Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Lincoln Park After Midnight

OPI has felt the fame of Lincoln Park After Dark.... so of course they have the Be Bold, Go Deliciously Dark Collection which includes a spin off of Lincoln Park After Dark called Lincoln Park at Midnight. What's the difference you ask? Like Chanel's Noir Ceramic, it is the spinoff of Black Satin. The difference is a slightly lightened hue of the original with a few flecks of shimmer (cute words for small glitter.) Thus, the birth of Lincoln Part After Midnight. (Pictured top to bottom: Lincoln Park After Dark, Black Onyx, Espresso Your Style, and Lincoln Park After Midnight)









Friday, January 26, 2007

Metro News...



I'm a frequent Metro rider, going to and from work everyday using the MD/DC/VA public transportation. While riding, you are bound to find some funny things, quirky things, interesting, fun, and at times uncomfortable things. Some of my funniest and craziest childhood memories took place on the subway train or Metro bus. From time to time, you stop and realize that its actually the best way to get around.

Here are some Metro details that I've kept in my mind that I want to share:

I've compiled my top 3 Metro Pet Peeves-
-There's always one person sitting in close proximity with blaring head phones. Yes the little bud type that you know is leading that person's eardrums to their early grave. Dude, seriously, I don't want to listen to your music first thing in the morning!
-While at the busstop, there's always one person who wants to smoke under the shelter.... "M'aam really?! Can I breathe without the funky smoke!?"
-During rush hour, the train is cramped and there is no such thing as personal space anymore. At least we all can share common courtesy towards one another.... but, there's always one!

Makeup on the Metro-
One morning, I got out a little earlier than usual. Obviously, it was earlier for everyone else too. I didn't realize how many women do their makeup on the Metro. I looked around on my one car, and at least five women had compacts out, mascara wands, tubes of lipsticks, etc. The next time I see this, I'll take a closer look and survey the products being used, lol.

One of the best, recent additions to the Metro is the free paper that's distributed when you enter or exit the stations. I like this paper because it soothes my short attention span and will occassionally have Cosi coupons in them. Yum! Think MTV wrapped in a publication, well... minus the colorfulness, glossiness, raunchiness,.... well you get the picture, right? Short, fun, articles to get you through the train ride.

A recent article that was published is called "Beauty Breakdown." It breaks down beauty brands and products by ethnic groups. For some, it shared interesting information. For others, it was a complete insult. Check out the little storm it brewed over at Julia's spot on All About the Pretty. If you don't get the free, daily Express newspaper here is a quick, run down of some of the facts: (Then go join the discussion at All About the Pretty if you haven't already!)
*In a poll where woman were asked "Who offers products for someone like me?" Fashion Fair and MAC were chosen by Black women as their top two brands.
*Asian women chose Shiseido and MAC.
*White and Hispanic women chose CoverGirl and Maybelline.
*Overall, Bare Essentuals was the brand chosen across the board.
*Asian woman are most likely to use sunscreen and after-sun products. Also, they are likely to use bronzers. Interesting to me. Are these Asian women natives of the US, I wonder?
*Hispanic women are leaders in everyday use of mascara, blush eyeliner and lipstick.
*Black women are the most frequent wearers of lipgloss and fragrance. I think this may be true. Any black woman can profess about their (MAC) lipgloss.
*White women are the most frequent users of foundation with almost half using foundation daily.

Here's my comment that I left at Julia's:

"hey julia,you got to this post before i did *wink.when i saw the article, my first thought was "wow! i've got to share this on yummy411!"however, i wasn't taken aback by the poll results. interesting, but not surprised. they asked women "who offers products for someone like me?" and the women responded with Fashion Fair and MAC being the leading brands. Does this mean that's all we use? No, but it does tell me that the majority of black woman have a FF or MAC product in their bag (with other things).
I got my first foundation in college. To make this decision, I looked around at the counters, thinking 'if i'm going to spend my little college dollars and invest in a beauty product, where should i go?' Even though FF seemed to be a product that my grandmother may have used (i don't think she does) it seemed that it was made particularly for black woman, so they must have something going on. I didn't want to go to a counter with pictures of white women in backwooods Pittsburgh and hope they'd find a shade for me. Thus, I walked away from FF with my first foundation. have i returned? no. FF does need to step their game up to compete with other brands such as MAC. as much as i like to endulge in all types and brands of makeup, i do however like to support beauty products made for people of color. i will only buy something i think looks nice, but if these brands weren't around and only offered expensive YSL, etc. there would be a serious gripe. i love when i like a woman's makeup and she tells me she's used a product from black radiance, black opal, IMAN or HIP. Concerning the continued trend towards FF, I believe lies in brand loyalty. Like another commenter said, FF is a big brand in the caribbean and in parts of Africa. J said that in her area, there are FF counters. In my area, the Hechts turned Macy's has an FF counter first, Clinique and Lancome... that's it! The store does need to be updated, but if that's all you've known and are satisfied then that's what people will buy. Exposure is necessary, but I don't mind making the most of what's out there."
Please don't mind my caps and lowercase typing. Yummy411 is one of the few places that I actually capitalize properly.. at least most of the time, lol.

What do you think?

Thursday, January 25, 2007

ooh ahh...

My newest Spring crush...



I bet Erica B. could make this with her eyes closed. This one is from Banana Republic, $218.99.

3/4 sleeves coat
Sleek and chic. City-dweller sophistication embodies our matte-finish woven linen/cotton coat. Its spare minimalist style--a collarless neckline and three-quarter length sleeves--is pure elegance.
-Collarless.
-¾ Sleeves.
-Hidden three-button front.
-Ties at waist.
-Hits just above the knee.
-Fully lined.
-86% Linen, 13% Cotton, 1% Spandex. Dry clean. Imported.

Be Part of the Queen Collection

I've spoken of my love for the CoverGirl Queen Collection and Lash Exact. Here's more from this team:



Cover Girl and Queen Latifah are looking for the new face of the Queen Collection. Monday, January 29th, they are holding an open-casting call in NYC. All women of color -- from Latina to African American, ages 18-48 are invited to show what they got for a panel of judges, including Queen Latifah. Contestants will be asked to share their story of achieving both inner and outer beauty (i.e. through a recent accomplishment, community service, overcoming an obstacle or standing up for something they were passionate about).


EVENT: Queen Latifah open-casting call to find a real woman to appear in the next CoverGirl Queen Collection advertisement

WHEN: January 29, 2007 from 11AM to 4PM (line forms at 10AM)

WHERE: BB King Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)





P.s. LashExact now comes in Waterproof-- just look for the blue band!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Coming soon...

I have some things brewing, but I would like to let you all know what's coming up:

-I am still in love with all of the CoverGirl Queen collection (or the ads, I should say, since some of the colors seem to be repackaged.) However, I have not tried all the products because they can't be tested on the spot. I didn't want to report here just yet since I haven't given my new stash a fair trial (a week's time.) So far, the newest product that I've tried from the collection was the Oil- Free Liquid Makeup in Rich Sand.




-Face illuminators: Loreal HIP and Wet 'N Wild


-Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Makeup: Mosaic Luminous Bronzer, Mosaic Lipstick Palette in Addictive and Mosaic Eye Shadow Palette in Eye Candy
-I have an appointment with my fav MA Larry to test some of the Raquel Welch Icon collection from MAC. I think I will take pics of the results, since I know he's the absolute best at what he does. I'm excited just to get some time with Larry!


-Don't be alarmed when you visit Yummy411 in the future and don't quite recognize us. We are scheduled for a face lift!
Ta-ta for now....

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Starlight on Jennifer!


Jennifer Hudson that is....
Gorgeous, stellar, and an incredible voice? She's definitely one of the most watched celebs right now. American Idol reject, DreamGirls star, a new, fresh talent, this girl's got it going on. More specifically, she's got a fab style crew that I was anxious to find out about. So, I did a little research to find out how she turned from inspiring star to glam celeb. Yummy411 hearts Jennifer Hudson!
Here are a few fun facts:
Stylist: Jessica Paster (clients include Cate Blanchett, Jessica Simpson)
Makeup products: Include everything from Nars to Black Radiance (She uses Black Radiance blush in Soft Honey.)
Golden Globe?: Andre Leon Talley picked a Vera Wang dress for her.
Making the ball gowns fab for curvy girls?: Spanx form shapers

Click here for the MTV article that gives a complete rundown on Jennifer's style and more! Be sure to check out the pics and notice the trend that helps make most of her styles work for her: belted tops and gowns that draw in the middle with a jewel or center piece.

Watch for her on the cover of an upcoming issue of Essence mag!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

4 Fav's Meme

I read this meme on Rural Glamour and then realized I got "tagged" lol (Hey J!)

4 jobs you've had:
*Tutor
*IRS
*Gap
*Camp Counselor

4 movies I'd watch over and over:
*Titanic
*Wicker Park
*The Color Purple
*Coming to America (I'm with you on this one J)

4 places I've lived apart from where I live now:
*DC (don't ask)
*Pittsburgh, PA
*Santo Domingo, DR
*On a ship!

4 TV shows I love
*(used to be) Run's House
*What Not to Wear
*Who's Wedding is it Anyway?
*Mommy Swap

4 places I've been on holiday:
*Washington DC
*North Carolina
*Mexico

4 websites I visit daily:
*Chevy ChaseBank
*Blogger
*my job's intranet site
*yummy411 =)

4 favorite foods
*pizza
*chicken
*icecream
*yogurt

4 books I enjoy rereading:
I used to be a diehard reader, but rereading I have not gotten into- I will however, reread magazines again and again to make sure I haven't missed a thing. Glamour is famous for all kinds of small print.

4CD's that never leave my rotation:
(sad face) I can't keep anything in rotation, my little sister snatches all of my cd's out of my car. I guess I'll really have to break down and get the Nano I've been wanting.

4+ people I'm tagging:
*Samida of Stained Couture
*Sista Toldja of Me,Myself and Eye
*Maddie of Beauty Hobby
*juiicy of juiicyscoop
*the pop culture junkie
*Fashionista (Fashionista and Baby)

Inspiration


Make up
Hair
Style
Confidence
To be beautiful inside and out
Creative...

Jill Scott.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Pondering...




If I had these boots, would I walk through the town, skirt flowing about, stop for a party, and seduce a guy? Would he buy me a drink, we dance the night away and before he leaves me with a kiss, whisper in my ear and say "Sexy boots.."? Maybe.. *smile*

Miss Sixty Bliss Foldover Boot, $199.99

Hair/ Head and Shoulders




Halle Berry reigned for a while with the crown for best haircut. Well, it's 2007, Halle has long hair and Melinda Williams has taken the crown. Doesn't she look cute in the photos? I loved her in Idlewild. Also, she has on killer polish!



More in hair news-

Head & Shoulders® "Head Turner of the Year" Contest

Are you the Next Head Turner?
Head and Shoulders and Cosmopolitan magazine have teamed up to bring you the Head Turner of the Year Award. This award will go to the leading lady with personal style and flair, charisma and stand out achievement. The leading lady will be win the grand prize of a three-day, two-night trip to New York City to participate in an unforgettable photo shoot and makeover with the Head & Shoulders' Style Squad, comprised of some of the industry's top fashion and beauty stylists. A photo layout will run in the June 2007 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.
I know you have it in you! Log onto HeadTurningHair.com to register. All you have to do is submit a recent picture along with an original essay of 50 words or less describing what makes you a 'head turner'. The Head & Shoulders' Style Squad will select 10 finalists, and the winner will be determined by online voting. Hurry, contest ends January 31, 2007!

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

MAC NEWS



Up now on the MAC website is the Chrome and Creme collection (nine shades of Chromeglass - five of them new - coordinated with nine new shades of Cremestick Pearl Liners) as well as the Valentine combo picks. There are nine different options to choose from and a Valentine Vanity available. Check them out: maccosmetics.com

New Year Beauty Resolution

I feel bad not posting New Year's Beauty Resolutions, especially since I didn't tell what my favorite products are and other beginning of the year 'beauty details.'

Here are some "resolutional thoughts" that I had in my head that Claire of Claire's Beauty captured on her blog first. I added a few more that I had been thinking of =)
1. Drink more water.
2. Get more beauty rest!
3. Start a dark under eye circle treatment.
3. Get to work on my lash treatment of a nightime application of vaseline.
4. Clean brushes more often and carry a sharpener in my makeup bag or at least switch to a liner such as MAC's technakhol liners.
5. Use more beauty products.. that i ACTUALLY OWN! I wanted to do a Rock the Gloss like Beauty Hobby did (using a different gloss each day that I currently own), but I can't resist the urge to buy another lipgloss that's .002 shades lighter than my last fav gloss.
6. Do a rock the perfume, shadow, jewelry, etc. for that matter!
7. Go ahead and wear the crazy, funky clothes and ideas that cross my head.
8. I'm going to put this on the list, but yall can't hold me to this stuff, only I........ but I'm seriously considering going natural in the '07. Embracing my natural coils and curls! (Loc or not to loc?) I seriously hate maintaining my hair. I need to be on celebrity status and have my own personal stylists or go to the salon at 11am for personal treatment.

So there it is folks.. my beauty resolutions!

*update: I actually heard of Rock the Gloss by Heather of Champagne and Lipgloss*

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

New Year

I've dodged Christmas and New Years with no good beauty inspired themes, particularly because they weren't the best moments for me. Don't get me wrong, they weren't terrible, but nothing I anticipated with overwhelming joy.

However, I found this meme over at Ms JJ's spot. Fitting enough for the new year, even though I'm late.... and not beauty related. This is another one of the few posts that you'll read where you get to know a little bit more about Yummy.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Went to a Thai restaurant.

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions?
Didn't have one.

3. Did anyone you know give birth?
My last sister (that could qualify.. be old enough, etc.)

4. Did anyone you know die?
A great-Aunt.

5. What countries did you visit?
Only one. America, but I'll strive to change this in the '07.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Some goals achieved-- short term, mid term. What did I do to mark '06 as a year of growth in my life?

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory?
October 17th, 2006. My new nephew's birthday.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
End of my one year probation period on my job. Don't laugh. Small, but it is what it is LOL

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not making a move to change my 'situation.'

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, "thank you Jesus!"

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Two in my book: my patch work blazer that I love and a pair of boots for only $50 (they had my size, customer service was great and I had a $50 gift card!)

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
BabyYum's.. he's closer to being potty trained!

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Can't name names, of course. However, men need to step up their game in the '07. Woman of my same cloth aren't going to deal with too much more BS!

14. Where did most of your money go?
Do you have to ask? With face hiding under a hat, "makeup."

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The world of blogging.. ok take out one of the really's. It's interesting and I'm a part of it!

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2006? Lean wit it, rock wit it. The song was reincarnated in about 5 different songs or more. It almost became a movement.. ugh.

17. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Traveling and discovering outdoors, reading and exercising.

18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Doubting myself.

19. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Nope.

20. How many one night stands in this last year?
Zero. Yummy can't get down like that.

21. What was your favourite TV program?
A cross between Run's House and Mommy Swap... family dynamics is so interesting to me

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, it's actually the other way around. While things aren't peachykeen, God has been working with me to let go of the hatred. You waste too much energy hating. If God loves you, then so do I.

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Would have is the key phrase here... being able to afford myself, ah oh well.

24. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
Two things... delayed gratification will help to teach discipline... AND... it's okay to be selfish sometimes; you need your sanity.

25. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year? "It's my party, I can cry if I want to.. cry if I want to," eh i gues.

Nordstrom's Beauty Gift!


All of this is yours with a $95 or more beauty purchase at Nordstrom.com. I know that's easy for us!

[With your online beauty purchase of $95 or more, you'll receive a fabulousblue train case and deluxe samples from the following beauty brands:
Bvlgari
Clarins
Clinique
DuWop
Erno
Laszlo
Frederic Fekkai
GoSmile
Juicy Couture
Kinerase
Lancôme
Origins
philosophy
Prescriptives
Smashbox
Online only. One per person, while supply lasts. Gift will be added automaticallyin Checkout and can only be shipped to the same destination as your order.]

Monday, January 08, 2007

Stylish Pups

Forget the posh pups in LV or fluffy fru fru fur and pearls.. my dog's wardrobe would include some Old Navy.. how cute!







Allure Mag's Backstage: 10 Hottest Beauty Trends on the Style channel


Today, on a lazy, chill with family Sunday, I fit in some tube time watching the Style channel's Backstage Allure's Top 10 Beauty Trends. What did I gather (taking mental notes)?
In makeup there are basically two trends that are dominating: the fresh face (think 12 years old minus any (pre)pubescent acne) and the bold, dramatic face (eyes) using jewel tones.
The top trends in hair: the natural, textured hair, blown in the wind, not too structured or maintained. Skip the flat irons. Think how your boyfriend would wear his hair if he was a chick. The second most recognized trend: the bun, the chignon. Take a ponytail, roll from tip upward, take the sides and pin into a U shape with the hair band exposed. Keep the hair and makeup low key to give all the attention to the clothes. Lastly, bone straight hair. This trend will never get old.
So you mean to tell me makeup artists and hairstylists are getting paid big money and traveling all over to do what the models could do themselves? Keep airplane hair and and little to no make up and hit the runway? The big deal behind hair and makeup is???? LOL Kidding (just a bit) I do like the fresh face, bare and accentuating the natural. The clean, smooth and glowing canvas is what I strive for.
Other trends that were mentioned:
The berry lip that we've already seen.
The dark stained lip from the inside and middle of the lip; not extending to the lip line (as an alternative or a way to change up the red lip.)
The pale face, nude lips.(Things we've already seen.)
For fun: Speaking of Allure, here are some tips to recreate their glam looks.

Friday, January 05, 2007

MAC NEWS: RAQUEL WELCH AND BARBIE COLLECTIONS

Get the dish on the new collections and beautiful pictures (oh no! more beautiful ad pics and me thinking I could look like them) from the makeupbag here and here!

DVF Beauty

I'm probably late in realizing that Diane Von Furstenberg has a beauty collection. Pictured are the gloss sticks. She has lip gels too, which remind me of Victoria's Secrets tube glosses. I wonder what else will emerge in her collection..
For fun: DVF Barbie, $100

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Fashionable Celly










Red Razr, Sprint
Diane von Furstenberg Sidekick, Tmobile
Dolce & Gabana Razr, Tmobile
Dragon Tattoo Razr (designs from Miami Ink Bravo), Tmobile
Baby Phat Razr
Dooney and Burke accessories from Sprint here.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

DO OR DON'T?

DO OR DON'T: IMPOSTER PERFUMES (AND OILS)?

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!