I’ve made it no secret my still growing love of all things LUSH cosmetics, so this here was a no brainer after a recent trip into the city. Could this have been another impulsive buy? Well, yeah. BUT, this is also a case of responding to the Fro’s immediate needs (re:recent dry heat = DRY hair/scalp). So with the help of a LUSH professional, I settled on one of their limited edition Head Case Hair kits specially formulated to nourish and restore dry hair back to it’s natural form!

Protect & Nourish was beyond ideal, allowing me to sample a handful of goodies that work amazing on textured hair! Kit includes:

• Jasmine and Henna Fluff-Ease [contains: Olive, wheat germ, soya and coconut oils, ylang ylang, to help moisturize and nourish]
• Curly Wurly Shampoo [contains: coconut, cocoa and shea butters]
• Jungle Solid Conditioner [contains: coco butter, fresh avocado, fresh banana, ylang ylang to help detangle and leave hair soft]
• R&B Hair Moisturizer [contains: avocado butter, olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, & oat milk to soothe a dry scalp]

This is really a great way to introduce newbies to the world of LUSH without breaking the bank. The kit retails for about $25 and each container is sizable and would easily last a few applications. I opted for the Protect & Nourish regime, but Balance & Repair + Volume & Shine both come with great hair goodies as well. I’ll be trying out the Jasmine and Fluff-Ease Hair Treatment this weekend along with my new Huetiful Steamer!!

I’m not sure how it happened, but over the years I’ve slowly morphed into a woman who secretly steels away into the confines of her local Sephora, sampling, spraying & hoarding beauty goodies back to her home. Up till this point the ‘situation’ has been under control…relatively. There seem to be countless endless brands to choose from within the pink walls of my wee l’il Sephi to hold my attention…that is until a few weeks ago when a huge announcement was made via MAC! Many of our favorite beauty bloggers that we’ve grown to love, respect & turn to for tips and advice were teaming up with the leading makeup gurus to form the Blogger’s Obsession Collection!!

Make no mistake,  I am truly a MAC newbie, often perusing their collections online & even in stores always hesitant to commit. But after seeing the beautiful shades that came together from this collection, and the amazing fact that our brown beauty godmother, Afrobella was contributing, I had.to.have.

I’ve literally been wearing All of My Purple Life since it arrived at my doorstep a few weeks ago and snagged the other beauty, Lovechild as  my numero uno for daytime quick wear -anywhere. Both are gorgeous colors for both daytime and evening & I couldn’t be more happier!

Decided to forego any makeup except for a touch of LoveChild due to the heat, love the light coverage! The first run of All of My Purple Life sold out in a matter of days upon it’s release, and is thankfully back in stock as of yesterday! Now’s the time to stock up if you dare…and trust me, this is a shade made for just about any gal.

I’m not sure if many of you guys are aware of this…but thanks to the insane brains behind NaturallyCurly.com and the awesome blog, Natural Selection, natural hair meetups & events have officially been taken to a new level! First of all…to have a POOL at a HOTEL smack dab in the middle of Times Square is ballsy enough. Throw in a couple hundred curly haired fanactics with swimsuits on in 100 degree weather and you’ve created something pretty epic!

A midst a few grumblings happening on my end of the world, I hightailed it to the Curly Pool Party and was blown away by the sheer love that filled the room!

 Ouidad was reppin pretty hard with product demos, answering a ton of questions & pretty much convincing moi to invest in the Double Detangler!

So many of our favorite brands where there, including the kind folks of SheaMoisture! Samples of their Body Scrubs went like hot cakes! They smell soooo good!

The lovely Cassadie and Michelle of NaturallyCurly.com welcoming all to the party

Ladies with natural hair actually IN the pool…Word?! Lol, the ladies had a ton of fun, AND there was a walk up BAR!

Loved her Hair!!

Hair Rules Creator Dickey answering questions. All the Brands were very recepetive and open to all the attendees…love it!

Ran into the always inspiring Sheena of Sociology of Sheena…those earrings!

Jane Carter & her Husband were on hand styling and making everyone feel so welcome

Whew! Okay, while this is pic heavy I’m sure you want to see more! Check out even more snaps over at the NaturallyCurly FB page as well as from my girl Cassadie over at Natural Selection! My fingers (and toes) are crossed for even MORE events like this one here in NYC! Thankfully though, we might not have to wait too long…a HUGE congrats to Cassadie on her new position of GLOBAL EDITOR of NaturallyCurly.com! If you’re a natural hair event junkie (like I tend to be) stay up to date on all the natural hair fun by visiting their site. Next Up is the CurlyNikki & Kim Coles Grow Out Challenge event happening August 13 in L.A. If you’re in the area, you won’t want to miss it;))!

love the colors!

There are so many advantages of living in Brooklyn these days, and the Summer months really are the best days to experience all this borough has to offer. Last week, a friend & I hightailed it to the African Arts Festival downtown after hitting up the Huetiful Pop-Up event, and strolled through booths filled with memorable art pieces, striking jewelry and product demonstrations that drew an eager crowd.

A great tool for those who’ve recently BC’d or starting locs

vibrant earrings

my new treasure, did I mention how much I adore colors!

I’ve been a HUGE fan of this designer’s work since her line debuted, so great to meet her in person

Look out for new prints by staying up to date on her FB page!

To keep up on what’s going on this Summer in BK, check out Brooklyn Exposed, the L Magazine or Visit Brooklyn

This is probably one of the best ideas to come into fruition in the natural hair community…in my opinion at least. I’ve always been a fan of magazines since the time I picked up my first issue of “YM” mag over 15 years ago, subbed to my first issue of Honey Magazine & hid away for safe keeping all of my back issues of Suede Magazine. I LOVE magazine editorial, and JC from The Natural Haven has just fueled my passion even more by launching Natural Bloom, a natural hair magazine that focuses not just on hair, but lifestyle as well.

Strongly encourage you to check it out, support and share it with others! I’m honored to be contributing to a future issue and looking forward to what JC has in store. A few highlights in the current issue include a thoughtful interview with Jamyla Bennu of Oyin Handmade, Curly Chronicles shows you an awesome vintage inspired hair style, and Monique from Sofull Sista has an sweet fashion spread…and graces the cover as well! There really is so much to digest, so definitely check it out.

It’s Summer, which for me means nothing more than the anticipation of reading countless books, after books….after books. Wait, what? Is that you calling me a nerd, bibliophile etc.?

Yes, well. I am that indeed! Compared to the Winter months were I’m known to canoodle under the blankets and read for hours at a time, during the Summer you’ll find me outdoors, flipping through a page turner while at a coffee shop, at the local garden or in between train rides here in NYC. It’s an absolute must for me to have a to-read book on deck, and because it’s Summer many publishers adhere to the Beach Reading fanatics.

Here are just a few picks that I’m currently reading/will read again/or on the wish list

1. The Best of Simple: Picked this up while visiting the Schomburg Museum in Harlem a while back, and loved reading every minute of these short stories by Langston Hughes. You’ll meet Jess B. Semple, a ‘character’ if there ever was one who is anything but simple.  It’s a lighthearted read that will make you smile as Jess takes you through the ups/downs of his many love affairs, money woes and life in the bustling city of Harlem, NYC
2. 32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter: This one really is a no brainer if you’re interested in a fun, hysterical, keep you up all night because it’s JUST that good and juicy…type read. I’ve mentioned this gem on the blog before, and now that’s officially out in PB, I will continue my devout adoration. Seriously, the worst part about reading this book is the anticipation of waiting for something new from Ernessa…*fingers crossed.*
3. Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon:  This was a highly rated suggestion from just about everybody in my book circle for many years, yet I always bypassed…until now. Granted it took me several chapters to get into the crux of the story, yet after that was secure I was able to appreciate the almost magical world Zafon creates for his audience. It’s captivating because there is Love seeping from every page, the sentences are crafted so beautifully…you’re almost tempted to stop, take note and refer back. In a nutshell…this one’s for the Book Lovers, & the journeys they take to ensure their passion is sustained & carried on through the generations. Loved it!
4. Silver Sparrow, by Tayari Jones: Picked this up at the bookstore (yes, I still BUY books;) while on lunch break several weeks ago and could not wait to dig in. As someone who has mysteries hidden behind every nook in her own family, I related to this coming of age story centered around two sisters growing up in the late 60′s. Both are of the same age, live in the same town…yet have never met. The one thing they do have in common is their father, a man who knowingly married each of their mothers while ignoring the inevitable consequences for all those involved. Tayari is a wonderful writer, and connects with the reader without preaching tales of morality…which I appreciated. Great read no matter the season.

*On the to-be-read list*

Any (if not all) books from the Octavia Butler collection. It’s difficult for me to admit, but I have yet to read any of her works & jumped (squealed really…) at the chance to participate in the Octavia Butler Book Club being hosted by Racialicious. First up is Wild Seed, which I’m anxious to get started on for my next trip to Florida in a few days.

*Reading anything page-turner-ish? What’s on your Night Stand? Head over to the FB page and let me know to win a copy of SILVER SPARROW by Tayari Jones!!*