Again and again

December 31st... Time to make decisions on what you want the upcoming year to bring and reflect back on this past year.

What I wanted was to become the next big natural hair guru with this blog. I dunno what I was thinking. What I needed was an outlet, a way to express my interests and personality. If anyone asks what this site is about its a mix of things: pop culture, music, beauty, fashion, hair... It's me.

It's been more than 8 months since I've posted anything and I've missed this side project of mine so I'm planning a return to blogging through a giveaway. To reintroduce myself I decided to give some lucky follower a pair of gold cap toe leopard print shoes (sz 9) similar to Sam Edelman's Jordie.

To enter:
Simply leave a comment under this post with your email address.
Write it as _______(at)______(dot)com in order to avoid any spam being sent your way.

For additional entries: follow the blog through Google Connect and/or follow me on Instagram (@marcysuburbs) and use the hashtag #marcysuburbsshoes under the image that way I know you wanna be entered.

I'll be running the giveaway til January 31st and choosing a winner through Rafflecopter.

Good luck! Welcome! And here's to an amazing New Year!

Challenge Accepted

Every hair blog I turn to mentions a healthy hair challenge every so often.  And while I strive for healthy hair I just don't have it in me to participate.  But then I turn to YouTube and get super jealous of the girls on there.  Sometimes I feel like my hair is at a standstill.  It's been 2 and a half years since I chopped my hair off and (yes it is probably due to shrinkage) it just feels like it stopped.  Ugh.  Now I admit I have my moments when I'm just not in the mood.  When I put braids or twists in I almost never moisturize.  Actually protective styling for anymore than a month tends to do more harm than good for me.  Since I clearly know that I'm the culprit why am I complaining right?  One of my goals this year is to take better care of my hair.  So I've armed myself with a monthly subscription to curlBox (just an excuse for my inner project junkie) and am devoted to taking care of her because she deserves it.

Here's my own personal informal hair challenge.

Rockin Robyn

Gotta admit I've had Rihanna's album Loud for a while now but I just got put on to "Where Have You Been" about a month or so ago. And in anticipation of her release of the video she released a behind the scenes video on YouTube. Now I'm sure this is also doubling as some sort of product placement for the Reebok on her feet. (could they be any more obvious with those shots?) I'm really curious to see how this video turns turns because when I think choreography in a video Rihanna is not who comes to mind. But this looks like she's really trying to come correct.

What do you think?

March Curlbox

I'm a lil late with it but that's partially because I've only tried two of the products I've been sent. This month's box consisted of:

• Curl Care by Dr. Miracle (shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in)
• Beautiful Textures Curl Control Defining Pudding
• Brown Butter Beauty Sweet Milk Leave In Conditioner
• Ultra Sheen Supreme Supreme Super Smooth & Hold Flat Iron Protection Spray
• Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner
• Lustrasilk Curl Max Curl Activator Moisturizer 
• Lustrasilk Curl Max Curl Pudding
• Curls Curl Gel-les’c
• Mahogany Roots Olive & Avocado Hair Butter
• Shea Moisture Organic Lavender & Wild Orchid Shea Butter Soap

  
  

Out of all those I've tried the Mahogany Roots Olive and Avocado Butter and the Brown Butter Beauty Sweet Milk Leave-In.  Both of which I am pleased with.

Let's talk Olive and Avocado Butter first.  I had been looking for a product like this for the longest.  The name is a little misleading though.  When I think butter I think oils and shea butter kinda like my Karen's Body Beautiful Butter Love.  It is not that.  It's creamy and thick, more like a creme moisturizer.  I used it while twisting my hair and it led to an amazing twistout with a flexible hold, all without weighing my hair down.  It's made of all natural products which I'm not a stickler for, although it is nice to know.  Even after using the product consistently to retwist on dry hair, my hair didn't feel buildup-y (best word i could use to explain it, sorry)  A lil seems to go a long way because i still have enough to last me maybe another 2 wks with the sample I was sent.  My biggest issues are the scent and the price.  It's not the most pleasant but it doesn't linger so I can't hate on it too much.  Now the price... $22.50 for 8oz. Seriously?! Seriously?!  Everytime I head to the site to online window shop (Can't but anything beauty/hair related til after Easter) I debate whether I'm gonna spend the money on it.  I try to justify it because I'm sure it will last me a long time but 8 oz! If it were 16, I would be good and I would have it in my shopping cart immeditely. I'll let you know if I make the purchase.

My thoughts on the Sweet Milk leave-in are a lot simpler. It's cool. I like it.  It's not a must have.  It's equal to my Kinky-Curly Knot Today.  Since I can find my KCKT in a variety of stores versus the Sweet Milk which is only online, I'll probably stick with the Knot Today.  The price is around $12 for a full size bottle which makes it comparable in price.  Once my sample is done, that's it. No great loss.

Now this was my first experience with Curlbox and I'm gonna be honest; I expected more.  Maybe April's box will be better.  If I'm not impressed with next month's I'll be cancelling my monthly subscription.
Next review, I'll tackle the Birchbox.

New Music: Kimbra

 

"Settle Down"

Kimbra

"Cameo Lover"

Kimbra

I can't stop playing her songs.  I saw her for the first time on MTV Hits one morning before work and haven't stopped listening since.