Stay Flake Free: Head and Shoulders

I was scrolling through my twitter feed recently and saw a Head and Shoulders shampoo post. I reached out via “at” reply to let them know how much I love the shampoo and to my surprise they reached out and offered to send me some samples! What? How exciting!

**I feel the need to add a quick disclaimer much to my daughter’s chagrin. I don’t suffer from dandruff but my daughter has a dry patch on the right side of her temporal lobe. No joke. She has dandruff in a particular spot on her head. Her dad has the same dry patch btw and he lived for Head and Shoulders back in the days when he had hair. **

Now back to the story. So Head and Shoulders reached out because it truly is one of the only brands that works to eliminate her dandruff. I’ve tried to be economical and try the drugstore brands but ewww. Every drugstore brand leaves behind a scent of sulfur that is just unbearable. There is no sulfur smell with Head and Shoulders and how excited was I when I saw they made a line for textured hair. Win! The Co-Wash is my daughter’s favorite and she shampoos and detangles all by herself. Her curly hair is left manageable, great smelling and dandruff free.

Check out Head and Shoulders on Twitter and IG.

www.instagram.com/headshoulders

www.twitter.com/headshoulders

July 24, 2016 0

Miami Swim Week: G Saints Swimwear and Allusions by A. Lekay

Miami Swim Week happened and the city is the perfect backdrop for bikini-clad models to show us hot bodies and hot suits on the runway. We still have a few good weeks of summer left and you may be able to still rock some of these swanky suits that were just featured on the runway in MIA. Let’s take a look at two designers who sent some hot suits down the runway during Swim Week:

G Saints Swimwear

Designers/Owners: Tracey Saintil & Edlyne Garçon

GSaints Swimwear was launched in July of 2011 by Tracey and Edlyne. It is a sexy yet fun line and made for women who are not afraid to be daring and comfortable in their skin. These looks are from their “Polynesian Princess” collection which debuted in Spring/Summer 2015.

hilo — The Hilo: hot neon green with a floral print

Borabora — Bora Bora: Mint green with fun fringe

poly — Polynesian: Yellow with a nude mesh.

Shop G Saints: www.http://gsaintsapparel.com

IG: @gsaintsgirls
Twitter: gsaintsswim
facebook.com/gsaintsswimwear

Allusion by A Lekay

Designers/Owner: Altricia Cook

Altricia is a Florida A&M University graduate whose idea to design swimwear came from her need for great swimwear. She was searching for a chic swimsuit that she could wear on a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2013 that would hide her post-baby stomach imperfections while still feeling sexy. The search was arduous and she came up with nothing that flattered her body and made her feel sexy so she decided to make her own. The rest is swim history.

Electra: Handmade high waistkini. Looks comfortable and flattering.

530810_c93c36f4bf3a48e3aad1112ea9043157-mv2 — Nora: Fun and playful.

530810_0e3611941eb4463aa8548fb2f0802a3f-mv2_d_4912_3264_s_4_2 — Reign: Bold and stylish.

Shop: www.allusionsbyalekay.com

IG: @allusionsbyalekay
facebook.com/allusionsbyalekay

Check out their feature at www.miami.com

July 22, 2016 0

Brooklyn Caribbean Eats: Suede

If you are in Brooklyn, NYC, and looking to enjoy great Caribbean food and drinks in an amazingly chic yet chill atmosphere then Suede is your spot. I’ve been wanting to visit for over a year now but just did not get a chance to so I took advantage of a quiet Sunday morning to visit recently. I brunched with my daughter and we were both impressed by our meal and the service. The waitress was sweet and provided us with smiles and the greatest attention throughout the visit. My daughter had the eggs and roasted potatoes which she enjoyed. She never eats the homefries that come with the morning meals but this was an exception. I had the bake and saltfish which was tasty and transported me to the islands immediately.

Less than a week later I visited Suede again just to dine on their outdoor patio. The only thing missing from the patio is a view of the beach! There is a cool little fountain in the middle of the patio that leaves a hum of falling water and the rich brown patio furniture provides the most serene feel. The vibes are enhanced even more by the mix of Buju and 90s reggae spinning in the background.

Let’s take a look at my evening at Suede:

Catch the amazing sunset on Clarendon Road at around 7:30pm.

Pulled out some sexy sandals for the evening.

I love the rich browns and natural wood tones.

Tip: Order the Rum Punch. There is a whole lotta rum and a little punch.

Ric had the Creole Shrimp Pasta which was delish. I opted for 2 appetizers as a meal. There was a pumpkin callaloo soup listed on them menu but not available. There was a fish soup available instead which did not disappoint. The crabcakes were also great. There was lump crab inside and the aioli was a good compliment. Fresh corn salsa on the side. Yup.

Chocolate cake and bread pudding for dessert.

The fountain lights up in the evening. How delightful!

Happy Dining!

http://www.suedenyc.com/

July 21, 2016 2

Athleisure: Ivy Park Collection at $40 and Under

So, here I am waiting patiently for the Ivy Park collection to go on sale at www.topshop.com but alas it is July and not a drop in price in sight. What’s a girl to do? Shop $40 and under and choose some key pieces that will stay in your workout/wear-out (to brunch) collection for some time. I avoid trends and stick to classic colors and styles when I am shopping nonsale items . It is here that I will skip the scarlet reds or canary yellows and choose the noirs and grays.

Key Pieces from the Ivy Park Collection for $40 and Under:

jogger — Great Deal!! Full Length Jogger $40

Because it’s Blue and we love Baby Blue. If you are a girl who loves color then this blue crop top is perfect. $35

Happy Shopping! Don’t forget to stay within YOUR budget.

July 20, 2016 1

Women’s Wear on Men

The tide is turning in so many ways and the fashion industry is one of the places where we get an early glimpse of some of the changes happening in society. The fashion industry can serve to perpetuate many of society’s stereotypes and at the same time dispel many. The changes that we see can be uncomfortable for many but that is what change does, it makes some of us uneasy. Change flings you out of your normal thinking and feeling and puts you in a space where you have to think of things differently, speak your words differently or even behave differently.

Let’s take a look at some of the men who are on the cutting edge of change and rocking women’s wear in some of the most fierce ways:

jaden1 — Jaden Smith has been expressing his individual style for some time now without care of what most people may think or feel about his choices. He was recently quoted as saying that he wants to make seeing a man in a skirt or dress the norm. He is bucking the way we think about gender roles today.

jaden2 — Runway model and Jaden both wearing skirts.

EJ Johnson is slowly becoming a style icon in his own right. He owns his looks and seems to enjoy being as luxe and over the top fabulous at all times.

ej2 — Here is EJ being compared to Kim K in the same Laquan Smith dress.

man_0 — Runway models in London rocking skirts, pale pinks and comfy sweaters.

July 19, 2016 0

Starve Fear and Feed Love.

metech5 — “Major barrier to successful planning are fear of change, ignorance, uncertainty about the future and lack of imagination.” John C. Maxwell

When you read the quote above you can put it in context and link it to business success and possible failure if the barriers cannot be overcome. In this day and age and at this particular moment in time in our country and the world this quote can also be linked to political and racial upheavals. Fear and barriers are the catalysts for violent attacks on groups of people in America and worldwide. Let’s break it down a bit for better comprehension:

Fear of Change– For many, it is more important to uphold the status quo than it is to respect the rights of others. When a change occurs many who enjoy the benefits of being a part of the status quo tend to begin to fear the change.

Ignorance: The word speaks for itself. Ignorance can be the result of a lack or knowledge or lack of exposure. If an entire group of people or a culture is “lumped” into one and given the same description be it good or bad then that is just plain ignorance.

Uncertainty About the Future: We’ve seen presidential candidates feed off of the fears and hopes of Americans time and time again and garner votes based on the majority’s fear of the future. Many of our candidates, Democrats and Republicans, all use this platform in order to put our minds at ease. Most recently, we’ve seen Donald Trump pull this card and play it all too well to come into a close tie with Hillary Clinton. The extreme and outrageous stereotypical tirades that Donald Trump has directed towards groups of people who have historically been the minority have played into the fears and uncertainty of the future of America.

Lack of Imagination: John Lennon said it best, “Imagine all the people, living life in peace.” If only we can build fences and not walls.

July 15, 2016 0

Skin Like the Night

In the dark silent of the night

we hear the rustle of the leaves.

The night sky speaks and it seems just to me.

The night seeks answers for all the ills that appear to me.

It seeks answers from society.

Answers for why we continue to fear those who look like the night.

Those who look like me.

There is nothing to fear but fear itself they say

but the fear they feel causes a trigger happy stance.

Shoot first, ask questions last.

But they only hold the motto true with one class…well really only one race…and one sex.

That’s all.

To have skin like the night and have eyes like the stars.

Hair standing high like the sun and whose heritage transcends historians.

Why fear beauty? Why fear the dark?

Yes, All Lives Matter but not until Black men are no longer used as marks.

(I used to journal and write poems all throughout high school and some parts of college. I remember being moved by the riots in LA after the verdict in the Rodney King case and I wrote after that. Violence and hate are never the answer. I would hope as a society we would all know that by now but many people are so deep and entrenched in hatred and within this hatred comes the fear. Fear causes us to not see each other and if we cannot see each other then we cannot feel for each other. Sending love and light to all of those who need it and for those who are lost in hatred and fear.)

July 10, 2016 2

Summer Sights:New York City

Often times we are making plans and booking flights in order to flee the city for summer but there is really no better place than NYC during the summer. There are so many sights that you can actually soak in and appreciate without the whip of cold wind slashing across your face (I exaggerate but try walking down 34th Street in the Winter in order to look at the Macy’s window. It’s not fun because it’s cold!)

There are tons of parks and attractions that can be enjoyed (preferably during the week because the weekends can get crowded) . Let’s take a look at some of my favorite places to visit during the summer:

Coney Island has been a must-see attraction in Brooklyn for years but this isn’t your mom’s Coney Island. They have upgraded with new rides and an awesome art wall area and visiting food trucks. The art walls are a great backdrop for pictures with friends or an awesome selfie.

http://coneyislandfunguide.com/

The Wonder Wheel! Take a ride on it before you leave Coney Island.

IMG_1425 (1) — Take a minute to frolic on one of the many beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. Coney Island’s beach is busy but has great energy.

Find a Farmer’s Market on a Saturday Morning and buy fresh flowers. The Union Square Farmer’s Market is a great place for selection and fantastic prices.

http://www.unionsq.market/

Any day is a great day to sit on the lawn at Bryant Park. The kids will enjoy this park as much as parents. The grass is beautifully maintained and there are cute little food shops all around. Don’t leave without riding the carousel. You’ll feel like you have been transported to France.

http://www.bryantpark.org/

Hop over to 34th street for shopping, strolling past Macy’s and then on to the wonderful view of the Empire State building. Visit the observation deck for one of the best views of the city.

http://www.esbnyc.com/

Come back to Brooklyn to feel a bit more of France. Visit the Civil War monument that is in the middle of Grand Army Plaza. There is a cute park with a cool fountain very close to the arch. Great for sitting and cooling off before a visit to the library or Park Slope.

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/grand-army-plaza

Where do you love to visit when in NYC for the Summer? Share Below!

July 6, 2016 0

Liebster Award: Discover a New Blog.

The Liebster Award is a way for readers to discover new blogs and bloggers and I was recently nominated by Soul Ethnicity 876 or https://kriystastylesliving.com/. She is a fellow Jamaican and her blog is phenomenal. Go check her out. Thank you Soul Ethnicity 876!!

Liebster Award Rules

Thank the person who nominated you and link their blog
Answer 10 questions given by the nominator
Give 10 facts about yourself
Nominate and link blogs that you think are worth discovering
Notify the bloggers of their nomination
Write 10 new questions for your nominees to answer on their blog

First off, the blogs you nominate should have less than 200 followers. This is done so people can discover new blogs; those that are less common.

1. Do you prefer watching a movie or reading a book? – A tie. I love a good movie and a great book.
2. Story behind my blog name? – I want to think about and write about the things that I love.
3. If you were to be an animal in your new life, what would you be? A cat.
4. How long have you been blogging? A little two years. (I think).
5. What’s your favorite childhood memory? Telling scary stories with my cousins on our veranda in Jamaica.
6. What’s your favorite social media platform? – Instagram.
7. 3 of my favorite books, and why? I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings; Anything by James Baldwin, The Color Purple. I love the vivid writing and emotional trip that these authors take you on.
8. How do I feel about being nominated? Super exciting and humbled that I have a few readers.

9. What is your sign? Aries.
10. Give 2 important advice you would give someone looking to start a blog? Do not set rigid rules about what you will or won’t blog about. It’s a journey. Enjoy the trip that blogging or writing takes you on but do have a plan for creating content.

10 Facts about ME!

I was born in Jamaica
I was not born in NY but I’m a New Yorker.
I don’t like going to the movies
I love sitting on my couch
I love my neighborhood
I love seeing my family
I wish I could twerk
I’m not a great dancer
I want to start working out more.

I now nominate!

https://lifeofaluxaholic.com/

https://ellviisa.com/

https://fourseasonswithcristina.wordpress.com/

https://1221airforceblue.wordpress.com/

10 Questions for my nominees

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. Who are you most influenced by?
3. What is your sign?
4. How long have you been blogging?
5. What is your favorite part about blogging?
6. Do you prefer watching a movie or reading a book?
7. Name three of your favorite songs?
8. If you could bring back one 90s sitcom what would it be?
9. What’s the story behind your blog name?
10. Give 2 important advice you would give someone looking to start a blog?

Enjoy guys!

June 30, 2016 0

This Just In: The Old Navy Edition.

Why do I love Old Navy? I don’t have to wait until some mega sale in order to buy what I want in store or online. The prices are accessible for most of our bank accounts and paychecks. The styles are classic yet they do try to keep customers on trend. These are the current styles that I’m obsessing over for the summer. They are all way under $30 and available in all sizes. Unbeatable.

Some of my favorites look from the season at Old Navy: