Top Aholics 2012

Hey AA members

I thought I'd look back and make a list of some of my favorite things from 2012.

Some of these items jumped right out at me, and other I had to think about. You'll notice a couple repeat offenders, I am an addict, and also some more recent trends and addictions.

These are in no particular order, but I did organize them (or attempt to) by category.
Click on the links to read/see more about it.

Fashion
Peplum (here and here)
Oxblood (here and here)
Prints (here, here, here, here and here)
Monochromatic outfits (here)
Studs and spikes (here, here, and here)

Studs and spikes have had real staying power these last couple of seasons. And I love it, they really toughen up a look. You can stud pretty much anything, collars, shoes, shorts, you name it. Here's a tutorial on studding shorts.

My most frequent attempts at a monochromatic look usually involved all black, but this winter I want to try all whites and of course other colors, but especially white. This also applies to prints. I've been really into matching prints, like with suits. That's a really easy way to achieve the look too.

Beauty
Vampy lips (here, here and a majority of my OOTD)
Afro/curly hair (here, here and here)
Ombre hair (with or with out colored ends)
Revlon photo ready concealers
Mario Bedsecu Drying Lotion (here, review to come)

I LOVE dark vampy lips. It's become one of my go to looks no matter the occasion. I recently fell in love with Black Cherry by Revlon (see here) and I have a tutorial with it coming soon. Until then here's an ombre vampy lip.

Revlon's photo ready concealers (I'm a color 006) are amazing. This is one of the few concealers that actually match my skin and covers my dark marks and blemishes plus it's really affordable. I use it every time I put on make, or just by itself for a more natural look. I've started using a lighter color for under my eyes when I'm really getting glammed up. MB's drying lotion is amazing I just apply it to a new pimple at night and it has reduced in size by the next day and gone on the 2nd day. LOVE it!

Ombre hair

Other
Instagram (here)
iPad(s) (here)
blogs
2012 election
DIY fashion (anything DIY) (here, here, here and here)

Blogs have been a fabulous source of information and inspiration. I love networking and just meeting new people via blogs and who themselves blog. It is a great form of self expression. Here are some that I frequent (Circle of Squares, BGLH, Dulce Candy, Style Pantry and CurlyNikki, for a full list check out the blogs that I follow here or click on my profile).

This year was the first year I actually followed the election somewhat closely. I watched the debates, read up on the issues etc. I knew who I wanted to win, and who I'd vote for if I could (one day, SOON). Politics became interesting too, albeit stressing at times. But it's good to be informed, especially on the local and state level. Voting is not an every 4 year thing, you have governors, mayors, representatives etc. Make sure you guys are doing your part!

DIYs!! I love them. They are great ways to save money and an outfit. I think I'm more into DIYs now that I started sewing (which helps with some of the projects). But you guys should definitely check out places like YouTube and Pinterest for ideas.
 

Honorable mentions
The Mayans being wrong (Epic Fail)
Crop tops (here)
Stiletto nails
Avengers (the movie)
Glitter

I know I'm not the only one happy that the world didn't end the 21st. But the Mayans were smart, they predicted the world would end, but died before anyone could question them about it. Stiletto nails just look really cool to me, despite not appearing functional or practical, in my opinion. I'd never get them but I enjoy looking at them and seeing different nail design on them.

Hope you guys enjoyed this post, because I enjoyed writing it.
What were some of your favorites this past year? Any of them on this list?
Comment and let me know.

-AF

Summer Favorites

"Fashion is nothing but an induced epidemic." -George Bernard Shaw

This past summer has been filled with many "induced epidemics" but my top 5 have been;

5- color blocking
4- maxi dresses/skirts
3- neon
2- recycled fashion
1-prints

Most of these are repeats from past seasons (and posts) but fashion is also cyclical. But mostly it's whatever you make it, so if you like prints or color blocking (or whatever) then that will ALWAYS be "in" for YOU. And that's all that really matter because YOU are the one that is wearing the clothes and feelings good, sexy, confident and any number of things in them. 

All five of my fav summer trends allow you to stand out and be bold and even better you can do them all at the same time!! Nothing like killing ten birds with one stone you didnt even throw, lol does that even make sense?

Focus! 

Color blocking is a great way to to play with colors and put together things you might not have thought of before. It adds versatility to your wardrobe, getting more wear out of  clothes is definetly a bonus. See ... For more on color blocking.

Despite my meager stature (5' 1.75" ...I'm totally claiming all 3/4ths of an inch) maxis help elongate my frame. This is all dependent on proportions and fit of course. Nothing kills (slaughters, massacres) a look more than ill fitting clothes. But assuming all is well in that department maxis are great, whether loose and billowy, grecian in style or figure hugging, the possibility are endless. You can rock them ultra relaxed in flip flops or sandals or go the extra mile and wear wedges or heels (strappy).

Neon, fun!!! Yes neons, like the highlighter colors not the element (random: The element neon, number 10 on the periodic table is actually rare on earth and ironically under standard conditions is colorLESS.). Think 80s (another thing I love). Neons are hot this summer. From Christian Louboutin's pigalles to nail polish, they were everywhere adding a touch of pizaz. I mentioned earlier that you're able to do more than one of the favs at a time and this can be seen with neons when color blocking.

Check out my previous post on maxis and bright colors.

Reduce, reuse and recycle (I think that's trademarked or copy written. Whatever.) But were gonna apply that to clothing. Lately thrifting has become the hot new thing (see Top 5 [7]). Hollister's reign over the youth of today is slipping and GoodWill and other Secondhand, consignment and thrift stores are on the rise. (NOOOOO correlation to the increasing number of "hipsters" lol) For some nothing can really compete with brand new. But for the brave, frugal and visionary this alternative is life changing really. Seriously, one man's trash is another man's treasure. Though this is a very fine line because some trash should stay in the garbage. 

I digress, shopping at thrift stores is a great way to save money and expand your creativity! Not all clothing found are from the 80s and beyond there are some new pieces that may be found in stores currently you just have to take the time to look. Aside from thrifting you can use items in your own closet and re-purpose them. I've cut up many jeans and made them into shorts this summer and shredded a couple shirts and made into crop tops and muscle tees. YouTube has a plethora of D.I.Y. videos (links below).  

Prints are hot and can be more fun than solid colors (neon or otherwise). I've gone into details on prints in Top 5 [10] and Flower Power. Guess what's in this fall and was all the rage this past summer. Tribal prints, African prints and animal prints. 

DIY shorts and top

-DIY Rainbow Cut-Off Shorts

-How to: Fringe your top

Check these out too

-D.I.Y Custom Doc Martens

-DIY NETTED BIKINI COVER-UP!

-DIY: Dip-Dye ACCESSORIES!

catch you later...Law and Order SVU is on!

Top 5 AHOLICS [8]

Wigs
Turbans
Dark wash jeans
Curly hair
Jumpsuits [NO not the orange kind]

Wigs! I'm slowly building my collection of wigs, currently I have 4 very different ones. Curly, straight, long and short I want it all! I really want to get a lace front wig, curly and synthetic. Need to really, but in the mean time I've made a quick weave wig. It was on a whim actually, the day before I made it I had been watching Youtube videos [no surprise there] and was inspired to make one. I'm fairly creative, modest aren't I, but I'm not really good with "doing hair"-weaves, extension etc. So I was definitely apprehensive about making this one. But to my surprise it was easy and turned out FANTASTICALLY.

Before

After

Part of my new found obsession with wigs is due to the fact that my friend and I are on a hide you hair challenge. It started January 1st and is ending on the 14th of this month [our graduation]. When we made the agreement I wasn't so sure I could do it, but wigs have been a godsend. My hair has retained so much length from the reduced manipulation, I love it! I definitely will be continuing the low manipulation, wig wearing habit after the challenge is done.

Try challenging yourself to something like this, using braids, weaves, wigs, etc. Do whatever keeps your hands out of your hair and keeps hair on your head!

If you saw my first outfit of the day post/video [here] you'll know I'm loving the turban trend. I feel so, I don't know, cool in it, plus it's a great alternative to a wig or hat! Turbans just make a look that much more fabulous. I especially like using African cloths [Ankara] to tie mine, but anything will work really.

Fashion Turban

My take

Dark wash jeans, what don't they go with??? Honestly I think this particular wash compliments all body types in all cuts. Personal favorite is the straight leg/skinny jean. The best part of this wash is that it really dresses of an outfit but you still get the comfort and versatility of it being a jean.

This next one I don't have much to say, and perhaps in on the list due to my personal bias. But my blog, my list :) . Curly hair, I LOVE it. I cant rave to much about this, but I will say I wish I'd never gotten a relaxer. Honestly until I had to go natural I never really thought of an alternative to getting a perm and having straight hair. Now that I think about it, it's almost unbelievable, not that everyone should be natural, blah blah blah. Just sharing my thoughts.

It could be the 80's baby in me, but jumpsuits will always be in for me. Not that I'm really an avid follower of trends. But regardless I love them. There are so many styles of jumpsuits, and I'm going to include rompers, that everyone should be able to find one that works for them. I love black ones, brightly colored ones and especially ones with fun/bold prints. I picked up one from H & M on sale that's a leopard print so hot!

~A

...for the very first time

For the first time in a long time my parents let me spend the night at someone else's home, and it was in a DIFFERENT TOWN.
I also went out to bars for the first time in my home state. I was also allowed to drive somewhere other than to town for the first time [I live in the country].
It was quite the adventure, and a night filled with firsts.
I'm glad my parents are giving me more freedom, but they have to seeing as I AM 22 years old.

Regardless it was a fun night filled with memories. [And a happy birthday to my Mare-Bear.]

Look for the Night

-F3MB0T

*I should post birthday pictures from my own "extravaganza".

Randomness

But while I'm editing my haul post I realized that I'd only been on Spring Break since Friday [4 days] yet it feels like forever!
I managed to

• go shopping
• go to church
• bar hop
• do my hair
• paint my nails
• revamp my blog
• revamp my facebook page
• plan a trip to Chicago
• mess up my previously clean room
• call dental clinics about volunteering/shadowing 
• catch up on ANTM
• finish season 4 of Say Yes to the Dress [*and season 5]

My how time flies.
Anyway back to work.

-f3mb0t

L. O. V. E.

Have you ever Googled it before, the word love? I was bored one day and did. There is a wealth of info online. Man it’s so easy to find stuff out. But anyway…This is what I found.

Definitions 

Love is the emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. [this is from Wiki, there was a LOT more]

love

 /lʌv/ Show Spelled [luhv] Show IPA noun, verb, loved, lov·ing. –noun
1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
3. sexual passion or desire.
4. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
5. (used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love?
[there was more, as expected, but here’s the link dictionary.com]

i think two is enough, but in my search i stumbled upon a wikiHow to on LOVE…man the internet is such a useful resource, was gonna give examples of love…but i think i’ll just include the how too [and a link at the end]. ok ok i’ll include a couple examples.

How to love

Love is both an action and a feeling. The action of love generates a blissful feeling called by the same name. When the action stops, the blissful feeling is replaced with pain. Every person is capable of great love (and its opposite, fear, which generates all painful emotions such as hate, greed and jealousy).

While there are many different ways to define love and there are many different ways to love someone (or even yourself), here is a general guide to loving.

Steps

1. Say it. When you say the words "I Love You", they should carry with them the desire to show someone that you love them, not what you simply want to feel. When you say it, make sure you really mean it and are willing to do anything for that special person.

2. Empathize. Put yourself in someone else's shoes. Rather than impose your own expectations or attempt to control them, to understand how they feel, where they come from, and who they are. Realize how they could also love you back just as well.

3. Love unconditionally. If you cannot love another person without attaching stipulations, then it is not love at all, but deep-seated opportunism (one who makes the most of an advantage, often unmindful of others). If your interest is not in the other person as such, but rather in how that person can enhance your experience of life, then it is not unconditional. If you have no intention of improving that person’s life, or allowing that person to be themselves and accepting them as they are, and not who you want them to be, then you are not striving to love them unconditionally.

4. Expect nothing in return. That doesn't mean you should allow someone to mistreat or undervalue you. It means that giving love does not guarantee receiving love. Try loving just for the sake of love. Realize that someone may have a different way of showing his or her love for you; do not expect to be loved back in exactly the same way.

5. Realize it can be lost. If you realize that you can lose the one you love, then you have a greater appreciation of what you have. Think how lucky you are to have someone to love. Don't make an idol of the person you love. This will place them under undue pressure and will likely result in you losing them.

6. Never stop loving. Even if you have been hurt before you should not stop giving love.

hi i’m the LINK

Examples of “great” love [fictitious and real]

•  Romeo and Juliet
• GOD and us [his children]
• Jennifer Anisten, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie 
• Jennifer Anisten and all her co-stars [jk]
• Marylin Monroe and JFK [ok that was a joke too]
• your parents [hopefully]

you get my point though right.

my thoughts on all this…love is fricken complicated, and i hope i don’t fuck it up :/ [the internet provided very little help in practice, but research wise it was]

~f3mb0t

a.FAIR with a Sexpot

Went to the fair today with a hometown buddy. I had fun. We won a goldfish and named him Sexpot [after me ;)]. He’s of mix decent, cuz she’s white and I'm black, but he’s a trooper and he’ll adjust well to his new environment. He already has to brothers Spike and Silver, so he won’t be lonely. I love that I’m talking about him, not even sure the gender, like he is really actually thinking these things.

Anyway fair food is amazing [-ly overpriced], I had funnel cake [YUM], freshly cut fries and gyros [first time].

Me and Lil Saint [my friend] got heckled by the carnival workers to play the games. At THOSE prices [naw], plus i didn’t bring that much cash because I didn’t want to waste it at the fair [that and I dropped nearly $125 on clothes from forever21.com earlier today]

• food is great [though expensive]
• games are ok
• stay away from rides [I”m afraid of heights]
• carnies are kinda scary

Over all I had an a good time. Looked good and bonded wit my girl Lil Saint and G-Baby [me] 4 life. <= If you’ve seen Hardball and You Got Served you’ll know who those people are.

-A

Weddings, Weaves & Walking

I'm a big fan of the Style network, Oxygen and channels like that. I love watching all the wedding oriented shows. It gets me excited for MY big day, although I'm no where near getting married yet. That doesn't stop me from getting ideas, and watching others on their special days.

• Who's Wedding Is It Anyway
• Bridzillas
• Wedding Makeover
• Masters of Reception
• Say Yes to the Dress (TLC)
• Platinum Weddings
• any shows bout [wedding] cakes or other elaborate cake

For the most part everyone make a beautiful bride, but then you might run across some people that are truly unfortunate. Not really that they aren't attractive, but that doesn't help matters. I don't think I can properly describe what I mean without having you see a clip of the shows that I've seen. But either way, brides are beauties and the grooms aren't half bad themselves. There's just something about weddings that touches my heart. I guess despite being so "tough" and cold and unfeeling as I claim deep deep deep DEEP down I'm just a softie <3 [yeah right].

    BEFORE [hott]        AFTER [just as hott]

Weaves, I'm only going to touch lightly on this subject, only because you saw a little of my opinion on them in my previous post. I enjoy weaves. I just recently started getting them, I tend to favor braids and kinky twists, but one of my BEST friends does it for me so when I'm in between those styles she hooks me up. I've only really done straight and long weaves, but I want to try shorter ones and even curly.

 

So remember in my first "anti"-aholic list how I included lists with less than three items. Well walking was how I completed this list because otherwise it would've seriously bugged me, plus I enjoyed the alliteration I'd created in the title. I struggled to come up with a third "W" word that I had been recently enjoying. Luckily I had my brother on had for that one. As a college student walking is an essential to getting by, literally. To get to class, or even the bus if you detest bipedal motion, etc. Being a lazy bum the only [well one of the only ;)] form of exercise I get is from walk/jogging/speed walking to class or the bus. And I've actually come to miss it this past summer, where I've been more lazy than usually (hard to believe I know).

 

I love how a seemingly random choice of words can turn into a ridiculously long post...but it is the "RAMBLINGS of a self-profess -AHOLIC" and not the "short, sweet and concise musing of a brainiac"

 

Adieu mes amies [good bye my friends-french]

-A

Top 5 AHOLICs [4]

It's that time again! You know, when I shamelessly tell you all the things that I'm currently addicted to. Yep, THAT time. LOL.
5) Weave
4) Curly hair
3) Purse dogs
2) Teen heartthrobs
1) 80's remakes

Man, so a lot of you are probably MAD that WEAVE is on my list. But, and I hate to swear on here, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN! I LOVE weave, but don't get it twisted I LOVE my natural hair MORE. I just appreciated it's versatility is all. I like having the ability to have my natural shoulder length hair one minute and 2-4 hours later mid back, blond hair. It's fun and exciting and a great way to protect my hair, and even if it wasn't I'd still do it.
SO IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE GUNG-HO PEOPLE WHO THINK WEAVE IS THE DEVIL AND BLACK WOMEN ARE GIVING INTO SOME CONVOLUTED IDEAL THAT THE FEMALE IMAGE IS BASED ON "EUROPEAN" IMAGE OF BEAUTY , OR THAT I'M DEMEANING MYSELF AND HAVE LOW SELF-ESTEEM THEN YOU CAN TAKE THAT BULLSHIT AND SHOVE IT UP YOU'RE HIGH HORSE-NOSE IN THE AIR-TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL-PEDESTAL SITTING ASS CUZ I DON'T GIVE A DAMN!
I am not a naturals are better than perms person, especially when most naturals started out WITH perms, don't EVER forget that. And maybe they [naturals who started out with perms] realized a natural path would be better for THEIR hair but some people don't feel that way. So long as YOUR hair is healthy, natural or otherwise then you are GOOD. Leave others be PERIOD! Sorry that got so long.
I don't even know if anyone REALLY reads this [if you do nob your head, lol, not that that really helps me, but...]

Curly hair, not much to say about this one other than I love it. Probably a biased opinion because my hair is curly, but hey it's MY BLOG and MY LIST so suck on that. Lol, VERY juvenile.


I LOVE puppies and kittens and pretty much all babies of any animal. They're SOOO cute. So the best part about purse dogs is that they basically stay the size of puppies they're WHOLE life. That and I think I have a little Paris Hilton in me, the dog loving side, not the sexing tape making, crotch showing, celeb-beefing side.

"Teen" Heartthrobs, I need not explain this just a mini list [keyword was teen, so if they seem young to you that's cuz your old, jk, I'm getting there too though!]

• Zac Efron
• Shia LaBouef
• Chace Crawford
• I guess the WHOLE cast of Twilight etc (even though I haven't actually seen the movies)
• Nick Jonas (I had to do it)
• Soulja Boy (NOT apologizing for that one)
• Elijah Kelley ( Hairspray, Take the Lead)
• Micheal Cera (Superbad, Juno etc if you didn't know)
• William Moseley (The oldest Brother from Narnia)
• ...and the list goes on

Ok, so we had the summer of the trilogy completion [ Pirates of the Caribbean, Spiderman, etc] we had the summer of Super Hero movies [Iron Man, Hulk, Fantastic Four] you get my drift. I'm just waiting for the wave of 80's remakes! I'm just BARELY an 80's baby [born in 1989] but I LOVE the clothes, some of the hair, and the movies. It's just part of who I am [which is totally awesome!!] So far they're redoing Footloose [which was amazing the first time around, Kevin Bacon YUM] with Chace Crawford (my heart breaks everytime i think about the fact that Zac Efron dropped the role, like REALLY breaks. Also FAME, so excited for that one! Front row, there's just something about teens singing and dancing that gets me excited. Karate Kid is also in the works, I hope the original Mr Miyagi is alive to make a cameo! Hairspray was AMAZING fyi.
Remakes I'd LOVE to see

• Pretty in Pink *
• Breakfast Club *
• Sixteen Candles *
• Don't Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead
• Honey I Shrunk the Kids
• Flashdance *
• Fast Times and Ridgemont High
• Dead Poets Society
• Beetlejuice *
• Farris Buellers Day Off *
• A Christmas Story *
• Ghostbusters
• Just One of the Guys
• The NeverEnding Story
• The Princess Bride *
• Risky Business *
• Say Anything *
• Teen Witch
• Weird Science *

Yeah the list is long, but I DID say I loved the 80's lol, and that's why it's number one. I missed ALOT but these are the main ones and the ones with asterisk (*) as the ones I REALLY want to see remade.

Caio for now.
-A

Hate is a Strong word [1]

This is a possible title for this series...[till I come up with something a little more clever]


Anyways, despite being an "-aholic" I'm also a regular person how has dislikes. I will be expressing those here. Actually not just dislikes, but pet peeves, annoyances, hates things that disgust me, etc etc.

3. List of 2

2. Chipped nails! GEEZ

1. Having my name called repeatedly

I can't stand it when people only have 2 things on a list [verbal or written]. Come on, finish it off! I might be slightly OCD about that one lol. I just want to add one more thing so it's complete. Think of it this way, you learn your ABC's not your AB's or you count 1,2,3 NOT 1,2.

I hate when I spend time to paint my nails and then I accidentally touch them, OR scrap them OR after they've dried the tips chip off. It's SOOO annoying.

My mother, being the African woman that she is, is incapable of doing any work herself, and for some reason refuses to ask my brother [who are often close in proximity to her] for anything. SO instead she calls me, no matter what I am doing, I AM THE ONE THAT GET CALLED or BOTHERED! Ugh!

What annoys you?


On a happier note my YouTube is working again :), but unfortunately I can't load my latest vblog :(.


-A

Queen B

Beyonce!

Love her, or hate her, she's still one of the baddest, most diva-lious women in the business. Did I mention her music is amazing.

Took a quick trip to Wally World [Wal-mart] to get some hair products and got my diva on wit her highness. Gettin it wit Dangerously in Love, Diva, Check On It, Yes, Single Ladies. Man so many good songs. I've been listening to just her songs for the past week and I've not only come to the obvious conclusion that she's more amazing that I thought, but also that I want NEED to go to one of her concerts.

Glad the queen found herself a good king too, so many celebs are in romantic funks, break up after break up. I feel bad for them love's tough.

But back to Beyonce "Mrs Hova Diva" Knowles/Sasha Fierce. I LOVE LOVE LOVE her last album [I am Sasha Fierce], it was hot, banging, stellar, rad, cool, whatever lingo you want to use. Because basically it was that DEAL.

Sweet Dream- Listen

If you haven't heard the album, sorry to say you're not only missing out, but seriously behind the times. It released early this year and did well. The whole cd bangs [is good], for me there aren't too may cd's that I like all or a majority of the songs, this, last summer's Tha Carter III, and Kelly Clackson's Breakaway album were some of them.

Oh and people hating on her acting ability. I'd like to see you do better, and even if you can [which I seriously doubt] you'd still never do it like B. Not saying she's the best, but she's not as bad as Paris Hilton in House of Wax [THAT was bad]. Still need to see Obsessed!

On a side note, does anyone else miss Destiny's Child? I do :( actually I miss a lot of 90's girl bands. Where have they gone? Girl bands in general? Everyone seems to busy trying to do THEMSELVES and be solo that there's no time for harmonizing. What happened to Danity Kane? Pussycat Dolls [not that I liked them, just an example]? What's sad is that I can't name anymore, because I don't know anymore.

I have nothing against boy band, or mixed groups, or solo artists, and I'm not implying that only girl groups empowered women, independence, sexuality and all that other good stuff. BUT there was just something FUN about being wit your friends and choosing a girl to be and lip sync etc, think SPICE GIRLS. I don't know, I guess I'm just weird like that.

 

More Rockin' Divas

no particular order

Keri Hilson aka Miss Keri Baby

Pink

Celine Dion

Alicia Keys

Erykah Badu

Indie.Arie

Norah Jones

 

Youtube [or Google] them and check out some of their stuff if you've never heard it.

 

-A

Top 5 AHOLICs [3]

Internet Edition

5) Skype
4) Blogger
3) Youtube [F3MB0T's channel]
2) Facebook
1) Twitter [F3MB0T's profile]

These are pretty self explanatory. If you have an account or have just been on the sites you'll know, ESPECIALLY while in the depths of boredom.

Skype is like MSN Messenger or AOL messenger but with video call. or just phone calling. You can make phone calls to land lines or cell phone (at an extra cost) but all in all it's a GREAT way to stay in touch with loved ones across the country and the world.

I've known about Twitter for a LONG time, but my father being the person that he is (a computer nut) BLOCKED the site. So I couldn't get on the website at all :(. BUT while we were down in Hawaii it worked and I checked it out, and then when we got back home to the mailland I noticed that I had access to the website. I was ECSTATIC!! So I created an account. At first I wasn't that into it (as my Facebook status eventually proclaimed) and I almost deleted it. HOWEVER I stuck around for a little bit long and got HOOKED. The best part of Twitter (compared to Facebook)...I CAN UPDATE VIA MY CELL PHONE...YES [air pump]. [This was pre-smartphone]
Anyway I'm getting the hang of the tweets, tweeting and all the new lingo (# and @'s) but there is one I don't understand yet (RT) but give me time. I LOVE it.
Follow me and I'll Follow you. I'm looking for REAL people on Twitter, celebs are ok, BUT I'd prefer regular people to spammers and stars.

What Internet addictions are you enjoying? There's plenty to choose from, so take a dive.

P.S. Hawaii was FABULOUS! It definitely gets the AHOLIC stamp of ADDICTION!

-AF

Oh My GOSH a SALE!!!

Ok, so I have a shopping HABIT. ESPECIALLY online shopping! The easy accessibility of the store from one location (my bed) it's just too convenient. I can be online for HOURS just looking through the items, building up my shopping cart, and never actually order anything.

The worst part is that I fall in love with some of the items, but I know deep down that I don't need it (I already have a TON of clothes and shoes). But I just can't help myself (breaks into "Baby Got Back"). Sometimes I save the page on my browser with the intent of placing the order, I'm only deluding myself. With nearly $200 worth of stuff in the basket/cart I can't actually afford it, well not on my own, and I HATE asking my dad for that much money at one time, esp for something I don't really need.

Anyway I was out today, for nearly 3 hours, and I bought NOTHING. I was so proud of myself. Although it was not really that great of an accomplishment. I didn't go to my favorite store so it's more of an empty victory. Had I gone there (Target) I would've surely spent money. I live in relatively small town (20,000 people) in comparison to Minneapolis or St. Paul where i go to school. So for me Target is as good as it gets without having to driving an hour to get to a "REAL" mall.

So to add to my bad habit, sometimes I feel that I NEED to buy something just because it's on sale. Anyone ever get that feeling? (What about the enjoyment from shopping online?) I don't know, but I'm sure I'm not alone.

Favorite online shops/sites

• Forever21
• AmiClubWear
• DJ Premium/Dr Jays
• eBay

-A

Make-Up Manic

It's an obsession (because I can't think of a better word, someone help me out).

I've worn glass since 3rd grade and I'm about to be a Junior in college, so yeah it's been a while. As a result I didn't really do much in terms of make-up. But this was also a result of living in my small town that didn't really cater to people of color (as in there wasn't a selection of make-ups for darker skin tones) and having suffered form acne I was in need of foundation, concealer etc.

Going into college I pretty much came into my own, not only in terms of fashion, but make-up as well. Previously I felt hindered by the glasses (D & G's) and wore little to no make up, then as I started going out to the clubs and what not, I found that through experimentation, I could manipulate make-up to suit my framed face. It also helped that I was in a bigger town where lines like Maybeline and CoverGirl went BEYOND "Medium Beige" and "Honey".

Then came contacts. After a mishap that left my Dolce's broken :( I finally convinced my parent (who'd been completely against the idea for YEARS) into letting me get contacts. I was beside myself wit joy and excitement. Not to sound conceited but I feel that I am a beautiful young woman, and being forced to hide behind glasses was hard, so to finally be FREED, it was nearly EUPHORIC!

So of course I learned to work with my new canvas. It was so much fun.

YouTube. You knew it was coming, lol. Yes, YouTube, make-up tutorials were some of the first videos I watched outside of music videos. I've seen TONS of them and of course have subscribed to several "Gurus" or would-be-Gurus and SHOULD-be-Gurus.

And so another addiction began. LOL. No surprise, I watched and I watched, taking in ALL the knowledge they offered. I personally wish there were more women of color, so that I could more accurately apply there techniques, but I'm happy with what is available now.

Gurus you should check out (in no particular order).

• DulceCandy87
  
• Panacea81
  
• MakeupGeekTV
  
• MissChievous
  
• vintageortacky
  
• AllThatGlitters21
  
• fafinettex3
  
• eyeXluvXmakeup

I <3 make-up!

-A

Top 5 AHOLICs [1]

Part of this blog will be to share my current OBSESSIONS and ADDICTIONS. Basically things I just can't get enough of, and would like to suggest to you. Be prepared for repeats (hence the addiction, lol).

We shall begin

5) YouTube

4) Nail Polish

3) S'mores PopTarts

2) Twist Outs

1) Basketball shorts

 

For those who have been on YouTube and are aware of it's obvious allure and charm, you understand it's presence on the list. if not, spend an hour on you tube, search anything (I recommend puppies and kittens, or baby laughs lol). You will find you've been on for a while, and though you search originated at point A you'll see that you ended at Z, a completely unrelated topic. Trust me there a videos about EVERYTHING just take the time to watch.

My nails are usually done (acrylics) for the nail shop, but this summer to save money I decided to let them grow out. And the filed part has finally grown out and I've been changing my nail color twice a week or more. I'm OBSESSED, and I never realized I had so many pretty colors. As a child (3 years old) my pinky had been slammed in a car door and the result was a slightly deformed nail (ick, but I've come to accept it, esp since it's barely noticeable, things could be much worse). My nails are currently Spring- Charlotte Russe topped with Bright Sky- Revlon (picture below).

I'm a huge fan of junk foods, unfortunately we don't have many, if any at my house. I'm also a night owl, who doesn't eat to much during the day, so my 11PM or midnight I'm famished. They are my go to snack (right after croissants, YUM!). They're not nutritious, but they are DELISHOUS, lol.

My hair is NATURAL (as in no relaxer, perm, texturizer etc). Not to say I don't use weaves, braids etc, but I don't permanently change the way it grows naturally. So as a result of numerous hours on YouTube (see #5) I've learned various hair styles. This one being a new FAVOITE of mine, a style that I've been rocking for the past week.

I love being comfortable, and seeing as it's the summer time, when laziness and heat rule the day. I find that basketball short are my go to appearal, not to say that I'm fashionably challenged (because I'm not, couldn't be further from the truth). BUT I love them and how they look and feel on me.

So if any of these intrigued you, I DEFINATLY would recommend them, no pressure, and no need to develop an addiction (but I make no promises lol).

  

-A