STYLE SKINNY

Into the Mud Hut...

I once read a quote that said,

"If a woman loves a man, If she really loves him, she will follow him...even into a mud hut."

I've always loved this quote, as it shows how to measure the validity of ones love, in a simple, almost poetic form. Not that love needs to be measured, but too often, the concept of being in a relationship with someone because of their money and/or status is all too real.  

A woman will date a man, as will a man date a woman, purely based on their potentional to give them something that they need in order to feel more secure. These "somethings" range from the ability to live in a ritzy gated community and drive nice vehicles, to being able to claim that you are the wife or husband of "so and so." Whether it be a political figure, CEO, or the all too common, "ball player," some people need to feel public validation from being with their significant other.

 You're probably saying to yourself,

"I'm not like that! I'm far from those Gold Diggers...I'm a Goal Digger!" (hahha!) 

 

...Living in a hut doesn't sound too appealing off top, does it?  When I think of a hut, I'm reminded of a cave... something shaped like an igloo that you'd make outside as a kid when it snows. There's one way in and one way out... nothing on the walls as its sole purpose isn't to entertain visiters.

 

Now, imagine a hut made out of mud. Ha! ...that is taking it to the next level!   Not only is your house simple and small, now its made out of mud!  ...the funny thing is, after a bit of research, I found out that a mud hut is actually pretty durable and was a common structure, many times made using sophisticated architectual techniques by nomadic people throughout the ages. Yet, even with this new Mud Hut-knowledge...What would YOU do? Would you follow someone...even if this means you must resort into going into the seemingly lowest of the lows? 

I personally considered this question for myself.  If Reg told me... "Hey, lets get married, but we're going to be living in this shack made out of branches off Route 1" ...I know I'd quickly say, "yes!!" (because I love him!)

but dont get it twisted... 

I am HUMAN...

...so subconciously my mind would start thinking of ways to avoid, 'said shack' ... and I'd definitely ask questions...like, Why are we moving into, 'said shack'... How long do you think we will be living in, 'said shack'? Did the Lord direct you into, 'said shack'? ...because If I didn't know for 100% fact that my future husband was following the direction of God, even before the proposal, I wouldnt follow him into a mansion in Beverly Hills. I just wouldn't. I personally know this to be the case though, so if that was the deal and the true direction that he got from the Big Man Upstairs, I'd sign on the dotted line. I know my answer. "Roosevelt Blvd, here I come!" lol. 

Now, I'm no love doctor or psychologist, but the point here is simple...just like the quote... If you think you love someone... like, you really love them, for who they are, in terms of their personality, soul, beliefs, ...you know, the things that go way beyond what's in their pockets... then consider this question.  Could you follow them?...If circumstances presented themselves, would you follow him or her? ...all the way, into a Mud Hut?  xo -SBG



Keep Calm and...

As soon as the clock struck 12 and 2013 was ushered in, God started throwing interesting situations and experiences at me- one after another.  Within a 4+ month span, I experienced unexpected and expected death, birth, loss of friendship, gain of new friendships, changes in my job, my relationship... If you can think of it, I experienced it... twice or more times in some categories. 

...and honestly, I'd be fibbing if I acted as if I just accepted each event or occurrence with open arms and honest gratitude.  I certainly did none of the before mentioned at first. When you're in the midst of a whole bunch of happenings, it can often feel like you're trying to walk against the wind.... sometimes you feel a slight breeze as you happily walk down the sunny pollution free streets of life... While other times you find yourself fighting through a pseudo hurricane, holding onto a lamppost, dodging trashcans, and silently cursing yourself for forgetting to X-tape your house's windows in preparation. 

Needless to say, each situation was different and therefore brought forth a different reaction.  It was hard at times to understand what was happening all around me.  This is why I choose to use "interesting" as my adjective of choice, because that word neither has a negative nor a positive connotation. 

Life can seem strange at times...and 'interesting' to say the least. But it just is what it is.  Life is happening now...it has been happening way before me and you, and it will continue to happen in the future.  You and I cannot control 100% of what happens to us within our lives. Surprise Surprise... seriously... WE CANNOT CONTROL EVERYTHING. 

I know that I personally don’t have all of the answers and I often times have trouble hearing the Voice that is there to tell me, "Go to the Left...or Go to the Right." But, it is in these times that I have learned to remain still.   Reacting to situations with fear or anger isn't going to do anything but add undesired stress to your life. 

When you find yourself in times where the wind feels like a hurricane-or a tornado for that matter-, just be still.  Don’t resist the wind... So be it, if it carries you into the eye of the storm... With God, there actually is absolute rest in that place.

5 Life Lessons Learned from Nanny Fine

For years the t.v. sitcom, The Nanny has been a staple in my go to rerun shows to watch on any random morning as I prepare for work or early evening as I unwind from it.  I've laughed at Nanny Fine's crazy life occurrences and fought on both sides in my brain's debate on whether her outfits were beautiful or just down right kitschy.  To me, the Nanny AND The Nanny are both pretty awesome, so I've listed 5 real life lessons I've learned from Fran over the years.  You'd be surprised as to what a big haired, loud mouth, wacky Queens native can teach you in a little under 30 minutes. ;) -SBG

1. Got Quirks? Make 'em Work! 

Listen to Fran's high pitched nasally voice, and watch her flutter precariously across the Sheffield living room... its clear, this chick has a ton of quirks.  Yet, these weird ways make Fran who she is, and who her fans love.  Fran has interesting and peculiar traits about her, and yet she owns them to the fullest.  So whether you have a loud obnoxious laugh (like me), find yourself singing or talking to yourself aloud (uh...me again), or HAVE to put your right shoe on before your left shoe, just proudly do it!  We all have differences that make us interesting...so own them! They make you, YOU! 

2.You Can Always Start Over...

There have been times in my life when I've made mistakes.  Who hasn't?  Fran got mixed up in a relationship that ended up getting her kicked out of her job at a bridal shop in Flushing Queens by her boyfriend, in one of those crushing scenes... (I couldn't resist).  Either way, she cried a bit...even wallowed in self pity for a length of time.  But then she picked herself up and got back to her life.  She started working hard on another career and ended up in a situation ten times better than before.  No matter what negative situation you're in, it is not the end! Give yourself a positive push... you can always start over!

3.Big Hair, Dont Care!

Lets face it.  Big hair never goes out of style...well, that is if you're from NY or Jersey, (woop woop!).  Fran's hair had a mind of its own.  It was always teased and sprayed to the max, adding several extra inches of height, (and fun!) to her personality.  Check out my big hair below, done from a Fusions of Cultures Youtube tutorial! Find out how to do it HERE.

 

 4. Be the Lady (or Man) in Red!

You know the theme song... "Shes the lady in red while everybody else is wearing tannnn, the flashy girl from Flushing, the Nanny name Fran!"  Now, while I LIVE for nudes and neutrals, there are times when I need a little pick me up or want to stand out from the crowd.  Fran teaches us that its perfectly normal to be the stand out...the one that isn't like everyone else. The lesson here is to Be YOU, whether its flashy or reserved.  If you stay true to yourself, you'll always stand out to those who matter. :) (Be seen in this little red dress from BCBG!)

5. Family Comes First!

Fran may have a crazy life, but she takes her job as the Sheffield Nanny very seriously.  Even over the years as she finally marries Maxwell and becomes a step mother, you can see her love for her family grow as she doesn't want to leave her mother in NY to move to California for one of Maxwell's new theatre ventures..(remember that episode? When she thinks "Ma" is having an affair with her Dr.? lol) Fran teaches us all that having family and close friends is super important and we should always try to treat them as such.  

         

So, finish reading this sentence and go call your mother, father, or best friend!  They would love to hear from you...oh, and send them this post too. ;) 

 

Gym Hair = Bad Hair?

Exercising and Hair in general just don't seem to mix very well.  Whether you have coily natural hair (not chemically processed) or bone straight...theres something about the mixture of excessive movement, sweat, and a possible ponytail holder that may work well for a moment or two, but leaves an after nastiness that I personally am getting tired of dealing with.

And get this... I've only just recently joined a gym and may have worked out a good 3.5 times, and I already feel like shaving my head...   (the .5 was a result of me not finishing completely and racing home to catch the season premier of Brad Meltzer's DECODED.)

Sigh. What are your best practices for having amazing hair at the gym and directly after? ... and what do you do if you're like me, and wouldn't shower at the gym even if the faucet spit out vintage Chanel bags. Share your favorite gels, dry shampoos, super special ponytail styles, ultimate braid-outs, or even weaves...HELP! hehe.

xoxo SBG

Tracee, from KeepItSimpleSista.blogspot.com, shows off her gym hair look

 

10 Words I Try to Avoid (Remembering Your First Love)

I started off this post about to type what many bloggers write at least once in their lives,

"I know I haven't posted in a long time but... "  

We generally like to say this on the start of a post, when we haven't blogged in a while.  Its sort of like an explanation of sorts. A way of saying we're sorry we left our readers without anything for X amount of time, but now "we're back and at it again!"...and we "promise we wont have too many more long moments between posts!..."

Anyway, I wrote this infamous line...and then I deleted it.  Then I typed it again, and deleted it again. And while I do pride myself in being a super duper fast typer, to save myself from having to type it any additional times, I just Command C'd it, prepping for a possible Command V.  

It clearly never came... so instead of explaining my whereabouts, I became frustrated.   Why do I... well, people in general, blog in clumps... and then leave there readers waiting for those ten words. Do we just get tired of writing, or tired of our subject? ...Do our personal lives intervene leaving us little time to blog? ...Could be it all of the above?

While speaking with my favorite aunt, former UCONN English Professor and all around knower of all things, on the topic of "What makes a good novel"...or a "blog post" even, she shared something so simple but so fitting.  A novel tends to be a good read when the author has a deep love or interest in the topic he or she is writing about.  ...Whether it be a personal experience or the migration of sea otters due to global warming...if the writer is completely enthralled in the topic, the outcome has a high chance of success to some market.

As I thought about this concept I realized how we as bloggers blog, because its fun. Plain and simple.  We are in love with our topics and we like to talk about them, write about them, and share them with others in hopes that they will enjoy them too.  

I once read an article detailing the top 10 'Blogging Don'ts" of which number one read, "Never Blog about your Cat."  It was there, written in bold, and underlined none-the-less... and needless to say I was already about a year into StyleSkinny, where I created a tiny cartoon version of my lovely cat Amani, who made a monthly Wheres Waldo appearance in my header, amongst other sections. I absolutely love blogging about my cat. Had I broken the cardinal blogging rule?  Such a ridiculous thought.  But I was reminded again that although there may be blogging "tips", no one should listen to someones rigid set of blogging rules.  We should be blogging about and in the style that bests suits us whether 100 people use the same format, or just two.  We should be expressing our love for our topics in our own creative way! 

If you are a writer or blogger, I challenge you today to remember why you began writing in the first place.  Think about your interest and love for the subject you blog about.  Know that someone is just as interested in your topic as you are and would love to read what you have to say.  Remember that blogging is fun, adhere to your own rules, and you'll rarely, if ever, be forced to apologize for leaving your readers empty for so long!

 xoxo-SBG

Websites I'm Currently Feeling ...

 Hair Obsession... MopTopMaven.com; Kimmaytube; and Fuckyeahcurlscurlscurls

 

 

Got a Question? Quora.com

 

 

XOXORandomphotos... WeHeartIt.com

 

 

Trends... Style.com
 

 

Psstttt....Its TONIGHT! Victoria's Secret Show

I'm super excited to watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion show tonight!  Like pretty much every young girl, I once worked retail at the then Limited Brands company.  I loved trying out each new fragrance and beauty product, not to mention, all employees got gratis gifts of each new bra to try out. (best thing ever!)  Either way, I've always (and still do) loved Victoria's Secret branding methods...they provide styles for all types of women of many sizes... and still manage to evoke that, "I know I look good, girl!" feeling every time. :) Cheers to you VS.  I hope you have many more shows to come.  I'll definitely be watching tonight. xoxo-SBG

  p.s. Look below at some of my favorite VS treats (good gift ideas too!).

 

I prob. use this scrub 3-4 times a week.  Overload? Maybe...But its just so creamy and luxurious, I subconsciously reach for it every time I step into the shower.  Its also great to use after you shave. ...and who doesn't love the Dream Angels scent?

 

My regular readers and Twitter pals, know that I'm far from a makeup nut.  I generally go after products just because the packaging is pretty. (curse of a Graphic Designer).  Yet, I will slap on a coat or two of this Vickie's High Def. Mascara.  It's not so pricey at 12 bucks, & still gets the job done.

 

I dont care what none of you all say... There is NOTHING like a VS PINK hoodie!  I sometimes hear that PINK sweats aren't 'cool' anymore...or are way too young.  Well, I have to tell you...the PINK brand was made for young people....highschool/college age!  Thats why they exhibit so many fun university prints, and are adorned with the logos of birth years like 1986.  Either way, I'm 26, far out of my college years, and yet I still wear my hoodies on the reg.  Its time to stop caring what people say about your style...just WEAR WHAT FEELS GOOD to YOU!

One year I gave 2 pairs of these pants to nearly every woman on my Holiday Shopping list.  They FEEL GREAT.  That is all.

 

I use to love the original Bronze push up Bronzer brush, but this Limited Addition one I have to try soon!  If you already have it, let me know how it smells and feels. I'm extra curious. (ps. its on sale 2 for $20 now) :)

This holiday season, Ladies...you NEED a seamless panty!  Not everyone likes to wear thongs (eh hem... o_O ) So, to avoid the entire world checking out your panty line, PLEASE go purchase some Seamless ones like the ones pictured above.

 

Remember when I said that I sometimes purchase cosmetics merely based off of the interesting packaging? SMH... I got caught up on these little eye pencils, packed into tiny ornaments that can be hung right on the tree. smh. LOVE IT.

 

Last but not least, Every year, VS comes out with a Sexy Santa lingere outfit.  Every pretty girl needs this, even if you're single! 3 pieces for $98. HERE

Is It Too Early?

Am I way out of line for posting all of this Spring '11 stuff? I mean, we haven't even had turkey yet, let alone Egg Nog.  Oh well, whateva...these bags are cute so Im posting! lol....If you would like to know 'where to shop', comment below, or shoot me an email. :) -SBG

   
   

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Wants...

I really want this cardigan from Madewell, but the store location  I usually go to at the KOP mall is currently closed due to water damage (1/2 the mall was underwater I heard).  Yet, im not a big online shopper, so I guess Ill just have to wait... :( Isn't it the cutest though?!?

 

Im loving, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, right now. The winter cold seems to hate my skin, drying it out as soon as I step out the door... I dont wear much makeup at all either, but I still need a little sheer coverage.  

 

The art of letter writing is going extinct, but with Night Owl Paper Goods I plan to bring it back...lol.  At least for the holiday season. :)

 Im not pierced at this point in my ear, but this jewelry doesn't need a hole to fit in. :) Trinity Ear Cuff, by Rumi Neely for Dannijo/Tobi

 

I CANNOT get enough of the Honey BBQ wings from KFC.  It doesn't help either that I live around the corner from one. SIGH. I clearly have a problem.

 

This book from Home and Garden is one of my Go-Tos for home improvement ideas.  As the title tells, every chapter is color coded, and filled with tons of suggestions for decorating from bedrooms to bathrooms.  

 

APPLE Picking (on me)

Haaa... you like that title don't you?  A play on a Fall related phrase, but actually referring to my glorious (being facetious) weekend, in and out of my local APPLE store.

I should have known this time was coming, however.  I've had my MacBook for quite a while, and it was only a matter of time before the Hard drive failed. SIGH. Anyway, I know the MAC nerds so fondly named, "Geniuses" probably know what they're doing, but If I didn't need an entirely new HD I would have just attempted to fix the darn thing myself...forget the Apple Care Protection plan, which btw, runs out in 3 years because, "by this time we'd like to think that technology will have increased, and you'll want to buy a new system anyway, so why bring it in for fixing?" WHAT!?. NOPE.  I am a tech nerd....but I like to get as many years out of my technology as possible.

Anyway, after a total of 4, maybe 5 (i lost count) trips to APPLE, I ended up with a new hard drive, my photos, and most of my documents, but alas... no Microsoft Office and my entire Creative Suite zilched. But, I must thank Brody Clemmer...the last Genius that worked on my laptop.  He definitely was able to explain to me exactly what had happened and I left the store pretty confident that they/he had done all that could possibly be done.  ...and still, I grumble at the thought of spending the next few days attempting to 'get' all of my programs back.  (what? I'm not made of money....geesh) 

Either way. I have to go, but not before leaving you with a few cool laptop accessories to brighten your day. lol....and atleast I'm back to blogging for the time being. *crosses fingers* and wishing myself 'good providence'  -SBG

Marc by Marc "Miss Marc 3D" Nylon Computer Sleeve : $78.00 HERE

 Juicy Couture 'Blinged-Out' Wireless Mouse : $68.00 HERE

 JunkPrints 13" MacBook Case(s) : $50.00 HERE

Urban Outfitters, "Paul and Joe Sister" laptop case : $88.00 HERE

                    Juicy Couture "Heart Shaped" USB Port : $48.00 HERE

BellaMella Custom Made Laptop Sleeves, roughly : $20.00 each HERE