The Love List 2013

I have fallen in love with so many people and things this year! I thought I would share with you the Top 12 loves of my heart for 2013:

1. Mimi G. Style: Mimi G. is the absolute cutest and she makes her own clothes. If only I could do with a needle and thread the things that this woman can! Dresses, coats, skirts- name it and this woman can stitch it!
2. Black&SexyTV: I don't have a TV, but I don't care. I live for the Black&Sexy Youtube channel and their shows: RoomieLoverFriends, Hello Cupid, That Guy, The Couple, Yellow, and Minute Man. You MUST check them out and drop some money in their collection plate- they pay out of pocket for their own production.
3. Nevo Shampoo and Conditioner: This shampoo and conditioner were gifted to me, and I have no idea where to purchase it in Atlanta. I'm going to cry when I run out! It leaves my hair so soft and manageable. If you knew my hair you would understand how remarkable that is.
4. Orange is the New Black: I finished off this Netflix original series in one day, and I dare you not to. By now, everyone is on the Orange is the New Black train, but if you have not seen it, you must. Who knew a women's prison could be so action packed?
5. Shameless Maya: She is beautiful, she is hilarious, she is Shameless Maya and I am in girl love. This Youtuber can apply makeup like you won't believe. I watch her videos with a dropped jaw. She does things I would never do like glue down her eyebrows. Yes, glue! Check her out on Youtube and support her like I did and purchase her Do You Boo bag.
6. Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil: The name says it all. I am OBSESSED with this oil. I put it on my hair and on my skin. It smells so good, and it keeps my incredibly dry skin more hydrated than lotion. Love. It.
7. Feel Good by The Internet: Talk about an album you can listen to the whole way through. It really is a feel good body of work. Not many people have heard of this band, headed by Syd the Kyd of Odd Future, but you MUST check them out.
8. It's My Raye Raye: Yes, I am a fan of Youtube tutorials, you got me. A new 'tuber favorite of mine is It's My Raye Raye. At first, I began watching her to see if I could get some hair tips, but now I love her for her makeup tips. Her videos are the cutest. My heart does a little dance when she posts something new.
9. Because the Internet by Childish Gambino: This album just recently came out, but it is pretty much all I listen to on Spotify. Each Childish Gambino album gets better. I didn't think I could like anything more than the Royalty Mixtape. I was wrong.
10. Erica Fae: The other Wednesday I tweeted that Erica Fae was my WCW and she retweeted it. I almost died! She makes the best look book videos and even does mixtapes. She also can rock a lipstick like you won't believe.
11. NYX: I am in love with all things NYX. NYX Cosmetics has been around forever, but for some reason I had never used them. I am now in love with their Twistable Lip Colors. Amazing!
12. BITE Beauty: When I lost my BITE red lipstick, I actually cried. With it on, I looked like I belonged in a magazine, I kid you not! Their lipsticks are my favorite BITE products.

Very sadly, my family came together this weekend to bury my little cousin Joseph. Some of my cousins came in from out of town for the funeral, and we got to take a picture with my grandma, shown here swaggin' in a red, faux suede mini and blazer.
*In this image from left to right: my little sister April, my brother Cass, my cousin Stephanie, cousin Caprice, cousin Christopher, and my little brother Anthony with half of his face cut off, lol.

Yesterday was my birthday! I am officially 29, and I used the day to chill as hard as I could possibly chill! I was showered with my two favorite gifts: food and money. I ended my day by baking myself a cake and watching Tales from the Crypt with my little brother. It was a no-fuss awesome day.

The Pledge

Today I turned 29! I am literally almost 30. I have dedicated this blog to complaining out my life, reviewing some beauty products that I like, and making observations. Here's a painful observation: since the creation of this blog almost five years ago I have not gotten much further than where I was then. I can't stay in the same place going into 30. My God! I want to cry thinking about it! Here is my pledge to myself.

• I will strengthen my relationship with God.
• I will become SERIOUS about creating opportunities for myself.
• I will STOP assuming people will do right by me because I have done right by them. Disappointments cause set backs. Who has time?
• Only take on work I am serious about, no matter what pay I am offered. If I am not serious about it, I will not take it seriously.
• WRITE CREATIVELY AND DO SOMETHING WITH SAID WRITING.
• Know the truth, don't believe lies because someone tells them to you with a straight face.
• DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ELIMINATE BROKENESS! Broke=not fun.
• TRY HARDER!

These can't be gone by February resolution. My career and my happiness depend on them.

A Few of my Favorite Things!

If someone could stuff my stocking with the products I would like to indulge in for the year, it would be the following:

1. GNatural Hair and Body Oil, $16.99
    GNatural.net

2. SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Dead Sea Salt Nourishing Soak, $12.99
    Target.com

3. nuNaat Natural Curl Activator, $6.49
    nuNaatOnline.com

4. Haughty Cosmetics Limited Edition Brush Set, $58.00
    HaughtyCosmetics.com

5. ANYTHING from Besame Cosmetics
    BesameCosmetics.com

Loss

My younger cousin died yesterday morning.
He was fine the day before and then, yesterday, he stopped breathing.
Just weeks after my family buried my grand uncle, my cousin passed.
They say I am an adult, but it doesn't matter how old you are. You never get used to loss. It just hurts every time.

Have You Seen Blackfish??

OMG! Have any of you seen the documentary Blackfish? I was not able to see it on CNN, but it is now on Netflix. The documentary talks about the life of Killer Whales, or Orcas. Primarily, it discusses the life of Tilikum, the SeaWorld show whale that had killed three people. The doc hinted it was because he was stressed out, annoyed, and mentally unstable due to living in captivity. Man, this whale has been through it! And today I read an article on CNN that SeaWorld is releasing ads to deal with the bad publicity. I mean, people are saying they are never going to or returning to visit SeaWorld. Even if you aren't an animal lover, you would love this documentary. It lead me to do more research on Orcas.

Review: The Alchemy Shop

The Alchemy Shop, The Alchemy Shop, oh how I love The Alchemy Shop. If you haven't gone on The Alchemy Shop's Website you absolutely have to. They sell clothing, thrift pieces, and even stationary but my favorite thing about the site is their HUGE selection of trendy, affordable jewelry. Here are a few of my favs for the holidays:
1. Art Deco Matching Geometric Matching Jewelry Set: $42.99
2. Light Green Stone Chandelier Earrings: $29.99
3. Green & Black Snake Crystal Stud Earrings: $32.99

Friend Crush

I think, no, I know, that I am developing a friend crush. Like many other diseases, a friend crush is most treatable if diagnosed early. I would say that I am in stage 2.5. I think there is still room for reversal, fingers crossed.
If you didn't know I will tell you: friend crushes are the poison that I am sure are responsible for more than half of opposite sex friend dismantlements. They never work out, and once you have put those feelings in the air, you can not take them back. The friendship is doomed. Sadly, there is a lot of bad information out there about this epidemic, especially from those who grew up on shows like Dawson's Creek where the friend crush was glamorized. Don't eat the friend crush cookies: those shows were fiction.
I have suffered from getting friend crushes for more than half of my life, so I know what I am talking about. And I have found that taking these steps are the most suitable form of treatment:
Acknowledgement: You have to first admit that you have a friend crush. Most people don't shed tears of joy just because their friend has called them. Face the music, you have a crush.
Idol Preoccupation: The key is directing your love for this friend towards an idol that you could never obtain; a person you can crush on with no repercussion. My go-tos are D'Angelo and Boris Kodjoe.
Slight Detachment: Don't ignore your friends, just back up a little. Maybe you guys don't have to talk EVERYDAY and yes, texts do count as talking.
Depending on how emo you are over the crush, these steps can clear up the situation in days or months. I am banking on a week. That is all the time I can a lot myself to get over something else silly I have put myself through.

Childish Gambino - 3005

'Bino!

Review: St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub and Intensive Healing Body Lotion

As I skid on the banana peel closer to 30, I have been warned to take better care of my skin. I have never really had to deal with breakouts, but I can't tell you how many people have told me that I need to start exfoliating. St. Ives has this amazing Blemish Control Apricot Scrub that left my skin feeling the softest that I have ever felt it. For some reason, I have had a phobia in the past of using scrubs on my face. I don't know what I thought would happen, but I can't imagine going forward without using this product. It smells so good, and you know what a sucker I am for smell goods.

With that being said, the St. Ives Intensive Healing lotion doesn't really have a scent, but it is great for me because I get super itchy and dry during the winter. After my shower, it left my skin even more hydrated than the cocoa butter lotion that I am currently using, and I didn't have to reapply throughout the day. But if you are one for scents, St. Ives has tons of options. Take a gander at their whole collection at the St. Ives website.

Man Hater

I can feel myself steadily beginning to hate men. Like, really hate them.
I used to really dislike the term "man hater" but I have to say, it is beginning to fit me.
God, when they aren't being annoying and irritating and rude and disrespectful, they are just in the way!
Yesterday, I was verbally assaulted by a wino at the bus stop. He sat so close to me that his body heat was making the hairs on my arms raise, and when I refused to talk to him, he offered me some of his potato chips. When I declined, he got mad, touching my hand, and then yelling in my face, while spitting out chips, "You don't have no ring on your finger!"
Ugh, it was so gross!
Then, just now I went to get my clothes out of the dryer. Apparently I was taking too long, because this man in there was on my ass, breathing liquor down my neck, as I raced to get my damp clothes in the basket.
ENOUGH!
I've just had it with the endless nonsense. If I was a girl acting like this, I would have been beaten up or something by now.
Sigh. Irritation.

Cavity

Last night I had a tooth ache so horrible that all I could do was sit up and cry. The whole left side of my face felt like an elephant stomped on it. You see, I have had a cavity for the past eight years and of late, the pain has been UNREAL! As you well know, I'm broke. All I have to dedicate to a dental visit, at this time, is $7. There has to be a dentist that has lost his license that can see me for that, right? Someone told me once that a tooth ache is worst than labor. After last night, I can believe it. I'm mortified of the dentist but at this point I would sprint to one if I had the cheese to go. I'm scared I will have to get my jaw removed like that movie critic, but I doubt that would feel worse than what I am feeling now.  #sadface

Winter Rebound

It is officially winter time folks, and if you don't know what that means, it means that all the lonely people have been purged out of their hiding places, dying of thirst. There is something about chilly weather that makes loneliness unbearable. And, in my opinion, the natural need for warmth can send one into the arms of a loser they don't like just so they can make it through the season.
Opinion. What am I saying? Experience has led me to this conclusion, and I have made it my mission not to fall into the same winter trap. This is going to be no easy task kids. Every guy I have ever talked to even a little bit who is not in a relationship has already texted me and it is only December 2! The circumstances are against me. I am alone in my apartment since my roomie left and I could use the company. I'm cold, and I would love for a guy to comment on how great my hair looks now that it is growing but I shall be strong! Keep me in your prayers as I try to make it to March without becoming or looking for a winter rebound.

Iman Europe Cover

I have listened to this Drake cover like five times! I like it better
than the original.

Selfie!

Ridin' Solo

This holiday my roommate moved out unexpectedly. I have only been in the apartment alone two days and I am already talking to myself.
With that being said, I think I should invest in a gun.
Both my brother and mother have said that I would probably shoot myself and admittedly, I know nothing about guns. But I felt safer with someone living with me. It's the holidays. What if someone breaks in and tries to stick me for my paper?
I apologize. Listening to Biggy as I write.
On a serious note, I am aware that this could lead to all types of horrible, but I function best when I feel safe. I am a girl after all, and I think I know this dude that could get help me get one legally for the low low. I shall keep you posted.