This is how we role in Hellmuth Thanksgiving...Davids family, my
family, anyone family, all coming together to eat turkey and shoot
potatoes. This is Dad and David, loading up the potatoe gun. David's
family had the last minute errand of buying the potatoes, which are
usully regular potaoes, but they got sweet potatoes instead, which Dad
says may be an improved discovery. Inbetween potatoe gun loading, they
shoot skeet. The backdrop is of Amish country, which is where we have
a very old family farm with a vacation house in the way back. The
people who live here all the time grew some corn this year, which was
very exciting, since we haven't had corn here in maybe over a decade.
Soybeans took over. After dinner, David and I went on a walk with
Gerdy, who investigated the old pig pens, the milk processor thing,
the hay barn (which had a few too many disguised holes to fall
through), and finally the black bulls, who I didn't know were there,
but one was eyeing us...
Thanksgiving Potato Gun & Shotgun Style
Today's WTF? Moment
I saw this over at ONTD_fashinfags today. Apparently it is an outake video from a Vogue shoot from back in November 2006. I'd really like to know who on that shoot thought it would be a kick to put the three white models (Lily Donaldson, Hilary Rhoda, and Gemma Ward) in blackface and afro wigs and have them dance around in fur singing Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" into banana microphones. I can't believe I just typed that sentence. Maybe all of you have seen this already written about the a few years back but it sure is new to me.
Sasha....I Mean Beyonce in Armani Prive S/S 08
I am in full support of Beyonce wearing clothing not designed by her mother. She's been mixing it up lately sporting a few looks by more avant-garde designers like Gareth Pugh. She doesn't always pull it off but it's still fun to watch her try. Here she is in a more accessible Armani Prive top. What do you think?
S: Style.com and ONTD
S: Style.com and ONTD
Oluchi in Vogue
After a brief absence it seems Oluchi is back. From the cover of POP Magazine and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show to opening her own modeling agency in South Africa, the 6'1" Nigerian stunner is keeping very busy. I was happy to see her back on multiple pages of the December issue of Vogue (the one with Jennifer Aniston on the cover) alone and with her son Ugo.
Vogue is still far from perfect but even I will admit that some effort has been made to diversify the magazines lately. There have been several profiles in the past few months on black women like Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett, socialite Maggie Betts, and Dr. Iffie Aitkenhead. It certainly has made the magazine a more enjoyable read.
Arlenis and Indian model Lakshmi Menon also have portraits in the "Shine a Light" statement jewelry edit but so far, actual multi-page spreads are still reserved for Vogue regulars like Coco Rocha and Raquel Zimmermann.
S: scanned by Luxx/TFS and me from 12/08 Vogue
Future headquarters for Collective-E - Ha!
This is where we are having a strategy session for Collective-E! A
friend's apartment!
Actress Serena Reeder - Lucky Brand Jeans
Lucky Brand Jeans' current ad campaign features eight "real people" who the brand believes personifies luck and serendipity.
Each of the participants has a page on the official Lucky site with a photo gallery, biography and downloads. Bucket List actress Serena Reeder is the black girl in the bunch. In her video she talks about her "lucky break" audition for a movie.
She's a very pretty young lady but the hippy drippy fringe vest they put her in is something I cannot abide.
Chanel Iman - POP Magazine 20th Anniversary Issue - Josh Olins
Who says black girls can only model animal pelts? Chanel Iman shows that she can rock an ostrich just as easily as wears the cheetah. My first thoughts when seeing her wee boobies in some of these shots was 'how old is this girl again?' and 'where's her mama?' In case you're curious too, she'll be 19 at the end of the month.
S: Northern Star/TFS
Naomi Covers Russian Vogue - December 2008
Outside it's diamonds and fur, inside Mert & Marcus go for a "wilder" look.
source: ferry coal/TFS
Herve Leger Must be Stopped!
Herve Leger designed one hell of a little sexy dress didn't he? I mean it is rare that one garment could look this hot and flatter a multitude of body types but please ladies, for the sake of the children, please stop wearing these bandage dresses on the red carpet! It's right up there with Hypercolor clothing, the "grunge" look, Hammer pants, acid washed jeans and white men being the President of the United States of America...played out.
I know you love them but it's time to put them back in the closet. If you don't let go of this trend, it will never have a resurgence ten years from now.
Pics: Lipstick Alley
Nina Keita - J Crew Online
Michelle Obama is often spotted wearing clothing by retailers such as The Gap, H&M, and J. Crew. J Crew went so far as to build a special page on their website highlighting the new First Lady's pics.
I admit to being a J. Crew junkie. I'm always stalking to website and stores looking for deals on sweaters, pants and flats. One thing I've always kinda disliked about the company is the fact that they rarely use black models. When they do use non-White models, the models (particularly the females) are usually of the "ethnically ambiguous" variety.
I was surprised today when I logged onto the site and saw pictures of dark skinned beauty Nina Keita in the "new arrivals" section.
I wonder if it's just coincidence of part of a larger Obama effect. Probably the former but you can't stop a girl from dreaming.
Yasmin Warsame in Winter Banana Republic Ad Campaign
Beautiful Somalian model Yasmin Warsame is the sole brown face in the latest series of Banana Republic ads. In them she's paired with a white male model which marks the first time I can recall seeing an interracial romance themed ad from BR. It's kind of interesting to me that the last time Gap Inc. (owner of BR and Old Navy) did this kind of high profile ad it was also with an African female model (Nina Keita) paired with a white male model. I'll be honest, this kind of ad always gets my attention but I'm curious about what you think? Is it progress or more tokenism?
Chanel Iman - Harper's Bazaar - 12/08
Chanel Iman has a very nice multipage spread in the current issue of Harper's Bazaar. It's the largest spread devoted to a black model that I can recall seeing in quite awhile. Too bad the stylist couldn't suppress the urge to put her in a Dolce & Gabbana animal print dress for one of the shots. In any case, I think she looks great.
S: scanned by fer19dog
David preparing Shepherds Pie for Comfort Food Party
The 5th Annual Comfort Party is here! All of the food ireparations are
out. This is David making a shepherds pie (who knew?) and that bowl of
cheese is for my 2cheese mac and cheese. This year I'm also making
some chocolate chip cookies with the new kitchienaid, what the heck.
More pictures to come as we make things and people bring dishes!
Angela Bassett for Olay Quench Body Lotion
I'm beginning to think that cocoa butter must be the "other" creamy crack when it comes to black women. The battle against ashy starts pretty early on. I still remember my mother rubbing down my legs with Vaseline before leaving the house to keep that rolling in powdered donuts look at bay.
It seems now that, in response to the sales of rival Vaseline's cocoa butter skin care line, Olay has extended the Quench moisturizer line to include cocoa butter enthusiasts.
Beautiful and ageless Angela Bassett is the spokesmodel. I just hope this formulation doesn't have those tiny light reflecting particles, I hate the way that glittery stuff looks on my dark skin.
ETA: So I picked a bottle of this up at Target yesterday and it does contain those pesky little sparkles, though they are not as noticeable as they are in the original formulation. The scent different too, sweeter probably because of the cocoa butter. I've always really liked this lotion so now that it is not as glittery, it will probably become a staple.
Essence: Another Month, Another Dull Cover
So Will and Jada will be on the cover of the December issue of Essence Magazine. He's the biggest movie star in the world and she is his lovely and incredibly stylish actress wife. What's not to love, right?
I think they're a great couple too and I love seeing them walking hand in hand on the red carpet but c'mon, Essence! Is this the best you can do?
I've written before about how the magazine likes to play it safe and boring month after month but I was keeping my fingers crossed that with all the electricity buzzing in the air lately, that Essence would shake things up a bit.
A Barack and Michelle (or even just Michelle) cover would have been the obvious choice but if Donna Brazile (one of Essence's "Most Inspiring" people,) Condi Rice or Obama senior campaign advisor Valerie Jarrett was on the cover, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat.
Looking at this cover, I feel like I already know how the interview with Will and Jada will read and I know for sure that any beauty, health or money advice article will be a carbon copy of what was in the magazine last month.
Maybe at the very least they could take a cue from People Magazine and start running multiple pics on the cover.
Last gripe: the cover banner with "win a $100 gift card"? $100? Damn, the recession really has hit the magazine industry hard.
S: LSA
The Williams Sisters in Vogue
Andre Leon Talley has been seen all over the place with his new BFF, Venus Williams. The athlete has popped up more than once on his page in Vogue Magazine (though not in an editorial, one would have to pick up Harper's Bazaar to see that.)
While one cannot deny that both sisters have been looking more stylish lately but who knows if ALT is behind it. He worked some serious magic when he started working with Renee Zellweger but his helpful hints didn't do a lot of Jennifer Hudson or Mariah Carey.
Vogue Praises Arlenis' Curves
At de la Renta’s collection…she scored top honors: opening and closing the show in a color-block maillot and a strapless silver evening dress...both of which showed off her jaw-dropping curves (yes, curves!) to spectacular effect.
Arlenis Sosa. Lovely girl. Slim but relatively healthy looking figure. I don't know anyone who would accuse the girl of being full-figured but I had to look again after reading this piece in Vogue Magazine. Everyone knows that the fashion industry is a tad masochistic when it comes to women's bodies so I wonder if their praise of her "breathtaking" curves is really a backhanded compliment. We've already read fashion insider's complaints about black model's bodies so this comment just ads fuel to the fire. To me, Vogue is saying "Arlenis may hot be right now but lets be clear, she's not like our "regular" models!" I just hope that Arlenis (who appears to be very careful with what she eats) doesn't read this the same way and try to get that "unhealthy but employed" look.
American Laser Centers: Request for Refund
Hi those of you who are following the laser hair removal process. As you know, I've remained pretty positive about my results, and about the people in my office for American Laser Centers. Today was my 15th appointment. After my 10th appointment, when the manager got very defensive after I voiced concern over the lack of results (results being no hair any more, not just hair reduction in some places), I began to see no more results. She switched me to a "new" machine that went to 50. Unlike some of you out there, I don't know the name of it. I can't keep up with these "Amerilight Whatevers" I easily went to the setting of 40, which according to some technicians in the office, was not common and was high.
I didn't blog about my 13th or 14th appointments because they became boring. Although I enjoyed my time talking to the technician during the process, I went home hopeful that less would grow in. However, not much would change, and it was a downer until the next appointment.
I went to my 15th appointment this morning, which had to be rescheduled b/c my husband had to go to jury duty for my previous appointment and someone needed to be home to receive a package. I rescheduled it for some time later because it seemed that my regular technician wanted me on her watch. So I waited an additional 2 weeks to get onto her calendar. When I showed up this morning, I was with a brand new technician. Normally this would be fine - don't they all do the same thing - but this was a mix up and I wasted those 2 weeks. It is clear to me now that in my case, I am wasting time going to these appointments, and I have requested a refund. I will keep you posted.
See all reviews of my appointments from my American Laser Center experience >
I didn't blog about my 13th or 14th appointments because they became boring. Although I enjoyed my time talking to the technician during the process, I went home hopeful that less would grow in. However, not much would change, and it was a downer until the next appointment.
I went to my 15th appointment this morning, which had to be rescheduled b/c my husband had to go to jury duty for my previous appointment and someone needed to be home to receive a package. I rescheduled it for some time later because it seemed that my regular technician wanted me on her watch. So I waited an additional 2 weeks to get onto her calendar. When I showed up this morning, I was with a brand new technician. Normally this would be fine - don't they all do the same thing - but this was a mix up and I wasted those 2 weeks. It is clear to me now that in my case, I am wasting time going to these appointments, and I have requested a refund. I will keep you posted.
See all reviews of my appointments from my American Laser Center experience >
Recessionista Breakdown: bought a purse
Saturday days are always very dangerous times for me, if I'm trying to not spend money. Just keep me locked up, and the wallet far away in a oust in a corner, under jackets.
But today, like most Saturdays, I worked on computer designs, then forced myself to go to yoga in the afternoon. I bought 20 classes for $20 a year ago, and only now just realized that I'd used 2 of them, and they had expired. So this ecessionista begged for more time, and they extended it by two months. Which means I have to use them.
I went to a vinyasa, which kicked my hip flexers, and was about four thousand degrees, so afterwards, I was feeling pretty good. I did need a pedicure (ingrowns), and planned in my mind to get one. Gerdy needed food, so on the way walking to the pedi, I picked up some Merrick, followed by the stationery store for printer paper and pens (I live in NYC...you can't just drive to a Staples...I take what I can get within a 15 block radius), and next door to that, is a clothing store that had an amazing black jacket I was considering for the winter, but the store is always closed when I walk by, so I stopped in and tried on the jacket. Yup, it was amazing. Flingy and unique. But was $700. Darn. I wandered around the store, and happened upon a delightfully slouchy dark denim bag with the softest leather handles. It was $120. I bought it. Suze Orman would probally say: "Denied!" if I asked if I could afford that, but I snuck it onto my 0% APR Amex.
Ok, so it wasn't on my list of planned shopping (my everyday Habitual jeans have holes everywhere and are about to break in the thighs), but dammit, I'm happy about it. Satisfied, in fact.
Got My Obamica from PopJudaica!
How fun! The Obamica Yarmulke at PopJudaica.com. I missed my chance at picking up a NYTimes or AMNY cover the day after the election, so here is my proof of Obama Nation!
Wow.
This is how my soul feels.
I still can't believe it. I thought for sure that the other side would find some way to disenfranchise enough voters to drag this contest out for a few more days.
Last night I told my husband that I wouldn't believe that the results were real until The Obamas put in a change of address card at the post office. The victory didn't sink in until McCain's concession speech (which I thought was very gracious.) Maybe the old guy can go back to being himself now.
What I really love is that in spite of all the seriously nasty accusations being thrown at Obama by his detractors, the American people still elected him by a landslide.
I love my country.
Source: Jezebel
Not Gonna Lie, This Republican Mista Voted Obama
- As a small business, I am taking a little leap of faith that Obama is not going to gently force me to pay certain things for the greater good. I enjoy paying people, working with others, and helping others reach their dreams and do what makes them happy every day.
- I don't like the $250K cap, and even though I am currently under that cap, I long to be above that cap and beyond. So if there has to be a cap, I'm more comfortable with $5 million.
- I think he's a more effective leader. I not only think it, but I see it, here and abroad. How we are viewed aboard is important to me.
The first time McCain ran, I forgot to vote for him in the primaries. I was in South Carolina, and in college, and plum didn't see the value in it. Big regret. So when McCain started running again, I was excited. However, my excitement has led to shock and awe, as I've watched his campaign unfold. He seems to have very little control, and does not like to take responsibility. This reasoning is based on interviews I have seen him in, not opinion pieces. The most recent example is when he alludes to his 5,000 "top advisers" during a Larry King interview, when asked his opinion on Palin going rogue. He insinuated that he had no control over what they said. I was on the fence for a long while, up until the day he postponed his campaign in order to save the economy. His flagrant disregard for the millions of dollars and effort spent in MS scared the daylights out of me. I felt that we have a president, and a body that is supposed to make decisions. Therefore, his need to be a public super hero did not impress me. Since then, he has seemed to make quick, irrational decisions. Therefore, I feel uncomffortable trusting him with my money and future business growth.
Home Office Lunch Recipe: Chopped Salad w/ Croissant and Swiss
David and I went on a little lunch date to some fun french restaurant on Friday, and ordered soup, and split a cobb salad. This cobb salad was $14, so it's a good thing we split it. But, it put me over the edge to finally make my own salads! As easy as salads are, I never do them because of the time involved in prepping everything - chopping, wiping, eating. However, this cobb salad had everything nicely chopped and served in little sections on the plate. I figured I could chop some vegetables and put them in some Tupperware the night before. So here's a delish lunch recipe:
1 red pepper
1 red tomato
1 avacado
1 croissant
two slices swiss
sprinkle of pine nuts
sprinkle of blue cheese
dash of salt
1 package mixed green (I used Dole brand)
dressing: optional. I just squeeze a lemon onto the whole thing.
Time to make: 5 minutes
Time to prep: depends on your ingredients and how you grocery shop. I live above a grocery store, and order things online for delivery through Fresh Direct. ;) Actual cutting time of the vegis could be 20 min, which includes cleaning time.
Servings: 3 salads
PREPARING THE INGREDIENTS THE NIGHT BEFORE:
Chop the red pepper, tomato and avocado into little squares. Put them into a Tupperware container, or Glad square thing, but keep them in their own little groups. Have a package of pine nuts in your cupboard, and a hunk of blue cheese in your fridge, for continued re-use.
ON THE DAY OF YOUR LUNCH:
Slice the croissant in half. Place the swiss cheese on each half (if you are hungry, otherwise, eat one half). Place in the toaster or oven on low heat. You can easily over-toast the croissant.
Meanwhile, on a plate, take a fist-full of mixed greens. This container of mixed greens should last you for 3 salads. On top of that, sprinkle from your chopped vegetables. Don't use all of the vegetables. You will use these over 3 salads. Sprinkle on some blue cheese and pine nuts. Add a dash of salt. Dressing is up to you.
Take your croissant out of the oven and place it on your plate. Tell yourself you are out for a swanky lunch at Fast in French in Charleston, SC, and enjoy!
1 red pepper
1 red tomato
1 avacado
1 croissant
two slices swiss
sprinkle of pine nuts
sprinkle of blue cheese
dash of salt
1 package mixed green (I used Dole brand)
dressing: optional. I just squeeze a lemon onto the whole thing.
Time to make: 5 minutes
Time to prep: depends on your ingredients and how you grocery shop. I live above a grocery store, and order things online for delivery through Fresh Direct. ;) Actual cutting time of the vegis could be 20 min, which includes cleaning time.
Servings: 3 salads
PREPARING THE INGREDIENTS THE NIGHT BEFORE:
Chop the red pepper, tomato and avocado into little squares. Put them into a Tupperware container, or Glad square thing, but keep them in their own little groups. Have a package of pine nuts in your cupboard, and a hunk of blue cheese in your fridge, for continued re-use.
ON THE DAY OF YOUR LUNCH:
Slice the croissant in half. Place the swiss cheese on each half (if you are hungry, otherwise, eat one half). Place in the toaster or oven on low heat. You can easily over-toast the croissant.
Meanwhile, on a plate, take a fist-full of mixed greens. This container of mixed greens should last you for 3 salads. On top of that, sprinkle from your chopped vegetables. Don't use all of the vegetables. You will use these over 3 salads. Sprinkle on some blue cheese and pine nuts. Add a dash of salt. Dressing is up to you.
Take your croissant out of the oven and place it on your plate. Tell yourself you are out for a swanky lunch at Fast in French in Charleston, SC, and enjoy!
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