Sorry :-(

We apologize for being so slow on updating the blog. We've just been very busy...but look for more fashion, beauty and FLYYness in the New Year!!!! Happy Holidays!!!!

Editorial: Beauty and the [Exercise] Beast

If you’re anything like me, you’ve declared that this is the season that you are going for the gusto. No holds barred. All doubt out the window. THIS is the season that you will get in shape. OOWWWWW! But if you are even more like me, you have hit more than a few hurdles stoplights on your journey to conquer the bulge. Allow me to offer this word of advice (that I admit I ministered to myself first). Your quest to whip yourself into shape should be primarily an effort to increase your physical condition, not your physique.

We live in an image-conscious society. I get that. And as much as one may try to proclaim that they are not a part of the world-wide image divide, let’s face it. We are all chilling on some spot of the spectrum. Even the biggest advocates of the ‘I love my curves club’ and the ‘makeup is for gypsies assembly’ care about the way they look and how people perceive them.

I personally feel that putting your best foot-manicured or not-forward is great. However, I also feel that the foot that we put forward is often the foot OTHERS have told us looks best. With this in mind I will say that I find it quite disturbing to notice women adopting work out regiments and eating habits to achieve a size society has told them is acceptable.

Reach for and maintain a weight/size that fits YOU. You know by now whether aiming to be a size 4 is unrealistic or not. Reevaluate what weight and size is healthy for your height and weight. Get real with yourself. And while you are reaching, reach for your health first.

I am a big fan of working out. I feel that getting your body involved in some sort of physical activity on a regular basis is what will save us from many ailments we face as we age. Studies show that common ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and even arthritis can be prevented with simple concern for what you eat and how much physical activity you engage in. It is recommended that you should engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week (that means 4 or more guys!). Strength training helps your body fight calories when you’re not working out and stretching helps prevent injuries (can’t really show off those toned calves in a cast!) Also, studies show that extra fat around your midsection makes you more susceptible to weight related health problems than fat around your hips or thighs.

I know very few people who would work out if they didn’t have to. NEWSFLASH: WE ALL (all meaning those who reside in a human shell- not just overweight people) HAVE TO. But it can actually be fun! So don’t lose heart! And remember, do it for your health!

Face Forward: Makeup Kit Essentials

Makeup is an essential part to every look. Whether you’re going to work or preparing for a night on the town, makeup is what completes’ every outfit. Therefore every girl should have a basic makeup kit and here are the items no kit should be without.

1. Moisturizer

2. Primer

3. Concealer

4. Foundation

5. Mascara and Eyeliner

6.Lip Gloss/ Lipstick

1. Moisturizer: The key to flawless makeup is flawless skin. This is why moisturizer is so important. When your skin is healthy your makeup covers better. The type of moisturizer that works for you is dependent on your skin type. It should include SPF and be oil free. For younger skin or acne prone skin make sure that your moisturizer has acne treatment and for older skin make sure that firming and age fighting ingredients are included.

2. Primer: Primer is used to protect your skin from the makeup. It also gives your makeup a much smoother finish. It fills in big pores and gives you skin a radiant finish. A good primer is MAC's Prep + Prime which cost about $25 a bottle (www.maccosmetics.com)

3. Concealer: Concealer is used to cover up imperfections such as scars, blemishes, pimples, and dark spots. It can be applied before or after the foundation. When using a concealer you need to make sure that the color is not too dark or light but that it matches well with your skin. A concealer that I like and found to work really well is Poser Cover Creme. It cost about $8.99 a jar and can be bought at your local Walgreens. (www.walgreens.com)

4. Foundation: Foundation is a must for even the most perfect skin. Its purpose is to even out the skin color. For this reason it is not always necessary to apply foundation to the entire face. It should match your skin color and only be applied where needed. It should also be applied in layers. Start off with just a little and build in the areas where you need more. This keeps your foundation looking natural. Some of the foundations I love are MAC Studio Sculpt which is $29.50 a tube and provides a very natural finish, MAC StudioFix Powder Plus Foundation which has a matte powder finish and cost about $26 a compact, and Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse which has an airbrush finish and can be found at your local drug store for about $8.99 a bottle.(www.maccosmetics.com and www.cvs.com)

5. Eyeliner and Mascara: Eyeliner and Mascara go hand and hand. They are needed because they make your eyes pop. They both can make tired eyes look lively and have a way of enhancing the face. When you're going for a natural look or don't feel like applying eye shadow these two products are key. My favorites are MAC Zoom Lash which is $13.00 and NYX Automatic Eye Pencil which cost about $3. (www.maccosmetics.com and www.nyxcosmetics.com )

6. Lip Gloss/ Lipstick: The lips complete the look. It's what pulls the entire face together. Therefore your makeup kit should include a good Lip Gloss or Lipstick. The color is totally up to you but make sure that it.

Honorable Mention - Blush: This is useful when you need to add a little color or glow to your face. A nice shade of pink will work with almost any look or face.

Flyy Guy: The Cardigan

It is indeed the era of the gentleman, with this phenomenon being imminent in men’s fashion. One of our fave pieces of the season for guys? THE CARDIGAN.

My how the tables have turned. This age of ‘do you’ has spawned a lot of freedom in men’s fashion. We are thrilled to see that young men are stepping their game up and getting grown (finally). The cardigan, which could once be deemed dorky has become a regular in the grown man’s wardrobe. Move over Carlton Banks, Willy from Philly is raiding your closet and jockin’ your style.

It’s Flyy Because: It is a versatile piece that can be dressed up or dressed down. It is also a piece that allows a guy to show off his personal style.

Rock it With: A Button up or a T-Shirt with fitted jeans

Sean John Fast Forward Cardigan: $78 Macy's

Complete the look With: A fresh pair of high-tops

Fighting Pelican Cardigan: $95 Flipelican.com

If you’re really Flyy: Explore with bold colors and two-toned sweaters!

Caution: Over-doing it. The Cardigan is hot right now, so make it the focus of your look.

Sean John Sweater Cardigan: $88 Macy's

Warning: Do not attempt to rock a cardigan without a shirt underneath. This rule is imperative to your image and if not followed, will send you catapulting into the hallows of fashion hell!

Face Forward: Makeup Review - Posner Cover Creme

• Price: 5 out of 5

• Product: 4 out of 5

• Quality: 5 out of 5

• Packaging: 4 out of 5

• Overall: 5 out of 5

Would I Recommend: Absolutely



Where to Buy:

Walgreens

Price: $8.79



Product Description:

• Completely covers Spots, Scars and Dark Circles

• Fragrance Free, Oil Free and Water Resistant

• Provides Protection from the Sun and in Long Wearing

• Hypoallergenic and Dermatologist Recommended

Overall Opinion:

Good cover up is a very important part of any makeup kit and this product is one of the best I’ve found. This product covers very well. I found that it works great on dark circles as well as spots. Since it is a cream it is very buildable. It can be used before or after applying foundation and you can use as little or as much as needed as it blends very well. It is very easy to use, last all day, and it doesn’t dry out your skin. My only complaint is that I wished it came in a few more colors.



Advantages:

• Very inexpensive

• Easy to use

• Covers well

Disadvantages:

• Only comes in 6 colors

Editorial: One Size Does Not Fit All

Does beauty come in a specific size? Is there some sort of unwritten rule that says if you weigh over a certain amount that you are no longer beautiful? Who decides what is beautiful? When we turn on the TV all we see are images of what people are telling us we should look like. Sometimes I wonder how much of our opinions on beauty are actually our own and how much of it is based on what others tell us to like and dislike.

As I log into my twitter page this morning and turn on the television I am constantly reminded as to why so many girls have low self esteem.  My female friends are obsessed over losing a couple of pounds and constantly comparing themselves to the celebrities they see in magazines. I’m guilty of this as well. As I log into Facebook I see the images of what my male friends think are beautiful and come to a quick realization that I don’t look like those images and neither do most of my friends.

 Our minds become consumed with the images of what we think we should look like and what others tell us is beautiful. Our trips to the gym are no longer about a desire to be healthy but a desire to be thin or at least thinner. It seems like loving yourself is no longer enough especially when the world is telling you that you shouldn’t because you are a size 16 and not a size 6.

This is a very personal topic to me. I have been in a battle with my weight and acceptance most of my life. I went on my first diet before I went through puberty and have been on and off them since. I was always an active child but for some reason was never as thin as my sisters and people had a way of always reminding me of that.  I spent most of my childhood and early adulthood ashamed of who I was and ashamed of how I looked. There was this constant fear of being compared, judged, and scrutinized. Then one day a few years ago I took a look in the mirror and for the first time saw how beautiful I actually was.  I had come into my own person and for the first time since I could remember I liked what I saw. No, I wasn’t perfect but who is?

At what point do we stop and realize that beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes?  Some people no matter how hard they try will never be thin and they shouldn’t have to try and kill themselves to get that way.  Many girls struggle with eating disorders before they reach high school.  According to The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 10 out of every 100 young women suffer from an eating disorder. Don’t get me wrong. I believe that we should all practice a healthy diet and exercise but the goal should be to be healthy not to be thin.  It’s ok to want to lose weight.  However, our purpose for losing weight should be personal and our focus should be on being healthy. It should never get to the point where you are consumed with losing weight s to fit the beauty standard of someone else. We need to learn that not every woman is going to be shaped like Beyonce. 

We as women need to learn to truly love ourselves no matter what size we are. We must stop letting the world tell us that we are not beautiful and that we need to change.  I am proof that beauty does not come in a specific size.

S.E.X. and the City: Make A Statement

Less is more, unless it’s on your neck. This fall add variety to your arsenal by incorporating a statement necklace.

It’s Flyy Because… There is nothing that says ‘grown and sexy’ this season like a head-turning necklace or bracelet. Why wouldn’t you want to be the center of attention?

Rock it With: A top/dress with a deeper neckline

Complete the Look: Eye-shadow and makeup that compliment the look/colors in the necklace.

Caution: Ornate clothing will most likely be overkill. Let the jewelry be the headliner. Too many ornate pieces in the outfit become confusing.

Warning: All Statement jewelry is not created equal. There is a thin line between ‘charming’ and ‘cheap’. Steer clear of it.

If you’re really flyy: Pair it with big earrings too!