Monthly Archives: October 2009

Don’t “fall” for it!

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87220737I had planned to write about a different topic today but when I went to run a few errands earlier, I saw something that compelled me to change my mind.  Today I saw an alarming number of women wearing summer tops, tanks, and flip flops. While I admit it feels great outside and I have been walking around without a jacket today, let us not forget it’s still autumn. Although the weather may feel like spring/summer temperatures, the season remains the same. I admonish you ladies to dress for the season, not the temperature. I don’t encourage you to walk around bundled up when the weather is warmer, however there are many, simple ways you can dress appropriately for the temperature and the season. If you have packed away your spring/summer wardrobe, don’t go digging at the first sight of 70 degrees! If you haven’t packed away your spring/summer wardrobe, please do so quickly so you won’t be tempted. :-)

A few simple tips for dressing for fall when the temperature is warmer:

  • Change your color scheme (leave the hot pinks, bright yellows, neons, etc. alone; think peacock colors!)
  • No flip flops . . . period.
  • No spaghetti strap, assymmetrical, or sleeveless tops.
  • Consider your sleeve length carefully; 3/4 length works very well.
  • No summer shorts or capris; try crop pants or fall/winter shorts with tights.
  • Note: These suggestions are for everyday wear. Special occasion outfits have different rules!

Be fabYOUlous . . . and in season!

Work with what you’ve got!

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HU Homecoming - ErickaThis past weekend I celebrated homecoming at the illustrious Howard University (my alma mater)! It was a very fun weekend filled with old friends, parties, and other interesting adventures! On Friday evening I wore the super cute dress-turned-shirt you see pictured. I was kind of concerned about the color of the dress because I have a tendency to sweat. And no one wants sweat marks! I needed some of those nifty little things that you place on the inside of your clothing to catch the sweat, but of course I didn’t have any of those. So I had to improvise. I looked around my bathroom and suddenly I had an idea! I could use thin panty liners to solve my problem! I know, sounds weird. Some of you may have tried this trick before but I felt very proud of myself for coming up with this. I did it and it worked perfectly! I simply placed them on the inside of the shirt in the armpit area and voila . . . a homemade “sweat catcher”.

Next time you’re in a bind and you’re worried about those sweat marks, try it! :-)

Be fabYOUlous!

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Breast Cancer Awareness!!!!

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Since it is Breast Cancer Awareness month, I decided to volunteer my makeup services for a photo shoot featuring women who are breast cancer survivors. During  the photo shoot, I got a breast-cancer-awareness-ribbonchance to hear the many stories of the women and their feelings about being diagnosed with this disease. These women said they were healthy and living normal lives. Listening to their stories made me want to educate myself on breast cancer and how it has affected the lives of so many women. I want you to be educated as well, so I decided to blog about it.

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant(cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. It is considered a heterogeneous disease—differing by individual, age group, and even the kinds of cells within the tumors themselves. Obviously no woman wants to receive this diagnosis, but hearing the words “breast cancer” doesn’t always mean an end. It can be the beginning of learning how to fight, getting the facts and finding hope.

Women in the United States get breast cancer more than any other type of cancer except for skin cancer. It is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in women.

Each year it is estimated that nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die. Approximately 1,700 men will also be diagnosed with breast cancer and 450 will die each year. The evaluation of men with breast masses is similar to that in women, including mammography.

While no one knows the exact causes of breast cancer, research has shown that women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop the disease.

RISK FACTORS

Risk factors for breast cancer include:

  • Age: Half of all women diagnosed are over age 65.
  • Weight: Being obese or overweight.
  • Diet & Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity, a diet high in saturated fat, and alcoholic intake of more than two drinks per day.
  • Menstrual & Reproductive History: Early menstruation or late menopause, having your first child at an older age or not having given birth, or taking birth control pills for more than ten years if you are under 35.
  • Family & Personal History: A family history of breast cancer—particularly a mother, sister. or a personal history of breast cancer of benign (non-cancer) breast disease.
  • Medical & Other Factors: Dense breast tissue (often identified by a mammogram), past radiation therapy to the breast or chest area. A history of hormone treatments—such as estrogen and progesterone, or gene changes— including BRCA1, BRCA2, and others.

Breast Cancer Signs & SYMPTOMS

Common signs & symptoms of breast cancer include:

  • A change in how the breast or nipple feels
    You may experience nipple tenderness or notice a lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area.
  • A change in how the breast or nipple looks
    This could mean a change in the size or shape of the breast or a nipple that is turned slightly inward. In addition, the skin of the breast, areola or nipple may appear scaly, red or swollen or may have ridges or pitting that resembles the skin of an orange.
  • Nipple discharge

An Early Breast Cancer Detection Plan should include:

  • Beginning at age 20: Performing breast self-exams and looking for any signs of change.
  • Age 20 to 39: Scheduling clinical breast exams every three years.
  • By the age of 40: Having a baseline mammogram and annual clinical breast exams.
  • Ages 40 to 49: Having a mammogram every one to two years depending on previous findings.
  • Ages 50 and older: Having a mammogram every year.
  • All Ages:

    • — Recording personal exams, mammograms and doctors’
    appointments on a calendar or in a detailed file.
    — Maintaining a healthy weight, following a low-fat diet, getting regular exercise, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption.

    Join the cause to help fight this disease called breast cancer, get involved, get educated, and become proactive!!!!!!!

Football for girls!

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Football for Girls 1Lots of ladies LOVE football! When I’m out and about on Sundays I see tons of women rockin’ jerseys from their favorite teams. While I do admit that I enjoy watching football, I’m not much of a jersey wearing kind of girl. Don’t get me wrong, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wearing them. But if you’d like another option, Reebok has provided a way for you to show off your styling skills while supporting your team.

For only $24, you can cheer on your favorite football team wearing one of Reebok’s Tri-Blend tees! These shirts are sold exclusively at Dick’s Sporting Goods. The Lucky Magazine advertisement above provides some cute styling options for the sports loving fashionista! Such a great idea! :-)

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Happy Shopping Football Lovers!

Be fabYOUlous!!!!

Find your shirt at a Dick’s near you or at DicksSportingGoods.com.

Aging Fashionably

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How old are you in fashion years?

Are you sixteen? Are you twenty one? Are you fifty? I know sometimes we like to take a few years off our real age when asked, but in fashion you should always dress according to your actual age. Isn’t it sad when you see a thirty year old woman who dresses like a sixteen year old girl or worse, a sixty year old woman? Now, there’s nothing wrong with being 60 but you shouldn’t look like it when you’re only 30! As you mature, so should your wardrobe! In all trends there is an age group and each age group has their version of that particular trend. No, you shouldn’t wear the big headband bow like your ten year old , but that doesn’t mean you can’t wear headbands at all. Instead of the bow, how about a classy feather-band? And the tulle skirts! You really must be careful with those. All I can say to that is, you and your five year old shouldn’t look like you’re twins.  It’s okay to allow your fashion to mature with you. You should strive to always have MOMMY FASHIONALITY instead of looking like a mommy misfit! I have learned that as I mature, I would rather look like a woman than be a woman dressed like a little girl. Take some inspiration from a 60+ Brazilian woman and DRESS YOUR AGE!

:-) Deena

Brazillian Older Woman

back to the basics!!!

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We all know that makeup is suppose to enhance your beauty. But the one thing that people seem to forget is that beauty starts within.  Ladies, it is very important that you have a basic skin care regimen. This is the only way your makeup will look amazing! It will not look its best on  bad skin.

Let’s get down to the basics:  Before we start with the proper daily 4-step skin care routine, you’ll need to know your skin type. How you care for your skin is utterly dependent on the type of skin you have: oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive, or sun- damaged.

The Basic 4-Step Skincare Regimen

Step 1: Cleansing

Simple is key here. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it. 

You can find a good cleanser at the drugstore. There’s no need to spend $40 on a fancy wash. Avoid bar soaps as they tend to dry out the skin. Choose a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser if you have oily skin. Example: Dove skin care line is inexpensive and great for all skin types!

Be careful not to cleanse too often. Washing at night should do it. If you have dry skin, consider a cold cream like Pond’s, which is very popular among the French. Simply apply cream, then wipe off, no water needed (if you have hard water it can be especially harsh on skin). Most women prefer the water method: Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water. You’ll also want to take off your makeup with a proper makeup remover.

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In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need (we find it’s great for removing excess oils from your nightly moisturizing). Never wash your face with hot or cold water; both can cause broken capillaries. Also be careful about over cleansing skin!

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skin care routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. According to Berg, one of the reasons men’s skin often looks more youthful than women’s skin is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave.

Scrubs work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion.  Make sure you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains. Big grains in cheap scrubs can tear skin and cause more harm than good. Be sure to exfoliate once a week!

Step 3: Moisturize

A basic law of beauty is that EVERYONE, no matter her skin type, should MOISTURIZE (even if your skin is oily).  The only exception is those with acne. Why moisturize? Moisturizers seal moisture into skin.  How much should you moisturize? Your skin will tell you. When your skin is tight, it’s crying out for moisture. Be careful not to over moisturize as this can clog pores.

Step 4: Apply Sunscreen – only if you are going to be in the sun often.

The number 1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it’s important to use sunscreen from your early years on, even in winter and on cloudy days. A great trick is to purchase two moisturizers: one for night and one for day that includes UV protection. Don’t use moisturizers with sunscreen at night; the ingredients are not meant to be used 24/7 and can aggravate skin.

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Ladies healthy, beautiful skin is dependent upon:

  • Good nutrition
  • Adequate rest and relaxation
  • Sufficient water intake
  • Fresh air and sunshine

Hot Looks, Cold Prices

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End of Summer Sale Sign

Now that the temperature is changing for real, many of us are getting ready for the next few months of colder weather. While some of us embrace this change, others are dreading it! And then there’s a select group who live in warm climates who won’t really be affected much at all. For all of the fashionistas bracing for the cold, this temperature change means a weekend of unpacking your winter wardrobe and packing up your summer items. Well, before you pack everything up how about adding some new pieces. Yes, I know the forecast doesn’t call for halters and tubes but the price points do! 

As retailers continue to purge their stores in preparation for new merchandise, there are still some “end of summer” sales for you to take advantage of so you can be ready for next summer. Instead of spending $30 on one vacation bikini, how about getting 3 for the same price?! You can stack up now and be cute later! I must admit, I always say that I’m going to do this and never do. How unfortunate! Untapped sales are like unused scholarship money . . . they really should not go to waste! Perhaps this season will be different. :-) And please, as you add items to your collection be sure to give away those items that are collecting dust! If you haven’t worn it all summer, chances are you probably won’t wear it next summer either.

In the wise way of the small ant, store up for summer now and reap all the compliments later. Happy Savings!

expeHAIRiment!

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Over the weekend Chris Rock’s new movie, “Good Hair”, was released. I haven’t seen it yet but I thought for today’s blog we should talk about HAIR! I’ve heard from a few individuals who have seen the movie and are ready to put their weaves on the shelf. :-) I am really not concerned with how you choose to wear your hair. My thoughts about that, do whatever works best for YOU! Whether you rock natural styles, weave, press and curl, braids, wig, bald head, or the “creamy crack” (also known as relaxer), own your look so that it makes you feel great! But here’s the thing – you have to UPDATE your hair often or it becomes BORING!

While many women consistently visit the hair salon, there’s a larger group (especially busy moms) who do not update their hair styles often enough. I have been guilty of this myself. It is not okay to throw your hair into a ponytail every single day and the wrap/flat ironed look becomes drab after a while. There are so many things you can do with your hair whether it’s short, long, natural, or relaxed. Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment with your hair. Find pictures of things you’d like to try; take them to the salon with you or try them yourself.  Everything you try won’t be a winner but have some fun! If you have a man, spice it up for him a little. And if you don’t, spice it up so you can get one! LOL!!! Just joking . . . kind of! ;-)

The point is, don’t let your hair get STALE! If you haven’t changed your style in the past 3 months, a change is way OVERDUE!!! Try something NEW!!! ExpeHAIRiment!!!!

Be fabYOUlous!

makeup on a budget

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I was having a conversation the other day with a client about makeup on a budget.  Since I am a makeup artist, people seem to believe that all I use is M.A.C. or the expensive lines of makeup. Well, I am here to tell you that is not the case at all.  I have used and continue to use just about every makeup brand sold in the drugstore.

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Tip: You can make any brand of makeup work and make it look like you have spent a lot of money on it.

Let me give you some examples of what I mean:

1. Always use a base (concealer) on your eyelid before you apply any eyeshadow on top of it. (It will intensify any color you desire to use.)

2. If you feel you need a variety of eyeshadow colors, mix your eyeshadow to create the desired look you want. No need to spend more money buying more eyeshadow. (You can also use this concept with lip colors as well.)

3. Beauty supply stores carry a lot of eyeshadow colors, lip glosses, lipstick, etc. for cheaper prices than drugstores.

4. You can make any foundation matte by setting it with powder.

5. Baby wipes remove makeup better than makeup remover and are less expensive. (They also remove some stains from clothing.)

6. Instead of buying lip gloss buy lipstick instead and mix it with clear gloss.

I hope some of these tips help you trim your spending  on makeup and allow you to look glamorous on a budget!!!!!

Recessionistas

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A true fashionista knows that a recession, unemployment, or any of the effects of a bad market won’t get in the way of her being “runway” ready. I may not have the cash flow for Neiman’s right now, but from my look you would never know. Especially if you are wearing any of the couture inspired pieces of Forever 21′s Twelve by Twelve line. Yes it’s a part of Forever 21, but no it’s not your typical Forever 21 look. These pieces make bold statements and aren’t for the faint at heart. With Twelve by Twelve  you have to be ready to be the center of attention of every crowd. But true fashionistas don’t mind because they seem to find themselves at the center of everything! :-)   So as we continue to wait out these harder times, Twelve by Twelve can have you looking chic, sophisticated, and fabulous . . . on a budget! Your friends, coworkers, and playdate mommies will be wondering how you can afford such great clothes and quoting the words of celebrity stylist and fashionista Rachel Zoe, “Is the recession over yet!?”

Happy Shopping Recessionistas!!!

Deena12x12_tops_image