Jacqui Lupei's Kiyonna Summer Preview

Kiyonna is giving it to us for summer! The popular plus-size retailer has secured a huge fan base due to their arsenal of go-to, well-tailored pieces. However, this season, they are shaking it up, providing  customers with a fun array of florals, stripes, and colors inspired by summer and all the goodies that come with it. Jacqui Lupei, Head of Design and Product Development, outlined her favorite pieces for the season.

Haute Cold Shoulder Dress - "This faux wrap tropical print dress with a rich, black background has a side tie and flowing elbow length sleeves with sexy shoulder slits to keep it cool. This style will debut the week of 6/30."

Cabana Crossover Top- "A draped, crossover front layered tank in rayon spandex, this tank has adjustable neckline coverage and ruched sides. It comes in deep red and a vibrant navy. Perfect poolside glamour! Add a belt for a defined waist or a bold necklace for extra style! This style will debut the week of 6/16."

Passport Peplum Top - "This ponte top with the ever so flattering peplum skirt has a detachable bow for two different looks. The “featured color way” is a black based multi-colored stripe that is mitered at the center front to perfectly flatter the waist and create interest- a truly retro glam piece. This style will be available online the end of June/ early July."

Wanderlust Wrap Top – "A faux wrap top, this is the top version of the Haute Cold Shoulder Dress. We loved it so much we needed this in a top! It’s perfect for a summer cruise or party. It’s super fresh and on trend. This style will debut online the week of 7/21."

Dream Departure Top – "This is a super sexy but casual off the shoulder tunic in a soft and light weight tri blend knit that comes in a gorgeous minty sea foam green and sky blue. This versatile tunic has a gathered, banded bottom, side ruching and side tie for a fun and on trend detail. This late summer style will be available online the week of 8/11."



Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars

So I am sure that many of you reality lovers already know this, but for those of you that missed it: Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars premieres tonight on WE. On the show, our favorite reality stars (Tanisha and Clive- Bad Girls Club, Trista and Ryan- The Bachelorette, JWOWW and Roger- Jersey Shore, Traci and Kevin-Braxton Family Values, and Gretchen and Slade- The Real Housewives) will be coming together to work on their unions. Last night, the show's stars came together in LA to celebrate the premiere.

The Cast

JWOWW and Snooki

Tanisha and Clive

 Tanisha and Traci

Gretchen, Tanisha, and Clive

Tanisha

Traci and Gretchin

Traci and Kevin

Traci Braxton

 Photo Credit: Courtesy of WE tv

The Purpose

Today I spoke with a friend of mine and gave her an update on my life since leaving my old job. And she told me that she was happy that I was living my purpose.
I have heard this phrase before, but I have never been altogether sure what it means. Like my Youtube inspiration Andrea Lewis, I was a little confused. It is even hard for me to put into words as I type. But I can give you symptoms of living your purpose based on what I have experienced over the past two months.

1. You aren't as stressed- There is a saying that loosely states that if you are working doing something you love, you will never have to work a day in your life. I have found that since I am now working for myself, which I love, I am not as stressed. I believe that it is impossible to be completely stress-free, but I can totally tell the difference between now and when I was "creatively corporate" as I like to call it.
2. You have more energy- I have never been a ball of energy. Even as a kid, I would rather chill with my mom on the couch then go outside and play. But as an adult, not working for myself completely, I found myself consistently drained, no matter how much sleep I got. The drama and the annoyances and the nonsense and living with feeling unappreciated just took it all out of me. Now, I wake up super early, ready to start making things happen for myself.
3. There is clarity and certainty- When I was creatively corporate, I felt like my life was moving anywhere the wind blew it. Maybe next year I would still have a job, maybe next Tuesday I would be canned and living in a box. But now that I live on purpose, I am certain  that the universe has something great for me and I am clear on the plan of action for my future. Sure, there has to be room for plan Bs and life changes, but I no longer fear like I am just the mercy of the powers that be. 

I have never been super into all things inspirational. I always felt like inspirational advice and instruction was just a fancy way of saying SCAM. I guess you can see that I have not always been the most optimistic. But there is something to living on purpose, I promise. Need help getting started? Visit Andrea Lewis's here.                                                                                                                 

   

So White

Cannes has come and gone again, leaving amazing (and crazy) fashion in its midst. No one could take their eyes off of Jane Fonda or Blake Lively (aka "The Lady In Red"). My favorites were all the white pieces that adorned the carpets. Zoe Saldana looked like a Greek Goddess, Hilary Swank gave us Old Hollywood realness, and America was not afraid to turn up the boob action. I am already ready for next year!

Summer Fixeruppers

This summer, I am going to do my best to get rid of some beauty issues that I have ignored for years. When I have my birthday party at the end of the year, I will look fab, having addressed the dark circles under my eyes and this annoying scar on my right leg.

 

To address the dark circles under my eyes, I will be using the b-bright Eye Roll On from  b•lēve. Not only is this eye roll-on supposed to address dark circles, but it also is supposed to calm puffiness.

I have a scar on my leg that has been there for as long as I can remember. It doesn't really bother me, but if I can get rid of it, adios!

Stay posted for my progress over the next month!

 

 

Giving Me Life 4: Nourished and Smooth Oatmeal Scrub + Mask

Short story: Not too long ago I was on Facebook and came across the page of a girl I went to high school with. I SCREAMED! For us to have gone to high school together, she looked a good ten years older then me. She already had wrinkles. Can you imagine? Wrinkles before you are even 30! It dawned on me then that I needed to take taking care of my skin seriously- doing something besides letting water run on my face in the shower.

After using the Nourished and Smooth Oatmeal Scrub + Mask, my face felt so smooth! I have sensitive skin and had tried a facial scrub before and found it to be too strong. But this oatmeal scrub was really soothing and made my face feel so soft. I used it as a mask, keeping it on my face for about five minutes. Here's to the fist step to making my skin fab for the long run.       

Nourished and Smooth Oatmeal Scrub + Mask, $4.59
Target.com



 

                   

Yay is for Organics

 

There are so many trends in natural hair care that I can hardly keep up! I fall somewhere in between those naturalistas that use a million products a day, and those that use actual food like eggs and mayonnaise to maintain their 'fros. But I have always been excited about the amazing reports of those naturals that only use organic products. I never did because I assumed that organic hair products, much like organic food, would be too expensive. Then I was sent the Aubrey Organics Biotin Repair products.

For me, the star of the trio, which includes a shampoo, conditioner, and scalp tonic, is the conditioner. It is no secret that conditioner is super important for those of us with natural hair for repair and hydration and so on and so on. I leave my conditioner in to aid in finger detangling my hair, then I rinse it out. But after applying the Aubrey Organics Biotin Repair Condition, I could feel my hair detangling on its own while I was still in the shower! Not possible right? WRONG! The conditioner made my hair feel really light and made detangling really, really easy.

My amazing experience with Aubrey makes me wonder what else the brand and other organic brands have to offer. To be continued:)

Aubrey Organics Biotin Repair Conditioner, $10.98

 

Is It Possible To Sniff Your Problems Away?

               

Secret: I have the worst time sleeping at night and I am always stressed. So I was happy when I  had the opportunity to try the Tata Harper roll on Aromatic Treatments in Stress and Bedtime. You roll the fragrances on your wrists or hands and then sniff. Doing so is supposed to help you relax. I LOVE aromatherapy candles, so I was eager to see how the roll-on would work.

The  scents are very strong and floral, and upon putting on each wrist, I didn't know how to feel about them. However, throughout the night, I found myself going back and forth to my wrists for a sniff! I was drawn more to the wrist with Bedtime on it, although, after application, both scents slowly became very calming. I can see using both roll-ons before bedtime becoming a habit. I will update you in two weeks on how using these products long term has helped with my stress and sleep.

Not sold on this form of aromatherapy? Find out more about the products and how they work here from Tata herself.



Tata Harper Aromatic Treatments in Bedtime and Stress, $60

TataHarperSkincare.com

Rated-Adult

In December I will be 30, and if you would have asked me as child what the oldest age you could ever get was, I probably would have said 30.
That big 3-0 has been flashing across my mind lately as I start the preliminary planning for my birthday shindig. I guess I am grown. I guess I am an adult. I guess. It's hard for me to say with a straight face as I deal with the student loan debt I acquired when I was 18 and still occasionally cry over the guy I thought I was in love with at 21.
Isn't wisdom supposed to come with age? I don't know if I want kids. I don't know if I want to get married. I don't know what I am doing in general most of the time.
As I go through my Facebook newsfeed, looking at all the pregnancy, marriage, and engagement announcements I want to yell, "Whoa, slow down! We are too young for this!" But obviously, that can't be true. Maybe I am going to be that sadsack that can't come to terms with age while everyone around her breezes into the security of adulthood. God! Am I going to be that 50-year-old buying accessories from Forever 21? Everyone always looks at her funny, like they want to steer her out of the store to the nearest Ann Taylor.
Don't get me wrong: I don't want to be a teen again, and even though I enjoyed college, I don't want to go back there either. I just hate feeling like I should be further mentally and professionally for my age. If I am going to be 30, I want the sureness that comes a long with it, or that TV promised me would come with it. Ah, to dream a dream.

Review: New Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Smooth

I hate wearing lotion in the summer, but if there was ever a time that you couldn't get away with not putting it on, it is now. I feel like it makes me sweat more. Am I alone in this? On top of that, my skin DRINKS lotion like you won't believe! So I am constantly reapplying and reapplying. I am known to carry a full bottle in my purse, depending on how much leg I am showing. So I was eager to try the new Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Smooth, and I think I have found my new lotion for the season. It smells good and it is very light. Plus, the Vaseline Jelly micro-droplets coupled with the aloe allow it to go on smoothly and refreshingly. I put it on after my shower and didn't have to reapply it all day. THIS NEVER HAPPENS IN MY LIFE! I think this may be love:)

Rating:

 

Summer of Chefin'

It is a dream of mine to be crafty in the kitchen. I can cook just enough to be able to say that I can. But I would like to be one of those women that can just whip up anything without needing instructions. And cool stuff, not just chicken or spaghetti. That is why I was so excited when I was sent these fun books.

I mean, how cool would it be to be able to whip up my own jam and candy?! I declare this my summer of cooking. I shall keep you posted on my summer cooking triumphs...and disasters.

The Books:

Sensational Buttercream Decorating: 50 Projects for Luscious Cakes, Mini Cakes & Cupcakes by Carey Madden, $26.95, BarnesandNoble.com

Best of Bridge Home Preserving: 120 Recipes for Jams, Jellies, Marmalades, Pickles, & More, $26.95, BarnesandNoble.com

300 Best Homemade Candy Recipes: Brittles, Caramels, Chocolates, Fudge, Truffles & So Much, More by Jane Sharrock, $19.05, Amazon.com



BaubleBar Memorial Day Sale!

Review: Ramy One Stop Shopping Mascara

I never have the best experiences with mascara which really stinks, because it is one of the few pieces of makeup I wear everyday. I find most advertisements to be a fib, and my lashes (which are not very long to begin with) end up clumped together and usually, despite what it says on the fancy tube, its not waterproof and ends up running down my face. Who knew that my mascara savior would come from a brand that I wasn't familiar with?!
The Ramy One Stop Shopping Mascara ($19, Ramy.com) separated my lashes and elongated them, making it look like I actually had a full set, which has NEVER happened to me before. And I fiddled with my eyes all day as I do everyday  (I know, not a good habit), and there was very minimal smudging. It makes me wonder what other cool cosmetic gems Ramy has under it's sleeve (like it's Lip Oil).

Rating: 

Inglot's 'Exotic Lagoon' Collection

Today Inglot launched its 'Exotic Lagoon' Collection. These six new electric summer colors are an extension of Inglot's O2M Breathable Nail Enamels line, which is formulated to allow water and oxygen to the nail's surface. Find out more about the O2M Breathable Nail Enamels and check out all their colors here.

Ivette's Tips

As a model, philanthropist, fashion connoisseur, and champion equestrian, it is hard to believe that Ivette Concepcion Saucedo, the 2013 Queen of the Universe, has time for a beauty regimen (or even needs one). Yet somehow, she still finds time to be flawless. Here is how she stays gorgeous, using everything from lemons to cocoa butter:

•I believe it [beauty] starts internally. There's nothing more radiant than glowing skin to me, so drinking plenty of water is the thing that helps me the most. But my main secret is a drinking
Royal Jelly on an empty stomach. I swear by it!

•I love giving my self facials once a week. One great exfoliant I use is made by mixing sugar and lemons. The lemons act as a organic acid and it tastes yummy too!

• As a voluptuous Latina, curves have to be maintained with exercise. But even with that, cellulite is difficult to avoid, so I keep a jar of coffee grinds in my shower and I scrub it on my legs and let it sit for a few minutes. It really helps!

•Ever since I was a little girl, I have used Palmer's Cocoa Butter on my body when I get out of the shower. It's hydrating but it isn't greasy.

You can find more info on Ivette here. 

Giving Me Life 3: Mary's Gone Crackers

Before you even say anything yes, I am well aware that this is my second "Giving Me Life" on cookies. Yes, I LOVE cookies! I feel the same way about cookies that most people feel about fine wine. They are the best snack ever but, of course, not the healthiest. That's why I was both excited and skeptical when I was forwarded information on Mary's Gone Crackers. Mary's makes all types of snacks- cracker, cookies, pretzels, and they are all organic and gluten-free. I didn't know what to expect. I can see a cookie being organic, but gluten-free?! How would that work? But let me just say, these cookies are amazing! They are chewy, they are sweet. And I dare say that they taste better than the full of crap cookies that I keep in my purse. My favorite are the ginger snaps, but they are all tasty. I'd offer you one of mine but they are all gone.

Visit Mary's Gone Crackers here. 

Creatively Unemployed: Creating Your Own Sunlight

Today I spoke with Ebony, of my fellow creatives. She, like me, was freed from the shackles of her corporate job. However, her finances are telling her that she has to start applying for work ASAP. She said, as she surfs for jobs, her neck hurts. She gets sick about it!
I know what she means. She spoke with disdain about her old cubical- a space with no access to sunlight. The only offices with sunlight were for the big wigs, as if to say that if you didn't have an office, you weren't important enough to have access to the sun! It made me think of all the ills of my old job and the job I had recently applied for.
Not too long ago, I applied for an administrative assistant job. The pay would have been okay and it would have been part-time. I had been sick about it for weeks after my two interviews, wondering if I'd gotten it. Today, I got the generic email telling me that I hadn't. As I read it, I realized that I hadn't been sick hoping I'd get the job- I was sick because I subconsciously hoped I wouldn't!
Something about the restraints of middle management supervised jobs makes a creative person want to crawl under the table and cry! Those hours you are working towards something that is not yours could be spent doodling and saving the world!
Cheers to those of us that are taking charge of their sunlight allotment:)                                                                                                                                            

ModCloth's Plus-Size Swim Favorites

I don't know what summer means to you, but it means that it's time to hit the water for me. I love swimming, and I have always been annoyed by two things: the idea that plus-size women do not or should not swim in public and that our swimwear should not be trendy. I mean, how whack and mean is that?! With that being said, I am, again, excited about what Modcloth has to offer on the plus-size end. Not only are their suits extra cute, but the cut is amazing, tucking away any problem areas in the midsection. Above are some of Modcloth's favorites for summer. Below is the pricing info, from left to right.

Bathing Beauty One-Piece Swimsuit in Navy, $66.99

Composed by the Pool One-Piece Swimsuit in Navy, $66.99

                       Bathing Beauty One-Piece Swimsuit in Peacock, $66.99
     Flip Turn It Up One-Piece Swimsuit in Floral, $89.99

 Beach Read Cover-Up Dress in Coral, $59.99

 These and more styles can be found at ModCloth.com. 

JAY Z & Beyoncé "RUN"

Is anyone else beyond excited? This is the closest I am going to get to their

tour. I hope that they do an HBO special or something. P.S.: Did ya'll see

Huck from Scandal? Why do I have a crush on him??

Review: Cantu Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque

So I was sent the Cantu Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque to try out and I was over the moon about it. I am very familiar with Cantu. I use their products to twist my hair. I had never done a hair masque before, so I treated it like a deep conditioner and as instructed. I lathered my hair in it. I couldn't help myself! It smells really good, and my hair had been kind of dry of late. Plus, my ends were doing that thing where they stick together:(

Now, the instructions say that you only have to leave it in for 30 minutes before washing it out. But it also states that you can treat it as a leave-in product. So, since I was familiar with the brand and felt safe with it, I left it in for like four hours.

The results: I am going to be real here: I only comb through my hair a couple of times a month. This is because, when I was combing through it daily, I felt like I was losing hair. So, more often than not, I detangle my hair by hand. And yes, this takes A LONG TIME usually. Using this, I don't think it took more than 30 minutes. The masque made my hair really manageable and soft. I will totally be using this product again. Stay tuned for the results of using this instead of the Cantu Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream to do my two-strand twists.

Preview: Dune Generation by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

Meet "Dune Generation", the new Stained Gloss collection by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. The collection was inspired by, you guessed it, sand dunes and deserts. Not only are the colors AMAZING and glossy but, as with all OCC products, they are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Purchase your Dune Generation colors starting May 20 on Sephora.com and OCCMakeup.com. Get them in Sephora stores in June.

 

Seeking out Community

Last night I talked to one of my friends for almost an hour and a half who was seriously suffering from the lonelies, or as I like to call it, 29itis. Not only was she sad that she didn't feel like she had a home, but she was also sad because she felt like she didn't have anyone to really hang with. Honestly, if you are almost 30 and you have never felt like this, after most of your friends have married and had kids and gotten into relationships and forgotten about you while your family feels you're too old to be showered with love, then I don't get it. Any way, I gave her Fran's wise words: you have to seek out community. You can not sit around and mope and wait on happiness to find you or for magic friends to fill your life, you have to actively work towards creating the community around you that you want. She doesn't want to do it, but who does? We are no longer in college, where you can just walk to the cafeteria and make new friends. This ish is going to take work! Thumbs down to the TV shows and children's books that told us that our lives would always be ready-made with the support we need and a deep breath and a thumbs up to those who are tired of complaining and are shaping their lives to what they want them to be.

Reality Bite: OWN's Flex & Shanice

So if you didn't know, now you know: Flex Alexander and his wife, '90's singing sensation Shanice, will be airing on the OWN Network soon with their own reality show, Flex & Shanice. See the preview here.
The show is going take us into the lives of the couple as they recover from financial hardships. We will also get to meet their family, which moved in with them to help cover the cost of their house. The show doesn't debut until  Saturday, May 31 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, but I have a feeling that this will be a funny yet positive alternative to the some of the reality shows that we have been obsessed with over the years.

Design Essentials for Galia Lahav

GALIA LAHAV at New York Bridal Fashion Week - Spring 2015 Bridal & Evening Collections from Noir Tribe Media on Vimeo.

 

 

 The Design Essentials Styling Team, led by Michelle Swiney, styled the hair for this year's Spring 2015 Galia Lahav Presentation Bridal Fashion Show. Waves, curls, braids- Design Essentials did that! Check out the video from the presentation and get a better look a the elegant, classic dos that the team put together.

Giving Me LIfe 2: Numi Savory Collection Gift Box

I am a tea drinker with a sweet tooth for cookies that you would not believe! With that being said, you can understand why I was so excited when Carla Hall Petite Cookies joined forces with Numi Tea for the Numi Savory Collection Gift Box. You may remember Carla Hall from her stint on Top Chef and for me, it made sense for her to collaborate with Numi. They both have the most interesting flavors, like Hall's Lemon Black Pepper Shortbread cookies and Numi's Rooibos Chai. But together, they are magic x 10! Try them together or alone, but you MUST try them.

Coming Soon

Stay tuned this month: 1 head, 6 products.

Embrace The Bracelet

So Friendship Bracelets are back in style?! Whoever said that fashion repeats itself wasn't kidding. I don't know about you, but I will be sporting mine with a ring pop while watching Saved By The Bell reruns:) Check out these Friendship Bracelet styles from The Alchemy Shop and BaubleBar.

 

 

Handmade Studded Bracelet Set, $46.99

TheAlchemyShop.com

 

Friendship Bracelets, 3 for $25

BaubleBar.com  

Book Review: Princess Curl

I am a woman with natural hair that is guilty of going to sleep without wrapping my hair with a silk scarf. It's true! And everyone knows that this is a natural girl no-no. However, it was not until I read Cherelle Shelton's Princess Curl that I fully understood why. Inspired by her daughter Ananda, the main character of this absolutely adorable children's book, Princess Curl, is a little girl with a head full of curly hair. She forgets to put on her silk bonnet before bed time. This results in bad fairies, that look a lot like really fab Ailey dancers,  tying knots in her hair and dangling lint balls from her ends. She wakes up mortified about it, but luckily, her mother had some coconut oil and water to help detangle her tresses, restoring her crown of glory.

Shelton has a knack for breaking things down for kiddies to understand. A mother of three and a scientist, she did the same thing in her first book, Feedies, which introduced kids to Earth Science. I love how the natural movement is now widening its net to include children, helping them to never experience the hair trauma of generations past. If only there was a book like Princess Curl when I was a little girl that addressed what to do after numerous home box relaxers gone wrong.

Princess Curl

Written by Cherelle Shelton

Illustrated by Rhys Shelton

     $17.99, TatePublishing.com

 

Summer Time Shine: Pier 1 Imports

Am I the only person that fanaticizes about decorating their dream home? The day dreaming gets really serious in the spring and summer when the world around me seems to comes to life with color. So, you can probably imagine how excited I was when I saw the 2014 Outdoor Living Collection from Pier 1 Imports. COLOR GALORE! These functional pieces could brighten up any outdoor living space.

1. Casbah Chair in Green, $119
2. Outdoor Outdoor Garden Stool in Red, $99.95
3. Cabana Pillow in Orange, $17
4. Amelia Pedestal Table in Peacock, $99.95
5. Stacking Armchair in Purple, $69.99
6. Yellow Crackle Lantern Large, $20
7. Orange Crush Vinyl Rug, $49.95

Find more cool summer furnishings at Pier1.com.

Giving Me Life 1: Freedom System Lipstick Matte

I have to be honest, I have not often been the biggest fan of lipsticks. I have had the same complaint as other women: they dry out your lips. But not these. Not only does Inglot's Freedom System Lipstick Matte come in amazing colors, but it is made with Macadamia Nut Oil and avocado butter, so no drying. You can get these colors now at InglotUSA.com and in Macy's department stores nationwide in June.

 

Freedom System Lipstick Matte, $9

InglotUSA.com

Kiwi's AMLA Legend Wrap-Up

So my girl Kiwi The Beauty did a video on the AMLA Legend event. Take a gander! It goes into more detail about the line. Also, she got me on video and I don't look a hot mess! Yay!

The Mother's Day pic

Surfing Instagram and looking at all the mother/daughter pics, I realized that I don't have any good pics of me and my mom past the age of five. I see why. This blurry, strange pic is the product of at least 20 tries to take a selfie of the two of us. But that is neither here nor there. The fact is, I love my mommy:)

The Dinner Party

From left to right: Mariam, Juanita, Bryan, Karen, Chad, Anna, Zeak.

 Karen's amazing table setting.

Mariam in one of her design originals with Bryan.

 

Saturday was a hectic, busy day, but in a good way. Early in the day, I went to the Tracee Ellis Ross AMLA Legend event, and then at night, I went to my client Karen Swinger's dinner party. On Saturday, the trains were running slow, it was raining on and off, and my feet were killing me. But ending my day with amazing food and people was perfect.