Rainy Day Diva™

The September issues of fashion magazines are finally hitting mail boxes and news stands across the country.  In case you didn’t know, September is the beginning of the fashion year.  This year Vogue magazine has chosen Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry for the cover.  That is no small feat.  Snagging the cover of Vogue can change a career from basic fab to uber status.  I’m sure they could cast a reality show on who gets the cover of the September issue alone.  Not that Ms. Berry needed any help.  Still we can’t help but mention and celebrate the fact that in the past 100 years you can count the number of black women who have appeared on the cover of Vogue on four fingers and two thumbs.  So this adds another feather in the cap for Halle’s already stellar success.

The spread evokes some serious 1920′s glamour.  While some have taken issue with the bobbed wig chosen for the photo shoot, I for one, love it.  While I am a fan of Halle’s signature short ‘do, seeing the same look would have been kind of…hum drum.  This is high fashion.  This is about taking risk, doing something different, creating a fantasy and having fun.  Yes, it could have been slightly less “helmetized” in some shots, but I think it worked and she “worked it”.

In the interview Halle discussed her career, motherhood and of course, her love life.  Well, she made some interesting comments and sparked a bit of controversy with her comment about women being able to conceive and God.  I read the full article and I chalk it up to one of two things, either she doesn’t know any better or she didn’t mean it the way it sounded or came across in print.  That can happen to the best of us, but I’m not going to get up in arms about it.  Here’s a few snippets from the interview.  You can read the full Interview, here.  What do you think?

Why she’s talking now: “What (being on the cover of the September Vogue) means for a woman of color and what that means in the fashion world, what that means to pop culture, there was no way I could say, ‘No, I’m not going to be on the biggest issue of the year.’ “

On her breakup with Aubry: “It’s just that you realize you are not meant to go the distance with everybody. … We were meant to bring this amazing little person into the world. And I think that’s why we came together. And because of that, we are going to be together forever, all three of us.”

Does her no-more-marriage stance still stand? “Yes. I’m not done with love, but I refuse to settle. I am a hopeless romantic. And I won’t stop till I get it right. … I don’t think I’m unlike a lot of people. I am just someone who is trying to find that mate, and I think it’s a really hard thing to do. And I’m not willing to stay somewhere where I am really not happy. And I am not willing to pretend I am for the kid’s sake or so that I don’t have to go through another public humiliation.”

Why she thinks ‘nature has got it all wrong’: “When you are younger, it should be harder to get pregnant, and as you get older, it should be easier. When you are so ready, you can’t do it to save your life. And when you are 21, you are so not ready, but you are ripe as could be. The eggs should become more developed the older you get, not die slowly from the day you’re born. That’s one thing God got wrong.”

On asking Nahla to say Berry’s name in case she ever got lost: “She thought about it for a second, and finally she said, ‘Halle Blueberries!’ Blueberries are her favorite fruit. … I’m just glad she didn’t say ‘Halle Blackberry.’ “

On being comfortable with her sexuality: “That comes with age … I’ve been slowly getting there. If the world wouldn’t persecute me, I’d take nude pictures every day of the week.”

On the so-called Oscar curse: “People win Oscars, and then it seems like they fall off the planet. And that’s partly because a huge expectation walks in the room and sits right down on top of your head. The moment I won the Oscar, I felt the tear down the very next day. I thought, if I’m going down, I’m going down taking chances and daring to risk. Hence… Catwoman.”

On the biggest misconception people have about her: “That I am this brooding, twisted, lovesick person who just can’t get it right in life. Every story about me is so heavy and dramatic. That’s not how I do life. But that’s the impression people have, and that’s what keeps getting reiterated. As if I’m still stuck in all the muck of the past. And I am so not.”

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There’s something about Mary and this time it’s not the music.  In case you have been visiting the north pole, trekking through the rain forest or in a coma, you’ve probably heard that Mary J. Blige launched her first fragrance, My Life, on 7/31 with Carol’s Daughter.  To say it was well received is an understatement-she broke HSN sales records, selling over 72,000 bottles the first day, according to Women’s Wear Daily.  I’m not an HSN shopper, but I definitely tuned in to see one of the women who has sang quite a few tracks on the sound track of my life, discuss her life and what led up to creating this fragrance.  She discussed her past, her turning points, her music, and where she is now-helping women through her FFAWN organization.

Now if you’re a Mary J. fan, this is probably not unfamiliar to you.  Her fans have been along for the ride since she debuted in the ’90′s with What’s The 411?  So what about My Life, the fragrance?  The scent truly captures the spirit of what Blige’s journey has been as she describes it.  It is bold without being overpowering and it is still very feminine.  I love that it is completely different from most of the celebrity fragrances out there.  The notes are gardenia petals, bartlett pear, white tuberose, jasmine, cashmere woods and praline.  My Life is soft without being overly fruity, reminiscent of candy or flirtatious.  I love it.  Fragrances speak and this one says three things: confident, sexy, woman.  And being that I love a pretty package, I must add that the look is very classy.  That’s always a plus, especially if you want to add it to your nightstand. My Life is not only a winner, it is a classic.  I can’t wait to see what Mary does next.

What fragrance are you wearing this summer?

If you’ve ever been played, dumped, or done wrong  you may have wished your ex the same feelings of hurt, betrayal and embarrassment that you have at the moment.  You want them to get theirs and you hope it comes in the same form or worse.  Anybody who says they haven’t been there, was the person dishing out the doses of “done wrong”.  It’s not exactly a positive mindset.  But what dumped soul hasn’t entertained the fairytale that somehow, someday the one they loved would miss their loving and pine miserably ever after?

So, when I first heard Marsha Ambrosius sing, Hope She Cheats On You (With A Basketball Player), and she got to the ‘cheats on you with a baller part’, I knew I needed to pre-order my copy of this CD.  She is singing so many a sista’s thoughts on this one.  She gives us permission to sing the things we dare not say out loud. And honestly, they sound better to a smooth beat.  You may remember that Ambrosius was half of the soulful singing duo, Floetry.  Well, get your ipods ready and mark your calendars, because she is releasing her first solo CD, Late Nights And Early Mornings on October 26.

I’m loving Marsha Ambrosius’ soft, clean look with a dramatic nail color.  Nail polish is part of your look, it doesn’t have to compete with your makeup.  Your nail color adds the to your style.  Don’t save deep, daring shades for fall and winter, set it off for summer.  Pair an eggplant or deep berry with a fresh, clean or even bronzed makeup for summer.  I’m looking forward to trying Borghese’s Carnevale Grape ($7.99), available at CVS or your local drug store.

Check the video below to hear Ambrosius discuss her new CD, Late Nights And Early Mornings.  To hear, “Hope She Cheats On You (With A Basketball Player), click here.  Oh, and if life and love have left you a little “bitter”, it’s never too late to get “better”! Don’t replay feelings of rejection and disappointment over and over again like a bad movie.  Hit the fast forward button on your life. Recalibrate your dreams.  Recalculate your route to happiness and enjoy the ride.  Don’t settle and don’t give up!

By the way, what is the best way to get over a break up? If you’ve got the answer or advice, tell us about it.

Centric Selects// Marsha Ambrosius from Centric TV on Vimeo.

Mascara is one of my favorite products.  I definitely have my favorite go-to wands, but I decided to try Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto.  I love Maybelline’s foundations so trying their mascara was a natural next step.  I’ll admit that I’ve been let down with drug store mascara’s before, which is why I head to the mall when I need a fresh tube.   My goal with mascara is to add drama through volume.  Lash Stiletto adds drama with length.  Lash Stiletto definitely delivered on it’s promise.  After just one coat, my lashes were a mile long.  For me that was a different look, but you can’t beat it for $14.99.  Besides, having tools in your makeup bag to create different looks is what it is all about.  I’ll definitely give their volumizing mascara a try, but for now Stiletto Lash has earned a place on my shelf.

Now if you’ve ever wondered how they create those long, luscious, enviable lashes on models for mascara commercials, there’s a secret-falsies.  A lot of times the models are wearing false lashes, which doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t wearing mascara, just that they’ve had a head start on lash fabulosity.  However, if you’re not ready for glue and choosing lash styles, here’s a way to give your eyes a little added pop.

Do’s, Don’t's and Tips!

First off, you want to place the mascara wand at the base of your lash line and work your way to the edge of your lashes.

As you extend the wand through your lashes, make sure to wiggle the wand a bit, which will thicken and lengthen as you go.

Use more than one coat of mascara.  Once you complete your second eye, repeat the process again on the first eye.  Don’t worry about looking like a cheap prom queen, old doll baby or evangelist wife-that is a different look altogether.  If you see you’re recreating that effect, you’ve done enough.

Beauty Tip of the day!

Never share mascara wands with anyone.  That’s a sure way to spread germs and nasty infections.

Always remove mascara before bedtime.  It’s tempting to remove foundation and eye shadow and not put in the work to remove mascara, but resist it.  Take it all off!

It’s no secret that I’m somewhat obsessive about eye products.  Products that promise youthful and supple skin around the eye area, grabs my attention.  Often our eyes show signs of aging before anything else.  Not to mention dark circles are a dead give away for living out of order.  Bags are to be carried on the shoulder, not under the eye.  This isn’t lost on all beauty manufacturers, which is why anything that makes your eyes looks youthful, usually cost enough to make your eyes bulge.  So I was thrilled to find Garnier’s Anti-Puff Eye Roller.  If you experience dark circles and puffiness this is one product that won’t dehydrate your wallet.

The technology behind this is simple: caffeine gel.  That’s right.  Your morning ritual at Starbucks, might put pep in your step, but it’s not going to get rid of those bags.  Circulation slows while we sleep, which can cause excess fluid to collect under the eye.  Lack of sleep and fatigue also contributes to dark circles.  The caffiene gel, increases the circulation under the eye and with continued use, gives your eyes a brighter look, while reducing under-eye puffiness and decreasing dark circles.  What should you expect? Well, you roll on the gel from the inner corner to outer corner of the eye.  The roller ball is cold, so it will definitely wake you up in the morning.  I’m not shocked that it feels cold to the eye.  In fact, a cold spoon or tea bag applied to the eye will reduce puffiness as well.  However, with the Garnier’s Anti-Eye Puff, you get the benefit of brightening dark circles and there’s not the discomfort of a cold spoon or the process of using a tea bag.  How much will it set you back?  At only $14.99 at your local drugstore, it’s not really a set back at all.

Do you have any money saving beauty tips?  Please feel free to share!

Debt can make you feel like a hamster running on a squeaky wheel.  So how does one break the cycle, pay it off and gain peace of mind?  Is there a Get Out Of Debt Free Card?  If there’s one woman who knows a thing or two about escaping the merry-go-round of debt. it’s Joy Buchanan a.k.a. Debt Hater.  That’s right, Joy is a hater and proud of it. She’s busted her credit card balances and a few bad money habits.  So I asked her to share some of her experience and wisdom with the rest of us.  Here’s what Joy had to say.

RDD: What started you on your journey to financial healing?

Joy: When I was in graduate school I began to build considerable credit card debt.  I graduated from college without a credit card and no student loans.  I actually entered grad school with one thousand dollars in the bank.  I had a work study job with a stipend.  I got a car and charged the down payment, paid my moving expenses, paid for friends to fly home and basically just didn’t know how to budget.  Whenever I didn’t have the money for something I charged it-movies, gas, even clothes for conferences.  I always paid my rent, car note, insurance and phone, but afterwards there was nothing left. The second year of school I took out a student loan.  After graduating I bought a new car. Eventually my check was not covering everything.  I was also juggling three credit cards.

RDD: What made you create Debt Hater?

Joy: One morning I received a call at 6 a.m. from Master Card Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve logged quite a bit of hours this year attending seminars and classes from some great celebrity makeup artist.  One of the most memorable was makeup artist AJ Crimson’s Beauty Statements.  Mr. Crimson has created looks for artist such as Estelle, Fergie, LeToya Luckett and singer-turned-reality TV star, Brandy.  He is also co-creator of the Kissable Couture lip gloss line.  The focus of his class was to help participants create affordable looks.  Affordable and fabulous, is the dream of every beauty on a budget.  So as instructed, I tipped into glass with the beauty products that I use.  That means I had two small kits of cosmetics, one more than most of the other attendees had.  I was eager to find out how I could streamline my makeup routine Read the rest of this entry »

Money, money, money, money…Money!!

Bills, bills, bills.

Ain’t nothing going on but the rent.

Sound familiar?  I don’t know about you but there have been so many times when I’ve felt just like this picture when it comes to financial matters.  Concerns about savings, bills and trying to get a dollars worth of living out of the fifteen cents of finances left over when it’s all said, done and spent.  I know I’m not the only one who’s had my mind on my money and my money on my mind.  Well, I’m rekindling my relationship with my piggy bank.  The truth is, being Miss Independent isn’t just about relationship status.  Too often, having your own includes some bad habits.  I’m talking living paycheck-to-paycheck, credit card debt. past due bills, late fees and heaven forbid-little to no savings.

The good news is, it is never too late to take control of your finances.  That means taking a long hard look at modus operandi.  There’s a saying, “what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”  And we’re not talking hair products.  When we try to present a certain image to make ourselves feel better, impress others, or subsidize faux dependents (you know the family members you support, but can’t claim), it’s an act of deception.  So this week, Rainy Day Diva is going to share a few tips and finds on how to get our financial lives in order and our checkbooks balanced.  Yes, we’re going to start with the basics.

So it doesn’t matter if you can honestly say, “I got it made” or are looking to get paid in full, there will be a little something for everybody this week.  And if you thought I couldn’t possibly squeeze one more song title into a single post, think again.  This is a beauty and lifestyle blog, so my goal is that you’ll redefine what it means to be still fly when this is all over with.  Did you get that one?

Now if you’re just a little bit curious about the image above, I can’t blame you one bit.  Eyecatching isn’t it?  This is the genius creativity of Aneky.  She has created the most intriguing and entertaining barbie sets.  If you think you’re speechless looking at the picture above, dare to click here.

If you have financial pearls of wisdom or requests, hit the comment box below.

Maurisee Upshur

There’s no way around it, I am a foodie.  Not only do I love a tasty dish, but I love dining out.  One of my favorite places to dine is Mrs. K’s Toll House in Silver Spring, MD.  I discovered this gem a few years ago on a business trip. Now, I rarely drive past that stretch of I-95 without making a stop.  Mrs. K’s Toll House serves American cuisine in an elegant, but charming setting.  If you are making a special trip their Sunday Brunch is beyond delicious.  You have not had Sunday brunch until you’ve had a crab omelet at Mrs. K’s Toll House.  On a recent visit I had the chance to speak with the Executive Chef, Maurisee Upshur to find out how she keeps things cooking.

RDD: Did you always know that you wanted to be a chef?

Maurisee: Actually, my first passion was computers.  I have a degree in Computer Science.

RDD: How did you come to a career in the culinary arts?

Maurisee: My mother and grandmother were always cooking and baking cakes, so it’s in my blood.  My mother had a chocolate business Read the rest of this entry »

This summer the hot color is cool.  Turquoise is still showing up at makeup counters and magazine ads everywhere.  Blue is everything from Ocean inspired to electrifying and it is showing up on our nails and eyelids.  There’s no need to mute it to a hint or a whisper.  This year, it’s the highlight, playing an ambiguous role of eye shadow and eye liner. I like the idea of pairing aqua blue colors with shades of brown, metals and terracotta-a bronzed look with a dash of color.   To achieve this look try Laura Mercier’s: Sandbar, Marina, and Sundown.