Hair New Era

If nobody else is proud of you, I'm proud of you Tyra. Thanks for being a role model to young Black women and men by going after your goal EVEN after you've achieved monetary success. Internal fulfillment 2012! POW!!!

Delving deeper and deeper into discovering my passion and setting the path for my career, my researching is showing me just how important the details are for a successful package. I've always wondered about certain fonts, letters, letter order and naming and as I'm learning what really goes into it all... I'm more and more amazed by the genius of it all.

Complexity shown as pure simplicity. Large brands have really got it down in terms of type, font, color and names... the simplistic complexity of it all excites me.

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful woman who ever walked this Earth. May your body rest in peace and your soul continue to stay with and guide me through the course of my life. I love you forever and am forever grateful for your presence in my life!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANNY

A typical day at The Grove, you can run into anything... EVEN... a morning taping of the show EXTRA.

The most exciting news I've heard all year (and I've heard some pretty exciting things this year) was finding our where my maternal line geographically travels back to the continent of Africa. I had been waiting for weeks to hear this news and it finally came this past Friday.

It is now early Monday morning and this information STILL has not sunk in, as this is information millions of people never knew and will never know. I had friends who are of direct African descent asking me weekly about the results as everyone I had told was anxious. To my surprise, Bioko Island is a place I had NEVER EVER heard of prior to last week. I had heard of Guinea but never Equitorial Guinea and you couldn't pay me to tell you one thing about the Bubi people.

Of course, since last week I've been doing major research and have been exposed to inhumane and savage truths about the treatment and extermination of the Bubi people by the Fang-led government that infiltrated the island and the political system. I've learned just ~40 years ago, about 2/3 of the Bubi population on Bioko Island were beaten to death, tortured, killed, etc. at the hands of a Fang Leader, referred to as Macias Nguema.

I plan to soon visit and bring more awareness about the genocide taking place against the Bubi people. A book I plan to read can be found on www.thebubis.com

Consider this as JUST the beginning of a long journey I am too elated to take... now... for finding more about my paternal side... this should indeed be more than interesting. Stay Tuned!

Mrs. McEvoy was really onto something when she created her patented line of travel-friendly make-up planners. On my visit to Nordstroms yesterday, I had a wonderful experience with one of Trish's artists, Rachel at the Grove. She taught me at least 4 tricks to make your DIY attempts look the same as spreads and shoots. As we were talking, she showed me the make-up planner and how it is customizable to every woman. As soon as she pulled out this-and-that colors and swapped in new ones of all different shapes and sizes, I was sold. The colors - no matter if blush, bronzer, eyeshadow - are all magnetic so it's super easy to switch and go. Why I like it so much is because most women now-a-days are constantly on the go. The amount of time we have to get a sufficient amount of sleep, eat, get dressed and then have the audacity to try and primp ourselves in the mirror can really be a joke. If you're like me, you're in the bed up to an HOUR before you have to be at work and the thought of putting on anything that evens, tones or illuminates is impossible. Having to lug around a suitcase full of make-up is also a joke and quite frankly, a lost cause. This planner would let me plan the night before or even the Sunday night before my week and would allow me to take 5 to 10 minutes in the bathroom at work and bust out a whole new face without jeopardizing my precious snooze hits. GENIUS! Or if I get an impromptu invite for drinks, etc. I can refresh and go either in the bathroom or in my car. It's like having a full-equipped portable bathroom vanity with you at all times! No this is not a plug nor am I getting paid to say this (although I wouldn't be mad at the offer ;)D I just really liked this idea and product and think it would serve a lot of women who value upkeep but don't have enough hours in the day to do full-out sit-downs and set-ups.



I hope this really helps some woman or women out there who's been having this issue for a while... Good Luck!

photos courtesy of the-coveted

A very joyful and up-beat young woman was murdered while sitting in her car this past Thursday night 4 blocks away from my apartment. But what makes this story so hard-hitting is that this young woman was in the graduating class one-year ahead of me at Fairfax High. She stayed with a smile on her face  and I'm sure in none of her most wildest acts deserved anything like this. As the video shows, whoever texted her, murdered her and so now the goal is to find out who that person is. Prayers go out to her family and may her legacy and all the lives she touched remember the pleasant and funny Cristina that I do.

Rest In Peace to a life taken too soon. (1983 - 2010)

Could you keep a smile during all this? Makes you ask is it all worth it?

Nepali by TDM Design is helping Haiti by donating 25% from their online sales of the Hot Coral Bambi Bobi, Bridgette and Bree scarf styles to the Red Cross. These gorgeous scarves retail for $98, are made from 100% bamboo and are dyed with eco-friendly dyes. All Nepali scarves are handmade by local Nepalese artisans who are all supported with fair wages, health care and education for their children in order to empower women and break the cycle of poverty in Nepal. These bright red scarves are a perfect Valentine's Day gift that gives back on many levels!

ALL HAIL SARA BLAKELY! Spanx at the pool is just my way of saying Spanx has created a line of swimwear. A savior for all women who wished their bathing suits did a little more slimming and smoothing than they do. This is outstanding news for the hot months of 2010. You can tell the styles were created with ALL women in mind covering all shapes & sizes including those who still want the extra material flowy flap just for a little bit more coverage, Sara's got you covered (no pun). Enjoy! Spanx.com

A new line filled with pretty spectacular headbands is on the scene. Creator & Owner, Kristen Turner has turned the thought of regular head-wear into a glamorous and have to have accessory, especially for the Holidays. "Nothing in the collection is over $50 so it makes for a perfect gift and it's a great way to dress up your fave little black dress so you'll look great for all those party's and not break the bank," says Turner. And I say - what reccessionista and fashion savvy girl doesn't want that? Enjoy a few pics of a few items in the Holiday collection and make sure you check out the site, www.gloriaandbeatrice.com

SEASON'S GREETINGS!

Be bright, bold and blue in this pair of eyewear by 7 for all mankind.

Ever since bootylicious celebs like JLo and Beyonce began flaunting their behinds, the focus has somewhat moved from chest to ...well...our butts. My friend from Brazil was telling me how butt implants are very popular there because ladies lounge around in bikinis a lot in Brazil. I was mortified - how are you ever gonna sit down after your surgery?

Luckily, there are less painful options. One - is to practice the Lotte Berk Method. I've been faithfully attending Physique 57 for about 3 months now and I swear (or maybe imagine) that my 'seat' (as my instructors kindly put it) looks and feels firmer. For the rest of us who are too busy to exercise, the next option is to get ahold of Tushe (TM). Tushe is a patent-pending underwear design from lingerie extraordinaire, Simeon Dacumos, that kinda looks like some S&M outfit but actually works miracles in lifting your behind with some nifty but comfy strapwork. Uplifted a$$ without the pain - I'm totally up for it! Besides Tushe, Simeon Dacumos also offers Aperitif - his exquisite lingerie line made from French lace and fine Italian trimmings. So if you've had your fill of the Agent Provocateurs, La Perlas and Kiki de Montparnasses, do something good for your senses (and butt) and let Simeon Dacumos spice up your nights. Sexy music not included.

Visit www.juxzy.com and enter code 39a2c1
Have Fun!

United Nude was started by Rem D Koolhaas and Galahad Clark and is based in New York City. It is a creative collaboration between architects, fashion designers, magazine editors and photographers.
Tomorrow The StylEdit will supply its readers with info. on where these and many more shoes like these can be purchased at very low price points online. Stay Tuned :)


ATTN READERS! (& my apologies for the delay!!!) The code to use once you visit www.juxzy.com is 39a2c1

The site officially launches on tomorrow (March 9th) at 11am eastern standard time - and we will be featuring sales for the week from Junya Watanabe, Alberta Ferretti, Y-3, Comme Des Garcons, United Nude, Atsui Tokyo, Terra Plana, Eco Skin Collections and Simeon Dacumos. So you can buy buy buy now!

NY Magazine shares an ingenious spread of 10 people sharing their stories of being laid-off and life after the news. Visit www.nymag.com/news/business/53153 for the full story. Brilliant!