Summer is Gone

I had so much fun this past summer.  I didn't take any trips, everything I did was local to the DMV.  I spent more time with my friends this summer than I have in the last couple of years.  We went out to eat every Friday, had Taco Tuesdays, chilled in the house, went to brunch and even hit a few clubs.  

My sister-in-law got married the end of August.  It was such a beautiful wedding, I was glad to be a witness to their union.  

I went to Artscape in Baltimore, FlowFest in DC, Adams Morgan Day (my hood lol), Truckeroo and a few other places I can't remember right now.

I also celebrate my birthday in the summer.  This year my friends showed up and showed all the way out.  My birthday (Aug 17th) fell on a Sunday.  We partied from Friday to Sunday (I do have to work lol).  

Here are a few photos from this summer:

 

Lip Colors for Dark Skin

Let me make this disclaimer upfront, I am not an amateur or professional MUA.  I do however love lipsticks and have a pretty good eye on what looks right.

Now my fellow dark skin ladies I hate to be the one to tell you but you can NOT wear yellow, green, blue or those other crazy lip colors by Keisha Dior, it just does not look right on you.  Your friends that are telling you that it looks good are lying to your face and laughing behind your back...trust me. Also, you have to be careful with nude colors, they have a tendency to wash us out.

Here are a few colors I think look great on women with a darker complexion (and colors I actually wear)

Red:
MAC Ruby Woo/RiRi Woo (my signature color)
MAC Red (satin)
Chanel Ever Red Lipstain (my sis-in-law rocks this well!)
MAC All Fired Up
MAC Diva (brownish red)

Orange:
MAC Lady Danger (orange red)
MAC Chilli

Purple:
MAC Up the Amp
Revlon Berry Haute (Riri Boy dupe)
MAC Heroine
MAC Heaux
MAC Smoked Purple
Maybelline Madison Mauve (silver purple color)
Maybelline Silver Purple

Pink:
MAC Flat Out Fabulous (actually this could go under the purple category)
MAC Girl About Town
MAC Candy Yum Yum (lip liner required)
MAC Pink Plaid (lip liner required)
MAC Toying Around (this is really a peach color instead of pink)

Nude/Brown:
MAC Honey Love (my favorite nude!)
Viva Glam Gaga 2 (this color will wash you out if you do not line your lips.  I don't wear it alone, I usually wear it with MAC Diva)
MAC Can't Get Enough
I have a CoverGirl Nude that is nice on but the name of the color has rubbed off. 


Lipliners I use:
MAC Magenta
MAC Beet
MAC Chestnut
NYX Deep Purple (actually this is a eye liner)
NYX Y2K
NYX Natural

Check out these YT videos:

Is the 4th of July for Black People?

Often times when holidays come around, you have a group a people who go on social media to rant about why we shouldn't celebrate said holiday. This year was the first year I actually saw posts about the 4th of July should not be celebrated by Black people. I know some history :) and I know that when the USA received their independence that Blacks were still enslaved. 

So because we (Blacks) did not receive our freedom on the same day as the USA, do we have a right to participate in the celebrations? Can we show our love for the country we where we live? Or should we just sit this day out? 

I'm going to be honest with y'all, when I think about July 4th, I don't think about the history of it. I know I should but I really don't. My main concern is having the day off and going to a cookout with good food. 

I wonder if those Blacks saying we can't celebrate July 4th celebrate the day we actually received our "freedom" from USA? I don't recall seeing any posts from them about Juneteenth celebrations. I bet half of them don't even know what Juneteenth is :( 

Coppertone Clearly Sheer Sunscreen

 

I received a box of Coppertone Clearly Sheer sunscreen to test for free from BzzAgent.  There were a few  mini size bottles of sunscreen and a couple of regular size bottles along with coupons to give out to friends (or keep for yourself).

Coppertone is one of my favorite brands for sunscreen.  You are not walking around smelling like medicine or chemicals.  It is a very light scent and once you apply the sunscreen it doesn't feel heavy or make you feel like you are clogging your pores.

I would strongly suggest you give Coppertone Clearly Sheer Sunscreen a try.

You can purchase a 5oz bottle from Target for $6.99.

Spring Fling VoxBox

You all should know by now that I love when I receive a VoxBox complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.  This one was no different.  The pretty spring green box had me excited before I even opened it to see what was inside.

(I apologize for the dark picture)

 

In the box were the following items:

 Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara ($5.99) - The first thing in the box that I had to try right away and I am glad I did as I love this mascara.  It made my eyelashes look longer without looking like I had a lot of mascara caked on.  After a google search, I found it at Walgreens for $4.79.

Kiss Everlasting French Nails ($6.49) - I'm not big on press on nails so I haven't tried these yet.  I started to put them on one day then remember I need to wash my hair.  I may try them soon or let my middle daughter try them out since she has been begging me to give them to her.  I read a few reviews online about these nails and they were all positive.  Most said these are not your mother's press on nails.  You can pick these up at Walmart for $4.97.

Peach Pie Car Freshener from the Labor Day Movie - This air freshener was giving to us in honor of the DVD release of the Labor Day movie.  I put it in my car and the smell only lasted one day.  The next day when I got in the car I couldn't smell it at all.  I haven't see the movie yet but if you have let me know if you liked it.

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance ($3.99) - I have never ever used a tampon in my life and I really don't plan on starting to use them now.  I tried giving the box away to my sister-in-laws and random friends and no one I know use tampons either.  So the box is just sitting here waiting for someone to say they want it.

NIVEA Skin Firming Hydration Lotion ($2.49/2.5oz or $10.99/13.5oz) - I'm not sure if this lotion actually works for skin firming but I can attest to it being hydrating.  I keep this bottle in my car because it seems like no matter what it always seems like my hands are ashy when I get in the car. 

Thank you again to Influenster for selecting me to review these items for free.  If you are interested in reviewing and sharing your opinion on various products from beauty to health sign up on Influenster's website, it's free to join.

Disclaimer:  The product images above are not owned by me or this blog.  They were all taken from the internet. 

Dr. Oz Rapid Weight Loss Diet Plan - Week 2

This post is weeks late but I have been doing other things and haven't taken the time to blog.  I have to admit to you all I failed week 2.  I was able to stick to days 1 and 2 and half way through day 3 of the second week of the Dr.Oz Rapid Weight Loss before my cravings kicked in and I caved.  It wasn't a terrible fail though.  I didn't jump into eating junk food or carbs. I could not take not eating fruit, so I had to add it back into my diet and more smoothies.  I also went through a bottle of wine *sue me*


I think my issue was that I am apart of the internet age so I expect everything to happen just as fast as it takes to load a web page.  I did not lose the weight I thought I would.  I think it had a lot to do with the protein powder as I have never use a protein supplement before.  Even with taking the probiotic every morning I was still ''backed up"

I did feel a difference in my energy levels, they were up and I wasn't as sluggish in the mornings.  I have added carbs back into my diet and now I am regretting it.  There are a few things from this plan that I have stuck with, such as: drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning and not eating before 8 am.  I have been doing okay with not eating after 8pm but some nights, it is impossible.

Overall, the diet plan is actually not that bad unless you love fruit like me.  Another thing is it is not very restrictive so if you already eat clean, you shouldn't have a problem following the plan.

Dr. Oz Rapid Weight Loss Diet Plan - Week 1

I signed up for another 30 day challenge, this one is for fitness, health and hair.  The first two weeks of the challenge we had to follow Dr. Oz's Rapid Weight Loss Meal Plan.

The plan is basically a detox, you eliminate alcohol, sugar, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, dairy, and wheat.  You can only eat between the hours of 8am - 8pm and you are required to take a detox bath nightly.  When you wake in the morning, he wants you to drink a cup of hot lemon water.  Dr. Oz also wants you to take a multivitamin (1/2 morning, 1/2 evening) and a probiotic.  You can eat unlimited amounts of low glycemic vegetables, detox vegetable broth and 6 ounces of chicken, fish or turkey daily.  The only fruit allowed on the diet is a 1/2 cup of mixed berries which you put into the Breakfast Smoothie.  You are also allowed one 6-oz serving a yogurt daily.

I didn't make the broth, I purchased organic vegetable broth from Whole Foods.  I forgot to get low sodium for the first week.  The one I had was 540 mg of sodium!


Day 1:
The first day of the meal plan wasn't that challenging, the smoothie wasn't what I was used to but I drunk it. By the evening I had a headache.  I had previously started cutting sugar out of my diet and I am not a big caffeine drinker so I think the headache came from not eating fruit. I didn't take the detox bath the first night, I was too tired.  I drunk the

Meals:
Hot lemon water (another requirement)
Breakfast - breakfast smoothie
Green tea
Snack - cucumbers and broccoli with homemade greek yogurt vegetable dip and hummus.
Lunch - mixed greens salad with 1.5 oz jerk chicken breast and the vegetable broth.
Dinner - 4 oz grilled chicken breast, string beans, broccoli and mushrooms cooked in the vegetable broth and 1/2 cup of brown rice (the only grain/carb allowed).
Green tea

Day 2:
The smoothie was a little easier to get down than the previously day.  I worked out using the Latin Cardio video on YouTube since I couldn't make it to the gym.  Dr. Oz does not want you to work out while using the plan but I need to lose weight and stay motivated.

Meals:
Hot lemon water
Breakfast smoothie
Snack - cucumbers, snap peas, hummus and greek yogurt vegetable dip.
Lunch - 2oz grilled chicken breast, leftover vegetables and lentils cooked with red & yellow peppers, onions, garlic and vegetable broth.
Dinner - 4 oz baked salmon, 1/2 cup of brown rice and sauteed spinach.

I was full before I finished my dinner but I didn't want to waste it so I ate it all.  An hour after dinner I took the detox bath.  I was in sweating like I was in a sauna lol

Day 3:
I decide to switch things up with my meals.  I don't like wasting food but I also need to learn how not to stuff myself.  If I am full, I need to just stop eating.  So I decided to eat my heaviest meal during lunch and go light for dinner.  Most weight loss articles tell you to do this anyway but hardheaded people like me don't listen. I also added the daily yogurt serving and kale to the breakfast smoothie, it kept me full until lunch time

Meals:
Hot lemon water
Breakfast Smoothie
Green tea
Lunch - 4 oz leftover baked salmon, 1/2 cup of brown rice, lentils and balsamic glazed brussel sprouts.

Green tea
Dinner - 2 oz baked salmon, mixed greens salad with avocado, balsamic glazed broccoli, string beans, snow peas and brussel sprouts

Day 4:
I cheated, I ate 2 pieces of pineapple. I just couldn't help myself. I had to cut the pineapple before it went bad and there it was looking so sweet begging me to have a piece. I wasn't feeling too bad, at least it was a piece of fruit and not cake.

Meals:

Breakfast smoothie remix (kale, yogurt and chia seeds added to it. I added the chia seeds because I haven't been regular (TMI) since I started the challenge.)

Green tea

Snack - a spoonful of hummus

Lunch - leftovers again (3oz salmon, 1/2 cup of brown rice and the veggie mix from last night)

Dinner - turkey burger topped with mushrooms and onions, curry lentils and a salad.

Day 5:
Friday was rest day as far as exercising.  I followed the meal plan throughout the day but ended up cheating with dinner.  It wasn't that bad but I did regret it after I bit into that piece of fried chicken.  I ended the night with a glass of wine.

Meals:
Breakfast smoothie remix
Lunch - ground turkey and string bean stir fry over a 1/2 cup of brown rice.
Dinner - mixed greens salad topped with a little blue cheese, two buffalo wingettes, one fried wingette, chick peas, broccoli, string beans, snow peas and a 1/4 piece of tilapia.


Day 6:
I messed up again!  I am just not strong on the weekends, I need willpower people. 

Meals:
Breakfast smoothie remix (without kale)
Lunch - 3 oz baked salmon, balsamic glazed brussel sprouts and 1/2 cup of brown rice.
Dinner - fire grilled salmon, sauteed spinach and broccoli.  I also had a patron margarita (argh).

Day 7:
It was Mother's Day and my diet went all out the window.  The day seems to start off on the right page but by dinner it goes right down the drain. 

Meals:
Breakfast smoothie remix
Lunch/Dinner - curry chicken kebab, vegetable kebab, cous cous, and naan
Dessert - strawberries, pineapple, mango and watermelon on top of grilled pound cake with coconut milk whipped cream.
3 glasses of wine.

For week two, I am determined to stay on track.  Even though I messed up (a lot) I was able to lose 3 pounds.  Others who are on the challenge have lost 7 pounds.  I need to really focus on my goal and stay determined to reach it.  I can not let food beat me!  Wish me luck and stay tuned for week 2.