New Orleans in the Fall is a riot of color that stirs the senses. The vibrant red and gold on the cable cars delighted the senses and somber gray of the extravagant grave markers in the local cemeteries made you stop and think about the souls that roamed the area. First stop was Acme house where we at charbroiled oysters that were sinfully good. Full of garlic, herbs and butter…they were charred just enough. When they arrived it was time to pull out the camera and document this adventure. A big bowl of steamy gumbo was the main course and I was in heaven. The gumbo was rich and smoky with tender bits of crab, shrimp and sausage with just enough spice to clear your sinuses. What a happy girl I was! I wanted to make a quick stop in the Lower Garden district to visit Truck Stop Clothing a vintage store that I researched before the trip. I had visions of gently worn in Frye boots, Levi’s and rock T-shirts but it was not going to happen on this trip. The store was closed…completely shut down but still active by phone, Facebook and Yelp….how does that happen? I thought I was nuts as I looked up and down the street for the address and it was nowhere to be found. I finally poked my head into Stein’s Deli where I was informed the store had packed up and move to no one knows where. Huge disappointment…no worries another store was happy to take my money. Magazine Street has funky, hippie , eclectic shops and boutiques and looks to be packed everyday…there were so many people out strolling on Saturday afternoon. I wanted to find a balcony get a fresh drink and pull out the camera. On to the craziest part of NOLA for me…the New Orleans Original Daiquiri’s! We finally went to our Airbnb rental…it was beautiful and decorated antebellum style. The house sits on the sunny side of the street so and the huge porch was perfect for watching the world go by.I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were enough rooms to accommodate six women and our luggage. The sitting room provided a sunny spot for us to share mimosas, beignets, coffee and laughter in the mornings and unwind with our feet up after all day strolling in the Quarter or on Bourbon Street. My friend’s mother made the gumbo to go with our football afternoon and I ended up on the couch in a food coma it was so amazing….full of crab and sausage and okra. It was just the nap I needed ringer me through our French Quarter time 1000th AR night .

There’s a snowstorm here in Baltimore and all I can think about is Spring! Purple is one of my favorite colors and Pantone has declared that Radiant Orchid and Mauve Mist will satisfy my need to stand out in purple. I love the different ways that women of all colors can wear these popping purples!  On my cheeks I will be wearing Benefit Lollitint to battle my winter pallor! On the lips I intend to experiment a lot….mauves, pinks, purples you name it! My local drugstore Rite-Aid and Walgreens are perfect for experimenting with new colors that won’t wreck your budget.

Its time to invest in a new lip shade to ward off the Winter doldrums. Revlon Colorburst Matte Lip Balm is my favorite! Velvety Matte Look. Moisture Rich Balm it has a Matte finish that’s beyond plush. Balm that’s beyond comforting. Our Triple Butter Complex of Shea, Coconut and Mango butters nourishes lips. In 10 collectible, craveable colors. For a polished and perfect lip look, apply foundation on and around the lips before lip color. Foundation helps to prep the lip area for a more flawless application and helps lip color last longer.

I am feeling the need to write again and I thought I would begin with the beauty of fall. As I look out of my door each day I see the leaves changing and feel the weather getting cooler. My mind automatically starts thinking about change. I want to change my wardrobe, my hair and my make up. Autumn oranges, lush plums, rich browns are all on my radar. In my next few blog posts I will chart the changes I am making to embrace the beauty of fall. This weekend I started with my hair color. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to change my summer light golden blonde (courtesy of Dark and Lovely) to a chocolate brown or a lush sexy plum shade. I decided on a plum shade after a visit to my neighborhood Ulta. I walked in and spoke to one of the sales associates and she directed my to the hair color aisle and gave me some great advise. I am wearing my hair natural these days and for those who don’t know that means I do not have a relaxer or perm in my hair. I am not a natural hair nut by any means I just prefer it right now. Its a way to cut costs while trying something new and funky with my hair. My hair routine is simple and the costs is low. Back to the hair color aisle…I wanted a brand that was ammonia free and easy on the hair. The sales associate suggested the Garnier Olia line. I checked out the colors and decided on a light intense red. I went home and got straight to work. My hair was light to begin with and this color really popped. Its different almost plum but I love it. I feel like a new woman. I will post a photo as soon as I can take a good one.

Hey Sisterfriends!

It is important to do a self-breast exam every month. Make it a part of your routine. I am happy to say that I had my first mammogram and got the all-clear not long after the appointment.

 

As the weather changes so do our lip needs. Flakiness and dryness are an issue but there are great products out there that can ease us through the changing seasons. La Mer Baume De La Mer is hands down the best lip balm on the market but one of the priciest. I was able to get one while stationed in Germany and use it sparingly as it is the product I would take with me if I was stuck on a deserted island and could only have three things. The other two are a Nars the Multiple Stick and a big jar of Vaseline.

Intense moisture packed into this little tube…it lasts forever. This limited-edition line is all-natural perfect for those of us interested in keeping it green!

I am in love with fall…the trees are changing colors here in the Northeast and it signals the beginning of a new season. Rich hues and palettes are reflected in this season’s fashions and make up. Nars lipsticks in rich womanly colors for us to accent the beauty of the season. Clinique’s Black honey is a longtime make up staple that I return to time and time again. In a recent issue of Allure it popped up again as a beauty must have.

I am ready for a fun, new Coach to take me into the fall season! I’m going for what I call the Afro Puff Poppy bag with a few accessories. Check it out!