Cocoa Connection

Overwhelming Scents

Ladies, consider this a PSA.

Autumn is near and with it comes another batch of seasonal allergies for allergy sufferers. 

There's nothing like a wonderful light scent to accentuate your natural body odor, but there is nothing worse than entering a room or walking down a corridor and smelling the person who was there 10 minutes ago.  It's even worse when the offender still around. 

Next time you go to spray your perfume, consider:
1) Do you already have one scented lotion?  If so, skip the perfume - it's overkill.
2) One spray on the elbow, wrist, or behind the ear will do. After the spray you can distribute using your wrists.
3) If you are trying to mask an odor, consider getting rid of the odor first.  Perfume over sweat or any BO is horrendous. 

If you smell strongly of perfume, people will only assume you are covering up something foul!  Please, spare us all!  Some of us (like me) are even allergic to certain perfumes.

Next time you go out, feel confident about yourself and how you smell and don't knock anyone out with your scent in the process.  :-)

(Men, this applies to you, too!)

Late Thoughts on Emmy Fashion

The 58th Annual Emmys were broadcast last week and the only part worth watching or rather, discussing the next day was what the actresses wore to the event. This year one actress in particular stood out to me. The actress Chandra Wilson, from the television show "Grey's Anatomy,” looked absolutely fabulous in her perfectly form-fitting Bradley Bayou red dress. She looked effortlessly put-together. She was elegant and did not look uncomfortable. Robin Givhan said it best – “red-carpet-perfect!”

What’s Sizzling for the Summer: Part Two

"Big Blingy" Earrings have made a stunning comeback for the summer of 2006. It seems that the bigger the earring the better. Save those small studs for the fall because this summer if you want to be noticed, bring out your hoops, chandeliers and name plate earrings (well, the name plate earrings can go back in your jewelrey box).

Hoops

This summer, hoop earrings have been featured everywhere from the beach to the runway. The beauty of the hoops of 2006 is the lighter the better instead of the giant size 14 karat earrings of the 1980s. Also new for this summer’s hoop earrings: detail, detail, detail. Gone are the plain circular hoops. These hoops come in an array of shapes and sizes located within the hoop, from dangling butterflies to Indian-inspired looks. And the best part: they run as cheap as $5.99 and can be found at any of your local stores.

(Cut out Butterfly Earrings)

(Mulitple hoop Earrings)

Both Earring can be found on www.hottopic.com

Cut-Out Butterfly Hoop Earrings

Oh, so soft hair, part II

Yesterday I wrote about the Nexxus Luxury Moisturizing Shampoo. I also recommend the Nexxus Humectress conditioner. I've used this conditioner since I was a pre-teen and no cholesterol or hot oil treatment ever came close to moisturizing as well as this. If you can not afford Nexxus, Suave Humectant conditioner is actually a very excellent substitute. Both Nexxus products cost a pretty penny, but if you relax your hair you're already spending money to change your hair so why not invest a little to keep it looking healthy? Consider these two products especially if you use any kind of heat on relaxed hair.

Oh, so soft hair

 If you have relaxed hair then this article is for you.

 As we all know, relaxers a convenient way to straighten the curls of our hair. However, this treatment often leaves hair feeling very fragile and dry. In order to stop breakage, relaxed hair needs excessive moisturizing. To control the frizz and dryness that relaxers leave on our hair, most women use hot oil, cholesterol, or some other form of deep moisturizing treatment every 2-4 weeks.

 When my hair was relaxed, I discovered by accident a shampoo that enabled me to use less deep conditioning treatments and still have soft and manageable hair. Hard to believe that a shampoo can moisturizes, but the Therappe Luxury Moisturizing Shampoo by Nexxus does just that. It is the only shampoo I have ever used that actually left my hair feeling soft after shampooing. You know that tangible, stripped feeling some other hair shampoos leave your hair after wash? Therappe does the complete opposite. Therappe leaves your hair feeling completely and thoroughly washed yet not stripped of the nutrients that your hair so desperately needs. No, Nexxus does not pay me to say this, although they should definitely through some free shampoo my way for the heads up ;). With this shampoo my relaxed hair felt clean but to my amazement, very soft. It’s quite odd to shampoo your hair and have it feel like you just conditioned it!

 Now that I have natural hair (as of December 2005) I actually wash even less than before. When I do use shampoo, it's still with the Nexxus Luxury Moisturizing Shampoo. If you have relaxed hair, give this shampoo a try. You won't regret it.

Around Town in a New York Minute: Club Watch

Summer is still here and the heat is still sizzling in New York City, especially around the club scene. Nearly every block in Manhattan from Canal Street to Washington Heights boasts some type of pub, dance club or lounge to spend your Thursday through Saturday nights in (or if you are truly adventurous Wednesday through Sunday). The only frustrating part is, where to go and how to get in, because in New York its all about where you go and how many celebs are sitting next to you. Instead of listing the best clubs in New York City, I will list a number of websites that will get you on the guest list to some of the hottest parties in the city. Guest lists are the best way to get into any club because they offer you free or reduced admission and complimentary drinks. Most guest lists offer similar conditions such as a time span that within which the guest list is open, how many people can go be on your list an d what attire to wear.

http://clubplanet.com/

Clubplanet is my favorite site for clubs in New York. Not only do they give you the guest list for some of the hottest clubs in New York but they also give you a description of other clubs, lounges, pubs and bars in the city if clubbing isn’t your scene. It also posts guest lists for other cities around the US

The Long and Short of It

I love shorts. For me, I love the way they feel and how good they make my legs look. But every woman is not like me. In fact, there are many women who fear wearing shorts because of the appearances of stretch marks, cellulite or veins on their thighs. Don't let leg appearances stop you from showing some skin this summer. There's a great solution to your problem: Bermuda shorts. Bermuda shorts have been around for years but have only been seen on older women until now. I love these Bermuda shorts because they are longer than "daisy dukes" but short enough to still show a nice amount of leg. When you decide to go and buy a pair, do be sure you have the right length. The shorts should only go as low as mid knee and rest right on top of the knee. Wear them with a tanks, t-shirts, blouses, whatever, and you're good to go!

~MeltednMilky

Stocking your autumn wardrobe, Part III

One of the most important parts of an autumn wardrobe is what goes on your feet. For most people, this time of year is the time to invest in buying two new types of boots: daily wear boots and going-out boots. This fall, designers have made other types of shoes look fabulous. My personal favorite look this fall is clunky shoes, especially the shoes by Miu Miu.

This shoe by Miu Miu would go rather well with pants and skirts.

I love the fact that these shoes are versatile and provide needed coverage for the foot. Supplemental coverage can be supplied by cute, thick stockings which are abundant this fall as well.

Balenciaga also came out with chunky shoes this fall.  The shoes are very cool but I doubt I would last very long in some of them, such as this one:

This year, try to go for a less traditional boot and stock up on a nice clunky heel. Just be sure it is one that is as wearable as a normal boot you would wear. These shoes fortunately have platforms that are high enough for those of us who live in snowy climates so no worries about functionality!

Legacies: Contemporary Artists Reflect on Slavery

Legacies: Contemporary Artists Reflect on Slavery
(https://www.nyhistory.org)

The New York Historical Society has opened a second exhibit showcasing the work of young contemporary artists surrounding the theme of slavery in the United States. The first exhibit was 2000's “Without Sanctuary. Lynching Photography in America” a photographic exhibition that left every visitor with a searing life altering glimpse of the lynching of thousands of slaves during the1800s. Having seen just a glimpse of the photographs displayed in "Without Lynching", I was also left with similar feelings of anger, shock and pain. "Legacies: Contemporary Artists Reflect on Slavery"” the second installment in this New York Historical Society series, is an assortment of contemporary art pieces that deal with a reflection on slavery and the impact of slavery in our society today.

Wrap It Up!

“Dress to Impress.”

We’ve all been told that after asking the question “What do I wear?” The real problem is  what does it mean? Which clothes represent which occasion?  Nobody wants to be over-dressed and certainly nobody wants to be under-dressed! Well, no worries. I have an impressive solution that you can wear all day going from point A to B without any wardrobe changes, an item that could impress a future mother-in-law as well as the fiancé! A wrap skirt. They are feminine, fun, and sexy. Wear it with flats or flirty pumps and you are good to go! So “wrap” up the worries, dress to impress, and do it confidently!   

~MeltedNMilky