March Faves

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Rapid Moisture Instant Cooling Spray Lotion ($5.99) – I have been a fan of Palmer's Cocoa Butter since I was a kid! I loved its rich smell, but it could get oily. This is why the Rapid Moisture Instant Cooling Spray is perfect for summer! It sprays on cool and dries without leaving skin looking dry- no oily residue afterward.

Jasmine Exotic Eyes Brush Set 3-Piece ($12.99, Walgreens)- This adorable set by London SOHO New York is an essential! Its brushes, part of the brand's collection based on Disney princesses, focus on liner and shadow application as well as brow maintenance! 

Coconut and Monoi Deep Moisture Oil Treatment ($12.99)- As you well know, I am a fan of hair oils. I find that they best help my hair retain moisture and shine. This oil treatment from Design Essentials is great! I rub it on my hands to do my twists and twist outs, and it gives my hair an amazing sheen.

 NEW Body Fantasies Sweet Berry Fantasy  ($6.99/WalMart and Drugstores)Body Fantasies has a whole collection of fun, sweet scents! My favorite is the Sweet Berry Fantasy. It is light and fruity and I can't wait to debut it in the summer. If you are like me and keep a fragrance in your purse during the hotter months, any fragrance by Body Fragrances would be ideal for this.

NEW! Suave Professionals® Luxe Style Infusion Curl Defining Soft Touch Curls Mousse (4.99) Until I was sent this mousse from Suave I had never tried a mousse on my hair. I was not sure what it was used for. But I found that adding this mousse to my hair while wet gave it a really cute light curl! Not a fan of mousse yourself? It's okay. This collection by Suave has a few products dedicated to curl definition.

Get The Look: Regina King at Black Girls Rock

We all know Regina King from her groundbreaking big and small screen work, including the new hit TV drama American Crime. She was spotted at BET's Black Girl's Rock with a fresh face, courtesy of Shea Moisture. Follow the below steps to recreate her look:

HER SKIN: 
To achieve a luminous and creamy canvas, moisturize and prime skin to ensure a flawless finish.Using the SheaMoisture Foundation/Concealer Duo Brush, applySheaMoisture Sheer Liquid Foundation in Gobi Bronzi over the entire face.To highlight and brighten the under eye area, lightly pad SheaMoisture Créme Concealer in Fawn under the eye.Apply the SheaMoisture Color Correcting, Contouring & Highlighting Palette in Medium Dark, mixing the colors to ensure a perfect shade to highlight under eyes, temples and high plains of the face and neck.Set makeup with SheaMoisture Wet/Dry Pressed Powder in Yuma Pecan.Following, sweep SheaMoisture Illuminating Powder in Havana Sunrise on the apples of cheeks, forehead, nose and cheeks to for a sun-kissed glow. Follow up with Mandalay Dusk on contoured areas. To finish complexion, apply SheaMoisture Mineral Blush in Varkala Spice on the apple of the cheeks. 

HER EYES:
Apply SheaMoisture Wet/Dry Eyeshadowin Claudia on the outer lid, sweeping Montana on inner lid and corner of eye. Blend to create a seamless finish.Lightly place SheaMoisture Wet/Dry Eyeshadow in Claudia as liner for lower lash line.SheaMoisture Liquid Eyeliner in Black is used to line the top lash line. Slightly wing towards the outer perimeter of eye.Complete look with SheaMoisture Volumizing Mascara in Black for top lashes, and SheaMoisture Lengthening Mascara in Black on lower lashes.

HER LIPS:
Prep lips by using SheaMoisture Lip Exfoliator to smooth and moisturize.To achieve the opening look, useSheaMoisture Lip Crayons in Sarah and Kenia, in equal parts.Finish by applying SheaMoisture Lip Glossin Jenny and Rosie, again in equal parts.
* All products can be purchased at Target.com.

Summer Sips: Bud Light Rita's Lemon-Ade-Rita

Bud Light Rita’s  LEMON-ADE-RITA is the perfect drink for summer! It is light and fruity and has joined flavors Lime-A-Rita, Mang-O-Rita, Raz-Ber-Rita and Straw-Ber-Rita as summer refreshment must-haves.
I am in love with it, and it will definitely be on ice this summer for my outdoor entertainment. If you are a girl like me who enjoys a sweet social drink that isn't too strong you will love the Lemon-Ade-Rita!

In partnership with Bud Light for the Lemon-Ade-Rita, swimwear line Kaohs has created a limited-edition bathing suit! The style will be available in an exclusive limited-edition yellow color at Kaohs.com!

Not So Dirty 30: Old

I am 30-years-old. I am not young and I am not ancient. Quite honestly, I slid into this age with the same ease that I slide into my old Payless slippers with. 30 for me means happily declining party invites, not feeling obligated to do things I don't want to; watching Netflix alone with a smile.
To many of my friends, being 30 means trying to keep up with 20 somethings, standing in club lines in heels. And apparently, since I have no intetest in this, I am acting as if I am not still "young".
"You act like an old lady!" a friend screamed in my ear when I told her I had no desire to go to some party and twerk for male attention.
Perhaps I am not on fleek, but I would rather two step in my room to old school Soul 4 Real than get pushed around in a club to a 2 Chainz soundtrack. I go to bed by 9pm and frown and boys that let their pants sag. If that makes me old, so be it!

Late Post: ATL BLACKBIRD Screening

Last week, RLJ Entertainment and Urban Movie Channel hosted a private screening of the upcoming film 'BLACKBIRD,' at the Midtown Art Cinema. The film, directed by Patrik-Ian Polk and starring Academy Award winner Mo'Nique, hits theaters April 24. Attendees had the opportunity to preview the film and engage in on a Q&A moderated by V103 personality Ramona Debreaux.

Snapped: Kelle Stewart's Bday Party

The stars came out for Kellee Stewart's bday bash last week. Celebs such as Brandy Norwood, Elise Neal, Nadine Ellis, Hayley Marie Norman, and Bresha Webb all came out to party with the TV Land star at the Starlight Ballroom at Mr. C's Hotel in Beverly Hills. 

Kellee Stewart

Nadine Ellis 

Bresha Webb

Kellee and Hayley Marie Norman

Kellee and Brandy Norwood

Kellee and guests

Elise Neal

Summer Sips: Nielsen-Massey Lemon-Vanilla Simple Syrup and Nielsen-Massey Lemon Lime Raspberry Twist

Lemon-Vanilla Simple Syrup
(½ Cup)

Ingredients
¾ cup water
½ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Lemon Extract
½ teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions 

In a small saucepan, add water, sugar and lemon extract; stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until syrup reduces, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat. After syrup has cooled, add vanilla extract and stir. Refrigerate unused syrup in an airtight container.

Lemon Lime Raspberry Twist 

(Serves 1)

Ingredients
6 fresh raspberries
½ ounce fresh lime juice
½ ounce Lemon-Vanilla Simple Syrup
1 ounce vodka
2 ounces organic lemon sparkling water
lime twist
2 frozen raspberries
orange wedge

Directions
In a cocktail shaker, muddle fresh raspberries, lime juice and Lemon-Vanilla Simple Syrup. Add vodka and sparkling water; shake and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Drop lime twist and frozen raspberries into glass. Top with a freshly squeezed orange wedge