Unfortunately, I have ran into technical difficulties with my personal computer and currently have my cousin working on the repairs.  He has had it for over 24 hours and I have heard nothing, but I am going to assume the worst.  I have been lucky enough that I currently have an alternative computer to use, so maybe I’ll post again over the weekend with what I had planned to post today, or you will see it as a “Marvelous Monday” post next week. 

I recently watched the last episodes of “Sex & the City,” the ones where Carrie is in Paris.  I have never been, but felt inspired by those episodes to put together an outfit.  I have thought lots over the past couple of weeks about my computer not working and the repairs it may need to undergo.  I had to force myself to start thinking about something else and that something else became Paris.  So below is the set I created with yet another Springcart Boutique clutch.  I built the outfit around the Krista Ostrich clutch found here and added a little Paris along with it. 

Are there any places that can take your mind off of the negative in your life and inspire you?  Share them below.

Here’s how you enter to win them:

1. Like the Dabanga Jewelry fan page,
2. Comment on THIS post.
3. Tweet: @dabanga Beats it, literally. http://dabanga.com #metalworkjewelry #thahotnessdotcom

That’s simple enough. We will select a winner of Dabanga Handcrafted earrings next Friday, February 3, 2012 at noon and announce via Twitter (so you MUST include your Twitter handle in the comment section in order to be notified that you’ve won).

And the contest begins…NOW! Happy blinging!

Today, I decided to post something outside of my usual “Friday Five.”  I have titled it “Marvelous Monday,” and I am bringing to you my current top five must-haves from Springcart Boutique.  Take a look below at the set and names of the five bags I am lusting over.  All of these bags come in multiple colors and can be purchased straight from the boutique website.

Do you currently have a “must-haves” list of handbags or any other particular items your lusting over?  Share with us those items in the comment section below.  And since I have not had the opportunity yet, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year!

Destiny Godley Head Wrap Tutorial

There are so many other great ones from other YouTubers that I’ll share here, but here’s one from the UK’s Natural Belle. June Ambrose has us all reppin’ wraps!

NaturalBelle1 June Ambrose Inspired Head Wrap Tutorial

Apologies for the vids not showing in the frame. Technical difficulties or operator error! Enjoy!

Sunshine, how long have you worn your hair natural?

I’ve been natural three years now, although you wouldn’t know it since I’ve been rocking a fade for the longest!

How has head wraps proved to be a blessing for your hair?

I live in the dessert in the mountains, which makes for very strange weather. Our winters are cold in the evening and morning but very warm during the day. And it’s very dry. Put all that together and poor little hair has been suffering this winter. The lack of moisture combined with dry indoor heating made my hair dry, and sad. Since wearing head wraps, I have been able to protect my hair from the dry heat, the cold air.

The icing on the cake is, head wraps are a great, chic way to keep my head warm when it’s chilly!

What kind of variety can you get from wearing head wraps?

The possibilities are endless! There are so many different ways to rock a head wrap. From sexy and classy to comfy and cozy. Depending on the material (the print and color), you can make your wrap look as regal as you want or you can dress it down for a casual day.

I am planning to wear my head wrap out on New Years Eve, and you will not be able to tell me it’s not sexy. I’m planning to use a chic animal print… I’m getting excited just thinking about it. I also have contemplated wearing a wrap to a formal event so I can take my technique of wrapping to the next level.

Styling your head wrap is key. It’s an accessory so treat it as such!

Has any celebrity styles inspired wearing head wraps for fashion too?

The only celeb’s I look to are in the natural hair world. So, yes! Ahsiek1118 a popular Vlogger inspired me with her head wrap tutorials. She makes head wraps look so glamorous and chic. She inspired my entry into head wraps this time around.

What fabrics do you prefer?

As a protector I like to use a silk, satin or polyester. I always start with one of those to keep the moisture in my hair and as a barrier between my hair and whatever material I am using for style.

For styling purposes, I love using scarves that were designed to be worn around the neck, like Pashminas. Wearing scarves,  as accessories is a part of my lifestyle, I always have a scarf near by, so I use them to wrap my hair as well. It is awesome because you can find some very nice prints and patterns and there is no sewing required on your end. As a person who is heavily into head wraps and neck scarves, I get my money’s worth when investing in a nice pashmina scarf because there are countless ways in which I can rock it.

Where can we find tutorials on how to wrap our hair like yours?

Check out Ahseik1118 on YouTube and Naturalsunshine.ning.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/ahsiek1118 or http://naturalsunshine.ning.com/profile/Ahsiek1118
I am also in the process of recording tutorials sharing how I style mine. I hope to share many different ways to wrap your hair for various occasions.

Where can our readers find you and your community online?

NaturalSunshine.ning.com, the number one Natural Hair Social Network on the web, is where you can find me and more than 12,000 other naturals. My profile page is http://naturalsunshine.ning.com/profile/SunshineAbuwi.  You can also catch up with me on my YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/sunshinelovespeace

Thanks for allowing me to share my love of head wraps with your readers! Have a happy and prosperous New Year.

_____

DON’T YOU LOVE HER! I’m inspired to purchase some cool fabrics and learn new techniques for my head wraps. Her’s are SUPER cute!

TOOLS: water based pomade, 2 clear elastic ponytail holders, a comb or teasing brush, bobby pins.

1. Flip your head over and put a little bit of pomade at the root. I like to do this because it makes the hair easier to braid by giving a little bit of soft/flexible hold. Braids are less likely to slip out when you use this.
2. With your head still flipped, braid from the base of your neck going up to the crown area. Stop where you want the bun to start.
3. When you reach your stopping point with the braid, tie the 3 braid pieces off with a clear elastic.
4. You should still be upside down at this point. Now gather all of your hair into a high ponytail. Flip right-side-up and make sure it’s centered, then tie it off with your other clear elastic.
5. Tease the hair with a comb or a teasing brush.
6. Pin it into a classic bun shape. If you need help with this last step, click here. You could also top this off with the “Fun Bun” if you’d rather. (Last but never least, a light veil of hairspray is optional!)

Voila, it is as simple as that. I hope all of you have a wonderful New Years filled with lots of sparkles, bubbly, and good company! xx

Full tutorial here.

Folks try to diss CPT but some of the most creativite, innovative folks hail from there, like Ms. A’kia. We met at my first Natural Hair Parade and immediately I hearted her. A cute, petite girl, rocking fly earrings–her own–and a shaved head, A’kia came over, ready to network and share her pieces with us.

Her signature is big and unique. You can’t classify it any other way. I haven’t seen anything like her earrings. You may have a pink earring on one ear and a chain and rhinestones on the other. Dopeness. She just launched iimistresscityblog.tumblr.com two weeks ago and I’m already on it. Lordhamercy, I want the two-toned earrings BADLY. Gimme.

Find A’kia at http://www.iimistresscity.com/

1. I love the smells as the holidays near.  My favorite in particular is the smell of our “real” tree that we buy and decorate every year.  It also means, trampling out to the fields and hand-picking just the right one.  I personally feel it makes things a bit more memorable as you go out and saw down your very own tree.  My family makes a morning of it, extended family members included.  A much anticipated tradition each year. 
2. I love that I have an excuse to drink what I like to call “Christmas in a cup” from Starbucks.  Even though I found out beginning of this year that my “Christmas in a cup” is actually available all year round, I still like to walk around telling everyone how great “Christmas” tastes.  For those of you wondering, “What is she talking about?” It’s the white chocolate peppermint mocha from Starbucks and I like to go for the venti size.  Give me the large, its the holidays right?! I can add a little weight.    (Not really, but I’ll pretend)
3. I love that everywhere I go, everyone appears to be smiling and more cheerful than usual.  Of course, excluding the die-hard shoppers who are ready and willing to mow you down if need be. (Insert personal Black Friday experiences here) 
4. I love that no matter what drama most people may be facing or what family situations a lot of people have, there’s always those heartfelt stories that people share about loved ones coming together or people making amazing donations to help those in need.  My favorite this year has to be the five, one thousand dollar donations made to the Salvation Army red buckets near where I live. And across the country, the stories of people paying off layaway bills at Kmart.  How special and generous is that?!  I love it.
5. And what I love most of all about the holidays, is the time I get to share with my family.  We may see one another on a regular basis, but I love to see the twinkle in everyone’s eye as the meals, presents, and family times are shared.

Please share with us below what you love most about the holidays regardless of what you believe in or what holiday you celebrate, we’d love to hear from you.  From those of us at Tha Hotness, we extend our warm wishes of safe and happy holidays to you all.  Take care and enjoy the time with your loved ones! 

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As winter rolls around, I become more and more excited to finally bundle up with more layers than usual. Layering is a key component in my everyday wardrobe so it is to no surprise that when winter comes I welcome it with open arms. With the chili weather many opt to layer bulky oversized pieces to stay warm however that only makes you look exponentially larger than you actually are. Causing for you to resemble a marshmallow! When layering it is important to remember three simple components: to dress for your body shape, be creative, and keep it functional.

{all images from Pinterest.com}

This season i’m not only smitten over layering clothes but also different accessories with unique textures. There is something about an exuberant amount of jewelry that adds extra glamour and chic to any outfit. The arm party trend has been around for a few seasons now and its not stopping anytime soon along with piling on your favorite necklaces. It’s all about mixing and matching your perfect pendants with those delicate heirloom pieces and creating a creative look that is all your own. You can find a few of my favorite pieces to layer here, here, and here. It’s as simple as that, I hope your winter will be filled with lots of love and layering. Happy Holidays!