it’s hotter than the hinges of Hell and I only want to wear dusters. Goes without saying, they’re not work appropriate. I’ve mentioned before that Target has totally bitten off Free People at like a quarter of the price, but they need better photographers. This top looks so much better in person. It is see-through (eyelet!) but a light came works. I ordered off the site as larger sizes disappear from my store at the speed of light. I love that the lace goes all the way around. It looks like a $100 top for only $27.99.
Category: Fashion
Me and My Skin
It’s been a while since I’ve posted any beauty tips. And what with menopause, my skin has gone through some changes and I’ve had to mix it up a bit. I’ve always been blessed with good skin that required little to no maintenance, even when I was a teenager. Well, with the ‘Pause for the Cause, all that changed. My dry skin was suddenly even drier and my old nemesis from childhood, eczema, returned with a vengeance. I got hyper pigmentation and my skin looked dull and gray. Since I started using these two products consistently, the turnaround has been miraculous.
I still love the Philosophy Booster Caps, but considering it’s $35 per ounce, I’ve been on a quest for a cheaper alternative and I believe I’ve found it. http://amzn.to/1SYxfil
Now, here’s the deal with this, it works as well as the Vitamin C powder, but it’s not as finely milled so you have to dissolve it in a little water first. Takes about 4 minutes to dissolve, then it’s good to go. I spread it over my face, neck, décolletage, and elbows which tend to take a beating and look it. I’ve been using it twice a day for a month and my skin looks amazing.
To head off my eczema, I’ve discovered this little cream. I use it every day, and haven’t had an outbreak. It’s inexpensive and I really like it. If you’re not feeling the sandalwood scent, try the unscented, but the sandalwood wears off in about thirty minutes. http://amzn.to/1q0uMJW
My Shea Butter Blend
In another post someone asked for my recipe for my shea butter blend, so I thought I’d share it here. In the winter time especially, I use this from head to toe, but I have crazy dry skin. In the summer I only use it on my hair. I start with raw natural shea butter. It looks like the picture, and I got mine at Walmart of all places. A pound costs about $5. Last time I was there I bought about $25 worth. Anyway, here’s the recipe:
1 cup of shea butter
1/4 cup of coconut oil (I buy it raw and unrefined at the grocery store)
1/8 cup of extra virgin olive oil (same that I cook with from the grocery store)
1/8 Jamaican Black Castor oil
Rosemary Essential oil couple drops (don’t use if you’re pregnant or have high blood pressure)
Sage Essential oil couple drops
Melt the shea butter and coconut oil together over low heat. (I don’t use the microwave because I read somewhere that it can overheat the coconut oil and release free radicals. I have no idea if it’s true or not, but it doesn’t take long to heat it the old fashioned way.) When the oils are melted remove from heat and stir in the other ingredients. Pour into a lidded container and place in the refrigerator to solidify.
If you don’t like, or don’t have essential oils, don’t worry about it. I like the rosemary for growth and the sage for itchy scalp, and they’re a lot easier to find these days, but if you don’t have it, no worries. I sometimes add other essential oils for scent. I particularly like citrusy scents, and grapefruit is my current fave, but again, you don’t have to go out your way to get it.
That’s it. It’s awesome for my hair, but keep in mind if your hair has a finer texture (Mine is Grade A straight from the Motherland nappy) you probably only need to use a little bit, and it might be too heavy for you. My hair (and really dry menopausal skin) loves it! Let me know how it works for you.
Gorgeous Custom Made Special Occasion Dresses from Erica B.!!!
Check out these absolutely lovely dresses. If you’re anything like me, you prefer that young ladies have beautiful AGE APPROPRIATE attire for special occasions. If like me, you’ve struggled trying to find such dresses, then worry no more. The insanely talented Erica Bunker has come to the rescue. From now until August 31st she’s taking orders for custom made dresses. Check out the link, and I can tell you this woman is a amazing craftsperson. How do I know? Because my mama sewed, and she always said the inside of your clothes should look as good as the outside. And Erica’s always do.
Please send only SERIOUS inquiries to ericabunker@ericabunker.com.
See What Happens When…
…You spend WAY too much time on Erica Bunker’s blog? Erica loves herself an exposed zipper, and now I do too. My mama, who spent forever teaching me how to insert an invisible zipper, would be horrified. I loved this fabric when I saw the cute little top Erica made on her blog. But I really need some summer skirts. (Yeah I know in the rest of the universe it’s almost fall, but here in Georgia summer lasts for nine months more or less. Anyway, I made a simple little A-line skirt, and I wanted it to be a bit more edgy, so I did the exposed zipper. Then I saw this skirt at Anthropologie, and loved the way the zipper is all fancy. (I probably would’ve bought the skirt, but do you see how short that thing is? I’m a little long in the tooth to wear a skirt that short, thought I might copy it at some point.) They sell those fancy zipper at Joann, but I’d already bought this zipper, and I have a ton of scrap lace and such so I just added it. I really like it a lot. It’s funny, I’ve never been much of a fashion sewist, but with my time so limited these days I like being able to finish a project in a weekend. And having something I can wear is an added bonus. I’ll take pictures when I finally wear the skirt, but my iron died last night and I need to give it a good pressing first.
Fly Ass Jacket
My other favorite site, besides Anthro is Free People. Usually I can’t wear anything on the site, but I love the outfits and often try to find similar things in my size. I love this jacket and think it would look amazing with the pink skirt I plan to make. I love the dichotomy of something so military looking paired with something so frou-frou. I’d probably give this jacket a try, but I think it’s too short for my taste. I’m also looking for something a little more structured and work friendly. I do love the sleeve and ruffle detail on the back, though, but it’s a little young and trendy. I think I need something with a little more staying power. I’m looking for something similar though because I really like it.
Going Old School With My Hair
I really hate that I had to cut my locs off a few years ago. I loved them so much, but hormonal changes after I had Kell really wreaked havoc with them and they became so fragile they began to break. I went natural back in 1998 and locced in 2005, well before the “natural hair revolution.” Back in the day there were really no good products available and many of us became “kitchen beauticians” as we devised our own hair care products based primarily on what we learned on various hair boards. I developed a very basic routine for my hair which I wore in two-strand twists almost all the time. I washed with Dr. Bronner’s, did an ACV rinse, then applied a home made shea butter, coconut oil, rosemary and sage blend. The only other product I used was Aveda Humectant because it gave my hair a nice sheen and I loved the scent. When I was locced I didn’t use any product at all. Just a weekly wash with highly diluted Dr. Bronner’s. This time around I was very excited about all the new products available for natural hair, and became a bit of a product junkie. And much to my surprise, I have found that I don’t like any of them. They leave my hair hard and dry. The shampoos in particular, were especially awful. They left my hair feeling stripped and fragile. My hair has been many things, but it’s never been hard and brittle, even when I was relaxed. So, yeah, you guessed it, it’s back to the tried and true. I blended up a batch of my shea butter blend and used it on my hair after washing. My hair was like, “Gurl, where the hell you been?” It so soft and moisturized I just can’t stand it. I was really worried because I was starting to think maybe it was a hormonal thing. But no, my hair just likes old school.
Update on the Too Cute Swimsuits
My swimsuits arrived last week and I finally got a chance to try them on. I was definitely not disappointed. At this price point ($27 a piece!!!) I expected lightweight flimsy fabric and poor craftsmanship. Nothing is further from the truth. Don’t get me wrong, you’re not going to find the heavyweight Miracle suit material for this price, but for me that’s okay. I basically spend most of my time at the pool running after the kids. Mainly I’m concerned about coverage and not looking like and old woman and these are more than up to the job. I sized up from my usual 16 to an 18, and that was fine for everything except the pink top. I should’ve remembered that I’m short waisted, so that made the top too long for me. I’ll probably send it back and get a smaller size or a different style. I love both bottoms, but the purple stripe is particularly awesome because it’s so high waisted and has the ruching on the side. Really comfortable and great for ye ole muffin top. I love the purple top as well for the same reason. I was worried that it would be too clingy and show too much, but the ruching on the sides does a great job. The polka dot bottoms are absolutely adorbs. They look so flirty and fun peeking out from under the ruffled top. I’m totally annoyed that they don’t carry these suits in the stores, I mean you have to practically go on an excavation to find them on the freaking site! Target is many things, but their website is absolutely appalling.
Cute Plus-Sized Swimsuits
Indeed, my only complaint is: CARRY THE DAMNED THINGS IN THE STORE!!!
This Dress Right Here? The Business
So Anthropologie? Yeah, to die for. Unfortunately, the prices and sizes are to die for too. I’m just realizing though, that most of their stuff is oversized and they do carry XL, but they sell out quickly. I found this dress, and bought it the first time I saw it. Wore it for date night and Whit’s eyes were just agog. Incredibly figure flattering, nice emphasis on the bosom without being vulgar. And the fabric is even prettier in person. I wear a size 16, and am short-waisted, but the XL fit great. Nice heavy fabric so I know it’ll hold up well. Just perfect.
Cute, Plus Size Swimsuits
I’ve been looking for a cute plus size tankini for a while now. Most tankinis ride up exposing the midriff, and I need two pieces because usually I have Kell in the bathroom at the pool and getting totally undressed to pee is so not on. Anyway, I found these on the Target website. (They don’t have them in the stores, and yes, this pisses me the hell off, but whatever.) Cute colors and prints, pinks, purples and a lovely mint. Not that horrible tropical print that they always put on plus size suits. I got this one, with a polka dot bottom. Cute and flirty. The prices are to die for too. I was able to get a couple to mix and match. I have a red card so shipping is free. Mine hasn’t arrived yet, so I’m not sure about fit, and at this price I assume they’re probably pretty flimsy, but the only other place I found this top with the ruffles all around the back too was at Land’s End and it was $75! And the plus size only came in two colors (black and dark purple grrr!) with no cute print bottoms to match. I found a similar top at Macy’s, but the ruffles don’t go all the way around. I don’t know about you, but I have back fat too!
the one who writes 