And the Award, for "Most Superficial"...

Goes to...after the drumroll and my introduction.

I learned some fascinating but not too suprising information from being a consumer from the most ungrateful sellers and producers of beauty supplies. I wanted to find out what group of people did the most plastic or cosmetic surgery and it was amazing to discover this because I always have loved Asians exotic looks and mostly everything they seem to want to change. From what I have learned in South Korea the people want to have a more "western" look or whatever that means. Not only do Koreans go overboard but people of other nationalities go to South Korea just to enjoy their doctors.

So the Award for 'Most Superficial" country goes to South Korea and they deserve this because they are true perfectionists in a way.

Just in case you do not know what superficial is, below is the meaning and I found the definition here.

: concerned only with what is obvious or apparent : not thorough or complete

: affecting only the outer part or surface of something : not deep or serious

: lying close to the surface

After South Korea comes some Latin American countries, Greece and Italy in a top 7 list..

If you want to look like a doll permanently and be "plastic" than take a trip to Korea.

Now I understand fully were this Korean man was coming from who works at a shoeshop who told me, " You are so pretty and thin, I am unlucky because I am ugly and big." This is a true story of what he told me and well I guess with all the Korean BBQ and other habits Koreans are naturally on the big side but I still admire their natural intelligence.



The moral of this is that these Koreans in America who have built a fortune from the weave they sale at their beauty supply stores can really thank the "Black community" for making their comfortable lifestyle possible. If no one else can I am going to be truthful and give credit where it is due.

True Beauty

I am very thankful and blessed to now understand what true beauty is all about. 

To tell you the truth that it was not until I asked to be made more beautiful I know exactly what being beautiful is all about. I recently told someone the reality about the insecurity withing myself in the past, "People would always tell me how beautiful or all the other big words for being attractive but I did not believe I was beautiful. The thing is that being beautiful has nothing to do with a look but a feeling, and now more than ever I feel beautiful."

People can give compliments of how great you look but when you are not feeling good than being beautiful can not be your truth. The best thing about being beautiful is that you choose to love yourself and when you have self-love than loving others is as easy as 1-2-3. If there is anything that we owe each other, that would be love and anything less is unacceptable.

As a make-up artist I deal with the superficial and enjoy giving people a fantasy but the truth is that true beauty comes from within and is nothing but love. I have been grateful and happy to be touched by some of the most beautiful souls and that is because they were all about true beauty. The dress size, inches in someone's waist, amount of make-up or skin color does not determine what makes someone really beautiful and so many do not realize that. Attraction or being easy on the eyes is different than being truly beautiful.

I am loving the October issue of Essence magazine because on the cover there is a topic of "beauty: inside and out".

Everything on from what I am seeing on the cover is showing how much beauty starts and can be found inside. What an amazing feeling to be able to give love coming from a pure heart. 

All the bullying and abuse that goes on is just coming from people who may feeling ugly and have chosen to oppose loving themselves as well as others. Now that I accept beauty I am always willing to fight against anyone abusing their "power" and love is what I choose all of the time. Beauty is to know as well as see that other's are hurting and take action to help them.

Love is life and that is the simple, most beautiful truth.

Wild Week in Washington

What a wild and wacky past week it has been in DC to say the least bit. There were situations that involved spirits that wanted to cause a commontion of becoming weak just to be overcome by the enemy. How amazing to recognize the energy that people carry and that can be transfered over to someone else easily. In life we all have to stay strong so that we can not be overcome by the enemy that wants to cause turmoil and rather have everyone fight each other. I find it amazing all the energy that people were carrying just leading up to the Mrs. Carter tour.


This is how it is in every situation and scenario that plays out I am realizing. The key is to take a look outside of yourself when someone may threaten you or is evidently in bad spirits and you ask your self do I take the high road or just decide to be bad or let the negative energy transfer to you. I recently went through a situation like this that someone had the audacity to get mad at me because I had my legs cross and maybe that day just was not there's, so I ignored the bad spirit and meditate on this situation. Of course the wild intent of that someone passed and the energy must have been strong that the energy passed on to another causing commontion. I saw clear as day how people could let bad spirits take over them to disturb all the other passengers and of course I had to get off of that bus like many others. I felt threatened on the bus and well to the point that I wanted to get away from the person next to me but the bottom line is that I did get away from the confusion. Lesson from all of this as I reflect that God does work in mysterious ways and if we pay attention we really do have a lot to be thankful for.

From my wild and wacky week I am reminded that we can choose if we react with sugar or with more spice; but you really have to be prepared for all the possible outcomes that may feel bad or feel good. All of the past events including me undulging myself on some good eats has lead me up to my fast for major cleansing that is needed.


I have eaten lamb from one of my favorite spots to Lemon Pepper Catfish and Peach Cobbler from BSmith's. The last week of July has led up to my final choice in fasting with only drinking juices, smoothies and water to nourish my body.

Three tries to get things right, that's how my luck works out @ The Coupe and in life.

No more lamb, or seafood and vegetation for my cleanse.

Natural look for such a wicked week in Washington

Perfection

All photos were taken by me and I am looking forward to August as a chance to shed some pounds from consuming so many toxins.

Natural Cleansing and Antiseptic

I  love tea tree oil because of all the benefits and the fact that it can be categorized as natural antiseptic, germicide, antibacterial & fungicide. In case you do not know what a Antiseptic is, here you go: a substance that inhibits the growth and development of microorganisms without necessarily killing them. Tea tree oil comes from the Australian Melaleuca tree which is grown mainly in Australia. Idefinitely reccommend the product below which comes from the Desert Essence line with many products to choose from.

Back has a list of ingredients

Also, another great brand is Seba Med which has products for everyone's skin and hair needs. I love the liquid face and body wash for Sensitive Skin because wherever there is skin this can be applied. Most cleansers or for the face only or the body but this can be applied all over which knocks ou two birds with one stone. 

Stormy Weather

What lovely refreshing weather I have experienced for the past two days. The thunder and lightening was just what Mother nature needed for now to cleanse things. Anyways it is amazing how amazing the environment feels after a storm. Really all women are a brick house personified no matter how they are built. Being naturally beautiful to wash away all the toxic feelings and emotions from the insides is essential. Oh and nothing like some stormy weather to clear the air.

Smoothing the Scalp-STS

Smoothing and soothing the hair scalp is important and what I love, especially for a scalp as sneaky as mines. I got rid of some old, and dry skin though clarification and deep exfoliation.

I used two different shampoos for my hair and one great cleanser. I was able to scrub off some dead skin on on my nose and between my eyebrows from a few clogged hair follicles. I could easily see the scales of dry skin on my face but I was happy to discover the skin on top of my head. Well this is not the year of the snake for nothing. 

scaly skin removed from a good shampoo

These shampoos work wonders and are very therapeutic and of course you should know that you are always worthy of good cleansing and clarification. All of these products I used are highly recommended and can be used once a week.

Mental Health Month

In honor of Mental Health month I just want to let you know that you can be happy and hopeful about your life.

I have completed reading Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Ph. D book Women who think too Much: How to Break Free of Over-thinking and RECLAIM YOUR LIFE and browsed through another of her books exploring how Women who are depressed fall into addictions. What a privilege it is to recognize and understand how people think, especially women. All of the books below are a study of society and how the role of a women has allowed her to tolerate the torment of over-thinking in a nutshell.  Just a side-note: In Beyonce's Life is But a Dream I love how she describes that a lot of her songs are to empower women and a sort of "escape" from reality like "Run the World (girls)". Although we are living in a man's world, a woman does have a lot of power.

One of my favorite quotes from Bob Marley which was on a shirt I loved is, "Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!"

All of her books are definitely recommended and the best help comes from self because everyone possesses their own personal power. Being happy and well is what life is about and anything less is unacceptable.

Look for today

The temperature went from the sixties to the eighties just like that. What a beautiful day it was and the look was all about sizzling and being bright. No foundation or extra cover-ups but Revlon's new Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in "Adore" was the only thing on my face. The good thing about this line is that there are 12 shades and the results are amazing with not too much effort put into the look. Also, Just Bitten Kissable Stain is more than a Balm because their is a tingling affect like peppermint shampoo and the hair scalp.


Today was more than sizzling... 

Just Bitten

Spicy

Cardigan from the Gap size Large, color Coral

Smiling

Looks of sleepy and sizzled perhaps?...Sunny days can make things seem a blur.

perfect for Summer

Applying more color lip stain

Zumba

The most fun I have had when it comes to working out is at Zumba classes with instructor Eric Ruiz every Wednesday. The music and dance moves always keep the body in movement and allows me to sweat a lot which doesn't come easy. These moves are something that can be done in the comfort of one's home but the energy from the group and interaction with the instructor makes loosing calories so much fun. I stayed behind after everyone left to attempt some ab workouts because I can afford to lose some inches in my waist. Very interesting how Wilma seemed to fail me after my recent workout and I now know she was always kind of jealous or couldn't hide that fact because I was having a lot of fun while sweating more than I really do.

Just on the contrary I love seeing Beyonce on the cover of Shape magazine for the April issue.


Looking to have fun and you are in the DC metro area than check out the Dance Institute of Washington in Columbia Heights for all the adult dance classes offered.

Still have some more work to do

Working out leaves me with good feelings

Mayday..mayday..I love a body with sunny disposition

Slimmer in the waist after one week.