Jessica Simpson Floral Printed Dress

Hey ladies! How y'all feeling? Today I want to talk about something that I'm pretty sure we've all experienced... Buyer's Remorse... Remember that time you just had to get that outfit even though the price wasn't too hot... Well that happened to me not too long ago... Luckily with a little bit of patience I was able to turn this shopping tragedy into a shopping treasure...





I first saw this dress Fall 2015 while shopping in Dillard's. I can't remember the exact month (September or October), but I remember I was looking for a dress to wear to my friend's wedding in October. When I saw this dress, I knew it would be the perfect dress for the occasion. The only thing I did not like was the price tag. At this time the dress was listed at regular price around $99. Feeling that I would not find something to wear before I left for the wedding, I made the rash decision and bought the dress. After my purchase I felt really good... I could check this off of my list of things to do in preparation for my trip... but then something happened... Buyer's Remorse. Now I know to most $99 may not seem a lot, but for a graduate student whose loans continue to stack up year by year this was a very large coin to lose... Every time I would see this dress hanging in my closet all I could think about was the amount of groceries I could've gotten with that much money or how many times I could have filled up my gas tank... I just couldn't get over spending that much money on a dress I would probably wear once... and maybe a few times to church once the spring time hits. So my conscious got the best of me and I returned the dress maybe a week after it's purchase. Surprisingly, I ended up wearing something out of my closet to wedding. The older I get the more I realize that you don't have to buy a new item for every event. Now that probably was the first time in many years that I didn't buy something new for an event, but lets just say I'm still a work in progress.

Now being an avid window shopper, I probably visit Dillard's maybe once a month. I rarely buy something on these trips... Shopping just happens to be something I enjoy to past time. In the months to follow I continued to see this dress on display. The wedding had passed, but I was still in love with the dress. The price tag on the other hand, had yet to budge. Fast forward 5 months and I'm in Dillard's doing some window shopping and guess what I see... a sign that reads "Clearance 65% off." Usually I avoid this section... By the time clothes hit clearance in Dillard's it's usually something that I don't want or something that is not in my size... Nevertheless, I decided to check the rack out. To my surprise I see the dress hanging with a price tag that reads $34... and guess what??? It was just my size!! Yep thats right... 65% off the original price... I'm pretty sure you guys know I did not hesitate to make this purchase.

This floral printed dress from Jessica Simpson features a beaded neckline and side slit. It is the perfect combination of feminine and ultra chic. Though there's no weddings coming up any time soon and nearly half a year has passed, I do think this purchase was right on time as the weather heats up. To finish off the look I paired it with some Vince Camuto criss cross strap platform sandals that I also purchased during the Dillard's Clearance Sale. These were a whopping $24!!!!! Macy's is still selling this exact same shoe for $90... Talk about a STEAL!!! If you're trying to get my look for the same price I suggest visiting your local Dillard's or Macy's... I've searched everywhere but unfortunately the dress seems to be sold out everywhere online...

In an effort to avoid experiencing buyer's remorse I want to leave you with a few little tips.... Count to three. 1.... 2.... 3.... Let's stop buying things because we want it... First let's think if we really need it... In the event that you absolutely need to purchase an outfit for a special occasion, lets try not waiting to the last minute to buy it... In the situation above I made a rash decision in purchasing the dress because I felt like I would not have enough time to find another dress.... All it took was a little delayed gratification… Hope you guys enjoyed reading the blog today… See you next time!!

How I Refresh My Old Braidouts (with Video and Product Reviews)

So wash day is tomorrow, but you have somewhere to go tonight.  You've been able to rock your braid-out for the past 5 days but it just doesn't have anymore life to it.  You have about 10 minutes to devote to your hair before getting ready... So what do you do?  Refresh those curls!!  Below you will find a video explaining how I refresh my curls in less than 10 minutes.  Each product helps to revitalize each strand without the additional drying time needed when styling freshly washed hair.  After watching the video continue reading to find a detailed review on each product used.  Hope you enjoy!   

I start off by sectioning my hair into 4 equal parts. I usually like to start with the back of my hair first since it takes the longest to dry. One thing I like about this quick refresher is that the products don't saturate my hair too much. I have low porosity hair and it seems like a drop of water takes at least 2 hours just to dry.

The Alba Botanica Hawaiian Coconut Milk Leave-in Conditioning Mist provides my hair with just the right amount of moisture to prepare my hair for this refresher.  I purchased my bottle at my local Sprouts Farmers' Market for about $7, but I've also seen it at some CVS.  This has been my go-to leave in conditioner when prepping for any style.  With ingredients such as water, glycerin, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, sweet almond oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, and coconut, pineapple, papaya and mango fruit extracts, the makers state that this product will moisturize and quench dull, thirsty, tangled tresses and protects hair prior to heat styling.  It exactly does just that!! A thorough mist over my dry hair to reactivates and tame my unruly curls.

Once I've made sure to distribute the first product evenly through out my hair, I pull out what I believe to be the key to refreshing my curls, the Camille Rose Fresh Curl Hair Smoother.  I picked this product up from my local Target.  Now I must admit... Camille Rose products are usually on the higher end when it comes to natural hair products.  I believe this bottle cost about $14 in the store.  I shop at Target a lot and usually wait for them to have a sale.  Just recently there was a ad going on for $5 back for every $20 spent on beauty items.  Couple sales like this with the Target Cartwheel app and you can almost always get these high end products for almost nothing.  This product has ingredients like deionized water, castor seed oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, glycerin, and avocado oil. These ingredients together act to easily detangle the hair and serve as an anti-humectant.  Essentially this product helps with reducing frizz by blocking moisture. Living in a humid city such as Atlanta this product really comes in handy to smooth out my tresses... It's just an added bonus that it helps with the detangling process.  

Last, but certainly not least is Carol's Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey.  Now I must admit, I've always been a little weary of Carol's Daughter products.  I've tried many of her lines but none seemed to work with my hair... until I discovered this.  My sister would always boast about how much she loved this product.... so I decided to give it the try.  I picked this product up from my local Target for about $12.  The Mimosa Hair Honey line was actually marketed for protective styles, but that didn't stop me from giving it a try on my tresses.  This shine pomade is the finisher of almost any style I do with my hair.  Ingredients include Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Annatto Seed, Lavender, Sage, Red Clover, Rosemary, Nettle, Corn Oil and Orchanet.  And as if the ingredients didn't give it away... it smells AMAZING.  I reach for this product not only before braiding or twisting, but I also grab it when I'm getting ready to unravel my twists and braids.  This thick honey pomade tames fly aways and frizz without weighing the hair down.   It also gives your hair an awesome shine that makes it look conditioned and healthy.

Flirts in Skirts | Valentine's Day LookBook

Hey ya'll! I know it's been a long time since I've blogged, but I have been swamped in school.  I still find it amazing that I had the time to do a shoot with a presentation and preliminary exam coming up soon.  Nevertheless, I'm back and blogging… And what better way to bring it back than during a girl's favorite holiday… Valentine's Day!!!

Valentine's Day has always been a great holiday for me because I'm obsessed with chocolate!! Yeah thats right… Forget all the flowers and dates and just give me the chocolate…  and after I've sat at home and eaten all of the chocolate I can for one day, I like to head out with friends or with that special someone and dress things up.  Those of you that know me or have read past blogs know that my wardrobe mainly consists of comfy chic items.  I'm always on the go with school and usually only buy items that I can wear all day and feel comfortable.  But on Valentine's Day I like to change things and go major girly… And what is more girly than a pink skirt?!?!  Below you will find three different outfits I've put together for Valentine's Day with each outfit featuring a pink skirt. If you like any of the items, keep reading and I will tell you where I purchased each item so that you can get your very own.

I recently discovered  Charlotte Russe carried plus size clothing.  I remember in college all of my friends loved Charlotte Russe and when they walked into the store, I went straight to the jewelry or shoe section.  I literally could not fit anything in that store.  This really upset me because my friends would always be able to find something really cute and at affordable prices.  Now, 4 years later, I get to as well.  The skirts in the first two looks and the bodysuit in the last look came from Charlotte Russe.  If I remember correctly, I got a really good deal on all items during an online sale.  I think I paid like $6 each for the tulle skirt and bandage skirt and $10 for gray bodysuit.  Yep, thats right… All three items were purchased for under $25!!! Now that's a steal!!!! I suggest frequently visiting the site before purchasing because there seems to be a different deal going on every other day.

First Look:  Breakfast at Tiffany's

So my first look is my spin on Breakfast at Tiffany's… More like brunch with my girls.  When I was single, my single friends and I would get together on Valentine's Day for brunch at our favorite restaurant… We not only did this on V-Day but basically every chance we got… lol… what can I say? We really like brunch.  Brunch is sort of our time to get together and catch up with what's going on in our lives.  Every now and again, we like to dress things up and look real fancy.

 The top in this first look was actually purchased maybe 2 years ago at Target.  I found it in the clearance section for under $10.  I had so many plans for this bodysuit but could never find the right bottoms to pair it with… Fast forward two years later and I finally found the right bottoms lol.  My shoes were purchased in college from Dillard's… The brand is Gianni Bini.  Though this is possibly my second time wearing the shoes, they are so comfortable.  I doubt this style is still available seeing as though I purchased them in 2012… but you can never go wrong with a nice heel sandal.

Skirt Found Here; Similar Top Found Here; Similar Shoe Found Here

Being busy with school is definitely one of the reasons I haven't posted a blog in a while… but the second reason is because all my friends are busy too and I have nobody to take pictures of me… So I really appreciate my friend Shari helping me out with this one… I even told her to dress up so she can take a couple of pics too… I didn't tell her much about my looks just that I would be shooting a post for Valentine's Day-- and what do you know? She shows up in a tulle skirt as well… So there you have it ladies… 

Tulle Skirt = Valentine's Day lol…

Second Look: Date Night

So Bae has already told you he's got Valentine's Day covered.. and if your dreams have come true, he's made reservations at that fancy little restaurant you've been wanting to try.  He finally got it right, ladies.  So you look into your closet to find something that shows off your figure just right.  This bandage skirt from Charlotte Russe does just that--hugs my curves in just the right place!  I paired it with a top that I've had for so long I can't even remember where I got it… Oh wait… JcPenny… Yep! I absolutely love this top because I can pair it with jeans for a quick cute look.  The shoes, like at least 90% of the shoes in my closet, were purchased in college.  Let's just say during college my line sisters and I totally visited Dillard's and DSW once a week.  I hardly even buy shoes these days unless it's flats for work or church… These shoes were purchased from DSW and the brand is Chinese Laundry.  While they're not the most comfortable, they probably are one of my most worn heels.  I just slip a gel insole in them before I go out and before you know it, I'm dancing the night away and my feet aren't even hurting.

Skirt Found Here; Similar Top Here and Here; Similar Shoes Here

Third Look: V-Day to the Max(i)

Now this third look is by far my favorite look because it fits in with my comfy chic style… And I get to wear flats….  Now I'm kinda short so you really can't see the flats I had on with this outfit, but they were a really cute pair of sparkly Steve Madden Conncord Flats like the ones being sold here.  The maxi skirt was purchased last year from Target.  I absolutely love Target clothes… in fact… I may do a haul from them soon.  The gray top is actually a bodysuit from Charlotte Russe.  Though it's not pictured here, the top has a cute little key hole on the back.  This look is truly universal.  No matter what plans you have on Valentine's Day you can wear this outfit.  

Similar Skirt Here; BodySuit Found Here

Well, folks there you have it… My Valentine's Day LookBook!  I hope you enjoyed it…. Have suggestions for future looks and blog post? Let me know… See ya soon! 

Good Bye Summer | Summer 2014 LookBook

I will always remember Summer 2014!  It was filled with so much excitement and laughter.  I learned a lot about myself and quantum mechanics [Ph.D Class :-( lol]

Before Summer began I had all these big aspirations for my blog… Publish a new blog every week… But as you see… Life got in the way… Traveling here, studying for this exam, going to this party… It was very rare that I even had time to sit down at my computer for more than 20 minutes other than when I was studying.

If you follow me on Instagram (tameradionne), then you know I recently purchased a Canon EOS T5i. It was definitely an investment worth making! Although I wasn't able to push out a new post every week, I was able to take pictures at a lot of the events I went to this year.  So I decided to make this a Summer 2014 LookBook BlogPost.  Hope you enjoy!

Vacationing in Panama City Beach, Florida
Crop Top: Forever 21, Kimono: H&M, Shorts: GiTi Boutique

Attending a Banquet in Arlington, Va
Shoes: Steve Madden Jumpsuit: Walmart (Tina Knowles Collection) for $5 no lie! 

Family Reunion Picnic in Chicago, Il
Dress: Asos, Shoes: Forever21, Kimono: H&M

Summer Sun, Panama City Beach
Swimsuit: Monif C. Swimwear

Summer Sun, Panama City Beach
Swimsuit: Walmart Kimono: H&M

Natural Hair Freedom, All White Party
Atlanta, Ga

Good Bye Summer 2014!!!! 

My Decision to Long Term Transition | Big Chop

I was addicted to the creamy crack.  Well... maybe it wasn't an addiction, but it was definitely something I thought would be a part of my life forever.... I mean I'd been getting them since I was 5.... We are creatures of habit and continue to do what we're taught... It was something I had gotten used to... like brushing my teeth everyday….  Straight hair had just become a part of who I was…

I remember the "jump start" of the natural hair movement… It was sometime in between my junior/senior year of college… You know the free spirit Denise Huxtable HBCU experience that all females try to capture… We want to find ourselves… Maybe switch up our wardrobe… Chop our hair off… Take a few trips to Africa… Yes… I was Denise personified, but I just didn't want to chop off my hair…

I was traumatized at the touch of that first centimeter of "nappy hair" and could not wait to melt that kink away… Every 4-6 weeks I sat in my beautician's chair faithfully… You see, I had what everybody would call "good hair" even relaxed… My roller wraps were EVERYTHING… Curls would fall in place as I gently unwrapped my hair every morning… Occasionally I got the, "Is that a wig" question… You see I had no desire to stop getting relaxers… Everybody loved my hair and so did I…

Fast forward to the age of YouTube gurus… I started following the relaxed hair journeys of KISSseventyseven, ulovemegz, TheHappyHairShow, and prettywitty77.  If you've visited any of these girls channels you would know that all of these ladies have achieved waist length relaxed hair… And that was my new desire… I'd always had healthy, relaxed hair… But I never could get it to grown past shoulder length (maybe bc my beautician deceived me into trimming my ends every time I got a relaxer… but that's another story lol)  What I gathered after watching countless videos from them?  In order to achieve waist length hair you have to 1. Stretch Relaxers and 2. Incorporate protective styles into your regimen…. I was on a mission and I had a plan… Journey to waist length hair… I even started a pinterest board to track my journey Relaxed with a Natural State of Mind 

With a plan in mind, I ran to my local Whole Foods to buy all the natural oils and butters I believed would help me on my journey… The first two months were the hardest… I remember feeling that new growth and thinking, Lawd… How am I gonna make it???? But after month 3 it got easier… This is where my plan began to shift… I started to realize that my "nappy new growth" was in fact not nappy but manageable…

The next day, after the above picture was taken, I went and got a relaxer…. See I was addicted… Even after people commented on my picture telling me I didn't need a relaxer, I still longed for my creamy crack.  Once I hopped out the chair I literally whipped my hair back and forth… It felt so nice and silky… but there was one problem… I sort of missed the thick curly new growth I'd grown accustomed to over the past 3 months and my hair was short!  I'd put all this effort into growing my hair for my ends to disappear after getting a relaxer… Yep! I was done…

My first instinct was to never big chop… Remember, I loved my hair… There was nothing wrong with it… So I set forth a journey to long term transition for two years… I figured I'd be ready to cut my hair by then…

The longest part of long term transitioning was waiting… You wanted your long, curly tresses NOW!  To keep my hands and mind off my hair I did a lot of braids, twist and weaves…. I can say with confidence that 12 out of the 16 months I transitioned my hair was in some sort of protective style….

Yarn Twist, Crochet Braids with Curly Hair and Crochet Braids with Afro Puff Twist
Custom Made Wig, Braids, Marley Twist 

Twist and braid outs and flexi rod sets were a big fail during the beginning of my transition…. Once majority of my new growth took over (around month 14) I was able to start wearing my hair out more often… This is what brought along my Twist and Curl mini video…

It was after that video that I realized, I AM READY TO CHOP!  Detangling my hair had gotten too complicated and I was tired of seeing those raggedy ends amongst my luscious curls…. But the hardest part to actually getting the cut was finding somebody you'd trust to do it… I talk to many popular natural hair studios in Atlanta while trying to shop around for the best person for the job… But I still was a little weary… Then it dawned on me… I was going to a family reunion at the end of June and I have a cousin who is a professional stylist… The appointment was made!  Check out the video below….

It's been a month since I've officially become 100% natural… This may sound cliche but it really is one of the best decisions I have made.  Need help on your transitioning journey? Don't hesitate to contact me for tips!

I Double D.A.R.E You!

I hesitated about actually making a blog post about this… Maybe for fear it might turn into one of those EliteDaily or BuzzFeed Posts like, "25 Things I Wish I Would've Known Before…"  Don't get me wrong… I love those post… Its actually cool to find out that you're on track with the rest of the world (not sure if this is where we want to be) but you catch my drift…

Lately my post have been all about fashion… I get it… People love fashion…That's probably the only reason people view my posts… I haven't quite figured out yet how many of you actually read what I say lol… I just want to share some things that I've learned this year... But don't worry… a few fashion pics will be included below…

I always have so much to say when I start writing blog post…  Most times my thoughts get all jumbled up and its hard to eloquently express what I’m trying to convey…. For this reason, I have asked my friend Khirsten to cowrite this blog entry with me…  She is one of my closest friends from college.  She recently graduated from the University of Alabama where she received her Masters of Arts in English. Roll Tide!! In the fall of 2014, she will begin doctoral studies in English at the University of Louisville.  

Lately we have been having many conversations about  love, dating, and the ups and downs that they both bring.  Many of our conversations always end with her telling me… let go.. have fun… enjoy life…

This time I finally decided to take her advice and this is what we have discovered....

1. DARE to make mistakes

My mom always tells me to learn from the mistakes of others... I mean... Yes... It's sounds perfectly right... If you see somebody accidentally walk into a puddle you try your best to avoid the same puddle.... Well I'm here to tell you to make a big SPLASH and  jump in the puddle...  I've always been scared to try new things and live a little because I'm always scared of the consequences... However, I have found that making a few mistakes has actually helped to prepare me to handle tougher challenges.  When faced with difficulties, I remember lessons learned from mistakes. Not only am I able to lower the chances of repeating the same behaviors, I also gain a better sense of myself and those around me through observations and interactions.  These mistakes become essential to my understanding of myself and my growth as an individual.

2. DARE to love yourself

We always hear it… You have to love yourself before somebody else can love you…  But that phrase is actually true… Since I’ve started my self-love journey, I’ve learned that I'm tied up in myself... I love myself and that's enough.

When I moved to Alabama two years ago, I realized that I had been avoiding so many things,  people, and problems in my life.  It was so easy to brush things off because I was so consumed with other things prior to moving and living alone.  My love and attention to school and social activities often caused me to ignore things that were seriously affecting and influencing me. So, I took a challenge to face myself and learn to love all of me. Everyday, for 30 days, I sat in the mirror and wrote. No specific time, no specific topic...just writing about myself, with myself, for myself. To some people, this exercise may sound extremely vain, or even silly, but the things I saw and learned truly helped me to better love myself. In turn, my friendships, relationships, work, and other areas of my life have all been enhanced. I credit it to those days of search within and facing myself as an attempt to love myself a little more. I complete this exercise a couple times a year now, and I love what happens in those moments of reflection.

3. DARE to let some people go!

I’ve held on way too long to many relationships because I did not want to hurt the other person.  I was sparing their heartache (or so I thought) at the cost of my happiness.  Experience has shown me that it’s ok if you don't feel as strongly for somebody over time as you did in the beginning... Unfortunately, that's part of growing up and finding out more about yourself...  You can't force your new self to love the person your old self fell in love with...daring to let some people go allows room for positive and fruitful relationships to exist.  Holding on when you have realized that interactions aren’t beneficial to you can ultimately cause more problems...and ain’t nobody got time for that!

4. DARE to ask

Assumptions are dangerous things to make... Recently, I have found myself asking a lot of questions... If I'm confused/concerned about something somebody says, instead of jumping to the worst conclusion, I ask them to help me better understand what they were trying to say... This has helped tremendously in building honest and open relationships with people... But be mindful in how you ask... You can't rush anybody into opening up about something they don't want to... Make it clear that you ask because you care... Not just to be nosey... Sincerity is received in all things...

5. DARE to date

It seems that since I’ve graduated from college, everyone close to me is either embarking on serious relationships, getting engaged, or starting their family. Me...I’m just getting degrees  lol. Seriously, in the midst of all the congratulations and observations via social networks, it’s easy to find myself wondering just when my happily ever after will come. During those times, I DARE to date. Dating is fun, but it is WORK! Not the typical work like a 9 to 5 office job, writing/grading papers, it’s emotional and physical work.  Dating interactions can be as sweet as a Georgia peach and as smooth as Tennessee whiskey; but  they can also be as bitter as an Alabama football loss and as rough as the back roads of Mississippi.  No matter what each dating situation may bring, taking that daring step to allow yourself to meet and become acquainted with new suitors proves to not only be beneficial to your future, but it is also beneficial to learning more about yourself--your likes and dislikes, your desires, your fears, etc. So, no matter how daunting it may seem to find that extra time to squeeze in a dinner date or happy hour meet-up, take a chance and dare to date!

6. DARE to try...and try again

Stepping out and daring to date will lead to many success and probably more defeats.  Sucks, I know, but it’s true.  The way I get over this ugly truth is by accepting that if it was supposed to work with every person I met, I probably wouldn’t be single right now.  With that in mind, daring to try...and try again has become a constant for me this year.  I’ll be the first to admit that the courage that it takes to try is relatively simple for me. I believe I’m pretty ambitious, so stepping out there is actually pretty exciting. BUT trying again after a defeat, is not that easy.  The self-doubt, the questions, the fear, and so many other factors began to effect me in ways that I never imagined.  This year has challenged me to face those doubts, fears, and questions and try again. Sometimes the outcome still was not what I wanted, but I was proud of myself. I saw that I had just a little more inside of me to give, a little more to learn, and so much more room to grow.

7. DARE to write

It’s not uncommon to hear people say that they hate writing or describe it as a difficult task.  Over the past couple years, I have found a new love and appreciation for writing.  This attention is due in part to the decision I made to pursue studies that afford me to teach composition to college students. It can also be attributed to the peace that I feel when I dare to write.  There are so many things that we deal with daily.  For me, writing has become a place of peace where I explore my thoughts and desires. Sometimes they can be as trivial as what color nail polish I am considering wearing with my next outfit, or as captivating as my thoughts about my current love interest. One of my dearest advisors explained it to me this way: “You think writing is hard? It most certainly is NOT! You’re writing all the time. When you think of a new thought, listen to a song, watch a movie, or have an engaging conversation. There are so many wonderful things going on in your mind. The work is sitting down, dumping that information out, and putting the pieces together.” Those words keep me motivated to write.  In fact, co-authoring this post has inspired me to give my blog some much needed attention.  So, let’s share our stories, our thoughts, and our interests. Afterall, Dr. Maya Angelou said it best, “We are more alike, my friends, than unalike.” Dare to write!

I Double D.A.R.E You! 

Shirt: Forever21 Jeans: Giti Boutique Shoes: ASOS 

Enjoyed this blog? Let us know! Check out +Khirsten L Echols at 1 Brown Girl's Milestones

Go Fourth and Fashion!

Fourth of July is right around the corner… and believe it or not, the Fourth is one of my favorite holidays … Not only because of the good food, spending time with family, and watching fireworks, but because I get to plan my Fourth of July outfit…There's just something very patriotic in planning an outfit for that day…  Take a look at all my social media feeds and you will find that on the Fourth I am smiling and sporting my red, white and blue…

Instead of buying something new this year, I decided to look in my closet and do a little matching.  The outfit below has been in my closet for at least a year… The red and blue printed pants came from Old Navy, while the blue peplum top came from Forever21.  Because these items are so old it was hard to find the direct link to them… But don't worry… I've included some looks that you can find right now for some last minute Fourth of July fashion ideas…

Still in need of an outfit for the Fourth? Check out these sites below. 

A Fashion to Figure Fourth by curvescouragecurlscouturechrist on Polyvore

Fourth of July by curvescouragecurlscouturechrist featuring high waisted jeans