LBS 3 Year Giveaway: Day 11

Today's giveaway (the last & final one of the month!) comes courtesy my hair sponsor for the BET Awards (and the reason I'm whipping my hair back and forth at the moment) Dana Gibbs of the dana's loft Hair Salon! I spoke about my visit to the salon briefly during my Road to BET Awards: Day 4 post. Essentially, Dana gave me a brand new look and I love it.

I told her I wanted big fluffy curls with honey-dipped ombre ends and that's exactly what she gave me. She was so incredibly sweet and supportive the entire time. And she really guided me through the whole process.

I documented the dana's loft Hair Salon visit for you guys, because I always get tons of questions when I do something new to my hair. Didn't want to leave you guys hanging! Take a look at the process below:


Dana has partnered up with LoveBrownSugar for our 3 Year Anniversary to give one lucky winner a travel size bag of the products she featured in the video. TRUST me when I say, these products are amazing. I've been using them to mainain my sew-in and to keep my own natural hair (the part left out) properly moisturized and they really work!

Enter below for your chance to win a packet of the goodies pictured above!

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Special thanks to Kisha Timothy for snapping pictures, Lisha Hartgrove for the capture of this video and Sharifa S. Daniels for the editing.

Drop The Dryer: Flat Twists On Natural Hair

This week Nikita of My 12 Month Natural Hair Challenge tackles the flat twist-out. Check out her styling & results:

I had never flat twisted all of my hair before, but I heard great things about the results from friends. I decided to give it a try and below is a part of the process and the results!

Step 1: I flat twisted my hair straight back while my hair was still wet from having just been washed and conditioned. It wasn't soaking wet, but still damp enough that I didn't need to use a spray bottle to re-moisturize. I did my normal moisturizing regimen, which is Coconut oil, Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk-Touch Leave In Conditioner, shea butter and Mizani True Textures Moisture Stretch or MoroccanOil Intense Curl Cream.

[CONTINUE]

I'm On My Naomi Campbell

Ok ignore the ratchetness of this post's title and stay with me here. Guys! I'm going to be walking in a fashion show! The lovely folks at BlogHer have invited me to take my talents to the runway in the form of a sponsored fashion show on this Saturday, August 4th. They are featuring a group of their favorite bloggers and I was chosen. I am ECSTATIC!

Alright before I hyperventilate let me back up for a sec. Before finding out that I would be walking in their Styled & MC'ed show, they actually invited me to speak on an amazing panel for the BlogHer 8th Annual Conference, with moderator Kathryn Finney of The Budget Fashionista. The panel is called Three-dimensional Beauty on a Two-dimensional Screen: Style and Design Bloggers Share Trade Secrets. The panel will be all about how bloggers use words & images to convey lifestyle. If you're an up-and-coming blogger, or even an old head, residing in NYC or close by, you should definitely plan on being there!

So back to the fashion show - I'm beyond excited. I have a fitting this Wednesday and then the actual show is on Saturday. A bit nervous that I might end up as "fashion roadkill" a la Carrie Bradshaw, but I can't wait to share the experience with you guys. And if you're in NYC you should totally stop by and cheer me on! I'll keep you guys posted on the venue & time details.

Remember this episode of Sex & The City? Yeah...

Should I be nervous? You think I'll fall in my heels like Carrie did in Sex & The City?


I'll be watching the following video in preparation. Sashay! Chantay!

My Insta-Week: 7.30.12

Last week was fill up pink and turquoise. If you haven't notices, those are my favorite colors! To sum it up, here's a list of what I got into the last week of the month:

- I had the pleasure of hosting a super chic digital launch party for LiSi Cosmetics. Huge hugs to all my blogger boos who came out to celebrate. If you guys haven't heard of LiSi, don't be shy - go to the website and check out some of their products.

- I've been scouting out locations for my big end-of-summer LoveBrownSugar 3 Year Anniversary Bash which I can't wait to share more details about! Everything is hush hush for now, but just know makeup, sweets & cocktails will be involved.

- Since I had been doing so much traveling during the first half of the month, I spent last week (and the weekend) catching up with friends & family. I had one of my good friends over for cocktails in my garden. Learning to appreciate little moments like this in life. Sometimes you need a break!

How was your weekend? Do tell!

Are we friends on Instagram? Find me! Username: LoveBrownSugar

LoveBrownSugar Chic: White Lace & Leopard

This is my typical day to night look. I can wear this to work or to play.

Dress: Shop Akira (similar here), Shoes: Steve Madden (similar here), Handbag: Handbag Heaven (similar here), Watch: Michael Kors, Ring: Glitterrings

Hair courtesy True Indian Hair, Styling by Dana's Loft
Photography by Sharifa S. Daniels

Get The Look With These Products:

LBS 3 Year Giveaway: Day 10

Happy Friday! Today's LoveBrownSugar 3 Year Anniversary giveaway is another piece of amazing jewelry, this one from Debbie Merle Designs.

As an artist, designer and cancer survivor, Debbie Merle is driven to share her unique perspective of the world through her eclectic, hand crafted pieces, which are both works of art and labors of love. About her collection she says "The symbolism behind the charms and agate beads in my jewelry signify healing, protection, love, happiness and passions about living life to the fullest!"

The folks at Debbie Merle are giving one LBS reader one of these cutesy baubles to cherish:

Want one? Enter your information below for your chance to win!

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Kickin' It: LiSi Cosmetics Digital Launch Party

So back in June as I was prepping for my BET Awards trip, I introduced you guys to a brand new cosmetics store I fell in love with here in NYC. The brand, LiSi Cosmetics, makes the most amazing makeup and beauty products and everything is dirt cheap, like drugstore prices! Y'all know I can't help but share a good bargain when I see one. So in the spirit of sharing,  I agreed to host a digital launch party at their flagship with some of my favorite beauty gurus and bloggers. I had an absolute blast!

First thing, I got my makeup done by one of their awesome consultants. She gave me her "bronze, summer glow" look which I loved.

She prepped my eyes with their primer then added a mix if shimmery golds on my eyes. Then she finished with blush and bronzer.

The MUA's gave out makeup advice and consultations to each of the guests. Above is Deena Campbell of UPTOWN Magazine.

My faves Misha of TheFabChick and Carmen of Liptick.Fashion.Mascara were there.

We played a few fun games like "Find the makeup product". These girls were good!

Lots of product trials. Montrelle's pink pout is too cute!

Obsessed with checking our photos, here I am with Danielle from Hello Beautiful and Kelly from Masque Magazine.

Me and Jessica of Glamazons Blog

Had such a good time with the LiSi team! Check out the video below:

LiSi Cosmetics has just recently launched their first online store so all the lovely products they have at the flagship are readily available to be shipped to you, wherever you are. Just head to LisiCosmetics.com to check them out. And don't forget, I still have a lovely package of goodies to giveaway from Day 1 of my LBS 3 Year Anniversary celebration. Winners will be announced next week!

Are you on Facebook? Check out the rest of the event pics on the LoveBrownSugar Facebook page!

Would you give a brand like LiSi Cosmetics a try?

LBS 3 Year Giveaway: Day 9

Today's giveaway comes courtesy jewelry collection Carolina Amato! They have agreed to give one of you lucky gals a Serpentine Ring (pictured below) which retails for $98. About the product, the brand says "An intriguing serpent envelops this rich faceted, garnet cubic zirconia and, from head to tail extends around the band and setting for total immersion into this fashion statement."

Sold? Yeah, me too. Enter below for your chance to win!

Eligibility (Enter in the Rafflecopter box)

1. You must be following LoveBrownSugar on Facebook & Twitter

2. You must be following Carolina Amato on Facebook & Twitter

3. Leave a comment about how you would rock this ring!

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LBS 3 Year Giveaway: Day 8

It's the third & last giveaway featuring Simply Be's A/W 2012 collection! And I saved the absolute best for last. Today's giveaway features their Anna Sholz Bird Dress, $115 which is a super chic ladylike dress with a fun print and sultry keyhole design.

Cute right? Three of you will win one of these babies! Follow the directions below:

Eligibility (Follow the directions in Rafflecopter below):

1. You must be following LoveBrownSugar on Facebook and Twitter
2. Leave a comment answering: "Where would you rock this dress?"
3. *Bonus: Tweet about the giveaway for an extra entry!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

LBS 3 Year Giveaway: Day 7

I'm back with another Simply Be giveaway! Three more of you lucky ladies will nab an amazing new piece from Simply Be's A/W 2012 collection. See below for deets!

Today's giveaway is one of my absolute FAVORITE pieces from the A/W 2012 collection. It's the perfect mixture of classic and trendy.

Last season when leather-sleeved wool jackets started popping up all over the stores, I was dying to get my hands on one! This season, the Simply Be PU Sleeve Jacket, $125 jacket will absolutely be my fall season staple.

Rocking it at the Simply Be A/W 2012 Luncheon

Eligibility (Follow the directions in Rafflecopter below):

1. You must be following LoveBrownSugar on Facebook and Twitter
2. Leave a comment answering: "What are you most looking forward to this Fall?"
3. *Bonus: Tweet about the giveaway for an extra entry!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Drop The Dryer: Bun Tutorial On Natural Hair [VIDEO]

So Nikita of My 12 Month Natural Hair Challenge heard your requests to do a video tutorial about her "Bun Remix" on natural hair. Behold the grand tutelage below...

[CONTINUE]

My Insta-Week: 7.23.12

The last few weeks have been quite eventful! So much that I haven't had a chance to post one of these in over two weeks. So here's a super brief rundown of the majority of my July. Still about a week left in this month, let's make it great!


- So I went to Miami the week before last for a much-needed (real) vacation. Though I have been traveling alot lately (from Los Angeles for the BET Awards to New Orleans for Essence Music Festival), I hadn't had a real break to just, well, chill and not work! So I packed up my things and headed down to the shores of South Beach with some friends.

This is me pretending to be rich in my new bathing suit - from the H&M Plus line!

So among beach bumming on South Beach, I partied, ran into both Lil' Scrappy and Stevie J (hello Love & Hip-Hop ATL), pool-hopped and posed for group photos. Best way to spend a weekend getaway.

- I discovered a few old things and few new ones recently. I went home to see my parents and ended up cleaning out an old drawer with souvenirs from my past study-abroad travels. Don't you love those moments? I also discovered my new favorite shoe line Ron Donovan. Sexy stilettos. I nearly fainted. And I did my very first Berry Mango smoothie all by my self. Yep yep, big girl now...

Demetria Lucas (ABelleInBK.com), Jessica Andrews (GlamazonsBlog.com)

- Yesterday I co-hosted an amazing brunch with women of color who work in the social media space. It was so awesome being around such beautiful women who are trying to make change with their social media presence. The lovely Kim Coles (you may know her as Sinclair from Living Single) showed up and ate and talked with us. The lovely folks at Shea Moisture sponsored. I love them and I love her.

How was your week/weekend? Talk to me!

LBS 3 Year Giveaway: Day 6

We're winding down to the last 2 weeks left in my 3 Year Anniversary Celebration and I have a few more amazing prizes to give away! In celebration of LoveBrownSugar's 3 years of existence, I'm partnering up with one of my favorite plus-size fashion sites Simply Be to do a 3-day giveaway blitz of some of their newest Autumn/Winter 2012 pieces.

The new fall collection, which I had the pleasure of viewing during a luncheon with the brand last week, is absolutely phenomenal.

Trying out the new collection at the Simply Be A/W 2012 Luncheon

From chic 70's-style printed dresses to refined ladylike pieces and edgy leather -trimmed statement jackets, I am absolutely in LOVE with their latest collection. You can view the new A/W 2012 collection HERE.

So today through Wednesday, THREE of you lucky gals each day will have a chance to win a new piece from their collection.

Here's today's look:

This Animal Print Blouse it's the perfect compliment to fall's skinny jeans or leather minis. It's lightweight, it's trendy and it fits all body types. What more could you need?

Eligibility (Follow the directions in Rafflecopter below):

1. You must be following LoveBrownSugar on Facebook and Twitter
2. Leave a comment answering: "What would you wear with your Animal Print Blouse?"
3. *Bonus: Tweet about the giveaway for an extra entry!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kickin' It: Global Fusion Festival - Brandy, Elle Varner & More

LoveBrownSugar's newest assistant & contributor Makisha Timothy caught up with the stars this past weekend. Check out what she got into:

Festivals are a summer mainstay and this past Saturday, Philadelphia hosted it’s 6th Annual Global Fusion Festival at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing. The festival brought out a diverse crowd both young and old. Headliner Brandy definitely had the biggest crowd with fans who were simply happy to see her back. With the exception of the very handsome and ageless Kenny Lattimore, who was there for the “ole heads” that probably got married to his music, newcomers such as Kendrick Lamar, Elle Varner and Luke James took the stage and showed and proved why they are up next.

Kendrick Lamar went first, drawing the younger crowd of hip-hop lovers. I must admit, he’s not the biggest guy in his crew, but his fans know exactly who he is. The screams from his female fans were deafening.

It is safe to say that when the host signaled Luke James to hit the stage, the fellas made sure they paid attention. The things women were doing to get to Luke were insane.

Kisha & Luke James

Fortunately for the women, during the press conference he gave after his performance, I was able to find out his relationship status and even learn about his perfect girl. Stay tuned for the video, it might be you. 

Elle Varner took me by surprise. She was so comfortable on stage and that voice is better than gold. Her full head of curls is easily a statement on her and during her press conference she shared how she gets her curls right, along with whose accessories she wore and where she got her killer wedges from.

Elle Varner performing

Kenny Lattimore melted the crowd. If you weren’t in love, you wished you were.

Brandy & Kisha

Brandy is back! To close out the show she hit the stage to a chanting crowd, some of whom were in tears, with what seemed to be a new purpose. 

She touched on it throughout the show and like a singer new to the scene, her energy was channeled through her love for her missed friend, Whitney Houston, and need to make her proud. 

She sported the trendy Giuseppe Zanotti sneakers that must have been pure comfort because she worked ALL of the stage.

As for the rest of her outfit, we'll forget about it. During her press conference, she admits to not having very much style and that she depends on her stylists to do the styling work. She even talked about her love for make up and joked about her nose. 

Overall the show set a new standard from what has been given in the past. The performers were diverse, and the show was very well put together. I left a new fan of Elle Varner, I fell in love with Luke and Brandy just sealed the deal giving me my best summer memory, period.

- By Makisha Timothy

Photo Credit:  Darren Burton