Life, Love, & LipglossThe Beauty-ful Misadventures of *vanity kane*
Friday, June 29, 2007
Against my own better judgement, it looks like I might be trading in that ticket to Atlanta for a ticket to North Carolina...
Monday, June 25, 2007
Grandma: Susan, how did you get so pretty?
Me: Because I come from good stock :-D
Grandma: Girl, you're crazy - but you're also right!
Me: Because I come from good stock :-D
Grandma: Girl, you're crazy - but you're also right!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
OK, so everyone who really knows me knows that I'm not only a complete beauty junkie, but I'm a bit of a nerd as well. One thing that I've always loved about summer vacation was the fact that I plenty of time to curl up with a good read after having to spend the previous nine months leafing through lame textbooks. Whether it's a gripping memoir or an informative beauty manual, I just enjoy having my mind engaged (which is probably why I'm such a fan of mind sex, but that's a topic for another time...). Of course, I'd never hold out on the things that I love so for your reading pleasure, here are a few of my favorite reads as well as a couple I'm still working on:
- Free Gift With Purchase: My Improbable Career in Magazines and Makeup by Jean Godfrey-June - Lucky magazine's beauty director shares the story of her unlikely leap into the world of beauty. I think that her story is so appealing because she's so relatable. She's down to earth and her writing style isn't all fluff like most beauty writers of recent past (I'm still working on my own style, give it a little time). I'm still reading this one, but I can already say that if you're even thinking about going into beauty writing, check it out for more insight.
- Allure: Confessions of a Beauty Editor by Linda Wells (with the Editors of Allure magazine) - This book is probably one of the best beauty compilations on shelves right now. If you've ever missed an issue or you're like me and just sick of tearing out pages upon pages of the magazine just to save all of your favorite tricks of the trade, pick this one up A.S.A.P. In fact, after I finish typing this I might go read though it again.
- The Beauty of Color: The Ultimate Beauty Guide for Skin of Color by Iman with Tia Williams - When I got this book for the first time, I just about keeled over. Not only is the photography absolutely gorgeous, but it's also really easy to follow. It truly celebrates our unique beauty and offers a number of looks to play up that beauty. To boot, Tia Williams (the queen of "brown girl" beauty) offers her witty and playful prose to the text of the book. Speaking of which...
- The Accidental Diva by Tia Williams - You know I can't sing the praises of Ms. Tia enough! While it is a fiction piece, there are many elements of Tia's life intertwined within the story. Tia's vivid imagery breathes life into the story line just as she does on her blog about bronzer and minidresses. I could go on and on about how fabulous this novel is, but since I know you're all independent thinkers you'll want to run out and read it for yourself. You can call me bias, but this is honestly one of my favorite books of all time and I can't wait until the sequel drops *hint hint*.
- The 5 Minute Face: The Quick and Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman by Carmindy - I swear, for about the past year and a half I've been wishing and hoping and thinking and praying that Carmindy from TLC's What Not To Wear would come out with a beauty book. Well, someone must have been listening to all of my subliminal requests because she finally released her book back in April. This is the perfect book for someone who's just starting out with cosmetics or a woman on the go who wants a low-maintenance, no-fuss makeup routine in no time flat.
- A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown - I thought I've been through hell but after being introduced to Cupcake Brown though her amazing memoir, my issues could be deemed as minuscule. This woman has been though hell, took a leisurely tour, got a couple souvenirs, came back, found out she left her keys, and had to go all the way back again. Mind you, I'm only about a third of the way into the book. She was a drug addict, drug dealer, prostitute, and gang banger all before the age of 20. Her story also illustrates how disgustingly cruel the foster care system can be. If anyone else is reading this book and wants to have a book club discussion about it, get at me, lol.
While I'm on a bit of a intelligentsia kick, let me know if you're reading anything of interest. Remember, pretty girls can read too *wink*.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
I've been in a bit of a funny mood lately. I mainly attribute it to the anxiety I've been feeling about The Editor (if you haven't known he's the one I've been talking about all this time, you're a dumb ass, lol). As I mentioned in my last post, it seems as though we're drifting a bit. The fireworks have died town to a faint fizzle and the snap has lost it's crackle and pop (yeah, I know, that was mad lame). Per usual I've been here stressing myself out over how I can fix it and make it all better but I'm too scared to come out and ask him how he feels about the situation. You'd think that with the relationship we have I wouldn't be so afraid to bring this up, but I think we all know how I feel about getting hurt. The girls think that it's normal to have a few dry conversations every once in a while as often as we talk and I suppose not being able to see each doesn't help either (I'm taking up a collection for my trip to Atlanta as we speak. I accept checks, money orders, and of course cash. Oh yeah, and let me know if you have a hook up at the W, lol). I do take into consideration that being on line and going to step practice every night has taken a lot out of him, but I just can't help feeling as though his interest in me (if there was any at all) has wained a bit. Then again, he does still want to talk to me since he still calls me. I don't know, I just want to know what's up before I do something rash. I was tempted to call Poisonous and tell him that I'd take him back, hell I was close to hitting up Big Business to tell him I was in town. Yeah, I was feeling that bad. It's so easy for me to get discouraged when I don't know the whole situation, but I never know the whole situation because I'm so scared to speak up. It's a delightfully ironic Catch-22. Anywho, now that the cat is officially out of the bag...where do we stand?
Well, now that I've gotten that off of my chest (insert big boob joke here), on to the real topic of this post. I've been doing a lot of less-than-upbeat entries lately, and it's been bothering me. I'm a bubbly girl who has just been looking at life in a way I really don't like. I've been through helluva lot and while these events have shaped the woman I have become, I can't allow them to rule me. It ain't easy, but then again what is? So to keep maintaining a positive outlook, I'm going to reflect on all the things that have put a smile on my face as of late:
- I got to kick it with the girls last night (sans Nancy Drew, who's still stuck in DC for the time being). It was just great to spend some quality time with them again, since we're slowly starting to branch off into the "real world". We kicked it in Harlem for a bit and had an uber-glam good time with each other. I am so blessed to have such a great core group of friends in my life, even if they call me names like "without a trace", lmao :-D
- While my mom, grandma, and Ashanti were at Ashanti's father funeral on Saturday, I got to spend some quality big sis/little sis time with Kiara. Boy is that child full of energy!! She didn't stay still until I decided to paint her little toenails red (A-list by Essie to be exact). She was so excited when I was done, and my mom cracked up when she saw her 2-year-old daughter with nails the same color as her 22-year-old daughter's. Anyway, I was just happy to spend that time with pookie. I don't get to see her as often as I should, but I for as long as I can I am going to make sure that I serve as a positive female figure in her life.
- I feel confident about these internship interviews I went on last week. Out of the two I went on there's one that I want soooooo bad, and I'm trying not to jinx myself and say I've got it in the bag. I might give then a call later to see if there's close to a decision though, since we know I'm not the most patient chick when it comes to things of this magnitude. I'm also hoping to get some type of part-time desk job so I can at least have a little cash on the side to play Sex & The City with the girls over the summer. At any rate wish me luck on both fronts :-)
- I started Weight Watchers again this week, and I'm going to stay on it this time, lol!
- Speaking of Big Business, The Editor still needs to send him a thank you card....lmao!
- I'm happy to be alive. Some assholes were plotting to detonate a bomb that was set to go off by Kennedy Airport (15 minutes away from my house) that would blow up all of New York and parts of Jersey. Thankfully the government has been on their grind listening in on their plans and arrested them before they were about to get the materials they needed. God is so good y'all!
I think that's it for now, but at least it's setting the framework for my positive thinking. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to finishing unpacking my half full suitcase that's been sitting here for days, lol. Smooches!
Well, now that I've gotten that off of my chest (insert big boob joke here), on to the real topic of this post. I've been doing a lot of less-than-upbeat entries lately, and it's been bothering me. I'm a bubbly girl who has just been looking at life in a way I really don't like. I've been through helluva lot and while these events have shaped the woman I have become, I can't allow them to rule me. It ain't easy, but then again what is? So to keep maintaining a positive outlook, I'm going to reflect on all the things that have put a smile on my face as of late:
- I got to kick it with the girls last night (sans Nancy Drew, who's still stuck in DC for the time being). It was just great to spend some quality time with them again, since we're slowly starting to branch off into the "real world". We kicked it in Harlem for a bit and had an uber-glam good time with each other. I am so blessed to have such a great core group of friends in my life, even if they call me names like "without a trace", lmao :-D
- While my mom, grandma, and Ashanti were at Ashanti's father funeral on Saturday, I got to spend some quality big sis/little sis time with Kiara. Boy is that child full of energy!! She didn't stay still until I decided to paint her little toenails red (A-list by Essie to be exact). She was so excited when I was done, and my mom cracked up when she saw her 2-year-old daughter with nails the same color as her 22-year-old daughter's. Anyway, I was just happy to spend that time with pookie. I don't get to see her as often as I should, but I for as long as I can I am going to make sure that I serve as a positive female figure in her life.
- I feel confident about these internship interviews I went on last week. Out of the two I went on there's one that I want soooooo bad, and I'm trying not to jinx myself and say I've got it in the bag. I might give then a call later to see if there's close to a decision though, since we know I'm not the most patient chick when it comes to things of this magnitude. I'm also hoping to get some type of part-time desk job so I can at least have a little cash on the side to play Sex & The City with the girls over the summer. At any rate wish me luck on both fronts :-)
- I started Weight Watchers again this week, and I'm going to stay on it this time, lol!
- Speaking of Big Business, The Editor still needs to send him a thank you card....lmao!
- I'm happy to be alive. Some assholes were plotting to detonate a bomb that was set to go off by Kennedy Airport (15 minutes away from my house) that would blow up all of New York and parts of Jersey. Thankfully the government has been on their grind listening in on their plans and arrested them before they were about to get the materials they needed. God is so good y'all!
I think that's it for now, but at least it's setting the framework for my positive thinking. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to finishing unpacking my half full suitcase that's been sitting here for days, lol. Smooches!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
...I need a vacation - desperately. I still don't have anything lined up for the summer, I'm scared that we've run out of things to talk to each other about, New York is hot as hell, and to boot I just found out that the reason I've felt so fat lately is because I've gained 30 pounds. I need retail therapy in the worst way, I'll holla whenever I decide to stop moping...