Summer/Spring is here and that means we should be pulling out the stripes and denim. There is nothing more easy and carefree than throwing on a pair of comfy jeans and pairing it with a striped, cotton Tee, or shirt. An outfit like this makes me feel like I am automatically on vacation. It takes me to a mental space of the beach or a fantastic boat trip where I’m surrounded by warm blue water and fresh open breeze. Instead, I’m surrounded by concrete and city sounds but have no fear because when I am feeling nautical, I slip on some stripes.
What have I been up to? Pinotage, French things and such. It’s been a busy couple of weeks. I am winding down to Summer and looking forward to it more than anything. Originally, I wanted to take a quick trip to Europe (Paris and London maybe). The Euro is more equal to the dollar right now so now is a perfect time to visit but the way my dollars are set up, we may have to visit in a year or so. I am not a fan of spending what I don’t have. Well, in truth I have it (think in terms of financial abundance) but not money slated for a trip. Someone even mentioned that I put the trip on a credit card and pay for it over the next year. Yeah, thats not gonna work for me. I am not a believer in putting a purchase like a trip on a credit card. i may be wrong though. What do you think Suze Orman would say? while I’m here in my hometown, I enjoy the things that are around me. Europe can wait.
My hood. I love that the houses are different on each block.I don’t have France but I do have a Frenchman who opened a cute crepe shop very close to home. There he is making my crepes.Thats a nook where I can spend hours drinking red wine and eating crepes.I’ve been drinking.. well not that much. Just my usual, red wine. I stumbled on this pinotage from a South African wine company called, ‘Bob’s”. They donate a portion of their proceeds to needy communities in South Africa.The flower petals have been falling off of the trees and making the best cushion against the hard concrete.Perfect time of the year for fresh fruits. Bushels on bushels.Speaking of fresh fruits and vegs. I made this great, fresh, corn salsa (corn, cherry tomatoes and cilantro) paired with oven baked tostones. Super good for you.Perfect weather for carefree hair. Twists!
I logged on to my WordPress Blog today, after being a tad too busy to blog over the past 2/3 weeks or so, only to find out that today is the day I first decided to start writing a blog. I’m a little shocked and surprised that a year went by so fast. Where does the time go? It scares me just a bit because I feel like there is so much that I want to do, need to do, but the time and know how escapes me. Ideas of how I should be spending my days swirl in my head like noise only there is no outlet. There is no way to let the noise out. I feel like I don’t know what to pursue or how to pursue it. We are all here on this planet for reasons outside of ourselves. We are all creators. Some of us just let that creative part of our minds take over as the dominant thoughts and ways of thinking. I am extremely grateful and extremely happy with this life but it its destined to be so much better. It is to be much more fulfilling.
So as I reflect, I think about where I was a year ago and where I am now. I can conclude that I am ever evolving and ever learning. I am healthier today and working on getting even healthier. I am no longer at a place where I want to shop and buy “things”. I am living to acquire fantastic memories and familial wealth. I am at a different place. Dare I say a more mature place. My mentality is no longer like it was in my 20s (it was all right and the waist was tight back then too–lol). I am ok with this place that I am in and I cannot wait to see where I will be 1 year from today.
My baby sister, myself and my daughter. Today, I’m more focused on familial wealth (health and financial).
On our visit to the Tribeca Family Festival this year, we stumbled on the Macaron Cafe. Well, I stumbled on it and I was the only one excited about the find. Macarons have always been a French dessert staple but it is making a boom on American soil. Macarons are becoming an American staple. It is giving the Apple Pie a run for it’s money. The delicate, flaky outer cookie shell holds together a perfect creamy middle flavored with natural vanilla, chocolate, caramel….the list goes on. I just named some of my favorites. The Macaron Cafe is not too small but not overwhelmingly big. You feel like you have been transported to a French cafe. The menu is filled with French fares. The fresh crepes are being made by order, big and flaky croissants are on display but the star of the show, the macarons, are moving like hotcakes. I made my purchase of 6 macarons and enjoyed each one as I took in the flavor of Tribeca. Before leaving, I thought to take some home for my girlfriends because they deserve a little Tribeca mixed with Paris too. My friend Yolanda decided it would be a great idea to do something special on Mondays to start the work week. This Monday will be Macaron Monday. Now, I can’t wait for what next Monday will bring.
You can customize your very own macaron tower for special events.
Another one of my favorites, croissants!Charming illustration for the Macaron Cafe.Rows of delicious flavors.My macaron purchase for my dear friends. Is there a better gift for the girls? Nope. I think not.
Is there anything better than walking through Prospect Park on a warm day when you are in Brooklyn? I say, “no”. The park is big but not overwhelming. There is something for everyone of every age. We love visiting the Audubon Center, then take the short walk over to the carousel and after that, cross the path to the Lefferts House. There is always something for the kids to get into. There are no phones or iPad or even technology involved. There is a large dirt area for the kids to just dig. there is a water pump that delivers water to little hands as a reward for hand cranking a pump. They collect water in a watering can and water the veggies planted in the yard. There are old farmhouse games that include walking on wooden stilts, rolling a thin wooden wheel with a wooden stick. You see a trend here right? Wood. It’s what stuff was made out of before we discovered concrete and steel.
What do you do when there is endless grass and a large empty field? Cartwheels of course.We took the short walk over to the carousel for our fill of happy music and the feel of Paris.After the carousel, we walk directly across the path to The Lefferts House.We walked on wooden stilts.Played with Jacob’s Ladder.There are beautifully restored rooms that brings you back to what life was like in the 17 and 1800s in Brooklyn.Soaking up the Springtime sun.
I’m watching botched with the beautifully blonde and buxom, Nicole Eggert. We met her in her early twenties and or late teens as a hottie from Cali who had a thin waist, big boobs and a pretty face. Well, now she’s in her forties, still beautiful but those boobs are sagging and her waist is bigger. She told the plastic surgeon on Botched that she wants HER OLD BODY BACK! Yeah Nicole, you and every forty year old out there. During prep for the surgery the doctor told the camera, “I hope she doesn’t expect to have her old body back. She can only get that by going to the gym.” Well dammit man, why didn’t you tell her that during the consult when she mentioned that she wanted her old body back? I feel like starting a campaign titled, “I am Nicole Eggert”. I want my old body back too. My waist is bigger and my thighs now have an extra little thigh attached to it. There are lumps and bumps that now exist that weren’t there two years ago. Are these the lady lumps that Fergie referred to? Fergie Ferg, can you take some of my lumps? I really don’t need so many.
I won’t be resorting to plastic surgery anytime soon but I promise to start watching what I eat. I also started wearing my sneakers to work. I love a cute boot but they don’t motivate me to walk, to move. I feel cushioned and more apt to walk when I’m donning my Nikes. You know, I’m going try this whole eating right and exercising thing. I get so jaded by the idea that I can’t eat the fatty foods that I enjoy but it’s time to start feeling content in other ways. I have a great little stair stepper from Brookstone that will now be used to work out these little legs of mine. Time to start really investing in this body that is so strong and has been so good to me.
I’m incorporating baby kale and spinach into my dinners.Adding fresh fruit to my waffle, weekend treat, and sticking to black coffee.When I do have rice, the portions are smaller and it’s paired with a veggie like this sautéed cabbage.
It seems rather obnoxious to post several pictures of my face and think that others should be interested. I know, there is nothing groundbreaking here. There is no overarching social commentary. There is no extraordinary capture of textures or colors in the photos they still, I post. Maybe it is because it is all that I’ve created in the past day or so; therefore I found it appropriate to share. This is just the life and times of these selfies. Plus, I was having a good curl day.
We haven’t made an Ikea trip in quiet some time but this Good Friday visit made up for our absence. Overtime I visit the big blue and yellow building I get inspired by all of the wares and the rooms that they have constructed. Since this is NYC, our Ikea transforms small spaces into a type of urban oasis. It gives new Yorkers an idea of ways to create tranquility out of the small spaces that we have to work with.
The bedrooms were light and airy and filled with white details. White gives the illusion of space and sparseness. Angelique and I thought that we would do a mini photoshoot and use Ikea as our backdrop, all while soaking in some of the details that were used to transform these spaces.
Pretend Play in an IKEA model kitchen.Angelique fell in love with the fake laptop that seemed to be on display in every room.Whats a bathroom mirror if you don’t take a selfie in it?The theme of the space was an airy feel.A nook with the obligatory white faux fur throw.My favorite black leather purse went well with the white chair.The kitchens all had amazing space.
Here are some details that I just loved:
Share some of your decor “do” and “don’t” ideas in the comment section:
“My Goodies, My Goodies…” Ciara said it. Well, it’s Sunday so that means time to dip into my shampoos and things. This week I tried The ORS Sulfate Free Shampoo and The Creme of Nature Leave in Detangling Conditioner. I have previously used the Herbal Essences Conditioner before and I love it! It smells like a yummy nut and leaves my hair really soft. I also love the Shea Moisture Treatment Masque. It is a soft, conditioner like masque. It isn’t stiff and tacky like a lot of the hair masques on the market. Let’s take a look at the goods:
The Sunday Lineup.The Shea Moisture Treatment Masque is soft and goes into the hair with ease. It left me with super soft curls. I left it into my hair, after I shampooed, for 20 minutes.After I washed out the hair masque, I conditioned with Herbal Essences “The Sleeker the Butter”. It smells fantastic and a little goes a long way.After shampoo, masque and conditioning, I sprayed my hair with the Creme of Nature leave in conditioner/detangler. I was not in love with the scent BUT the detangling power made up for it. The comb went through my uncombed before shampooing hair with all types of ease.
The wet curls.
What are your Wash Day staples? Do you change up your routine every week?
Wash Day is the perfect time to try new hair goodies. I’m a big fan of “Clear” Scalp and Hair shampoos and conditioner and as a result, they have been a staple in my hair was routine. It’s good for my hair and scalp but even better for my daughter’s, who swims on a swim team. The chlorine leaves her hair really dry and “Clear” is great to moisturize her hair and scalp.
Creme of Nature Argan Oil Milk Masque and Butter-licious Curls paired with Clear Shampoo.
Now on to my new trials, “Creme of Nature” Argan Oil Butter-licious Curls and the Moisturizing Milk Masque. I have been riding with Creme of Nature shampoos and conditioners since High School! I used Mizani relaxer and relaxed my hair about two times a year when I was a teen. I only used Creme of Nature Shampoo and Conditioner for my wash and set days. After shampooing, my hair was left soft, manageable and tangle free. My hair was fairly long so it was always easily tangled and left very dry if I used the wrong shampoo. Today, I’m relaxer free and so excited to see the Creme of Nature is still here to provide products for my curly do. After shampooing, I applied the Milk Masque and covered my hair with a plastic cap. I left the masque on for about 20 minutes and then ran warm water through my hair. The masque felt like a conditioner on my hair. It left my hair super soft and I didn’t need more than that quarter size of conditioner that is recommended on the bottle. I just dabbed a bit on my hair ends for extra moisture.
After I Shampooed and Conditioned.
After taking out some of the excess water out of my hair with a cotton towel, I applied the non greasy, Butter-licious Curls. It feels like a custard and the yellow color reminds me of a custard. It does not have a strong smell so that is also a plus. I find that some products can be strong and pungent. What smells good to one person might not smell great to another. I used a wide tooth comb to comb through and part my hair in about six sections. I took my hair, section by section, ran some Butter Curls (about the size of a quarter) through each section and then braided. I let my hair air dry and released my braids in the morning. I finger fluffed pillow soft curls and had a great curl day.
The results of my Braid-Out.….and the just because I take car selfies bonus.
TamaraLoves 
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