMakesLoveTrue website as well as the Tiffany & Co Facebook page for pics from the event and from the new gallery!

LoveBrownSugar Chic: Harlem Daze

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:24:00 +0000

The other night at a friend's house, I sat and watched Eddie Murphy's 1989 film "Harlem Nights". I found myself paying absolutely no attention to the dialogue and being engrossed in the amazing costume design. Sometimes I think in my former life, I was a speakeasy regular during the late 20's. Diamond headpiece and feather boa included.

Living in such a historic neighborhood for black culture like Harlem, I find myself wandering the streets of Striver's Row to marvel at the century-old brownstones and picturing myself at a cocktail with the likes of Zora Neale Hurston or Langston Hughes.

Leather Dress: H&M (similar look for $62). Wool Cape: Zara (On sale $39.99, Zara.com). Bag: Elliot Luca (similar look here for $128). Watch: Michael Kors. Shoes: Steve Madden (buy here - only $41.98). Necklace: Street Vendor (similar Modcloth version, $14.98). Ring: Versace for H&M (similar).

Photography by Ugonna Igweatu

Flavor of Friday: Rachel Roy Supports OrphanAid + Keys To Success

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:01:00 +0000

Happy Friday loves! This week has been filled with ups & downs but this morning I was inspired by one of my favorite designers Rachel Roy. Not only is she a designer, entrepreneur and super-mom, she's also a celebrated philanthropist. Read on for inspiration:

New Year + More Risks = New You

For those of you who need that extra boost of confidence before taking risks this year, I highly suggest you read Rachel's recent post for Stylelist. In it, she talks about some of the challenges she faced when starting her line and how empowering it can be to take a risk, even when you're scared you will fail. As someone who struggles with taking risks and leaving my comfort zone, I found this so inspirational.

Rachel Roy Supports OrphanAID

In honor of Rachel's birthday on Jan. 15th, she kicked off this awesome campaign in which she donates $1 to OrphanAid Africa for every new email subscriber on her Facebook page. OrphanAid Africa is a non profit organization dedicated to helping children to grow up in safe, permanent family settings. On top of that, 15 lucky subscribers will receive one of these luxe "Kindness Is Always Fashionable" Ghana clutches, of which 100% proceeds go back to the charity.

Click here to signup: Rachel Roy Facebook

That's the tea on this fine Friday. What motivated you this week? Soundoff below!

A Tale of Two Must-Haves: Hair & Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:18:00 +0000

So a few of you lovelies have been asking which lip color I rocked in my last outfit post "Cosby Steaze". Then it dawned on me that I haven't done a review of it although I've been rocking it faithfully for about a month now. I've also been getting tons of questions about the hair products I used to do my natural up-do. Alas, a tale of two must-haves...

So my new red lip, ladies, is none other than Covergirl Lip Perfection in Hot Passion. It was gifted to me by Robert Verdi at his annual Holiday Twitter Party and I've been hooked ever since!

With my complexion, it gives off an orangey-red that I'm not really used to but I love. It's a bright, look-at-me red that works really well for weekends and special occasions when you want to be the center of attention. And it works for multiple complexions - Shyema of Beauty and the Feast reviewed it also and it looks great on her.

As for the hair, I'm head over heels for Beija Flor Naturals Creme Brulee for Kinks, Coils & Curls. Beija Flor was nice enough to send over a jar for my review, and it is the first styler I've found that actually hydrates my hair while shaping it!

It's 100% all-natural, it doesn't leave an oily residue, and I can use it for twist-outs, braid-outs, smoothing down my edges, and everything in between.

Huge shoutout to Natural Chica for recommending this product - I'm officially a stan. You can buy it HERE, for only $12.95 a jar. Look out for a full video review of the product coming soon to LoveBrownSugarTV.

Ladies, what are two of your latest hair & beauty must-haves? Do tell!

LBS Beauty Review: Essie Aruba Blue

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:33:00 +0000

My new favorite blue. It's that happy middle ground between navy and royal blue. Loves it.

Ring: H&M, Nail Color: Aruba Blue by Essie, $8.00

(Purchase HERE)

You guys have any favorite blue polishes? Feel free to share!

LoveBrownSugar Chic: Cosby Steaze

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:19:00 +0000

My favorite vintage sweater this season. When I wear it, I feel like Cliff. With the heels I feel like Claire. No Rudy required.

Sweater: Vintage, Tights: Old Navy, Shoes: Bare Feet Shoes (similar), Bag: Vintage Coach Willis Bag (buy here), Watch: Michael Kors, Bracelet: Linea Pelle, Ring: RACHEL Rachel Roy

LBS Beauty Review: Incoco Nail Appliques

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:08:00 +0000

My life changed forever after discovering nail appliqués. If you're like me, and you consider nails an accessory, you can't live your life without them. My first nail appliqué experience took place while I was an editor at Honey Magazine and Incoco was actually the brand I used. Yes, Incoco broke my nail appliqué virginity and ever since, I've been hooked. Although I love many of the other brands out there, including Sally Hansen - blogged about them here - and Sephora, I think Incoco offers an awesome array for prints and colors. Here's are the 5 simple steps I take to put them on:

1. Start out with a clean slate. The cleaner and less oily your nails, the better these will adhere to your nail and the longer they will stay on.

2. Unwrap your strips. I used Incoco's Design Manicure in Rush for my mani. Love it!

At this point, you should examine the size of each strip and match them up to your finger size.

(Tip: Save the extras! You can use them as accent nails when you do a regular mani, or for touch ups in case one falls off)

3. Peel outer layer. Gently lift off the plastic protective barrier to unveil the nail strip.

4. Smooth the strip on. So, this can get tricky. You want to make sure to smooth it on in a downward motion, making sure to get the strip centered and pushing down into the corners from the cuticle down.

5. Smooth & Go. After smoothing on each strip, file off the excess and keep smoothing until all air bubbles are gone. If you follow these steps you should have a perfect 10! No drying time - holler.

Have you guys tried Incoco? Would you?

SHOP Incoco HERE | Facebook | Twitter

Solange Knowles Lands Modeling Contract

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:50:00 +0000

Source

Congrats to my girl (bff in my head) Solange Knowles! According to Vogue UK, the natural diva just landed a modeling contract with Next Model Management. How major is that? This means we may see her beautiful face attached to national fashion & beauty campaigns soon. Who knows? She might be strutting the runways at fashion week. She betta WORK!

Here's what she had to say about her new gig:

“Artistic expression is invaluable to me in all walks of my career and I am so excited to continue to develop this path along with such an amazing team at Next Model Management. I feel right at home working with people who have worked beside such creative forces in the world.”

Between the new gig and becoming an Aunt this week, I'd say Solo is on a roll.

What do you think?

Source: HuffPost BV

Cover Girls: Keke Palmer for VIBE Vixen

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:16:00 +0000

I'm absolutely obsessed with Keke Palmer on the cover of VIBE Vixen. They're handpicking some of my favorite ladies this season, huh? Their first Dec/Jan cover reveal was none other than classy & chic Tracee Ellis Ross (see it here).

Now taking a younger spin on the issue's cover is actress and singer Keke Palmer. She chatted it up with VIBE Vixen about her love life & new projects in 2012:

On meeting her boyfriend…

One day Patrick [Johnson, Jr.] came to the set of True Jackson VP, and he brought Rodney, my boyfriend, with him. My mouth dropped when I saw him, and I’m just like, Keke, control yourself! [Laughs] I was 15 years old at the time, and he was 19, so we didn’t talk or anything like that. I just always had a huge crush on him. Then when I was like 17, I talked to my parents ’cause my mom was like, ‘If you want to date somebody, I guess the oldest age would be 21.’ I just couldn’t believe that she said that to me. It really almost made my heart skip a beat because I always liked him.

On her upcoming role in A Virgin Mary…

We haven’t started to film it yet, but I’m very excited because this is something new for me. People have always known me, as I said, as Keke Palmer the “good girl.” In this movie, I’m not necessarily being a huge slut, but my character is just that. She’s like, ‘I’m a sex enthusiast. That’s who I am,’ but the reason why I chose this film was because it’s different from what everybody knows me as. And this character spoke to me because she was funny, she was likeable… Even if I didn’t play the character, you would immediately love her because she’s just lovable. It’s almost like [Draya] on Basketball Wives LA. People can say whatever they want about her, but you like Draya because that’s who she is. You either like her or you don’t. No fronting, no nothing.

Read the full interview at VIBE Vixen

Does anyone else love Akeelah...I mean Keke? (remember Akeelah & the Bee? Lol)

LoveBrownSugar Chic: Navajo Fresh

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:41:00 +0000

Yes, another post about a poncho. Yes, I'm obsessed with them. No, I'm not ashamed.

Perfect attire for early-evening strolls in Central Park on the weekend...

One size fits all...

Hoodie & fringe included...

Good outfit day guaranteed.

Poncho: H&M, Leggings: Old Navy, Boots: ALDO, Chain: Vintage, Watch: Michael Kors, Studded Bracelet: Linea Pelle, Flower Ring: Versace for H&M

Props to Christina Topacio of ProfreshStyle for snapping these lovely pics of me. Had a ball with her and Gabi of Gabifresh, in Central Park on this Saturday.

LBS Beauty: My Everyday Look

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:46:00 +0000

As you guys know, I'm no beauty guru. I'm a novice at best. But over the course of the last few years since my interest in makeup has grown, I've developed a few tips, tricks & product faves of my own. I can now say I have a steady arsenal of drugstore (and a few pro) makeup products I love. Cheap & chic. So, here it is. My simple, everyday makeup look:

1. Face: First I start out with a spot clean. I use Covergirl Queen Collection Natural Hue concealer to dab under the eyes and over any other problem areas.

2. I complete the base with Makeup Forever HD foundation & Mac Oil Control lotion. (Over the summer, my Twitter fam suggested I use this combination as a tinted moisturizer and I've been hooked ever since!) It gives me a clean finish, it's not cakey and it's moisturizing without being super oily.

3. Cheeks: Next I add just a slight hint of color on my cheeks. I use Stila One Step color. I love this product because it triples as an eye, lip and cheek tint. Works best for me as a light blush.

4. Eyes: I move on to the eyes next with an eyeshadow primer and a nice neutral in either frosty brown or beige. Those colors work well with my complexion and they're neutral enough for work but fancy enough for after-work drinks. I'm in love with Urban Decay's YDK eyeshadow. It's a great frosty beige.

Optional: Sometimes I line my eyes with cream black shadow - just to make my eyes more pronounced. Depends on my mood as well as the richness of my lip shade. The deeper my lip shade, the less likely I'll be to line my eyes.

5. Lashes: I finish the eye look with a nice defining mascara like Covergirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara. I have pretty long lashes already so I normally spring for a "defining" or "curling" mascara as opposed to a lengthening one. (I save the dramatic mascara for special occasions)

6. Lips: To add some pop to my everyday, I spring for a statement lip. More times than not, I'll do a red with a matte or creamy satin finish. From time to time I'll switch up with a berry lip or a pink pout. But red is a classic. On this particular day, I went with Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Fifth Avenue Fuschia.

For tips on getting a smooth, perfect pout - check out my Top 5 Tips for Kissable Lips!

I start out by applying moisturizer, then lining my lips (or using a lip brush to trace my outer lips with my lipo color first), then I fill in with my color of choice and blot off the excess and I'm out!

What's your everyday regimen? What do you do different? Soundoff below!

How To Create A Vision Board: Part III

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:58:00 +0000

Happy New Year everyone! Can you believe it's 2012 already? I'm so incredibly happy you guys have been my faithful readers for another year and I'm wishing you the utmost success & happiness in 2012. So far Ive instructed you on how to make a vision board (Part I) and I've showed you how it helped me (Part II). To close out my How To Create A Vision Board series, I'm shining the spotlight on you! I had an open call for people to submit pictures and stories of how they did their own vision boards, and how they've achieved success. I received some amazing submissions from three special ladies. Here they are:

Ty of GorgeousInGrey.com writes:

I just read your post and I wanted to share a picture of my mini vision board that I created on my journal. I wanted to be filled with positive vibes so I put different words and things on the inside of my journal.

I even put the logo to our local newspaper, just because it was the letter b and my former last name is Brown. So I started actually reading the paper and thought about contributing.. about 4 months later I emailed the editor with ideas and I'm now a freelance writer for them.

Mia Anita of Bigger Than Hair and The Style Edit writes:

My board focuses A LOT on career paths and professional goals and desires. It has a touch of spiritual and romance but not as much as the financial, career, etc.

Last year when I still lived in L.A., I had a vision board party for my close friends. I didn't tell them what we were doing, I just led them to believe it was a normal girls night event I usually had but just with a bunch of magazines. I then revealed what we were doing and we got to cutting. The process of creating the vision board really put into perspective of a persons goals or lack thereof. It makes you sit back and began a goal oriented thinking process that everyone doesn't do automatically.

Blake of BlakeVonD writes:

I'm submitting a pic of my vision JOURNAL. I wanted to give the traditional vision board a little twist (see her post here). I like this idea because I can carry it around with me AND write down things that are important to me/pertain to those goals. I love the idea of having them in the same place. And I can add to it as the year goes on! :)

And there you have it ladies & gents! If the vision board concept can work for them, it can work for you. Do what suits your lifestyle best. Just remember to stay focused and all your dreams & desires will come true for you - one after another.

P.S. If you're a fellow blogger, check out my post on IFB - 5 Tips For Creating a Blog Vision Board That Works. Similar to my series, but more focused on blog goal-setting!

LoveBrownSugar's Project 365 Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:58:00 +0000

It's officially the end of the year ladies & gents! If you recall in January, I referenced a project I was planning to pursue this year called Project 365. Basically, I vowed to try 365 new things this year, and to document them via pictures. Although I didn't quite track or document all 365, I did have an amazing year. From celeb sightings, to summer reading lists to worldwide travel & beauty discoveries - I came, I saw, I conquered. And thanks to my handy dandy cell phone, I've got pics to prove it. Anyway, here's a 36-picture glimpse of my 2011:

Here's to a successful 2011, and an even better 2012. Happy New Year everyone!

LoveBrownSugar Chic: The Statement Poncho

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Once upon a time, there was a girl-who-loved-prints. She obsessed over them and wore them daily - even in the cold bitter days of winter. Although she had maxis, and dresses, and blouses alike, all she ever wanted in life was - a statement poncho.

She searched and she searched to no avail for the perfect fit. But alas, the girl-who-loved-prints, couldn't seem to find the perfect wool cape for her. Like Goldilocks, she tried and tried but each one was either "too big" or "too small", "too hot" or "too cold". The girl-who-loved-prints thought all hope was lost...

When suddenly, on a haphazard excursion to the wilderness of Urban Outfitters, she stumbled upon...the one. She grabbed it and never looked back.

And they lived happily ever after...

Poncho: Urban Outfitters, Shirt: H&M, Leggings: Old Navy, Boots: ALDO, Infinity Scarf (above): Uniqlo

How To Create A Vision Board: Part II

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:34:00 +0000

I'm back with another one! In Part I of How To Create A Vision Board, I walked through 5 easy steps to putting your visions and goals down on paper. If you haven't checked it out, that's a good place to start (click HERE). In Part II, I'm going to demonstrate from personal experience, how powerful vision boards can be. Below is a representation of what my vision board for 2011 looks like, and in this post I'm going to lay out how I accomplished each and every goal on my board.

Aside from adding in the pretty frame digitally (I didn't have it in a frame this year, but it's actually a pretty chic idea for decoration), this is exactly what I looked at, day after day throughout the 2011 year. I put my visions up in my bedroom on the left side of my bed so I literally saw it when I woke up in the morning and before I went to bed at night. Like I mentioned in Part I, what worked for me was separating my visions into different categories. My three main sections were focused around Career, Health & Beauty. Here's a breakdown of my board:

In this section, I included images of women I look up to, who demonstrate the level of success I want to achieve and images that embody or represent goals I wanted to achieve in my career. Starting from the top left and going clockwise, here's how I accomplished these goals in 2011:

1) Goal: Entrepreneurship
My fave girls Ginger & Liz, who own the nail lacquer line of the same name, represented entrepreneurship for me. Hence the "I'm A Hustler Baby" phrase underneath.

Accomplished: This year, I finally applied and got myself a real business license. On top of that, I placed runner-up in a local business plan competition, which gave me the confidence I needed to know that when I do officially start my business, I'll have support.

2) Goal: Meet DVF
Diane Von Furstenberg represented excellence for me. As a woman of distinction, she really inspires other women to be who they truly want to be. I've also always wanted to go to her show at NY Fashion Week, literally since I was 14 years old.

Accomplished: This year, I met Diane von Furstenberg three times! I was blessed to win a FREE wrap dress at her Fashion's Night Out party (see here). I was privileged to attend her Spring 2012 show at NY Fashion Week (see more here). And I was also selected to participate in her NYC Wrap Rally to launch her Diane fragrance, which garnered major press (see pic below, I'm on the right!)

3) Goal: Become a Contributor
Since I started my career in journalism, I dreamed of becoming a contributor for some of my fave magazines. I added the word "contributors" to my vision board, and also put up a picture of Essence Magazine's Editor-in-Chief at that time, Angela Burt-Murray.

Accomplished: This year was huge for me in regards to contributions. This is the first year I was featured in major national publications! I had an advertorial in Essence Magazine's October Issue:

On top of that, I was quoted as a blogger/expert in Ebony Magazine's Beauty Awards, LoveBrownSugar was declared one of Essence's Top 40 Fashion Blogs, I landed my first article on The Huffington Post and I secured contributor status in a plethora of other publications, which I'm truly proud of.

4) Goal: Travel
This year I wanted to get into worldwide travel. I placed images on my board that represented that, like the main character in Eat, Pray, Love and pictures of the Caribbean. I also put words like "Passport" on there.

Accomplished: This year I visited Ecuador for 10 days (see HERE), and just 3 weeks ago I spent a luxurious weekend on St Thomas and St John. Two unexpected places, but two amazing experiences I'll never forget. And both trips were sponsored, so I was able to do them without suffering financial strain.

1) Goal: Develop a healthy lifestyle
Another major part of my goals for 2011 was improving my health. This year, I focused less on losing weight on more on developing healthy habits like working out regularly, eating less fast food & processed food, and drinking more water.

Accomplished: This year I participated in a 6-week program called NY Lean (see here). On that program I lost 12 lbs in a 6-week period and I felt absolutely amazing. It showed me that these health goals weren't as hard as they seem. I also eat much more organic food, and I barely eat fast food. Of course, there's more work to be done, but I did manage to accomplish a few goals and for that I'm proud.

1) Goal: Stay natural & grow!
As most of you know, I've battled on & off with going natural for over 5 years (see here for my hair journey). I was natural all through college, then I broke down and relaxed my hair when I went into the corporate world. Shortly after that, I regretted it and went natural again. So this year, after doing the big chop in November of 2010, my goal was to maintain my natural tresses, learn more about them and keep my hair growing beautifully.

Accomplished: I grew my hair from teeny weeny afro to almost collar-bone length over the year. I couldn't wait to out my hair in a high bun!

I also successfully waited an entire year until I got my hair straightened or applied any heat to it, which I'm proud of (see my video at Hair Rules Salon here).

All in all, I've had an amazing year and I'm looking forward to a successful 2012. Stay tuned for Part III (update: see it here) where I highlight how others have successfully created vision boards. Have any of you created a vision board? If so, I want to chat with you!

Email luvbrownsugar@gmail.com with either a) a picture of your vision board or b) a story highlighting how it helped you in 2011.

25 Days of LoveBrownSugar: The Winners (Final)

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:29:00 +0000

See if you've won BIG for 25 Days of LoveBrownSugar! Please email 25DaysofLBS@gmail.com with Subject: (Day #), your Name and your Mailing Address to claim your prize!

Note: Please make sure you've fulfilled the correct eligibility requirements for the giveaway you win. If not, I'll have to give your prize to someone else!

Day 1: Honeycat Cosmetics

Winners: Stace, Marie, The Extraordinary Divorcee

Winners: Janelle Andrea, LocalCeleb, Traci

Day 2. dermHA

Winners: melzzzzzzzzz, Tiki_Green, LocalCeleb, kristinajw, Coco pelli

Day 3. Incoco

Winner: Ashley Ratcliffe

Day 4. Maybelline

Winner: Sandy

Day 5. Simply Be

Winner: Jac

Day 6. Glitterrings

Winner: ariez

Day 7. Creme de la Creme Hair

Winner: Pristina

Day 8. Pnk Elephant

Winner: DLee

Day 9. Nicole by Opi Nail Polish

Winner: refaxoxo

Day 10. Maybelline One-by-One Mascara

Winner: kelleashia

Day 11. Dr. Miracles Gift Pack

Winner: I.C.O.F

Day 12. Simply Be (Facebook Only)

Winner: Evelyn Kinnah

Day 13. Mizani Giftpack

Winner: @kkthebaker23

Day 14. Modalistas Accessories

Winners (Clutch) - DLee and Becca_Matey

Winners (Belt) - Baaba's Jule 84 and Ashley

Winners (Scarf) - Nika and LocalCeleb

Day 15. Dark & Lovely Gift pack

Winner: ariez

Day 19: Simply Be (Twitter Only)

Winner: @zadryG on Twitter

Day 20: Carolina Amato Jewelry

Winner: Teena

Day 22: AMBI Skincare

Winners: Whitney K Jordan, ladyt2sweet, kandace388@gmail.com

Day 23: Kera Plus

Winners: Jazzmene Ford, korkor82, Ashley

Day 25: Corioliss

Winner: The Extraordinary Divorcee

Congratulations to all the winners this year! I so appreciate your support and can't wait for next year's round of giveaways. Thanks for being so loyal to LoveBrownSugar!

25 Days of LoveBrownSugar: Day 25

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 13:52:00 +0000

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays everyone! Whichever holidays you observe this season, I wish you happiness & joy with your loved ones. To close out the 2nd Annual 25 Days of LoveBrownSugar series, I'm giving away a Corioliss C1 professional styler, valued at $210.00. Looking for a new look in 2012 - this is the tool for you! Here's it's claim to fame:

The C1 professional styler is ideal for straightening curls or flicks. The 1" wide plate is perfect for all hair types, especially thicker /coarse hair. Titanium technology allow the plates to glide effortlessly over the hair creating smooth results in one pass. Pro-variable control 140-450F allows the user to control the heat for various hair types. The C1 features dual voltage circuitry making it ideal for travel with it's own heat resistant storage pouch.

Comment below for your chance to win!

Eligibility

1. You must follow @LoveBrownSugar on Twitter and/or 'like' LoveBrownSugar on Facebook

2. You must be following @Corioliss on Twitter OR Corioliss Hair on Facebook

P.S. All final winners for 25 Days of LoveBrownSugar will be announced on Monday, December 26th!

25 Days of LoveBrownSugar: Day 23

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:16:00 +0000

Yes, more hair stuff. (I know you love it!) Ladies, get into celebrity stylist Dana Gibbs' new hair care line Kera Plus. The owner of elite salon Dana's Loft, has agreed to give away three sets of her new Keratin-infused line of products. I haven't tried them yet, but they sound amazing. Here's what they're all about:

The Kera Plus Keratin Hair Care Collection is a complete hair care system formulated with high concentrations of keratin as an alternative to expensive salon keratin treatments. The 5 products; Keratin Infused Shampoo, Keratin Infused Conditioner, Keratin Infused Serum, Keratin Infused Masque, and Hair, Skin & Nails Vitamins, work synergistically to maintain a smooth, frizz-free appearance of the hair, while strengthening and improving the hair condition.

Sound interesting? Leave a comment below for your chance to win!

Eligibility

1. You must follow @LoveBrownSugar on Twitter and/or 'like' LoveBrownSugar on Facebook
2. You must be following @danasloft on Twitter and/or 'like' Dana's Loft on Facebook

25 Days of LoveBrownSugar: Day 22

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:26:00 +0000

Today's giveaway is for those who appreciate great skincare products. AMBI skincare is one of my absolute favorite brands for daily cleansing, and nope I didn't say that because they're paying me - it's true! I actually use AMBI Even & Clear Foaming Cleanser every morning and it keeps my skin refreshed, clean and free of acne pretty much all year long. I was given a few product samples when I was an editor at Honey Magazine, and that's been my go-to cleanser ever since. I switch up my moisturizers with the season to suit my skin needs, but their cleanser is a definite winner.

For 25 Days of LoveBrownSugar, AMBI is giving away gift baskets to three lucky winners! The goodies include: Even & Clear Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15, Exfoliating Wash, Fade Cream, and Black Soap with Shea Butter.

Just comment below for your chance to win!

Eligibility

1. You must follow @LoveBrownSugar on Twitter and/or 'like' LoveBrownSugar on Facebook

2. You must be following Ambi on Facebook

FTC Disclaimer: This giveaway is made possible via paid sponsorship by AMBI Products.

25 Days of LoveBrownSugar: Day 20

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:22:00 +0000

Wow, I can't believe there are only 5 DAYS left in 25 Days of LoveBrownSugar. That was quick! Today's faboosh giveaway comes courtesy Carolina Amato Jewelry. This online jewelry retailer has the perfect baubles and bangles to make your holiday dress pop. Check out what they're giving away for one of you lovelies:

Today's giveaway features the super chic Clustered Brilliance ring ($78) - a really nice gift for the ladies. Personally, I fall head over heels for sparkly gems like this one.

Comment below for your chance to win! (And make sure you're eligible, rules below)

Eligibility

1. You must be following @camatojewelry on Twitter and Carolina Amato on Facebook.

2. You must be following @LoveBrownSugar on Twitter and/or 'like' LoveBrownSugar on Facebook.

Tracee Ellis Ross Spills Her Beauty Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:54:00 +0000

If you're obsessed with Tracee Ellis Ross like I am, you'll have an appreciation for this amazing Face Time article that writer Tina Turnbow of the NYTimes recently did of Dr. Carla Reed aka Joan Clayton aka Lady Diana's daughter. I heart Tracee. If you didn't know, now you know. I met her at the premiere for her BET show Reed Between The Lines, and I fell in love. Anyway, here's what she had to spill about her makeup & hair regimen:

TT: Can you tell me about a few products that you and Carla like?
TER: Our favorite lipstick colors are Nars Funny Face and Schiap, and Nars Damned Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. For a natural lip, it’s all about Nars Blonde Venus. And from M.A.C, we like Ruby Woo and the Magenta lip pencil with a bit of lip balm. For mascara,Cover Girl Lash Blast in Very Black is the very best.

TT: How do you keep your hair so fabulous looking?
TER: When I’m not working, I spend a lot of time on my hair. When it’s time for my hair to get some rest, I either wear it in a ponytail, bun or my favorite “milkmaid” braid. My everyday essentials are Kim Kimble satin rubber bands, Bumble and Bumble Quenching Complex leave-in conditioner, Aestelance Hydrate leave-in conditioner. When slicking my hair into a clean pony, bun or braid, I mix a little Moroccanoil with water and smooth it on. The shampoo and conditioners I use depend on how I’m styling my hair — that list is reeeally extensive.

For more about her skincare and beauty regiment, get into the full NYTimes article here.

Also, check out the season finale of BET's Reed Between the Lines tonight at 10PM EST! Word on the street is, Anthony Anderson makes a guest appearance. Plus, I'm sure Tracee will be rocking some head-turning outfits for the finale epi.

How To Create A Vision Board: Part I

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:22:00 +0000

Note: This is not my 2011 vision board, just a digital representation

So this entire year I've been raving about how much creating a vision board at the beginning of 2011 has helped me go above and beyond. It's truly miraculous all I've been able to accomplish this past year as a result of staying focused on attainable goals and literally staring at them everyday. So I'm going to let you in on a little secret: Vision boards work. Seriously. If you don't believe me, keep reading. In this 3-Part series "How To Create A Vision Board", I'm going to walk you through what I did to make mine, how mine helped me achieve success and then finally how others have achieved success using these methods. Happy December - get ready to take 2012 by storm!

Step 1. Decide on your goals for 2012 and write them down.

They should be concrete, attainable, and well thought-out. Don't just throw "Win a Million Dollars" on there. Take a few days to truly reflect on the things that you lacked, the things you really craved for but couldn't have and the things you regretted not pursuing this year. This should drive your goals for next year. Feel free to steal inspiration from people you look up to and admire. There's nothing wrong with that, and they don't have to know. Warning: Positive goals only. If your motivation is to see your ex-boyfriend's new girl fall off of a cliff in 2012, this is not the right exercise for you. You're better off seeing a hit man. Better yet, you might need Jesus. Just saying.

Step 2. Shop for Materials.

Ok, once you've taken some time to reflect on the goals you'd like to accomplish, it's time to go shopping! Head to your local pharmacy, bookstore, and/or craft store to pick up your favorite magazines and other inspiring materials. Search for publications that truly represent your personal goals. Some of my faves for personal/career motivations are Essence, Ebony, Uptown, and Black Enterprise (these publications normally contain images of people I personally wanna be like one day). For fashion, I love Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Nylon, and Lucky. Whatever your goal is, choose mags that center around that theme.

Step 3. Research.

It's time to research the images you'll be looking at all year long and set them aside for Step 4. This is another activity you'll want to set aside at least 2-3 hours for. Remember, your vision board is a year-long image that you'll look at daily. It's a work of art. You want to clip images that really represent your goals and tug at your emotions and motivations when you look at them.

Step 4. Put it together.

Source

So here's the tricky part - you'll want to arrange your vision board so that everything flows together well, and so that it looks pretty. Again, you're going to look at this e-v-e-r-y-d-a-y. It should look as fly as you!

My personal recommendation is to separate different parts of your board based on your goals. In Part II, I'll show you how I did mine but basically you can arrange the images in different sections of your board to correspond with each goal. So for example, have health in the upper right corner, career at the bottom left and spirituality in the middle. Whatever you prefer!

Step 5. Hang It In A Visible Place.

The point of the vision board is just that, vision! You must be able to see your board easily. Hang it in your bedroom, or living room. Wherever you spend the most time, that's where your board should be. If you're a workaholic, keep it at your desk at work! You can even take a picture of it and make it the background wallpaper for your cell phone. Whichever way you choose, just make sure it's easily visible and always in your face. It pays off, trust me.

Stay tuned for Part II (update: see it here) - I'll show you how I put my Vision Board together for 2011 and how each of the goals on my board were achieved this year. In the mean time, have any of you created a vision board? If so, I want to chat with you!

Email luvbrownsugar@gmail.com with either a) a picture of your vision board or b) a story highlighting how it helped you in 2012.

25 Days of LoveBrownSugar: Day 19

noreply@blogger.com (CeCe) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:07:00 +0000

Ok fashionistas, today is your last chance to claim a Simply Be $50 gift card of your own! I've got one more to give away, and this one is for my TWITTER followers only!

All you have to do is the following to be entered:

1. Tweet this message: "Thanks to @LoveBrownSugar #25DaysofLBS I might be taking home a $50 gift card to @SimplyBeUSA!"

2. You must be following @LoveBrownSugar AND @SimplyBeUSA to be eligible.