Inspiring Young People! ... Moo-mean :)

I haven't done a post like this since I created my blog! I always wanted to make it a point to focus on young people I know personally who are doing their thing! Mainly because I know what it's like to find your niche and live it! It's not the easiest thing to do! You're always your toughest critic, and that's never the best feeling!

However! I must speak on my cousin/ sister/ friend Mumen [ pronounced Moo-mean] and also known as Mookie!! I've ALWAYS been so proud of her and she's been one of the biggest pushes/ supporters to me growing/ living my dream! She even coaxed me into doing this blog!

Anywho! She is just a quadruple threat in life!! She sings, acts, models, is an amazing make up artist, and is 100% HUMBLE!!! I won't go into saying all of her accomplishments, because she does have MANY! But I will say, she's AMAZING! I say this all the time when I'm in a mushy mood, but I did want to spotlight a Young Black Woman Doing Her Thing!! Rock On Mookie!!





Modeling:

                                   

Singing:

She's a member of the Christian/ Inspirational  singing group "Heiress" here is their 1st album, "Once Upon An Heiress Christmas" ...  I believe it is still available on iTunes!

Here they are getting ready to perform at the reopening of the renowned Howard Theatre in Washington DC! They were performing as The Supreme's to honor Berry Gordy himself [the pioneer of Motown Records, if you don't know- GOOGLE HIM!!]!!! How MAJOR is that?! So proud of her!!

Some of her make up work:

[I didn't want to add pics of the people who's make up she's done professionally bc I'm doing this as a surprise, and again she's BEYOND humble and wouldn't like seeming like she's bragging! So this is just SOME of what she's done to herself!]

Peep that green liner on the bottom!

I'm so very proud of her and all of her accomplishments! I've admired her confidence for so long, and when she told me she still gets nervous before performing, I was SO surprised! She plays it off SO well!! She'll probably be very embarrassed, shocked, all that, that I did this!! But she really is one of the greatest friends I could ask for and is doing her thing!!! Her contact is: kimlecia@aol.com ... Don't hate me Mookie!! Hahaa Xxxo

Move Over Ombre! There's a new trend in town!

Last season I posted about Ombre nails, a ridiculously cute nail trend that was sweeping the girl nation! Not only has nail art design become major, its become a way of life for the nail world! 

Nail technicians are constantly trying to find ways to stay on top of their nail game, and I love it! Just as hair stylists, and fashion stylists, nail technicians have a job to deliver trends to the hands of the world! ... It's very serious!!

I started getting "gel manicures" last summer as it was just introduced to the area I live in! While this is a very tedious, time consuming process, the results are amazing!! I'm a pretty simple girl when it comes to my nails! I don't like them too long, or too flashy, I like a polished look and feel! Gel manicures have been doing me justice ever since! Especially if you find the perfect nail technician! Here's a pic of me with my gel manicure [I was speaking!] notice the simplicity, yet glam! They started with only about 5 colors offered, but now have almost as many colors as regular polishes!

Another trend is the Reverse French Manicure! I recently described this to my sister/cousin/ friend, just giving her an idea to try something new, and what do you know?! Its already a new trend! I LOVE it! While I'm not this kinda girl, I SO recommend it for daring, trendy girls! It's not too, too much, but I just feel some kind of way about wearing this into the office! This design is pretty much everything that it's name states! While your traditional french manicure paints on a white tip at the beginning on your nails, the reverse does the exact opposite! The white color is at your cuticle line! You can do this trend with practically any color! It's totally cool and super trendy!

Lady Gaga adds a minor twist, however it's still hot!!

Stripes, Stripes, Stripes! Bold stripes are taking over! These were once spotted on the runway, and just like designer garments worn at fashion shows, it became a new trend! I can appreciate this trend because growing up as a little girl playing on my nails, the stripe was always the easiest thing to do! Who knew it would turn into such a major trend?!

This website even have stencils for using different colors and achieving the look!
Click here for nail stencils!!

... Click the "Beauty Tips and Trends" TAB for more nail trends!!

"I Got My Ray-Bans On"

For the past two years I've been on sunglasses HEAVY!! I just love them! So many colors and styles to choose from, you have literally a pair to wear with every outfit ... Just like shoes and handbags!!

Surprisingly, my parents put me on Ray-Bans! They purchased some sunglasses, and they were so hot! I was talking to my boyfriend about them, and he was like "Yea, those are Ray-Bans" and I said what?? Lol! If he knew about them, then that means they had to be in a song of some sort, because he is so not into labels! I started researching them! was SO late!! I asked my parents how they knew about them and they said, they didn't, they just purchased them because they liked them! I LOVE it!! Purchased for the quality, not the name, but it just so happened, they made a GREAT fashion choice!!

I went on a sunglasses window shopping [LOL!] spree recently and found SO many cute frames!! Here are some of them [Check out the "fashionista guide" tab for more!]

Tom Ford Calgary Criss-Cross Squared Oversize

Emporio Armani Transparent [LOVEEEEE these!!]

Dior Striped Acetate Aviator

Dior Striped Rounded Wayfarer

Alexander McQueen Ridged Cat Eye

ARUBA!!!!!

Friends! I kind of want to cry every time I think of Aruba! I did NOT want to leave! Well, I did want to come home to my son, but I could just stay there forever and not complain at all LOL!!

This trip was such a big deal for me because I HATE air travel! My first time on a plane in years was about 3 years ago for my boyfriend's birthday in which we went to Las Vegas! This trip was just amazing from start to finish! We got to the airport extra early, so everyone was pretty bummed because we just wanted to get on the plane and fall asleep! I planned on taking a nap as soon as we got to the island but ALL that changed as SOON as we stepped outside the Aruba airport!! I told my brother I wanted to change into my swimsuit once we got to the hotel and head to the beach! Everyone agreed!

While I'm not a water fan at all! I did go in the beach water a couple of times [lol], but for me, just being able to lay out, worry free, work free, stress free and have a 100% chance to fully relax was all I needed!! 

Looking around, there were children everywhere! It was so family friendly! I'm definitely taking my Jr next time! Me and my mom worked out a schedule already LOL! I pretty much still went to bed early every night [about 10:30] and I was so glad my brother was there because my boyfriend had someone to hang with while I was in the room sleeping LOL! I knew he [boyfriend] loved Aruba simply because I would wake early every morning and open the curtains and he wouldn't even complain that I was waking him up! It was awesome!!

I recommend this place for EVERYBODY! I've talked about 4 friends into going already, and I'm making my way down the line!

We stayed at the Marriott Stellaris Hotel and Casino! What else can I say about this hotel except it was AMAZING!!!! It literally had everything there! You didn't even really have a reason to leave the resort unless you wanted to go touring downtown! This resort holds the #2 beach in the WORLD! The islanders told me that this Marriott and the Hyatt were the best on the island, so I'm thinking about trying the Hyatt next time! 

This trip is very budget friendly [although my mom paid for everyone, I still agree with my statement!] and when I say you HAVE to go! GO! And if you've been, I see why you go as often as you do!!

AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't take a lot of great pictures, but here are some!! I'm going again though, and will do a better job at snapping pics!

Hotel lobby! This is the cafe! And towards the back on the left
is the casino!

The Pool Bar!

Mom posing on the beach!

Me and my brother on the beach!!

My beau in the water! I'm not sure why my camera looks so dark!

The Adult pool!

Me and my beau outside my brothers room!
You could walk to the pool from it!

The whirlpool! I hated it, but the beau and parents loved it!!

Looks just like a postcard!!

Vacation is over :( / :)

Hey guys!!! Just got back in the country from vacationing in Aruba! It was BEYOND everythinggg!! Will post as soon as I'm settled!!! Xxxo

Pretty in Preggo!

One of my sisterfriends recently found out she was pregnant with her first baby!!! The very first thing I thought was "what is she going to wear?!" We LOVED how Kourtney Kardashian dressed while she was pregnant! She looked so comfortable, yet trendy! I tried to go for that look when I was pregnant, but because it was the middle of the summer, I opted for dresses as often as I could!

Okay, back to my friend! I always joke that she dresses like Kris Jenner, who is their oh SO fly mother, but now she'll take on the other mom out the clan- Kourtney! I also liked how Hilary Duff dressed! SO comfy, yet still herself!

I love maternity fashion! Their aren't many options for cute, CUTE maternity clothes, so wearing regular women clothing for tops and dresses was/ is the way of life! As your body grows to sizes 14 and beyond, why not throw on a cute frilly top and go?! Some women don't even gain that much, so once their pregnant days are over, they have to throw out their clothes [unless their having another!] instead of just purchasing the size you grow to and then giving your clothes to a family member or friend who can fit it! After all, its mainly just your belly who takes on the most weight [not saying that everything else stays the same!]

Here are some websites to check out for cute maternity clothes:

Unbuttoned Maternity
http://www.unbuttonedmaternity.com/

Trendy Tummy
http://www.trendytummymaternity.com/

Shop Bop
http://www.shopbop.com/clothing-maternity/br/v=1/2534374302172178.htm?all

And even Forever 21!!

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Category.aspx?br=f21&category=maternity_main

I also recommend H&M!! While they don't have an online store, they have some really cute inexpensive items as well!

[Just a couple photos of Kourtney and Hilary for fun!]



Kourtney and Mason!



Hilary Duff



Hilary Duff on the go!



"I Love My NATURAL Strand" Hair Campaign!

My near and dear sisterfriend has been busy away writing her first book "Me, Myself and My Natural Strand"! How MAJOR is that?! I had the privilege of being the Creative Director and on set MUA of her photo shoot, in which 30+ women came and got their head shots taken to be featured in her book! This shoot was SOOOO much fun! Had an amazing photographer- Stanley Monickam and we had a blast! Enjoyed working with everyone, and me and Stan have joined forces for future shoots as well!

Will update when the book is released!!!!! So many people are on the edge of their seats, just because they too, love their natural strand!!!

Meet Jenn, my sisterfriend and author!!

Here is a picture from the shoot! I love how golden her skin looks!!

 And how dramatic, yet natural her make up is [didn't want to toot my own horn, but hey!]!!

Behind the scenes [more to come!]

The Return ;)

GREETINGS!!! The Plush Blog is back! I gave up blogging for Lent this year! [mini sermon alert!] ... It was a tough decision this year for Lent trying to figure out what I was going to do! Being as though, you don't have to give up anything, [you could start doing something instead!] The whole purpose of Lent is to start/ stop something that will strengthen your relationship with God, or that you believe is hindering your relationship with God! Last year, I was going to read the Bible every day for Lent season [start small, nobody can judge you, but God!] and this year my plan was to stop blogging, and put as much energy, attention, effort, etc, etc, etc into God! As much I love fashion and beauty, I wanted all of that and more to go into God! I wanted to walk out of Lent season with a result that God saw my efforts and He would pour out blessings into my life!

AND THAT HE DID!!! I'm BEYOND proud/ excited/ overjoyed to say that my first salon [The PLUSH Salon] will be opening this summer! It's been a very long, exhausting road starting my own business! But hard work,  dedication and FAITH definitely paid off!

During this time I made so much 'leeway' and soon to begin the hiring process!! Again- I THANK GOD!!

For more updates/ information on The PLUSH Salon, check out the PLUSH Website at: http://www.so-plush.com/

Essence Magazine Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon

On Wednesday, February 22, 2012- Essence Magazine held its 5th annual Black Women in Hollywood luncheon! Something that's not spoken of too often, but has a BEYOND great purpose!  

"This annual event celebrates the brightest stars who, through their work, have helped illuminate positive images of Black women worldwide."

-Essence

This years honorees were actress Kerry Washington, Paula Patton, Oscar winner, Octavia Spencer, the MAJOR iconic actress, Pam Grier, and "Grey's Anatomy" executive producer, Shonda Rhimes.



Some pics of the 'black carpet':



Kerry Washington




Paula Patton



Kelly Rowland

Jordin Sparks

Nicole Ari Parker

 Read more: http://www.essence.com/2012/02/23/essence-black-women-in-hollywood-2012-luncheon/#ixzz1nhTFdbMZ