Friday Favorites...Vol #1

Hello lovelies. I hope all is well with everyone. Have you begun to make and set your New Year's Resolutions yet? I sure as hell haven't. As a matter of fact, I don't even think I want to call them resolutions anymore-I'm going to call them short term goals! The word 'resolution' sounds too much like a promise that requires way too much extra commitment!!

In the process of trying to blog more and recreate things here and there, I think I've decided that I'm going to limit my blogging to 3 days a week-M, W, and F. This Friday, I want to try something new called 

'Friday Favorites'. 

It will just be a collection of photos that I have gathered on my phone during the week. Things that made me smile, laugh hysterically, cry, cuss, or whatever! I fell so in love with the Instagram app on my iPhone and unfortunately never got to post any photos I had uploaded to it because silly me dropped the phone in the toilet and I had to replace it with a Droid. FML!!!

Anyway here is my first installment of Friday Favorites...

Wearing patterned tights....to church.....on Christmas! I hope I didn't overdo it with the black roses!

 A new year calls for new hair...I now have-BANGS!!! YES!!!

My very first product review sample arrived c/o EShakti...This dress is GORGEOUS and I can't wait to style it. I love the hearts that are embroidered on it-makes for thee perfect Valentine's Day 'fit!

This jersey dress that I scored from H&M for $7! Can't wait to rock this baby either! It's a tad bit huge (and it's a size S) but once I cinch a belt around my waist....it's a WRAP!!

My Christmas present to myself. A brand new camera. Best Buy had some sweet bundle deals going on this week. The camera came with a 4GB memory card, a tripod, and a camera case. Can't beat it!

Seeing my alma mater-Hampton University-mentioned in the JET magazine. I love my HIU!

What are some of your favorites from this week?

WOTS: Monochromatic Flair...

Morning lovelies. 

Are you tired of Christmas food and candy canes yet?

I think I will be officially fed up with it in exactly one more day. LOL.

(I do love the sales though; as a matter of fact, I've been out every day since Christmas trying to get some good deals while purchasing next year's Christmas gifts!)

On another note, I've always shied away from the monochromatic color palate because I love bold pops of color but this Christmas I was feeling a bit mellow and decided to try some grey on grey on grey.  I was actually surprised that my greys matched so perfectly.

Since I absolutely couldn't stand to stay away from some type of color, I added this patterned pussybow blouse underneath all the grey.

I even tried to do something a little festive with my nails.

I had the hardest time trying to figure out what type of shoes to pair with this 'fit-red or black? Theenn, I remembered these grey boots that I purchased on clearance last year and I put them on immediately. They are quite a differing shade of grey but THEY.WORK!

I wish you could see the cute little flower/bow that they have on the side of them.

Blouse-Thrifted/Tank-NY&Co/Skinnies-Platos  Closet/Boots-Rainbow

Coat,Scarf,Belt-NY&Co

Before I go, here's my WordOnTheStreet for the week:

*Walgreens is offering 25 FREE photo prints when you use the code PRINTNOW on their website. This is great for printing your Christmas photos. The code expires on 12/31. PS: If you choose in-store pickup, your total should be $0.00.

How do you feel about monochrome outfits? What other colors make for a great monochrome 'fit?

Linked to:

Thrifter'sAnonymous

Savin' Maven Monday: The Holiday Edition

Good day lovelies.  I hope each and every one of you had a wonderful holiday.

Mine was a tad bittersweet but I'm thankful for it nonetheless.

I know I'm posting hella late today but my Mother had me out in the mall early this morning to catch the 'after Christmas' sales. 

Anywho, I wanted to share with you a very special edition of 'Savin' Maven Monday'. This week, I present to you what I received from Santa's elves. Since I will be moving into a new home soon I decided that instead of asking for clothing this Christmas, I would ask for things that I could make use of at my new residence. 

Who needs a housewarming party with gifts like these?

4-pk. Stemless Wine Glasses

Cutlery Sets

Wolfgang Puck Swag

Toaster Oven/Crock Pot/Brownie Maker

I.CAN.NOT.WAIT to try and share some delicious new recipes. Santa and his elves were sooooo great to me this year. 

Ladies, tell me, what did your Christmas swag look like this year?

Anyway...

People are illogical, unreasonable,and self-centered. Love them anyway!

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway!

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway!

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway!

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway!

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway!

People favor underdogs but only follow the top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway!

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway!

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway!

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway!

-Kent M. Keith, Ed.D.

This was all the motivation I needed! All because I stole my mother's Good Housekeeping magazine and secretly read it before she noticed it was missing! Thank God for good magazines!

WOTS: Holiday Shopping-The OfficeSpace Edition

Getting appropriate gifts for coworkers during the holiday season can be a little tricky. 

What do they like? What will they use? Will this be enough?

These are all questions I've pondered before deciding to go with something everyone loves during the holidays...sweet treats!!

To start my coworker's gifts, I purchased the 'Happy Holiday' cards (pictured above) from Target's Dollar Spot.

Then, I typed this nice holiday quote onto red paper and cut them into tiny squares....like so...

I used a glue stick and attached the 'quote labels' onto the inside of the card. 

You may glue the labels in or just place them in. Whatever your preference...

I used these little foam stickers (purchased from the Dollar Store) to seal the cards.

Very HallMark-esque, huh!?

Now...for my sweet treats.

I like to call them 'Thin Mints'.  I originally saw Paula Deen make these from scratch on her show but seeing as how I didn't have the time nor the patience, I just purchased some Chips Ahoy from Wally World. These ingredients cost me about 8 bucks.

You begin by crushing the peppermint into a closed ziplock bag.

Until they look like this...

Then, melt your white chocolate chips. This was thee most tedious step in the whole process. I never knew how hard it was to melt white chocolate. I clearly felt like the biggest idiot on earth. I mean how in the hell do you not know how to melt chocolate!? 

Don't judge me...mkay!?

Next, dip your Chips Ahoy, one by one, into the melted chocolate and then into the crushed peppermint.  You may dip as much of the cookie as you would like. I chose to dip half. This is how they looked when finished.

To package my 'Thin Mints', I purchased treat bags from Target's Dollar Spot and I printed these labels from MarthaStewarts website. 

Attach the labels, and viola! Cute, festive, and scrumptiously sweet! All for under $10. 

I was able to make 20 gift bags with the ingredients that I used and I still have over half of the second pack of Chips Ahoy left over. 

WINNING!!!

What will you do for your coworkers this holiday season?

WOTS: Holiday Shopping-The Girlfriends' Edition

I love shopping for my girlfriends...

This is an easy task. What female doesn't appreciate being pampered?

This year, treat your girls to a personalized pampering set.

Depending on your spending limits, you can go with something expensive...

Like these lovely baskets:

Classic Spa Gift Basket

Relaxation Therapy Gift Basket

 

Orrrrr.....

You can be a Thrifty and Shameless frugalista like me and make something at home. You can put anything in the basket, so long as it is centered around the theme of being 'pampered'. I guarantee that it will be put to good use.

Because again, what woman doesn't appreciate being pampered?

Here are some of my favorite 'at home' basket creations:

Pampering Basket-ForTheMommas

Pampering Basket-MashUpMom



The great thing about these baskets is that they are totally universal. You can make them for whomever you like-even your pets...

Like this one:

Pooch Pampering Basket-Pawtisseri

I don't have pets, but I thought the Pooch Basket was beyond adorable. 

What will you put in your pampering basket? 

Do share...

EBEW: Sparkle On....

I'm learning now more than ever that some people just aren't worth your damn time! People will try to drain every ounce of happiness that you have so that you may wallow in their misery with them. Have you ever met anyone of these people? The ones that constantly have some kind of issue.... The ones with the 'Woe is me' attitude....The ones who just can't seem to get themselves together....

LET THEM GO HONEY!!!

You see this smile on my face....

That's the smile of a person who has let go of it all...the baggage...the issues...and the people who have in some way or another, contributed to my sadness.

From this day forward, each one of these sparkles will represent happiness. My vow to shine despite adversity, despite trials and tribulations, and above all, despite those people who don't mean me any good.

 I refuse to let anyone else steal my 'sparkle'. 

Because then my face would look like this....

'Stolen Sparkle'

Now don't get it twisted, by no means am I looking down upon those who do have issues that they are dealing with-(I will never turn my back on a friend);nor am I forgetting that I have gone through hell and back myself-I'm just being more conscious of how I choose to deal with certain situations.  I refuse to continue to allow my issues to define me. That means that I refuse to let certain people or things predict how my days turn out, how my mood is, or how happy I may be at any given moment. When you depend on others to make you happy, they always disappoint. Therefore, you need to be happy with oneself first and foremost.

I am gearing up for the new year and I want to begin on the right foot-clear and free of all things that have had a stronghold on me for so long.  I have turned off my phone and don't plan to answer it until the new year. That gives me over two weeks to cleanse myself mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. If it is a dire emergency, you know how to contact me. 

Sparkle on, Bishes!!!



Clutch/Bolero-Express Romper-Thrifted Peep Toes-Ross



Sidenote: I'm ecstatic that this month's EBEW choice was sparkles and sequins. Perfect timing.

See how everyone else is sparkling today-visit EBEW.