Lips without lipstick are like cake without frosting There is always a good reason to wear a lipstick, my favorite go-to shade is red. Whether it's date night with the hubby, a girls night out or to just feel seductive. Back in March while I was in New York City, I was able to visit ,,Bite Beauty Lip Lab. For those who have not yet heard of Lip Lab, the establishment allows customers to create their own custom lipstick while in the store. With summer right around the corner, I would love to be back at Lip Lab creating new gorgeous summer lipstick colors. Let's talk about the atmosphere which ..read more

WHAT IS A 30 DAY CHALLENGE? ​ A thirty day challenge is simply the idea of a small change you can incorporate into your life each day for the next 30 days. Choose one habit you’d like to bring in to (or remove from) your life. Work on it for a little while daily until it has become a habit. The idea is to do something new everyday. Or at least to do the same, positive thing everyday. It will bring newfound inspiration and motivation to your life! ​ WHY DO A 30 DAY CHALLENGE? ​ Thirty days is the perfect amount of time to do a personal challenge. It’s long enough to make something part of your ..read more

Whip up a fruity breakfast, snack or dessert in seconds Do you love smoothies? I do! In fact when I’m trying to make healthier choices I tend to make more smoothies to help curb my sweet tooth that so often gets me into trouble! So I’m definitely taking note of some of these new-to-me recipes as well as sharing them with you! 1. Banana Blend 2 bananas, 1/2 cup each vanilla yogurt and milk, 2 teaspoons honey, a pinch of cinnamon and 1 cup ice. 2. Strawberry-Banana Blend 1 banana, 1 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup each vanilla yogurt and milk, 2 teaspoons honey, a pinch of cinnamon and 1 cu ..read more

Sometimes life gets out of control – you are juggling a million and one things at the same time while trying to keep your head above water and make it seem like you have everything together. In the midst of the chaos, it’s easy to lose your sense of self and forget who you truly are. I used to let my stress-induced thoughts take control of me – to where I felt like I should only be working and never make time for myself – that I eventually lost who I was. But journaling helped me break out of that chaos. My thoughts and feelings flow through my ink-filled pages. In the process I not only take ..read more

I always dreamed of working from home. The idea of not driving and having the option to work from the solace of my own home seemed like euphoria. And let’s be honest, working from home is the dream for a lot of people. The downside is that it’s easy to get tempted by so many distractions and temptations when you work from home. The idea of being able to go on a Bed Bath and Beyond run on an arbitrary weekday may seem like an extravagance, but it can turn into a form of procrastination if there’s no one telling you to get back to work. Whatever your purpose behind telecommuting, you have to ha ..read more

When it comes to wearing makeup, you can either get it completely right or horribly wrong. #1 Not to Prime is Always a Crime! Always use a primer, which helps the foundation to have a smooth surface to settle on. This will result in your makeup to last longer. I always prime prior to putting any foundation on my face. A few years ago priming was a no-go for me. I thought that was the biggest waste of time and money! I finally gave it a try and I’ve been hooked ever since. Priming definitely gives your makeup a better finish. The product you choose does not have to be a pricey one, actually one ..read more

When all else fails-make spaghetti! My family is always in the mood for spaghetti. This amazing dish is quick to make and very filling. We usually pair it with a Caesar salad and garlic bread. Prep Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Serving: 8 Ingredients 1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti noodles 1 pound ground beef 1 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce 1/2 cup butter, sliced - divided 1 cup cottage cheese 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup sour cream 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F Bri ..read more

This super easy Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas recipe will have the entire family begging for more! This quick recipe is one of my favorite go-to meals for my family. , Serving: 12-15 ENCHILADAS Prep time: 15 MINUTES Cook time: 35 MINUTES Total time: 50 MINUTES Ingredients: 6 cups of cooked and shredded chicken breast (I like to make shredded chicken in my food processor) 2 cups of Sour cream Salt & Spices: Cumin, Cayenne, Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder (sprinkle to your liking) 1 package of Corn Tortillas 2 packages of McCormick Enchilada sauce mix 4 Oz can of Green Chile Enchilada Sauce 2 c ..read more

The following books by black authors were published within the last 5 years and fall under a wide range of genres. In addition to making great gifts, these must-reads should be added to your list of books to dive into if you have not yet had the pleasure of reading them yet. 1. BECOMING by MICHELLE OBAMA This book and author need very little introduction, Becoming is former first lady Michelle Obama’s blockbuster memoir that launched in November 2018—and is taking the world by storm. Mrs. 44, a powerhouse in her own right, shot up the charts at record speed, becoming an instant ..read more

The world is full of diverse individuals. No two people have the exact same strength, weaknesses, experiences or capabilities. There are so many ups and downs, spirals and turns on this journey we call life. Watch out for patterns. Right now, what is it that life is teaching you? Is it to let go of fear and attachment? Is it to demonstrate compassion in a place of jealousy? Maybe it is to forgive instead of hating. What I do know is God will not allow us to go through a struggle we are not able to handle; he has proved this to me time and time again. Many times, I thought the situation what I ..read more