TMI Review: I Love U by Kotex

Okay guys stay with me on this. We have to have our flow right? I hate mine and I'm sure a lot of you are with me on that sentiment yet how many of us really discuss all of the things that can make it tolerable? Well recently I've been on a sharing spree letting my girls know that U by Kotex is amazing. Why? Well simply put there is no hit and miss push it in and you get out of there quick all because of the rubberized portion (super grip). I Love it! I'm not getting paid for this just sharing something I love that I know you will too. Happy flowing!

Honoring & Learning From Whitney Houston

Hello Beautiful People,




      It brings me so much sadness to write this post. I grew up on Whitney Houston and her music. For me Whitney was epitome of being a woman singer, actress, mother and wife; she made the task of being a quadruple threat look so easy. Little did we know that everything wasn't so easy nor was the road that she was leading a good one. Despite the many years of usage of drugs and alcohol as well as a marriage that may have been the worst thing to happen to her, I always hoped that she would make a full on comeback showing us that you can fall and get up again.






Tragically her life would come to an end before she could make that comeback. In life we live and think that there is time to do what we are supposed to do, me included, yet we have to keep in mind that we are living on borrowed time. In this case like so many cases in the past couple of years some of the greatest entertainers of our time have left this Earth and have made their comebacks posthumously. The killer continues to be prescription drugs yet we still have not learned from the mistakes of them. More than anything my heart aches because we keep losing great people to prescription drugs. What we must learn is how to deal with the pain that comes into our lives rather than try to numb it with alcohol and drugs. Easier said then done but I'm so tired of writing tributes to great people who had so much left to give in this world. I want this to be the last time.

When I remember Whitney I will remember that electric smile,
her silly ways, her talents and the VOICE. There will never be
another and while that saddens me so very much her music & movies will continue to live on. My prayer now is for Bobbi-Kristina who has lost her mom, the pain she feels is so great at this moment. Let us pray that Bobbi-Kristina is able to get through this very painful time so that she may carry on her mother's legacy and live out a full and productive life.

I will leave you with some of my fave looks from the incomparable Whitney Houston. 

May you find rest for your soul Whitney I Will Always Love you.

                                                                                                              
                                   

                                       

          

           Rest In Peace Whitney

   
     Live, laugh, X &O'S

             
               Merli

  

                 

                           

                       
                         

Things That Make Me Go Oh La La: My Week in Pics Oct 9-14

Loving my Girl About Town with my green Prada spectacles

Mr. Idris Elba how I love you so (Smart Water advertisement)

Isn't she naturally beautiful and gorgeous and look at those lashes go! 

I saw this pic and said OMGee she looks like the beautiful and amazing Kandee Johnson fab makeup artist and beauty blogger Mama.

A trip to MAC turns me into a human palette trying out the long lasting glosses and shadows :) 

Aren't these some fabulous booties? Love them going to keep an eye on them... looking for a discount

Dying for this fab color blocked jacket scrumptious! 

\

\

Dear sunglasses I need you in my life... only at a discount aren't these super fab and feminine!

Ms. Emma Watson killing with shadowed eyes and gold flakes in the corners

Purchased these Shades ions ago and just discovered them after re organizing my closet. Aren't they fab? Don't lie to me! 

I just thought this was so cute and worthy of spot Reading is so fundamental to a great life

I thought it was me and then I tried it on... wasn't impressed leave it on the hanger ladies.

Booties! Booties! Booties!

Look at this fab bag at a great price at Payless! Quality was good on this one too must buy if you ask me.

I found these also were cute and would make some fashionista out there really happy since you could customize these with socks or stockings, pantyhose, sockettes... See what I'm talking about

Loving these booties! 

All my Purple Life! She is just so Purple and beautiful I don't know what to do with myself.

More Booties!!!

At this price why wouldn't I cop I pair of these beauties hello Cole Hann

And then.... 

                          There were more Booties!!!!

Discovered the Olsen Twins have a younger sister and she's a looker! Hello Elizabeth!

A sneak peak at my life in Miami for the past week. I woke up to this every morning... Even waking up to thunderstorms left me in awe. What a sight to be seen waking up to water and great sounds... not sirens and dogs barking.

Getting to healthy... Week 1: 3lbs Gone!

Hello Beautiful People,

            Week 1 of my pledge to myself has proven to be quite difficult. Arrrgggh! That job of mines is quite the stressful place in the heart of the Bronx I am a youth advocate in my other life but I have the worse director in the world which makes for the worst kind of culture in the work place since all she cares about is getting her billing and that the binders are always updated. Sadly she could careless about my position or any of the workers well being, so I'm always thinking today could be my last day since for the most part I'm not active there. I am active in other organizations as a youth advocate so they have managed to get a great face for the organization out there. (Smart move people) Either way after a staff meeting of being told that having mice droppings at the computer station is complaining I definitely indulged in juice and comfort food. That's one day the other days I was pretty good but I'm still trying to kick that habit where I have something sweet to go to bed. Like one smart person said slow and steady wins the race... I'll continue on making the small changes. Another issue that has come up is the pain in my back so I went three days with working out but couldn't go on because I was in so much pain. (insert sad face) I making an appointment to see a doc in order to continue on with the physical aspect. Good news is I did lose 3lbs YAY! I'm not throwing any parties yet I've done many times before lets see 10lbs and then I'll start to be impressed with myself (insert LOL)   What do you do when you're dealing with bad situations in life? Do you have some great sweet treats that are amazing and healthy? Do share and I'll be sure to share with the masses. 

      In other news I got these fab shoes... I know I'm not suppose to get anything but I needed it for Miami!  Oh and had to get a fab envelope style clutch ooooh I can't wait!  

Getting to Healthy: Taking care of Beautiful from Inside Out

Hello Beautiful People,
   

April 2011

        So here I am... again making a vow to lose weight. More than that I'm on a journey to find my happy state where I don't have a stressful day and then eat whatever sweet treat I can get my hands on. Every year I've promised myself in the New Year by my birthday I'll lose 25lbs and then my birthday comes and I don't lose anything most of the time I've gained.
 Then I say summertime is coming I'm going to bring sexy back, but sexy seems to stay buried within the folds and then I turn around and its labor day and the holidays come and I'm back at square one. This has been the cycle I've lived for the past 5 years. The only time I seemed like I was on the right track was after the end of a 9 year relationship I was able to focus on me and as a requested Christmas gift get on Weight Watchers and lost 15 lbs and then college got difficult and I gained 15lbs back as well as my degree. (I'd give my degree to lose 30lbs though) Now I'm twenty-seven years old, single, childless and wondering if the reason why I'm still single is because of my size. I remember a time when I used to be the skinny girl in the group now I'm always the fat pretty one as I once was told. I don't want to be skinny but I'd love to be able to be comfortable in my own skin, not worry about having undergarments to pull the rolls in, or going on the beach and not wanting to go in the water or better yet take off my cover up because of what I know is under it.

France 2008 My failed skinny pose

 Why Now? I'm a make up artist and a stylist part of my job is accentuating the best features of a client and other times hiding some flaws but through it all one of the things I say and believe is that everyone I work with is beautiful. I believe that with all my heart and a lot of the reason why I want to lose weight is for esthetic reasons but recently after being diagnosed with Scoliosis ( my spine is curved and two discs are out of place which causes pain for me almost 24/7) as well as being border line diabetic I realized if I don't start making changes now my future as I've imagined it will not be a bright one. I was told that I have to do physical therapy and lose weight but still I haven't made any significant changes. But now I have to listen to a body who feels like 10 years older then it is. I want to be energetic, rested and healthy again and by God's grace and the support of friends and family I'm going to get to healthy.
 My Goal: I've put numbers and sizes on it but there is nothing like getting to healthy, having a good nights sleep all the time rather than seldom. Being able to healthy as a way of life and not just a diet to lose some pounds. Having a healthy relationship with food where I am not using it as a way in which to feel better. ( Sorry cake I'll always love you) What does healthy look like? Healthy is a nice size 8 with hips that don't lie and whose back won't be in pain anymore because the strain will be taken off my back, ankles, and knees. (Hello Heels!) and most of all I won't be borderline diabetic, I'll add years on to my life, and I'll cut my chances of the many diseases that take women out daily.

Vegas 2010

 My Pledge: That one year from now I will be able to look back and see how I finally got to a healthy me through many small changes. The first one adding at least 20 minutes of activity to my daily activities. Making sure I eat at least one serving of fruits and vegetables daily. (would you believe I don't always do that) Continue drinking water as I've been doing (pat on my back) Cut my sweet intake to once a day.
     The Tools: My Wii! I have all these great dance games and workout games, My DVD player along with my palates dvds, hula hoop workout, and Gospel Aerobics. I'm going to finally put all that money to use that I've spent on these dvds and games and start using them. I have awesome looking workout clothing that I don't use and when the summer comes I'm going to start biking again.

The infamous bathing suit picture Panama 2010

Starting Weight: September 26, 2011 195 lbs by October 26, 2011 my goal is to be down to 188! 


A new feature on my blog will be my weight loss diary that I will update weekly with my thoughts, findings and anything related. I'm excited and so happy you can share this new beginning with me.

Live, laugh, love & learn

        Miss Merli