AU REVOIR

PEACE OUT 2010!!!!

I'm so excited for 2011 and am bouncing off the walls more than

 a 2 year old who's eaten a half pound bag of jellybeans! lol

Although this year has given me a hefty share of challenges, mistakes,

 laughter, progressions, tears and maturations,

I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything

and have no regrets. :)

I've learned sooooo much about myself and about others,

and I'm at a place of happiness in my life that I never thought I'd achieve

at such a youthful age.

I seem to have gained a greater sense of optimism that I'm pretty sure comes from

my faith and love for the big man upstairs.

And as 2011 hits, I am aiming high and am working hard and loving even harder.

Everyday that I'm blessed with will be another lesson learned.

So rather than sitting around moping about what I could've/should've/would've done

{like most people do},

I'm gunna put up my dukes and take the new year head on.

I have to say to all of you that you all mean so much to me!

Thank you so so SO much for tuning in to my life and being the amazing audience that you are.

I'm glad that my opinions and outlook on things are something that you find

value in and I appreciate your feedback just the same.

The time to come has a lot in store

{especially when it comes to fashion, of course ;) }

and I'm thankful and hopeful that you'll stay along for the journey.

I wish all of you and your families a safe and savvy New Year!

SHOPPING MADNESS

After a LONNNNG, excruciating lapse of not being able to buy anything outside of the necessary

 gas for my car, pesky bills, and food for the fridge, 

I was finally able to indulge in an extremely overdue shopping trip! 

My roommate Brandi and I hit the mall on Wednesday. 

Yet once we realized most of our money had dwindled away in only about an hour, 

we made our way to one of my favorite thrift spots. 

My first time at this particular thrift store was....mmmm...aiiiiight. lol

I got some pretty cool stuff, 

but for some reason, 

yesterday's trip was the most AMAZING experience I've ever had thrifting!

There were soooooo many items that I snatched up, 

and they had tons of shoes {which was an area they were lacking in upon my first visit}.

In all, I spent 68 bucks and walked away with a huge plastic bag of goodies...

the bag was so big, I felt like I had a Quasimodo-hunch while carrying it on my back. O_o

I didn't want to bombard you all with photos of everything I got,

{primarily because it would take at least 50 snapshots lol}

so I decided to do yet another video haul!

Enjoy!

My MASSIVE thrift haul.

My "mall haul." lol

P.S. I definitely think I'm going to start an online store. 

I know I've been saying that for some time now,

but this recent thrifting adventure caused me to find tons of stuff. 

Though there were plenty things that I knew I wouldn't necessarily wear, 

because they're so fabulous, I felt like SOMEBODY out there has to have them! lol 

Plus, I need to do some closet cleansing.

I'm not sure if I want to go the Ebay route or use BigCartel.

Either way, be on the lOOkout!

THRIFTED TREASURES

Oh, the joy of thrifting. :)

I've always been a fan of getting a whole lotta bang for my buck,

which is a bargain hunter's most infamous quality that I'm pretty sure derived from my mom.

Thrift shopping has definitely helped me to add dope one-of-a-kind pieces to my closet

without breaking the bank. 

Cuh-ching! lol

HAUL AWAY

I hope you all enjoyed your holiday and are excited for the New Year!

Kev & I made our rounds to my uncle's and grandpa's house on Saturday before

heading over to his grandparent's house in L.A.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but Kev is Jamaican/British

{interesting combo, I know.}

and I must say this Christmas was definitely one that was too hilarious to forget.

Not because of his heritage, lol

but because I had so much fun!

And after a ridiculously intense game of Scategories,

his family inspired me to want to start having game nights at my apartment. lol

After posting this video, I realized I say "umm" a LOT,which is definitely a habit I didn't know I had yet need to break out of....asap.I'll probably be making videos more often since I'm about to {hopefully} get a new camera!Although my lil' Sony Cybershot has served me well,I've been dying to have a digital SLR camera {preferably a Canon}.
OH!And...I've started a Tumblr!Since I didn't want to make the big switch, I decided to extend things a bit.It's simply just another dose of all things fierce, fab, & fashion obsessed. lolSo feel free to visit!!!www.shesavanitygirl.tumblr.com!

AN EARLY GOODBYE

Gone, at 54 years old.

Fifty. Four.

That's so young...

Teena Marie is a legend.

And it seems like as the years progress, the artistic outlets that once breeded the revolutionaries, non-conformists, critical thinkers and articulate speakers are being cashed in for sex, lies, and idiot-tapes.

This is precisely why I don't listen to the radio anymore...

and I barely watch t.v., all because of the fact that there's a great lack in integrity that 

artists like Teena Marie achieved.

Old school tunes are all that I listen to nowadays.

It was in those eras before my time that music was a form of 

emotional release, profound intellect, and movement making.

Yet everyone is stuck on people like Miley Cyrus and Souja Boy. 

O_O 

Sad if you ask me.

Though I am quite young, classic artists like Teena Marie will always have a place in my heart.

And though she is gone, she will be truly missed.

I hope that people really take a look into her music as well as the countless careers of other legends that have seemed to disappear with the time, so that they know of the greatness that existed 

despite what we have today.

Here's a few of my all-time faves from Teena Marie! :)

Rest In Peace.

A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas everyone!
Although it looks like mid-July outside here in So Cal,
the cool air snaps me back to reality. lol

I hope that all of you have a great time with your loved ones!
And though we're all lovers of gifts,
don't lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas:
sweet baby Jesus! lol

Last night, after going to the movies with Kev to see "Little Fockers" {which was hilarious by the way},
I was full of the Christmas spirit and since I was home for the holiday,
I wanted to head up into the Rancho Cucamonga hills to Thouroughbread.
The area is classically known as the neighborhood with the most ridiculously amazing
displays of Christmas lights. But since Kev somehow got us lost
after he insisted he knew where we were going,
we called it a night....
that is until we remembered that there was a house around the corner from Kevin's
that my mom told us was one-of-a-kind.

We pulled up, turned to the radio station printed on the lawn's sign post,
and the Christmas lights twinkled to the song!
This may not sound fab & fancy to you,
but you'll have to see it for yourselves!

AFTER HOURS

Notice anything silky, new, and fabulous??!

No, it's not my scarf. lol

It's my hair!!!

After poking around on Youtube, I decided to put my mane miseries to an end and

whip up a new doo for myself!

My hair grew out quite a bit, so I'm definitely about to keep the momentum going.

I know that most black women would try to perpetrate 

that their flowing locks are all miraculously theirs...

{knowing good and well they have a weave.} lol

You would've thought it was a secret society or something.

Ixnay on the weavidsday. lol

Welp! The secret's out!

Let me know what you guys think! :)

'TIS THE SEASON

It's editorials like these that make me all warm and fuzzy inside...

not only about Christmas, but about fashion.

Fashion Editor Giovanna Bataglia captures the essence of the Christmas season
in this Vogue Gioello shoot, photographed by Giampolo Sgura and starring the stunning Cato Van Ee.

Indulging in hot cocoa while sitting by the fire place in a cozy cabin is my idea of a perfect holiday,

not to mention being covered from head to toe

 in the fabulousness known as Givenchy, Dolce & Gabanna, and Prada.

For a second, I considered ice skating, but after some thought,
 I realized that probably wouldn't be the greatest idea if I plan on
making it to 2011 without any broken limbs.

I'll just stick to rollerblades. lol

Though I know Christmas isn't officially here yet,

no one every said we couldn't extend the celebration.

So bring on the furs, chunky knits, earmuffs, and mistletoe!

 

photos via fashiongonerogue

ISLAND GIRL

While I've always found myself obsessing over countless vintage items I've discovered on Ebay, 

it took me a while before I could actually gain the nerve to actually purchase something.

I think my apprehension was rooted in my mom's voice buzzing in my ear,

where I'd hear a mantra of her parental rants of anxiety about her concerns with online shopping scams.

But after brushing off the worry, I decided to take my chances in my purchase of a few vintage finds.

REBEL YELL

WILDERNESS WANDERER

NAVAJO NIGHTS

LAID BACK

THE KNITTY GRITTY

While grandmother's are busy decking the halls in their Santa hats, sleigh bell necklaces, 

and tacky snowmen-embellished sweaters that redden their necks from the itchy cotton, 

I'll be comfortably chic in my new knit sweater. ;)

ON THE EDGE

Actress Kerry Washington covers the December 2010 issue of L.A Times Magazine with a look that is definitely a good way to end the year: with a BANG & an EDGE. 

Kerry looks flawless.

Though there's no doubt she's gorgeous, I've never really seen her in such a fashion-forward light.
Yes, there are her usual red carpet appearances for award shows, movie premiers, galas and such,
but she always looks so reserved and well....in my opinion...old.

However, this editorial gives her just the stylish touch she needs and is quite far from matronly.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

With a closet, drawers, & massive Rubbermaid containers jammed-packed with clothes,

I'm still one of those types that has the audacity to say "I have nothing to wear." lol

My indecisiveness is a weakness of mine,

yet at the same time, it's probably the root of my personal style.

I go through this process just about every day when it comes to finding something to wear.
Most times, everything ends up on the floor, and I end up with Mt. Rushmore.
Not to sound like a slob, but I haven't washed clothes for a good month until yesterday...
and yet I still have a plethora of options in the never-ending abyss known as my closet.
Ridiculous, I know.

But being that I haven't shopped in what seems like AGES,

I've been simply making the best out of what I've already got.
:)

PINKY PROMISE

I'm a huge fan of bending the rules of fashion . . .

especially when it comes to gender. lol

And I randomly noticed that there's been a revolution of sorts surrounding the color pink.

I used to hate wearing it, simply because of the fact that it was usually associated with

the ditzy "like ohmygosh"-ness of chicks like Elle Woods,

which is a pretty narrow connotation for the color to supposedly be the definitive mark of females,

aside from our obvious vaginas. lol

Considering those of us who aren't 

constantly flipping our hair, calling our close friends "darling," 

or have dogs cooped up in our purses,

I can say that the world of fashion has added a bit more of an edge to the feminine hue.

And after sifting through my laptop's massive photo collection,

I've found that perhaps pink isn't so bad after all.