Archives for September 2011

Get Funky With It

Watch out Carol, there’s another ‘daughter’ taking on all-natural hair care.

Uncle Funky’s Daughter is a husband and wife line based in Houston that caters to curly hair textures. Although, the brand was founded in 2003, I only heard of it a few months ago. First the name caught my attention and then the packaging bearing a woman rocking an Afro sealed the deal. I knew I had to try a product from this eye-catching line.

Since I suffer from extremely dry, flakey scalp I was excited to try the brand’s moisturizer, Shining Star. Made with natural jojoba and soybean oil, this pleasantly-scented concoction quenched my hair’s ‘thirst’ like no other product I’ve tried this year. It’s lightweight, yet non-greasy formula coated my hair and scalp leaving it shiny without the weight where many other moisturizers fail.

While I’m still a huge fan of Carol’s Daughter, I’m making room in my beauty shelf for one more child who will bring on that funk!

Have you tried Uncle Funky’s Daughter products? If you would like to try the Shining Star ($16 value) moisturizer, simply leave a comment and the winner will be randomly selected and announced next week.

**The winner of the Essie polish is Ladybug! Congrats and please send me your mailing address.

News: Jennifer Hudson Opens Weight Loss Center

Jennifer Hudson wants her fellow Chicagoans to get healthy and lose weight.

The famously slimmed down Oscar-winning actress opened the Jennifer Hudson Weight Watchers Center on the south side of  her hometown yesterday. Known for her incredible body transformation, the Weight Watchers spokeswoman and star of the upcoming biopic, Winnie, was joined by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanual at the weight loss facility’s ribbon cutting.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the singer/actress said,”I never thought I’d make it to have my own center. I’m so honored to be here and see this day.”

Got to love J-Hud!

Are you a fan of Weight Watchers? What do you do to stay in shape?

Get Knock-Out Nails this Fall

With fall officially upon us, treat your nails to awesome autumnal saturations that will make your digits standout. Essie’s current collection has 6 eye-catching hues that will make you swoon.

From a deep burgundy color called, “Carry On,” to my favorite, a striking grey-green shade that resembles a muted camouflage tone named, “Power Clutch,” these nail polishes are the perfect accessories to your fabulous fall ensembles.

What nail polish colors are you looking forward to rocking this fall?

**One lucky reader will win one of these shades. Simply leave a comment, “like” me on Twitter or join BGG on Facebook and the winner will be randomly selected and announced later this week. 

Scarlet Fever

After attending the Emmys in LA (thanks again, Galderma!) on Sunday, I along with the rest of the world noticed that the color of the night was red. From Kerry Washington’s sheer, skintight scarlet number to Kate Winslet’s crimson curve-hugging frock, the Hollywood fashions were definitely red-hot.

Kerry Washington wearing Zuhair Murad at the 2011 Emmys. 

Clearly, I didn’t get the memo as I strutted down the red carpet in a satin, champagne-hued Tracy Reese dress. However, the night before at a pre-Emmy mixer, I rocked a red and pink dress that was a personal precursor for the scarlet fever the following evening.

On my way to a pre-Emmy mixer.

At the Emmys.

Check out these incredibly gorgeous red offerings perfect for fall!

Calvin Klein Gathered Long-Sleeve Jersey Dress available at www.nordstrom.com for $98

Embellished Sleeve Dress available at www.topshop.com for $175

Julie Dillon Ruffle Crepe De Chine Dress available at www.nordstrom.com for $178

Matthew Williamson Panel Mini Dress available at www.shopbop.com for $1,274

Black Halo “Jackie” Belted Gabardine Sheath Dress available at www.nordstrom.com for $345

Tahari by ASL Knit Charlie Charles Dress available www.zappos.com for $118

Trina Turk Ain’t Misbehavin’ 2 Fringe Lace Dress available at www.myrevolve.com for $298

Are you a fan of the cherry red shade?

Red, Oranges and Pinks – Oh My!

If you kept up with last week’s New York Fashion Week extravaganza, I’m sure you not only noticed the eye-catching trends we can expect to wear next spring, but you may have also noticed some celebrity make-up trends that you can wear for the fall.

Normally, fall makeup consists of the darker or vampy hues like grays, deep purples, metallics or anything in the jewel-toned family. However, what I liked seeing the most on our celebrity trendsetters was the concept of bending the rules when it comes to adjusting your makeup for the season—specifically when it comes to lip color.

Check out Solange in this eye-catching bright pink lip-color.

You can achieve a similar look with MAC’s Amplified collection “Girl About Town.” It’s also one of my personal faves. If you want to tone down the lip color, you can always do so with by applying the appropriate lip-liner in the same color family over your lipstick.

With full eye brows and a dewy, “make-up less” look, model Jourdan Dunn rocked in the Jason Wu fashion show wearing a matte orange lip. I typically shy away from matte lip colors since they appear so drying on my lips. However, Revlon has a similar “Coral” shade in the Colorburst collection which is actually pretty moisturizing. More on this in the future!

If you want to turn heads, look no further than applying a sultry, hot color like Red on your pout. I know sometimes we women of color might think red is too hot to trot, however, no matter what your complexion or lip size—there is a RED for you!

The key is to look for the right shade and texture of red that complements you. I would highly recommend visiting a make-up counter to find your perfect match. Oftentimes the drugstore packaging of lip-color may be misleading and can become frustrating trying to find your right color. With a make-up pro—the guesswork is taken out. A visit to your local Sephora or any other make-up counter takes the stress off and allows you to embark in star treatment.

Take a look at Angela Simmons and her perfect red pout. Again, Mac has a similar color in the satin collection simply named “MAC Red.”

There you have it. Will you be embracing fall’s more subdued lip-colors or will you be trying the more bold approach?

Posted by Khadijah C.

Plan a Girlfriend Getaway

Not ready to say goodbye to summer (which officially ends at the end of the month)? Gather up your girlfriends and plan a quick end-of-season getaway. With countless last-minute summer deals, finding a vacation spot that complements your group’s personality should be easy.

The iconic Fontainebleau in Miami Beach is an ideal destination for BFF bonding due to its innumerous amenities. Whether having a dance-filled night out on the town, enjoying delicious dinners, shopping till you drop, or relaxing with luxurious spa services is what you’re looking for, then this celebrity hangout has you covered.

Renovated in 2008 from its 1950s art-deco design during the Rat Pack heyday, The Fontainebleau boasts 22-acres and houses two of the city’s most popular nightclubs, 12 restaurants, 3 shopping boutiques, and the incomparable 40,000-square foot Lapis Spa.

I recently had the pleasure of indulging in an invigorating, complimentary massage at the aforementioned lavish resort. The treatment was the perfect antidote to the demands and ongoing duties of a busy mom like me. Lapis surpassed all of my previous spa experiences with its ultra-chic design and serene atmosphere. While I enjoyed the spa, my only regret is not having a few of my best girlfriends with me to share the experience.

Pefect for BFFs and bridal parties, the spa offers great packages to make any getaway a grand-slam.

If you’re looking to plan your own girls getaway, be sure to follow these tips:

Stash Cash: Prior to the trip, make sure that everyone sets aside extra cash to go towards the vacation pool that will cover tips, taxis and meals.

Consolidate Your Packing: If your BFF has a fabulous flat iron ask her to bring it so that you don’t have to and vice versa. This way, the group can use certain items/products without having to lug around individual ones.

Pick Activities that the Entire Group will Enjoy: Nothing is worse than being on a trip with friends who aren’t on the same page when it comes to the excursion’s activities. Let everyone know in advance if there will be planned activities to ensure that you’re all in agreement.

Dine with Your Friends in Mind: Dining can be one of the most enjoyable parts of a girls getaway. That’s why it’s important to make sure that the places you visit offer food selections that the entire group can enjoy.

Lapis Spa is offering $99 treatments as part of Miami Spa Months now through the rest of the month. Click here for more information.

Have you taken a girlfriend getaway this year? If so, where did you go?

Plan a Girlfriend Getaway