May 30, 2013

Sew-In using VABK Kinky Curly Fro (via @VAsBestKept)

Known on Instagram as "VABK", Ashley Robinson is a Richmond, VA hairstylist known for the popular Kinky Curly hair she promotes and sells. My girlfriend had been waiting a long time for her Heat Free Hair to arrive, so she opted to give VABK's Mongolian Kinky Curly Fro weave a try! I'm so happy she did because the results were amazing and I ordered some during a bundle special she had.

My VABK Kinky Curly weave finally made its way into my life force a few days ago, and I was full of anticipation to open it up. I shot a quick video showing the hair and my "before" to give folks an idea of what it's like prior to my install.

Initial Reactions:

Pros
1) The delivery was relatively quick. I think everything shipped out within 2 weeks.
2 The texture of the hair is probably 4a and looks amazing
3) The hair comes already washed

Cons
1) Packaging for hair is plastic bag and very generic
2) The lengths were not marked on each bundle
3) The wefts are not sealed



Sidebar: Can I just say that I run my mouth so fast when recoding videos, I NEVER get good YouTube stills lol

I will be getting my sew-in later tonight and will (of course) film a follow-up video showing the results, along with a few other videos to track the upkeep, durability, and overall experience with the hair.

May 24, 2013

Side Effects of Generic Birth Control

I never understood the value in choosing the brand name medicine over the generic... that is until I switched my birth control and had pain in the ass side effects!! Breakthrough bleeding/spotting, acne, oh my... I didn't have time for those childhood games and quickly made the switch back to my brand name Ortho Tri Cyclen.




May 23, 2013

Leslie's 300 sq ft Chicago Dream (via @AptTherapy )

This is my 3rd time covering Apartment Therapy's Small Cool contest on my blog, and like always I'm seeing tons of beautifully quaint additions to the 2013 lineup!  Starting things off is Leslie from Chicago. She has a 300 sq foot apartment that would make most people sweat bullets at the thought of living in such a small space... but she managed to make it cozy and cute.

I'm completely smitten with the feminine elegance of her tufted headboard and nightstand, which is contrasted nicely with the warm nudes in her living area. I always get so inspired seeing how creative someone can be with their small space and after living in a 600 sq ft studio for a year, I can attest that it's not as easy as it may seem to decorate.

What do you think of Leslie's space? Vote for Leslie by clicking here.


 



Name: Leslie
Location: Chicago, IL
Size: 300 sq ft
Division: Teeny-Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home: 
I am consistently enchanted about the amount of natural sunlight I get in my space. And even though it is a relatively tiny space, it is perfectly sized for me. I love the older architecture of the building, especially the wainscoting detail and also the archways in the entrance and between my living room to work space area. 
 
Biggest Challenge of Living in a Small Space: 
I feel like the biggest challenge for me was finding a balance between feeling homey without overcrowding, and choosing the right furniture pieces that wouldn't block my window and light, but give me much needed storage. How I went about solving this was pretty simple. I decided that I was going to throw out the idea of choosing elements because they fit a certain style or look and just focused on items that brought me joy to look at. This was key because by living in such a small space, nothing is out of sight.


May 22, 2013

Updated Review: U by Kotex (Via @ubykotex)

It was 3 years ago when I did my original review on U by Kotex. At the time I was already a die hard regular Kotex fan, but wasn't really sold on the new line of tampons. Well, shortly after I made my original video review something funny happened... I ended liking the U by Kotex line. Like grew into Love and that Love into absolute adoration! 3 years later it's safe to say I'm still completely loyal to Kotex (the brand) and U by Kotex is my go to choice for tampons.

Take a look at the video below to see why I finally came around. If you want a blast from the past, check out the 2010 video by clicking here.




May 21, 2013

Epic Burger Hits the Spot Every Time (Via @theepicburger)

One of my favorite burgers spots in River North is Epic Burger!! They also have a location in the South Loop, but because I work in River North, the delightful Jr. Epic Burger has hit the spot multiple times during my work day... more than I'd like to admit lol.

If you haven't checked them out yet, you don't know what you're missing! Do yourself a favor and stop in. The burger is amazeballs.




May 20, 2013

1st Annual River North Craft Pub Crawl

Oh, how I so thoroughly enjoy hanging with my amigos! We hit the streets this weekend to partake in the1st Annual River North Craft Pub Crawl. This was my first time attending a pub crawl, so I didn't know what to expect... and it was rather adventurous for me since I'm not much of a beer drinker. The event lasted about 8 hours (though I only managed to hang in there for about 4 or so) and featured 10 River North Bars: American Junkie, Bull & Bear, English, Epic, John Barleycorn, Hubbard Inn, Mercer, Moe's Cantina, Public House and Rockit Bar & Grill.

So, what were my thoughts on the event? It was just okay. Granted, I had fun spending times with my friends, but each venue only featured 2 beers, none of which were particularly good.. though I've been told Craft Beers are an acquired taste, so it could be something that was too outside the box for my non-beer savvy taste buds to understand lol.

I thought it was a cool enough concept to get a "stamp" on your "passport" at each location, with attendees being eligible for a raffle at the end of the event for going to each location. This definitely made it a bit more interactive and encouraged attendees to go to each location, but I heard rumblings that there wasn't really going to be a raffle. (Insert -__- face). I'm all for advertising, but scheming and lying to get folks involved is not a good look. Again, this was just something I overheard attendees saying so I don't know if it was really true or not.

Would I attend a Pub Crawl again? Maybe. It'd depend on the featured venues and I'd definitely pre-game a bit earlier with my crew. It wasn't the worst experience, but I was happy I didn't pay full price ($20) for my ticket. Oh, and another tip... I'd be sure to bring CASH!!! It was annoying having to use my debit card at each location. My mistake tho... I never keep cash on me.

Here's a little video my friend shot during the day. Told y'all I had the mouth of a sailor lol... I can't even remember who I was referencing lol.




What to do Memorial Day Weekend 2013 in Chicago

Memorial Day Weekend is approaching and that means it's time to kick off day parties, drinking, warmth, sunshine and roof tops!! Chicago comes alive in the late spring/summer, and any Chicagoan knows we have to go balls to the wall before August comes to an end and Fall starts rearing its ugly head. With that said, there are tons of events to check out this upcoming weekend.

Thursday

What: Radio Killers 4x4 DJ Set featuring DJ A-OH, DJ All Styles, DJ Sean Mac & DJ Jay Illa
When: Thursday, May 23rd
Where: Lumen - 839 W. Fulton Market
Cost: RSVP by texting "Lumen" and FULL names to 773-818-4214




Friday

What: TGIFresh Presents #Flagship
When: Friday, May 24th 9p-2a
Where: Tantrik - 800 W. Superior (entrance on Chicago Ave. side of bldg)
Cost: Mandatory RSVP. Includes Don Julio hosted bar 9p-10p, free cover before 10:30 and reduced cover until 11:30p. RSVP by clicking here


tgifresh 11 | April 13, 2012 from AvriBijon.com on Vimeo.

What: The Turn Up featuring DJ Hero and DJ Sean Mac
When: Friday, May 24th
Where: Bevy - 215 W. Ontario
Cost: RSVP by texting "BEVYFRI" and FULL names to 773-818-4214





Saturday

What: Posh Entertainment "Salute to Summer: The 50/13 Experience" Part I
When: Saturday, May 25th 4:30p-8:30p
Where: Market Bar & Restaurant - 1113 W. Randolph St.
Cost: $10 online. Entry will cost more at the door, so snag the ticket online for cheaper here.



What: Allure - The power of Attraction
When: Saturday, May 25th
Where: Enclave - 220 W. Chicago Ave.
Cost: RSVP by texting "ENCLAVE" and FULL names to 773-818-4214



SUNDAY

What: CircocNation "Life is Best Celebrated before Night" Day Party
When: Sunday, May 26th 3p-8p
Where: Sawtooth Lounge - 1350 W. Randolph St. 
Cost: Free before 4p with RSVP. Click here to RSVP. 
Perks: RSVP includes complimentary food and Ciroc cocktails before 4p 






















What: High Society "Summer of the Sexy" Memorial Day Weekend Party
When: Sunday, May 26th 9p-2a
Where: RSVP Lounge (downstairs portion of Club 858) - 858 W. Lake St.
Cost:  Free Before 11:30p with RSVP. Click here to RSVP for the event.



Summer of the Sexy 2013 - Cinco de Mayo Day Party Recap from Fame Production Group on Vimeo.



What: 2nd Annual "Summertime Chi" Day Party
When: Sunday, May 26th 2p-8p
Where: Market Bar & Restaurant - 1113 W. Randolph St.
Cost: RSVP by texting "ROOFTOP" and FULL names to 773-818-4214
 


What: Posh Entertainment "Salute to Summer: The 50/13 Experience" Part II
When: Sunday, May 26th 2p-6p
Where: Epic - 112 W. Hubbard St.
Cost: $10 online. Entry will cost more at the door, so snag the ticket online for cheaper here.






May 15, 2013

#FitchTheHomeless

Abercrombie & Fitch has been in the news recently because of statements the CEO made re: not wanting fat or uncool people rocking his clothes. I've actually never been a fan of Abercrombie & Fitch... it just always had a slightly suburbanite d-bag quality to it (kinda like how I never liked Ed Hardy lol), but I see why his statements have people feeling some type of way. Personally, I don't think he's saying anything folks haven't heard before. Many brands are able to control who rocks their clothes by either pricing them out, limiting selection, sizes, where it's sold - - the list goes on and on.

I remember back in high school folks went hard for Tommy Hilfiger, all the while he had made it rather clear his clothes weren't intended for an urban consumer. While I think the business model Abercrombie & Fitch has isn't politically correct, I see where they're coming from. No, I don't think it makes for "good" business, but his statements aren't shocking.

Nevertheless, I do think the CEO looks like a bit of a tool lol, so I'm all for the following video that was made. Abercrombie & Fitch is NOT the shit... Let's make #FitchForHomeless a success!! lol...




May 13, 2013

Danity Kane is Reuniting (via @TMZ)

Stop each and every solitary press! TMZ just reported that Danity Kane is reuniting and my life force is about to sky rocket into the stratosphere!!! I used to go hard for Danity Kane and even bought both of their albums... and that was a big freaking deal since I had no problem bootlegging everything else (well, not everything lol), but YES!!! Danity Kane is set to return.

I should also note that they're reporting D-Woods isn't returning with the girls, nor is Diddy (wasn't he always the 6th member? lol...) - - but truth be told, Aundrea and Aubrey gave me life... and Dawn's voice was super dope... and Shannon, well she just played her part and didn't bother me. I'd love to see all 5 original members back together, but I'll still buy an album.

I really hope TMZ isn't playing with my emotions because a new album from them would make me entire Summer that much better. I know I'm not alone in this. Who else is excited about them coming back on the scene?






May 12, 2013

Losing Weight for my 30th Birthday

A few months ago I decided that I needed to get back on the fitness wagon, but this time not focus on trying to drop X amount of lbs or fit into Y outfit. I wanted to set realistic goals and create a lifestyle change. My good friend Sexy and the Chi told me that things get REAL after 30 and I better be at my ideal weight before I join the club.

I decided that I wanted to reach my target weight by my 29th birthday (next month) and maintain it for a full year leading up to my 30th birthday next year. I knew it wouldn't necessarily be "easy" to drop the extra weight, but I made a commitment to shed some lbs.

I started in December 2012 and as of my last weigh in a few weeks ago had dropped 11 lbs, 3% body fat, and regained my jaw line lol. Operation "save my face" has been a success thus far!

Some of the key elements I introduced to aid in my journey:

1) Personal Trainer
2) Heart Rate Monitor
3) My Fitness Pal app

I'll be doing a few blog posts and probably 1-2 YouTube videos detailing my progress and experiences thus far! Everyone wants to get on their "Kanye workout plan" for the summer, but what about having something well rounded for the entire year? I mean, Chicagoans especially tend to give ourselves a pass at gaining during the winter and then working like slaves to get ready for the few months we have to frolic during the summer. None of that equals a healthy lifestyle.

Have you introduced any new things into your diet/fitness routine?

May 11, 2013

Poor Kim Kardashian

I know everyone is giving Kim Kardashian a hard time for basically rocking a couch to the Met Gala, but I woke up this morning feeling feisty and protective of her. Maybe it was the fact I ate popsicles until 3am and the sugar is affecting my brain, but something in my life force wanted to send out some love and support to Kimmie Cakes.

Fuck Anna Wintour! Seriously... Kim should adopt the attitude that she has not one entire fuck to give the American Vogue Editor-in-Chief. Wintour is a seemingly smug 63yo woman that lets her BFF Andre Leon Talley rock bath robes in public. I know Kardashian craves the spotlight and attention at desperate levels, but after being played like Boo Boo the Fool when Vogue cropped her out of the picture on their site (below), she should just give up her Wintour approved dreams of grandeur.


Another thing I feel like nobody wants to acknowledge is how much work it must take to stroke Kanye's ego. Just imagine waking up to the reality that you're carrying the spawn of Mr. West and the baby could be a bigger brat than he is! That's scary... I feel like Kim is constantly getting a bad wrap, but she let this man throw out all of her awesome clothes and proceed to dress her in black rags... and he never smiles or opens doors for her. It kinda sucks from the outside looking in and I do feel <--- this ---> bad for her.

Now, I'm sure Khloe and Kourtney are somewhere letting out a few laughs lol... but really they should intervene on their sister's life force and help her get the shit together.

May 10, 2013

How to Fold a Fitted Sheet

I think I'm the only person that randomly questions how to properly fold a fitted sheet at 10p on a Friday night. Yes, this is really my life and I'm truly this random.

So, with the help of my wonderful e-friend and fellow blogger Gorgeous Puddin, she put me on to the amazeballs YouTube video below. Ahhh, the wondrous world of YouTube - - everything you wanted to know at the tips of your fingers.

I could have probably just called my mom and asked her as she's somewhat of a renaissance woman. Seriously, the lady does it all from having been an RN to a paralegal, owning power tools and swearing by ironing her bed sheets lol... but leave it to YouTube to save me a phone call. So, for anyone that has ever wondered what in the entire hell to do with a flat sheet they were trying to store, look below and see the magic that is properly folding a fitted sheet!!




#SummerofGatsbyChi hosted by @Afrobella & @mitzimoments

Tuesday night I had the pleasure of attending the Gatsby movie viewing hosted by Chicago blogger Afrobella and Jet Magazine's Mitzi Miller.

I remember reading The Great Gatsby back in high school and knew it was a "hit" in the literary world, but was admittedly a bit fuzzy on the details. The Jay-Z produced soundtrack initially peaked my curiosity (great marketing) and I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype... After seeing the movie in 3D at Icon I left with mixed feelings.

First can I just take a moment to appreciate the grown man sex appeal oozing out of Leonardo DiCaprio!! I feel like he grew up overnight and finally has some grown man weight and swagu drip dropping off of his life force essence. Ooo-wee!! That man is scrumptious.

As for his performance, I think he did a decent enough job, but overall the movie felt a bit flat. Instead of diving in deep, it seemed more like things were glossed over and more about capturing the glitz of the parties in 3D than putting forth a stellar performance.

Another disappointment was the soundtrack! Color me truly surprised, but I found the Jay-Z tracks more distracting and overall it felt like a huge disconnect. There were maybe 2 songs that fit, but for the most part I didn't like the music. I scrunched my face up multiple times.

This was a movie on my list of summer must-sees, and I feel fortunate to have been able to see if for free and in 3D... but my advice to others is that you could skip seeing it at Icon VIP and in 3D. It's not necessary. A solid movie, but hard to compete with other action packed movies coming out this month. I'm an action girl, so if left to pick and choose, this would be more of a chick-flick I'd see solo on a Monday night... not rushing to see this on the weekend.

My favorite part of the evening was socializing during the mixer after the movie, eating delightful snacks and running my mouth (per usual) lol.

So, are you planning on seeing Gatsby this weekend?

May 7, 2013

Natural Hair Needs Moisture?

Quick Backstory: Yesterday my boyfriend was threatening (playfully) to post this picture of me on Facebook. Initially I was slightly freaked out... like damn, why can't you find a picture of me looking amazeballs and post that one lol... but then I realized that this is my real life and I didn't want to live in a perpetual state of fear (insert sarcasm here)... thus, I posted the pic myself on FB and Instagram. I'm not one of those bloggers that only posts pictures and videos with myself made up to a T. I don't always have my hair done or eyebrows filled in (though perfect brows would seriously be one of my 3 wishes lol). All of this is to say, it's okay to be social media vulnerable and post your own undone pics. Thwarted his little hater mission lol

Last night I felt the need to intervene on my curls and do a deep condition. Admittedly, deep conditioning is one of the things I rarely do for my hair and I don't know why... However, I realized the first step towards getting my hair back healthy required me to give it some TLC.

So, there I was in my shower... staring at products and full of deep conditioning dreams. I opted to use my Brazilian Blowout Acai Deep Conditioning Masque, and since I hadn't bought a plastic cap in at least a year, I decided to be resourceful and grab a Target bag to kick my treatment up a few notches.

I've seen mixed reviews on natural hair sites regarding the real effectiveness of using heat/plastic bags to deep condition hair, but this treatment suggested being left on for 10-20 mins (if not overnight). Thus, I opted to leave it in for an hour and pass the time watching the Bulls game (amazing Game 1 in the series against Miami) and forced my boyfriend to wonder why the hell I had a Target bag on my head lol.

Nevertheless, once I rinsed out the masque my strands felt pretty awesome... and I did myself one better by using Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-In, sealing with Organic Jojoba Oil, and topping everything off with Ouidad's Hydrafusion Intense Curl Cream. Yeah, it seems like a lot while I'm typing this lol... but I swear it's not. I did a few flat twists to allow my hair to air dry, and threw on a scarf. Voila - - my strands were insanely moisturized and back in action.

Sidebar: My head scarf is seriously the bane of my boyfriend's existence ! He stared me down for a good hour until I said fuck it and took it off lol... He demanded to know the benefits of wearing the scarf. I told him he'd have to buy me a silk pillow case if he wanted the scarf to leave. Does anyone else experience this?

May 3, 2013

Turn your Instagram Pics into Magnets with StickyGram

I'm completely photo obsessed, so it comes as no surprise that when I learned I could turn my Instagram pics into Magnets, I jumped at the chance!

StickyGram is a company I found through a friend's pin on Pinterest and I delighted at their product. For $14.99 they'll turn 9 of your favorite Instagram images into equally sized magnets! Shipping is free and they deliver across the world.

I'll admit that I was so amped to place  my order, I read zero reviews lol. I paid via Pay Pal, so I do have some sense to protect myself in case something goes wrong... but it seems like a solid buy. Once the order comes in (5-12 days for US shipping) I'll crank out a review. In the meantime, check out their site and let me know what you think.

Instagram is such a hit and the opportunity to turn those pics into magnets is a great idea. I'm totally sold on this and drinking the Sticky(icky icky) Gram kool-aid.

Want a Discount? Use the below code and save some cash!




May 2, 2013

Ke$ha's Reality Show on MTV

Yesterday I stumbled across a clip from a reality show singer Ke$ha has on MTV! To my surprise it was actually entertaining... and not just because I dig her music, but she's pretty down to Earth and relatable. All I really knew about her before the show was that she liked looking "dirty" and a while back her and T-Pain had that weird connection, otherwise Ke$ha was just another pop singer.

After 2 episodes, I know her brother is a film maker who set out to document her first headlining tour, her mom looks like a ball of fun, and she gets into the same crazy shenanigans on tour any of us would do in real life!

Check out the clip below to get a taste of what her show has to offer. It airs Tuesdays @ 11/10p CST on MTV. Set your DVR or catch up online.



May 1, 2013

How to do Flat Twists on Natural Hair

Every once in a while I get completely overwhelmed with my natural curls and draw multiple blanks for styling ideas... but my favorite go-to style is rocking two flat twists, pinned up in the back. This 5 minute style is great post workout, when you have minimal time to prep or style your hair, or even going to bed. I'm probably guilty of wearing this a bit too much lol, but it's such a fast and easy way to style my hair.

Below is a quick and relatively easy video tutorial on how to achieve this look... and even using the word "achieve" feels like a stretch. It's so simple lol...

What's your 5 min go-to style?




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