BEAUTY

Hello November – Quote, Challenge and Affiliate Links!

Thu, November 1, 2012 No Comments by Miss Daja

Yes, it’s November already. Hopefully you all had a fun and safe Halloween (for those who celebrate). Now it’s time to kick the rest of our 2012 Goals into high gear. The next time we look up, we’ll be celebrating New Years. And the last thing I want any of you to do is to regret not accomplishing certain tasks. There are a few Contest and Challenges taking place as we speak. For one, it’s still not too late to join Kimberly Luxe in her Reset Your Life Challenge. The purpose is for each individual to let go of negativity, analyze one’s life and goals and to get to know yourselves better.
Also today marks Day 1 of my Box Tops For Education Fund your School Contest. The goal is to bring awareness to Box Tops For Education and to encourage the participants to get into the habit of giving back to their communities.
I hope you challenge yourself to participate in one, if not both. They are both for the greater good. One for self, the other for your communities.

MOTIVATION||

  • Our lives improve only when we take chances – and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves. – Walter Anderson
  • If you are not doing good with what little you have, depend upon it the more money you get the more selfish you would become…If your real desire is to do good, there is no need to wait for money before you do it. - James Allen
  • Pursue, keep up with, circle round and round your life, as a dog does his master’s chaise. Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still. – Thoreau

NBzA MINI ASSIGNMENTS ||

Let’s work on being honest with ourselves this month. I want all of you to challenge yourselves to 3 things for the Month of November.

1. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF. If it doesn’t align with your wants, needs and authentic self, it’s okay to say no. If you have to second guess why you’re doing something, say no. Ask yourself “is this worth my time?” “does this represent me in a respectful way?”, if the answer is no… then the answer is no!

2. GIVE MORE THAN YOU ARE WILLING TO RECEIVE. Practice giving. If a stranger asks you for $1.00, give him $2.00. Pay for the strangers lunch that is behind you in line. Open someone’s door. Smile and speak up first.

3. DO SOMETHING NEW. What is something you have always wanted to do but always made an excuse or never found the time? Dust off your Bucket List and let’s get to work fun. The problem is, we spend so much time trying to accomplish goals, we forget to take an hour out of our day to just have fun, smile, laugh, be grateful and LIVE. Never forget to live. Last month I went Go Kart Racing and Miniature Golfing. Two things I’ve never done but always wanted to and it was sooo worth the memory.

CHECK OUT SOME GREAT READS FROM MY AFFILIATES||

A Motivational Workout Playlist [ So She Writes By Miss Dre ]

Modern Female Traveler – Must Have Carry On Essentials [ Kimberly Luxe ]

Pearls Of Wisdom – Know Thyself According To Beyonce’ [ Chymere Anais ]

Tagged , , , , ,

In Case You Missed It..This Week In Fashion News!

Fri, October 26, 2012 No Comments by Fashion Fridays With Naomi

2012’s Sexiest Shoe

Christian Louboutin’s red studded patent leather pumps won first place in the third-annual competition for sexiest shoe of 2012. The contest was created by Footwear News and Saks Fifth Avenue. Voters chose their picks online from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11 and the winner was announced this week along with the top 3 runner ups. Stuart Weitzman’s burgundy patent pumps with a metal stiletto came in second place, while Jimmy Choo’s black suede sandals with silver sequins took third. B Brian Atwood’s studded suede over-the-knee boots were fourth. These winners were chosen from 25 finalists, which were selected by the editors of FN and included styles by Manolo Blahnik, Christian Dior, Nicholas Kirkwood, Gucci and Tabitha Simmons, and many others. Louboutin’s winning design was featured on the cover of the “Sexy Shoes” print magazine, which was distributed at Saks Fifth Avenue. The red-sole king also took home first place in the 2010 “Sexy Shoes” competition, and Valentino won the top prize of 2011. To view the other winning styles, click here

Styled to Rock to be cancelled

We told you about Rihanna’s new UK based show “Styled To Rock” a few weeks back, well it turns out the show isn’t doing as expected. The reality competition show, “Styled To Rock,” follows aspiring designers over the course of 10 weeks as they compete to create an outfit for Rihanna to wear during one of her performances. After airing on the Sky Living Channel for three episodes it appears that the show has had a rough start. According to The Sun, the show is lacking from the network’s average viewing audience of 153,000 viewers, by debuting at 95,000, followed by 79,000 for the second episode, and bumping up to 110,000 viewers for the third episode. Rihanna is also the executive producer of the show and is still busy promoting the series to her 25 million Twitter followers despite the views. A TV insider however reported that there are no plans for a second season as they have lost confidence in the project. Could Project Runway be stealing Styled To Rock’s viewers.

Victoria’s Secret 2.5 mil Bra

It’s that time of the year again ladies! The 2012 Victoria’s Secret fashion show is on its way! With every year and every show Victoria’s Secret creates one outrageous “Fantasy Bra”. The Fantasy bra is usually revealed at the end of the show, worn by one specially selected Angel. We scored a sneak peak of the 2.5 million dollar bra and the chosen Angel Alessandra Ambrosio. The Angel appeared on Good Morning America where she made the big sneak peak reveal. Each year there is a theme for the show as well as the Fantasy Bra, for 2012 the theme is floral. The 2.5 Million Dollar bra is draped with amethysts, sapphires, rubies and white, pink and yellow diamonds all in flower shapes. The bra consists of a total of 5,200 stones including the matching panties and belly chain. Alessandra put in 11 years as an Angel and finally got to wear this year’s creation!

Jay’s Auctions Limited Edition Jersey

If you were at Jay-Z’s first concert at the Barclays Center, the new home of the relocated Brooklyn Nets, on Sept. 28, you witnessed the revealing of the Nets’ new jerseys. The rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter and who’s a part owner of the Nets, wore a black No. 4 jersey with Brooklyn in white lettering on the front and his name on the back. The Brooklyn native’s jersey won’t ever be worn in an NBA game, but if you’ve got the cash to spend, you can get your hands on a limited edition autographed “Carter 4.” Ten authenticated Carter jerseys – five home and five road – with the rapper’s signature on them were put up for auction on Wednesday at auctions.NBA.com, and each auction will end on Oct. 31. One hundred Carter jerseys were originally produced for each of Jay-Z’s eight Barclays Center shows. The autographs are on the size tag of each jersey and read “Peace Jay Z.” All of the proceeds will benefit the Shawn Carter Foundation, which has given more than $1.4 million in scholarship awards to financially strapped students since 2003. The opening bid for each jersey was $500. As of Friday afternoon, the bid on one of the road jerseys was already more than $1,000, and the smallest bid on any other jersey was $670. Will you be placing a bet?

Victoria Beckham for ELLE France

Back in July Karl Lagerfeld went behind the lens to shoot Victoria Beckham for an Elle France cover in the home of none other than the late Coco Chanel. The Spice-Girl-turned-designer gave us a peek backstage during the shoot when she shared the first photos of their efforts from inside 31 Rue Cambon this morning. “First pictures from my @ElleFrance cover shoot with Karl Lagerfeld, a dream come true!” she tweeted along with a picture of the pair standing on Chanel’s famous staircase with Beckham dressed in a black Lanvin sweater, Eres underwear, Giuseppe Zanotti Design boots, and Chanel jewels. According to the Daily Telegraph, there is another snapshot of leggy lady in another pair of Eres undies, Fendi shirt, Sergio Rossi heels, and a pair of frames from her own optical collection. Stay tuned for the cover shot and release date of this ELLE issue!

Tagged , , , ,

Fall Nail Trends

Fri, October 26, 2012 2 Comments by Fashion Fridays With Naomi

NAILS DID

Fall is here! Time to pull out those sweaters, scarves and boots! With the warmer weather also comes warmer nail shades. While brighter shades can be more “fun and creative” there are some new nail trends out that will spice up your fall nails too! Not sure which shades say “fall”? Look to OPI, they release new nail sets regularly that match the season. Currently their newest set is based off the new 007 movie. The set features dark reds, purples, blues, greens and some metallic shades, all in colors this fall. If your feeling creative try one of the DIY nail projects. These designs are simple yet chic and most of which came straight from the runway!

Gold Flakes
Add some shimmer to your deeper shade with gold flakes! Simply apply two coats of your fall shade then use a toothpick to pick up and place the gold flakes onto your nails. Wait a few minutes then apply a top coat. These gold flakes can be purchased at your local nail supply store or online

Reverse Manicure
This style is very popular on the runways. Now the basic pink and white manicure has some color! First paint your base coat. Then place curved french manicure strips on each nail at the top or bottom. Finally paint your contrast color on the tips or top of nail bed and add your top coat. Manicure strips can be purchased at just about any drug store including Wal-Mart.

Caviar Dreams
Add texture to your nails with Ciate’ Caviar Pearls. They offer all the materials you need in their nail kits. Visit their website for more colors and easy DIY tips. Ciate’ is also sold at Sephora stores.

Louboutin Inspired
Match your nails with your shoes with this simple DIY. Simply paint underneath your nails with a bright red shade. You can use a top coat to make the color last.

View this video from InStyle magazine for a visual on some of these DIY nails. Will you try any of these styles this Fall?

Tagged , , , ,

BEAUTY & MAKEUP: Contouring And Highlighting

Thu, October 25, 2012 4 Comments by Miss Daja

If you’re anything like me, make-up can confuses you. I’ve always wondered how women create the natural look and highlight their tones when the sun hits their skin and then it hit me… Contouring! Duh. Below is a Youtube Tutorial on How To Create the Contouring and Highlighting Effect When Applying Make-up.

Here I will break down the 3 most common problem areas when contouring…
NOSE CONTOURING: apply the contouring shade on each side of your nose. You will proceed to blend carefully and follow by applying the highlighter down the center of your nose. No plastic surgery necessary. This will give your nose a slimming look.

FOREHEAD CONTOURING: For those with big foreheads, if you want to create a more rounded forehead look, apply a light bronzer to each temple and blend.

CHEEKBONE CONTOURING: One of our favorite things to do is play up our cheekbones. You want to put your best duck face on and suck in your cheeks. You will then apply a darker shade of your skin to the hollows and a highlighter shade to the top of the cheekbones. Proceed to apply blush as normal.

Q: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most experienced, how comfortable are you contouring your own face?

Tagged , ,

Reset Your Life Challenge – Week 1-7 Recap!

Tue, October 23, 2012 No Comments by Miss Daja


WOW! As I said back in September, the remainder of this year is going to fly by so quickly and look –> it’s already almost November! The Life Reset is about 7 weeks in, leaving us with only five more weeks to go! Here’s a simple breakdown of what journal projects have already passed and what journal projects are to come! As I always say, it’s never too late to start! Although I didn’t go back into detail about previous weeks, you can find more details about each week’s projects here! This week, is week six so we’re still focusing on our goals and cleaning up our homes — getting rid of old clothing, etc. With the holiday’s right around the corner, it’s a great time to give a lot by giving what we no longer use. After Thanksgiving, our lives will be in a complete whirlwind, so that’s why I do this Three Month Life Reset starting in September, to avoid having to get things straight during the hustle and bustle. I hope you all are enjoying this and that you all are able to start working on your New Year’s Resolutions before New Years, that way, your first step into the year, is your strongest step. Enjoy!

1 | CREATE A ROAD MAP Create a goal sheet that you plan to tackle and complete before the New Year. Include both small and large goals.
2 | GET RID OF THE VALUELESS Deactivate a social network of your choice and commit to giving up bad habits and bad company.
3 | CREATE YOUR PERFECT HIM Do you know what you’d want from him on a much deeper level? Create your perfect him by really thinking about what you’d want from your man. Spiritually & Mentally, before Physically. Set standards so you have criteria to go after during dating excursions and number their importance. But when you do go on your next day, be sure to remember: that if you can fix it, you can look past it.
4 | BECOME YOUR OWN OBSESSION & COMPLETE THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS So far everyone has said that this has been the most fun part of the Life Reset. The questions at these five web pages (one, two, three, four, five) are mind boggling and fun. I even had to skip a few of them, because I didn’t even know the answers! Just when I thought I knew myself…
5 & 6 | TACKLE YOUR GOAL SHEET & DO SOME SPRING/FALL CLEANING Spend the week focusing on tackling the things on your goal sheet and Spring Clean your room & home along the way. A clean environment frees the mind. It’s sometimes hard to focus when you’re surroundings are cluttered. OCT 14 – OCT 27
7 | CREATE MATRA & DAILY AFFIRMATION LIST “I clearly see all there is to be grateful for in life. Through gratitude my world expands”. “Each day I take a small step toward achieving my goals”. “I am willing to try new things courageously”. These are some positive daily affirmations that serve as constant reminders throughout the day. But when it comes to your life and all that you are and want to be, what are some things that keep you grounded and pushing forward? This week’s project is to create a list of personal mantras and affirmations that you will say throughout the day. Here are a list of daily affirmations that’ll help you based on the situations that you are in and want to be in. And here is a website that will help you understand and come up with your own personal mantras. Use as many pages necessary to make your list, but be sure to leave at least two pages blank in the event that you need to add some more. Tip: Have an index card folded in your wallet or in your car and pull it out throughout the day and recite an affirmation that’ll remind you to stay positive and look forward. The key to doing this successfully is to say each affirmation with your eyes closed, repeatedly, and to process the thought of what you’re saying. “Positive affirmations will attract positive events into your life. In a study, it is said that the brain rewires itself after every major experience a person goes through. With this being said, constant repetition of something will create and strengthen new connections in the brain. If you begin to develop a belief in something that you say or repeatedly think, the brain will rewire itself and bring your thoughts into a physical form. Remember that the body is controlled by the brain, whatever the brain thinks the body will manifest. The brain controls the body through hormones, if the brain thinks that the body is in trouble, the brain will then release adrenaline. This happens since the brain wants the whole body to enter the fight or flight response state. If the brain senses happiness it will release Endorphins; through this hormone, the whole body reacts appropriately to happy thoughts or events. Affirmations can make drastic changes in your life, if the brain finally believes the thought or word you say or think; the brain will release the right hormone to make what you think or say physically felt by the body. The universe will give you what you think of or say; and this is the primary premise of positive affirmations” – Source. Don’t wait for a fortune cookie to tell you what you want to hear, create your own positive statements to confidently live by. OCT 28 – NOV 3

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Bathroom HERsentials – What Does Your Bathroom Say About You?

Mon, October 22, 2012 No Comments by Miss Daja

You can walk into a Woman’s Bathroom and easily tell exactly the type of woman she is. For the most part, that can be a major turn on or a turn-off depending on numerous things. Below I will list a few things that every woman’s bathroom should have and I may even throw in some things it should not have. Let’s get into it…

STORAGE - Storage is a major space saver as well as a life saver, for embarrassment that is. Storage allows you to properly place your toiletries, hair accessories, cleaning supplies and such in grouped bins, drawers and cabinet space to make for easy accessibility when needed. One thing that should always be stored away is your femininity products. Do not ever leave your tampons and such laying around, especially if you’re dating and NEVER leave dirty tampons used toiletries in an open trash can or sitting around. I shouldn’t have to tell you why but for those that do it, it leaves behind a smell and it isn’t pleasant to look at.

COLOR – A woman’s touch can be felt but before that, it can be seen. Color, texture and quality of bathroom furniture can play a major role in the mood of your restroom. For designing ideas, take a look at bathroom ideas online that fit your price budget (DIY projects, Local Yard Sales, Discount Furniture) and anytime your out of town or at a local hotel, take pictures of some of your favorite pieces. Designing can be inexpensive and still give off a good look. DESIGN TIP: Invest in basic color bathroom furniture (brown, white, grey) so when you change the colors of the shower curtain and soap dish every Season, the neutral furniture will make the easy transition.

SUPPLIES – Keep your bathroom clean and inviting as often as possible. I don’t expect you to get on your hands and knees daily to scrub the floors and the tub but if you won’t go to a hotel and use a dirty toilet or tub then yours shouldn’t look like one. Every restroom should have Windex, Shower Cleaner, A Scrub Brush, Toilet Cleaner (brush and spray), Hand Soap/Wash, Toilet Plunger and Drano. HIDDEN TIP: Clean the bottom of your toilet once a week. Urine tends to end up in unnoticeable (by you) places but still holds a lingering smell.

QUALITY ITEMS – While I won’t tell you which toiletries you should have (it’s not my business and our bodies are different), I will tell you that quality items do matter. Especially in the bathroom. Three things that everyone should invest in is Proper Soap, Toilet Paper and Bath Towels/Wash Cloths. Soap for obvious reasons. You want to find one that reacts great with your skin and not against it. Toilet paper, we need soft tissue that won’t tear our skin (down there) up while wiping. Bath towels and wash clothes tend to get the most use so why not invest in ones that won’t go sour after a few washes, won’t feel harsh against your skin and won’t tear over time. A great bath towel should last 3-4 years with average use. SUGGESTION: JCPenney Home and Bed Bath Beyond have amazing towels that have lasted me up to 4 years. Look for sales around major holidays.

SMELL GOODS – I love entering a restroom and being greeted by the fresh smell of French Vanilla. It’s never a pleasant or comfortable feeling walking into a bathroom and getting smacked in the face with the smell of your entire lunch and dinner from earlier that day. Keep Candles, Air Freshener and Plug-ins handy and available for continuous use.

Tagged , , , ,

Hair Wrap Me Up: Bad Hair Days In Style…

Wed, October 17, 2012 No Comments by Miss Daja


Unless you obsess over your hair or you’re a Diva Hair Stylist, we all have bad hair days. It’s just a part of Womanhood. But that’s not to say we have to leave the house looking a mess because we don’t always have the time to look our absolute best.

There are lots of hair wrap styles going around and if you follow me on Instagram, you know that I do it quite often. But the beautiful (that’s an understatement) Ambrosia Malbrough is here to give you two quick tutorials (video) on simple hair wrap styles. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll no longer wake up in panic to the sight of your hair looking dry, brittle and uncooperative. You’ll be asking “What’s a bad hair day?”

Bun Life Substitute

Turban Flow

Tagged , , ,

Get The Body You Want – Without Plastic Surgery!

Fri, October 12, 2012 2 Comments by Fashion Fridays With Naomi

Get The Body You Want …. Without Plastic Surgery!

(photo credit) 

No matter how confident we may be, almost every woman has at least one part of their body they’re not completely satisfied with. From chubby mid sections to short legs and long torso’s, plastic surgery is not your only option! Yes we should all be happy with what we are blessed with, but I say if you can change it, do it! There are many quick fashion tips to obtain the body we want, or just the illusion. The first step is always the right undergarments!

 

Undergarment tips

  • Get professionally fitted for a bra! I talked about this with the BBW(big breasted woman) post but this applies to ALL women. Your weight and cup size can fluctuate through the years, so you want to get fitted annually and replace worn out bra’s. A push up bra can create an instant illusion of a breast lift or implants. Save your money!
  • Stock up on the right panties!The wrong panties can ruin a perfect outfit. Stock up on seamless panties or thongs in basic colors like black, white and nude to avoid visibly panty lines. Lace is a great comfortable and discrete fabric …and sexy!
  • Spanx it up! Spanx and body shapers smooth everything out and work great under just about any garment.

Aside from your undergarments there are many quick clothing options to transform your flaws. Here are tips for each problem area.

Bust
To minimize- crew necklines and scooped necklines work best. Layer with camisoles, they help to control and add more coverage. Avoid tight jackets and satin tops as these draw more attention to your bust.
To maximize- sweetheart necklines, shirts with built in bra cups, and details across the bust(ruffles, pleats, ruching, etc) all add dimension to your bust line helping them to appear larger.

Belly
To minimize- empire waistlines that hit just below the bust are the most flattering because they accentuate the waist and flare out to cover the belly. Control top panties can also help minimize bulge. Tunic tops paired with skinny jeans will also take the focus off of your belly and down to your legs.

Torso
To lengthen- stick to skinny waist belts from 1 to 2 inches, larger waist belts take up too much of your body making you appear shorter. As trendy as high waist pants are, stay away from these and opt for low rise pants.

Booty
To minimize- stay away from flap back pockets, no pockets at all and details across your butt. The most flattering cut is straight legged or wide legged as they add attention to your legs. The trendy high-low top works great also to conceal your butt.

Hips and Thighs
To slim- draw attention to your top by keeping your bottoms in solid colors and using patterns on tops. Wearing thicker heels and wedges help to balance out the body.

Thick Calves
To minimize- avoid boots that stop mid-calf, opt for above the knee boots or ankle boots. If you want to wear mid-calf boots find some with elastic panels so they stretch over your calves.

Legs
To lengthen- showing more skin on your feet and covering your shoes with long pants makes the illusion of longer legs. Boot cut, skinny jeans and high wasted pants are the most flattering paired with heels. Pencil skirts also give longer leg illusion.

Upper arms
To conceal- draw the attention away from your upper arms by wearing longer sleeves and loading up on bracelets and watches. Stay away from capped sleeves and shoulder details.

Shoulders
To narrow- draw eyes to the center by wearing longer necklaces and detailed belts. Stay away from shoulder pads and shawls! If wearing a blazer opt for looser fits and cut out shoulder pads.


 (photo credit)

If you just want a style that looks great on you A-line dresses and wrap styled dresses look great on just about every figure! Don’t get discouraged if you’re not perfect because let’s face it, nobody is. Even your favorite celebs learn to enhance what they have and embrace what they don’t.

Tagged , , ,

Celebrity RoundUp – Vote For Your Favorite Look Of The Week

Fri, October 12, 2012 No Comments by Fashion Fridays With Naomi

CHRISTINA AGUILERA

HALLE BERRY

KIM KARDASHIAN

NICOLE SCHERZINGER

PAULA PATTON

TIA MOWRY-HARDRICT

Tagged , ,

This Weeks Fashion News – Find Out What Willow Smith Has Up Her Sleeve and Have You Seen Rihanna Nude?

Fri, October 12, 2012 No Comments by Fashion Fridays With Naomi

Willow Smith Creates Fashion Blog

Willow Smith adds another hat to her resume. The young star who is constantly in the media for her outrageous and unique style is using the hype to her advantage. Willow has created her own fashion blog titled “l’art Des Chiffons”. The blog currently features images of fashionista’s caught on the street expressing their individual style. Among these fashionsta’s are a few celebrities. The blog is still new so be sure to add it to your favorites!

Sean John ‘Keeps it in The Family’
Sean John recently released some images from their upcoming Fall 2012 campaign. The latest style is a prep-look and uses some family members as models. Diddy recruited his own sons 20 year old Quincy and 14 year old Christian along with Tyson Beckford’s 14 year old son Jordon Beckford. View some of the ads below. Can you tell which handsome model belongs to who?

 Will you be adding this to your son’s, brothers and husbands wardrobe collection this fall?

 Rihanna goes Nude

Rihanna launches Nude, the third fragrance in her collection (the first was Reb’l Fleur, and Rebelle was the second). Nude by Rihanna is a sweet floral – fruity fragrance with a vanilla accent. The fragrance transmits intimacy and a feeling of bare skin and nakedness, hints the name. Rihanna took to twitter to reveal the ad campaign tweeting, “Here is my new ad for a brand new fragrance #NUDE! Make sure you smell sexy, especially naked, this fall!” Rihanna’s past fragrances have proved successful with the second fragrance becoming the fastest selling celebrity fragrance in the U.K. Feeling nude?

Brad Pitt first male for Chanel No.5

Brad Pitt has been chosen to be the first male face of the 91 year old women’s fragrance. The iconic brand is set to release a global commercial in mid-October but has released a sneak peek! The brand will also release ad campaigns in mid November. The fragrance president released a statement explaining their desicion to use a man for a women’s fragrance, “To keep a legend fresh, you always have to change its point of view,” said Andrea d’Avack, president, Chanel Fragrance & Beauty. “It is the first time we’ve had a man speaking about a women’s fragrance. We think very much that the perfume is a seduction between a man, a woman and the perfume. No.5 is our leading fragrance, and we are willing to make the investment to keep it on that level.” See the short preview below and stay tuned for the full length commercial!

Tagged , ,