FDA OKs 1st Eyelash Drug Latisse

http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/news/20081226/fda-oks-first-eyelash-drug-latisse
Now you just have to find out if Covergirl will be cheaper than Latisse....

Big & Beautiful Woman (BBW) Defined

I’d never even heard the term BBW until I started using Yahoo! back in 2001.  I saw several chat rooms that catered to these BBW and it wasn’t until I sent an IM to a young lady who had BBW as part of screen name, that I learned what it meant.  I started looking around Yahoo! and found many groups that catered to the BBW.  Wow!  I had finally found a place where my 200+ lbs ass would fit in & not be judged according to my dress size.   It was also a place to meet & mingle with the fellas (dubbed BBW Lovers/Admirers) who were attracted to a woman with a lil more than average weight on her.  I also encountered a few who I’d classify as BBW Predators, but that’s another story for another day. 

 

I'm not one to sugarcoat anything, including my weight.  I'm fat.  I've been called everything you can think of – overweight, thick, plump, fluffy, yadda, yadda - bottom line is - I'm fat.

 

There are days when I look in the mirror & feel like Miss Universe.  On these particular days you can’t tell me nothing!  Then there are days when I sigh & wonder.   Most people don’t realize it when looking at me because of the way I carry the weight, but according to the AMA, I am clinically, morbidly obese (BMI is 40+/100+ lbs overweight). 

 

Many moons ago, at 5 foot 8, I was a svelte 135 lbs, not more than 140 lbs…definitely not skinny, but not really thick (by street definition).  Perfect size 10 {or 12 if Muda was buying the clothes}.

 

I was always the biggest & tallest chic in my clique and sometimes felt out of place, but hey, that's what teenagers do.  Once a month water-weight gain would bring tears to my eyes. 

 

I didn’t start to gain weight until my senior year in high school, right after giving birth to my one & only.

 

Now, I’ve seen several people speak on the subject of being/not being a Big & Beautiful Woman/Big Handsome Man (BBW/BHM).  Some of these topics are driven by desires of us who fit into the overweight, obese & even morbidly obese category and the desire to lose weight & become fit.  Some are driven by the way other people look at us simply because we’re fat.  Some people are honest to a fault & some are simply delusional. 

 

Some jackasses are just outright fucking rude.  We need neither judge nor jury telling us that we are fat, need to lose weight, our bodies are a temple, etc. etc.  Hello, Einstein!! Now tell us something we don’t know.   Have you ever stopped to think that maybe, just maybe, we're supposed to be fat? *lol*

 

I will be the 1^st to admit, unlike a lot of my sisters, I do know the difference between thick (which happens one of the most misused terms I’ve ever heard/seen in my life) & fat.  Contrary to popular belief, they are not one in the same.  For those who maybe unsure, here’s my take on it:

 

You are fat if:

• your waistline is the same or larger than your 40+ inch bust line
• your inner thighs applaud when you run down stairs (me!)
• you could start a fire with the friction between said thighs (me!)
• you have trouble bending over (due to belly fat) to tie/buckle your shoes (me!)
• you have no neck
• you cannot feel your collarbone  (heard that from a friend)
• you have a top & bottom stomach (heard that from a different friend & I still bugg up everytime she says it)
• you cannot climb a flight of stairs without gasping for dear life & you aren’t asthmatic
• you need a seat-belt extender on a commercial flight
• you stand in the mirror & must lift your stomach just to see your vagina/penis
• your back fat could pass for a 2^nd set of breasts
• you have man breasts
• you wear low-rise jeans (which yo ass really shouldn’t) and you have that whole muffin top look happening
• you suffer from Dunlap Syndrome (your belly done lapped over your waistband)
• your upper arm fat overlaps your elbows
• your feet look like ham hocks in your shoes
• you cannot comfortably fit in the bathtub (unless you are Shaq)
• you have cracked/broken a toilet bowl
• you cannot use an average store bought scale, considering the good ones don’t max until 310 lbs.)
• you have a handicapped parking placard or plates because you would damn near die and/or your lower extremities couldn’t take it (due to weight) if you had to walk from the far end of the parking lot
• you don't see a doctor regularly because you don't want to know your true weight & you don't want to hear the sermon about how you need to lose it

{Fellas, even tho this is geared towards the sisters, I threw a few bullets in for you as well.}

 

If you fall into even a few of the bullet points above & you still need to/tend to refer to yourself as thick to make you feel better, God bless you.

 

I even knew a chic who was about was 350 lbs. easily and a tad bit shorter than I am, but considers herself “fit” because she had no other health issues.  Ummm ok.  Neither do I, but fit doesn’t describe me or those like me.  I could definitely go on, but I think you get the general idea.

 

Granted, there are some fat folks who really need a reality check, but on the other hand, they are so far gone, there’s nothing you could say to convince them otherwise.

 

Beautiful comes in all shapes, sizes and colors.  You do not have to be a size 0- 12 to be beautiful.  For the record, zero is not a size for a grown woman. It's a cry for help.  (Nah, I'm just kidding as I know a few size zero sisters.)

 

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly is to the bone. (My t-shirt in the pic reads "I may be big, but you're ugly and I can lose weight!)

 

I just had to get this off my chest & I thank you for listening.

Wacky Beauty Tips That Work

Toothpaste on a zit? Vinegar in your hair? Some of that ridiculous-sounding advice you've heard in passing is really right on

By Cosmopolitan

You've been told this line before: "Okay, I know it's weird but ..." What follows is surprising advice — about anything from clearing up a zit to taming a flyaway — that totally does the trick. Call it word-of-mouth beauty. Sure, these tips might sound strange at first ("You put diaper cream where?!"), but there's a logic to them. We rounded up tons of such pointers (from pros as well as real girls) and tested them at Cosmo. Though a few clunkers had to be kicked to the curb, all the rest, presented here, are real gems.

1. Powder Your Roots
If your hairline starts to look greasy, dig up a big, fluffy makeup brush, and dip it into a pot of loose powder. Tap it once on the back of your hand to remove the excess, then dust it over your roots. It mops up oil and blends into your strands, so no one will know you didn't shower.

2. Scent Strands with Perfume
Spray a light shot of fragrance into the bristles. Run it through strands from roots to ends and your hair will smell amazing throughout the day.

3. Cure Calluses with Vaseline
Slather on the petroleum jelly, and put on socks before bed to dissolve tough calluses overnight.

4. Spot-Treat Smudges
Dip a cotton swab in eye-makeup remover, and trace it along your lids to erase any slipups or goofs when there's no time to redo your whole look.

5. Fix a Flushed Face
If you turn red and stay that way after exercising (like seriously red for hours, even though you're healthy and hydrated), take an antihistamine like Benadryl when you leave the gym to reduce redness.

6. Soften Your Bod with Avocado
Take a ripe avocado, remove the pit and skin, and mash it up in a bowl. Slather it all over your body, let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse off. Your skin will be so soft — avocado is a natural moisturizer.

7. Super-Glue a Nail
Instead of tearing off your nail when it breaks, put a tiny dab of Super Glue over the split, and paint a generous layer of your favorite nailpolish shade over it. Go for an opaque option (like red, purple, or coral) to camouflage and seal the crack.

8. Use Makeup Remover on Stubborn Lipstick
Don't try to rub off red lipstick (which makes it smear across your mouth — not so sexy). Instead, take a cotton ball or tissue, dip it in makeup remover, and just dab to erase the dark stain fast.

9. Tame Brows with Eye Cream
Pat any kind of rich eye cream over brows to help keep them hydrated and banish those icky white specks that look like dandruff.

10. Buff with Baking Soda
If you find yourself streaking (not glowing) after applying self-tanner, put some baking soda on a loofah, and scrub away the stripes.

11. Brush on Hair Spray
For the final step of your blow-dry, spray hair spray onto your brush, and run it through strands from roots to tips. This way, your do isn't so plastered and stiff but still holds volume and shine.

12. Boost Body Lotion with Baby Oil
If you're craving shiny legs that aren't greasy, blend a drop of baby oil into your normal body lotion for extra luster.

13. Dab Essential Oil on a Hangnail
Put on apricot oil, the kind found in health-food stores, to protect cuticles from turning rough and raggedy.

14. Quell a Cold Sore with Cream
When a cold sore is coming on, dab a bit of thick moisturizer, like Aquaphor, over it to prevent it from getting worse.

15. Freeze Your Eyeliner
If the tip of your eyeliner pencil crumbles and smears on your lids, store the liner in the freezer for 15 minutes before use so the tip is firm and goes across your skin smoothly.

16. Use Toothpaste on a Zit
Use just a pea-size amount. Let sit for 15 minutes to absorb the oil so the pimple won't get more clogged, then wash off.

17. Heat Up Your Curler
If you have stick-straight lashes, try blasting your metal eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a couple seconds to heat it up so your lashes bend more easily. And use a waterproof mascara. The formula dries faster than other mascaras, so it sets the curl more effectively.

18. Use Soap Without Water
You know those fancy bars that are actually too pretty to use? Toss them in your underwear or tee-shirt drawers to make your skin smell delicious.

19. Groom Brows with a Toothbrush
Mist an (unused!) toothbrush or eyebrow comb with hair spray to help flatten and tame unruly brows.

20. Put Diaper-Rash Cream on Dry Spots
Slather on a thick layer of diaper-rash cream to heal cracked elbows and feet.

21. Lubricate Your Lashes
An easy way to draw attention to your eyes without putting on a pile of makeup is to comb petroleum jelly lightly through the tips of eyelashes to get a sexy, subtle sparkle.

22. Spike Lotion with Bronzer
If you don't have time to book a self-tanning session, mix a few pumps of body bronzer with regular hand lotion and pat it on your legs for a gradual dose of sexy, beachy color.

23. Air-Dry Your Curls
Let your hair dry indoors before going out in the cold. The curls will be really bouncy and piecey-perfect.

24. Press a Tea Bag on Splotches
If your skin is sensitive or just looking irritated and puffy for some reason, steep a bag of green tea for a minute or two, let it cool down, and dab it over your face. The antioxidants in the tea take down inflammation.

25. Shave with Conditioner
Ran out of shaving cream? Do double duty by coating your stems with a thick hair conditioner. It softens the hair so it's easier to shave off and makes legs feel amazingly silky.

26. Amp Shine with Vinegar
Mix one part vinegar with four parts carbonated water, and soak dry hair. Leave on for 15 minutes before you shampoo to lock in shine and combat dullness.

27. Exfoliate Your Pits
If your underarms start to look dry and flaky, an easy trick is to exfoliate them with a gentle face scrub to keep that skin pretty when going sleeveless.

28. Customize Your Body Lotion
Instead of shelling out for an expensive perfumed body product, you can make your own by pouring a few drops of fragrance into any scent-free lotion. Rub it on-the scent will last for hours.

29.  "Brush" with Mouthwash
If you're too wiped out after a late night of partying to clean your teeth, rinse with water and mouthwash, then use a dry toothbrush on the area where your teeth hit your gums.

30. Make an Egg-White Mask
To revive tired, dull skin without hitting the spa table, try this: Crack open an egg in a bowl, separate the yolk, and use the egg whites to make a face mask. The proteins help to heal and restore skin's moisture. Leave it on for five minutes, and rinse off.

Reprinted with permission from Hearst Communications, Inc.

Magic Shave Powder

Rating:	★
Category:	Other

I'm reading a magazine section on hair removal tips & there's a salon owner who has converted all of her waxing clients to using the powder. She says" It gets rid of everything--even coarse hair--but it never irritates."

What say you???

PS I'm giving it one star, only because I have no clue.

Chip-Resistant Nail Polishes | Women's Health Magazine

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty-and-style/chip-resistant-nail-polishes
Testers comments included.

Reality TV Competition for Wannabe Models 35 & Older

http://www.tvland.com/originals/shesgotthelook/
She's Got the Look : Model Search : tvland.com

Make-Up or Not?

This blog is moreso for my sisters, but fellas feel free to chime in & leave your nickel's worth.

I was hanging out with my cousin when she mentioned she wanted some pics for her boyfriend & myspace page.  Oh, in case you didn't know I'm an aspiring photographer....I enjoy being behind the camera as well as in front of it.  Anyway, she went home & met me back at my house.  She brought a few different outfits & got her pause/flash on. I took a few shots in my backyard, living room & on her car.

Upon downloading the pics, which turned out nicely if I must say so myself, I noticed her facial imperfections, i.e., pimple scars, etc. came thru a little too perfect.  I suggested she might want to try wearing foundation for her photos next time.  You would've thought I said take a 9mm to your head, with the way she reacted.  Her response was, "I don't need that shit to look good!"  I was like damn!!   OK, hold up sista!  I didn't say you were unattractive &  I wasn't trying to be critical.   I said a lil foundation would hide the imperfections & make the photos look a lot better!  Again she responded with, "I said I don't need that shit..."  Keep in mind girlfriend was wearing a weave (a damn good one, but a weave nonetheless) & light brown contacts , but I digress.

Mind you, even tho I don't do weave or colored contacts, I do wear foundation especially when I know I'm gonna be photographed.  I just think an even-toned face photographs so much better.   I didn't even need it until approximately 2 years ago, but I think that comes with the aging process, therefore, ain't no shame in my game.  As much as I like being photographed I want them to be nice.

Was I wrong or being too superficial to suggest make-up to her?

To Shave or Not to Shave...that is the question!

Do you shave your legs?

Always!

 

 4

Only on special occasions.

 

 2

Sometimes/Rarely

 

 3

Never!

 

 6

I was having a convo with some co-worker/friends, some white, some black & 1 is a combination of the 2.  I don't even remember how we got on the subject but the white girls asked of we (black women) shaved our legs.  I was the only one to answer "no".  The other black women answered "sometimes" and our mulatto sister answered "yes".  The look of amazement when I answered no was kind of shocking to me. 

However, after they looked at my legs, they saw why I don't.  My skin is dark & the hair on my legs is as fine as a frog hair.  As long as my legs are lotioned or oiled up, I'm good to go.

The white chicks followed up by stating they have to shave their legs like every 2 days or so. 

I do know 1 or 2 Sasquatches (very hairy-legged women) who could benefit from a good, old-fashioned blow torch! *lol* I guess I'll consider myself lucky.

PS I do have to hit the armpits once or twice a week but other than that, I'm cool.

PSS Fellas, how do you feel about hairy-legged women?

Is Beauty Really Her Name?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder & the eyes are the windows to the soul.

Webster's defines beauty as: Click here

 

I've noticed a lot of women {and even some men} are under the false assumption that lighter skin, hair weaves, colored-contacts lenses, false eyelashes, excessive make-up, designer clothing/accessories & bling-bling defines beauty.  How can it be when you wouldn't be caught dead without your "face" on, let alone empty the garbage?

 

While there is nothing wrong with the aforementioned enhancements, but if that's how you define/see beauty, {IMHO} you are wrong.

 

 

There is vanity in us all, plain & simple. If there wasn't, the beauty salons, make-up manufacturers, plastic & weight loss surgeons, tanning salons, etc., wouldn't be the successful entities they are today.

 

Now, before you think I'm just hating & blasting on those who utilize the above, I'm not. Keep in mind, I used wear {clear} contact lenses, {Lasik is the bomb and pure vanity}.  I also use make-up on occasion & sport designer clothing/handbags. However, that's not how I define beauty & certainly don't think other women are envious of me because of these things.

 

In this day & age, anyone who so desires, can enhance their outer appearance. If you happen to have a lil more loot and/or better group health benefits than the Average Joe, you can become whomever in the sam hell you choose to be. Be it lenses by Bausch & Lomb, Lasik by Crown Optical (they are fantastic!), make-up by M.A.C, lashes from KimSoo (local beauty supply house) jeans by Baby Phat or a lil nip/tuck by Dr. Soyouwannabeslim or Dr. Nowyoureallyfine.

 

The bottom line is - if you think a person of substance (notice the term "substance") would be jealous/envious of you because of said temporary enhancements, you're sadly mistaken.

 

Remember the old adage - Beauty may only be skin deep, but ugly is to the bone!

 

As always, feel free to comment.

Fellas, may I have your attention for a moment?

Fellas, have you had or would you consider a boyzilian wax (definition below)?

 

If not, would you consider it if your partner requested it? Talk to me boys!

 

Ladies, feel free to comment as well.

 

Boyzilian is cosmetology jargon for a male version of the Brazilian waxing.  Full body waxing, including genital and buttock waxing, has been popular in the gay community for some time, and has recently spread to heterosexual males as well.

 

 

Many men, especially in the body building and fitness community especially cyclists, are doing some form of genital waxing.

 

 

Some cyclists have observed that the removal of hair between the legs reduces saddle irritation on long bike rides. Cyclists and swimmers have long removed the hair on the legs to reduce wind resistance and drag underwater.

 

 

In the male version of the Brazilian wax, men will sometimes leave a triangle-shaped patch or runway above the penis untouched (since this area can be exceptionally sensitive to irritation) and a few will sometimes also leave the hair surrounding the anus intact (while removing that found on the buttocks). Many have it all removed out of fastidiousness.

E.L.F. Makeup Clearance Sale!

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/shop.asp
Apparently the make-up line E.L.F. ( Eyes, Lips, and Face) has been bought out by Nordstrom and will be re-packaged with the Nordstrom name on it. They are getting rid of all the make-up in ELF packaging.

I hear it's pretty good make-up. They are selling most everything for $1. Yes - one dollar. You do have to pay shipping, however, even with that charge its cheaper than buying make-up anywhere else and it is fun to try things when you don't have to worry about the cost!

They have powder, mascara, brushes, nail polish, you name it.

Also, if you use the coupon code: CAROLINA you will get $7.50 off your first $15 of your purchase.

And if you spend $53 before tax, you get free shipping with coupon code: SHIP45

Makeup Gone Wrong

I started experimenting with makeup when I was about 12/13.  Mama & Muda did allow lipgloss but nothing more.  Nail polish (other than a clear coat), lipstick & eye makeup was forbidden.  Papa Jones wasn't having it.  I had to convince him that my "lipgloss" was actually Vaseline. Old dude went so far as to ask me why I wanted to look like a whore?  *record scratch* Damn Papa...never mind.  Needless to say, my face was always makeup free in his presence.  {R.I.P. Papa}

Lawd knows I've had some mishaps over the last 20+ years - the purple Wet & Wild lipstick, the liquid liner drawn on symbols in the corners of my eyes, the blue eye shadow with the pink outfit & so many others.

I'm still learning which foundations work best with the camera.  I've seen some of my photos & was taken aback. I didn't look cute, I looked ashy as a mofo!  Soooo not cute on film.

Ladies & Gentlemen alike - what makeup mishaps on others just makes you cringe?