By Katrice
If you're natural, you probably spent more money in the first few months on products for your hair than you spent over the last few years combined. And if by chance you've just "gone natural," not only are you spending money trying to find what works ... you're likely becoming more frustrated with each purchase. I can relate. And so can Myleik Teele, PR extraordinaire turned entrepreneur.
Teele, who's been free of chemicals in her hair for more than a decade says she's witnessed natural hair products go from zero to 100 since her transition. And to her credit, she knows the products respectively from both the customer point of view and company perspective as the voice of several beauty clients through her company Art of Facts PR.
"After taking on beauty clients that focused on solutions for women with naturally curly hair I was exposed to so many products. I've been to the World Natural Hair Show and many of the meet-ups and the conversations with each person I met were the same, they want results. Where do you begin? One thing that works on someone's hair that looks JUST like yours doesn't work on yours."
That realization was her lightbulb moment. What if women with natural hair could "try" several products each month for the price of one product? Ahhhh yes. That would be ideal. And just like that, curlBOX was born.
curlBOX is an affordable and easier way to explore new hair products. You can discover hand-selected kinky/curly hair products from those only found in private salons to ones you may have heard of but haven't gotten around to trying — delivered to your doorstep every month.
WHAT IT IS:
Every month subscribers receive 5-7 quality hair product samples for a monthly fee (price will be sent with VIP invitation). Subscribers can cancel anytime.
WHAT IS IN MY BOX:
Subcribers can look forward to extraordinary products from established brands as well as great and up and coming brands for around $25 per month.
HOW IT WORKS:
Join. Each box will have extraordinary value and be well curated. And best of all you can discover what works best for your hair without breaking the bank and stacking products that are ineffective on your hair.
"We're taking the time to listen now to make sure that we have the most amazing products in each box and I want everyone to know that the brands we have on board are so so good," Teele says.
Although no launch date has been made public, Teele did share that the number of subscriptions will be limited. So, if you're still searching or just love trying new products, don't miss out. Sign up for a free VIP invite at www.curlbox.com.
By Katrice
Every so often, I toss around the thought of investing in a pair of UGG boots. But, when I do, I realize that the pair of tan sheepskin boots I own have lasted me seven years and still look great. So I'm good. To change things up though, I popped into Old Navy this weekend and snagged a gray suede pair with sherpa lining that hit just under the knee for $20. Love them. {I got the Black Friday price without the commotion.}
By Katrice
I'm not at all opposed to sequins on a Tuesday afternoon for no special reason. I love it that much.
My position: sequins makes it's own occasion. And because it, for me, is always appropriate — a clutch covered in the sea of iridescent embellishment has landed atop my list of must-haves.
<< Harlow Sequined Snake-Print Envelope Clutch, $138
I'm not at all opposed to sequins on a Tuesday afternoon for no special reason. I love it that much.
My position: sequins makes it's own occasion. And because it, for me, is always appropriate — a clutch covered in the sea of iridescent embellishment has landed atop my list of must-haves.
<< Harlow Sequined Snake-Print Envelope Clutch, $138
By Katrice
I couldn't resist another Versace for H&M post as I feel like I'm living vicariously through all the shoppers preparing for V-Day at H&M -- Nov. 19th.
I read this morning, in ELLE UK, that the retailer has issued a set of shopping guidelines as with previous designer launches in its stores. According the article, the first 280 people in each store will receive color-coded wristbands and be split into groups of 20. These groups will receive 10 minutes to shop, in order of arrival. Most importantly, H&M also intends to limit the number of items each shopper is permitted to purchase -- specifically, one of each garment or accessory. The limit signals the brand's intent to minimize resales via eBay. The one-piece-per-customer restriction will also apply online. H&M will offer the line globally on Nov. 17th and in the U.S. stores on Nov. 19th.
Are you planning to weather the frenzy on Saturday? If so, what pieces are you looking to nab?
See more MVL coverage of the Versace for H&M collaboration here.
I read this morning, in ELLE UK, that the retailer has issued a set of shopping guidelines as with previous designer launches in its stores. According the article, the first 280 people in each store will receive color-coded wristbands and be split into groups of 20. These groups will receive 10 minutes to shop, in order of arrival. Most importantly, H&M also intends to limit the number of items each shopper is permitted to purchase -- specifically, one of each garment or accessory. The limit signals the brand's intent to minimize resales via eBay. The one-piece-per-customer restriction will also apply online. H&M will offer the line globally on Nov. 17th and in the U.S. stores on Nov. 19th.
Are you planning to weather the frenzy on Saturday? If so, what pieces are you looking to nab?
See more MVL coverage of the Versace for H&M collaboration here.
By Katrice
1. Pierre Hardy Borsa Piccola Clutch | 2. butter LONDON '3 Free Nail Lacquer - All Hail The Queen, $14 | 3. Albertus Swanepoel for Target Layla Hat, $19.99 | 4. Nicholas Kirkwood Laser cut-out ankle boots, $1,275 | 5. Starbucks "Indivisible" Wristband, $5 | 6. Ochre 80 Denier 3D Stretch Opaque Tights, $12 | 7. Wildfox Love Potion No. 9 Tank | 8. Mimco Crystal dome stud earrings, $51
By Katrice
The work of speaking life to black women and girls is one that is dear to my heart. Once a year we are fortunate to witness the Black Girls Rock movement as it is televised and for a few hours everything shown and spoken is in tribute to us. And so, I want to take just a moment on my own personal forum to say -- black women and girls ... I see you and I salute you every single day of the year. Because black girls do rock. We always have.
{A designer you should know, Chloe of Vitamin C Clothing}
{She just walked up to me at an event and started talking as if we knew each other. #Love}
{The best wingwoman anyone could ever ask for ... my associate editor Kamille}
{The very gracious Rachel Roy}
{I took this photo on Mother's Day. I didn't know her but I was captivated.}
{She was so chic that I stopped her to snap this pic.}
{Another sister that I stopped for her style ... the hair.}
{You can never have too many sisterfriends holding you up.}
By Katrice
Before the first session with my blogtog tutor John Stephens {of JASPhoto}, he sent me a note directing me to bring all of my photography equipment. I thought: Wow, this sounds very official. Exciting. So, I gathered my cord, media cards, cleaning cloth and tripod to take to "class." I partly expected a pop quiz of sorts in which I'd have to show and tell how much I knew about my camera.
I was nervous right off the bat.
But, that wasn't the reasoning behind his request. In fact, class began with John inspecting my Sony Alpha a230 DSLR and its settings. I'm a manual reader, so I had gone through a great deal of the information that came with it. However, doing so had been little more than leisurely reading because I didn't understand much of what I read. I did know, from my research, that it was a good entry-level DSLR with controls and user-interface for beginners. And I felt good about it's capabilities considering I stayed within my budget of $550-$600.
Here's a little of what I learned from his review:
I was nervous right off the bat.
But, that wasn't the reasoning behind his request. In fact, class began with John inspecting my Sony Alpha a230 DSLR and its settings. I'm a manual reader, so I had gone through a great deal of the information that came with it. However, doing so had been little more than leisurely reading because I didn't understand much of what I read. I did know, from my research, that it was a good entry-level DSLR with controls and user-interface for beginners. And I felt good about it's capabilities considering I stayed within my budget of $550-$600.
Here's a little of what I learned from his review:
● Camera modes - Auto & Manual
● F-Stop - The amount available light that is allowed in based on lens choice.( 1.4:$$$- 5.6:$)
● A robust offering of Menu Options
● Shutter Speed - 1/50 and below are for objects or people standing still. 1/100 and above are for moving objects where you want to stop motion.
● Dual Memory port for expandability of # of available images to be taken
● Light Meter with in view finder - Centering dial to the middle provides optimum exposure in various settings while using the Manual Mode. The left of the scale displays settings that are more likely to be under exposed and the right side show settings that are more likely to be over exposed.
● There is a 9-point focus area that illuminates red when focus area has been locked in.
● My lens is 18-55mm which provides wide angle and mid range perspectives. It still requires foot power for close ups of my subjects. The lower the mm the wider the view point.
I hadn't even noticed the dual memory port and my frustration with my lens' limitations had been the start of our conversations about this tutorial. I learned more in the first 20 minutes than I anticipated on the whole.
Next, an introduction of me -- the "blogtog."
{Subject: Moulin Rouge sign}
I upgraded to this camera from a Kodak Easyshare because I wanted to alleviate pixelation and increase the quality of my images. Most of the photos I take with it are still shots of me for style shoots, scene captures when I'm traveling and close-ups of food, etc. But, I'd like to get better shots when I'm at events without having to be on top of my subject, challenged by lighting or limited by my zooming capabilities for things further in the distance when I'm in a great locale. Those three "wants" were what inspired me to upgrade to a DSLR. {The images I've included were all taken close up, but the wide angle lens prevented tight shots and my being able to zero in on the subjects.}
{Subject: the Gecko}
{Subject: Robert}
I hadn't shown John any of these images, but he already understood my frustration from examining my camera and hearing what kind of blog images I hoped for. So, it was time to move on to my capabilities as a photographer. Next up, preparing to achieve the best capture.
Stay tuned for Journal #3.
By Katrice
Thank you so much to D.O.L.L.S. for featuring me and My Vicarious Life in its Bloggers We Love Series! Be sure to check it out and share your thoughts.
By Katrice
Are you here?
If not, what are you waiting for?
One click, and you're in on everything style, travel, beauty and more!
By Katrice
Enter: photography guru John Stephens.
Earlier this summer, I attended vlogger Chary Jay's Huetiful Hair Idol photo shoot and met John of JAS Photo. I was taking test photos and struggling with using the natural light to my advantage. John moved me over a few inches and turned my camera to a vertical position. A 30-second consultation was all I needed to determine him someone I should I know within his industry, so I followed him on Twitter (@jas_photo), of course. A few tweets and interspersed questions later, he offered me the opportunity for a one-on-one session to help me get better acquainted with my equipment and a bit of (blogger) Photography 101. My first session was last Saturday. And from that meeting, a blogtog was born.
A {chance} perfect capture from my patio in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Definition of BLOGTOG
n.
1: a blogger who is scrutinizingly determined to produce quality original photos.
1: a blogger who is scrutinizingly determined to produce quality original photos.
2: a blogger turned hobbyist photographer.
Since my first blog entry, I have been working to improve the original images that I post on my site. In the beginning of My Vicarious Life, my trusty camera of choice was a Kodak Easyshare M420 with three features that I thought made it top-of-the-line: 10 megapixels, 5x digital zoom and a 3-inch LCD display. As much I loved the photos it produced during family gatherings, blog images were all together different. They were average, at best. Three months into blogging, I was researching DSLR cameras. {The thing that won me over about the blogs I loved -- more than the words, even -- was the quality of images.}
While I understand that the bloggers with the best images are likely working with a professional photographer, I refuse to accept that my own photos can't be as crisp and clear.
While I understand that the bloggers with the best images are likely working with a professional photographer, I refuse to accept that my own photos can't be as crisp and clear.
A year and a half later, I have a new trusty camera of choice -- the Sony Alpha a230, and markedly improve pics on MVL. I'm only using two to three features on my camera regularly. {Ha!} But, I love the images I get with my novice-level skillset. Most of the time. Other times, I am challenged by distance and lighting, and the many settings that I have yet to master.
Enter: photography guru John Stephens.
Earlier this summer, I attended vlogger Chary Jay's Huetiful Hair Idol photo shoot and met John of JAS Photo. I was taking test photos and struggling with using the natural light to my advantage. John moved me over a few inches and turned my camera to a vertical position. A 30-second consultation was all I needed to determine him someone I should I know within his industry, so I followed him on Twitter (@jas_photo), of course. A few tweets and interspersed questions later, he offered me the opportunity for a one-on-one session to help me get better acquainted with my equipment and a bit of (blogger) Photography 101. My first session was last Saturday. And from that meeting, a blogtog was born.
In my Blogtog Journaling, I'll share with you what I'm learning as well as the amazing opportunity for you to bring your equipment {whatever camera you're using} and join in.
Stay tuned and let me know if you're a blogtog in the making!
Stay tuned and let me know if you're a blogtog in the making!
