Tag Archives: ootd

Jan18

OOTD: Tame Hair, “Wild” Outfit

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Just popping on really quickly to say, “Hey!” and show you what I was working with yesterday. *lol* So, yeah, the basic boring, tame bun is back. But seriously, buns are soooo easy and work for me! I pulled back my hair and made a bun by wrapping the hair and securing with hair pins (I’m getting the hang of those now and prefer them over bobby pins as they don’t snag and yank out strands of my hair when removed). I didn’t use anything to secure my hair into a ponytial. NO elastic; NO banana clip. Then, I just mixed a little shea butter and Eco Styler Olive Oil gel to smooth my edges before tying down with a satin scarf for the drive to work. My hair is on its last leg now and needs to be washed this weekend though as it’s been two weeks since my last washing session.

Now onto my “wild” outfit. LOL. It’s not really wild, but the title worked as the skirt is leopard. I am definitely getting my money’s worth out of this purchase. I honestly adore this skirt! It fits me like a glove and it’s just a great leopard print! I paired it with another closet fave, a structured, grey, wool blazer that I picked up at Marshall’s in 2011. I love the details at the shoulders on this blazer, and the lean cut and lapels make it so sleek. I paired the skirt and blazer with a black, blouson tank with a tie-neck, but left the ties hanging so they almost look like an open men’s tie. I finished the look off with black fishnet stockings, black ankle booties and gold hoop earrings.

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I have a full length shot on my camera, but I’ll have to upload that to my computer and add it to the post later.

Oh, and on another note, I made a new coconut oil body butter on Wednesday night!!

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It smells like chocolate!! I’ll share the recipe for this one soon. And, I plan on being a little mixtress this weekend too. Want to try a bentonite clay mask like I told you the other day and I also plan on trying my hand at making some flaxseed gel. I’ve made that before as well, but cooked the seeds too long, I think. So, the gel was too thick and viscous. Want to give it another go and see what it do ;).

HAPPY FRIDAY LADIES!!!!

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What do you have planned for MLK Day Weekend?

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Jan14

A Les Miserables Revival and an OOTD

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A scene from “Les Miserables” now at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia.

I am realizing that I have had an eventful 8 days! LOL! This past Saturday, my sister Sheri, her friend and I went to see Les Miserable at the Kimmel Performing Arts Center Academy of Music in Philadelphia. You see, during our trip to Mexico last summer, we were talking about favorite musicals and I said Les Miserables. I saw it three times between my junior year in high school and senior year in college and loved it so much that I bought the soundtrack to the production many years ago. And, I listen to it relatively often … sometimes tearing up in my car or even bawling (if it’s one of those kind of days) as I sing along. Well, Sheri’s other friend loved it as well, but Sheri had never seen it. So, long before we knew the movie was coming to theaters, we bought tickets to the Philadelphia production.

So, on Saturday, we headed out to Philly a little early to have brunch at a nice French restaurant called Parc. I had French toast with apples and walnut butter.

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Mmmmm … nap please.

Then we headed over to the theater. After some confusion with our balcony box seats … yeah, a young kid was sitting in one and said his mom was in the bathroom with the tickets — when she returned, they were in the wrong seats :/ … we were seated and ready for the show.

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Now … as to the musical … ummm. Now, remember, Les Mis is my favorite musical. I’ve seen it three times and listen to the soundtrack regularly. Well, this production was just “alright.” It was definitely a disappointment to me as I felt it didn’t have the emotional depth of the productions I’ve seen in the past. It felt too rushed and I thought some songs were not sung with the vulnerability and misery that draws the audience into the pain of the characters. Everyone sang very well, especially Jean valJean and Javert. Eponine was extremely lacking in my opinion. She did not speak with the hackney that is expected of her low class character and she actually sang “On My Own” with a harsh belligerence!!! I was looking around like, “What the frick is this?!?!” Overall, I just felt several of the characters didn’t “bring it.” I remember BAWLING at it the three times I saw it previously. I barely teared up once at this production. At the end of the day, Les Miserable wasn’t that … well, miserable. I’m gonna have to listen to the soundtrack to get a good cry. *lol*

Alright, now really quickly, just had to share my OOTD! On Friday, I decided to hit Marshall’s to find something to wear. I’d exhausted my wardrobe in the last month of so and worn everything that fit me. So, I decided to see if I could find a dress that would accommodate my “generous” posterior and hips now, but would still fit me when I lose this dang weight! That’s why I love dresses!!

Anywho, I scored big time with this great silk print Anne Klein dress!!

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This dress retails for $450 according to the slip, was originally $179.99 at Marshall’s and I got it on clearance for … drum roll please … $39!!!

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Woot Woot!! I love that this dress is sleeveless and lightweight as it makes it great for layering in the winter and wearing alone in the summer!! I ended up layering it with a few old items in my closet: an orange cardigan from J.Crew and a deep plum corduroy blazer from Old Navy. It was so nice out on Saturday, that all I needed out was my Christmas gift from Wei, one of those lovely and dramatic chain rope scarves from LuluandLoie that I shared with you guys here.

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Finally, I accessorized with a necklace and earring set that I bought from a cousin at a family reunion a few years ago and a pair of Jessica Simpson boots that I picked up at a Marshall’s a couple of years ago.

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Oh, and finally, my hair was a refreshed braid-out with a new product that I’ll have to tell you about later.

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But today, it’s back to the bun!!

Happy Monday ladies!!

(p.s. If you missed it and are interested, I updated The Katie Show Experience post with screen shots from the aired episode! You can check them out here!)

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What did you do this weekend?!

Jan9

Getting Ready: Hair√, Face√, Clothes√

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I need to get in the shower in a few, but figured I’d share the plan for my “look” for the Katie Couric show today! LOL!! So, as you may  know, the braid-out won the poll for my hair look today! It was a close race, but the braid-out kept the lead the entire race, sometimes by only 1 vote. But, as of this moment, it beat out the curly ‘fro 138 to 126. So, last night, I gently finger detangled my hair with my coconut oil whip and then set it in 12 braids (3 in each quadrant). I used a little Wonder Curl Get Set Hair Jelly at the roots to smooth and set them, dampened the braids with water once done and then used Deva Curl Set It Free on the ends before rolling them on grey perm rods. I set my ends to make certain that they would be curly today as I usually sleep on one side and flatten some of the ends.

This morning when I woke up, I decided to do the bentonite clay mask that I failed to do last night. I mixed the clay with plain, whole milk yogurt for the low-grade peel qualities of lactic acid and added a little tea tree oil for the antiseptic qualities. Plastic utensils should be used to mix bentonite clay as metal decreases its ability to draw out impurities from the skin. Has something to do with negatively and positively charged molecules or electrons or something sciencey like that ;)! You can find a variety of bentonite clay mask recipes online, as well as info about the benefits of using bentonite clay internally and for topical applications!

KCbentoniteclaymaskThis mask is still on my face, immobilizing it like Botox! LOL!

Finally, I think I’m set on my OOTD, which is my awesome Sofistafunk skirt and the top that I bought from The Unique Pieces at The Mane Event on Saturday.. I may swap out the top though. I LOVE it and the color, but since I’m wearing my hair down, I think the mock turtleneck may make me look squat!! I’ll be wearing a cardigan as they warned that the studio can be cold and I freeze easily. With the hair down, the mock turtleneck and a cardigan, I’m afraid of looking stumpy. So, I may wear a yellow tank top under the cardigan instead to expose my neckline. We’ll see.

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Oh, and I’ll be wearing my Michael Kors knee-length, black, suede, scrunchy boots. Don’t worry, you’ll see the whole look pulled together soon. Hopefully, it’ll be good!!

A’ight! I better get to it!! Gotta wash off this mask, iron some clothes and hit the shower!!

Lata Gatas!

Sep28

Gold & Leopard

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Despite that smile, it’s been a long week y’all. Meeting after meeting after meeting, with two 3+ hour roundtrip commutes thrown in for good measure. Few more meetings today and need to clean house tonight, so no rest for the weary (mind you, I feel guilty even saying that in comparison to you ladies with kids! I don’t know how I’m ever going to do that! I’m already tired and I’m old! *lol*).

Anywho, quick post to share my outfit from yesterday. I’m giving that leopard skirt from Wallis a workout (sorry, it’s out of stock as of the date of this post)! I paired it with a black tank and a tulip-sleeve, gold brocade fitted jacket that I got from Atelier in Montclair for about $12, I think! I accessorized with white-trimmed, black T-strap BGBG Girls platforms and a cute little, gold and cream flower earrings and necklace set that I got at Walmart in the spring.


My hair was essentially in the same tuck and roll from the previous day with a different flower.


A little worse for the wear at the end of the day,
but you get the idea.

By the way, did you notice the nice little bruiser on my cheek?!

I was outside of work on Wednesday night talking to a friend and got bit the frick up by mosquitos or something! I have four bites on my right leg too!!

Can you tell how big, red and swollen these things are?!? They itch like crazy!! Okay, sorry. That was completely random, but just needed to share my pain with you guys ;).

Alright, gotta go!

Happy Friday!

Aug10

Ladies Who Lunch

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I haven’t done an OOTD (Outfit of the Day) in a while … mostly because it’s a little hard to take the pics of myself in the mirror, but also because no outfit has really moved me too much lately. But, I came up with this look that I really liked. I’ve mentioned before that I love mixing patterns … I also enjoy being a style chameleon and wearing outfits that reflect different eras and influences.

Well, I’ve had this cropped cardigan and asymmetrical “tweed-look” skirt for years and never thought to put them together (at least, not as far as I can remember). So, when I pulled out the skirt today and looked up to see the cardi with the same exact dark taupe and dusty rose pink in a complementary geometric pattern … I thought, “How did I never think of this before?” I snagged a white and dark taupe tank, some pearls, a few gold and white accessories and these Vince Camuto peep-toes platforms and … voilà. Ladies Who Lunch ;)!

As to the hair. You can see that I was rocking the messy side-braided ponytail again, but this time I started it higher and braided the base more tightly.

And that’s that.

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Okay, short poll time!! Aaaaaand … I’m letting you guys answer anonymously in the hopes that more of you will participate ;).

Feb21

Pocketed Skirt and Long Vest

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Okay, just a really quick post to show you an outfit from last week. In the hub bub of work and engagement blogs last week, quite a few posts got “wait listed!” ;).

So, I LOVE skirts and dresses with pockets! They are just so cool and add a casual ease and elegance to any look. Well, this is a boldly printed skirt in tones of black, grey and mustard yellow. It has a wide, elasticized waistband, wide hem and large slash pockets. I picked it up at JCPenny’s on clearance; I’m pretty sure it was less than $20. I was bummed because they had it in a bold cheetah print too, but not in my size 😦 (in fact, this one is a little big too).

Anywho, I’m wearing the skirt with a black button down shirt and a long, sleeveless cotton vest with a gathered waistline in grey. Both of these items came from Marshall’s and/or TJ Maxx, I believe. Finally, I accessorized the look with a black wide waistband, elastic belt with a metallic buckle, black fishnets and black “cuffed” booties that I got on clearance at Marshall’s for, like, $15 (I snagged them in dark brown too).

Oh, what the heck? I’m going to make this a twofer since we are talking about pocketed skirts and dresses! If you recall, I told you that I ordered the Asos dress CurlyNikki wore to the Essence Black Women in Music Event here. Well, they (remember, I ordered a 6 and 8 to be safe) arrived last week, less than 7 days after I placed my order! I think the 6 fits the best, although it is a little snugger around the hips than I would like … reminding me that I need to get back on my grind.

The dress is definitely of good quality, nicely structured and the fabric is very weighty. The seams appear strong and well sewn (no pulls in odd places). However, because I could stand to lose a few pounds, the pockets were showing through the fabric more than I would like and I had to adjust them a bit to lay smoothly. I was thinking about just removing them and sewing the openings close!! However, I love to stick my hands in pockets, so I’ll lose the weight instead ;).

Okay, without further ado … here are a couple of pics of me in the dress. As you can see, it was the same day as the pics above, because I’m wearing the same fishnets and boots!! LOL! Oh, and I’m soooo sucking my stomach in as much as possible so that I don’t look like a sausage stuffed in casing;)!

Oh, and just quickly, that QueCraft hair fork is getting a workout! It’s making bunning my pressed hair so easy!