New Year Party Eye Makeup

Hello Divas!

As we prepare to ring in the New Year I know that many of us will be going to some fabulous parties.

Here are a few last minute party makeup tips so that you look your usual gorgeous self.

Conventional wisdom told us to wear a certain eye shadow with a color that is different from your natural eye color to make your eyes pop. This was because shadows were often thick and chalky and were hard to blend well.

The new eye shadow formulas are now so light that you can wear a lot of it still not look fake. For this New Year I give you the following tips

Brown Eyes

Wear copper, gold or bronze eye shadow.

(image from indianmakeupdiva.com)

This is a lovely way to warm up your brown eyes even more without looking overdone.

Blue Eyes

Wear deep blue, silver or violet shadow.

(image from reviews.ebay.com)

Wearing this violet shade brings out the blue in her eyes even more.
The cool tones in the shadow make your blue look even brighter and you look more like a DIVA!!!

Green or Hazel Eyes

Wear various shades of green shadow.

(image from flickr.com)

The green serves as an extension of her natural eye color, making the eye look bigger and brighter.

So what are your makeup tips for the parties?

Merry Christmas to All

Hello Divas!

I just wanted to wish everyone a beautiful and Merry Christmas.

Remember to stay hydrated this season because the cold air and alcohol can wreak havoc on your skin. Just because we are partying it does not mean that we can let our beautiful skin get damaged.

Wear a moisturizer with SPF because the sun is still harmful during the winter season.

Stay beautiful and divalicious!!!!!

Giveaways Have Been Stopped

Hello Divas!

I have decided to stop the giveaways because they are no longer being successful.

@ commentor SeptemberLoverly send me your address at AuroraLava AT gmail DOT com and I will send you the last giveaway item since I agree with your comment about changing the rules.

Of course, since you said you will not come back I guess I might not get an email....but in case you I will still give you the last giveaway item....but the Beauty Loot Giveaway is now discontinued.

Beauty Loot Giveaway: Update

Hello Divas!!!

I guess no one wants the BIC soleil shavers this week. The rules state that you must subscribe to the feed and linkback.
I have only received one comment (without a link) and one person is not enough to do a drawing.

We will be moving on to the next giveaway on Monday which is the L'Oreal Advanced Revitalift creme.

Beauty Loot Giveaway: Bic Soleil

Hello Divas!

The item up for grabs this week is the *BIC Soleil Shaver*. Yes ladies this item is up for grabs again!!!!

**

I am running a promotion here to increase awareness of the blog. Every Friday (until items run out) I will be giving a beauty/skincare/haircare item away to readers.

To be considered for the promotion...all you have to do is follow one of two simple steps:

1. Promote the giveaway on your blog by talking about and linking back here AND
   
2. Subscribe to the feed (orange button up top)

When you have done this you will need to leave a comment on the giveaway post to let me know who is interested in the prize. I will then draw from the entries that week.

Please note that you must do both steps to be entered in the drawing.

You can do both of these tasks and earn yourself two entries every week if you wish. The winner for the week will be announced on the blog so you must come back to see if you are a winner.

There are a number of different prizes up for grabs so let your readers know.

Show your interest for a chance to win this item and come back next week for the next giveaway!

Winner of Garnier Cleansing Cloths

Hello Divas!

The winner of this week's Beauty loot giveaway: Garnier nutritioniste cleansing cloths is commentor quitecontrary1977.

Please send me an email at auroralava AT gmail DOT com with your address so I can get the package shipped to you.

Congratulations and do spread the word about the blog and the giveaways!

Beauty Loot Giveaway: Garnier Nutritioniste Cleansing Cloths

Hello Divas!

The item up for grabs this week is the *Garnier Nutritioniste Cleansing Cloths*.


image

I am running a promotion here to increase awareness of the blog. Every Friday (until items run out) I will be giving a beauty/skincare/haircare item away to readers.

To be considered for the promotion...all you have to do is follow one of two simple steps:

1. Promote the giveaway on your blog by talking about and linking back here OR
2. Subscribe to the feed (orange button up top)

When you have done this you will need to leave a comment on the giveaway post to let me know who is interested in the prize. I will then draw from the entries that week.

You can do both of these tasks and earn yourself two entries every week if you wish. The winner for the week will be announced on the blog so you must come back to see if you are a winner.

There are a number of different prizes up for grabs so let your readers know.

Show your interest for a chance to win this item and come back next week for the next giveaway!

Winner Of Beauty Loot Giveaway

Hello Divas!

Well it seems that no one wanted this week's giveaway of L'Oreal (not even as a gift for someone) so there is no winner today.

The giveaway for next week is Garnier nutritioniste cleansing cloths.

Diva Hair Dos and Don'ts: Short Hair

Hello Divas!

Here are some Dos and Don'ts for Short Hair.

Do

• Play with texture. Short hair is the most versatile so don't be afraid to 'mess' it up a bit.

• Create bangs. They frame your face in a pretty way and prevent you from looking like a boy.

Don't

• Lose control. If you are afraid of having your hair too short do not let someone talk you into a cut above the chin. Go with what you are comfortable with.

• Get the wrong cut. Choose a style that accentuates your face when it comes to shape and size.

Always Infinity Pads Review

Hello Divas!

I am telling you about a great personal care product that I have tried. Have you heard about the new Always Infinity Pads?

These are a great new product from Always and they really do work as promised. I have had heavy periods that have driven me crazy. I recently got the Always Infinity Pads and I must say there is no going back for me.

Always has been the brand for me since they have those long pads.....yes I needed to wear the overnight ones during the day because my periods were so heavy. Sitting was uncomfortable because I never knew when I would spring a leak with other pads.

I still had to change my pads a bit often....like every four hours with the regular Always pads. 

This was not very convenient for me when at work....so when I heard about the Always Infinity pads I decided to try them.

Now I can go for six hours without needing a change. This works for me since I can make one bathroom trip during my lunch to change and be ok for the rest of the day.

Now if only they came with cleaning wipes like the other Always.........

Diva Hair Dos and Don'ts: Medium Hair

Hello Divas!

Here are some Dos and Don'ts for Medium Hair.

Do

• Get face framing highlights. These instantly make your face look brighter and they are easy to manage.

• Use a round brush. This helps you to maximize the movement and volume of your hair.

Don't

• Get a one length cut at the shoulder. It looks like an overgrown bob and is not cute at all.

• Ignore thinning hair. If your hair is thinning then you should not grow it past the shoulders. It is better to trim and have healthy shorter hair.

See also Diva Hair Dos and Don'ts: Long Hair

Beauty Loot Giveaway: L'Oreal

Hello Divas!

The item up for grabs this week is the *L'Oreal Advanced Revitalift*. This prize will be given away on Friday next week so be sure to come back and check to see if you are the winner.



I am running a promotion here to increase awareness of the blog. Every Friday (until items run out) I will be giving a beauty/skincare/haircare item away to readers.

To be considered for the promotion...all you have to do is follow one of two simple steps:

1. Promote the giveaway on your blog by talking about and linking back here OR
2. Subscribe to the feed (orange button up top)

When you have done this you will need to leave a comment on the giveaway post to let me know who is interested in the prize. I will then draw from the entries that week.

You can do both of these tasks and earn yourself two entries every week if you wish. The winner for the week will be announced on the blog so you must come back to see if you are a winner.

There are a number of different prizes up for grabs so let your readers know.

Show your interest for a chance to win this item and come back next week for the next giveaway!

F*^&%$ Up My Armpits

Hello Divas!

I have gone through many trials and tribulations with trying to lighten my armpits and all the issues that happened with that.

Now I have gone and TOTALLY f*^%$# up my armpits with this new antiperspirant.

Not only do I have ugly dark underarms, I also perspire a lot. As a result I have to use those clinical strength antiperspirants.

It gets EVEN better. I have sensitive skin and for some reason when I use a product for a while it no longer works, so I have to use something different.

I have normally been using Dove and Secret and they have been working well. The two that I have were about to run out so I decided to try out this new antiperspirant that I had just gotten.

I should have stuck with what I know.

I used it one day to go to work and noticed that
1. It did not keep me as dry as the others and
2. My armpits felt a little bit itchy.

By the time I got home from work my armpits were VERY itchy so I took a shower. I noticed some little bumps under my arm so I went to sleep without putting anything on. Of course the next day I had to go to work so I squeezed a little bit of Dove out and went to work.

This is what my pits look like three days later.Not sure if you can see the bumps....but they are there and they itch and burn.

As soon as I got home I took a shower again to give my pits some time to recover. I have been through this before and the only thing that works is to not wear anything while I am at home because I can sweat as much as I want and there is no one to notice.

Looks like I am in for a week of peeling and itching and burning. I guess it is time to stock up on Dove and Secret so I can avoid this happening again.

Winner of Bic Soleil Shaver

Hello Divas!

I am pleased to announce the winner of the Bic Soleil shaver from last week's Beauty Loot Giveaway: Bic Soleil . Sorry that I did not put up the results on Friday.

The winner is commenter Mistress Meeyee!!!!

Please email me at lulugal11 AT yahoo DOT com with your mailing address. Please note that I do not ship outside of the US.

Remember to come back and check out the next item up for grabs for YOUR chance to win some beauty loot!!!

Diva Hair Dos and Don'ts: Long Hair

Hello Divas!

Here are some Dos and Don'ts for Long Hair
Do

• Deep condition every week. Your hair needs to be kept moist to remain healthy.

• Get trims every 6 to 8 weeks. There is no other way to get rid of the split ends that look so unsightly.

Don't

• Keep it too long. If your hair is not proportionate to your body then you look overwhelmed by it.

• Go crazy with the flatiron. Too much heat is very damaging for the hair.

Quick Diva Tips: Shorter Shampoo

Hello Divas!

Welcome to the Diva Tip of the Day. Today we will talk about Shorter Shampoos.

Now this does not mean that you do not take the time to properly wash your hair. It just means that you do not need to have the marathon shampoo EVERY day. If you wash your hair every day then you can cut down the time by simply shampooing the roots when you are in a hurry.

Let the shampoo run down the ends of the hair while you bathe and then let them rinse off while you rinse off.



This lets your hair clean up quickly and you can spend longer on the days when you do have time. I am especially loving Pantene Beautiful lengths right now and you might want to check it out too.

Quick Diva Tips: Tinted Moisturizer With SPF

Hello Divas!

Welcome to the Diva Tip of the Day. Today we will talk about Tinted Moisturizer with SPF.

We are in a hurry every day because everyone KNOWS that Divas have very busy lives. Why not let your makeup perform double duty so that you have more time to be your fabulous self?



Put on a tinted moisturizer that also has an SPF of at least 15 so that you look great AND protect your skin from sun damage.

Quick Diva Tips: Cold Water

Hello Divas!

Welcome to the Diva Tip of the Day. Today we will talk about Cold Water.

Cold Water can be used to quickly brighten up your face when you are in a hurry. Cold water tightens and tones your skin temporarily by shrinking the pores.

It also feels invigorating so you get a boost out of feeling that cold splash!

Divas Need To Declutter Their Purses

Hello Divas!

Every Diva I know has a fabulous purse at her side. Most Divas I know have purses that are WAY too heavy to be cute.

You can have your cute purse and carry the essentials and still be stylish without doing damage. A purse that is too heavy will tug on your shoulders and over time this leads to you being slightly off balance.

NOT cute!

Here are some tips to keep your purse and posture looking great.

Every day:

• Empty coins
• Remove waste

Weekly:

• Remove receipts
• Check makeup

Keep your purse light and you will do wonders for your posture.

Beauty Loot Giveaway: Bic Soleil

Hello Divas!

The item up for grabs this week is the Bic Soleil shaver with extra cartridges.



Show your interest for a chance to win this item and come back next week for the next giveaway!

Diva Beauty Giveaway Rules

Hello Divas!

I am running a promotion here to increase awareness of the blog. Every Friday (until items run out) I will be giving a beauty/skincare/haircare item away to readers.

To be considered for the promotion...all you have to do is follow one of two simple steps:

1. Promote the giveaway on your blog by talking about and linking back here OR
2. Subscribe to the feed (orange button up top)

When you have done this you will need to leave a comment on the giveaway post to let me know who is interested in the prize. I will then draw from the entries that week.

You can do both of these tasks and earn yourself two entries every week if you wish. The winner for the week will be announced on the blog so you must come back to see if you are a winner.

There are a number of different prizes up for grabs so let your readers know.

Diva Beauty Giveaway Preview

Hello Divas!

Some of you have been sending me private messages asking WHAT the giveaway stuff is. I can tell you that it will be some great quality beauty and skin care items like this:

*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Cover Girl Clean Makeup

If you use makeup then you already know how fabulous Cover Girl is so I don't even need to talk about it.

I stopped shaving but I do have TONS of great razors for those of you who still shave.
You have a chance to win this Bic Soleil Shaver with two cartridges AND a shower holder. It is such a pretty shade that it makes me want to hold on to it and start using shavers again...almost.

This is just a tiny preview of the stuff that is coming and I will have more details soon.

To enter the contest to win items all you have to do is:

• Subscribe to the feed OR
• Spread the word about the contest (linking back to the posts here helps).

You will get one entry for each item and I will do the giveaways every Friday. Spread the word and I will round up more items for the giveaway.

Stay beautiful and always be fabulous!

Great Hair Begins With A Trim

Hello Divas!

This past weekend I had the opportunity to have my friend work her magic on my hair. I do not like people touching my hair so there are really just a few people who can actually do anything to my hair.

I have been away from my hairdresser for a few months so I have had to do everything on my own. I put in my texturizer and flat iron my hair in my bathroom because I do not trust the hairdressers where I am.

This weekend, the girl who usually works on my hair said that I had some nasty split ends and she needed to trim. I told her to go ahead because I know she always takes great care of my hair.

After I deep conditioned, she blow dried my hair and then proceeded to trim. She cut about 1.5 inches and also fixed my bangs, which were kept long enough to fall just above my eyes.

She used some oil to moisturize my scalp because she said that I have some issues with dryness. Then she used a Chi to straighten out my hair and it looks fabulous!!!!!

Beauty Giveaway Coming Soon!

Hello Divas!

In order to celebrate the good things going on here at this blog I have decided to have a beauty giveaway.

I will be giving away a few items to some of my loyal readers and some to new readers so check back soon for more details.

New Diva Look

Hello Divas!

I hope you all noticed that I am sporting a new look here for the blog.

Please let me know what you think since I am experimenting with a few different things now.

Do you like the new look or not?

Prevent Fine Lines On Your Face...Sleep On Your Back

Hello Divas!

It is time for the Simple Beauty Tip of the Day.

We all know that getting a good night's rest is essential to keeping our Diva good looks. But you might be hurting yourself by sleeping the WRONG way.

When you sleep on your face, the friction caused by your pillow increases the formation of fine lines on your face. This leads to wrinkles....which are NOT Divalike.

Sleep on your back to prevent your face from rubbing on the pillow and you will reduce the fine lines on your face.

Looking For A Logo

Hello Divas!

I am currently looking for a logo for this site. I would like to change the look of the blog a bit since I have been using a free template and it is very boring.

If you know of anyone who does logo design please let me know.

And as always...be fabulous!

Only 'White' People Wet Their Hair In The Mornings...assorted rubbish

Hello Divas!

I have been away for a while but I have not forgotten you all. I had an amusing conversation with a coworker last week and I just HAD to share it with you all.

As you all know I am a light skinned Black woman. Now I happen to have medium length hair, which currently falls at just below my shoulders.

I have a texturizer in my hair so it is a bit curly and resembles Joan's hair from Girlfriends. My hair is very thick and some times I am NOT in the mood to style it every day so last week I took a shortcut.

I washed my hair before going to work and put in a leave in conditioner and went out the door. When I got to work this coworker who happens to be Black as well kept looking at my hair.

Her: Did you wet your hair this morning?
Me: Yes I washed it and put a leave in conditioner.
Her: Are you crazy?
Me: Why?
Her: Only White People wet their hair in the mornings. You're bright but you AIN'T white.
Me: So?
Her: Well, you must gots that GOOD hair then. You better watch out because it will be all frizzy in the afternoon.

OMG!

I almost died laughing.
This was a grown woman...talking all country first of all and then so silly second of all.

To think that in this day and age someone would be talking to me like that. Then she just kept looking at me all day and shaking her head.

I used this smooth and shine leave in conditioner and my hair was curly and pretty all day.

Have you experienced any funny beauty stories? Please do share.

Pucker Up for Pretty Lips

I recently mentioned how I got some WetSlicks Amazemint lip gloss. It is really the best lip gloss that I have had in a while.

The gloss smells great and it has a slightly minty flavor and smell to it.

The color is light and pretty and really makes my lips look great without being too shiny or sticky.

Call For Diva Tips

Hello Divas!

Today I am putting out a call for your best tips on what to do to remain:

Fabulous

Stylish

Beautiful

Divalicious

Please comment below with your best Diva tips and I will compile them into one post.

Watermelon Ice Nail Polish

Hello Divas!

I decided to paint my nails and wanted to have a color that was flattering but also easy to manage. I chose a pink of course since a Diva will always be pretty in pink.

I got great nail polish from Pure Ice called Watermelon Ice.

It is a very pretty pink and it will go well with just about any skin tone.

Sorry I could not get a picture of it but you can get it at Walmart.

Get Your Diva Beauty Sleep

Hello Divas.

I have been running about busy, busy, busy and I have not been sleeping well at all. Now we all know that to be a Diva you NEED to get your beauty sleep.

However for those times when you just cannot get all the rest you need you will need some tools to fake that well rested look. We will talk about that another time though.

First you need to make your bedroom your sanctuary. You will need a few items to spruce up your sleeping quarters and make them a place that is truly fit for a Diva.

(all images are clickable and you can purchase directly from Amazon.com if you find something you like)

Bed
You do not have to have the biggest bed in the world to pamper yourself when you sleep. All you need is to make sure that it is comfortable for you when you lie down so that you can make the best of your rest.

Pillow
A real Diva MUST have a memory foam pillow. While these are a bit more pricey than regular pillows they are in investment that is well worth it. The first time I slept on a memory foam pillow I almost lost my mind.

It felt so good that I wished that I had a memory foam bed to sleep in....but that is way beyond my means right now. I got one of these pillows from WalMart but you can order it through this link from Amazon and get it shipped to you.

These are just two of the things a Diva needs to make her bedroom a sanctuary. What do you use to make your boudoir better?

On Teeth Whitening

Hello again Divas.

It seems that lately I have been on a whitening trend so here I go with teeth whitening. I have tried teeth whitening before because I drink coffee or tea EVERY day.

We all know that those things stain your teeth and dull, yellowish teeth are NOT attractive at all. Well at least in this society.

I tried Crest Whitestrips along with some other techniques and I found that the Crest Whitestrips gave the best results for the money and time.

The strips were easy to use and in 4 days I noticed the results. I used the strips on the bottom teeth only so I could compare to the top teeth to see if they were lying.

Divas I must say I was pleasantly surprised. You could tell a DRAMATIC difference in the teeth that had the strips on and those that did not.

If you really want to whiten your teeth and have a better looking smile I suggest you use Crest Whitestrips and not any of that other stuff because it just does not work.

Armpit Whitening Update

Hello again Divas!!!

Sorry that I have been away for so long but I really appreciate the comments. I tried waxing my armpits in order to whiten them and I have had some mixed results.

I just wanted to give an update on how the armpits look now.
This is the right armpit taken today with the camera phone. Here is what that armpit looked like when I first decided to stop shaving and start waxing.
Actually I am not sure if that is the left arm or the right arm....I mixed up the pics. But be assured that both pits are equally dark...black even.

I originally started using the wax strips shown here:
but then I ran out of them. I moved on to using the wax kit shown here instead and it was an experience!!!!
The wax kit is MUCH harder to use because you have to microwave the wax but not get it too hot where you burn yourself.

Well I warmed up the wax and then ran back to the bathroom to apply it. I got one swipe with the stick and then the stick decided to get stuck to my underarm...so I had to gently nudge it off.

I then applied the strip and pressed it down a few times. After a few seconds I grabbed the strip, said a prayer and let 'er rip.

Ouch!

Using the melted wax hurts more than the other wax strips.

It did take out more hair.....and skin.

I think the melted wax works better but it just takes more practice to get it done right. I will stick with that and see what happens.

I think the pits look lighter....what do you think?

Oh Honey!

I recently tried sweetening my tea with honey instead of sugar and I must say I was pleasantly surprised.

The honey made the tea sweet without being overpowering. Honey is also better for you than white sugar because it digest slowly and keeps your blood sugar levels more stable.

Honey is also great for hydrating your skin so it is wonderful for inside and out. All you need to do is add a teaspoon of honey to your body wash or face wash and mix well. Massage it into your skin and then rinse off.

You will feel the difference after just one use..so try it out.

Visit My Amazon Fragrances Store

Hello Divas!!!

Please take some time to visit my Amazon Fragrances Store when you get a chance. Right now I only have a few perfumes on there that I have PERSONALLY tried and liked.

My latest addition is Fabulosity by Kimora Lee Simmons. I got this for my birthday and I must say I feel fabulous when wearing it.

I will be adding a few more in as I find things I like but if you have any suggestions be sure to let me know.

Cleaning and Organizing My Bathroom Sink

Welcome Divas!

Today I am cleaning out my bathroom sink because I must say it has become quite a mess in the last few days. I normally give it a good cleaning on the weekend but I have not done so for about two weeks now since I have been so busy.


The Mess
The sink looked like this when I went in to clean:

Yes I know this is a horrible mess and it makes me shudder to think of the confusion here. Luckily I have a spare bathroom so my guest did not have to see this bit of ugly because it certainly was NOT fitting of a Diva to have a bathroom that looks like this.

The Cleaning
The first thing I needed to do was to completely clear off the sink area so I could work.
I cleared everything off and gave it a good scrubbing and then it looked like this.

Better right?

Then I cleaned every bottle and other item off and decided where it should go. The things I use frequently went back on the sink and the other items either went onto the hanging pockets behind the door or they went into the bathroom cupboard.

The End
After I got everything back in place it looked like this.
As you can see I now have my Clean And Clear products for keeping my face beautiful on the left of the sink. I use these about three times a week so I need to have them within easy reach.

The little white bottle with the pink label on the right is the lightening lotion I am using to see if I can get my underarms to get lighter.

I know you ladies can see the rest of the stuff around the sink so I will be giving an update on all the products I use and what I use them for....so come back and see.

Revisiting My Dark Side (Under arm area)

So a few days ago I was wearing a vest and talking to my mother. I raised my hand to scratch my nose and she said "Wow! Your underarms are really black!"

Note that she did not say they are dark...she said they are black.

Then she raised her arms and looked at her arm pits. They were light.

Then she looked back at me and asked what happened. I have no idea. I have been waxing my armpits in order to remove the dark skin but so far I have yet to see any major difference.

My mother has not seen my armpits for years so I guess she was shocked to see them that color. I was just embarrassed by her yelling that out.

Bargain Outfit (guest post)

Welcome Divas!

Today we have a guest post from Lori at Fashion On a Dime.

I enjoy a bargain. Let me rephrase – I obsess about a bargain. Shopping, for me, has become a quest to find fantastic clothing at the lowest possible price. You don’t have to pay a lot to look like you have a lot.

Let’s do a little experiment. Let’s take an outfit from a high-end retailer and see how we can replicate it for a lot less. I’ve found one here. The Escada ensemble isn’t cheap; the jacket is priced at $1,490, the jeans at $790 and the turtleneck at $890. Jacket and jeans are cotton/spandex blend. The turtleneck? Not sure, but let’s assume cashmere. The total - $3,170. And that’s without shoes, which we can safely assume cost well over $100.

Now to build our replica outfit. The jacket is a much more difficult find than anything else on the outfit. However, we can modify to find one that has unique features just like the one on our high-end model. I opted for this one from Forever 21, which costs $24.80.

Next we have a purple turtleneck. Only now, our sleeves on our jacket are shorter. No problem. We’ll find a sleeveless turtleneck. Here I opted away from the deep purple, which I think is flattering on only a few people, for a more modern teal. Good old JCPenney, which has surprised me a lot with some great finds, has this one for $19.99.

On to the pants. Here’s where it can get tricky. Let’s be honest – not all jeans fit all women in the same way. For this experiment, I’ll show you what I’ve found, but in reality, you gotta try them on. I chose “The Flirt” jeans from Old Navy in Blue Black. They come in at $34.50.

That leaves shoes. Here you go – a black round-toe wedge from eBay (my favorite shoe source).

We’ll assume you chose the “Buy it now” feature and you’re paying $14.99 plus the $9.99 shipping.

To be honest, I think black pumps with this look is playing it safe. I’d much rather kick it up a bit with the shoes. I’d prefer something like this.

On sale at DSW for $14.94.

So what’s the total? The replica outfit, complete with black wedge eBay shoes (and shipping), cost $104.27. If we opt for the red shoes, the total comes in at $100.18 (including $5.95 shipping).

Do you look good? Of course. And you’ve saved $3,065.73. Your outfit is close to the original, but has enough of your own personal twist to make it much more interesting. Wear it in style, girl!

If you liked this post please visit Fashion On a Dime and show Lori some love!!!!!

Looking for Guest Posts

Hello Divas,

I am looking for someone to guest post for me.

Your post just has to be related to beauty or fashion and you can feel free to write whatever you want.

If you would like to have your post featured here just email me at lulugal11 At gmail dot com and I will take a look at it.

You will receive a link back from this blog and you will have my readers come over to your blog and will certainly increase your traffic.

30 Days: Living In GayTown

I just watched a show called 30 Days and the episode was about a straight man who had to live for thirty days in Gaytown.

Yes it is called Gaytown because the majority of the population is gay. I must say I really liked the episode because while the straight guy was not converted, he did become more tolerant and actually left the show saying he had made a friend.

The show was interesting and if you have not seen it as yet I encourage you to sign up for Hulu.com and check it out.

I have always found the gay men to be ..well fabulous!

The ones who are flamboyant (think Jack from Will and Grace) are so entertaining and I always wanted to have a gay male best friend.

I think it would be awesome to just have someone like Jack to be around me and be a fabulous Diva with all the time.

He could help me pick out clothes and we would go shopping and get our armpits waxed together.

What do you think of flamboyant gay men?

Lose Weight with Lemons

Now that summer is here it is time to break out the swimsuits. If you are feeling a little bit bloated you can do something about with a simple ingredient found in most kitchens.

Lemon!!!!!

According to Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman (author of The Gut Flush) lemons trigger muscle contractions that work throughout the digestive system to help break down food more quickly.

This leads to helping you reduce your weight because it also reduces bloating.

Lemons also help the liver clean out toxins in the body, leading to a healthier you and more efficient processing of food.

I don't know about you but I am willing to try something as natural as this and see what happens. I will be squeezing some lemon into my water from now on to see what happens.

Oh and happy 4th of July!!!

Get Your Beauty Sleep

Hello Divas!!!

We all know that one of the best ways to keep looking great is to get a great night's rest. Being a Diva is not easy and our days are just filled with challenge after challenge, so it is not always easy to fall asleep.

Here are a few tips that will help the Diva in you to get a better night sleep, regardless of what the day throws at you.

Get a Massage
A good massage will help to relax you and put you to sleep. In fact, according to a recent issue of World, studies show that a weekly 15 minute massage can dramatically reduce stress levels.

Go on a Date
It is sometimes easy for us Divas to forget the men in our lives, especially when we are all over the place being fabulous.
Every now and then a true Diva needs to go on a 'date' with her hubby. This will help to reconnect the couple, leading to a reduction in stress levels once more.

Sniff some Lavender
We all know that lavender puts babies right to sleep so why should it be different for us grown ups? Get some lavender scented bath oil or put lavender sachets under your pillow and drift off into a blissful sleep.

Get some Flowers
I love flowers and studies have shown that just looking at flowers can relax you. Get some pretty flowers to look at and keep some in the bedroom to mellow you out.

People Hate Long Nails

I just finished reading a funny article from one of my favorite Pink Diva Bloggers, Xiaxue. She talks about people hating Pretty Girls with Long nails.

Xiaxue has long nails and did a review of the iPhone which got her into trouble because she feels that it does not cater to people who have long nails.

She then got a backlash from people who think she is stupid or a tramp for having the long nails and wanting to look pretty all the time.

I say more power to you girl. If you want to look dolled up all the time there is nothing wrong with that. She is not hurting anyone and if they don't like it then they should just not read her blog.

Carnival of Credit Report Stories June 23

Welcome to the June 23, 2008 edition of credit report stories.

Helen Anderson presents 5 Ways to Start Your Business With No Money! at Personal Finance Blog, Budgeting, Debt @ Bankaholic posted at Bankaholic.

KCLau presents Picking the right Structured Fund posted at KCLau's Money Tips, saying, "About picking the right structured funds and all about such funds"

KCLau presents Ride on the Oil Palm Industry Boom posted at KCLau's Money Tips, saying, "Leading to oil palm investment, an insight into what Country Heights Grower Scheme is all about"

credit card

Joseph presents "Transforming Debt Into Wealth" by John Cummuta review posted at Till Debt Do Us Part.

Brice Hogan presents How to Manage Debt Wisely posted at Financialzip.com.

Raymond presents Why College Students Should Apply For Student Credit Cards posted at Money Blue Book.

credit score

Mr Credit Card presents How to Get a Free Copy of Your Credit Report From all Three Credit Bureaus. posted at Ask Mr Credit Card.

kanika M presents Check Your Credit Score posted at Physician Entrepreneur.

Jose DeJesus MD presents Check Your Credit Score posted at Physician Entrepreneur.

Wilfrid presents Find A Legitimate Credit Repair Company | Your Finish Rich Plan - A Personal Finance Blog posted at Your Finish Rich Plan.

Raymond presents Do Credit Cards and Stocks Make Up Your Emergency Fund Savings? posted at Money Blue Book.

Raymond presents How To Get Your Free FICO Credit Score posted at Money Blue Book.

Transunion

Jeremy presents TransUnion settlement sign-up period begins posted at blogs.creditcards.com, saying, "Thanks for considering my blog for the carnival. -Jeremy"

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of credit report stories using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: credit report stories, blog carnival.

Some great tips on Weight Loss

I found a site that had some Rapid Weight Loss Tips and Tricks that really sounded good. In some cases they were not really 'rapid' because they will take some effort.

The thing I liked about this article is that the tips seemed more realistic. One tip said to cut out sugar and you can do this by limiting the number of sugary drinks you have for the day. You don't have to wage a full out war and completely eliminate sugar...but you can have more water with meals and that will help.

Go read the post and let me know what you think.

More adventures with Waxing

I thought I had a pretty good handle on the waxing procedure with waxing my underarm area so I decided to move on to another area.

I think anyone who has tried waxing has heard of the Waxing My Hoo Ha horror story. It details the experience of a lady who tried to wax her hoo ha and what happened.

I did not think my experience would be like that because I was going to take more care with the wax. I decided to try a small area just south of my navel...before tackling the more sensitive parts of my lady bits.

I put the wax strip on, held the skin taught and let it rip.

Ouch!

After the stars cleared up from my eyes I saw that the strip had only come off about halfway. There was hair sticking to it so all was not lost.

I decided that I could not go through with this so I carefully peeled off the rest of the strip and applied the soothing oil.

Verdict?

I will stick to depilatory cream for my lady bits.

I also found some interesting information on Waxing the Lady Bits and Brazilian Waxing. The comments are good too.

How to Lighten Dark Underarms in a Carnival

The article on How to Lighten Dark Underarms was featured in The Carnival of Weight Management and Fitness Forum 19th edition.

It was a great honor to be listed in this carnival along with so many other interesting reads. Check out the carnival for tips not only on how to manage weight but also on other areas.

I liked:
The Flat Ab Gym Rant! posted at "Sexy at ANY Size!",

Sugar Lover OR Sugar Blues posted at Weith Kick
and
The Truth About Carbs posted at Fitness and Weight Loss.

My Experience with Putting On Fake Eyelashes

I have never been a girly girl and as such I was not into makeup at all. I saw a friend of mine wearing false eyelashes and they looked so beautiful that I just decided I had to try them out.


I think that wearing fake eyelashes makes a Diva look truly fabulous and I wanted to try something a bit different.

I also found this post from my favorite beauty blogger Xiaxue who wrote about How To Get Beautiful Eyes. The tips seemed simple enough so I figured it would not be too difficult to get the fake lashes on.

I was wrong.

It takes a lot of work to put on makeup and false eyelashes are no different.

I followed the steps they said:

• Apply glue to lashes
• Let glue become tacky
• Apply lashes along eye close to real lashes

I did all the steps and the lashes were not looking right. The first time I tried I think they were too high above my real lashes so I took them off and redid them.

The next time they were close but I could not open my eyes all the way and they felt heavy. I tried putting them on again a few more times and ended up mangling the lashes so badly that I had to throw them out.

I am going to try again and maybe get some pictures this time.

Fabulous Diva Clothing

I just found some fabulous Diva clothing for this summer. (all photos taken from http://www.drjays.com).

First here is a beautiful red keyhole dress for those nights out.
And here is a cute top for you to wear with your jeans and espadrilles when you are hanging out at a barbecue.
These clothes are simple yet stunning, a perfect look for any Diva out there.

Pretty Diva Hair

Ladies everywhere you can save money on your hair this summer by keeping it simple. You can have great looking hair with minimal effort and frugal use of products.

Headbands

Headbands are big this summer and can instantly take your hair style from boring to beautiful in a simple and cheap way. Invest in a few cheap headbands and scarves to change up your look every day without breaking the bank.

Ponytails

This is the simplest style to achieve but you can change it around so much to look fresh. Try a high pony tail one day and then try a low slung side pony the next. Accessorize with things you already have and you have interesting looking hair styles without spending a lot of money. Putting your hair up in a pony tail also means that you do not need to use gels and mousse to keep the hair looking nice so that also saves you a bit of money.

Can you think of any other simple yet stylish looks that help you to save money on your hair care?

3 Beauty Myths

Here are Three of the Top Beauty Myths. Do you believe these myths and unintentionally harm yourself and your skin?

1. Certain Foods Make you Break out. Not true. Stress makes you break out.
   
2. Vitamin E prevents scarring. Not true. Silicone strips work better. All vitamin E does is moisturize.
3. Raised Moles are bad. Raised moles are ok and generally not dangerous.

Blog of the Day

One of my favorite blogs to visit is The Beauty Denominator. This is certainly a blog with great Diva Style and great tips from fashion to beauty.

Check out the Beauty Denominator..and tell them I sent you!!!

As always...be fabulous...be a Diva!

Oil Of Olay Moisturizer

Now that the summer heat is here all Divas are breaking out the sexy strapless outfits. We are heading out into the sun more and wearing the shorts and skirts that show off our beautiful skin.

While most people use a sunblock on their bodies when they go out...most of us neglect our faces.

I use Oil Of Olay Moisturizer with SPF 15 on a daily basis on my face. I wear it even if it is cloudy out, just so I get in the habit of always wearing SPF and moisturizer on my face.

What do you use?

Update on How To Lighten Dark Underarms

I recently wrote about How To Lighten Dark Underarms because my own underarms are very dark.

See picture in post for clarification.

One way I was told you can lighten your dark underarms is to wax instead of shaving or using depilatory creams.
Here is the image of my left armpit twenty days after waxing. I waxed every three days for twenty days and applied the finishing oil at night.

During the day I would wear my regular antiperspirant but then when I got home I would shower, wax and apply the oil to go to bed.
This picture is what my left armpit looked like before I started waxing. I think I can see a difference in that the waxed pit looks lighter but this might just be wishful thinking.

I will continue waxing some more and see what really happens.

How To Get Great Hair: Deep Condition

As a Diva I know that my hair should always look good. This does not mean that my hair always has to be perfectly styled but it does mean that it has to look nice at all times.

I recently wrote about How To Get Great Hair and noted that it really starts with good nutrition and shampoo and conditioner.

As a black woman I know that one of the major hair issues we face is super dry hair. This can be caused by a number of factors, including but not limited to:

• Over processing
• Poor Diet
• Excessive Heat
• Product Buildup

One of the best ways to really hydrate your hair (after it has been properly washed) is to deep condition it. I use Neutrogena hair recovery mask to deep condition my hair.

After shampooing, I squeeze the water out of my hair and then slather on the pack of conditioner. I then place a plastic shower cap on my head and use a hair dryer on the highest setting to heat up the head all over for about 5 minutes.

I then go off and do something like play on the computer for about 5 minutes so the conditioner can penetrate, then give it about 5 more minutes of heat. I repeat this cycle until I have had three sessions of heat and then go back into the shower to rinse off the hair.

I am then left with hair that feels silky and soft because it gets a good dose of moisture. I only do this on weekends because that is the time I shampoo my hair. I will sometimes wash my hair one time during the week, but most likely my hair only gets washed on the weekends.

The next steps are to apply a leave in conditioner while the hair is still damp and let it dry. After the hair is dry I will run a flat iron or curling iron through it to completely straighten it out and then wrap it. Please come back as we discuss all these steps in greater detail later on.

My Favorite Lip Gloss

I always say that a true Diva ALWAYS wears lip gloss. Lip gloss is the one thing that can instantly make you look better. It makes your face look brighter and gives you a wonderful look without the need for lots of makeup.

As a Diva I always carry a lip gloss with me for touch ups during the day. I recently left my favorite gloss at a friend's house and I decided to try a few different glosses.

Cover Girl Fruit Spritzer
I love America's Next Top Model and they are always talking about the Cover Girl Fruit Spritzers so I decided to give that a try.
I know the picture is a bit funky but that is the best I could do with my phone. This gloss lived up to part of its name in that it was not sticky at all. The gloss went onto my lips in one smooth motion and made them shiny.

I decided to try the lick test and could barely taste the flavor of this 'fruit spritzer'. Now while I am not expecting to be able to eat the lip gloss for desert I did think that I would at least be able to taste the fruit flavor.....but it was disappointing.

I was also not impressed by the color this gloss left on my lips. I bought the watermelon because it was a cute pink shade.....yet I could barely see the color on my lips.

L'oreal Color Juice
This is what I ended up getting again since it offers great color, shine and flavor all in one. I have said that this is my favorite lip gloss because it gives just a hint of color that you can see the difference between my bare lips and when I am wearing the gloss.

I wear a light burst for daily wear and when I am ready to glam it up I simply apply more so I get a rosy lip color. This is the Raspberry Smash flavor which I LOVE because it brings out the Diva in me and always makes me look fabulous!

L'Oreal wins for me any day.

A Diva's Look at Twenty Something Finances

Welcome to the May 19, 2008 edition of twenty something finances from the Diva.

Think Pink

Dollar Frugal presents Dollar Frugal » Blog Archive » Make the Mundane Special posted at Dollar Frugal, saying, "Good afternoon Mark!"

Dorian Wales presents How to Save by Making Credit Card Payments More Real and Tangible: 5 Practical Tips posted at Personal Financier, saying, "A higher tangibly of credit card payments will ensure spending less"

Sarah presents Why? posted at 20saver, saying, "Thanks for reading!"

Sagar presents 6 Ways Greenspan Caused the Current Economic Crisis | Currency Trading.net posted at Currency Trading.net.

Heather Johnson presents Five Tips for Overcoming Your Forex Anxiety posted at Forex Loser. Emotions. Psychology....

Kelly M presents I'm an idiot. posted at View Along the Way, saying, "Sometimes, bargain hunting pays off. Other times, not so much."

KCLau presents Don’t be stupid! Keep paying. posted at KCLau's Money Tips, saying, "About why paying premiums for existing policies can be the best savings you can have."

R.Pettinger presents Surviving a House Price Crash. posted at Mortgage Blog, saying, "Tips for surviving a housing crash and how it can benefit first time buyers"

Be A Diva

Trevor McKay presents Top Ten Most Misunderstood Auto Insurance Terms posted at All About Auto Insurance.

Trevor McKay presents Deals On Prepaid Cellular Service posted at All About Prepaid Phones.

hank@myinvestingblog.com presents My Comcast bill is $160.24 per month; what am I possibly paying for!? posted at My Investing Blog.

Ideal4Investors presents Invest Your IRA in Real Estate for Beginners posted at Ideal Investment Corner, saying, "Did you know that you can invest your IRA in real estate, notes, and starting a business? Ideal 4 Investors hosts an online seminar with The Entrust Group on how to set up a self-directed IRA."

Stephan Grindley presents Debt Consolidation: The Scare Tactics posted at The Debt Consolidation Advisor.

Mandy Trapper presents Low Cost Options Are Available For The Forex Beginner posted at Forex Trading System Secrets.

Finance Girl presents Why is Buying Something Always a Good Thing? posted at Finance Gets Personal.

Helen Anderson presents 7 Secrets to Personal Finance Success at Best CD (Certificate of Deposit) Rates, Money Market Rates, High Interest Accounts posted at Bankaholic.

Barb A. Ryan presents 10 - Independent Investment Counselors and Financial Advisors posted at Pasadena Financial Planner.

Brice Hogan presents The Seventh Wonder of the World: Compounding Interest | Financialzip.com posted at Financialzip.com, saying, "Few people really understand this concept. It is truly the way to become wealthy."

Tip Diva Rules

Tip Diva presents Top Ten Tips - Protecting Your Wallet posted at Tip Diva, saying, "Losing or getting a wallet stolen is a very stressful experience, especially if someone takes your money, gets access to your accounts or even steals your identity. But there are ways to prevent or mitigate the damage caused by a lost wallet"

Tip Diva presents Top Ten Tips - Moving Back Home As An Adult posted at Tip Diva, saying, "Maybe you’ve been away at school. Or, your lease may be up and you need an affordable place to stay while looking for a new apartment. Many young adults are moving back home for a variety of reasons, but coming back may be a culture shock. Here’s how to ease the transition"

Tip Diva presents Top Ten Tips - Managing Your Personal Budget posted at Tip Diva, saying, "In uncertain economic times, it’s a smart idea to know where your financial status stands. If you’re looking to start cutting down on expenses, the best way to do so is creating a personal budget"

David Hunkar presents ADR Universe: Invest(some) in Closed-End Funds (CEFs) !!! posted at ADR Universe, saying, "There are many investors who would like to invest in foreign country stocks but do not want to take the risk of picking up individual stocks. This is a wise move since it is difficult to get complete information on many foreign stocks and also the there are many other unknown risks involved with individual companies. For these folks there are three choices by which they can buy a basket of stocks and reduce some risk involved."

Nadege presents Financially stAble posted at Financially stAble.

Ken Clark, CFP presents Financial Aid for Community College Students posted at Saving for College - About.com, saying, "Basic review of financial aid programs available to community college students."

Dollar Frugal presents Selling Textbooks posted at Dollar Frugal, saying, "Let me know if you need someone to host."

Jed Norwood presents Expert Advisors | Automated Forex Trading posted at Forex Strategy, saying, "This post helps Forex traders understand how Expert Advisors work."

Adrian Loncarovich presents GoalEnforcer Goal Setting Article posted at GoalEnforcer, saying, "Adrian Loncarovich is the co-author of GoalEnforcer, a visual goal setting software that can be used to break your goals into sub-goals and track your progress. More details about GoalEnforcer can be found at http://www.goalenforcer.com/ A free version of the software is being offered at http://www.goalenforcer.com/demodownload.html"

Adrian Loncarovich presents Finding and Getting Your Dream Job posted at GoalEnforcer, saying, "Adrian Loncarovich is the co-author of GoalEnforcer, a visual goal setting software that can be used to break your goals into sub-goals and track your progress. More details about GoalEnforcer can be found at http://www.goalenforcer.com/ A free version of the software is being offered at http://www.goalenforcer.com/demodownload.html"

Lather, Rinse Repeat

Rickey Henderson presents A Memo from the Office of Steven R. Lawlor, CPA, to Indiana Jones posted at Riding with Rickey.

Donovan Snelleman presents Easiest Way to Save Money AND Become Rich posted at ImprovedLife.ca, saying, "Being a twenty somethings we are lucky to have time on our hands, and what this article explains will allow you to financially succeed in the long run."

FIRE Getters presents Beware - Citi Cash Returns Card Charges Hefty Over The Credit Limit Fees posted at FIRE Finance.

Mag Herrera presents What I like about Credit Cards posted at Life. Money. Development., saying, "A balanced review of credit cards' nature and usage."

Chris Carter presents College is expensive, Why pay more than you have to posted at David Makes Cents.com, saying, "Tips on how to save money while in college."

Jimson Lee presents Complete Guide to Credit Repair - Part 1 posted at No Debt Anymore .org, saying, "A detailed 5 part complete guide to Credit Repair"

Mike Leonard presents Shopping – your drug of choice? posted at Until Debt Do Us Part, saying, "I’m just now recovering from what the ‘experts’ would call cold turkey. Yesterday I went to the local mall to buy some books that I had been meaning to buy online but couldn’t face the wait. The bookstore I went to is huge. It is spread across three floors. It is what I imagine walking in to Amazon.com’s warehouse would be like."

Brice Hogan presents How to Save $100 a Month posted at Financialzip.com.

Raymond presents The Best Frequent Flyer Airline Miles Credit Cards For Cheap Flights posted at Money Blue Book.

Raymond presents How To Make Money From Balance Transfer Credit Cards posted at Money Blue Book.

Heather Johnson presents Mrs. Mo Guest Poster: Heather Johnson posted at Mrs. Mo's New Jersey, Baby!.

Cash Money Life presents How to Evaluate a Job Offer posted at Cash Money Life, saying, "Here are some solid tips on how to evaluate a job offer. Thanks for hosting! :)"

Stephanie presents Graduating? Start the Job Hunt! posted at Poorer Than You, saying, "What's the first thing you've got to do when you graduate from college? Find a job!"

Lane Wright presents Compete with the Pros posted at Awesome Forex Alerts.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of twenty something finances using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: twenty something finances, blog carnival.