Cocoa Cure

My friend, AZ had been begging me to try Vaseline's Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil for weeks. The other day, I finally had the chance to give it a go and it certainly lived up to her hype. Nothing usually works on my super dry skin besides Aveeno, but this body moisturizer does the trick!

The Brazilian nut and almond oil-infused gel quickly absorbs into my skin leaving it soft and smooth without feeling too greasy. Plus, it has a pleasant cocoa butter scent that's not overwhelming.


Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil available at drugstores nationwide for $7.49

Have you ever tried this product? Are you a fan of gel oils?

Stylish Satchels for Spring!

What woman doesn't love a sleek, satchel-style handbag? The popular two-strapped purse is great for hand-held toting or as a casual shoulder bag (depending on the handle size). This season satchels are sprouting up in every shade and material to fit all tastes. From vibrantly colored patent leather to abstract-designed canvas, satchels are always a stylish and smart handbag staple.

What's your favorite purse style (hobo, clutch, shoulder bag, or tote)?


Marc by Marc Jacobs Alyona Patent Leather Satchel available at www.saks.com for $1,350


Botkier Contrast Woven Satchel available at www.nordstrom.com for $595


Dana Buchanan Faux Leather Satchel available at www.kohls.com for $56


Tory Burch Embossed Lux Nico Satchel available at www.toryburch.com for $435


Anthropologie Loop & Purl Satchel available at www.anthropologie.com for $149 (orig. $310)


Banana Republic Free Sport Small Satchel available at www.bananarepublic.com for $198


Nine West Sitting Pretty Nubuck Satchel available at www.ninewest.com for $69.99


Tianni Abstract Canvas Satchel available at www.endless.com for $42

Shave & Rave!

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to try the new Schick Quattro for Women Trim Style razor. This battery-operated shaver is a definite must-have because it provides dual action - it's a razor and a bikini trimmer in one! With 4 ultra-thin blades combined with aloe, the regular razor end gently snips away unwanted strands leaving skin smooth and nick-free! While the handy bikini trimmer is shaped perfectly for those hard-to-reach, sensitive areas.

This spring/summer be sure to pack this dual-purpose razor for those bikini-clad vacation days!


Schick Quattro for Women Trim Style Razor available at drugstores nationwide for $12.99 (battery included)
Have you ever used this razor?

**Two lucky readers will each win one (a value of $12.99). Just leave a comment and a winner will be selected randomly and announced tomorrow!

Pretty/Tasty Pick-Me-Ups

I don't know about everywhere else in the country, but spring-like temperatures haven't hit New York City, but layoffs and cut-backs certainly have. Until the warmer weather arrives and the economy is revitalized, a great way to get a dose of spring and a sense of joy is to bring flowers into your space.

In these uncertain times, everyone can use a quick pick-me-up that's both pretty and generally inexpensive. In addition to flowers, candy is also a thrifty way to treat yourself. Yesterday, I read in the New York Times about how candy sales have increased tremendously as a result of the recession. Who knew?


Pink roses are my absolute favorite flowers. You can purchase bouquets that will suit your budget. Roses are more expensive, but sunflower and daffodil arrangements tend to be more affordable.



Gummi bears are my candy of choice. You can satisfy your sweet tooth almost anywhere, the key is to eat it in moderation!

What beautiful blooms and tasty sweets do you prefer to uplift your mood?

Lip Service

For a lip gloss lover like me, lip palettes are the way to go. Since I tend to blend several colors together to get my ideal hue, finding a compact with several similar shades in one allows me to keep my pucker perfected without the hassle of toting various tubes of gloss. As I've written many times before, finding one tube of anything in my purse is a feat, so finding two or three would be nearly impossible!

Do you use lip gloss palettes?


Bobbi Brown Lip Palette available at www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com for $45


Cargo Lip Gloss Quad in Oceania available at www.sephora.com for $24


Givenchy All For Lips Palette available at www.sephora.com for $32


Smashbox Lip Brilliance available at www.sephora.com for $28


Rimmel Underground Striped Gloss Over Palette available at www.target.com for $6.99


Shimmer Harmony Gloss Palette available at www.sephora.com for $12


Avon Lip Palette available at www.avon.com for $4.99

Simple, Chic Studs!

When it comes to earrings, I'm definitely a hoops girl. However, recently I've jumped ship and traded my classic gold and silver circles for small, sparkly studs. We all know that studs are the go-to style for professional settings and special events, but now I've embraced them for everyday wear too! Hoops will always have a place in my jewelry box, but it's fun to switch up styles from time to time. From sterling silver balls to diamond squares, studs exude a simple, ladylike elegance that never go unnoticed.

What's your favorite style of earrings? Hoops, studs or drops? Please share:

Check out some of these stylish studs:


14K White Gold Ball Set available at www.target.com for $37.99 (orig. $70)


Divya Diamond Stud Earrings available at www.maxandchloe.com for $865


14K White Gold Love Knots available at www.maxandchloe.com for $218


Ralph Lauren Pink Glass Pearl Stud Earrings available at www.nordstrom.com for $24


CC Skye Pave Stud Earrings available at www.singer22.com for $125


10K Gold Opal & Diamond Accent Studs available at www.kohls.com for $119.99 (orig. $300)


14K Gold Black Crystal Studs available at www.kohls.com for $35.99 (orig. $90)


Estelle Silver Plated Stud Earrings available at www.couturecandy.com for $62


14K Gold 8mm Ball Stud Earrings available at www.kohls.com for $75


1/4 Carat Diamond in 14K White Gold Stud Earrings available at www.ice.com for $150

Harlem Heights

Now that I've finally caught up on my DVR recordings, I've had the chance to watch BET's Harlem Heights, which premiered on March 2nd. Being that I am a reality TV fanatic, I knew that I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to see young, educated professional BGs and guys living in the culturally rich, legendary neighborhood of Harlem.

I've never been impressed by BET's programming or lack thereof, but after watching the first 3 episodes, to my surprise I actually like it. The show doesn't seem to stray from the recipe of dating/love, friendships, and drama that typically make a "reality" TV show successful. Although there seems to be a bit of cattiness brewing on the show, it's still refreshing to see BGs and guys being primarily portrayed positively on TV.


You can catch full episodes on BET.com.

Now that it's been on the air for 3 weeks, what do you guys think? Have you seen it or do you avoid BET at all costs? Share your thoughts!

It's About Time!

For all you BGs who use your cellphones as watches, you're going to change your minds after checking out the following timepieces! I must admit, I hadn't worn a watch in a while, but I got tired of trying to find my cellphone in the abyss that is my purse, every time I needed to know the time. So, I recently bought a two-tone watch that is semi-dressy, but yet still very practical. From slender feminine styles, to bulky oversized "boyfriend" trends, the variety of watch styles are endless.

Do you wear watches or do you use your cellphone instead?

Check out some of these:


Toy Watch Citrine Plasteramic Watch available at www.saks.com for $195


Fossil Analog Watch available at www.fossil.com for $85


Fossil Pink Dial Watch available at www.fossil.com for $65


AK Anne Klein White Dial Two-Tone Watch available at www.dillards.com for $55


Marc by Marc Jacobs Round-Dial Leather Watch available at www.bloomingdales.com for $125


"Outside the Box" Watch available at www.urbanoutfitters.com for $49.99


Oversized Chronograph Watch in Silver & Gold available at www.neimanmarcus.com for $250


Burberry Studded Timepiece available at www.burberry.com for $495


Skagen Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch available at www.macys.com for $130

Fabulous Beauty Discounts !

Two of my favorite cosmetics companies, Jane Iredale - The Skincare Makeup and Bobbi Brown are currently having wonderful sales this week. As you guys know, I absolutely love Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliner and now their pot rouge for lips and cheeks is a mainstay in my makeup bag.



Jane Iredale - The Skincare Makeup is celebrating its 15th anniversary by giving readers 15% off of their 15 most popular products. I have several beauty must-haves from this high quality line in my beauty arsenal, including the blemish/concealer and the pure gloss. Now BGG readers can take 15% off of these products by simply using putting in the code SWEET15 during checkout.



So if you're in need of beauty on a budget, definitely take advantage of these fantastic discounts!

What's your favorite Bobbi Brown or Jane Iredale - The Skincare Makeup product?

Flower Power!

Now that spring is officially only a few days away, floral prints are sprouting up everywhere. From frilly frocks to flirty camisoles, flowers both large and small are finding their way into fashionistas' closets. I've never been a huge fan of floral motifs, but I'm trying to step outside of my box of basic black into more color. So when it comes to this trend, I will proceed with caution or take very slow baby steps.

Are you a fan of florals? For those of you who are, check out some of these feminine pieces:


Tracy Reese Floral Strapless Dress available at www.eluxury.com for $450


Ali Ro Floral Printed Silk Top available at www.neimanmarcus.com for $245


American Eagle Vines Halter Cami available at www.ae.com for $24.50


Vintage Flower Field Scarf available at www.forever21.com for $7.80


Floral Split Neck Shift Dress available at www.gap.com for $68


Floral Tiered Skirt available at www.victoriassecret.com for $39.50


Sir Alistair Rai Sammi Floral Pashmina Scarf available at www.singer22.com for $152


Sleeveless Tiered Dress available at www.macys.com for $54


Silk Floral Print Halter Dress available at www.bananarepublic.com for $150