Color of the week

L'Oreal Paris Wishing Pink

Bold, fun, flirty (it last for a week with no chips)

This is OPI's new fall collection called Espana. Please be sure that I will definitely be in the nail salon and give you an update on how it looks before the weekend.

Which color should I choose Conquistadorable Color or Manicurist of Seville????

Be Aware

Check out these pink shades of RL's that Eva Mendes is sporting! Oct= breast cancer awareness (So look into companies that support and buy, wear, and love pink)...it takes one person to stand up for a good fight and the rest will follow...

Would you Rock 'em????

MACs Expensive Pink

Pink on Brown Skin makes me say yummie! Will make any girl feel EXPENSIVE!

Add a hint of gold to the brow bone and you are good money!

Fashion Week NYC {PRE} - Alchemy Social Club

Because before the major designers of the world became who they are today, they were up and coming
-Diane Nicoletti and Emily Vogelzang

Calling all aspiring designers. Alchemy Social Club {Pre} Fashion Show was the perfect runway for up and coming designers Caycee Black, Jenny Hwa, and Brookleynn Starnes to put their best foot forward and showcase their fabulosity. This show was anything but dull. It was fresh, fun, chic, classy, and environmentally conscious.

Caycee Black's collection includes chic feminine, silky fabrics that falls perfect over any silhouette. the fabrics were soft to touch and they had tons of movement. Although her designs have femme personas, each piece has tons of pow. Caycee uses unique architectural patterns, paired with colors such as black, white, and blue, to add zest and pizazz.



Caycee Black, the designer



A silky, feminine from office to after party look by Caycee




Unique, architectural design with the use of simple colors such as Black and White by Caycee Black

To take it up a notch, Brookleynn Starnes the designer for Cloak and Dagger adds a hint of neon colors to her design to keep them fun, flirty, and fresh. her pieces are comfortable and effortlessly classy.



Brookelynn, the designer for Cloak and Dagger



Neon pink, chic dress by Brookleynn Starnes



Fun, Frilly yet classy neon skirt by Brookleynn Starnes


Loyale's designs are "down to earth"- literally and figuratively. Jenny Hwa pieces are made with eco-materials. She creates simple pieces that makes getting dressed easy and enthusiastic. Loyale has been featured in Lucky, Vogue, and many more.



For more details about this event and other fashion news head over to ladolce-vita.blogspot.com

Mega Growth

Lustrous locs, viva-voom lashes, and clean kept nails naturally all in one bottle.

Hot Beauty

The latest obsession is fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish. This gentle exfoliating body scrub is infused with a refreshing smell. fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish gives you an instantaneous, yet long lasting glow and softness. It is not a "right-now" kind of soft and supple feeling. Your silky, smooth skin will last beyond a day or two. With continuous use you can say good bye to dry skin because fresh hydrates your skin. After one use, it is a proven fact that you will have more than D'Angelo singing "I want some of your Brown Sugar"

More than Hope in a Jar

Want to save money and time trying to reverse damaged tresses?
Looking for a miracle product that will make your strands bouncy and healthy?
The search is over because Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment has come to the rescue.



I have been using this product for a month now. It makes my hair so shiny and it prevents breakage and weak ends. After recently getting a short cropped cut, i noticed that my hair is growing back fuller and healthier than ever before. I tend to use it as a deep conditioner. A day/the night before I wash my hair, I slather on a small amount then comb through. I roller set and style it as I usually would.

You can purchase it at Sephora in NYC.

Organic Beauty

Light brown oval shape. Light enough to put in your lunch bag without feeling cluttered. Filled with Vitamins and other nutritional benefits. Who would have known that something so small can be so mighty?

The almond is a species of a tree of the genus Prunus. It is native to the Middle East. Although referred to as a nut, the almond fruit seed is not a nut. The almond has many beneficial factors. A well balanced diet should consist of almonds for good reasons.



1. Protein Powerhouse
A 3/4 cup of almonds have more protein than a boring egg. This is important for skin complexion, hair and nail growth/strength, as well as brain health.

2. Promotes a Healthier Diet
Almonds are nutrient dense "nuts" so they help you to feel full faster and longer, which in turn can help you to loose weight.

3. Antioxidant Punch
It contains both Vitamin E and flavanoids (can also be found in green tea) which is key to an overall great healthy heart.

Beauty starts from within and illuminates it's way to the exterior. How about you give your "insides" a quick fix, then the rest will shine through?!

Weekend in Review

The girl made the pin and the suitcase, the suitcase and pin definitely didn't make her. The latest Closet Jane girl, Nicole Williams, is ready to take over the runway so make room Chanel Iman and Jourdan Dunn because it's time for this new sophisticated, stunning, and elegant beauty to show what she is truly made of. There is no such thing as the "death" of the black model on the runway. Black and beautiful will always withstand the test of time. Nicole's beauty is timeless and so will her career as a model. If you don't believe me then check it out yourself. Head over to ClosetJane.com because we all know that the proof is in the pudding!

Weekend in Review

My sister gave an awesome bus ride to Lake Compounce, an amusement park in Bristol, CT. It was an inexpensive way to get away from the city without sepnding a fortune. There were lots to do from eating fried oreos, candy apples, and funnel cake to getting on water rides and jumping more than 60 feet from a pole. If you missed it, look at some pics and plan to be there next year.


Sling Shot.Whoa! High High????


A little prayer before.


Wait how many feet?!?!


Gearing Up


Going up!


That was easy :)


Slush time


Face Painting



Boulder Dash (nothing beats an old creaky wooden roller coaster)

Top Five's

Money and jobs are hard to come by nowadays. Times are rough. So why not entertain yourself and escape the gruesome reality with great reads???? While reading a book you can use your imagination to transform into a new person, and visit places and experience things that you can't afford right now.

Check out some hot Summer reads that I have been passing around in my inner circle:


*Funny and true love story that many women can relate to



*A personal account of life in Sudan



*This is the first book I fell in love with in High School. I loved it then and I love it now.



*If you are into sisterhood and unity, this is it!



*Self Explanatory

Do you have any must haves or old archive books?

If so, list them below because I'm always looking for something other than t.v. to pass the time!

Top Five's

Full coverage lip gloss for dry, flaky lips: $2


African Shea Butter for cracked heels and ashy elbows: $6.50


24 hour softening, moisturizing and refreshing body wash: $5


Salon quality nail polish for a do at home mani/pedi: $2



Knowing that you can pamper yourself with great, affordable products: PRICELESS!

And that's not even the best part about it. With one click of a button, while sitting on the couch watching your favorite TV show, all of these products can be yours. Just visit AVON.com to order these products. You can order through Tai Sweat (my sister) @ AVON.COM (youravon.com/tsweat)

Tidbit: I use every product above. That Brown Sugar Lip Gloss makes my full lips pop even more. I hear that the African Shea Butter Scrub works wonders for dry, cracked heels. But I wouldn't know because I don't have that problem ;o)

Weekend in Review

There were a few barbeque's, some fireworks, and lots sun, but this weekend I also made some room for Kumo Sushi. Kumo is a sushi restaurant located on 72nd street between Amsterdam and Columbus avenue. From the outside you would think that it is just another "hole in the wall." But let me tell you this is not just another shabby eatery. In this case, looks are definitely deceiving. The inside of the restaurant is very ornate. the atmosphere is serene and warm. To me, this reasonable priced sushi spot is so divine. For those of you who are on a budget this is the place to be. They have a lunch special that runs from 11-4:30 p.m. You can choose 2 rolls for $7.00 dollars or 3 for $10 dollars. You have over twenty choices to choose from. And for those of you who can't make the lunch special don't fret, you can still have dinner for two for under $30 dollars. The sushi is so delicious, and very filling. They even have fried ice cream (aka Ice Cream Tempura). This is the kind of dessert that makes your toes curl. But you'll never know until you try. Be sure to take me along...







Kumo


Some decor



decor


Salad


Soy Sauce


Shrimp and Asparagus Roll, Chicken Tempura Roll


Shrimp and Asparagus Roll, Chicken Tempura Roll


Fried Ice Cream

Essence Fashionista's

New York is known to have the most fashionable diva's. Real women have style, pizazz, and can stop traffic just like many of the celebrities. It doesn't take a big bank account, or a stylist to make you stand out from the millions of people in New York. All you have to do is have a few essential pieces in your wardrobe.

Here's a list of my top five for Summer 2009:
1. White Button Down Shirt

2. Timeless Black Dress

3. Wedge Sandals

4. Aviator Shades

5. Colorful Headbands


You can also, go over to ESSENCE STREET STYLE (click here) to check out how I get down when I'm heading to the office.