May 2013 Beauty Finds for Lips and Body

 I received this sample size of Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment as a Birthday gift from Sephora stores.

 It has spf15 sunscreen protection and makes my lips feel moisturized.  It also gives a sheer lip glossing with a reddish/pink final result.  I will definitely buy the full size!

I also have discovered "shower milk."  I picked up the one pictured from Tuesday Morning stores.  I must admit that I had to research how to use the shower milk because it was too runny to be lotion.  It also did not seem like a body wash either.  So after learning that shower milk is an in-shower body rinse, I am now spoiled.  After I finish washing in the shower, I spread/pour this shower milk over most of my body, massage in, and rinse off. I have extremely dry skin.  This Monoi de Tahiti and Shea Butter shower milk gives me a headstart on moisturizing my body.

I must admit it has a clean, relaxing aroma to it, but don't worry, it complements other body fragrances. When I run out of this shower milk, I hope to buy more even if it is another brand.

  

KW Collard Greens

One of clients introduced this jar of collard greens to me, and they were delicious!  I picked them up from the Healthy Home Market at the South Boulevard location in Charlotte, NC.  They are fully flavored withOUT any meat.  No pork.  No animal fat. No artificial preservatives.  They are also vegan and gluten free.

This 16 oz jar is around 400 calories. (four servings at 100 calories per serving)

The KW Collards are already cooked so I personally just microwaved them for 30 seconds to a one minute depending if you are removing them from the refrigerator or not.

The key ingredients are Collards, Tomatoes, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil among other ingredients.  Also, there is some vinegar present as well, but the amount of vinegar does NOT overpower its taste.

The seasoning in the greens do have a little "spicy kick" to them as well. I do not like too spicy of foods, but I like these collard greens.  The disadvantage for me is the price:  $6  ($5.99 plus tax) for the 16 oz jar.

There is a large jar available for purchase for family servings, but I forgot the price for the large jar. The jar does suggest refrigerate after opening.  Also, use or freeze within seven days after opening.

So choose the jar size based on the number you are wanting to feed.  I feel that the 16 oz jar is enough for two (healthy portion sizes) to three people (moderate portion sizes.)

The Healthy Home Market in Davidson, NC also carries these greens.

Mayor Anthony Foxx Nominated as Transportation Secretary

As seen in this Creative Loafing newspaper, Mayor Foxx and President Barack Obama have been networking at least since the Democratic National Convention came to Charlotte, NC.  The DNC was successfully held in Charlotte, NC in September 2012. The Lynx train system was key to getting into the uptown area.  It ran really smoothly.  Great police presence.  The crowds were upbeat and orderly.

There has been some controversy over the local Charlotte Douglas International Airport and how it is being controlled.

So Mayor Anthony Foxx's  nomination by President Obama is a logical choice in regards to the topic of transportation.

What's the Deal with the N colon mark?

Maybe you are like me . . .  I noticed that Presbyterian/Novant changed its logo and name, but I was wondering why they made it "N" with a colon mark.  Well,  I found out the colon is an obstacle illusion of the "H" for Health.  Do you see it?  The "H" is the contrasting white color of the background.  "NH"  Look harder.  "NH" is there . . .

Kim Kardashian's Pregnancy: From Phat to Fat

Picture above is from US Weekly magazine dated April 15, 2013. Picture below is from US Weekly magazine dated April 1, 2013.

 Kim Kardashian compared to Shamu the whale . . . Wow!  So Kim is only around 5 feet 2 inches, where is the baby weight going to go?  She is too short in height to hide a lot of weight so every little pound is going to show up somewhere.

Now, on the flip side, Kim Kardashian's brand is based off of beauty, sex appeal, and image.  She is NOT a Oscar or Grammy Award winning artist yet.  (By the way, Great job Kim for your role in Tyler Perry's Temptation movie.)   So back to Kim's "baby bump,"  it does not match with her brand.  It is not "pure sex appeal" except to the father of the baby that she is carrying.

So I would say "Kim, welcome to the plus size world!"  When you are used to being slim, one has to learn to dress for a larger, less perfect body.  There is less work to dress a slim person than to find flattering attire to camouflage body shape imperfections of a full figured person.

Unfortunately, the insults that she is receiving publicly about her pregnancy weight gain is probably no different than any other full figure woman that has not learned to dress for her shape.  Maybe after the baby, Kim will focus on more full figured women's attire.

Full Figured Fashion Focus!

Hair, Makeup, and Full Figured Styling by Benita Blocker.

 Full Figured Fashion Styling by Benita Blocker.

Hair, Makeup, and Full Figured Styling by Benita Blocker.

 Full Figured Fashion Styling by Benita Blocker.

 Full Figured Fashion Styling by Benita Blocker.

Full Figured Fashion Styling by Benita Blocker.

 Full Figured Fashion Styling by Benita Blocker.

Hair and Makeup by Benita Blocker.  I love having healthy hair options!!!!

Fully clothed with shoes on . . . I weigh in at around 2xx pounds.  I am 5 feet 3 inches tall.  Long legs; shorter torso.  I am NOT wearing any bodyshapers or girdles in my photos.  These pictures are the "real me" without any "body magic."  Actually, if women with curves sometimes find that bodyshapers  make their curves disappear versus accentuate.

This article is a part of my full figure Fashion focus.  My message is that you do not have to be a size 2 to be sexy, curvaceous, and beautiful!  Some people may not like my current weight, but I know that there are people who are still twice my size.  Embrace where you are.  Buy for your size now, then you will find that losing weight will come easy because you start loving you where you are at!  I believe, comedianne Queen Aishah, told me that years ago!

Clothing brands shown here include Lane Bryant, Jones New York, Torrid, Gloria Vanderbilt, Rafaella, and others.  I also have picked up items from Marshalls, Macy's, and the "Goodwill."

US Postal Service Lost my Certified Letter

I sent a letter certified through the US Postal System.  It cost me under $4.  Somehow, from Huntersville, NC to Charlotte, NC, the letter just disappeared.  It did not get returned to sender nor did it get to its destination.

Huntersville, NC to Charlotte, NC is about a 20 mile/20 minutes difference.  I could not believe it.

A month later, USPS refunded my monies for the certified letter, and I sent out another letter through Federal Express.  It cost me about 4 times the cost of USPS certified, but you can track the letters every location from facility to facility to "on the truck" for delivery.

The Federal Express associate who accepted my package mentioned that many people have had my same story about their packages just disappearing within the US Postal System.  Thank God that I sent it certified or I would have no proof that I even sent it.

My theory is that someone lifted the letter hoping to gain something from its contents.  The high quality stationery and envelope that I used looked important; there was no insurance on the certified letter; and it was a nice compact size to just slip away with.  Luckily for me, it was a complaint letter, that I was able to re-write and send through a guaranteed carrier.

So the net of the story is this . . . if you want guaranteed delivery, I believe that you have to either send it Express mail through the US Postal System or use Federal Express.  Someone mentioned to me that Federal Express processes US Postal Express mail after processing their own FedEx mail.  So it may cost more, but if you do not want your package just disappearing and priority processing, then I suggest paying extra to guarantee the detailed tracking of Federal Express mail services.