Hey Guys! What Does Your Shoes Say About You?

Have you ever heard the statement that you can learn a lot about a guy from their shoes?What we wear allows us to express our individuality and perhaps, could help us learn someone's personality. So what's shoes got to do with it? Like clothes, shoes come in variety of styles, colors, textures, patterns and of course price points and there is something telling about what you choose to rock on your feet.

With that said, ladies this could be beneficial when you are first checking out a guy! His shoes might be able to tell you HIStory, so here is my personal observation:

Open-toed sandals/Flip Flops- This guy tends to be a free-spirit and probably doesn't care much for the finer things in life. He's simple and doesn't require much to live a happy, well-rounded life. His appearance tends to be lax so you'll definitely find a lot of jeans and tees in his closet. Grooming might be a challenge because he probably doesn't mind if his hair is a bit unruly or if he grows out a beard for "No Shave November" so consider this your warning. Oh and since he loves open-toe shoes, his toe nails might not be up to par but it doesn't bother him so again, watch it.  As a result, he could be difficult to take seriously when it comes to a relationship. He probably has a great sense of humor and a very calm spirit but don't take this as a sign of weakness. He isn't afraid to step on your toes if you try to push him to be something he doesn't want to be so be careful not to come off demeaning or condescending.  He is adventurous and probably enjoys the outdoors--a picnic in the park--so being contained in a house isn't his thing. It's because he is an outdoor guy, it can be kind of tiring to keep up if you are more of a homebody. He's sincere and might be a bit of a flirt but as a long as you all are clear and establish some boundaries, you'll have lots of fun with each other.

Closed-toe Dress Shoes- This guy is about his business and he takes pride in his appearance. He's about that "suit & tie life" and knows that the finer things in life aren't given, they are earned. While it can be misconstrued that he's a frivolous spender (obviously because he likes nice things), he could shock you if he's a bit tighter with the money bags. He's ambitious with a business plan in one hand and life plan in the other but he might struggle with balancing both. It's possible he's a workaholic so if spending time is important to you than this could be rough. You still should keep your eyes peeled in "how he spends his money"--he could have some insecurities or feel empty so he spends money to compensate for this emotional baggage.

Sneakers- There are two sub-categories within the sneaker group since most guys tend to wear them as their go-to shoe for everyday wear:

• You have sneaker-heads: This type of guy is into style and trends! He cares about his appearance at all times from head to toe. He might have an extreme obsessive to collect every latest pair of sneakers that he might even spend his last dollar (or skip sleep) to just HAVE the newest pair, This guy might struggle with his finances time to time because he tends to be an impulsive spender but even if he can afford it, he could be a clutter-bug. Also, because he feels the NEED to have, it could mean his judgement is a bit cloudy about what's really important in life thus, he might struggle with making important decisions. He's fun though, probably a social butterfly and he knows how to have a good time but he may lack maturity. 
• You have casual sneakers/tennis shoes: This type of guy is pretty chill maybe even a hipster type. He's pretty laid back and just enjoys being "comfortable." Since being comfortable is key, he probably lives a very routine life, almost robotic. He's predictable and you can pretty much map out his every move. He's not too open for change so this could be challenging if you are the spontaneous type. Since he's not use to a lot of change, what you will find is he's consistent and loyal just like he his to his shoes (probably been supporting the same brand for awhile).  He may not be a sneaker-head but he does believe in investing in being comfortable which means he would be willing to invest in you emotionally, that's if you make him feel comfortable and show that you are trustworthy. It may take some time to get him open up but when you do, he's a keeper! 

Boots- Again, there are two sub-categories within this group:

• Construction/Work Boot/Biker boot-This type of guy is not afraid of hard work, in fact, if it's not challenging then it's not exciting. He's not afraid to live life on the edge and definitely isn't afraid to take risks. He likes to bend the rules and doesn't take well to authority--he likes being in control (this can be annoying and a problem). He enjoys making an honest living and will do whatever it takes to make sure he receives it. He's outspoken, very opinionated and isn't afraid to tell you about yourself--he's got a short fuse but what this really translates into is...he's in touch with his emotions. When he does fall for someone, he falls rather hard and quick but wouldn't tell you; however, he will make sure you feel it in other ways. He's also observant and the tiniest detail like how your nose crinkles up when you smile big, he'll notice. He might have some trust issues so he'll test you a couple times to make sure you are strong enough to handle him (he doesn't like push overs but he does love an independent woman who works hard for her own) and when you show yourself true, you are in for a wild ride!   

• Dress boot- This type of guy is what some might call a metrosexual. He probably has great taste and  an eye for fashion. He is not afraid of spending money to maintain a tailor-made collection (his tailor is probably on speed dial). Being groomed is a priority so you will more than likely find his bathroom loaded with all types of man-friendly products and tons of expensive cologne. He isn't afraid to get MANicure nor a pedicure that's why he keeps standing weekly appointments to keep up his million dollar looks up. He also doesn't mind going shopping with you, in fact, he encourages it since it is one of his favorite things to do. The downside of this type of guy that he could come off as being narcissist or materialistic but in some cases this is totally not true. He also might have some insecurities about his appearance since he desires perfect looks and as as a result, he's not afraid to spend to get it. He's loves to work to feed his expensive shopping habit and enjoys being a people person. He might not always have money but his network usually makes up for his networth. He knows people in high places and he isn't afraid to tap his connections for their benefits. 

Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com

Congrats! Pantone Celebrating 50 Years of Living in Color

To view this infographic in it's original size, visit this link. 

Infographic created by Pantone

I Spy Emerald Eyes for the Fall

The color green will forever be my favorite color especially when it comes to emerald eye shadow. Pantone has even declared emerald the color of the year, so it’s only right to get hip to a sexy smoked-out emerald eye for the fall. I was inspired to write a post about this trend after receiving my usual Sigma Beauty alerts. Shades of green especially a deep emerald looks amazing on brown-eyed beauties because these warm tones complement each other. Will you try an emerald eye?   

Photo Courtesy of Sigma Beauty

*Disclaimer: This post is not an endorsement of Sigma Beauty Products. The views expressed in this post are my own and not the company. No money or in-kind products were given for this post.

Love yourself first...

As we all know, Valentine's Day is around the corner and for those of you who are celebrating it with your main squeeze/significant other or solo (don't be sour, your time will come), just remember self-love is the BEST love you can ever receive.

To truly enjoy the gift of love, it begins with YOU! If you don't understand that your self-worth is far greater than your networth than you've truly missed the mark of what love really means. While it can be an incredible feeling, an indescribable emotion, it can also be dangerous, blinding even if you haven't first learned how to love YOU for you first.

So take some time for yourself this Valentine's Day! Treat yourself, indulge a little.--whether it's treating yourself to a nice meal, shopping! or pampering yourself, spends some quality time with yourself and be reminded of the greatest gift life has to offer us all...LOVE.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!! Xx

Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com/By SnapShotStrawn


*Black History Fact via Biography.com: The parents of actress Halle Berry chose their daughter's name from Halle's Department Store, a local landmark in her birthplace of Cleveland, Ohio.

Ever wonder how a pair of "Red bottoms" are made?

Since the Groundhog didn't see his shadow, looks like spring will be blossoming in the coming days. While I am personally excited for warmer weather, my allergies are not looking forward to an early spring. However, when it comes to fashion, (no matter what the season is), it's exciting time to take a look at hot fashion. Of course in honor of wear red month, it's only right that we kick it off with the story of how a hot pair of Christian Loubotins also known as "red bottoms" are made.

Many women and men drool over these shoes and while most know they come from Paris, some do not know how much work goes into creating these masterpieces. So sit back and enjoy this enlightening journey of how one man's obsession with shoes became a dream business.



Video Courtesy of Youtube.com/ By NetAPorter

*Black History Fact via Biography.com: After African-American performer Josephine Baker expatriated to France, she famously smuggled military intelligence to French allies during World War II. She did this by pinning secrets inside her dress, as well as writing them in invisible ink on her sheet music.

February is Heart Healthy Month!

What have you done for your heart lately? Daily exercise, healthy eating habits, plenty of rest, zero-tolerance for stress are just a couple of ways you can improve the condition of your heart.

Your heart is considered to be vital organ because so many other parts of your body depend on it everyday to be able to function properly. Therefore, the road to a healthy heart begins with you!

Here are some alarming facts to think about via National Health Finder.gov:

• Heart disease kills an estimated 630,000 Americans each year. (National Health Finder.gov)
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. (National Health Finder.gov)
• In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds. Each minute, someone in the United States dies from a heart disease-related event. (CDC)
• Blacks have a risk of first-ever stroke that is almost twice that of whites (American Heart Association)

While heart disease is more prevalent in women age 55 or older, men age 45 or older, or a person with a family history of early heart disease, it doesn't mean you can't take preventive measure now. Plus you can be the agent of change to help your parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents etc. to become more proactive in leading a healthier lifestyle for their heart.

To get more information about heart health information check out the Healthfinder, American Heart Society, or CDC.

*Black History Fact via Biography.com: Famed guitarist Jimi Hendrix was known by close friends and family members simply as "Buster."

Eyes Spy: Plum Lips

 



There is something so tantalizing about rocking a deep plump lip in this season. It never ceases to amaze me how this one shade can radiate edge, pop and pizazz! What are some of your favorite shades of plum lipsticks?

Her plum lips are popping!

Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com/By JIMBO 105

October is...

The month of October marks the awareness of two very important life campaigns: Domestic Violence month (purple ribbon) and Breast Cancer Awareness month (pink ribbon). Each year, men, women, and children are affected by both of these issues and it's important as a people that we remain informed about these topics. I personally know of families very dear to me that have been victims of both, some survived and some did not. In honor of them, I would like to dedicate my blog to help inform others of these topics. There are so many suffering in silence and it's up to us to be pillars of support for those who need it and to reach those who are unaware of the seriousness of these issues. I hope this information impacts a life and I hope other bloggers will feel compelled to join in spreading awareness too. Let's reach one, teach one together...oxox, ELLe.

Photo Courtesy of: girlfriendology.com

Dear AUTUMN...

(Above) Photo Courtesy of Flickr/ By Cheska Annelliese



Photo Courtesty of Flickr/By Ientu



Photo Courtesy of Flickr/By Rynne.Stephanie

Something BLUE: Royal Sweet Tooth Is Served!

Who doesn't love Ring Pops? They were a favorite sugary treat from me especially for many other girls around the world in our childhood days. It was the only large "rock" that we could all afford on our own (no bended knee or significant other required for purchase) and we would all gloat about who had better taste (or in this best taste in a flavored ring). As many of you know, it's ROYAL WEDDING COUNTDOWN WEEK for Prince William and Kate Middleton over there "across the pond" (London that is!) and The Lipstick Memoir is celebrating this grand occasion too! It's not everyday you get to see a real "royal" wedding you know!

To kick off the week, I ran into something rather sweet... The Royal Ring Pop which of course was designed to honor the wedding ceremonies of the week. What do you think?

Bazooka Joe Candy Brands thought up this limited edition Ring Pop to mimic Kate's engagement ring (which was once Princess Diana's ring). And yes! This Ring Pop is tricked out in Swaroviski crystals... clearly this ring is too pretty to eat! Wondering how much it's worth? $50.00 a pop (and this doesn't nearly touch the cost of the real sexy sapphire engagement ring)! Bazooka Joe Candy Brands is giving away 10 of these rings in their contest this week! Check out contest details HERE ,it ends April 29th... so hurry!

Picture Courtesy of Celebuzz.com

This is WHY I Rock the Red Pump...

Today is National Woman and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and I'm participating in the occasion with the ladies of the Red Pump Project. While my day in DC was a rather soggy one (and the rain still dances on my windowpane), I still actively tweeted and now blogged my thoughts about today's importance (picture of me in red pumps coming soon!). I truly hope you all participated in tweeting, blogging, telling a friend or loved one about today because it is so important to KNOW YOUR STATUS! For those of you that didn't know by now but AIDS ARE REAL...period. It doesn't matter how old you are or the color of your skin, it is a universal disease that can infect ANYONE. There is nothing funny about this disease and it's important that you educate and protect yourself and others from falling victim to it.

Still don't believe me? Well believe these statistics:

Did you know...In 2009, nearly a quarter of HIV infections in the U.S. were among women and girls aged 13 years or older!

Did you know...By the end of 2008, almost 184,000 women and girls were living with HIV.

Did you know...HIV is 20 times higher in African American women than in White women and four times higher in Latino women.

Did you know...The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 1 in 5 people live with an HIV infection and DO NOT KNOW ABOUT IT!!! (meaning count five people around you AT LEAST ONE of you could be living with it...scary)

Are you ready to wake up now? Thought so! The awareness doesn't stop here! Do you live in ATLANTA, CHARLOTTE OR CHICAGO? Well the Red Pump Project has ambassadors in each of these cities and they are hosting super sweet events to benefit the Red Pump Project. For more information click here.

HIV/AIDS Statistics Courtesy of the CDC.gov

Six Inch Walker: Are YOU a RED Pump Rocker?

So we all know it's February (*throws confetti*) and we also know things around us are turning rouge but with GREAT reason. Besides it being the love month, the Red Pumps Project has defined red to represent a magnificent mission to save the lives of women and girls across the nation. So are you ready to "strut your stuff" in red pumps? I challenge you dolls to become apart of this awesome initative to combat HIV/AIDS that continues to infect a life EVERY 9 1/2 mins (yeah you read it right)! Did you know there are approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and 280,000 are women? Did you know that the rate of AIDS diagnosis for Black women was approximately 23 times the rate for White women and 4 times the rate for Latina women?
So let your blog be the "platform"to spread awareness and why not look fab in red pumps for an awesome cause. Right now, the Red Pumps Project has challenged their selves to recruit 500 bloggers in 50 days leading up to support their nationwide initiative on March 11, 2011 (Save the Date!). The sign up is super easy (I just did it! Check out my banner to your right) so I dare you to become a "Red Pump Rocker" too. There are some "big red shoes to fill" here ladies, are you ready to strut for your life?

*All statistical data was courtesy of The Red Pump Project Fact Sheet

For the LOVE of it...

Can you believe it's already February? It's crazy! Didn't we just have a New Years...sheesh. Anyhoo, time waits for now one so I guess I will do my best to keep up with the pace of life. February is an exciting month for TWO reasons: 1) BLACK HISTORY MONTH & 2) LOVE MONTH (Valentine's Day of course!). So in honor of this LOVE-ly month (Pun intended)...I will be sharing things that I love throughout February...

Three things that I would love:

-A Greek Salad (Yes! I am hungry as I blog to you right now)
-A vacation to Italy (This cold weather makes me sad!)
-A hot shower AFTER loooooonnnnng day

Three things I love right now:

-Growing into a better woman each day
-It's BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!!
-Soledad O'Brian :) (She is an awesome journalist and I hope I meet her one day)

What do you love about the month of February?

"I am where I am because of the bridges that I crossed. Sojourner Truth was a bridge. Harriet Tubman was a bridge. Ida B. Wells was a bridge. Madame C. J. Walker was a bridge. Fannie Lou Hamer was a bridge." -Oprah Winfrey

Color Me Honeysuckle for 2011!

Although the words, "New Year, New You" tend to be overused (sigh), what better way to start off the New Year in a NEW color. Many people don't realize it but what your wear (more specifically, the colors you wear) tends to tell a person a couple things about you. For next year, Pantone announced the color as honeysuckle which is more of a pinkish hue. Is it just me or when you hear “honeysuckle” you instantly think of the color yellow? I guess yellow was a farfetched assumption (sigh). How do you feel about this color?

So I found a picture of a honeysuckle flower and clearly yellow exist!! I WIN (big smile)

Reuse your "BLUES" for Gap

Any Gap lovers out there? Well get ready for this exciting opportunity to make a difference in your community and in your environment by using only your JEANS! That's right...your jeans! I read an interesting article over at Socialtikmag.com (shout out to my writer friends over there Lynn, Joshlyn, Demaris... hey dolls!) about how your old jeans can be a part of a wonderful campaign to help others.

So how do you save the world with your jeans? Here is how:

1) Take in your old pair of jeans to your neighborhood Gap (you know the ones that you have been holding on to since high school...LOL )

2) In exchange for your old jeans, you will get a pair of new 1969 Gap jeans WITH a discount!!! (Sweet!)

3) Finally, click >>here<<> to learn more about how exactly your jeans your helping.

4) Sit back and relax. Doesn't it feel great to save the world while looking good in a brand new pair of jeans! (big smiles)

P.S. This campaign is also perfect for anyone looking to get a jump start on your holiday shopping. What better gift than a new pair of jeans? I mean seriously who doesn't love a new pair of jeans?

Feeling pink? PSA of the month...

I love the month of October for many reasons but by far I love the month of October because it is filled with lots of "pink" reminders! For as long as I can remember, I have always been committed to the fight against breast cancer in some form or fashion. Whether it is partaking in the local walks against it, writing articles about it (Click link --> HERE) or just simply wearing ribbons for the cause has always been instilled in my brain. I remember participating in walks with my mom or with local clubs/organizations that also supported the cause but until something happened to me a few years ago.

I knew someone that died of breast cancer. WE always think that it could never happen to us or to anyone we know but it happened to ME!!! Since that experience, I haven't quite looked at the month of October the same. It pains my heart to know that many women suffer from this disease especially women of color and most of us are in denial about it existence. I can't stress it enough....if you or you know someone at risk PLEASE encourage them to go to the doctor. Early detection is ALWAYS the best detection and KNOWING the truth is ALWAYS better than NOT KNOWING! Encourage a friend today and continue to spread the message of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

P.S. I hope you are wearing your pink ribbons everywhere you go :)

*Check out the clip below from my Lipstick TUBE by Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure...the facts are alarming but REAL!

Thursday Throwback

I heard this song on the radio the other night and I forgot just how much I love this song! Who doesn't love Janet Jack! She is the bomb.com...

P.S. This song has a great message too for all those young loves!

Feeling: Mellow Yellow

I am soooo looking forward to August :) I feel like so many exciting things are happening this month LIKE MY MUCH NEEDED VACAY. Hello??? I just want to mellow out and really play outside for a change (crossing my fingers for good weather)! I'm planning a trip to ATL next month and I am just soooo excited to see all my college buds and family :) I really understand more than ever that "all work and not play, makes you a super sour puss" and that's no bueno. Plus I know I need the trip because I have been pretty stressed lately and that's not getting me too far in life. Oh sweet joy! Time to count down the days...owwww Have you vacationed this month? Where did you go?

xoxo,

Mellow Yellow

Pink Crushes

It's never easy to wear your heart on your sleeve but it is even worse when you know deep down inside that you have it so bad for guy. Ugh! Something that may begin as a mere innocent crush ends up being so much more than you expected. It is so hard to let your guard down and it is especially hard to admit that your crushing on someone. Just thinking about him makes my heart race fast like a cheetah while the pockets of my cheeks warm quickly from vivid images of him. (sigh!) If only I could contain myself, my thoughts and my memories of him but I can't. He doesn't even know that I think about him this much or wonder if he is thinking about me. I lie awake in bed sometimes hoping that I will dream a dream of us being together someday. I treasure each moment even if its for 5 mins. just so that I will always have them in my memory bank to refer to. Maybe someday I will work up enough confidence to tell him how I feel but for now I will just enjoy my little pink crush!

XoXo,

Pink Crushes

Every Girl Has a Color...

It is no secret that most girls have a love for make up. For many of us, it is an absolute necessity of survival and for some not so much. One thing most girls can agree on is... it's all in the lips. In order to put on your "face," it does require applications such as eye shadows, concealers, foundations, blushes, mascara, eye liner, eye primer etc. but really it's the lipstick color that gels the whole look together. In fact, lipstick colors (or nail colors) are noticeable clues that can reveal (sometimes) the mood of that girl. Simply put, lipstick colors are like mood rings, reading the lips isn't easy but there is information there... if you are observant. Most guys or gals over look this quality, instead, they are just amused by a set of colorful lips but they never really think about why that particular shade was worn? There are many reasons of course but I'd like to think there is a story behind each shade. Each lipstick color offers up a clue. Some of the lipstick shades relate to my life and some of them don't but one thing for sure is every girl has a shade. It's never easy to reveal our feelings to others and sometimes we concentrate on what we don't see in a person's life when really (sometimes) the answer is staring you right in the face. Lipstick Traces wasn't created to give you a makeup consultation, it is here to give you a different perspective of what really goes on behind the scenes in a woman's mind. Hmmm...So what's your shade?