Jay-Z teaming up with Barneys for holiday collection!

I love this guy, he just never ceases to amaze me; he is truly a "business man" in every sense. So, if Jay-Z hadn't already caught your attention this fall with his latest album Magna Carta… Holy Grail (which I have yet to take out of my CD player), he will definitely have all eyes on him this winter. He is teaming up with Barneys New York and releasing a holiday collection of timeless pieces including watches, a humidor, and several other items that I’m sure will embody Jay-Z's NYC vibe! The collection will be available in select Barneys stores in pop up shops called BNY SCC, which stands for Barneys New York, Shawn Corey Carter! This man is unstoppable!

Solange Interview with Hot 97

I figured I would post this interview Solange did last week with Hot 97. Of course you all know by now, that I'm a huge fan of this chick! It was a dope interview, I really dig Solo's whole aura! Enjoy!

Phillip Lim for Target

Ok, so September 15th can’t get here fast enough, I'm anxiously waiting to see what Phillip Lim has in store for us. The collection looks amazing, and I need to add a few new fall pieces to my closet! I swear Target picks some of the best designers to collaborate with; I was a huge fan of the Prabal Gurung for Target collection back in the spring. So of course I'm super excited about this collab, the website will probably crash early on, so I've already staked out what stores I'll be shopping at! Here's some of my favorite looks from the Phillip Lim for Target collection!

Phillip Lim for Target

My Birthday Weekend!

My birthday is actual tomorrow September 10th, but of course I had to start celebrating this past weekend. I kicked things off Saturday with a wonderful birthday dinner at Water Coastal Kitchen (formerly the Water Grill) in Carytown. It turned out to be the perfect spot to host my dinner. The ambiance was great, my dinner was held in the loft area of the restaurant, which was a bit separated from the rest of the place, so it really felt very private and intimate! Sunday I decided I wanted to do a bday brunch at a cute little spot called Sweet Teas, which just recently opened here in Richmond, the food was delicious! I spent the whole weekend eating some great food and enjoying the company of some great people. I've realized as I get older how important it is to have good people and energy around me, and I must say I've truly been blessed with some wonderful friends! I left my camera home, as I didnt want to start celebrating too much and lose track of it, but here are a few random moments that were captured throughout the weekend!

My go to H&M Faux Leather Vest, ASOS dress, and LuLu's Wooden Cut Out Platforms

Thrifted Necklace

My Chicas

(the theme was not black & white although it looks like it)

Sweet Teas

Fried Fish (of course I had to use a little Texas Pete on it) Yams, and Mac & Cheese

Carytown Cupcakes

One of the best cupcake shops in RVA

Seventh Generation Skin Serum

Thanks to Lucky Magazine and Seventh Generation I received a free sample of Seventh Generation Skin Serum. I was super excited about receiving this product as its all natural, and with me having such sensitive skin its always a plus when there aren't any harmful ingredients in my facial or body products. My beauty regimen is pretty simple, so I didn't have any issues incorporating the serum into my routine. I have tons of #AllNaturalStyleSecrets, I'm an advocate for using all natural products as much as possible. One of my favorites is Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother, of course). I use ACV for everything, its great to clarify your hair with, and of course I use it on my face. It works as a really good toner and seems to clear up blemishes without being harmful to your skin. My night time beauty regimen consist of me washing my face with cool water, and using a little ACV on a cotton ball to get all the oil and dirt off of my face. I began using Seventh Generation Skin Serum after my nightly ACV application. I was pleasantly surprised by the soothing effect this product seem to have on my skin, it has a really nice consistency, and a pleasant scent. I would recommend this product for those with sensitive skin, and those looking for a product that's really nourishing! I will definitely be trying other products from this wonderful all natural line!

Pros: all natural, a little goes a long way, wont irritate sensitive skin, pleasant smell, hydrates skin really well 

Cons: may leave your skin a little oily (however I have very oily skin anyway)

I received a free sample of this product from Lucky and Seventh Generation for use in connection with this blog

Summer Trip to New Orleans!

 My family and I decided to go to New Orleans this summer for a little R&R! My mom actually was the one who came up with this destination, so after she told me where she wanted to go I took it upon myself to plan the whole trip. If I must say I did a wonderful job planning, we stayed at the JW Marriott which was located on Canal Street in the center of it all. Right outside our hotel doors were tons of great shops, restaurants, and  historic landmarks. By way of an old street car we got a chance to detour down to the Garden District, which was breathtaking the homes are absolutely beautiful. We also got a chance to tour an old cemetery while we were in the Garden District, it was very interesting to learn about the cultures and traditions of the people of New Orleans. While walking throughout the city we encountered some of the most friendliest people, folks would stop and spark up random conversations with us. I really love the laid back vibe of this city, I'm so looking forward to my next trip to good ol' N'awlins!

 Bourbon Street

The House of Blues 

The house from Benjamin Button

Nicolas Cage's former house

Von Vonni Transformer Dress

Ok, so I first have to say thank you so much to Von Vonni for sending me one of their gorgeous Transformer Dresses. This dress is absolutely amazing, the goal was for me to style the dress and make it my own, and with the assistance of a good friend we came up with a really chic way to wear it. There are so many different ways to wear this piece, we tried several looks and then decided to actually spin the dress around so that the back was in the front, then we criss crossed the fabric in the front, and continued the criss crossing theme with the back of the dress by crossing the fabric once again and bringing it back around the front (stomach waist area), and finishing the look off with a low knot. The Von Vonni Transformer Dress comes in a variety of colors and is one size fits all, it can truly be tailored for any body type shape or size. It feels amazing on your skin and has a lot of movement to it, it basically moves with your body! The dresses can be purchased from several boutiques as well as directly from VonVonni.com. Another thing I love about the Von Vonni Transformer Dress is that it can be dressed up or dressed down. I've seen them be worn as bridesmaid dresses/ gowns as well as elegant evening dresses, you don't need a lot of accessories when wearing the beautiful Transformer Dress because it makes enough of a statement on its own. Here are some pics of how I styled my Von Vonni Transformer Dress.

 Von Vonni Transformer Dress in Tropic Magenta which retails for $140

 

Von Vonni Transformer Dress How -To Video

Photography by: David Lowell