Fab finds of 2016

Hellloooo 2017! I hope everyone had a fun holiday season. I have a few more days of winter break before I go back to work and I’m relishing every moment of this time.

I had another post in mind, but decided to scrap it in favor for this one: Talking about my favorite things of 2016 and there were so many. I don’t only mean beauty or hair products (although there will be a couples of those on the list too). I also mean TV, music, books, whatever pops up in my mind. Okay, let’s get to it…

The first thing on this list has got to be the new HBO show ‘Insecure’ starring Issa Rae.  If you had a conversation with me anytime after October, when the show premiered, then there was a good chance that I recommended it to you.  I’m pretty obsessed. The characters, the writing, the music, the Drake references (there is at least one in every episode). I just can’t get enough. The show is about a character named Issa (played by Issa Rae) and her cast of friends, boyfriend, co-workers and the various awkward situations she finds herself in. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll finish the season wondering when season 2 will start. And I’ll take all of the blame when you have the song, ‘Broken P***y’ stuck in your head, or rather the credit. 

To watch the entire first season, click here  or to purchase Issa’s book, click here

Issa Rae in her HBO show ‘Insecure’

 

I have followed Issa Rae’s career for a few years now, catching some of her stand-up comedy routines and her Youtube show and subsequent book:  ‘The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl’. I found myself relating to so many of her situations and was so excited to hear that she would have a show on HBO. I have watched each episode at least 3 times and may give them another go before the next season comes on.  

 

Next up: For those of you that have oily skin, like me, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel may be your new best friend.  A friend of mine recommended it to me and let me try some from an almost empty bottle that she had. I knew almost immediately after applying it that this was the face moisturizer for me. I use it before primer and foundation and can definitely see that my makeup’s lasting power has increased. I find myself touching up with powder a lot less because the oil simply isn’t coming through.

 

 

Okay, let’s talk music. More specifically, let’s talk Bruno Mars. Where do I begin? The first time that I heard the first and title track ‘24k Magic’ I was in love. I had no idea what I was in for when the album came out in November. Each track on the 9-track album (oh how I wish there were more songs!) is like a throwback to my jr. high and high school days. To me, nothing beats that 90’s R&B sound and even though some of my favorites like Jodeci, Keith Sweat and Tony, Toni, Toné are considered old school now, they have never lost their place in my heart or in my iPod.

Bruno definitely grabbed my heart, sent me into a state of nostalgic bliss and I haven’t stopped listening and dancing to this album since. If you see me driving, I’m probably playing it and singing away, it’s my goal to know all of the words before I see him in concert at the end of the year. It’s hard to pick a favorite but a few standouts are ‘That’s What I Like’ and ‘Calling all my Lovelies’ and below is the video to ‘24k Magic’…Enjoy! You can also buy the album at iTunes here. 

 

 

I’m coming up on almost 3 years of returning to my natural hair and if you’ve read any of my previous posts about it, then you know that it has been quite the journey. When you are just starting on said journey, you know that trial and error of products comes with the territory. Trying to find the right conditioners, gels or curling creams, can be consuming of time and money.  So lucky for me, I have found the best and most affordable conditioner. Aussie 3-Minute Miracle conditioner is my holy grail.

I’ve tried so many darn conditioners! I’m looking for great slip (easily detanglable ??? not a word but I’m gonna use it anyway) and something that isn’t too expensive. Slip is major because I’m not in the business of tearing my hair to get the tangles out. I knew that there had to be an easier way, and now I have found it.  So for reals, in 3-minutes you’ll have hair that you can detangle with ease, use as a deep conditioner and even use just a bit as a leave-in. I swear by it.

Back to comedians…I just finished reading a book called ‘You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have To Explain’ by Phoebe Robinson. She is a stand-up comedian and one half of the podcast ‘2 Dope Queens’, along with Jessica Williams (which is hilarious, by the way).  Phoebe’s book discusses race, feminism and her undying love for Bono from U2 and her refreshing and hilarious take on pop culture and why Lisa Bonet is Queen are reasons enough to give this book a read.

 

 

I wanted the hard copy of this book and most books that I read since I haven’t taken too to e-books (i.e Kindle or Nook), unless I travel and don’t want to carry a lot of books. Not having a bookstore in my town means that I either order them online or go to a bookstore in a city nearby and grab what I can, which is where I found this book.

Sometimes I would read a line and kind of in same way that Issa Rae and Mindy Kailing write, I felt like she was living in my head. “Oh my goodness, that’s something I would say” was something I frequently said to myself. And if you read it in public, be aware of people looking at you when you laugh out loud.

 

Oh there are many a lip gloss, palette, pair of black leggings (yes, I wear them as pants #iaintsorry), Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ visual album, and shows like ‘Atlanta’ and ‘Queen Sugar’ that helped me get through 2016, but if I make this list any longer than it already is, you may throw your phone or computer to the floor.

My hope for you all is to live your life the way that you want without apologies. Take the picture, dance to the song and buy lipstick. Life is too important to live it for anyone but yourself.

 

Thank you for reading and Happy 2017!