Monday, October 3, 2011

FABULOUS for Fall

Ladies, it's that time again. The season's are changing therefore it's time to update our make-up, skin care, lingerie and fragrances.

1. I love to feel feminine & sexy no matter what the season. Lingerie is one simple way to do that & now is a great time to overhaul your collection.

2. The colder months are NOT an excuse to skip shaving / waxing your legs and lady parts, nor is it an excuse to stop getting pedicures. You should do these things for yourself 1st but I'm quite sure your hubby doesn't want to rub up against hairy legs and scratchy toe nails.

3.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I can't stress this enough especially if you leave in a colder climate. Drink plenty of water. It does wonders for your skin. (Your weight divided in half is what you should be drinking in ounces per day).

4. Throw the fruity shower gel out the window. That was fine for spring/summer but with the colder temperature you need a soap free moisturizing body wash.

5. Use an exfoliating body scrub a few times a week. I recommend getting a scrub with natural oils. Origins has been a staple of mine for years.

6. Get a good daytime moisturizer and start applying a good night cream catered to your skin type. Aveeno, Cetaphil, Neutrogena & Oil of Olay are great, affordable drug store brands. For department stores try Kiehl, Estee Lauder & Clinque.

7.  Moisturizing body creams/butters are essentail as well. I like natural Shea Butter creams, Vaseline cocoa butter gel, Aveeno & Lubriderm with cocoa butter. These are all great low cost options.

8. We can't forget out fall scents. Think warm, sexy, & seductive ladies!

9. Fall make-up trends are filled with smokey metallic eyes, red lips (not together - one dramatic look at a time ladies), fresh & flirty monochrome neutral shades & glowy cheek bones all give you amazing options for your fall/winter look.

10. Fall fashion trends include gold & mustard hues, playful polka dots – think a nice scarf of blouse & camouflaged inspired prints. All o these should not be worn together of course. For party attire think a long sleeve top paired with a long ankle length skirt with a thigh high slit up the front.
Now you’re officially armed with the basic, must-have information so can have a fun, flirty & FABULOUS fall. 

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Fall Fitness Tips

Summer is drifting away, the kids are back in school, the days are getting shorter, many of your fall TV shows are returning, & the holidays are fast approaching. With all of these changes I decided to come up with some Fall Fitness Tips to keep us fit & fly.

1. Take a walk. Fall is a great time to take a brisk walk along one of the walking trails.

2. Drink water. Most people associate drinking water with summer but it's something that should be done on a consistent basis year round. Remember, take your weight and divide it in half. This is the amount of water you should drink per day in ounces. Ex. weight = 120 / 2 = 60 oz.

3. Drink tea! This isn't a fall tip; this should be a part of your year round regimen. Green and black tea contains antioxidants that help ward off diseases during flu season so you can remain healthy and active as the season shifts.

4. Get on the floor and do some exercises during the commercial breaks of your TV shows. Crunches, planks, push-ups, squats, lunges and jumping jacks are all a great way to keep moving indoors.

5. Purchase seasonal fresh fruits and veggies such as apples, tomatoes, corn, and cucumbers.

6. Take a class. I love Zumba! There's also aerobics, swimming, yoga, pilate's and also pole dancing. ;-)

7. Get a gym membership. Now a day’s memberships can be really affordable --- as low as $10 a month. Often people spend money on entertainment, dining out, shopping, etc., now it's time to invest in your health and your body. You're worth it!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

5 Things Women Need

I know it's long over due & only fair that I did a post for the ladies since I posted one for the men so here goes.....


1.  Stability – A woman needs to know what she has with you and to know that the man in her life will be there for her.  
2.  Honesty/Communication – Women like to know where they stand in a relationship.  Most women would much rather hear the truth and potentially have their feelings hurt than to be lied to. Both parties need to be able to talk openly without judgment regarding their wants, needs, likes & dislikes regarding the relationship.
3.  Reassurance – Women need assurance of her mate’s commitment to her and to their relationship. This assurance contributes to her feeling secure in the relationship. Reassurance is your relationship insurance
4.  Safety/Security – Women need to feel emotionally secure in a relationship. Reassurance from her mate via actions and words contributes to the woman feeling secure in the relationship.
5.  Intimacy – Women want to feel and have an emotional connection to their mate separate from sex.

This is not an exhaustive list of what women/men (see my last post) need but relationships that continuously provide these things will help to ensure couples happiness & the continuity of the relationship.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

One Drop Too White


Mike Mose, a very close and dear friend of mine has authored his 1st novel entitled, "One Drop Too White". In this compelling page turner Mike speaks of being a constant victim of intra-racism (something I too can relate to) while being victimized by dark skinned blacks. He details his journey moving from the inner city of Detroit to a neighboring suburb, the difference in social statuses and his attempt to find a balance.

I'm encouraging everyone reading this to visit his website. It is there you can watch the trailer to his book, "One Drop Too White", read an excerpt of the book and learn more about the special young man I am honored to call my friend.

Visit the website

Purchase the book "One Drop Too White"

Facebook Fan Page

Twitter

Sunday, May 1, 2011

5 Things Men Need

Ladies, men are simple creatures. Often times we make them seem more complicated than they really are. Men are very logical; they don't over analyze or intentionally complicate things. Often times they say exactly what it is that they mean. Below is a list of 5 things that if you do them consistently will keep your man happy.

1. Peace & Quiet ~ We all need our alone time but ladies let's face it, we are emotional creatures, we like to talk through our feelings and emotions. Men act based off logic, not emotion, that being the case they need space and alone time to think things through. He may do this in a variety of ways such as playing video games, basketball, etc. It's not a bad thing. We all need our space.

2. Food ~ This is a basic necessity for everyone but the saying "The way to a man's heart is through is stomach" is very true. Feed your man. Learn to make a few of his favorite dishes. It won't kill you and he'll appreciate the effort.

3. Oral Sex (Head) ~ Enough Said!

4. Kinky Sex ~ Get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Keep your relationship hot. Watch porn. You're an adult it's okay! Don't do it just for him, do it for you too. You deserve to be pleasured too.

5. Sports ~ Either learn his favorite sports and watch the games with him or leave him alone while he's watching sports. It is not acceptable to attempt a conversation with a man in the midst of any type of sporting event. It is acceptable to have kinky sex or perform oral sex and give him food during half-time.

Women at Female Strip Clubs

I just don't get it, recently it seems that more and more women are frequenting female strip clubs. I'm not talking about women going with their man or just going for informational purposes to keep their skills up to date. I'm talking about women who go on a regular basis just for fun. If that's what one chooses to do to have fun so be it, but as a heterosexual woman I can say that there is absolutely nothing in it for me. Going to a female strip club is not entertaining for me nor do I gain enjoyment from it. I asked a couple of my friends why they go. I was told it was fun but when I asked, "What was fun about it?" they really couldn't say. One friend told me they go for the food and drinks....couldn't I just go to a regular bar to get food & drinks? Why would I need to go there? The more I talked to my female friends about it the more I was convinced they didn't know why they went themselves (or if they did know, they just didn't want to share it with me). It just reminded me of the line from Lauren Hills, "Doo Wop - That Thing". "It's silly when girls sell their souls because it's in". I'm not saying that women are selling their souls but many are going because it appears to be the "in" thing. That is of course, if there aren't other reasons.

This topic also came up with some of my male friends. One guy told me when he went there were just as many women in the strip club as men. I asked him how he felt about it and he said he was okay with it but I got the impression that he really didn't feel comfortable to "let loose" as he normally would have due the abundance of female presence.

I even over heard one young lady mention that she goes to strip clubs because men buy drinks there. Really?! You go to a female strip club to get a man to buy you drinks? How stupid and cheap is that? 1st off, I personally don't go to any bar with the intention of men buying me drink. Who does that?! Maybe that's the reason men offer to buy me drinks all the time, because I'm not looking for it or expecting them to!

At any rate, if you're a woman and you enjoy looking at women strip, by all means enjoy! DO YOU!! Just know why it is that you're going. Don't go just because your friends are or it's the "IN" thing to do. We're not in high school, grow up and stop following the clique in an attempt to be a part of the "in crowd".

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Money Matters


Like all women, I love to shop. I love clothes, shoes, handbags, etc. I know several men who love to shop as well for clothing, shoes (i.e. Jordan’s, Dunks etc.) & electronics. We work hard every day and we should be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor however we shouldn't get in debt as a result. This is why I decided to write this. It's by the grace of GOD that I'm debt free. So I wanted to share some of the tips that I use and the information that I've learned to help my readers out as well.

 
1. Simplify your lifestyle meaning; decrease your cost of living. I know several people who live beyond their means purchasing things they don't need, with money they don't have to impress people they don't like. If you decrease the amount of money you need to live you can increase your savings and/or money available to invest.

2. Don't be afraid of coupons. Personally I love them. I don't shop without them. You would be amazed how much money you can save. I've gone to Kroger on several occasions and between sale items and coupons I left with 5 bags of groceries spending $9. I do the same at Macy's and Victoria's Secret. Yes I can afford to pay full price but why should I when I don't have to? The money I save could be put to use elsewhere (we'll get to that later).
  
3. Seek a good financial planner. The best way to do this is by referrals from friends and family but still ask questions. Why do they like the planner? Does the planner educate them on various types of investments or just one? Is the planner willing to tell you how they personally invest their funds or show you their statement? If the planner won't do this, I consider that a red flag. If they believe in the products they're trying to sell you they should own it & they should be willing to show you what it is they invest in themselves.

4. Allocate funds after taxes into the following accounts:
  • 50% into an account for normal living expenses & necessities
  • 10% into a long term spending account
  • 10% to an educational account for either yourself or your children
  • 10% for charitable donations
  • 10% into a "play" account to purchase clothing, shoes, a new handbag, go to the spa etc.
  • 10% into an account for investments
Learn to think long term when it comes to purchases as opposed to instant gratification. Make an effort to create balance between enjoyment today and getting and/or remaining debt free for tomorrow. Eliminate emotional spending. Often times spending money you don't have stems from expending emotions you do have as a result of lack of fulfillment in some area of your life.

When making large purchases ask yourself, "Do I really need this?", "Is this an asset?", "Is this creating value?", or "Is this creating debt?"

Learn to collect assets, not bills. Until next time...


Sunday, March 27, 2011

Spring is here! Are you ready?

Spring is here and I couldn't be happier. The snow has melted, we've had sunshine, the days are longer and hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate soon and we will see warmer. With that being said, I've compiled some tips in an effort to prepare you for a delightful spring.

For the ladies:

1. Update your skincare regimen - The winter months tend to strip our skin of its natural moisture thus leaving it dry. Cleanse your skin with a gentle, soap free cleanser. Ease up on the heavy moisturizers as they can make your skin feel greasy in the warmer months. Moisturizing should still be a part of your daily routine however you may want to select one that isn't as heavy. Be sure to exfoliate 2-3 times a week as well to remove dead skin cells.
2. Update your make-up - Most cosmetics have a 6 month shelf life so now is the perfect time to toss any leftover winter make-up. You can do away with the heavy foundations (which I'm against all together) and opt for a tinted moisturizer.  You don't need heavy make-up or a lot of coverage...especially in warmer months when it can melt off your face. Remember, less is more. Spring also gives you the opportunity to take advantage of the beautiful new shades that are available.
3. Select a spring summer fragrance - Think sexy, romantic, and floral.
4. Update your lingerie - This is something you should do often, the change of seasons should only provide another opportunity for you to do so. When you go shopping get measured as well to ensure that you're getting the proper fit. You'll look sexier, feel sexier and your man will thank you.
5. You're feet - Before you pull out any sandals or sling backs please get a pedicure and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. I can't stress that enough. Lastly, I don't care how HAWT the shoe is; don't buy it if it doesn't fit. It's never cute to have your feet hanging off of your shoe. As a rule of thumb purchase shoes a 1/2 size bigger.

A man who takes pride in himself and his appearance is sexy. Being obsessed about it is NOT. That being said, I have a few tips for the men as well.

For the Men:

1. Skincare - There are several products in the marketplace that cater to men's skincare. As with women, you may need to update your cleanser and moisturizer particularly if you reside in the northern states. Heavy cleaners and moisturizers are no longer needed and if you're not too shy you may benefit from a men's facial. Don't forget to exfoliate. Also, when was the last time you changed the blade on that razor?
2. Fragrance - Women love a good smelling man, I know I do. Think sexy, refreshing, cool, and masculine.
3. Underwear - No need to get fancy guys. As long as they're clean and free of holes you're good. A new pack of underwear never hurts.
4. Manicure & Pedicure - Yes, men need them too. Manicures and pedicures clean the cuticles, which eliminates painful and unsightly hang nails. A pedicure exfoliates the dead skin away, helping to diminish calluses and potential dead skin build-up.


Saturday, March 12, 2011

I'm baaaaack

It's been too long. At the end of last year I decided I was going to start blogging because people consistently tell me the world needs to hear what I have to say, I need to teach a class, etc. I have opinions on so many things that it sparks great discussions. I absolutely love mature, intellectual discussions. As always "life happens". This is a term I frequently use when we let life get in the way living, maintain / forming new relationships, and doing what it is we want to do. Yes, I've been busy. Like most adults I have work, family & social obligations that I need to tend to. However I also believe that we make time for what we want to make time for and I just simply have not made the time to blog. It is my goal to make time at least once a week to post a new blog. I'm new to blogging so once I get the hang of this and it begins to become my obsession I'm sure it will be more. So as Entian Bereola says, "Let's Get Into It"