Lipstick Love | The Lip Bar Lipstick in Purple Rain

Have you ever had a lipstick that was just perfect for ANY occasion? I mean, you could be going out for groceries, going out for lunch, or even meeting up with a friend, and that one lipstick stays front and center for the choosing? I don't know about you, but I have a few of those lipsticks in my makeup bag. And for the longest time, creamy purple lipsticks seem to always go high on my everyday lipstick list. 

Don't get me wrong: I love my nudes, hot pinks, and my deep berries (especially during the fall). But there's something about one purple lipstick in particular that makes me feel like my best flirty and feisty self. And that lipstick is none other than The Lip Bar lipstick in Purple Rain. This lipstick has been holding a secured spot in my makeup bag for a minute and is definitely an instant repurchase when I run out. Peep the details below to learn why I keep running back to her after the jump.

Skincare to Try: Pixi Rose Infused Skintreats

Do you change up your skincare regimen as the seasons change? For the most part, I stick with my basic routine. But every now and again, I love trying new systems. For example, Pixi Beauty always seems to have a skin care system that suits about every skincare need possible.

Since my skin has been looking for a bit more hydration and nourishment this season, I've decided to revisit my tried and true Pixi Rose-Infused Skintreats. These products are ideal for those with dry skin, but are suitable for all skin types. And for those of us who like to indulge in the occasional spa-like experience for less, I thought it would be a perfect time to share my thoughts on these goodies with you guys.

FULL: A POEM

I swallowed hard,

force-feeding myself 

These secrets

For fear that they 

would come

Tumbling

From

My lips.

Then became 

so full of them,

I could no longer 

Recognize myself.

For with these secrets

You formed something 

within me

That I never asked to keep

Of which I'll spend years

Pulling away from my skin.

As I unlearn and learn myself

Over

And over

Again.

(...how empty of me to be so full of you -Janet Jackson)

photo credit: jazmin quaynor

Make Yourself Comfortable: A Playlist

There is healing power in music. Ask anyone who has ever gone through a break-up and depended on the blues to give sound to their pain. Ask anyone who has ever drowned out their frustrations belting out familiar lyrics with Alanis Morrisette (queue You Oughta Know) and Kelis (Caught Out There would be the one). Better yet, ask anyone who has tuned in to DJ D-Nice on IG Live during "quarantine" to dance and sing along with their favorite celebrities via social media. Music makes everything better.

One thing I love just as much as listening to music is creating playlists. It combines creating the perfect music mood and my obsession with list-making. Since we've been spending much more time indoors, I've been doing a lot of writing, reading, and listening to music. I've also cracked open 52 Lists for Calm by Moorea Seal. I absolutely loved filling out each list for the original book I got a few years back, so I knew using this book would be perfect for me during this time of searching for peace and trying daily to calm my anxiety over the unknown.

REVIEW | It's Not All Downhill From Here by Terry McMillan

I have been a Terry McMillan fan for years. I can remember sneaking through my mother’s books on her nightstand as a young girl in the 90s getting familiar with novels like Mama, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and Disappearing Acts. Secretly devouring these books late into the midnight hour by the small lamp in my bedroom fueled my love of reading. It’s Terry McMillan’s way of telling stories of family, love, and relationships that made me feel like I was growing into a part of a sisterhood no one had told me about. Flipping those pages was a rite of passage! I was reading things that I had only heard about while eavesdropping when my mama’s friends came by (because of course I was not allowed to be in the room). I have experienced so many stages of life through the lens of a fictional Terry McMillan character that resembled my mom, aunt, grandmother, and other loved ones. I’ve grown up on Terry McMillan novels and will brake for anything she pens, automatically.

 All of that brings us to my experience with It’s Not All Downhill From Here. I read the synopsis and couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy! I was fascinated by the premise of a 68-year-old owner of a beauty empire with a full life. I dived in head first with Loretha and could not wait to see what kinds of gems she would share in this read. 

REVIEW | When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk

"The thing I didn't realize about having a best friend while I still had one is just how wrapped up she is in everything. Every outfit I wear or song I listen to. Every place I go. Losing someone can leave you haunted."

When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk gave me all the feels. It is very rare to see friendship break-ups be the main plot in books. so I have been anxious to read about the one between main character Cleo and her ex-best friend Layla since I first heard about it last year. Because as much as I've read about romantic breakups over the years, I'd had yet to read a book about breaking up with a best friend. And this one felt so realistic to me.

With the timeline moving between then and now, readers see the actions that led up to the inevitable demise of Cleo and Layla's friendship, as well as how Cleo is dealing with the fallout. Weaving through the background is a sub-plot showing the blossoming of a potential love thang between Cleo and the cute new guy Dom as well as a new friendship with Syndney and Willa, but I love that the friendship between Cleo and Layla is the main focus.