A Shiny New Year! NYE Look Ideas: Sequins

My mother has had a red sequin dress hanging in her closet for (at least) the past 20 years that she refuses to get rid of.  Growing up I jokingly referring to this as the "Tina Turner Dress", but with age comes wisdom and I now realize that sequins made for more than just the stage!


We are only two and a half weeks away from the year 2013, so it's time to start preparing for the last "hoorah" of the year known as New Year's Eve. Whether your plans involve hosting a party, dinner with loved ones, or releasing your inner ratchet wild child at the club, one thing is for sure--you want to look your best!

Sequins are a festive way to add glamour, sparkle, and a little fun to your wardrobe--qualities that are perfect for crafting your head-turning New Year's Eve look! If you really want to make a statement, choose a bold sequined dress.  If you are not quite ready to scream "Here I Am", opt for a sequin skirt or tank/corset toned down with a blazer, or even save the sequins for your accessories (like this fab clutch and necklace!)

More Asos...

Be on the lookout for more posts on NYE Ideas where I feature metallic and baroque styles!
For additional inspiration, check out last year's NYE post!

OOTD: A Touch of Gold

Blazer: The Limited (similar 1, similar 2) / Tee: Old Navy / Jeans: Old Navy / Boots: Michael Antonio / Bag: The Limited (similar)  / Earrings: Target

The weather has been crazy lately. Who knew it would be 70+ degrees in NC in December? No matter how warm it gets, I just can't bring myself to wear short sleeves, it just doesn't feel right! I threw on a three-quarter sleeved blazer just to keep my mind at ease while keeping cool. I adore this blazer because of its fab gold trim--you can never go wrong with a pop of color!

Throwback Thursday (#TBT): Relaxed Hair Journey (and decision to transition!)

Sometime during my junior year of college (2008) I got really into haircare. I followed countless blogs, created a regimen, and seriously started focusing on healthy hair practices and growing long, beautiful hair. I was still relaxed back then, but I started stretching my relaxers, switched from direct heat to roller sets, and experimented with protective styles (even though I didn't have a name for them back then!). I was active on a few healthy hair social networks including Hairlista.com.  I kinda forgot about the site after I went natural, but today I got a random email saying that I had a new friend request waiting so I logged on just for kicks...Aah, old memories!

I found my old pics from my relaxed hair journey, and a short blog post I did when I was thinking about transitioning!

Take a look:

It is amazing how far I've come from the nervous girl who was scared to commit to transitioning  to being almost 2.5 years fully natural (almost 3.5 years post- my last relaxer)! The best part is that my hair is now longer than it was when I was relaxed!

OOTD: Denim On Denim

For this look I took notes from the Kanye West style book. Mr West is no stranger to the denim on denim look, also known as the "denim tuxedo."  I paired my denim top (one of the most worn items in my wardrobe!) and paired it with some dark gray jeans. I also channeled 'Ye by completing my look with a fresh pair of sneakers...wedge sneakers of course!

Top:  / Jeans: Old Navy / Belt: Old Navy Outlet / Wedge Sneakers: Steve Madden / Earrings: won from Curvy Southerner

Keep Your Lips Soft This Winter: 3 Easy Ways!

Since I've started playing around with lipstick, I've definitely realized the importance of having smooth, soft lips! Cold weather has a funny way causing peeling and cracking that no amount of hydration or lip chap (Side note: What happened to Saaphyri?) can fix. But don't worry, there are a few ways to get your lips kissably soft just in time for meetings under the mistletoe, that magical New Year's Eve smooch, and special time with your Valentine!

The Buy Way
Purchase an exfoliating lip scrub to buff away the dry, dead skin off of your lips to reveal the soft skin underneath.  I have used the Two-Step Satin Lips set from Mary Kay with good results. It comes with a lip mask to exfoliate your skin and a lip balm to provide moisture.  If you are feeling fancy, check out the Bliss Fabulips treatment kit.  This four-piece system includes a lip cleanser (a product I didn't know even existed), an exfoliating lip scrub, a lip balm, and a lip plumper to get your lips in tip top shape.

The DIY Way
I am a kitchen beautician who probably spends more time in the kitchen whipping up hair and beauty mixes than preparing meals. If you are anything like me, you should try creating your own lip scrub using basic items in your kitchen. All you really need is a little honey and a little brown sugar--the honey provides moisture and anti-bacterial properties while the grittiness of the brown sugar works as an exfoliant. After rubbing your DIY scrub onto your lips, you can just like the sweet mix off! (Although, lip licking dries out your lips--I guess that's why LL Cool J did it so often!)


The Free Way
If you don't want to spend any money or time mixing up a new beauty product, try brushing your lips with a wet toothbrush.  I read about lip brushing years ago in an old Teen magazine and it was described as a way to make your lips plump and red...while your lips may look a little more full immediately after you do it, the main benefit is that the toothbrush gently exfoliates your lips, ridding them of the dead skin that peels and makes your lipstick look yucky.  Using a moist washcloth to rub your lips would also do the trick!

How do you keep your lips soft and supple? Share your best tips in the comments!