Soundtrack to My Life: Young'n Blues

Do you guys sit back and reminisce about those awkward teenage years?  You know, your first days of high school?  The days when parents just didn't understand?  When acne seemed to take over and our bodies morphed into beings of which we had no control?  Or how about your first date?   I'm sure you remember all those great times and not so great times right along with me.  In my second installment of the Soundtrack to My Life, I will be sharing the music that was a major part of my life in retrospect via the Teenage Years.  If you haven't already, be sure to check out Part One here.

In 2011

source

2011 was an amazing year.  Despite all of the internal issues and struggles we have dealt with and continue to carry in our hearts, we lived to tell the stories.  Some may have endured more treacherous losses than others, but for the most part, we can all say we are happy to be here.

In The Mood for Nude

Check out my nude look featuring my NYX Nude on Nude palette!

Products used:

e.l.f. Complexion Brush

Avon Healthy Makeup Concealer

Sigma Flat Top Kabuki Brush

Avon Magix Cashmere Finish Foundation

e.l.f. Blush in Blushing Rose

e.l.f. Crease Brush

e.l.f. Blending Brush

e.l.f. Studio Eyeshadow "C" Brush

e.l.f. Defining Eye Brush

Ruby Kisses Eyeshadow Primer

NYX Nude on Nude Palette

These are the specific colors I am wearing!

mark. What a Line Felt Tip Eyeliner in Brownie Points

Maybelline "The Falsies" Mascara in Black

NYX Lipliner in Expresso

MAC Lipstick in Shy Girl

I even wore nude nails!!! 

Wet 'n' Wild Nail Color in Private View

Are you getting nude this season?

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Soundtrack to My Life: The Wonder Years

What are you guys loving the most about the holidays?  Personally, one thing I'm loving about the holidays is all of the great Christmas music.  It's something about hearing Mariah Carey's Christmas album that makes me hopelessly nostalgic.  Blasting Jackson 5's Christmas collection reminds me of unwrapping presents in a warm, cozy house that smelled of vanilla and cinnamon simultaneously, surrounded by my younger sibs and loving parents.  We sang Christmas tunes, sipped hot chocolate, and enjoyed the love and warmth of family tradition.  These memories, along with other fond memories of childhood, are always set to motion with the spin of a song.

I say all this to express how much of an impact music has on our lives.  It can bring back the fondest of memories.  I was reminded of this recently after reading these posts from Socialite Dreams and Merely Marie.  Seeing how I am such a big tune-head and as easy as I can relate my life experiences to music, it was only fitting that I participated in this series as well.  Click read more to check out Part One.

The Weekend Lover: Tyrese

Ladies, this weekend's lover is none other than Tyrese. What is there not to love about this man? He has a soulfully sensual voice that will lure you to ecstasy in seconds. In fact, he is an award-winning vocalist and actor. He has recently added "author" to his collection of hats with his book How To Get Out Of Your Own Way. Not to mention, he has the physique of a greek god, sculpted to perfection. Whew, I love that man!

Though many know him from critically-acclaimed roles such as "Jody" from Baby Boy, "Roman" from the Fast and Furious franchise, or "O2" from Waist Deep, he will most significantly be known in my heart as one of my favorite R&B crooners. These are the songs that made me fall in love with Tyrese over and over again.

Are you a fan of Tyrese and his music?  If so, what are your favorite songs?

Dre's Christmas Wishlist

For some reason, I never share a Christmas wishlist.  Then I get frustrated when people tell me they never know what to buy me.  So in hopes of my husband or family members running across my blog before Christmas, I have decided to share my most wanted items here!

Cheap and Fabulous Mom Asks "Where Is the Love?"

Ladies and gents, I am proud to present to you a new mommy blogger who I am so elated to have crossed paths with.  Cheap and Fabulous Mom on a Nickel blogger Dee is a new blogger who gives the goods on her site about real life, motherhood, fashion on a "nickel", and many other things.  She is very genuine and inspirational, and I am happy to be sharing her words with you all.  Check out her feature, "Where Is the Love?" by clicking read more.

Save on Beauty and Fashion with Glitz Glam Budget

To all of my beautylicious divas on a budget: I have a treat for you! Today my guest blogger Silvana over at Glitz Glam Budget will be sharing Beauty and Fashion Saving Tips with you all. Feel free to take notes!

I have an insanely low beauty and fashion budget, yet a closet full of clothes and a vanity full of beauty products. Quite honestly there aren’t that many products that I actually pay full price, it is because I follow a few set of tips that allow me to not only purchase the same number of beauty and fashion items as I desire, yet save a ton of money!

Here are a few tips that will allow you to save on beauty and fashion products, yet be able to buy as much makeup and fashionable clothing items as you normally would:

Beauty

♥ Sign up for weekly ads and register with your favorite stores and sites. You will be able to get in store coupons, extra savings, and online codes, which are not available to the general public. Also, many stores will email special invitations, free gifts with purchases, and free samples.

♥ Check the weekly newspaper and online ads before making any beauty purchases. What I have noticed is that stores like CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens will compete with each other, so if you miss a sale in 1 store most likely the others will offer a very similar deal if not better that same week!

♥ Do invest in good skin care products! This is something I usually splurge on because having good, clean, clear skin is very important to me. I find that when my skin looks good I spend less money on makeup since I don't have to cover up as many blemishes.

♥ Make the Dollar Tree/Dollar General your best friend! Items like cotton balls, q-tips, makeup sponges, bobby pins are of the same quality whether you purchase them at a drugstore or a dollar store, you can easily save $2-3 on each item!

Fashion

♥ Don't be afraid to search through bins and racks in order to find good deals on clothes. Sometimes it can be overwhelming but I've found that it is well worth it. Department store bins are always great, especially because you are purchasing high quality brand names, at discounted prices!

♥ Make sure you check the prices of clothing items as they are being scanned at the register; at times clothes are on sale, but the register doesn’t recognize it, so you end up paying full price for it. By the time customers realize they overpaid, they are already in the car or even at home, and don’t bother to go back and get the difference.

♥ You will get the best deals if you stock up on seasonal clothing as each season is ending. For maximum savings, look for shorts, bathing suits, and maxi dresses around October/November, and rain boots, sweaters, and coats during March/April.

♥ Visit your local discounted stores like Big Lots, Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, for items like scarves, gloves, leggings, and shoes. I’ve found that the quality is just the same as department stores, but you will save 50-75% off each item.

Hopefully a lot of you will want to follow as many of these tips as possible, if you aren’t already doing so. Now days it’s very important to make a dollar stretch, to find as many good deals as possible, yet be able to buy good quality beauty and fashionable items! Please check out my blog Glitz Glam Budget for more budget friendly tips, bargain hauls, drugstore product reviews, and fashionably low priced clothing finds!

That's Not Odd, Is It?

Since I was put on to The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl a few months back, I've found myself celebrating awkward situations by laughing at J.  I find many of the episodes so intriguing because I can relate to them on so many levels.  In fact, I think J's peculiarities are universal.  In the spirit of J, I decided to make a list of a few off-center things I do to share in on those awkward moments we all experience.  I'll let you be the judge on how odd they all may be.

1. After speaking to my neighbors when I leave out in the mornings, I find myself avoiding them for the rest of the day.  Am I supposed to speak again when I see them or put on another fake smile?
2. I hate when people are talking around me when I'm typing.  I often find myself typing the words they're saying.
3. I sometimes text people randomly to avoid conversations and eye contact from strangers.  I might have stranger phobia :(
4. When I see misspelled words in text messages, I look at my keypad to see if the position of the correct letter is near the one misused.
5. I separate my food by eating in sectioned plates (or will get two plates) so that my food doesn't touch.  
6. I people watch. like. all. the. time.  I watch their mannerisms, hand gestures, and the way they communicate with others.  If we are engaged in conversation, I am probably studying your body language more so than what you are saying.  The eyes never lie, right?

None of these things are odd, are they?  What are some of the odd things you do?  Please share in the comments.

BTW, have you seen the latest episode of Awkward Black Girl?  Check it out here.