Pleasant morning Cool Pinks,
The new year is almost here! That means making resolutions that we can realistically keep this time, along with a few more parties before 2011 comes to a close. If you're hosting a soiree and want to impress your guests with your overwhelming sophistication and keen dessert selection sensibilities, here are a few simple desserts you can offer at your New Year's tea party or afternoon Sweet Treat celebration (which, by the way, is much easier than planning an evening party). Here are some cool ideas to try: more recipes will follow tomorrow:)
-Purchase a white or yellow cake mix and add champagne to the batter to give the treats a kick that is indicative of toasting to the New Year. One of my best girlfriends, Melanie LeDay-Alborado, can talk you through the recipe here: http://www.ktbs.com/video/30080007/index.html. Her batter is homemade, but you can grab cake mix if you're in a pinch:)
-Make a basic cookie dough--and add something other than chocolate chips to it. I usually use the basic Toll House recipe for cookie dough, found here: http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/18476/Original-NESTL%C3%89-TOLL-HOUSE-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies/detail.aspx. Instead of simply adding chocolate chips, I use white chocolate chips and pistachios, butterscotch chips and candies pecans or almonds, or dried fruits like cherries or bananas. Dust these treats with some powdered sugar when they come out of the oven to make it look like you've been slaving away in the kitchen all day;)
-Roast some winter fruit, then add a spice and some type of cream. For instance, roasted apples with heavy whipping cream and allspice is fragrant and impressive. Or, roast some pumpkin slices sprinkled with brown sugar, and add organic whipped cream and ginger to them once they come out of the oven. Serve the fruit with shortbread. Trust me, everyone will love this. Additional prep instructions can be found here: http://www.sophistimom.com/roasted-pumpkin-slices/
Now, go be fabulous! The world is waiting to taste your exquisite culinary works--and to admire your party outfit and makeup:) Stay cool--and pink;)
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Simply Red: Holly-Colored Lips for Mistletoe Readiness
Pleasant morning Cool Pinks. For today's look, I've decided that my lips are sealed--with the perfect crimson hue for the season. Now, I have to be honest. Wearing the shade of red that works best for your skin tone is not always an easy task. You'll need to be very aware of your undertones, and play with a few color combinations (sometimes) to get the color you want. And, just as a disclaimer, MAC and elf brands of red lipstick and lipgloss are probably the best bet for women of color. And, also as a disclaimer, follow my tips, chics. Our lips are already full enough. And while that is a beauty asset, we don't need the wrong color drawing negative attention to a part of our face that is enviously beautiful.
That being said, here are some quick tips to make sure you're choosing the correct shade of red--and keeping it on all day.
Red undertones: Go for a date or raisin-colored lipstick. It gives the right amount of red color without making you look like you're playing in your Grandma's vanity contents. A reddish-brown liner will help define your lip shape and keep the lip pigment in place. Choose a tinted lip gloss in the same shade to intensify the color and give your lips a slight pout.
Both warm and cool undertones: Choose a red lipstick with a burgundy undertone. Burgundy is both red and purple, which matches cool (yellowish, blue or green) undertones and warm (red, orange, gold or yellow) undertones. Use a clear gloss underneath the lipstick to keep your lips from looking swollen--since burgundy is pretty bold:)
Cool undertones: A classic red with yellow flecks is the way to go. Choose a red liner and use a matte moisturizer like Chapstick or pure shea butter on your lips before applying the color, and it will last all day.
Here's a pic for reference. I chose a fig-colored shade from elf, lined with Cover Girl Raisin lipliner, and finished it with a hot pink gloss in the same color wheel as the lipstick. Stay cool and pink (well, reddish pink)! Kisses!
That being said, here are some quick tips to make sure you're choosing the correct shade of red--and keeping it on all day.
Red undertones: Go for a date or raisin-colored lipstick. It gives the right amount of red color without making you look like you're playing in your Grandma's vanity contents. A reddish-brown liner will help define your lip shape and keep the lip pigment in place. Choose a tinted lip gloss in the same shade to intensify the color and give your lips a slight pout.
Both warm and cool undertones: Choose a red lipstick with a burgundy undertone. Burgundy is both red and purple, which matches cool (yellowish, blue or green) undertones and warm (red, orange, gold or yellow) undertones. Use a clear gloss underneath the lipstick to keep your lips from looking swollen--since burgundy is pretty bold:)
Cool undertones: A classic red with yellow flecks is the way to go. Choose a red liner and use a matte moisturizer like Chapstick or pure shea butter on your lips before applying the color, and it will last all day.
Here's a pic for reference. I chose a fig-colored shade from elf, lined with Cover Girl Raisin lipliner, and finished it with a hot pink gloss in the same color wheel as the lipstick. Stay cool and pink (well, reddish pink)! Kisses!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Work-Ready Smoky Eye (and Why Women of Color Look Great in Blue Eyeshadow)
If you're at all brown (or even if you're working an expert tan that gives you a nice glow for winter that's not too over-the-top)blue eyeshadow can be your friend. Why, you ask? Because most women of color have warm undertones. That is, nude lipstick usually looks great on you, you have a LRD (Little Red Dress) instead of an LBD (Little Black Dress), and you've never met a shade of peach blush that you didn't like.
Also, if you've colored your hair to coordinate with all your skin tones (as I've demonstrated in the picture below) a shiny lip and a well-arched brow will make your look just edgy enough to show off your personality while maintaining a professional look. I also opted to go with all black today since my hair and eyes are pretty colorful.
So, here's the rules on finding the perfect blue eyeshadow for your skin tone:
Light brown skin (e.g. medium-complexion Latin women , fair-skinned Indian women, etc.,)Your best bet is a blue eyeshadow with purple or lavender undertones. Chances are you probably have a few flecks of cool undertones in your skin, and the blue and purple will blend well with this and make your eyes noticeable without being too showy.
Medium brown skin (e.g. mocha-colored Black women, dark-skinned Latina women, etc.) Choose a blue eyeshadow that looks slightly yellowish in the light. It will make your eyes pop, and keep you from looking like you got punched in the face. Come on, you know you guys were wondering about that lol. A grayish blue eyeshadow works well on these skin tones as well; it's best to use a yellow/white eyeshadow for underneath the brows to take away the harshness of the gray, though:)
Medium dark and dark brown skin (e.g. cinnamon or chocolate-colored Black women; carob-colored Indian or Latina women, etc.,) If your skin is a pronounced shade of brown (which, I think, is sooooo beautiful. whenever i tan, i just look creepy with dark skin, but I wish i had the facial features for it. It's so majestic-looking. But I digress. Sigh...) wear a blue eyeshadow that is essentially a really dark silver with flecks of blue. A medium or navy eyeshadow will blend in with your eyelids and just make you look like you put foundation on your eyelids. No bueno. The metallic nature of the eyeshadow gives freshness to your look; you can add an electric blue eyeliner if you want to update your look for the evening.
Here's an example of what the finished product looks like on me. I gotta say, blue eyeshadow may be my thing for a while. Until next time, stay cool--and, for the time being, blue:)
Also, if you've colored your hair to coordinate with all your skin tones (as I've demonstrated in the picture below) a shiny lip and a well-arched brow will make your look just edgy enough to show off your personality while maintaining a professional look. I also opted to go with all black today since my hair and eyes are pretty colorful.
So, here's the rules on finding the perfect blue eyeshadow for your skin tone:
Light brown skin (e.g. medium-complexion Latin women , fair-skinned Indian women, etc.,)Your best bet is a blue eyeshadow with purple or lavender undertones. Chances are you probably have a few flecks of cool undertones in your skin, and the blue and purple will blend well with this and make your eyes noticeable without being too showy.
Medium brown skin (e.g. mocha-colored Black women, dark-skinned Latina women, etc.) Choose a blue eyeshadow that looks slightly yellowish in the light. It will make your eyes pop, and keep you from looking like you got punched in the face. Come on, you know you guys were wondering about that lol. A grayish blue eyeshadow works well on these skin tones as well; it's best to use a yellow/white eyeshadow for underneath the brows to take away the harshness of the gray, though:)
Medium dark and dark brown skin (e.g. cinnamon or chocolate-colored Black women; carob-colored Indian or Latina women, etc.,) If your skin is a pronounced shade of brown (which, I think, is sooooo beautiful. whenever i tan, i just look creepy with dark skin, but I wish i had the facial features for it. It's so majestic-looking. But I digress. Sigh...) wear a blue eyeshadow that is essentially a really dark silver with flecks of blue. A medium or navy eyeshadow will blend in with your eyelids and just make you look like you put foundation on your eyelids. No bueno. The metallic nature of the eyeshadow gives freshness to your look; you can add an electric blue eyeliner if you want to update your look for the evening.
Here's an example of what the finished product looks like on me. I gotta say, blue eyeshadow may be my thing for a while. Until next time, stay cool--and, for the time being, blue:)
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Lack of Discipline, Assertiveness, the Flight Nature and Other Attributes of Fashion
It's been entirely too long since I've written on my own blog. Shameful. Yet--not embarrassing. I'm a busy woman. Anyone that is around me for more than 10 minutes will pick up on that sometimes daunting fact. And I've come to realize that my sense of style is much like my blog-writing maintenance. Easy-going with a touch of fanciness. Impulsive and envelope-pushing, regardless of the environment.
That being said, there are more pictures coming. After all, what is a fashion blog with pics to show you how it's done (well, how I do it, anyway). Also, I resolve to write more regularly. Since it's such a big part of me--and who am I to deny that?
And, in the spirit of fashion (and flight, artistic writers) my resolution has nothing to do with the fact that a new year is fast approaching. This is just something I feel is appropriate to do on Tuesdays. Stay cool and pink, my friends:)
That being said, there are more pictures coming. After all, what is a fashion blog with pics to show you how it's done (well, how I do it, anyway). Also, I resolve to write more regularly. Since it's such a big part of me--and who am I to deny that?
And, in the spirit of fashion (and flight, artistic writers) my resolution has nothing to do with the fact that a new year is fast approaching. This is just something I feel is appropriate to do on Tuesdays. Stay cool and pink, my friends:)
Friday, January 21, 2011
Sophisticated Treats: Throwbacks from the 1990s
Remember your favorite snacks as a kid? Well, many of them are still on the market today, and can bring back fond memories of summers at the park and trading lunch items in the school cafeteria. And, of course, you can make these snacks 'cool pink' by adding a little fab-ness to them and featuring them at your next party--or when you just feel like mixing your grown-up culinary sensibilities with your child-like sugar cravings.;)
Teddy Grahams
They're tiny, bear-shaped, and glazed with cinnamon magic. Teddy Grahams were a snack staple in the 90s, and were the perfect not-too-sweet cracker/cookie for a frothy glass of milk. To make this snack a little more 'adult', crumble the cookies and use it as a layer for your yogurt and fruit parfait, or mix the Teddy Grahams with nuts and coconut as the topping for apple or berry crisps. Of course, eating them right out the bag is delicious, too.
Handi-Snacks
Buttery crackers and softened cheese are the two main ingredients of this kid-friendly lunchbox necessity. Cheese and crackers are also pretty standard fare at cocktail parties, so if you want to make Handi-Snacks a little more high-brow, mix fresh herbs in the cheese and brush a mixture of olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, and sesame seeds onto the crackers. Mix the cheese and herbs well and place it in a large bowl, and bake the crackers for a minute or so and position them around the dip. Your guests will be so impressed. For real:)
Yoo-hoo
It's chocolate. It's milk. It's milk AND chocolate (not to mention tasty), because it's Yoo-hoo, the liquid treat you couldn't wait to get your eight-year-old hands on. If you've found bottles of Yoo-hoo at your local grocery store (they're not as abundant as before), mix the beverage with coconut milk, nutmeg, whipped cream (booze-enhanced if you like)and a candied ginger topping for a sophisticated hot (or cold) chocolate treat that makes recess seem like it was only yesterday.
Let me know how you guys like these treats--and which grocery stores still carry these treasures! Until then, stay cool--and pink:)
Teddy Grahams
They're tiny, bear-shaped, and glazed with cinnamon magic. Teddy Grahams were a snack staple in the 90s, and were the perfect not-too-sweet cracker/cookie for a frothy glass of milk. To make this snack a little more 'adult', crumble the cookies and use it as a layer for your yogurt and fruit parfait, or mix the Teddy Grahams with nuts and coconut as the topping for apple or berry crisps. Of course, eating them right out the bag is delicious, too.
Handi-Snacks
Buttery crackers and softened cheese are the two main ingredients of this kid-friendly lunchbox necessity. Cheese and crackers are also pretty standard fare at cocktail parties, so if you want to make Handi-Snacks a little more high-brow, mix fresh herbs in the cheese and brush a mixture of olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, and sesame seeds onto the crackers. Mix the cheese and herbs well and place it in a large bowl, and bake the crackers for a minute or so and position them around the dip. Your guests will be so impressed. For real:)
Yoo-hoo
It's chocolate. It's milk. It's milk AND chocolate (not to mention tasty), because it's Yoo-hoo, the liquid treat you couldn't wait to get your eight-year-old hands on. If you've found bottles of Yoo-hoo at your local grocery store (they're not as abundant as before), mix the beverage with coconut milk, nutmeg, whipped cream (booze-enhanced if you like)and a candied ginger topping for a sophisticated hot (or cold) chocolate treat that makes recess seem like it was only yesterday.
Let me know how you guys like these treats--and which grocery stores still carry these treasures! Until then, stay cool--and pink:)
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Realistic Resolutions
OK, so by this time, you're probably giving up on your resolutions--and it's only the first week of January lol. Well, I'm not here to beat you up--continue enjoying your greasy slab of pizza for lunch, but check out this article (see the link below) on how to make sure that you achieve your goals for 2011 in a practical way. Happy new year! :)
http://www.suite101.com/content/making-realistic-new-years-resolutions-a328198
http://www.suite101.com/content/making-realistic-new-years-resolutions-a328198
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Cool Pink Fashion--Dressing Well for 2011
If you're going to be cool and pink in 2011 (and I KNOW that's one of your resolutions;:), it's important to know what types of clothing work best for your body type. Here's a link to one of my articles on women's fashion that I hope you guys find helpful.:)
http://www.suite101.com/content/womens-fashion-how-to-dress-for-your-body-type-a326889
http://www.suite101.com/content/womens-fashion-how-to-dress-for-your-body-type-a326889
Cool Pink Resolutions--Things I Learned in 2010
The natural season for self-reflection is underway, although I make it a point to learn something new every day (which is, undoubtedly, the Cool Pink fashion;))However, in light of the new year, I've compiled a list of things that made 2010 a pivotal turning point for me in my relationships (love you babe--2011 is our year;)), professional development, and spiritual stability. After all, Cool Pink is about more than baking mouth-watering treats and looking fabulous doing it--although that is important.:) Here's the list-hope it helps...
Things I Learned in 2010
-i am a grown-up. ipso facto, i can eat whatever i please for breakfast. and yes, that includes cupcakes.
-i do, indeed, whip my hair back and forth. mostly forth;)
-never judge a book by its cover. judge it by the publishing company that distributes it, and consider the edits.
-peace is a gift people work hard to steal, because it is so valuable. peace is also a customized gift, so no one can properly don my peace except for me--it will not fit correctly on anyone else. the tailor-made nature of peace also makes it the thief very obvious.
-gold eyeshadow makes a great face and body contouring tool. But if you use the wrong shades, you'll look like you're going to a Halloween party as a penny.
-misery does not love company. misery loves to make other people miserable, and then leave once the damage is done. so, get rid of misery before it has a chance to work.
-skinny jeans are the BUSINESS, especially with blazers and stilettos;)
-there are more people i can do without than i thought. i mean no harm, and God bless their lives, but i'm good.
-some people truly are not intelligent. that is why they can't understand you when you're talking to them. love them with the love of God and try not to get aggravated.
-everyone that you're friends with is NOT friends with you. if God hasn't told you to love them especially, STAY AWAY and love them from afar.
-paisley and stripes look really cute together :)
-some people are worth all the discomfort and aggravation they unintentionally cause. most are not. ask God who deserves your nerves, and act like you hear him when He answers.
-i'm on the verge of dropping some people off at their stop as i continue my journey. everyone who thought they were going with me to my fulfillment may not be present when i reach my destination.
-some people think i'm too spiritual. some people feel i'm not christian enough. some people exchanged their throne in heav--oh, wait. that was Jesus. ok, let me work on this one some more lololololol
-everything i do is not everyone's business. that doesn't make me questionable or of ill character. it makes me an adult with a part of my life that is not for public display or scrutiny. and 10 times out of 10, people who are overly concerned with my affairs don't mean me well.
-people who live in glass houses should get a new real estate agent and MOVE. immediately. and even when you're in a new place, the 'no stone throwing' rule still applies.
-all good things don't have to come to an end. however, evil, is always temporary, even if the stint is prolonged.
-macadamia toffee is very delicious. also, it belongs in almond-flavored gelato, so i feel that the gelato shops should get into that:)
-"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy let him be holy still." (Rev. 22:11.)
-i'm different--even more than i thought. and it's good to be aware of that.
Happy New Year!!!! Make it cool--and pink;)
Things I Learned in 2010
-i am a grown-up. ipso facto, i can eat whatever i please for breakfast. and yes, that includes cupcakes.
-i do, indeed, whip my hair back and forth. mostly forth;)
-never judge a book by its cover. judge it by the publishing company that distributes it, and consider the edits.
-peace is a gift people work hard to steal, because it is so valuable. peace is also a customized gift, so no one can properly don my peace except for me--it will not fit correctly on anyone else. the tailor-made nature of peace also makes it the thief very obvious.
-gold eyeshadow makes a great face and body contouring tool. But if you use the wrong shades, you'll look like you're going to a Halloween party as a penny.
-misery does not love company. misery loves to make other people miserable, and then leave once the damage is done. so, get rid of misery before it has a chance to work.
-skinny jeans are the BUSINESS, especially with blazers and stilettos;)
-there are more people i can do without than i thought. i mean no harm, and God bless their lives, but i'm good.
-some people truly are not intelligent. that is why they can't understand you when you're talking to them. love them with the love of God and try not to get aggravated.
-everyone that you're friends with is NOT friends with you. if God hasn't told you to love them especially, STAY AWAY and love them from afar.
-paisley and stripes look really cute together :)
-some people are worth all the discomfort and aggravation they unintentionally cause. most are not. ask God who deserves your nerves, and act like you hear him when He answers.
-i'm on the verge of dropping some people off at their stop as i continue my journey. everyone who thought they were going with me to my fulfillment may not be present when i reach my destination.
-some people think i'm too spiritual. some people feel i'm not christian enough. some people exchanged their throne in heav--oh, wait. that was Jesus. ok, let me work on this one some more lololololol
-everything i do is not everyone's business. that doesn't make me questionable or of ill character. it makes me an adult with a part of my life that is not for public display or scrutiny. and 10 times out of 10, people who are overly concerned with my affairs don't mean me well.
-people who live in glass houses should get a new real estate agent and MOVE. immediately. and even when you're in a new place, the 'no stone throwing' rule still applies.
-all good things don't have to come to an end. however, evil, is always temporary, even if the stint is prolonged.
-macadamia toffee is very delicious. also, it belongs in almond-flavored gelato, so i feel that the gelato shops should get into that:)
-"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy let him be holy still." (Rev. 22:11.)
-i'm different--even more than i thought. and it's good to be aware of that.
Happy New Year!!!! Make it cool--and pink;)
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