Camila Alves is one bad chick... and she designed the bag she's sporting in the picture. Besides being the Brazilian baby mama to Matthew McConaughey, the model keeps busy with Muxo, the handbag company she shares with her mom. The bag prices range from $200 to $2000, so it's not cheap to sport her imported leather, but you would surely make a statement!
You know how much I love old Black Hollywood. Imagine how excited I was to see the new covers Ebony did to commemorate their 65 year anniversary! These are my favs.
Taraji Henson as Diahann Carroll
Nia Long as MY INSPIRATION Dorothy Dandridge
Jurnee Smollett as Lena Horne
John Legend as Duke Ellington
Regina King as Eartha Kitt
Usher as Sammy Davis Jr
I love magazines because they freeze time. On Ebony's website you can read digital copies of all their past issues. Cover interviews include anything from a post-Tyson Robin Givens to a pre-presidential Nelson Mandela. We've come a long way as people, and Ebony's beautiful documentation makes me proud.
I know some of you were looking for the oral sex issue, and it’s coming, but how can the first thing I write about this month be such a sexual topic? I still have to think about my mom reading this you know. To ease you into the cold water of private-part talk, I decided to start slower, with harmless hair pulling from the vagina. Don’t fret, your favorite guilty pleasure blog will still provide.
I’m a fan of the Brazilian wax, and so are many of my friends and family in Atlanta. Maybe there’s something to be said about emerging from the salon looking like a five-year old girl, and maybe it’s just a curious naked change a woman can make. Either way, if you’re wearing a small swimsuit this summer (which I definitely am), I recommend trying the Brazilian wax at least once, and here is your confidence guide to taking it all off.
First, pick your salon: I’ve been to three places in Atlanta for a Brazilian wax, and although the end result has always been the same, bare vagina, the processes have all been extremely different.
Hair Images off North Druid Hills : $32 – Hair Images is THE place to go to get an amazing eyebrow threading with mediocre customer service. However, behind the rows of threading chairs there are rooms where they rip hair from your cooch. Literally, they rip it. My very first Brazilian in the world was at Hair Images. Hair Images uses the wax strips, which were super painful, and they double dip the applicator into the wax heater, which isn’t very sterile. The pain I endured was phenomenal and the cosmetologist told me to stop squirming because I was annoying her. Pros: It was cheap and my hair was gone. Cons: I love myself too much to put myself through that place again.
Sweet Samba on Monroe Dr : $35 for your first time, $48 after that – Sweet Samba is the salon that makes you feel like a pretty princess. If you can find a parking space to the little house on Monroe, you’re met with big smiles and a glass of wine if the city hasn’t stopped them from serving that perk. With an in-house boutique and TV’s over each waxing bed, Sweet Samba has bells and whistles for sure. Luckily they have the hard wax instead of the strips, which is a little (and I mean little) less painful. The chatty cosmetologists make you feel super comfortable as they snip and wax all your privates, and you can’t miss the friendly sign over the register reminding customers to tip. Pros: It’s too cute to hate. Cons: The price jump for returning customers makes me only a first time customer.
Brazilian Wax by Andreia : $35 – Everyone’s passed this salon on their way to Lenox Mall. It’s got bright pink letters that explain their specialty service, and in my quick visit I became a fan. In short, I had never considered going regularly until I spread my legs on their table. The cosmetologist wasn’t very chatty, but she was so quick I forgot to feel pain. Before I could flinch the hair was gone. My baby girl was bare, and my tummy too at no additional charge. Andreia’s salon prides themselves on taking less than 15 minutes for the process, and the nerves on my va-jay-jay thank them for that. Pros: They’re good at what they do. Cons: The experience is so fast, you may not feel pampered.
Second, you may want to choose your own place to get it done: There are a few things you will want to check out when choosing a Brazilian wax salon.
Read the reviews of the salon. This isn’t a place you want to blaze trails, this is your vagina. Make sure the people who are handling yours have ample experience handling others.
Know what you are asking for. A Brazilian wax leaves a landing strip. If you want all your hair removed, request a Hollywood wax or simply say “take it all off.”
Make sure the salon is sterile. There should be a paper on the bed where you will be waxed, and the salon should still clean the bed between each client. Your wax should come in its own disposable container if the cosmetologist is using the same waxing stick. If she’s using wax in a heating pot, she should never put the same stick in the pot twice, because… eew.
Last, prepare yourself!
Book your appointment for one week after your period ends for your own sake. It’s less painful right at that time, and any leverage you can get on this end will be greatly appreciated.
Take 2 advil an hour before “show” time if you’re uber sensitive.
Be clean! Shower two hours before your appointment. Any later and you will sweat on the table, and it’s always polite to freshen up.
Afterward, rub an aloe lotion all over your waxed areas, just so they don’t stick together.
My crazy wax stories:
The first time I got waxed, I was definitely on the phone with a friend for comfort. I screamed and squealed right into my blackberry.
I kind of wish the women at Andreia’s would talk a bit more. It’s like I invited you into my secret garden and you didn’t even buy me dinner first. Come on. What's my last name at least?
I’m always stuck together afterward. Cosmetologists always recommend waiting a few hours before putting hot water down there to separate yourself, but give me a break! It’s a weird feeling, and aloe cream makes me tingle.
I like to look at the finished product. Don’t tell anyone. It’s kind of weird to be hairless! And kind of hot and Brazilian all at the same time!
It's always t-shirt season. They're light enough to work out in, thin enough to layer, and fly enough to make a statement. I found two awesome and affordable sites with t-shirts that I guarantee you won't find on anyone else. Except a few celebs and all of my really stylish readers. You're welcome in advance.
Minoritees has some really cute stuff for the urban girl to play in. If it's Janet approved, then there should be no hesitation in grabbing a few. My favorite style is this pink v-neck. They gave the soul sista wings and let her sit ontop of the world. I will be purchasing it as soon as I'm off my shopping fast. Hopefully the boutique will still be running, because the 30-70% off sale indicates the recession has stopped some people from buying Minoritees' reasonably priced merch. It's all up to you. Please buy a few tees and keep Minoritees open for at least a month so I can still be Janet Jackson bad just in time for my birthday. Thank you.
Yes, you too can be as fly as Beyonce in Wildfox Couture tees. I'll have to admit that it feels kind of nice to be able to afford the shirt Queen Bey wore to dinner one night. Yes it's one shirt, on one occasion, but who's counting? While you race to the website that hosts the cute top, check out some of the other 80s inspired, extremely feminine tops. They come in a slew of breezy designs and aren't very hard to fall in love with. They're original, they're glam, and they're still cotton. Go to the website and you'll soon notice you've seen their tees before. Welcome to the cool t-shirt club.
Feel like a celebrity yet? I love effortless chic too.
When I spent Christmas in Liberia, I became my own fashion designer. It was so easy, because I was able to have my say in the start and finish of every item I wore. I've never spent time in any other West African country, but it seems to be the same ordeal according to this CNNAfrica clip. In Nigeria, business is booming.
Cheap Monday jeans: As a curvy female, I’m constantly on the hunt for the best jeans for my body. Everything I put on needs to look brand name. Let’s be honest, leggings are way comfier. However guys are catching onto the fact that they are the new fat girl attire. As soft as leggings are, and as much as they add the illusion of a butt for me, I need great jeans for practicality. When I found Cheap Monday jeans, I decided I could make the move from cotton to denim and rest assured my fake thickness would still be intact. Cheap Monday jeans have the perfect mixture of spandex and denim to have and to hold your body as long as you both shall be together. No really, they don’t fall like a typical low rise pant, and they don’t stretch out with wear like any other jeans I’ve bought. At between $65-$95 a pair, you can always find the best rise, fit and color for you, and still have cash left over to drop in that back pocket under their trademarked skeleton head logo. I have three pairs that I scooped from the Bill Hallman stores in Atlanta. My favs are my dark blue denims that come right to my belly button without mom-ifying my shape. I still look yummy.
The new J-Hud: She’s glowing, and if it’s Weight Watchers that’s helping her to do so, then sign me up. Jennifer Hudson has super slimmed down and looks amazing these days. The funny part is that I really don’t remember any other American Idols from her season. She took that opportunity and parlayed it into a glamorous, full figured and full blown career that can showcase all her talents. I doubt anyone saw it coming either. I believe in two things when it comes to success. First, things are considered impossible until someone does them. Second, no matter what you choose to do, be true to yourself. In my mind Jennifer Hudson is a perfect example of both of these, and I’m loving her right now.
Teedra Moses and her new mixtape Royal Patience: There’s no better “thanks” a fan can get than a free album of quality music. Being that Teedra Moses is my favorite singer in the world, I jumped at the chance to get some new music from her. It’d only been six years since her last CD. At any rate, Teedra’s sound is like none other. She’s got a soulful, smoky voice and her beats are catchy enough to keep you moving, but simple enough that they don’t overpower her vocals. Her mixtape can be downladed from her website here at your leisure. I love R&B mixtapes because typically there’s no obnoxious DJ talking over the songs. You can really enjoy the album as you were meant to. I enjoy this CD and Teedra’s passion from start to finish, but my favorite songs are Everybody Rock and Kisses Never Taste So Sweet. Yeah it’s girly, but what could you expect from me? I get tired of the “ho-talk” sometimes. Currently, Teedra’s on the Lady Hennessy tour. It doesn’t stop in Atlanta, but it does stop in three cities in Alabama (side eye). At any rate, tour information can be found here.
Hydrogen Peroxide as Makeup Remover: Don’t give me a weird face for this! I’m always hunting for a home remedy to something and you’d be surprised how perfect this one is for facial care. I had heard of using peroxide as a toner, and now I can cut costs in multiple ways with this one formula. I use it before bed, by pouring it on a cotton ball and rubbing it all over my face and neck, the same way I would any high priced makeup remover. I’m finding great results, even though I’m always super skeptical about products with names I have to look up in order to spell correctly. Really, many beauty products contain similar ingredients to peroxide and cost way more, so I recommend you try this out for yourself and see how surprisingly good a treat this can be for your face.
Keri Hilson at the Hawks game: Okay she did really mess up on the anthem words, but she sounded really good doing it. Anyone who can make a mistake and continue to push through gracefully to the end of his or her task deserves some sort of a gold star for effort. So be nice people! Atlanta’s a tough market!
When the world got on this "get healthy" kick, I went right along with them. Yes, I, the palm oil eating Liberian girl whobegins looking forward to traditional Thanksgiving dinner in December decided to extremely reform my diet. Step one was to begin to get my proper share of leafy greens, and I've decided to get them effortlessly in these yummy green juices. For tastes, they usually add an apple juice or mango puree, but for nutrients you can expect to find high doses of spinach, broccoli, wheatgrass, and other green things I would never cook on my own. All these drinks are pretty high calorie, as the fruit juices make it taste better, but it's fiber fiber FIBER! And Jody says that green juice is great as long as I drink lots of water.
The first green juice I tried is this one from Trader Joe's. It's definitely the thickest of the three, but it has a pretty good taste to it. It's pretty popular with people according to reviews online. This size bottle is $2.50, and if you're like me you won't finish it all in one sitting.
The second one is from Arden's Garden. The bottle is very plain, with nothing on the label except the ingredients. Arden's Garden is known for its juices and smoothies, so it was only fair to see what the experts sold as their specialty. This drink was the most refreshing of the three, with the cucumber and celery flavors being so distinctive. It's also about 60cents more expensive than the others.
The last one was a quick grab at Publix. It's manufactured by Naked and is definitely the tastiest of the three. I don't know what it is about the blend of the fruits and veggies, but you kind of forget you're sipping wheatgrass. The trade is that this juice has more calories. It's got the same greens as the Trader Joe's juice but a bit better blend. They're also the same price, but hey, you have your fun and taste test as we did at home.
I tweeted Whole Foods about how to make a green juice, and they tweeted me backthis. Yeah I thought it was too much effort too, but at least this way you can control the amount of sugars you take in.
Other things I love right now: this commercial and Mechad Brooks. It relates because he's healthy and I'm healthy and we could be healthy together.
"I found God in myself and I loved her. I loved her fiercely." -- Ntozake Shange
"I'm an instant star, just add water." -- David Bowie
"I think it's always best to be who you are." -- Halle Berry
"At this particular moment in time, the kitty is officially being held hostage." -- Stacey Dash
"A glamorous life is different to a life of luxury. I don’t need luxury. For years I was practically broke, but I was still very vain and glamorous. And I still am." -- Lady Gaga
"Respect my ROYALTY!" -- Teedra Moses
"A woman isn't complete without a man. But where do you find a man - a real man - these days?" -- Lauren Bacall
"When the lights are out, he's the teacher. I'm the student." -- Eva Longoria
"I'm a Gemini, so I change my mind everyday." -- Natalie Portman
"I like everything with a heaping dose of femininity. Women do many things and it's important that we do them with grace and style." -- Kimora Lee Simmons
"Babe you know it get's no better than this. It's like sunshine on a rainy day. It's like a high won't you take me away. Take me away." -- Melanie Fiona
"What other people think of me is not my business. What I do is what I do. How people see me doesn’t change what I decide to do. I don’t choose projects so people don’t see me as one thing or another. I choose projects that excite me." -- RuPaul
"Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you're wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn't love you anymore. " -- Lady Gaga
"Some will love you, some will hate you, but if you do it right ALL will watch you." -- Unknown
Taraji Henson as Diahann Carroll
Jurnee Smollett as Lena Horne
John Legend as Duke Ellington
to play in. If it's Janet approved, then there should be no hesitation in grabbing a few. My favorite style is this pink v-neck. They gave the soul sista wings and let her sit ontop of the world. I will be purchasing it as soon as I'm off my shopping fast. Hopefully the boutique will still be running, because the 30-70% off sale indicates the recession has stopped some people from buying Minoritees' reasonably priced merch. It's all up to you. Please buy a few tees and keep Minoritees open for at least a month so I can still be Janet Jackson bad just in time for my birthday. Thank you.
Yes, you too can be as fly as Beyonce in Wildfox Couture tees. I'll have to admit that it feels kind of nice to be able to afford the shirt Queen Bey wore to dinner one night. Yes it's one shirt, on one occasion, but who's counting? While you race to the website that hosts the cute top, check out some of the other 80s inspired, extremely feminine tops. They come in a slew of breezy designs and aren't very hard to fall in love with. They're original, they're glam, and they're still cotton. Go to the website and you'll soon notice you've seen their tees before. Welcome to the cool t-shirt club.
The new J-Hud: She’s glowing, and if it’s Weight Watchers that’s helping her to do so, then sign me up. Jennifer Hudson has super slimmed down and looks amazing these days. The funny part is that I really don’t remember any other American Idols from her season. She took that opportunity and parlayed it into a glamorous, full figured and full blown career that can showcase all her talents. I doubt anyone saw it coming either. I believe in two things when it comes to success. First, things are considered impossible until someone does them. Second, no matter what you choose to do, be true to yourself. In my mind Jennifer Hudson is a perfect example of both of these, and I’m loving her right now.
Teedra Moses and her new mixtape Royal Patience: There’s no better “thanks” a fan can get than a free album of quality music. Being that Teedra Moses is my favorite singer in the world, I jumped at the chance to get some new music from her. It’d only been six years since her last CD. At any rate, Teedra’s sound is like none other. She’s got a soulful, smoky voice and her beats are catchy enough to keep you moving, but simple enough that they don’t overpower her vocals. Her mixtape can be downladed from her website here at your leisure. I love R&B mixtapes because typically there’s no obnoxious DJ talking over the songs. You can really enjoy the album as you were meant to. I enjoy this CD and Teedra’s passion from start to finish, but my favorite songs are Everybody Rock and Kisses Never Taste So Sweet. Yeah it’s girly, but what could you expect from me? I get tired of the “ho-talk” sometimes. Currently, Teedra’s on the Lady Hennessy tour. It doesn’t stop in Atlanta, but it does stop in three cities in Alabama (side eye). At any rate, tour information can be found here.
The first green juice I tried is this one from Trader Joe's. It's definitely the thickest of the three, but it has a pretty good taste to it. It's pretty popular with people according to reviews online. This size bottle is $2.50, and if you're like me you won't finish it all in one sitting.
The last one was a quick grab at Publix. It's manufactured by Naked and is definitely the tastiest of the three. I don't know what it is about the blend of the fruits and veggies, but you kind of forget you're sipping wheatgrass. The trade is that this juice has more calories. It's got the same greens as the Trader Joe's juice but a bit better blend. They're also the same price, but hey, you have your fun and taste test as we did at home.
