Seems like I’m wearing hats more than ever before. Or could it be I just don’t feel like doing my hair in the mornings. Casual and quick outfit

Madrid Hat: NastyGal. Print silk shirt: Zara. Skinny Black Pants: Gap. Suede Wedges: Wild Pair. Watch: Michael Kors. Necklace: Forever 21. Lizard Ring: Aldo.

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Wearing the right makeup can CHANGE your life! Some women claim the “natural” look is in, but I believe that’s just an excuse for women who don’t know how to “apply” makeup. Yes, millions of women around the world use makeup to create a natural look. My mother would always tell me, “Great makeup is achieved when others don’t notice you have makeup on.”  Applying makeup was something that didn’t come natural for me; it took lots of practice and patience. As a teenager, I enjoyed mixing eye shadow colors together and by the time I was a college student going to UNCG, I thought I had it down to a science. Finding the right foundation was the greatest challenge. With women of color, a lot of us have hyperpigmentation, so our skin tone isn’t even on our face and knowing the right shade for your skin is very important. You don’t want to look too “ashy” or going extremely darker than your natural complexion.

For the past year, I’ve been using several facial cleansers to clear up my skin, not thinking it just might be the makeup I was using. After having several breakouts and several facials, I realized one of the cleansers had numerous oils in it and my foundation was loaded with oil! No wonder I was breaking out like crazy. Recently, I purchased the Bare Minerals kit and I love it! I haven’t had a breakout since I stopped using those other products, so my advice to those who want to clear up their skin: Find a good dermatologist who can tell you what your skin needs because everyone skin is different and you need expert advice. The L’Oreal eyeshadow pigments are great because they are bold and you get the same effect compared to some of the more expensive cosmetic brands. My lip gloss is from the generic Sephora brand, which keeps my lips moisturized and adds a bit of color.

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I kept it moving on my mini southern tour to one of my favorite cities: Atlanta, GA. Every time I would come here I would always ask myself, why do I love Atlanta so much? I tried to make some sense of it and I realized it is a combination of the people, weather, food and just the atmosphere signifies substantial growth. I had the opportunity of eating at Pappadeaux’s, one of my favorite restaurants and it was so good, I’m still thinking about that meal!

Floral Blouse: Zara. Nude Heels: Guess. Purple pants: Zara. Coral earrings & ring: Aldo. Bracelets: various boutiques.

( Tim rockin’ my favorite color and timberlands of course, a classic old school NYC boot .)

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Top three things I love about the South: fresh air, clean streets and the southern accents. When I arrived in Charlotte, the southern voices were the very first thing I notice and it’s funny because I never looked at someone and thought: “Wow that’s a really deep southern accent”. It was obvious that I had been away from home too long and I started to get a little nervous. One thing about being from a certain place, you always want to keep that “thing” where people recognize you’re from that part of the world.  Was I losing my Southern charm? Especially after a worker at the NJ airport called me a Yankee, I started to grasp the fact that NYC could be possibly rubbing off on me. The city life is full of perks and I do love all of its complexities because that’s what makes it beautiful. However, there’s no place like home and even thought this trip was a busy one, I enjoyed having fun my family.

Jacket: Alice & Olivia, Blouse: All Saints. Pants: J Brand. Butterfly earrings: Forever 21. Watch: Michael Kors. Pearl necklaces: My grandma. White Clutch: Aldo. Rings: H&M, Aldo. White T strap platform sandal: Hinge.

(Liyah and Romeo looking up for another treat.)

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Just took a peek into Nordstrom’s new catalog and I am loving all the prints and color combinations for the summer season. My motto this summer is the bolder, the better because you deserve something new and refreshing that will reinvent your style.

(Put some spunk into your spring sandals, jewels, metallics, the possibilities are endless!)

(Try using a colorful wallet this summer instead of the usual black and brown.)

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