Poetry for the Soul

I come from a family of poets, however, the poetic "gene" skipped me. Luckily, I can enjoy some of the greatest poems with Sourcebook's new title, "The 100 Best African-American Poems," selected by renowned poet Nikki Giovanni.

A collection of African-American works from classic poets like Richard Wright to contemporary artists like hip-hop legend Tupac Shukar - this book is bound to take you on a phenomenal poetic journey. Plus, it includes an audio CD featuring poems read by the poets themselves such as the glorious Gwendolyn Brooks, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and more! If you're a poetry fan or know someone who is, this book is a definite must-have.


Available at bookstores nationwide for $22.99 next month.

Are you a fan of poetry? Are you a poet yourself? Tell me and one lucky reader will win this book. Simply leave a comment and a winner will be randomly selected and announced next week.

**Btw, the winner of the Fresh Plum Lip Tint is Catherine A. Congratulations and please send me your mailing address.

Just Ripe Lips

Even though Christmas is still a couple of months away, it's not too early to have visions of sugar plums dancing in your head - Fresh's Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment that is.

This super decadent sugar-formulated balm is a tinted treat for your lips. The buildable plum hue leaves lips soft and moisturized making them just ripe. If weather-protected, supple lips is what you want, Sugar Plum is a sure bet for fall.


Fresh's Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment is available at www.sephora.com for $22.50

Have you ever tried this product? Are you a fan of Fresh lip treatments? I loved it so much that I picked up an extra tube for a lucky reader. Simply leave a comment and a winner will be randomly selected and announced later this week.

Mini BGG Break

Hey BGG Readers,

I'm taking a mini-break, but will be back next week with more beauty, fashion, giveaways and more next week! In the meantime, I thought I'd share a new pic of Ava! It's actually about a month old, but I haven't been snapping away as much as I should be. If only there were more hours in the day (lol). Enjoy the rest of your week!

Topshop Takes on Chi-Town

Attention all of my Windy City fashionistas, I just got wind that Topshop is headed for my hometown! That's right, the fashion emporium from across the pond that recently landed here in NYC is making it's way to Chicago.

Known for it's cutting-edge pieces and eye-catching accessories, Topshop will surely get a warm welcome from Chi-town fashion lovers when it opens its doors on Michigan Avenue next spring.

Mary J. Bliges Throws Shade

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, is lending her signature sunglass style to the masses. Next month, Blige will debut Melodies by MJB, a line of designer sunglasses that will include a mix of cool, classic aviators to fashionable oversized frames.

Fans of the shaded singer have admired her style for nearly 2 decades, now we can have a a piece of that funky MJB flair. Even though sunglasses are usually reserved for the summer, we all know that the sun always shines!

Melodies by MJB will be sold at Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman. Prices will range from $165-$225.

Would you wear a pair of MJB's shades?

Feeling Blue?

For all my beauty buffs, there seems to be a major case of the blues sweeping the makeup scene. After attending several beauty-related events, varying shades of blue kept popping up on various palettes. From midnight blue eye shadows to royal blue nail polishes, blue is definitely the fresh "it" color for fall. If you're hesitant to try the trend on your eyes, give it a go on your nails for a less-shocking style.


Maybelline Eyeshadow Trio in 'Blue Slate' available at www.ulta.com for $5.39


Butter London Nail Polish in 'Blue Smoke' available at www.dermadoctor.com for $14


Estee Lauder Automatic Duo Pencil in 'Hyacinth Sky' available at www.macys.com for $23.50


MAC in the Groove Mineralized Shadow in 'Blue My Mind' available at www.sephora.com for $19.50


Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Eye Definier in 'Vibrant Blue' available at www.barneys.com for $27


Smashbox Jet-set Waterproof Liner in 'Navy' available at www.beauty.com for $22


Pop Beauty Nail Glam Nail Polish in 'Ocean Online" available at www.beauty.com for $14

Will you partake in this fall beauty forecast?

Cropping Season

With only a slight chill in the air, it's not quite time to break out full-length trenches, but a cute cropped one will do the trick. Not only will this mini-version of the classic wardrobe staple keep the you warm, but effortlessly chic at the same time. Plus, they complement dark-rinse jeans, which are always in style.

Check out some of these light-weight trench jackets:


BB Dakota Hinsdale Trench Jacket available at www.dillards.com for $89


Cropped Trench Coat available at www.charlotterusse.com for $35.50


Cropped Trench Coat available at www.gap.com for $79.50


French Connection Cropped Trench Jacket available at www.asos.com for $153.34


JNBY Adventures Short Trench Coat available at www.shopbop.com for $318


Joseph Full-Length Jacket available at www.yoox.com for $180


Burberry Sawley Belted Cropped Trench available at www.bluefly.com for $500.40


Juicy Couture Ruffled Cropped Trench available at www.bloomingdales.com for $107.28

Are you a fan of cropped trenches?

For Colored Girls

The trailer for Tyler Perry's film adaptation of the 1976 award-winning play, "For Colored Girls...," was released earlier this week. Are you looking forward to seeing the film this November? Are you a fan of Tyler Perry films?





**Btw, the winner of the Goldfinger nail polish is Mocha Mish Mash. Congrats and please email me your mailing address.

Goldfinger

During the summer months my nails are usually lacquered in a lovely hot pink shade, but as the temp cools I lean toward more metallic and muted hues. This fall it's all about having gold at your fingertips. Rich, gold tones gives nails that pop of color, but with a subtle, festive flair. From celebrities like Leona Lewis to Rihanna, it looks like the nail color of the season is going to be golden.


One of my favorite of-the-moment polishes is Milani's Nail Polish in 'Gold Lame' available at www.milanicosmetics.com for $4.49


Ginger & Liz 'Got My Groove Back.' By the way, these beautiful, BG founders are making their mark in the world of nail color! Available at www.gingerandliz.com for $12


LA Splash in 'Spark Gold' available at www.ulta.com for $3.99


Sephora Nail Color in 'Only Gold For Me' available at www.sephora.com for $9


Deborah Lippman in 'Nerfertiti' Nail Color available at www.barneys.com for $16

Will you be wearing the gold polish trend this fall season? One lucky reader will win a bottle of Milani's 'Gold Lame' polish. Simply leave a comment and a winner will be randomly selected and announced later this week.

Fall for Fleece!

Now that fall is right around the corner, why not ditch your lightweight cardigan for a comfortable fleece blazer? This season it's all about updating the stylish staple with a flexible and flattering fleece blend. Blazers work with just about every item in your wardrobe from skinny jeans to shorts and now these fleece finds can create an even more casual look.


Authentic Fleece Blazer available at www.jcrew.com for $98


Juicy Couture Shrunken Fleece Blazer available at www.shopbop.com for $178


Flannery Fleece Rugby by Ralph Lauren available at www.rugby.com for $99.99


Luxe Fleece Cropped Blazer available at candcalifornia.com for $69.90


Vintage Havana Fleece Blazer available at www.nationaljeancompany.com for $84

Would you wear a fleece blazer this fall season?

Stuck on Fashion!

With so many BGS wearing wedges and strutting in sky-high heels, it's inevitable that some of us will either trip or take a tumble, leaving behind a scratch. If so, Band-Aid has all of us fashionistas covered - literally.

Celebrity fashion designer Cynthia Rowley has partnered with the household brand to create a super chic collection of adhesive bandages giving the boring flesh-tone shades a backseat.

Packaged in sleek black and turquoise tins, these designer bandages are bold with glamorous designs such as sequins and pretty petals.

Available for a limited-time, these scrape-savers will be in Cynthia Rowley stores, cynthiarowley.com and The Cooper Hewitt Museum next month.


Would you wear a designer bandage or simply stick to the nude hues?

**Btw, the winner of the Motions products is Nicole Rogers. Congrats! Please email me your mailing address.

What's Your Zodiac Sign?

What do the stars say about your strands? Motions has created a fun and super cute star-studded astrology chart that you can match with their products. Since I'm a Taurus like hair chameleon Janet Jackson, it says that we appreciate beauty - well that's obviously true!

From relaxers to Oil Sheen & Conditioning Sprays, Motions is a brand that we BGs can trust with our tresses. You guys know that I've tried scores of hair care products throughout the years and Motions is still one of my favorites.



What's your sign? Tell me and one lucky reader will win 5 Motions products including: Light Hold Working Spritz, Shine Enhancing Pomade, Foaming Wrap Lotion, and the Silkening Shine Relaxer System. The winner will be randomly selected and announced next week.

Scarlet Fever

Wearing red lipstick isn't for the faint of heart. It takes guts and confidence to pull off the timeless, sexy shade.

Until recently, I had shied away from painting my pucker red out of fear of looking clownish or not finding the perfect hue, but Beyonce's new red Infallible Never Fail Lip Colour by L'Oreal changed my mind.

Packaged in a super cute mirrored-compact, the product consists of a red base coat and vitamin E balm-based top coat. Unlike many other lipsticks, this long-wear lip color doesn't smear or smudge thanks to the patented top coat that keeps the pigment in place for hours.

The bright red definitely stands out, but isn't that what wearing the eye-catching color is all about? Plus, the felt applicator allows you to put on the base coat smoothly with precision.



Would you ever consider wearing crimson-colored lips?

Keri Hilson Talks Beauty

R&B beauty Keri Hilson is not only heating up the charts this summer with her smash single "Got Your Back" with rapper T.I, but she's also the new face of one of the leading global beauty companies: Avon.

Recently, the lovely songstress shared a few of her beauty secrets with me.

Click here to read the Q&A.

'Look Book' Giveaway

Nina Garcia has always been my favorite judge on the hit reality TV show, Project Runway. Her effortless style, grace, and unabashed truthfulness towards the show's contestants have kept me glued to the tube for 8 seasons.

Now the New York Time's best-selling author and Colombian-bred style guru is back with her fourth guide, 'Nina Garcia's Look Book: What to Wear for Every Occasion.'

Packed with popular questions that many women have when it comes to fashion, Garcia gives it to you straight. From what to wear to an interview to the dreaded funeral, 'Look Book,' delivers advice in an easy-to-follow girlfriend style. Not only is the book filled with fashion wisdom, but super chic sketches by Ruben Toledo prettify each page.


Available at bookstores nationwide.

What are some of your favorite books on fashion? Would you like to read this book? If so, leave a comment and a winner will be randomly selected and announced later this week.