Side Bun with Braiding Hair: Chic Protective Style

This is the style I rocked for my church's Women's Conference last weekend. OMG!!!! I fell in love with it. And I did it myself...how you ask?!?!?!

This style was inspired by MsVaughn on YouTube. If you don't follow her, that's ok. Keep not following her....that just means I can be the only one rocking her styles LOL I think this style can also be done on relaxed and transitioning hair. It's a great protective style, that is stylish at the same time. No puny buns here!

You can see my tutorial on my YouTube Channel.

Note to Self: Another Look to Recreate

I saw this look on ...love Maegan's blog and loved it. So chic, understated, seemingly effortless. This is a good go-to outfit for mornings you're running late or if you know you have a busy day and need to be comfortable, but still need to look chic.

Picture courtesy of ...Love Maegan blog

Raven-Symone: Role Model for Younger Women

I honestly cannot recall a time that I haven't seen Raven-Symone appropriately dressed (translation: not showing a whole lot of T & A). Granted I may not have liked all of her outfit choices, but I've never said once about Raven "her mama let her go out with that on?!?!?!"

In the picture above, she is sexy and classy. Shows a little skin, but leaves a lot to the imagination. She also has on the proper foundation garments. Raven is a bit busty (I can relate), but she wears things that appropriately flatter her figure.

Raven may not hit the fashion mark all the time, but more times than not she is appropriate and classy...if you have a little sister, teenager or teen girl you mentor....I suggest you use Raven as a style icon and influence for the teen girl in your life.

Note to Self: Look to Recreate

I love EVERYTHING about this look! Hair, makeup, dress, jewelry, shoes....EV-ER-Y-THANG!!!!! I will work on recreating this look in the very near future....

Picture courtesy of Fashion Bomb Daily (subscribe to her blog...)

The Holy Grail: Have I Found the Perfect Moisturizer?!?!?!?

*insert angelic singing here*

I was on Facebook the other day (I'm now on a FB hiatus) and saw a post by Mane and Chic (if you don't follow her blog, you should be!) about a moisturizer. I've been on the hunt since I Bc'd for a moisturizer that would leave my hair moisturized and soft with a little sheen. I've done and tried everything. When I saw her post, I was a little skeptical. But every tip I've tried from Mane and Chic has worked...so I said "Why not?" The added bonus was that I already had the ingredients underneath my bathroom sink. So I mixed it up...

Want the recipe? Ok, stay with me here...I don't want to take you too fast. The ingredients are.....

Equal parts Aloe Vera Gel and Vegetable Glycerin.

THAT'S IT!!!!!!!

So now I'm really skeptical...I'm used to measuring, mixing, melting, etc. Besides, it's not like I haven't used these ingredients separately. And I haven't gotten stellar results. But I had faith in Mane and Chic...she hasn't steered me wrong yet, so I gave it the ol' college try.

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My hair is now the softest and most moisturized it's ever been! I'm not afraid for anyone to touch my hair and frankly have some difficulty keeping my own hands out of my hair. But I try not to catch the H.I.H. (Hands in Hair) disease. Even at the end of the day, it's soft, moisturized and great to play in (hint, hint).

This is definitely going to be one of my staple products. My only variation to this recipe in the future will be to substitute Honeyquat for the glycerin. This should be a good option for those whose hair does not agree with glycerin.

If you're looking for a moisturizer, I do recommend this. Let me know how it works for you!

My Two "It" Bags for the Fall

So I don't really do "it" bags or things, quite frankly, despite my moniker, I'm not a trend follower like some others. My trends tend to be based on what's comfortable for me and what I'm feeling at the moment. But that's another blog...

So for the fall, I'm digging the following two trends in terms of purses: Clutches (perferably oversized) and cross-body bags.

Clutches
If you don't know, I'm all about bringing the art of the lady back (see my YouTube video about the subject here and here). There is nothing more sophisticated, sexy and dainty than having a clutch (oversized or regular sized) tucked under your arm. I feel like I'm either off to lunch with friends or off to an evening at Studio 54 LOL! It is frustrating to either lug a big ol' purse everywhere on an evening out (especially if you have a date, he may get assaulted with it). Or to have a small purse that doesn't fit the essentials (lip gloss, blot papers, keys, phone, IDs and money) and you end up carrying something in your hand. My favorite purchase so far is this oversized clutch from ebay.

It is HUGE! I can fit EV-ER-Y-THANG in this purse I tell ya! And then some...

Clutches look great with virtually everything from formal wear to jeans and a jacket....

Cross body bags

My love for this bag was born out of necessity for two reasons: football and shopping.

They've instituted a bag requirement at my college's football games (10x10x10) and there honestly isn't space to lug a big ol' purse.

Also, I HATE shopping with a big ol purse (and that's all I carry are big ol' purses). Especially when shopping all day. My bff and I are famous for just carrying our wallets into certain places. But I'm always fearful of laying it down somewhere and losing it or it getting stolen. So my answer to that is the cross-body bag. It allows me the freedom and peace of mind to shop, cheer for my favorite team or hold my honey's hand in peace.

I've seen cross body bags everywhere from Target to Stein-Mart, online and in stores and everywhere in between. Here is the display at my local Stein-Mart!

As you can see there is no lack of style, texture or color when it comes to cross body bags. Here is one I recently purchased for a friend...

Try on of my "it" bags for the fall...I think you may like it!

My Mini Twists Take #2

Something about a long holiday weekend makes me want to try really laborious hairstyles. July 4 was the first time I tried mini twists.

I didn't really care for them the first go 'round. I did them on wet hair and they shrunk something terrible! I sorta knew this would happen, but geesh! You can see the video here.

Fast forward to Labor Day weekend...

I decided to try mini twists again. After watching more YT videos, most people did mini twists on dry, stretched or blow dried hair.

I wore a blow out fro Labor Day weekend

With the blow out fro, I thought it was the perfect time to try the mini twists again, this time on blown out hair. I mixed my fave RA cosmetics shea butter with the Olive Oil EcoStyler Gel (cuts out a step by mixing the two together) and twisted the night away....LITERALLY!

I was much more pleased with the results this time. So the next time I do these I will definitely do it this way.



I also had more styling options this time...

Here are some tips...

• Fluff up your twists in the shower. The steam will cause them to "swell" and spring them back to life after sleeping on them.
• If your hair isn't very long, but you are seeking styling options, search YouTube for "short dreadlock styles." These will gave you some ideas on how to pin up and style your twists. Variety (of hairstyles) is the spice of life!
• I made the ones framing my face much smaller and did them first (when I was alert and fresh LOL). The ones in my crown area may be a little bigger (I did those last and was tired :)). The smaller they are the better around the face because they looked fuller and gave me more styling options.
• To get volume on top, take a section of the crown and flip it over the opposite direction from the direction you'd normally wear it and pin down overnight. In the morning unpin and flip it back over and you will have volume!

I talk about the 2nd installment of my mini twists here.

Are You Ready for Some Football?!?!!?

Yes.....the Trendy Socialite likes football!!!!! I even have a Yahoo Fantasy Football league this year called "The Glam Assassins" This is my logo....

Cute, don't ya think?!?!?!

I'm also a season ticket holder (thanks to my dad) at my alma mater's football games, East Carolina University!

That's me and my bestie at ECU's bowl game in Memphis. We are operating on a few hours sleep....that's my best twist out to date!!!!!!! Check out the YT video about it....


Anyhoo, this weekend starts a new football season!!!! And I'm excited....


Today is Paint it Purple Day at ECU so here's how I'm showing my Pirate Pride today...AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!

Our team colors are purple and gold. Today's Outfit of the Day demonstrates you can show your team pride and still be fashion-forward.


Tomorrow I'm headed to a football game at my bestie's alma mater, Winston-Salem State University. Now if you know anything about HBCU's they are extremely fashion forward!!!!!! I mean it's a fashion show all day long!!!! Stilettos and the whole nine....I'm too old for all that LOL...I have to be comfy too.


I recently purchased this necklace from Lalah's Fabulous Lace Wigs after seeing a video on it by PhillyDiva19154 on YT. I decided I'm going to wear it to the game tomorrow. I feel the necklace is naughty (the mesh gives it a sort of rocker feel) and nice (obviously the pearls). So I wanted my outfit to have the same sort of vibe. So I've decided I want to wear distressed jeans. I'm going to distress them myself tonight thanks to this YT video!


All I have to do now is determine the shoes, shirt and bag. My semi-inspiration is this outfit Solange wore...

From that I decided on distressed jeans, some sort of white top and colorful flats....preferably in turquoise.

Distressed Denim by Current&Elliot
Flats by Tibi

Now for the hair...


I'm torn between a blow out 'fro

or a twist out...

Check out the blog next week to see the final look!


Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!