MOM RANT MONDAY!!!

Hola Chicas!  Good morning and all that happy crap... ;-)  First, I'd like to apologize for my lack of posts last week, my daughter came down with a nasty little 24 hr stomach bug that hit the entire house pretty hard. I mean, projectile vomiting and the whole gambit, so...yeah.  But she's doing much better, as the rest of the house, so here I am!

I see the above situation happen far too often, especially in the African American community, and it saddens me.  The issue is, too many babies are having babies and not being brought up with a strong foundation of morals and discipline.  This is merely just my humble opinion, mind you, but when my brothers and I were kids, we were raised in church and were taught to mind our manners...ya know, please and thank you, excuse me and so forth.  Is it so damn difficult to get a please or thank you from a kid nowadays???  We were taught to hold the door open for the person behind us and to respect the elderly.  These days, you have kids cussing their own parents out!  

As a parent myself, I refuse to raise a lazy, ungrateful, disrespectful brat. Or at least I'm gonna try my best not to...I don't believe in "being a friend" to my child.  Don't get me wrong, I want her to trust and confide in me, but I want her love and respect more than anything.  It would be my dream to raise a child who contributes to society in a positive way, not just a lazy, entitled waste of skin who thinks the world owes her a living.  Being that children don't come with instructions, it's still a learning process for me as well.  All I can do is pray and ask God to guide me to make the right decisions regarding how I raise my baby, and help me to teach her to be a better person than I was.

MOM RANT MONDAY!!!

Hola chicas!  Ok, obviously I nabbed this quote from Facebook...you can't click 'like' on my blog silly!  But the thing I want to talk about is the quote itself.  I had a chance to experience this first hand over the weekend, while celebrating my mother's anniversary, which was Sunday.  She was kind enough to invite my daughter and myself out to a celebratory breakfast at our local Denny's...I guess everybody in town had the same damn idea because the wait time was ridiculous!  

So, already were in a crappy mood because were hungry, it's standing room only and everyone is crammed in front of the damn door like a herd of mindless sheep,  I'm wrestling with my daughter who wants to run around, my stepfather is in a wheelchair, so it's awkward negotiating him in a crowded restaurant, and my mom is having a nick-fit because she's out of cigarettes!

And to top it off, there are lots of other children who were just as restless, hungry and cranky as my baby was at the time.  So needless to say, this anniversary celebration was not off to a good start.  In hind-sight, maybe next time mom and I should just stay home, get drunk and giggle alot...  Well lucky me, my daughter happens to catch the eye of one particularly rambunctious little girl (I would say obnoxious, but I'm not sure if she had a disability or not) Lord forgive me if she was differently abled, but judging by her behavior, she really came across as just a rotten, spoiled miserable little girl.

It would appear that she and her family were out celebrating as well...a birthday perhaps, as she was carrying a gift bag.  They were in line ahead of us, and immediately upon laying eyes on my daughter, she proceeded to ask her parents a series of questions...LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, INTRUSIVE QUESTIONS.

"Mommy, who is that?" "Mommy, why does her coat look old?"  "Mommy, what's on her face?"  (my daughter has a birthmark on her right cheek)  "Mommy, is that a bruise?"  "Did her mommy hit her?"  "Mommy, is she black?" (my daughter is bi-racial)  "Mommy, why doesn't she look like her mommy?"

Lord, Father in heaven...!!! If it weren't for the fact that my Mother and Grandmother raised me with some sense, I think I might have hauled off and kicked that kid!!!  I know that's a terrible thing to say, but don't act like any of you parents out there haven't thought the same thing about somebody else's kid that you can't frigging stand!!! And you could tell the apple didn't fall too far from the tree because neither of the parents tried to correct her behavior whatsoever.  Now, like I said before, if the girl was differently abled, Lord forgive me, because in that case, she couldn't help herself.  But I seriously believe that this girl was just a raging brat, and her parents were a couple of idiots that should not be allowed to reproduce...EVER.

Bleeding eyeballs, this post got long, LOL!!!  Sorry y'all, just had to vent! I'm gonna try to do two more looks for you guys this week featuring my Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Fierce and Tangy and Painted Purple...till then, stay beautiful! :-)

SUNDAY'S FACE OF THE DAY!!!

Hola Chicas!  Today's face is actually from two days ago, (sorry I'm so late) but I promised I would give a brief breakdown of the products I used in this look.

Here are a few pictures of the products I used.  I explain the process step by step in a previous post HERE.  Hopefully one day soon, I will be able to post a step by step pictorial, so that you can actually see the process, rather than reading about it! :-)

I used my BH Cosmetics concealer and contour palettes after my foundation was applied...

I used my Manly Cosmetics120 palette to do my shadow...I found this palette on eBay for a really great price!  The colors are super pigmented and probably work just as well as the BH Cosmetics, or Coastal Scents palettes.  I say probably, because I have never used Coastal Scents products before, but I would imagine they are basically the same.

These are the usual things I use to do my face...my Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse foundation in Cocoa, my Ben Nye powder in Topaz, (which I like better than the Banana powder on myself) my Wet n Wild bronzer from the Fergie Centerstage collection in Carnival In Rio, and my NYX blush in Pinky.  For my eyes I used my Maybelline gel eyeliner in black (which I forgot to photograph, again!) and my Miss Adoro lashes #79.  On my lips I used my Maybelline Vivids lipstick in Hot Plum #900, lined with NYX lipliner in currant and topped with NYX lipgloss in Gold Mauve in the center of my bottom lip.

Ok, that's pretty much it!  Sorry for the delay, but motherhood comes first...enjoy the rest of your day! :-)

THE TASTE: TUESDAY @ 8/7C ON ABC!!!

Hola Chicas!  So today, through Influenster, I found out about this all new alternative series on ABC called The Taste. It's a one-hour cooking competition that tests people of all types of culinary experience, from stay at home moms to professional chefs.  There are 16 competitors in all, and winning the dream of a lifetime comes down to one single spoonful in a blind taste test from four of the world's most renown experts of the culinary arts!

The series features British food star Nigella Lawson, chef Anthony Bourdain, chef/author Ludo Lefevbre, and chef/resturateur Brian Malarkey.  These four judges will each coach and mentor a team of four amateur and professional cooks through a series of team and individual challenges which ultimately result in round eliminations.  At the end of the episodes, the judges conduct a blind taste test, without knowing who's dish they are sampling, what they are eating or how it was prepared.  It is that single taste that could decide the competitor's fate!

My mom and I watch this show together, and I find it fun and exciting!  It also inspires me to try new twists on the dishes I like to prepare for my family.  Make sure to catch The Taste on Tuesdays, at 8/7 central on ABC!  And just in case you missed it, you can check out the latest episode by clicking HERE!

THURSDAY'S FACE OF THE DAY!!!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  I just wanted to share a quick face of the day in celebration of the day of love!  

Open View

Closed View

 The concealer and contour palette I used for this look I mentioned in my Tuesday's Face of the Day post, but here is a break down of the other products I used for today. :-)

I primed and based my lids with these...

My all time favorite Urban Decay Primer Potion, and as a color base, I used Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo in Bad To The Bronze.

Very dramatic!

Once my shadow was done, I finished off my look with Cherry Blossom lashes #100.

For my foundation I used Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in Cocoa.

Love this stuff!

To set my highlight, I used Ben Nye powder in Topaz and I used Black Radiance Artisan Color Baked Blush in Warm Berry on my cheeks.

I chose to off-set my neutral eyes with a bold, sexy red lip, perfect for Valentine's Day!  First, I lined my lips with NYX Long Lip Pencil in Currant and filled them in with Wet N Wild Mega Last Matte Lip Cover in Stoplight Red #911D.

Rich, gorgeous color! Can't wait to get more!

This was supposed to be up higher, but for some reason, my pictures won't post in the order I want them...smh!

All colors I used are from this palette except two.

My Urban Decay Naked Palette is my favorite palette for neutral looks  like this one!



So, that's basically it!  Hopefully, I will be able to post a pictorial from start to finish of a look some time next week, but that all depends on how cooperative my daughter is, lol!  Till then, stay posted for my makeup giveaway in honor of my baby's birthday and enjoy your holiday with your loved ones or significant other!  Oh, and remember, Feb. 14th should be EVERY DAY!!! ;-)

TUESDAY'S FACE OF THE DAY!!!

Hola Chicas!  I finally had a chance to do a look and swatch some of these products I received recently from a drugstore haul and a few orders I've placed from various websites I mentioned in a previous post.  I was up at three o' clock in the morning doing this, so that's why I'm in my pajamas, lol!

Closed View

Open View

Sorry about the crappy pictures and lighting, it's the best I could do with my raggety cell phone. DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL, NOR DO I CLAIM TO BE.  I AM MERELY A MAKEUP ENTHUSIAST AND THESE ARE JUST SOME TECHNIQUES I LEARNED FROM WATCHING VARIOUS YOUTUBE VIDEOS. Ok, with that being said, let's get on with the show! I usually start my routine with a clean and moisturized face, then I prime my brows with Urban Decay's Primer Potion.  I start the basic shape with a random dark brown liner and fill them in with a dark brown eyeshadow.  I then clean up any mistakes with my BH Cosmetics 10 color concealer palette.

 I use the color third from the left on the bottom row to clean up under my eyebrow, which also serves as a highlight when doing my shadow, and the fourth color in on the bottom row when cleaning the top of my brow, as it is a shade darker.  It helps to avoid the "halo effect" around my brow and helps it look more natural.  

Once I'm done with my brows, I prime my lids with the primer potion and base my lids.  For this look I used my Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo Metallic Eyeshadow in Electric Blue.  

 Sorry about my crusty hand with these swatches ya'll, I used lotion, but I'm constantly washing my hands all day because of the baby! The top swatch is the Milani Baked Eyeshadow I used for this look in Blue On By.  (isn't it gorgeous???) I swatched it wet because it intensifies the color...the bottom swatch is the Maybelline color tattoo, dry.  I used those two on my lid, a random brown and black shadow from my Manly Eyeshadow palette (I found that on Ebay for a great price!) and as a highlight on my browbone I used a combination of the colors Naked and Sin from my Urban Decay Naked palette.  I finished off the look with Miss Adoro human hair lashes #117.

Once I'm happy with my eyes, I move on to my face.  For my foundation I used Maybelline Fit Me Foundation #355 in Coconut.  Sorry, I forgot to swatch that, but it was my first time using it and I kinda like it.  I usually go for cream-to-powder foundation with medium to full coverage, but the Fit Me foundation is a liquid with a sheer to medium coverage.  It went on smooth and was fairly easy to work with.

Once I'm done with my foundation, I move on to highlight different areas of my face with my BH Cosmetics Concealer Palette.  I use a golden shade under my eyes, the center of my forehead, the bridge of my nose, the center of my top lip and my chin.  I then set my concealer with my Ben Nye   Luxury Powder in Banana.

I'm sorry about the sideways picture ya'll, it was right-side-up when I took it...smh.  Everyone has been raving about Ben Nye banana powder for the longest, and I know I'm behind in using it, but a sista's got a budget, ok?  For the most part, it's used to set your foundation or concealer, reduce oil and add warmth to your face.  In the container and before blending it in it has a yellow/golden shade.  It works exactly as it is supposed to, and I like it, but I think the banana color is a bit too light for me, personally.  The masses claim that this color is good for a variety of skintones, including women of color, and I would say for the most part it is, I just feel like the banana color in particular is to light for my preference.  I've already ordered two darker shades to try out at a later time. ;-)

Once my concealer is set and my face highlighted, I move on to the contour.  For that I used my BH Cosmetics Contour and Blush Palette.

I use the color in the center of the bottom row to slim certain areas of my face (such as my nose) and to make other areas of my face recede (like under my cheek bones) giving a sleeker, more chiseled and defined appearance.  This is a technique that I tried for the first time last night, so I can't show you the best example of contouring, as I'm still learning how to do it myself, but here is a video from one of my favorite make up gurus, Miss Monet Anderson, giving a perfect example of the contouring technique!

Once my contouring was complete, I finished off my face with a quick sweep of Milani Baked Blush in Red Vino and Wet n Wild's Fergie Collection bronzer in Carnival In Rio to highlight my cheekbones.

Last but not least, I completed my look by lining my lips in NYX Long Lip Liner in Hot Cocoa and filling them in, then on top of that I use NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in London.

Sorry this post turned out so long, but I hope it was helpful in some way!  If you have any questions about the products I used or how to apply them feel free to contact me, till then, stay beautiful! :-)

MOM RANT MONDAY!!!

THE FIVE WORST PLACES FOR KIDS UNDER 5

Last week I stumbled across a blog post by Elizabeth Fallwell about the five worst places you could take your kids under the age of five, and found it quite interesting and amusing.  I just wanted to share my experiences with my daughter on that subject. :-)


MY FIVE WORST PLACES TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER...


1. A PUBLIC BATHROOM

This is a terrible place to take an active, disobedient toddler for several reasons, but I had to find out the hard way!  Nothing is more embarrassing than having to chase your baby who is crawling under the bathroom stall door with your pants and underwear down around your ankles!

2. A PRISON VISIT

Ok, I'll admit that this one is kinda ghetto, but hey...we all know someone who has been, or is currently incarcerated.  At the risk of putting all my business out there, let me just say this, the lines are long, some places don't allow snacks, the frisking can be traumatizing for a toddler and most kids just don't want to put up with that crap...period!

3. CHURCH

Although I think it's important to teach my baby about Jesus and that she learns her bible because that's was how I was brought up, there is definitely an age limit to when church visits should start...at least for my kid, there is.  If your child isn't familiar with church etiquette before the age of five, it can prove to be quite embarrassing if he or she pipes up during a point in the service when you are suppose to be silent...especially if it's an expletive...don't judge me.


4. THE LIBRARY

I love to read to my daughter, and she loves the stories, but I found out the hard way that it was too early to take her to the public library...the folks there didn't find it very amusing when she took off running through the shelves with her shirt pulled up over her head, screaming at the top of her lungs when I wouldn't read Green Eggs And Ham...FOR THE TENTH TIME...



5. THE HOSPITAL 

Sometimes, it's unavoidable...unfortunately, as parents we all reach a point where we have to take our kids to the hospital, be it a fever, a broken bone, or God forbid something worse, but in my case, it was just a fever.  I was hoping this would be an in-and-out situation (how foolish of me, right?) but of course, it wasn't.  And lucky me, my daughter decides to put on a grand performance and have a full blown meltdown.  But this time, I couldn't blame her.  Who wants to be in a smelly, cold hospital, being poked and prodded by strangers, with a fever and body aches at 5 am in their pajamas?  


But anyway, that's my thoughts on that...I will have some hauls, reviews, and looks coming up this week, if I can manage to sneak away for a bit! 
;-)

FABULOUS FASHION FRIDAY!!!

Hola Chicas!  I've got so much to tell you about!!! A drugstore haul where I scored a bunch of goodies from Wet and Wild, Maybelline and Milani Cosmetics and a few hauls from Miz Outlet, Suite 7 Beauty, Beauty Joint, BH Cosmetics and Makeup Mania!  I'm still waiting on a few more orders to come in so when they do, I will be doing a few looks, lots of swatches and reviews of all the products. ;-)

Till then, lets talk about fashion!  One particular trend I've taken an interest in, is houndstooth.  I'm starting to see this pattern popping up everywhere, and I have to say I like it!  If coordinated properly, it can be a fun and jazzy way to spice up your wardrobe.  Below is a set that I've created on Polyvore, that I thought would be kinda cute to own!

Release The Houndstooth

The thing I like most about this set is the unexpected pop of blue to accent the pink, white and black...never a boring combo!  Playful, sexy and fun, this set can easily transition from day to a night on the town with the girls or your significant other.  Whether it be a dress, clutch or shoes, houndstooth is a definite must have for every fashonista!  Click the caption under the picture for a break down of the items featured. ;-)

MOM RANT MONDAY!!!

Ok, so I'm going back to the "picky eating" thing with my daughter...this morning I asked her if she was hungry and she says yes.  So I asked her what does she want to eat, and she says food!  (little smart ass!)  Now mind you, she's only a year and ten months...

So I proceed to go into the kitchen and fix her a good "big girl" breakfast...eggs and cheese, turkey sausage, waffles and orange juice, all neatly cut into bite sized, perfect for toddler pieces.  I place her bowl down in front of her, proud as a peacock at the effort I invested to prepare a healthy, wholesome breakfast for my darling little girl, and what does this heffa do???

SHE REFUSES TO EAT!!!

I'm at my wits end!  It's not like she doesn't have a variety of things to eat...I try to keep alot of healthy options just in case she gets tired of eating the same old meals.  I also make sure to keep her favorites stocked up too...it just bothers me so bad when she doesn't eat what I fix her because as children we were taught not to waste food, and if we didn't eat what we were given, WE DIDN'T EAT!  Now, I know I can't do that with a toddler, and she doesn't understand the concept of not wasting food, but I don't know how to impress upon her the fact that it's important to eat healthy balanced meals several times a day.

I rarely give my baby any candy, and occasionally I will give her a few snacks like fruit bars, cheese curls, or raisins, which she loves.  But not so much to the point where she loses her appetite and wont eat a solid meal. I'm just concerned that her nutritional needs aren't being met...I've even gone as far as to buy four six-packs of Pediasure  just to make sure she gets the vitamins and nutrients she's lacking from not eating.  AND THAT SHIT ISN'T CHEAP!!!

Now don't get me wrong, she appears healthy, and each time she goes for a check-up, she comes back with a clean bill of health, thank God...perhaps I'm just worrying too much.  I guess that comes with the territory of being a new mom.  Or maybe it's the battle of wills that bothers me the most.  How this little girl can be so obstinate and disobedient at such a young age baffles and worries me at the same time. If she's gonna be this stubborn at only a year and a half, I can only image how tough it's gonna be when she hits puberty...OH LAWD JESUS, TAKE ME NOW!!!!

JUST A QUICK NOTE...

Hola Chicas!  I've been doing a little "makeup hauling" over the past few days so I'm gonna put them all together and do one great big haul and review complete with pictures and swatches, so stay tuned!

HERE'S A QUICK PEEK...

Maybelline Color Tattoo Shadow #40 Tenacious Teal

Maybelline Color Tattoo Shadow #10 Fierce And Tangy

Maybelline Color Tattoo Shadow #20 Painted Purple

Maybelline Color Tattoo Shadow #25 Bad To The Bronze

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivds #905 Brazen Berry

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivds #900 Hot Plum

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivds #880 Electric Orange

And that's just the beginning!  I'm excited to create some new looks with this stuff...be back soon! :-)