The Bel Dam Beauty Box

 Hey ya'll hey!!!

It is definitely Working Woman Wednesday!!! We're going to do it a little different this week! I want to share something new with you from one of my fellow #girlboss !  

When blogger and influencer, Starr Howard initially contacted me to review her "Bel Dam Beauty Box", I was too excited. My 1st official product review as a blogger! I prayed for business increase, new associations and opportunities. Look a GOD!

The Bel Dam Beauty box is a quarterly (produced every quarter of a year/4 months) subscription box, that includes a variety of beauty, fashion, home and lifestyle products....products all from black businesses! How awesome is that!?

The idea of the Bel Dam beauty box was conceived after the creator, Starr completed a life changing mission trip to Haiti. Starr was inspired by her experience and the beauty of the Haitian women.

"Bel Dam", means beautiful lady in Haiti's native language, Creole.

With a variety of other subscription boxes available for purchase, Starr wanted to make products available to black women that catered specifically to their skin tones, hair types and cultural style. Also, in an effort to introduce small black owned business to consumers, the idea of the beauty box came about.

I am honored that I was chosen to sample and review the box and its contents!

It came its a nicely sized and packaged box with its name and web address on it, the gold tissue paper was super cute as well as the pink envelope with business cards and inserts from all included companies.

This box includes:

• A partial coverage head wrap from  Coily Girls head wraps. Super cute and colorful! Although I don't have coily hair, my mom does and she ROCKS it! Sorry, she doesn't like taking pics! I'll try to sneak one and share!


• 

  A "Jamaica Me Crazy"scented soy candle from Soyful Aromas that smells AWESOME!!! It literally had my apartment smelling like a tropical getaway! Get me to some blue water and white sand, please!


• 

  A 3 step skin care shaving set from Camellia Alise. I don't grow a lot of hair on my body. Not even to shave a leg, child. But I did try this system on my little fuzz and my legs were so smooth and soft after! 


• 

  A "Lemongrass"scented soap from Sew Forgiven that I used to wash my face. Had my skin feeling so soft and clean!


• 

  A Strand By Strand hair detangling comb from Zayd's Naturally Natural Hair Studio . I used this on my son, who has naturally coily hair. He doesn't like to comb it because it's usually hard to...but this comb from Zayd's has him combing like he had long straight tresses! LOL


• 

  A pair of stud earrings from Adornments boutique, these earrings were super cute! I'm normally a big(no, huge) earring type of gal but these were small, yet still POPPIN how I like!


• 

  A small exfoliating sponge that I used with my lemongrass soap from Sew Forgiven. I usually don't use sponges BUT... I like this one!


• 

  A statement tee that says  "Joy comes in the morning". I love a good statement tee! It's black and white so you can play with this and dress it up or down with various fun colors! I styled it super cute too. I will definitely share!

This box is much needed in "Our" community! Full of items made especially for us, by US! Most subscription boxes are centered on type one product like makeup, hair, or jewelry(often times full of items WE can't really use)...BUT the variety offered in the Bel Dam Beauty box is awesome! I will say my fav items were the tee and the candle! I cant wait to share with you guys how I styled it! Ladies, make sure you are signed up to receive the next box! You don't wanna miss out! You can sign up here 

You can also purchase from each company individually! I have attached a link to each one. Shop with them and tag me in your pics!

Have a fab hump day!  

XoXo,

Crysy

Celebrating National Curves Day @ Curves & Cocktails

Hey Ya'll Hey!

Did you know that there is a such thing as "National Curves Day"? Yea, me either! That is, until the Texas ambassador Ta Morrison and the Two Curvy Cousins planned the "Curves & Cocktails" event to celebrate the day.

National Curves Day is the 2nd Wednesday in October (this year it fell on Oct 12) and is actually celebrated here in the U.S and as far away as Italy! Thanks to Ta, it is also declared a "day" here in Houston by Mayor Turner on October 14! How awesome is that?

                                                   Ta and the Mayor's proclamation for NCD!

According to the NCD website, the mission of NCD is, "To uplift and empower women with curves through the plus positive curvy movement and promoting self love, because every curve is Beautiful!"

The event was just that! Uplifting, empowering as well as positive energy! Might I add, a room full of beautiful curvy women! In a time where women are openly loving their bodies and themselves, I think it is very important that not only we can identify with curvy women on social media and television, but women that we can connect with in our own areas as well!

 I had an awesome time!

The event was held at The SupaStar Spin Academy, owned by THE Dj SupaStar. There were vendors ranging from clothing for the curvy diva to beautiful jewelry to fragrances to super cute custom greeting cards! Yummy light bites and cocktails where circulating, that's always a good thing!

Hosted by Ta Morrison, the event featured a "Curve Talk Live"  panel of  local curvy experts:

Designer/Fashion Stylist, Yolanda Ann of Ego boutique

Fashion Stylist, Kimberly Kne'cole

Ms. PLUS America 2016, Wykeisha King

Plus size fashion blogger, Tameka Wells

The ladies discussed things such as their definition of curves, personal experiences with being plus sized, what being curvy means to them, and what plans they to do within the curvy community. These ladies were so brave, sharing their personal experiences (some not so pleasant) as a curvy girl! I am exited to see what each of these ladies does individually!

I finally got to meet some the fabulous ladies I'm friends on social media with(including Ta Morrison, lol)! I ran in to some of my girls I haven't seen in YEARS! I invited some more of my girls out and they had a blast!  Yassssssssssssss for celebrating CURVES!

Curve Talk Live panel

This was definitely a great event, especially for the 1st time! I'm excited to see what all Ta as well as Two Curvy Cousins brings to the curvy women in the Houston area. Knowing Ta, who has her own travel agency, they'll be curving it all the way in Dubai! Count me in for that one!

Ladies (and Men) packed the house!

Did I mention I was a "Special Guest"?? That was a surprise! So thankful for the recognition! Thanks so much ladies!

Yours Truly!

Outfit deets:

all items are actually on SALE now!
Top: Rue 107 available here
Skirt: Eloquii available here
Shoes: GoJane available here   

I also copped a cute goodie bag(NCD tote) with a NCD tee shirt and some great products from the event sponsors!

If you weren't there, I definitely hope you can make it to the next event!

See you there!

Keep up with Two Curvy Cousins here

Keep up with Ta Morrison and ALL of her business ventures here

XoXo

Crysy

                                                             

Working Woman Wednesday - Kesha Bland

It's WORKING WOMAN WEDNESDAY, people! Yay!!! In light of the most recent current events in our nation, I want to bring a little positivity! Take your mind off all the negativity, right?
What makes almost everyone happy?? FOOD! Or is it just me??? (side eye) I mean besides Houston previously being named one of the fattest cities in the U.S, I mean we really have some good food here! All kinds of food. I am a self proclaimed foodie, and I love some yummy eats. If I was one of those people who could just eat and eat with no weight gain, that'd be GREAT. But, since I'm Not...well this foodie has to be mindful of what I eat.

Speaking of food, lets talk about Chef Kesha Bland! Kesha owns and operates, Flavor Fetish Catering. She offers various catering servies, she is a personal chef AND offers the newest healthy meal option, personalized meal prep! Yasssss for the food! Kesha

Although Kesha is a Houstonian, she began cooking as a child with her grandmother, on her family farm in Tunica, Mississippi. A farm? In Mississippi? With her grandmother? Now, u KNOW she can cook, right?? Lol

A mother of three girls, Kesha has attended Prairie View and Texas Southern Universities. She has been in business since 2010 and full time since 2014. She is very passionate about her craft and  loves to create personal flavor profiles and meals for her clients, which she prides on making them "addicted". There has been a demand for the offerings from Flavor Fetish Catering, especially her enchiladas and Lebanese chicken pasta(Ohh, I bet that is YUM!) which are her most requested dishes. Flavor Fetish Catering is unique because the customers needs and desires are met down to the T, that is very important to Kesha.

Kesha notes that her motivation is, "To feed people and see the joy on their face. I want people to reminisce about the flavors they had growing up."

To better service her clientele, she prides herself on constantly learning new techniques, services and exclusive culinary offerings, so that she can perfect her craft and continue to bring her clients the absolute best!

Catering a variety of functions, events and programs both public and private, you can also find Kesha at the popular Cooking With A Twist working as their catering manager. There, they a variety of cooking fun and interactive classes that are great for group fun as well as private bookings. They have fun offerings for children as well as an array of catering services.

Salute to Working Woman Kesha Bland and Flavor Fetish Catering! Best wishes to you and your business!

You can contact/check out Kesha, Flavor Fetish Catering and all the wonderfulness they have to offer here

Also please check out her videos you YouTube by clicking here as well as here AND here
(SN: looking at those videos make you hungry, right!!!!)

After watching those videos, I'm know I'm not the only one with a watering mouth! Ha! Flavor Fetish Catering, alright! Call Kesha!

XoXo
-Crysy

Fruit and Greek Pasta

Kesha Bland of Flavor Fetish Catering