GONE SHOPPING!!!!!!!

Hairveda is having a Black Friday sale.
What are you buying today?

Is your scalp happy?

I'm a little hesitant to blog today because I don't know if anyone will be reading? Are you out there? LOL

Well I have a new product that I want to scream about from the mountain tops but I think I will wait until I have your full and undivided attention...lol

So for today, yes, I will be posting about a product, a hair product to be exact.

Last night was the first time that I prepooed overnight. I was just too exhausted to wash it all out so I threw a scarf over my shower cap and went to bed. I still haven't washed it out but I am expecting EXTRA soft hair. I am in part pre pooing with Happy Scalp by HPO Spa Treatments., priced at $11.00. This product is basically a bunch of great oils like spearmint, and olive oil which can revive a tired unhappy scalp. You are encouraged to massage the oils on your scalp and then wash it out when you shampoo. Perhaps it's the spearmint but I really get that tingly feeling on my scalp and it feels great.

On my own I have used rosemary oil on my scalp to achieve the same feeling and to stimulate my scalp.

Well I guess I will end here since no one is reading anyway..lol

I don't know if I will post tomorrow yet, so many stores to shop so little time.....

Don't be tardy to the party

Housewives of Atlanta

I usually kick things off with a product review but the Housewives of ATL must take the front seat today. Although Sheree tried to behave like she was above all the drama, the only one who really kept her nose clean was Deshawn. Deshawn appears to have a great support system through her family and her husband in particular. I like how Deshawn was staring down Sherree like "sucker please I'm not going to reach out to you so get over it".

Sheree in one word -pathetic....and I hate the way she pronounces the word "fabulous", it always sounds like she is saying "fabless".
It was confirmed that Lisa was the blabber mouth who spilled the beans about Nene's limo performance but I don't think any of us had doubts about that one.
Did you notice that Kim did not readily take on Lisa, it seemed like she didn't want to mess with Mrs. Wu- Hartwell.
Kim said that her hair was falling out, she lost 25 pounds and her friend who is a doctor said he was "90% sure that she had cancer". Ummm did he just look at her weight and hair loss and make that diagnosis? Kim also tried to play it off like Nene new she had cancer, but Nene quickly cleared that up. Oh yeah and KIM NEVER HAD CANCER-she is so SHADY. She also blamed her heavy makeup as the reason why she doesnt look 29 years old. I think she doesn't look 29 simply becuase she hasn't been 29 in years.

I think Lisa began to detest Deshawn when D said " your money isn't guaranteed"...lol pouring salt on the wound.
Dwight's weave...no comment..lol For me, his comment of the season was - " who was this wonderful person who had a fashion show with no fashions? Dreadful"
I like Nene's new hair style by the way.

Check out Antithesis' minute by minute recap...lol and Meandering Memorandum.

Here is Lisa's most recent chat with Essence.

What are your thoughts on the reunion?

What's on the tube?
While I enjoyed the reunion I was more entertained by hit BET show Brother to Brutha. Those poor guys are in so much pain but they sure can sing. When their father apologized to Poppa it seemed somewhat sincere until he said "I don't want to be shut out, when you all blow up I don't want to be on the outside" (something like that was said which basically made him sound like he just didn't want to be cut out of the cash flow).

Why did the oldest brother, I think his name is Gary/Grady, feel the need to tell his young daughter (she appeared to be about 7) that he didn't want her to go to jail or get involved with boys. He also explained that he was a womanizer which is why he isn't with the child's mother. Way too much information for the little girl who I think just wanted to use the swings at the park....

Are you watching this show?

YouTube
I know that the world seems to be on Youtube but when I caught wind of Shanice (the singer of I like your smile) singing Beyonce's "If I were a Boy" I thought this it was a great way for her to let people know she's still singing and sounds great. However, when I saw the video of Shanice cleaning up her kitchen I was puzzled. Despite this youtube craze, some people need to know when enough is enough..lol No I didnt watch the full video of Shanice cleaning the dishes. lol Here shes is sining the Beyonce tune. What do you think?

Music

I LOVE Ne-yo's new song and video, even though I figured out the end long before the closing of the video. Click here

Product Time

So it finally arrived, my $9.00 Oyin Juice and Berries leave-in herbal hair moisturizer. I am not exaggerating when I say that this Starburst candy scented hair product smells amazing. It combines organic aloe, orange oil, chamomile and other ingredients to form this light weight liquid moisturizer. After spraying it on my hair, it felt so soft.

I will continue to buy this product from Oyin because it is working really well so far. It is supposed to grab moisture from the air to keep your hair moisturized. I'm not exactly sure how it is pulling that off, but I know that my hair feels great after using it. The products are all handmade so it takes a while to receive your shipment but it is so worth the wait. I will use the conditioners tonight and post a review maybe in the next two to three weeks after I have used it a few times.

Do you use any Oyin product?

Kill those lines & Other News

Today I will resuscitate a series on this blog which I thought would never see the light of day again. “You said it” is where you the reader get an opportunity to post your personal review on a product. I can’t try everything out there, although I am trying very hard, so I appreciate your reviews.
Yesterday I received an all to common email from a woman who now has stretch marks after giving birth to her child. Reader L is looking for a way to reduce the appearance of her marks without laser surgery which can be very costly. Without a moment to spare, Just Wondering sent me a review of the Ambi Soft & Even Stretch Mark Diminishing Body Oil. Here is what she had to say about this $7.99 stretch mark reduction product:
“As I walked through the aisles at Walmart to pick up my Ambi Exfoliating Face Wash , I stumbled upon a new product from their collection called Ambi Soft and Even Stretch Mark Diminishing Body Oil. Now I have to admit that I do in fact have stretch marks, however they are not horrible and not as visible on my dark skin. The real reason why I picked up this product was because it had a great list of natural oils on the label. My eyes lit up when I read Soybean Oil - Glycine Soja , Sweet Almond Oil - Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis , Wheat Germ Oil - Triticum Vulgare , Sunflower Seed Oil - Helianthus Annus , Fragrance , Bisabolol , Rosa Canina Fruit Extract , Black Currant Fruit Extract - Ribes Nigrum , Shea Butter - Butyrospermum Parkii , Olive Oil. I was also prompted to buy it because I loved the fact that I could spray the mixture of oils right onto my body and it wasn’t super greasy when I tried some on my hand in the store. The product promised to minimize the appearance of stretch marks and it’s a fast absorbing formula that locks in moisture. It also states that it will improve the firmness and the elasticity of your skin leaving it softer and smoother. After reading all that on the label, I figured why not pick up a bottle. So the next morning I sprayed it on my entire body and like I stated before ITS SO NOT GREASY and it really just seeped into my skin and I noticed it was softer. The only down side to this body oil is the smell! I’d have to say that it really smelled like almonds above all else, which I’m really not into but I love how my skin feels. The weather in NY has become very bitter and cold and my aim is to really keep my skin moisturize. This product does meet up to all the expectations advertised on the bottle. I just don’t really know how well it works on the stretch marks since that isn’t a great concern of mine. So if you want soft skin pick up Ambi’s Body Oil. Just spray on some perfume or body splash to mask the smell if you don’t want to smell like almonds for an hour or so lol
Thanks for the opportunity to let be share my thoughts Product Junkie Diva!”
PJD speaks- I had an opportunity to communicate with Just Wondering regarding the specific results or lack thereof, that she received regarding the appearance of her stretch marks.
Just Wondering-“ To be honest the more I think about it I don’t think the Ambi product works for stretch marks." She used the product as directed for 4 weeks and has not seen a change in the appearance. However she credits pure cocoa butter (Not Palmers cocoa butter) with diminishing the appearance of her marks and the stretch marks of her friend.
PJD- I have to weigh in just to say that I too have sniffed the Ambi Soft and Even product and I think it stinks and smells nothing like almonds..lol I just had to throw that in the mix.

Please note that over time the skin on our bodies will gradually shed which will also diminish the appearance of any marks. Generally, the older the skin, the less visible the marks become.
Other products-
1)Strivectin was introduced to the market as a stretch mark cream designed to reduce the appearance of both old and new stretch marks. The cream was later credited as a wrinkle reduction product in addition to stretch mark killer. Here is a review that I found online of a woman who compared Strivectin to another stretch mark product I don’t know this woman at all so there is no way for me to verify whether or not her statements are true.

Strivectin is priced at $135.00

2)Mederma

3)Cocoa / Shea butter.

4)Carols Daughter scar butter which is suppsoed to help with cell regeneration $12.00

5)Carols Daughter Sexy Belly- $17
Even though reader L is avoiding laser surgery to remove her marks, for those of you considering the procedure please be careful. Laser surgery can lead to scarring if the dermatologist is not well versed in treating skin with a darker pigment. In essence you could be trading once scar for another.
Keep the stretch mark areas well moisturized, try to not gain or lose weight too quickly and drink plenty of water to keep your body and skin hydrated. A stretch mark is a literal tear in your skin, so look for products that claim to aid in the regeneration of cells. However, check the ingredients to see if anything listed actually helps in cell regeneration.
Please everyone who can help in this area, weigh in and post your experience with products that either worked or just didn’t deliver.
Thanks and I hope this is helpful reader L.

Other News

Housewives of Atlanta reunion tonght at 9:00 not 10:00.

There is a new blogger in the blogosphere, let's welcome Miss Young Fashion.

I relapsed & Fashion

Over the weekend I sat in bed filled with righteous indignation as I watched former stars bemoan their now wrecked lives on Celebrity Rehab. Almost as quickly as I passed judgment, I realized that I too need rehab. Having made a decision to move toward a more mature scent I found myself opening up my new "cake batter " scented scrub and lotion by Dylan's Candy Bar. The scent I consciously avoided a few weeks ago was now being smeared over my hands. While in the store I thought about not making the purchase, but my urges were too strong so I bought it. Surprisingly Sephora didn't have a "try me" sample available so I just purchased without smelling the scent. I vaguely remember smelling it in another Sephora, but that was about two weeks ago, now the joke is on me. The cake batter is nothing like the Jacqua butter cream frosting or some of the other cake scented treats that I have tried in the past. Initially it smelled like batter but now it just makes me want to vomit.

While I may not be fond of the scent Dylan's Candy Bar has produced more "paraben free products that last long and really moisturize the skin. The "candy butter cream", priced at $20.00, is thicker than the lotion I posted on previously and it works well, keeping your hands smooth and silky. It includes jojoba, glycerin, shea butter and while excluding sulfates,parabens and propylene glycol.

**Note- propylene glycol comes in different strengths but it has been connected to brain, liver and kidney damage in mice, when experiments were conducted.**

The scrub is brown, that just threw me for a loop but anyway it is a light scrub. It is pretty creamy but it includes some sugar grains to give you light exfoliation. Priced at $20.00

American Music Awards

Loved Alicia Keys' blue dress and the outfit that she performed in.

Does Mariah always need the wind blowing through her hair when she performs? lol

Rihanna always chic and fab even though I wasn't fond of the cream colored frock she dawned during the ceremony. However, her peep toe Christian Louboutin heels rocked.

Justin Timberlake's white shoes= YUCK

How do you know you are officially mainstream? When Beyonce has middle aged women in the audience waving their hands to "put a ring on it"..lol

When I saw Toccara, I immedialy thought about Dukes of Hazards for some reason. I just couldn't get with this dress, but she wears it well.

Did you notice the weight Queen Latifah has dropped? She looked great.

Which outfits did you like or dislike?

Pictures courtesy of brown sister.com

Giving Back

You are looking at a new gift set from Aveda. I already blogged about the Aveda hand relief lotion but I have yet to discuss the wonderful foot relief lotion. The foot relief lotion is great to smooth out your skin and keep your feet in tip top condition through these cold winter months.

The key ingredients include castor oil, fruit acids, jojoba oil, lavender oil, and rosemary oil.

This new gift set features the hand and foot relief creams in both the regular and travel sizes. These gift sets are sold at Aveda for $40, but it is how Aveda is giving back that caught my attention. In the picture you may notice the beautifully crafted paper with embellishments alongside the Aveda logo. Aveda has been working with the people of Nepal to create these gift boxes in an attempt to sustain some of the families in Nepal.

The gift boxes are so cute that I am pretty sure I will reuse them :-).

Have a great weekend everyone.

How are you giving back or how would you like to give back in the future?

My little secert & Product Review

I don't know about other states but yesterday in NY Macys had a huge sale which lasted from Tuesday- Wednesday at 1pm. I knew the crowds would be insane so I had to think ahead to get what I wanted, so I am going to let you in on a little information. Macys employs personal shoppers!!!! Did you know that already? For years my mom has had a personal shopper at Macys which has been good news for my mom for years. You make an appointment with your shopper, the two of you will really build a relationship so that she/he can get to know your style what you like etc. Imagine having a huge event to attend and you wanted something to wear but you had no time to go through all the racks and look yourself, well then call up your personal shopper and explain that you are looking for a cute black dress with no sequence etc. you get the idea. Then your shopper will pull many outfits in your size and you just go to her office to check them out and get what you want. Personal shoppers are GENIUS! They are usually so fashion forward and chic, but I digress. So I went to Macys on the weekend picked out all the things that I wanted based on the sale catalogue that arrived at my home, and I left those items with my mom's personal shopper. They were secured in her office, not just hanging around on some rack where other people could potentially snag my items, so I knew my garments were safe. So who got a $380.00 Calvin Klein business suit for $80? That would be ME, I am super excited because I snagged suits and two winter coats so I am thrilled. So my point is please make an appiontment at your local Macys to get to know the personal shopper and enjoy endless benefits. *Edit- How could I forget two of the most important points? 1) You don't have to wait in line to pay because you can pay in the personal shopper's office. 2) If you don't feel like carrying your bags around, your purchase can be shipped to your home. LOVE IT! I do believe you need a Macys card to get a personal shopper but check that out I could be wrong.
Now on to the products
Sulfur is essential when it comes to helping our bodies produce keratin, which is needed to have strong healthy hair. Many people take MSM pills in an attempt to get more sulfur into their bodies and eventually it can lead to healthier longer hair. If you look at the back of your "one a day" tablets you will probably already see MSM listed along with biotin and other elements often credited with helping women to grow healthy and long hair. However you can buy MSM alone to increase your daily dosage, but please read all labels so that you are not taking more sulfur than your body can handle. While some women take their pills religiously others have tried pouring the sulfur directly on their scalps by using products like Bee Mine. Sounds crazy huh? Bee Mine is mainly sulfur but various oils and fragrances have been added to the mix to cover the dreaded scent of sulfur. So I told you a while ago that I've had Bee Mine for a while but never really used it because it is just so greasy and that is basically where I stand. However I made an effort to use it consistently for roughly 2-3 weeks and I think that little baby pumped out some new growth for me. Now I will document this with pictures when I go through this process again (shortly after I get my relaxer in December) but so far so good.
*Please note that you can not use Bee Mine right before or right after you get a relaxer, wait one week before reintroducing sulfur to your scalp.
I have to say that Bee Mine smells great, people have actually said" your hair smells great what is that scent", so the makers of the product have done a great job at hiding the sulfur scent. Here are the ingredients "organic Coconut oil, organic extra virgin olive oil, sulfur powder, essential oils & fragrance."

Here is the video: *Edit (The song is by Brandy I will enter the title of the song later thanks for the info B.)

Crazy for Coconuts &Gone too soon

This is officially the second consecutive day in which I will be discussing a coconut scented product but I have really enjoyed using the Coconut Curl Conditioner by Komaza. This lightly scented coconut conditioner is supposed to enhance your natural curls, eliminate frizz all while adding sheen and softnness to your hair. I would have to say Mission Accomplished because this product works. It keep my new growth very soft which is an important factor at this stage of the stretching process. I have relaxed hair so I can not say that it enhances my natural curl pattern all over but it certainly does the trick for my new growth so I am very satisfied. The permed portion of my hair comes out silky soft after every wash. For $12.27 this is a great product, I only wish it could be offered in a larger size instead of the standard 8oz bottle.

Ingredients: Distilled water infused with nettles, chamomile, marshmallow, coconut milk, Dipalmitoylethyldimonium Chloride (A derivitive of Palm Oil) behentrimonium, polyquaternium 10, allatoin, aloe vera juice, coconut oil, soybean oil, jojoba oil, jojoba protein, pro vitamin B5,Vitamin E, allantoin, hydrolyzed silk protein, Soy Quat, methyl-sulfonyl methane, citric acid, cinnamon cassia, potassium sorbate.

HOA Central

It seems like the season has come and gone so quickly.

I acknowledge that I don't know these people and some degree of editing must go on so I don't have the full story but I here is what I discovered after last nights episode.

1) I don't care too much for Lisa, I think she is a "fake nice person" she likes to instigate. She laughed as they called Nene a drag queen, like it was cute. Not once did I hear her tell Sheree or Kim to "be nice" as she told NeNe more than once at the BBQ when she made comments about the other two ladies-and her comments were not even as bad in my opinion.

A truly neutral person would not laugh at remarks from either side. And she made it seem like Deshawn was crushed because the ladies didn't attend her BBQ, but if I recall Deshawn didn't verbalize it that way, she said she was cool with it. Don't get my wrong, I'm sure Deshawn was upset but I also think Lisa runs her mouth way too much and was looking for any opportunity to get the drama going from any direction.

Why did she NEED to have both Sheree and NeNe in a picture, so unnecessary. You are at your husband's surprise party but you are concerned with trying to mend fences between two enemies. Oh and when they all went to her "let's talk it out" dinner party she wanted to go around the table talking addressing the issues but she really wasn't a good moderator of the discussion, if anything NeNe's husband helped to bring about some type of closure while Lisa sat there looking back and forth between the ladies. Knock it off Lisa I'm on to you.

2)We all need to just say what we mean-Dallas probably felt that Kim wasn't really committed to working hard so he gave her a list of what she needs to do. Word of advice, Dallas since you are busy you don't have time to waste so next time please just say, --"you can't sing and I don't even have enough to work with to make you sound good in the studio so thats that...have a good night and tell Big Poppa I said he owes me one."

3) The dress code has changed-Regarding NeNe's son- do kids really dress like that for graduation? She had suits prepared for him but he goes to graduation in jean shorts???????

Kim didnt mind missing Deshawn's party but she said she "really likes Lisa" so she attended that event. Should I take this to mean she doesn't "really" like Deshawn?

4) In a good relationship you always look out for your mate-I like how Deshawn and her husband work as a team, taking time on air to discuss his possibilities after basketball. Nice setup to let people in the business know he's on the market and which direction he would like to move toward...lol Cute.

Poor Mychael (apparently he now spells his name this way) Knight was subjected to Sheree and her endless questions which only showed that she has no idea what she is doing. I know she called him in for guidance but some things are just common sense.

** I just found this HOA article online**

Can't wait for the reunion next week. YAY

What are your thoughts on the final show?

Candy Anyone?

Dylan's is a very famous NYC candy store, so imagine my surprise when I learned they were branching into the area of beauty. Sephora is now selling Dylan brandy beauty products so I had to get in on the action.
The lip salve is a disaster!!!!!!! The $8.00 lip salve is cleaverly packaged and wrapped in this plastic cover (I really should have taken a closer look but I didn't) but once the cover is revealed you see just how little salve you have in the container.
Strike 1- not enough product (the picture on the left is showing how deep the bottom is which is why you get a small amount of salve.)
Strike 2-the lip salve is nothing more than well scented vaseline
Strike 3- If you don't put on the right about, your salve will evaporate into thin air. All of this disaster for $8.00.... the lip salve is a SKIP IT for sure.
On a positive note if you put on a moderate amount it will stay on for a long time, but doesnt vaseline do that also???????

The 16oz, $16.00 soda pop shower gel is nice. It is a thick body wash that lathers really well. The scent does not last long but at least while you are bathing you get to inhale a delicious scent.

However Dylans recovered well with the $16.00 Body Smoothie Lotion which is actually a really nice product. My skin remained moisturized and smooth after my first application. Ingredients include shea butter, aloe, jojoba oil and vitamin A. I opted for the coconut bon bon scented product instead of "strawberry licorice" or "birthday cake batter".

*The Dylan products are paraben free.*

I know I have already spoken about the 100% pure products but I purchased the pomergranate body wash (15.00) and it stinks..lol I am so certain that when I smelled it in the store it had a great scent but I guess I was wrong. So now I have a smelly bottle of body wash...sigh. I also picked up the 100% pure body wash in strawberry lemonade.($13.00)..I know I know I just spoke about getting a more mature scent but cut me some slack, old habits die hard..lol.
Additional Chatter
I neglected to mention yesterday that I use rollers in different sizes based on the type of curl pattern I want or how tight I want the curls to appear.
On the TUBE
Is anyone enjoying the new season of the Game...love that show. and I adore Tia's haircut.

Growing Up & Hair Stuff

Most of us have come to a point in our lives when we realize that we just need to grow up. Putting our past behaviors behind and moving toward a new path may be difficult but it is often necessary. So after smelling The first perfume from Carol's Daughter, Pearl, I decided not only that I like the scent but I needed a more mature scent. I don't want to enter business meetings smelling like strawberries and buttercup frosting so growing up in the scent department was necessary. On Saturday I purchased Pearl, which is priced at $45.00 (for 2oz), and I am so pleased with that I have added this new fragrance to my collection. This is actually the only perfume in my scented collection because I generally hate that heavy scent of alcohol that accompanies so many of the fragrances and body spritzers on the market.

I also found this scent to be long lasting because I wash my hands often yet I was still able to smell the fragrance on my wrists. Good job Carol's Daughter you have a winner on your hands.

Have you smelled this fragrance?
Ingredients for Perl: Anise, Bergamot, Lemon, Verbena, Apricot, Peach, Jasmine, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Fresh Aldehydes, Violet Leaves, Musk, Caramel, Vanilla.

Here is a quick video to show the consistency of three My Honey child products.

Response to Jmilz

I use magnetic rollers when I roll my hair, which is just about every night. The metal clips are used to secure the rollers.

HOA

I love that the Essence magazine website follows the Housewives of Atlanta woman. In this recent interview Kim reveals that Big Poppa is indeed married, just as I suspected.
The drama continues to unfold, now the problem is between Lisa and Kim.


I took a sniff of the new Carols Daughter perfume and I like it. The scent is light but not so light that you don't notice it. I think I may actually purchase it, this is coming from a woman who dislikes perfumes.
Sorry I was going to post a video today but I am in such a time crunch so maybe over the weekend. If not, it will be posted on Monday.
Have a great weekend everyone.

Keep it clean on the go

I used to get a fun little pink pill from the dentist as a child. After brushing your teeth, you would chew on this pill and it would help you to see if you were either an expert brusher or if you needed to revisit certain areas of your teeth for another round of brushing. (did you get those as a kid? I think it comes in the form of mouthwash now for kid...anyway moving on). So today I will introduce you to the little pink pill for my face.
Have you ever washed your face and then used one of those facial clothes only to reveal that you still had makeup on your skin or it just wasn't as clean as it appeared to be when you looked in the mirror. Well I decided to try the Dickinson which Hazel daily facial towelettes which contain a touch of aloe. These 100% natural botanical cloths are lightly scented but they pack a mean punch. These towelettes are designed for use on the go, they are individually wrapped and can tote around in your purse all day. This wipe is supposed to lock in moisture, tone and protect your skin while preventing future blemishes from surfacing. I do not use these cloths on a regular basis because I have a feeling that it would be too drying on my face. I like to use the cloths every now and then in the same way that I would use that pink pill as kind, I check to ensure that all residue is gone. Perhaps it is because I use it after washing my face that it makes me feel like it would want to dry out my skin if I used it daily. At any rate it is a pretty good product and for those comfortable using towelettes on the go, this may be a good solution.
A box of 20 will cost you roughly $5.00.

Have you tried this product or a similar product form another company?
Also i am looking for a new facial scrub, any suggestions?

Concoctions Hair and HOA

On Monday I tried to make another concoction, this time with mango butter and it was a disaster so more testing in needed. I received my fragrances so I was eager to use them to create a well scented body product but it was a HOT MESS. It was literally like mixing water and oil so I obviously need to go back to the drawing board and make something happen.
I also purchased 2 oz of pure blueberry seed oil, it is packed with antioxidants which should help in the anti aging process. This oil will eventually be used in a skin moisturizer or some facial product once I come up with a great combination of ingredients.

This 2oz oil cost $11.25.
My Hair

Someone asked to see my hair so here is a pic that I took last night. I washed my hair on Monday and I do have shrinkage but this is my hair and how I usually wear it especially during stretching periods. I have not worn the traditional straight wrap in years but I think I may get that style in December. I will probably post another pic soon stretching the curls so you can see length for those of you concerned with that.

HOA
Did you take the housewives test? If so which housewife are you most like? (I want to know..please share) I am DeShawn. YAY I actually like her (minus her business sense).
I do like Sheree's color palette, in terms of some of the colors she has worn on the show, but she still annoys me.
Let me preface my next comment by saying I have never organized a fashion show and I am sure there are many pieces to the puzzle but who allows the final sample outfits to arrive the day BEFORE the big event....huh? I was confused. And did Sheree take a stab at Deshawn when she said even though her event didn't go as she had envisioned, it “she won’t cry in a corner” (think of Deshawn crying in the corner at her charity event).
And I was LOL when I saw those dresses which the seamstress apparently left at the front door.lol
Lisa her husband is 30 and I am guessing she is at least 40 since she said she is older than Deshawn (who I pegged at 36 based on a previous episode where she revealed how long she had been with her hubby) but either way there is a sizable age difference between Lisa and her husband. As a woman what is the biggest age difference that you would deal with in a relationship?
Kim said “I don’t want to sit around with Nene and eat chicken”....ummm ok
Poor Nene who learned that Curtis is not her dad.
Oh and please tell me that I misunderstood the preview for next week I know Sheree is not trying to align herself with the all too talented Michael Knight (Loved him from Project Runway).

I'm not cranky this week I promise

Sadly, I must present you with the true facts about a product I had high hopes for, the She Scent It Hydrating Body Milk. I purchase the two lotions in matching scents to the two She Scent It scrubs that I purchased recently. Have you even had a beverage or food that was not so bad going down, but once it was finally down your pie hole you were left with an after taste? Well if that is familiar, then you will relate to the after scent that lingers after you apply the She Scent It body milks. The first complaint that I have is that the lotions don't really smell as good as the scrubs. The tropical punch scrub was my favorite but the tropical punch lotion fails to deliver because it does not smell the same and it almost makes me feel queezy. I will have to apply this lotion on my feet at night so that that the scent is on no where near my nose. Sorry She Scent It but please go back to the drawing board on this one. Aside from the scent the lotion isn't very long lasting, its regular nothing special. There are many other scents to select from and they may be excellent, but My Apple McIntosh and Tropical Punch did not hit the spot. On a positive note the lotions have great ingredients and they are all paraben free. You will pay 14.00 for this 8 oz stomach churning lotion.

For me, this product must go into the "SKIP IT" files. Have you had a good experience with any of the She Scent It hydrating body milks?

Off Topic

There is a famous cake shop in NY named Magnolia Bakery and people stand on hour long lines just to get their hands on the sweet cupcakes produced. A new Magnolias opened up so I had to go there to pick up the famous cupcakes for the first time. I was excited because there was actually no line at the time I entered the store so I ordered up my cupcakes. Before leaving the store the line was literally out the door. Anyway the cupcakes are nice, they have delicious butter cream frosting and they are colorfully decorated but no way would I wait on even a 10 minute line for those cupcakes. If you put them in the microwave, they taste much better but it's not all it's hyped up to be. In fact the chocolate cupcake was DRY but the yellow cake cupcakes were better. The carrot cake however is delicious and moist.

My Suggestion

If you want cake worth standing on line for, I would suggest checking out the Cake Man Raven in Brooklyn...his red velvet is the best I have ever had and his green coconut cake is FABULOUS. I really never cared about standing in line for his desserts as long as necessary just to get my hands on his creations.

Second off topic commment

As many of you women move up the corporate ladder (earning degrees and making more money) do you find that it is harder to find a suitable mate? Just wondering.

Garbage & a mini update

Sometimes I buy products because I really expect the product to live up to its claim but other times I think I buy products to prove that the claim is as ridiculous as I first imagined. When I walked into CVS on Friday I saw Rihanna's hazel eyes glistening in the Covergirl adversment I just had to read more. The new Covergirl Exact Eyelights is an illuminating mascara which contains little sparkley flecks that will make your eye color pop.

Yes, this $8.99 mascara is as ridiculous as it sounds. My eye color did not pop, it did not look any more brown than it did before I applied this worthless mascara. You can't even see theglitter on your lashes when you apply the mascara (not that I would want to see glitter on my lashes anyway but I'm just saying...gee whiz this product stinks.)

I have to be reaslistic I didn't expect this product to work because as B mentions in her review of this product, the claim just doesn't make sense.

Below you will see a pic of my eyes, the one on the right has nothing and the eye on the left has the Covergirl Eyelight mascara.

Obviously I would never buy this product again, it really is a true waste of money. Now as a regular mascara it has one of those plastic wands and its ok,, nothing special.

I haven't done it in a while but this product goes into the "SKIP IT" files.

Have you ever purchased a product with a ridiculous claim? If so please share. Also I would love to know if anyone has had success this this mascara.

Update

The H20 can get a little product build up if you don't rub it into your hair well.

I am not sure if any of you saw the post on the free Aveda makeup makeover. Check it out if you are in the NY area.

Scrubs

I wanted to try the new body scrubs by She Scent It so I purchased two of the Sinfully Sweet Sugar Scrubs in Apple McIntosh and Tropical Punch. I have to say that the Tropical Punch scrub smells so much like the tropical punch flavored Kool Aid (ok moving on..lol), so I really like the sweet scent. The green Apple scented scrub does not really have a strong apple scent. You have to breathe deeply to really get that apple fragrance going. This is one of those scrubs that after using it, you have this oily coating on your skin. The scrub contains oils of grape seed, jojoba, apricot kernel and vitamin E. Now the ingredients that surprised me the most would have to be the cocoa and shea butter. She Scent It uses sugar in this scrub instead of sea salt because it is supposed to be less harsh on your skin. You may have noticed the little red cranberry seeds floating in the scrub, they are added to the mix to gently exfoliate the skin...and they look pretty good in there too.
The scub is Ok nothing too special just your ordinary scrub- tropical punch smells great though. I also think the jar is just too small, 8oz goes way to quickly.
I think my next tutorial may be on how to make a scrub :-) Not that I am trying to take money out of the hands of the many hard working bath, body and hair entrepreneurs because I am not, but I just want to offer options to those who may not be able to spend the money on certain products.
An 8oz jar will cost you $12.00.
Have a great weekend.

Hair and Housewives

• Hey Everyone
  
  I tried to post yesterday but Blogger gave me a crazy error message so I quickly gave up.

Anyway today I am on to a product that I just received from Komaza. Since this product is new in my household, I am only reporting the immediate results that I received after using the H2O Plus moisturizer. This product includes cinnamon, jojoba oil, honey quat, castor oil and other moisturizing agents. It comes in a spray bottle and it promises to keep your hair soft as it moisturizes your hair. The makers of this product claim is that you can use this daily without experiencing build-up.
I sprayed this moisturizer liberally on my new growth and the rest of my hair and I fell asleep without my satin head scarf. Yes, this means that all night my hair was moving to and fro across my COTTON pillow cases- hair disaster. However, my hair was still silky smooth and the areas where I sprayed the product were still moisturized. The directions encourage the user to follow this product up with a leave in conditioner but I only did that in certain sections of my head (the results were equally fabulous). Even the sections where I did not follow up with a leave in conditioner my hair felt great. The scent is pleasant enough, it smells a little like unscented soap (you know those unscented soaps that clearly still have a scent..lol).

HOA

Who do you think spilled the beans to Sheree about NeNe's song in the limo? My guess is loose lipped Lisa.
Kim's attempt at singing.....LOL

I loved it when Dallas Austin said "she can't waste people's time". Even more priceless was his expression when he first heard her sing. LOVED IT....he gave her the side eye like ummmmmm this is a joke right????

*B Fly reminded me about another classic moment- when Kim spelled cat with a K.

Do it Yourself

I decided to make a whipped body cream over the weekend and the video below will show you how I made my creation. I was very pelased with the outcome and I want you to experience this product with me so, the winner of my next give away will receive a fresh sample.

I will modify the creation and include slightly different ingredients ( I am having some new ingredients shipped) and that will be the version that you will get to sample. This body butter can also be used on the hair because all of the ingredients are also for the hair, so no harm will be done. However, I believe this moisturizer is best suited for naturals instead of relaxed heads. I used the cocasta oil from hair veda and mixed it with pure aloe oil and unrefiend shea butter.
The end result was a whipped creamy treat which I LOVE. I used it on my hair and it did give me great shine but I can see that over time it may make my hair too greasy.

* Please check my late post for Monday Nov. 3rd. to learn about the free makeup makeovers.

Free makeover & A Hair Product

Aveda is giving a treat to all in the NYC area by offering a free makeup application, here are the details:

WHEN: November 11 - 14, 9am - 9pm -- November 15, 9am - 7pm
WHERE: Aveda Institute New York, 233 Spring Street
FOR MORE INFO: Visit avedainstituteny.com or call 212.807.1492

If you decide to get your free makeup application, please report back and let us all know how it turned out.

Liquid leave in conditioners have never really done the trick for my hair. Unfortunately I am still on the hunt for the perfect solution for my coils. I have the Moisture Mist Leave In conditioner by shescentit and initially it left my hair feeling conditioned and soft. However as soon as the product dried I felt like my hair was a little crunchy. I do like the light floral scent but the crunchiness forced me to wash my hair again. Instead of leaving it conditioned, it left my hair feeling dry. I remember using this product without a problem when I had received a relaxer but now I am not having the same pleasureable experience. I also know that the weather is different so maybe that is having an impact on how this product works with my hair. I will wait until December to use this $10, 8oz 98% natural moisture mist again (when I get my next relaxer) and I will give you all an update on this product.

Here are the ingredients: " Chamomile, water infused with Aloe, Nettle extract, grape seed extract, Honey, Colts foot extract, Horsetail, Silk Amino Acids, Sage, Rosemary, Glycerin, Shea Butter, Mint extract, centrimonium chloride, Tocopheryl Acecate (vit E), Panthenol, citric acid, polyquartemium, Nonoxynol, Benzophenone "

Not bad at all....

Hair Update - I mentioned that I would get my next relaxer in December but that may come a little sooner than I thought if I continue to encouter the problem I exprienced today. After washing my hair I thought everything was wonderful until I came up agains a big tangle, it took a really long time to work out the kinks. Apparently some long shed hairs wrapped around my healthy hair and didnt want to let go. I worked the tangles toward the bottom and did a little cutting at the ends to remove the final knots. I know that my method of washing my hair was less than stellar and probably to blame for getting some of those knots worked in so i have to do a better job next time.

How do you get your tangles worked out of your hair without cutting? Any secret tips?

Tomorrow I hope to post on one of my latest concoctions :-) it's a body butter.
*Sorry everyone I'm a moron. I knew I would be in meetings all day so I submitted this post very early, or so I thought. Apparently I clicked "save draft" instead of "publish post" so the post for today is very late. Sorry.