Black Opal True Color Stick Foundation

Black Opal is one of my favorite drug store cosmetic lines.  

I was on the hunt for the perfect foundation shade, because I have the HARDEST time locating a foundation that matches my complexion.  It's either too green, or too orange. 

Not only has color matching been an issue for me, but also blemishes, and acne scaring.  At the young age of 31, I'm still fighting the good fight against one of the most hated foes, acne.  Coverage is also important to me as well when picking a foundation.

I heard so much about Black Opal's True Color Stick Foundation through the wonderful world of Instagram and my Instagram friends.  I found a awesome Makeup Artist on Instagram name Nicky Posley @nickygerome on Instagram.

Nicky used Black Opal's True Color Stick Foundation on a model and I fell in LOVE with it!

I headed out to my local drug store and picked up the stick for $9.50  in the color "Truly Topaz" and it was too light for my complexion.  I returned it for "Bronzed Beauty" and that was too dark, but I decided I would keep it and mix it with my MAC "Matchmasters Foundation" and low and behold, I found a winner!!

This product is Ah-Mazing!  It gave me great coverage and a flawless finish. All of my blemishes and acne scaring were concealed perfectly.  The True Color Foundation Stick has a creamy finish, and doesn't make my skin feel heavy.

I believe that my shade that I would need form Black Opal is "NUTMEG"  I have looked high and low, literally, with no avail.  It is available online, but it's nothing like not having to wait to get a product, but this combo is perfect so I'll stick with this until otherwise. 

I continued on with my full face routine concealing my under eye area, then conturing and highlight areas of my face.  

After that I added lashes, eyeliner, and lipstick (MAC's Seductive Intent) and I was done!  Overall I give Black Opal's True Color Stick Foundation and A.  Would've been an A+ if I could've found my exact shade, but I'm hopeful that I'll find my shade, and if it not I'll continue mixing and matching, lol!  

Christmas Pictures

It's Christmas time!!!  

This time of year means a lot to me, but the one thing that brings a smile to my soul is Christmas pictures!  I LOVE taking pictures!  I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I don't have a lot of myself as a child.  No baby pictures, elementary, middle, or high school, NONE. :(  I made a promise to myself that when I had children, pictures were a priority.  It's very important to me to see a part of your history through pictures, and I always despised the fact that I didn't possess any.   

I think Kris Jenner and I are twins at heart when it comes to family Christmas photo's.  I anticipate the Jenner/Kardashian/Odom/Disick Christmas portrait every year.  This has been a tradition in the Kardashian family since they were children. 

It's become a tradition in my family as well to take Christmas pictures of my kids yearly. These kind of memories will last longer than any gift you could receive (my opinion).

2008

2009

2010

2011

Then my husband and I decided to come from behind the scenes and sit in for a family photo.  As the years went by, we couldn't afford to pay a professional photographer to photograph us. I wish I had Kardashian money, but we don't.  We didn't want to lose this tradition, so we did it ourselves. I prop my MacBook up, open up photo booth, add a few lights, and we make some magic happen.  It's also important that we coordinate with our attire, yes I'm lame, lol!

2010

I decided everyone should sport RED

2011

We all wore white shirts with red ties.

2012

This year I found sweaters for myself and my children at the thrift store (where else).  The boys wore red and the girls wore black, and we sat down in our dining room and took a couple of pictures, lol. 

I paid $4.00 for my sweater from Value World and I found Nolan's sweater for $1.20.  I found Brooke's sweater for $6.00 at Regeneration. 

I look forward to thinking of what next year Christmas photo's will bring, and how we will coordinate our clothing. What's your family tradition?  Is there anyone else out here that's a stickler for Christmas photo's? 

In loving memory of Phyllis Smith. My coworker who anticipated my family photo's every year. RIP

Torya's Black and White "8 1/2" Formal Ball

I got invited to a birthday party this past weekend, but not any old birthday gig.  This one was a themed black and white formal ball!  The birthday girl Torya Blanchard (restauranteur and owner of Good Girls Go To Paris Crepes, and the newly opened and swanky Rodin ) and I both went to high school together.  Torya throws the BEST parties ever, and when I got this invite, I was ecstatic!  In the instructions for the invite, the party would be centered around a 1963 film titled "8 1/2" and she wanted her guest to wear black or white ball gowns and tuxedo's.  Now all I had to do was find something to wear, and a date, and I knew this was going to be a small task.



I knew that I really wanted to go, but I knew I couldn't spend a lot on a one day affair, so where else is a girl supposed to go to find a ball gown that's inexpensive??????  The thrift stores, DUH!!! lol!  I headed to my favorite go to spot called Regeneration.

I found my date, my favorite sister in love, TaNisha Prater.  She and I combed threw the racks at Regeneration looking for something that would be suitable for the ball.  TaNisha, who by the way is the QUEEN of thrifting, spotted this dress for me.

I tried the dress on, and wasn't in love with it immediately, but my husband would be the person who sealed the deal.  

Plus the dress was only........

While there, I also picked up this fluffy hair jacket, that was $20.00

I still wasn't sure if that would be the dress for me.  TaNisha and I headed out the next day to another thrift store to find some more gowns.

We headed over to Value World, and I spotted this velvet and sheer dress.

  I texted all my stylist friends and they picked this dress.  I was with it until my hubby, picked the first one, but I still had to get this dress.  The dress was super cute, and for $4.30 it was a steal!  I had to have it for a "just in case" 

TaNisha also scored a gown at the thrift store for the same amount!  It was a gorgeous velvet long sleeve dress, and the back had a V back line that criss crossed.

The day of the ball, TaNisha and I took a trip over to my favorite hair stylist, MeattaB!  She gave us tendrils on top of tendrils of curls, and old school, side swept, bouncy, wavy, Hollywood glamorous hair!!!!! I just adore her!

Our hair was done, now all we had to do it get dressed, and head on out to the ball.

The dress worked out perfectly. I sported a simple red lip (MAC's Ruby Woo), and winged eye liner for a old Hollywood feel.

 The location for the ball was the Jam Handy Building in Detroit.  It had the feel of an old warehouse, with exposed brick and wood beams.  The atmosphere was Ah-Mazing!  It was littered with gorgeous gowns and people, dapper men, music, laughter, champagne flowing, food, and fun!!!

 On a large part of the exposed brick wall, the film 8 1/2 looped all night.

I immediately wanted to take pictures with everyone in the room.  The first pic I nabbed, was the guest of honor herself, Torya Blanchard.

I met some wonderful people that night! 

I was sooooo feeling her beautiful gown!

  

All the DJ's were females, and they took turns mixing music all night long for us.  They were awesome!

 "Kung Food" pop up Creator and I 

Myself, James Feagin, and TaNisha

The super cool bartender :)

This handsome gentleman was a dancing machine, and a delight to dance with.

Some of the ladies were super creative and sported tuxedos!  What a great idea!

I had to have a picture with this man!  I was in love with his entire look.

This hands down was the BEST party ever!  I danced all night long, and met sooooooo many wonderful people!  It was the perfect night, my sister and I had a blast!