LoveBrownSugar Feature: Links à la Mode

I'm proud to announce that The Great Debate: Do Skinny Girls Have More Fun post was selected for this week's Links à la Mode. Check out the rest of the amazing links featured below...

It's Getting Hot In Here

Edited by Ann of Holier than Now
Though you may be living in a snow globe (sure feels like it here on the East Coast), you're never out in the cold - assuming the snow hasn't knocked out your internet ... This week's links will warm you up with hot topics that, ideally, bring out the best in a thoughtful, vibrant blogging community. Take your gloves off (the wool kind, not the boxing kind) and join the conversation!
P.S. If you'd like your voice heard here in Links a La Mode, take a look at this helpful guide by Grit & Glamour.

Links à la Mode: January 27th

• Alternations Needed Petite Body Tips Are Usually Bunk: Find Out Your Real Body Shape
• Styling You Jeggings: For or Against?
• Ruby-Eyed Okapi How The Media Tells Us How to Look Through the Lies of Photoshop
• Melina Bee 8 Tips on How to Leave Great Comments
• Love Brown Sugar The Great Debate: Do Skinny Girls Have More Fun?
• Fashionwrites On the Controversial Debate on Fashion and Ethnicity
• Peachy Keen A Week with No Pants
• Full Time Fabulous The 10 Commandments of Building a Loyal Blog Readership
• FOTW A Controversial Take on Burberry's SS/11 Campaign
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: Proezna Schouler speaks at IFB Evolving Influence
• The Haute Hoosier One Man Admits His (Sartorial) Man Crush
• A Perfect Midnight What's In a (Blog) Name
• The New Professional Walking the Halls, Not the Streets: Can Tall Boots & Skirts Work for the Office?
• The Demoiselles What Does it Mean to Be Labeled - And Does it Matter?
• Brunette Blogging Privacy and Blogging
• 260 Days No Repeats Can the Stripe Trend Work for Any Body Type?
• Makeup and Jeans Girl Orange Lipstick for All? 5 Tips to Make It Work
• Holier than Now Crossing the Line: The Cross Jewelry Trend - Offensive or Innocent?
• Dress with Courage Androgyny, Prada, and Taylor Swift: My Relationship with Perfume
• Analogue Chic No More Mugshots: How to Look Better in Profile Pics
• Over 50 Feeling 40 Is Fashion Over 50 More Fun?

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Flavor of Friday: Curlism & the Natural Hair "Movement"

Nope, you're not the only one who didn't realize 'curlism' was an actual word. I too was in the dark about the bitter controversy over what people are calling the natural hair "movement". Let me first declare that I, for one, didn't decide to let go of my relaxed hair back in 2006 because of any kind of movement going on. I did it because I joined an African dance troupe (shoutout to African Rhythms at UPENN) in college, had rigorous dance practice on a regular basis and couldn't deal with maintaining straight hair at Philly hairstylist prices.

Me, circa 2006 (First time natural since childhood)

 Anyway, fast forward 5 years later and everywhere you turn there are girls chopping off their relaxers and rocking their curls. Hell, even I decided (after regretfully relaxing it last year) to chop mine off again and start from scratch. I think it's great that there are so many resources out there now for people who want to do it. But I didn't realize there were SO many strong viewpoints about who could "rightfully" participate in this movement. Well, one of my fave Youtube vloggers Taren916 decided to make a thought-provoking video about the controversy. After a few followers told Taren she couldn't rightfully be part of the "movement" because she's of mixed race and has loose curls, she sounded off with her opinions:

I thought this was interesting to highlight because I know for a fact that you guys are a mixed audience. I'm grateful to have all of you as faithful blog readers - from dark & curly haired gals to blond bombshells with bone straight hair. And I'm curious to know your opinion on this. Should there be such a thing as CURL-ism? Like racism, it separates people based on a physical feature - the texture, shape and size of their CURLS. Can't we all just get along?

It's My Birthday!

Me, 2 Years Old (I've always had a big mouth)

 Today is the one day of the year I can be completely SELFISH and get away with it!! Ok that's not why I wrote this post, and that's not what I intend to do all day (maybe just from 10am-2pm) but the real reason I'm writing this is to reflect on the amazing 20-something years I've been afforded the opportunity to live. 

From Summer Wrap Up: Part 2

So many people in this world don't make it to their 20-something birthdays, so I'm grateful. Everyday. And more than anything I'm grateful for all of you lovelies who follow my daily journey and motivate me on a regular basis, with all your thought-provoking, knee-slapping, and tear-jerking comments. I love you all. A toast to us!

The PJ Chronicles: Bee Mine Curly Butter

Reader Nicki of NickiBCurly writes in:

*Stands Up*

Hello! I am Nickki B. Curly and I am a fellow product junkie. One product in particular is my Bee Mine Curly Butter. 

It smells like candy y'all and it makes my chunky braid-outs look awesome and touchable. It also keeps my hair very moisturized. It is a STAPLE product in my hair product closet....yeah, I said closet lol!

Check out Nicki's gorgeous hair:

Has anyone else tried Bee Mine Curly Butter? What were your results? Soundoff below!

Are you a PJ? If you’re giddy over a beauty product, email luvbrownsugar@gmail.com with subject line "PJ Chronicles"and provide the following: Name, Contact Info and/or Website, Name of Item, Description of why you love it, and Images (preferably of you wearing the product).

Beauty Buzz: Jimmy Choo Fragrance Launch

 Luxury and truly covet-worthy shoe line Jimmy Choo is now branching off into the world of eau de parfum. The newest addition to their product line, Jimmy Choo Fragrance is coming to a Saks Fifth Avenue fragrance counter near you. This one's going on my birthday list for sure. Here are some behind the scenes flicks of Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon shooting promo for the fragrance...

Fierce: Michelle Obama at the State of the Union Address

Michelle Obama

 For the first time in LoveBrownSugar history, I did not leave the "Fierce or Foolish" option open. Michelle O at the State of the Union address last night was simply fierce - no doubt about it. She looked absolutely flawless in a fitted Rachel Roy frock, simple jewelry and the perfect hair and makeup. What's not to love? I have to say, she just might surpass Jackie O as the "Most Fashionable First Lady of All Time". She's definitely got my vote!

What about yours? Soundoff below!

Image Source

Flavor of Friday: 365 New Things

Inspired by a number of sources, at the beginning of this year I decided to embark on a new challenge for myself. A 365 day challenge to be exact.You may have seen photographers and bloggers alike embark on year-long challenges like this before, all based around a year-long commitment. I first saw one of these in action over at Apricot Tea's blog some time ago. 

Ev'Yan of Apricot Tea

 She embarked on the project as part of her personal development in photography and now once again in 2011 she's doing the project as a renewed commitment to her blog. Love it! Check out her Project 365.

Tales of Twipics Past Collage, NYFW SP'11

Anyway, my 365 challenge is similar but slightly different. I'm the type of girl who thrives on variety, so my challenge this year will be about discovering 365 New Things. I know it sounds crazy, but considering all the things there are to do and see in this world, I think committing myself to discovering a measly 365 of them shouldn't be too hard. Once a month, similar to my Tales of Twitpics Past collage above, I'll be filling you all in on 30 new things I've discovered. So far, I've learned about 5 new recipes, gone a few places I've never been and tried a few products I've never tried before. Stay tuned for my update at the end of January! (Of course with beauty products alone, I can knock out 75% of this challenge off the bat, right? I kid.)

What about you guys? Embarking on any year-long challenges in 2011?

The Great Debate: Do Skinny Girls Have More Fun?

Jennifer Hudson: Before & After weight loss

The other night I found myself in the middle of an intriguing discussion on Twitter with a well-known maven in the fashion & entertainment industry. The discussion was so thought-provoking, I figured I would bring it to LoveBrownSugar and get you guys' opinion on the situation. As you all know, from my Curvy Girls Ode and all the hype that generated in the fashion blogosphere about that post, I'm very outspoken when it comes to the great debate about plus size vs. skinny in the fashion industry. If you haven't read it, check it out HERE.

So on last Tuesday evening as everyone on my timeline revved up for the premiere of BET's new series The Game, I stumbled on a tweet from a prominent black socialite and fashionista while she was watching a rerun of hit TV series Glee. I've always loved her sophisticated style as a plus-sized vet in the industry. So I was surprised and intrigued when I saw this statement from her on Twitter...