Sex and the City The Movie - Auld Lang Syne

My summer 2008 was ALL about Sex and The City The Movie. Love this version of Auld Lang Syne. Happy New Year!!!

A Life of Style: All About 2008

Wow, December 31st, 2008 and 2009 is just hours away. While I was at the hair salon today, I had plenty of time to think about my year while I was under the dryer for two hours. 2008 was truly the year of change. I FINALLY ended a long term relationship with a 35 year old boy. I loved him deeply but could no longer sacrifice my happiness in a relationship that just wasn't working. Sometimes love is not enough and holding onto someone out of fear of being alone is never the answer. So hopefully, Mr. Oh So Right is waiting for me in 2009 =)

My friends will tell you that I rarely relax and chill out. My time off came in the form of eight weeks of medical leave after I had a myomectomy this spring. I didn't go back to work until the middle of July. During my time off, I journaled, prayed, and slept so peacefully. I faced the harsh truths that my job was draining me, my relationship was crippling me and I had no idea who Kim was, or what made Kim happy.

Earlier this month, God put me on the path to living my dreams. He knew that I would not make a move on my own so he made a move for me. The day I learned my position was phased out, I had an almost unreal calmness in my spirit that let me know I was going to be okay.

Blogging for me started as a way to just have something fun to do, I never thought of the great opportunities it would bring or the people I would meet. I talk to my blog buddies almost as much as I talk to my local friends. There are some creative and fabulous blogs out there written by some very talented people. I'm glad that my little blog has been deemed worthy and accepted by beauty and fashion experts ;) Here's to A Life of Style going to the next level in 2009! The sky's the limit.

The ultimate change in 2008 was the election of the first African-American President. I was on the Barack Obama train from day one. I've never been so wrapped up in a political race in my entire voting life. I wanted the Obama-Biden ticket to win so badly, that I volunteered every chance I got. I registered voters, made calls, canvassed in Indiana, and passed out campaign literature. During my volunteer work, I found a new style icon in First Lady Michelle Obama aka "Renaissance" (even her code name is sophisticated). As a black woman, I couldn't be more proud of the first family. This is history and thankfully I am alive to see it and tell my future children.

I'm blessed to have my health, good friends, a supportive family, and a place to call home. With my 2009 goals jotted in my journal and a renewed sense of purpose I can start the new year on the right foot. I love the woman I'm becoming and can't wait to see what this year has for me.


Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

How to Rock Your New Makeup

Take this quiz to find your best colors and the right way to wear them

Did your presents this year include some fun new makeup? Lucky! Find out how to wear all those new shades with this quiz. Take the quiz

A Life of Style: Revlon Touch of Mauve Mani

Today's n.o.t.d. is brought to you by Revlon Touch of Mauve, lol.

I decided on a lighter polish for this week's manicure because the weather in Chicago today was a sunny, 46 degrees. Besides the weather, I've been wearing dark polishes for over a month and wanted to switch it up a little. Before my manicure, I had to soak my nails at home for thirty minutes in a mixture of non-acetone remover and peroxide to get rid of all traces of the Jumpin' Jade.

This color looks more dusty pink and from what I know of mauve this isn't anywhere near it. Oh well, maybe Revlon got a little confused, lol.

Next week's mani: OPI You Don't Know Jacques

A Life of Style: Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

Mascara is my drug and I swear I try nearly everyone that comes out. Currently, there are three mascara tubes taking up residence inside my makeup bag. Next to lip gloss, mascara is my favorite beauty product. My lashes are okay in the length department although I wouldn't be upset if they grew longer. My main issue is the volume my lashes lack. If a mascara promises volume I'm all over it.

Rimmel Sexy Curves boasts up to 70% curlier lashes with voluptuous volume, 16 hour curl hold, and a triple plump brush. Now, the 70% is a bit of a stretch, in my case I noticed significant curl and increased volume which I was very pleased with. I've only worn the mascara for about 7 to 8 hours at a time so I can't comment on the 16 hour claim.

When I pulled the brush out I was a little unsure about the triple plump brush and made a mess of my lashes because I was applying it too fast. I removed my first botched attempt, recurled my lashes and reapplied. My second attempt came out so much better. I was able to navigate the brush between my lashes and those three plumps help boost lashes to a fuller potential.

After a week of wearing Rimmel Sexy Curves and loving the results, I had to add it to my makeup bag and retire one of my other mascara MVPs, lol. This is a great drugstore mascara that retails for under $8. Let me know if you try it. I'd love to know what you think.

P.S. No clumps and no flakes...SCORE!!!!

Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

Hand Cream Showdown

Find out which top hand hydrators our testers found desk drawer-worthy

Dry winter air making your hands all chapped and gross-looking? Join the club. Battle the dryness with one of these proven hand creams, your fingers will thank you. View creams

A Life of Style: Christmas Gift Haul

Hey Beautiful People!!!! How was your holiday? I hope you all had a great time time celebrating with family and friends.

Did you get everything you wanted? Any gifts leave you scratching your head in confusion? LOL!

My Christmas joy was cut short because of an evil headache that took hold of me. As the day wore on, the headache became worse. I was at my mom's house and not in the best of moods. I suffer from headaches quite a bit and the last thing anyone wants on a holiday is a freaking headache from hell. But, I digress. My gifts were greatly appreciated and that's what I enjoy most. I love giving gifts. I was very pleased by what I received, there were some surprises and I do enjoy a good surprise.

So here's my 2008 Christmas Gift Haul:

• 450 thread count sheet set in pale gray (but the color looks more silver to me)
  
• 600 thread count sheet set in pale lilac
  
• Jensen iPod Docking Digital Music System (LOVING this!!!!!!)


• Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker


• 2 cookbooks
  
• Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual


• Style A to Zoe (I already have this so I may exchange it or do a giveaway here.)


• * Marilyn Monroe tote bag (cute, huh?)
  
  * The Fashion Book
  
• * Candles from Yankee Candle Company


• * Nordstrom gift cards (2)

* Victoria's Secret gift card

Your Makeup Horoscope

Find out your best beauty look for 2009

Try a new makeup look and improve your life at the same time by choosing makeup colors that mesh with your zodiac sign. See what you should be wearing in the new year. See eyeshadows

A Life of Style: A Fabulous & Affordable Skinny Jean

I've been boycotting the skinny jean trend from day one but when I happened upon the Lindsey Skinny Jean on Forever21.com, I decided to throw caution to the wind and order a pair. Priced at a very low $12.50, my wallet won't take a hard hit if the jeans look horrible on me (please fashion Goddess make me look fabulous in them ;~)

Hopefully in a few days I can share with you guys that the jeans fit and look as good as they do in the picture. Stay tuned...

Does Your Makeup Need a New Year Makeover?

It may be time to give your product stash the update it needs

Is your cosmetics bag overflowing with dried-out mascaras, cracked eye shadows and a tube of lipstick from 2002? If so, it may be in need of an overhaul. Take this quiz to find out how much TLC it needs. Take the quiz

A Life of Style: Kiss My Face SOS

For years eco-friendly glamour girls have been sending an SOS for beautiful yet natural lip products that offer sparkle and shine. Finally, a lip product that comes to the rescue! Introducing Kiss My Face’s SOS Sheer Organic Shimmers and Sheer Organic Shines – mineral based, 91% organic and 100% natural, these lip treats are sure to please every green goddess.

Sheer Organic Shines (top pic) ($6.95) deliver high wattage shine and fresh flavor with Beeswax, Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter, while Stevia makes these glosses naturally sweet.

Sheer Organic Shimmers (bottom pic) ($4.95) offer sheer tint, silky shine and luscious Vanilla Mint flavor while conditioning and moisturizing lips with Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E.

Available in six beautiful gem tones:

*Garnet: warm berry shade perfect for adding a touch of drama to a natural look

*Amethyst: edgy blend of mauve and lilac for rock star shine

*Topaz: gorgeous bronze with a hint of pink

*Ruby: sweet and subtle medium pink to brighten any skin tone

*Opal: soft lilac ideal for a natural look

*Pearl: ethereal pale pink that can be worn alone or layered for an icy sheen

For more information: www.kissmyface.com

A Life of Style: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Jumpin' Jade Christmas Eve Mani

It's Christmas Eve ya'll!!!! Are you guys excited? Baking cookies? Doing anything festive tonight??? Let's talk manicures.

I was uber excited when I happened upon the latest collection of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes at Walgreens last week. I grabbed two bottles of Jumpin' Jade (one for me and one for my blogging buddy, Jamie)

The color is GORGEOUS!!!! The polish dried in an instant which was a plus because the nail salon was crowded and sometimes I have no patience to wait for my nails to dry. My nails are going to be a hit at tomorrow's Christmas gathering. I have a really cute cocktail ring to rock too ;)

These polishes aren't on Sally Hansen's website yet. I should've taken a picture while I was at the store :(

It annoys me to no end when products are in the stores but not on their company's website. What's that all about???

Merry Christmas!!!!!

A Life of Style: Sally Hansen, I have a question for you...

Am I supposed to polish my nails with this brush or paint a wall??? This brush is way too big and awkward. The manicurist had the darndest time polishing my nails today. I love the polish but the brush? Not so much. Here's hoping the insta-dri brushes will be replaced.

A Life of Style: Hair Care Boot Camp - My Hair Story Pt. 1

In this segment of Hair Care Boot Camp, I'm going to discuss my hair again. I'm the first to admit that I'm very lazy with my hair and that's why the majority of my hair care takes place within the salon.

My hair is thick and relaxed so I really have to nurture it. Earlier this year I decided to grow my hair long. I was tired of my bob, and didn't want to go back to the short tapered cuts that I wore a few years ago. Starting a growth plan is essential to achieving the desired length. I took three months to really get to know my hair. During the get to know my hair phase, I discovered what products worked best in my hair, invested in more natural oils, and paid close attention to my shedding problem.

My hair was growing quite nicely until I hit a bump in the road in May. I had surgery and was hospitalized for three days. A week before going into the hospital, I got a touch up and a deep conditioning steam treatment. Thanks to my overprotective mother, I wasn't able to get my hair done again until the third week in June. The anesthesia dried my hair out and caused some breakage. My stylist cut the damaged ends and I started taking two 500mg biotin tablets along with my daily multivitamin. I began researching vitamins more extensively in August and seeking advice from friends who were also growing their hair long. I'm telling you guys vitamins are the key. I noticed a change in my hair within a couple of months. Some days I do slack and forget to take my vits and on those days I try to at least take my GNC program. I really need to come up with a better way to take all those pills in one day. Any suggestions????

The latest hair challenge I'm facing is Chicago winter. The ridiculously cold and below freezing tempertaures cause major hair trauma so I use two Carol's Daughter products religiously, Hair Balm and Khoret Amen Hair Oil. I take both products to the salon so my stylist can use them before he curls or flat irons my hair. If I opt for a roller set, he applies the hair balm and a tiny drop of the oil after he removes the rollers. Protecting my hair during the winter is my main concern so I wrap my hair in a silk scarf before wearing any kind of winter hat.

My hair loves avocado oil, pure silk amino acids, Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-in Conditioner, and organic coconut oil. I apply a pea sized amount of avocado oil to my hair when it feels dry. The silk amino acids are added to my moisture spray, thermal protectant, and leave in conditioner. I apply organic coconut oil directly to my scalp twice a week and my hair has been shiny, full of body, and, dare I say growing a little faster? I'll keep you guys posted, I've been using coconut oil for two months and the results have been pretty amazing.

My next Hair Care Boot Camp will focus on finding a salon and stylist. Stay tuned!

Oh, before I forget! My blogger bff wrote a great article entitled "Make the Most of Your Salon Time". Check it out!!!!

Best and Worst Neutrogena Products

From streaky self-tanners to oil-zapping facial scrubs, these reviews tell all

Neutrogena is a drugstore fave, and who among us didn't reach for their products during our acne-prone teen years? The brand has many standouts in the skincare, sunscreen and hair categories -- and a fair share of duds. See which to buy and which to avoid according to TotalBeauty.com members. See products

The Four Worst: No. 4: Neutrogena MicroMist Tanning Sunless Spray, $10.99

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 5.2*

What they said: "I was so streaky and a mess that it was embarrassing ..."

No. 3: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Glow Sheers, $11.59

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 5.2*

What they said: "It covered absolutely nothing and it ended up making my skin look greasy ..." -- Chipie, TotalBeauty.com member

The 16 Best: No. 16: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Age Shield Sunblock, $9.99

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9*

What they said: "It sinks in to your skin within minutes of putting it on and has a silky feel, so it's easy to put makeup on over it ..." -- LK8888, TotalBeauty.com member

Want to see the rest of the best and the worst? Click here!

A Life of Style: My Christmas Wish List

Christmas is next week and I'm just now putting my wish list for Santa together. I'm so behind schedule this year, usually my letter is in the mail by now ;)

Here's my wish list:

*Sex and The City - The Movie (Extended Cut)

*Sex and The City, Vol. 2 Soundtrack

*Mariah Carey Luscious Pink Gift Set

*Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel

*Madison Park's Another Yesterday

*Gift Cards to Victoria's Secret, Coach, Sephora, and Nordstrom

*Kissable Couture Smooches

*A new TV

*Pink KitchenAid Mixer

A Life of Style: Tory Totes

So everyone who knows me, knows that Tory Burch is my favorite designer. I've been obsessing over her designs for well over two years. Imagine how excited I was while strolling through Nordstrom a few weeks ago and stumbling upon a clearance table in the handbags department - the table was filled with Tory Burch bags and they were marked way down.

I took it as a sign and treated myself to two Tory totes, aren't they cute????

A Life of Style: Revlon Steel Her Heart Mani

This is my first foray into the N.O.T.D. I got a manicure today and I brought along my newest polish, Revlon's Steel Her Heart, a pretty metallic gunmetal gray. I really like this color. It's a great neutral and it matched the shirt I had on earlier. My nails are getting long again so I need to have them trimmed a little next week.

Please excuse the second picture, my hand was a little shaky =)

18 Life-Changing Beauty Products

TotalBeauty.com members say they can't live without these makeup and hairstyle wonders

We all know that the right product can change your life, or at the very least give it a boost. See which products dramatically altered the lives of TotalBeauty.com members for the better - can you really go another day without trying them? Best products

Is Your Nail Salon Safe?

Before you go barefoot, check for these healthy-pampering-place clues

Manicures and Pedicures are a great way to relax and pamper yourself - but it can actually be dangerous if your salon is unsanitary. This guide will help you know what to look for and what to run screaming from. Read the signs

A Life of Style: Hair Care Boot Camp - Healthy Hair Care

Alright Chicas, let's get down to some hair business. In my first HCBC post, I blogged about my friend who has major hair trauma due to home styling and letting any and everybody do her hair. I'm not confident enough in my home styling skills to apply my own relaxer, in a pinch I'll wash and blow dry my hair but those pinches are few and far between. My hair care is very dependent on my diet, home maintenance, and my stylist.

Vitamins + Water = Healthy Hair:

I don't have the best diet and I take a LOT of vitamins to compensate for what I lack in healthy meals. I also guzzle a ton of water everyday. One of my goals is having healthier eating habits so I take a piece of fruit or yogurt with me for a snack as opposed to buying chips or cookies. For the past five months I have taken the GNC Women's Hair, Skin, and Nails Program. There are four pills in the program and if that's not enough, I take eight other vitamins. Yep, I take a total of twelve vitamins a day. Here's the list:

*GNC Women's Hair, Skin, & Nails Program:

*Nature's Made Super B Complex

*CVS Pharmacy Biotin 1000mcg

*Nature's Bounty Evening Primrose Oil 1000mg

*CVS Pharmacy Vitamin C 250mg

*Nature's Made Flaxseed Oil 1000mg

*CVS Pharmacy Natural Calcium, Magnesium, & Zinc

*CVS Pharmacy MSM 1000mg

*Women's One A Day Multivitamin

Home Maintenance:

Use heat styling tools as little as possible. If you have to use heat be sure to protect your hair and use the lowest possible heat setting. The best heat protecting sprays in my opinion are, Tresemme Heat Tamer, Nexxus Heat Protexx, and Ellin LaVar Thermmist Spray. Since I have decreased heat styling, I roll my hair with satin foam rollers. If I'm tired and decide to skip the rollers, I pin my hair up or wear a headband, heat styling is always the last option. I see my stylist every week for a shampoo and wrap.

The Stylist:

A good hair stylist can make all the difference in your hair care routine. I get my hair relaxed so I need to take extra care of it. My stylist, Wille Malone is pretty amazing. I've been going to Willie for three and a half years. We have a good relationship because he believes in healthy hair, he asks his clients what their hair goals are, and works to make the goal a reality. Willie is also open to suggestions and new products. I often take a styling product along for him to use on my hair. He tells me what ingredients to look for in products and what to stay away from.

So that's an overview of my hair care. I'll do an in depth hair care routine post, complete with my favorite products in another post.

I'd love to hear from you. What's your hair care routine? What are your hair concerns?

Quiz: Is Your Eye Cream a Rip-Off?

Pinpoint the right ingredients for dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles

Eye creams aren't exactly cheap, so if you're going to use one you want it to work, right? Find the perfect eye cream (that will actually give you results) with this quiz and stop wasting money on sub-par creams. Take the quiz

A Life of Style: When One Door Closes...

One week ago today, my position along with 30+ others were phased out. The reason? You guessed it...the awful economy. I worked for a nonprofit healthcare association that has not been doing so well fiscally. I saw the writing on the wall when they cancelled the holiday party and told us that we were not getting bonuses.

I may be out of work but I have so much to be thankful for. My job did not define me. This is just another step in my journey. My spirits have remained very upbeat.

So I've gone from being a Recessionista to a Pink Slip Fashionista, lol. Trust me I plan to stay on top of my makeup and style game.

Stay Fabulous,

Kim aka The Pink Slip Fashionista

A Life of Style: Hair Care Boot Camp - Healthy Hair

Bon Jour Beautiful People! I'm back and better, fly and fresh, bigger and mo' def. Okay...I'll stop now =)

Before I share some recent developments I want to talk a little about my new Hair Care Boot Camp series.

I have a really good friend who was recently complaining that her hair just won't grow no matter what she does. Over the years I have seen her brand of hair care and it makes me cringe. If she's not playing kitchen beautician to her already weak tresses, she's salon hopping by allowing any stylist who's rate is $35 and under to do her hair. I firmly believe that you can not be cheap with your hair. You have to make a small investment by using quality products for your hair type, find a stylist that you can build a good relationship with, watch your diet, keep your stress level down, and drink plenty of water.

I understand that circumstances often require us to play kitchen beautician and if you have the skill, and patience then go for it. My friend is really doing her hair more harm than good. She relaxes at home, rarely gets her ends trimmed, and uses heat everyday. I told her that she has to get her hair healthy first and then she can focus on growing her hair out, thus the Hair Care Boot Camp series was born. Stay tuned!!!

Holiday Tipping Cheat Sheet

Is it essential to give a little extra to your hairstylist, manicurist and other beauty service providers? Read on to find out

This year, we're all feeling the money crunch and this tipping guide takes that into consideration -- so don't stress. The bottom line is our hairstylists, manicurists, massage therapists, etc., work hard for us and deserve some thanks during the holiday season. Read on to see how much is appropriate to tip and creative alternatives to say 'thanks" to your beauty gurus. See tip guide

A Life of Style: Testing 1, 2, 3

Just testing out posting from my BlackBerry.