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sherwin wiliams, sherwin williams eider white, baby boy nursery ideas, baby boy nursery decor, nursery reveal, affordable nursery makeover, Sherwin Williams Nursery, Sherwin Williams Harmony Paint, dallas blogger, nursery makeover ideas, best glider, ikea hemnes

Hey There!

 

I’m so excited to finally share the nursery reveal of my little man! Xavier Drew is his name to be exact!  The room is such a dramatic transformation in my opinion because it was once Camille’s room. So there was pink and white everywhere! Especially, the walls! I knew the walls would have to be the first thing done in order to makeover the room for Xavier’s arrival.

 

As always, I went to my local Sherwin Williams to pick out some paint strips to get this party started! My entire home is painted in Sherwin William’s paint. Since we moved in about six years ago, we painted majority of our home with Sherwin Williams. So I was so happy to partner with Sherwin Williams for Xavier’s nursery reveal! I knew they offered quality paint I could trust would be safe and non toxic for his room. We selected “Eider White” from their “Harmony” Interior Acrylic Latex Paint collection. Harmony Interior Acrylic Latex line contains new technology that helps improve indoor air quality by reducing VOC levels from your carpet, cabinets and fabrics. It also allows you to wash your walls and maintain a durable finish which makes it perfect for children and pets!

Let’s Check Out the Before!!

As you can see, everything was quite girly of course! I knew I wanted to maintain the same layout that we had with furniture in Camille’s old room. This room has a lot of angled walls, so furniture layout is already limited. The only thing this room really needed was some paint, crib and a dresser! But, it was really hard for me to see this space transformed from a super girly pink room into a “boy nursery” for Xavier. Oh, excuse the mess in Camille’s room. I was in the process of getting rid of a lot of her old stuff too! Its been crazy in the Green household as you can see!

 

Before: Room is also painted in Sherwin Williams color but I don’t know the shade.

The After: Xavier Drew’s Little Man Cave!

 

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How do you like the wall color? The “Eider White” paint is not pure white, it has a gray undertone to it which we usually lean towards when it comes to home decor and paint. This room gets a lot of light during the morning time, but usually is more shaded around noon and the rest of the day. The color of the paint shown in the pics should give you a good indication of what to expect. But, just know this paint color will definitely depend upon how much light comes into the room. You can have a light gray one moment and a subtle white the next! I really do like the color as it lightens and brightens up the room. Now I can’t even remember the room being pink!

 

You guys, I love his room so much! It took us a while to wrap up this room because I just could not find what I was looking for. Majority of the nursery decor I found for boys are Animal themed, Nautical, Woodland etc. It just did not move me and I knew I didn’t want that kind of theme for his room. Let me tell you, this room literally came together about two weeks ago!

 

We ordered the crib a few months back, but I did not know what dresser to choose as his crib is a light gray shade. I knew I wanted to go with the Ikea Hemnes 8 drawer dresser as its so affordable. We loved using it as a changing table too when Camille was a baby. I also didn’t want his entire nursery to be gray, so I went back and forth on the decision to get the Ikea Hemnes dresser in gray too. I’m so glad we did, it really jump started the color scheme in the room which was to bring in navy. Eric wanted navy in his room, but I just didn’t see it. But, I knew we needed a darker shade to balance out all of the gray.  But, once I found the navy curtains, I was finally inspired on how to decorate the room!

 

I also spray painted the white bookshelves navy and the white bookends an antique copper shade too. I wanted to warm up the wall space as well. His gallery wall definitely gives me all the feels. We were finally able to complete it this week as that was the last design element in the room. It definitely brings the entire room together. I feel as though his room is slightly rustic with a bit of a industrial feel to it. It definitely gives me “Little Man Cave” vibes. What do you think?

 

Have you tried Sherwin Williams paint?

Its a brand I have used for years for all of my paint projects. I definitely recommend you try it if you have not already!

 

Disclaimer: Alwayz Fashionably Late does participate in sponsored posts. This post with Sherwin Williams is sponsored! Please note that my views and opinions are my own. I strive to provide my readers with honest feedback!

 

Xavier’s Nursery Details

Graco “Benton” Convertible Crib

Gray & White Glider w/ Ottoman (no longer sold)

Xavier Drew Personalized Wood Sign

Gallery Wall Art 

Ikea Hemnes Dresser in Gray

Navy Curtains in 63″ inch 

Crib Sheet

June 1, 2018 3 comments
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bump style, pregnancy style, denim dress, J crew denim dress, elaine turner handbag, maternity fashion, motherhood, dallas blogger, how to wear denim dress,

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Outfit Details

J. Crew Denim Dress 

(old, linked similar)

Steve Madden Lace Up Espadrilles

(old, linked similar)

Elaine Turner Snakeskin Crossbody Bag

Sugar fix by Baublebar for Target Fringe Earrings

Henri Bendel Sunglasses

(no longer avail, linked similar)

Camille’s Outfit

Cat & Jack Polka Dot Navy Top

Target “Naomi” Gold Sandal

Happy belated Mother’s Day to all of you mommy’s out there!

 

Mother’s Day is usually a weekend of reflection for me. Mainly because my mother passed away several years ago, so its always a difficult time to take in, accept even. For some of us, we don’t have the gift of taking our mom’s out for brunch, or snapping pictures showing how much we love and appreciate our mothers. We only have the memories that we hold on tight to daily and try to push through the day as much as we can. I always encourage anyone as often as I can to tell their mother they love them. It’s the absolute worst thing in life to lose your mom. What you don’t want is there to be any words left unsaid. I know that sometimes there is strife or wrong doing that some folks have suffered from their mother or you may have to love them from afar. But, if you can just drop those three little words in when you can, you’re giving yourself a gift!! Just in knowing that your mom knew how much you loved her, no matter what!

 

What has saved me from most of the pain of no longer having my mother here on earth, is having Camille. Being a mother is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Period! Its saved me in a lot of ways! I often doubted why God would take my mother away, why me? When Eric and I was trying for a child, it was not easy! We went through some difficulty and I questioned my faith in God. I grew up in church all my life and I knew that I had to hold on to my faith as tight as I could. Because if I let go…….!!! That little bit of mustard seed faith I had in wanting a child was just enough.  I became pregnant and was blessed with Camille! It showed me that God was listening! He heard my cries and my prayers!! Going forward, I saw that He never left me alone. He was right by my side and saw the desires of my heart! You guys can clearly see that she is my greatest gift from God, I’ll never take it for granted!!

 

Motherhood can be amazing, exhausting, scary and thrilling all wrapped up into one. Often times I wonder, am I a good mother? Did I lose my temper too quick? Am I not patient enough? Did I scold her instead of talking to her about what she did wrong? Am I spoiling her too much? We have a lot of fears as mothers, after all we don’t want to screw up the most important job in the world!

 

In today’s world filled so full of beauty standards, social media and just straight out racism, I wonder how can I empower my child to stay true to herself? To understand that she is beautiful, strong, intelligent and worthy of everything else she desires? My mom always said, “the world is getting wiser and weaker.” Y’all the “weaker” part scares me! We see it daily! So how do we ensure we impart wisdom and knowledge to our children so they don’t get caught up in the foolishness? I know I am not alone in these thoughts, right?

 

In a few weeks, my son will make his presence on this earth. My son! Those words are a little scary to me, because I feel like I’m such a girl mom. But, this is another layer of motherhood I will have to experience that I am nervous about. Raising a strong, black man in today’s America is scary! As an African American, its scary times right now! I don’t want my son to be seen as a threat, I want him to be seen as the child of God that he is! My prayer is that God truly gives me the wisdom and knowledge to raise my kids. I want them to break barriers, be educated individuals, make sound and wise decisions. I want them to do better than mommy and daddy. After all, that is the goal for each generation to succeed the prior one right?

 

What are your thoughts on Motherhood in today’s society?

I know this is not my usual fashion blog post. But, these thoughts have been on my heart for a while. You know how it is, sometimes we just don’t know how to say it or express it. I would love to hear any encouraging words you have regarding motherhood today. As they say it takes a village to raise a child. That’s the kind of positive, strong community we all need to make it through this thing called motherhood!

 

Share your thoughts!

May 15, 2018 0 comment
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life update, sprinkles cupcakes, pregnancy announcement, bun in the oven, our little cupcake, pregnancy, maternity fashion, pregnancy style, how to announce you're pregnant, dallas blogger

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Hello Loves!

 

I am so excited to share this great news! We are expecting our little bundle of joy in June!! I cannot be more excited to share with my readers that I am pregnant. Y’all it has been so hard trying to keep a secret and camouflage this belly. I am so relieved that I can now spill the beans and share with you such an exciting moment in our lives. We have been planning to grow our family by one more and it finally happened! Sometimes we wonder if God hears our prayers and the answer is yes, yes HE DOES!

 

2017 was such a hard year for my family. We went through a lot! When I looked back over the year, it just seemed like things weren’t going the way we planned. After multiple UNEXPECTED home repairs, trying to get pregnant, my husband and I both having to get new cars a week a part from each other, my dog getting hit by a car and passing away and lastly, the unexpected loss of my mother-in-law in September, 2017 has not been the kindest to us. It was where you kind of questioned if God was taking you through something, to teach you a few lessons? And if so, when was this period of trials and tribulations gonna end? Lol. It was just a tough time. Apparently God had a plan!

 

Just as we least expected it, I found out I was pregnant in October. Let me tell you, when I took the test I just knew it couldn’t be. I waited a few extra days before taking the test because I just didn’t think it was so. Also, its nothing like a wasted pregnancy test. Them babies aren’t cheap! Lol.  But, there it was! As soon as I saw that positive, I just heard God say this is the light at the end of the tunnel. I couldn’t wait to tell Eric. The timing was perfect,  I gave him the best surprise on his birthday! He couldn’t have been happier.

 

I am not one to share with everyone as soon as I find out that I am pregnant.  The first trimester is such a critical time, so we kept the surprise from family and friends until I was 13 weeks. It was such a relief and so fun to reveal to the family we were expecting on Christmas Eve. And now, I am finally sharing this with you! I am 16 weeks pregnant and if you want to know how I’ve been feeling…. sick and tired. Literally sick and tired!

 

How will this change the blog now that I am pregnant?

I plan to continue blogging as usual. But, it has been a little hard not feeling at 100 percent. Also, I feel like I have nothing to wear or nothing that I am excited to wear lol. Maybe its just a mood that I am in. I’ll probably be rocking more sporty looks, because all I want, is super comfy clothes that I don’t have to tug on or adjust all day long. But, I am sure you all would like to see some maternity fashion as well, so I am gonna do my best to share maternity and non maternity looks. I can’t make any promises though, with Camille all I wore was Target t-shirts and maternity pants lol. I’ve got to do better this last go around!

 

And we just found out today what we are having. I am keeping that a secret until I figure out how I want to reveal the news. I am claiming 2018 to be GREAT and so should you!!

 

Outfit Details

BLANK NYC Faux Leather Jacket

(old, linked similar)

Target Faux Fur Wrap

(not avail online, linked similar)

American Eagle Tomgirl Jeans

JustFab Gray Suede Booties

(old, linked similar)

January 15, 2018 8 comments
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Shein, Plaid Coat, black and white coat, affordable coat, affordable outerwear, leather leggings, henri bendel handbag, winter fashion, winter style, dallas blogger, black fashion blogger

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Hey Loves!

Let me fill you in on something. I LOVE coats! I really do! Outerwear is one of my top clothing pieces that I love to wear. Even though I live in Texas, it does get cold enough to have a nice coat on hand for those Winter days where a little jacket just won’t do. I really love coats with a nice print, such as this plaid coat that I got recently from Shein! When I saw this beauty in the black and white, I just HAD to have it!

 

It was super cold the day we shot this look, about 40 degrees that morning. I will say, this is NOT a heavy coat. Its more like a heavy weight duster or cardigan. So you must make sure to dress warm underneath. I don’t want you to think that all you need is this coat and you’ll be warm. I would say its perfect for 50-60 degree weather if you wear light clothing underneath. Nevertheless, its very comfy and stylish plaid coat that hangs beautifully. I loved pairing this plaid coat with orange/red booties to add some color to this simple look.

 

How was your Christmas?

I hope you all had a very, Merry Christmas. It was great to spend time with family, see Camille open her Christmas presents and eat all the good food. To tell you the truth, my favorite moment on Christmas is after the last guests have left, you change into pajamas and fix that second or third plate and have dessert lol. Its nothing like popping off that bra and getting into those comfy clothes and being able to fully relax. Am I right?

 

Outfit Details

*Shein Drape Collar Plaid Coat $42

Misguided Off Shoulder Sweater

Ann Taylor Black Leather Leggings

(old, linked similar!)

BCBG Bootie 

(no longer avail, linked similar!)

 

Disclaimer: Items marked with (*) have been gifted. All views and opinions are of my own!

December 27, 2017 0 comment
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shutterfly, christmas cards, personalized cards, personalized christmas cards, affordable christmas cards, holiday cards, personalized holiday cards, dallas blogger

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I don’t know about you but Christmas snuck up on me this year! Before I knew it, it was time for the craziness of taking Christmas pictures, school events, Christmas dinners, shopping and oh yes, Christmas cards! Christmas cards is something that I always wait until the last minute. Sometimes, I don’t even get them out at all. But, Shutterfly came to the rescue! I used Tinyprints last year, which is now obtained by Shutterfly. So still same great personalization options, customer service and even provide rush orders. Whew, because thats what I had to do this go around for sure.

 

Shutterfly is super easy to use as well. All you do is select what card type you love, upload your pics and use the customization options of your choice to make your cards extra special. You can select if you want a colored envelope and customize the envelopes as well. Envelope liners can be added too to jazz up a plain envelope. My favorite feature is that I can input the addresses to everyone on my list and have them printed on the envelope! OMG, it saves soooo much time to have the addresses already printed on the envelope. I literally just added the liners, stuffed them and sealed them closed. Game changer!

 

Christmas is basically over, but if you want to start the New Year off with a bang, you can send out Happy New Year cards! I think its a great way to start the new year sharing with your friends and family a positive wish. You can also shop Shutterfly for Birthday Party invites, Wedding invitations, Announcements and more.

 

 

December 23, 2017 0 comment
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Hey Loves!!

 

Happy Thursday! This past weekend I hosted a small Blogger Brunch at my home. I invited some of my favorite ladies here in Dallas for some brunch bites, cocktails and girl chat. What made the event more fun was that we got to try out Jamba Juice’s new catering and delivery option, a Smoothie Bowl Bar!! As of now, this catering  and delivery option is only available here in Frisco, Texas area. Hopefully, it will expand to other cities! Jamba Juice Smoothie Bowl Bar was such a fun and creative way for your guest to make their own creations and provide a healthier brunch option too.

 

Jamba Juice Smoothie Bowl Bar comes with everything you need for your bar station. Bowls, serving spoons, labels and  a diagram on how to set the smoothie bowl bar station as well!! The food comes packed in coolers so they are cold and fresh. All I had to do was set it on the countertop and I was done! Super simple and easy!

 

I usually never host many parties. Although, the Pinterest lover in me has every desire to do so. But, I stepped out of my comfort zone and really had fun planning this event. Of course, I scoured Pinterest for some inspiration. I fell in love with using craft paper and chalkboard paper as table scape decor. Let me tell you, the chalk board and craft paper made it a no fuss zone for me and my guest. If a drop of yogurt or fruit spilled, I had no worries about having to wipe down my countertops. All I would need to do is toss the paper in the trash. Done!!

 

FYI, the smoothie bowl bar serves 12-18 guests. So its perfect for your next brunch or employee event. You also select two smoothie bases such as: Acai Primo, Island Pitaya, Chia Pudding and Greek Yogurt. The acai mixed with the greek yogurt was so good! The toppings included are: blueberries, strawberries, granola, pineapple, apple cinnamon (OMG I can eat this alone), coconut, pumpkin seeds, honey, chia seeds and dates.

 

They also provide a juice bar that serves up to 24 guests. You get to select four fresh squeezed juices such as Orange, Carrot, Apple and Cucumber Orange Cooler. There are just so many options for you to choose from. Jamba Juice pretty much thought of everything for their catering menu.

 

Check out Jamba Juice for your next event!

 

If you live in the Frisco, Texas area, you definitely want to keep Jamba Juice catering and delivery service in mind for the holidays or your next gathering with family and friends! Click HERE to order!

 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Jamba Juice. All views and opinions are of my own. I strive to provide my readers with honest content they can believe in!

October 26, 2017 0 comment
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coffee talk, fall fashion, how to wear kimono, kimono style, kimono outfit, fall hats, flare jeans, blogging, blog life, negative side to blogging, the cons of blogging, dallas blogger, fashion blogger, black fashion blogger, black dallas blogger

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Outfit Details

Shein Botanical Floral Kimono

Navy Fedora Hat

(old, linked similar)

Zara Gray Booties 

(no longer avail, linked similar)

DVF Aviator Sunglasses 

(no longer avail, linked similar)

 

Hey Loves!

 

So today I am coming to you with a little coffee talk, chit chat or what have you. This has been on my mind a little bit and I thought I’d share with you all. I often share little tidbits on blogging and how to make it work for you. But, I haven’t shared the down side to it. There are quite a few areas that I can dive in to regarding that. But, lets talk about what makes blogging what it is. The people behind the blog who you follow. The actual bloggers themselves!

 

Now I am not gonna give any names or try to call people out. But, some of these bloggers out here are a trip. Some are in it for the money, recognition and yes the likes. I live in Dallas and there are a TON of bloggers here. Its almost like the darn mecca for bloggers. Because of that, I have met many at social events, blog conferences or meet ups. The great thing about living in a city with tons of bloggers is that you get to meet others who do what you do and  get what the blog life is all about. Most importantly, bloggers with whom you can chat, collaborate or become friends and grab dinner together! I am fortunate to know quite a few of bloggers who I enjoy hanging with and are happy to call my tribe.

 

But, honey let me tell you about those who do not meet my tribe category. The snobby ones who can’t bother to say hello, shake your hand or even hold a little small chat convo with you. The blogger clique who always appear to be at the same blogger event or photographed brand meeting together. Sometimes I think, were they the only ones offered an opportunity? No girl, they just looking out for their clique. Essentially, they are getting money together and ensure that their clique has “the plug” as y’all like to call it these days.

 

Disclaimer: This post is not meant to bash folks, but just to share what I have experienced and witnessed for myself!

 

So lets begin our coffee chat shall we?

 

I recall attending a store event where myself and a few other bloggers here in the Dallas were invited to attend as featured guests. I specifically recall one blogger, who I won’t give a name, left me with a bad impression. So I walked up to her and introduced myself and told her that I followed her on Instagram. She gave me the driest response and looked as so bothered that I was even near her. I’m like really though? Is this how you treat people in general? Her attitude was just so stank and unwelcoming. I couldn’t believe it!

 

Now, I am not going to make this about race or not, but I did wonder if that played a part in her attitude. Also, I know bloggers, who like myself, are of the melanated nature and have all said the same about her. I made sure to unfollow her that night because guess what? I am not going to contribute to you getting any coin from me. Not a click, like, follow or purchase will come from me to support your blog. First impressions are lasting! Every time I see her at an event, I strongly resist the urge to roll my eyes or give her a severe side eye lol.

 

Not supporting up and coming bloggers!

If you guys follow me on Insta Stories on Instagram, you know I typically do a “Follow Friday” a few times a month. Follow Friday is to share with my followers some of my favorite up and coming bloggers in the game who I feel they should follow. These bloggers generally have a following of under 15k and are deserving of more eyes on their Instagram!

 

I mentioned blogger cliques earlier and I noticed that one of the bloggers I used to follow from that same clique, just so happened to be doing the same thing. Well, her and her clique, were all doing Follow Friday and telling their followers to follow everyone in their clique. What annoyed me, is that these bloggers all have over 150k followers!! I personally thought, how obvious was it that they only support themselves?? Why not share the love with bloggers who are trying to get to those numbers? I get supporting your tribe, but again, to me they do not show tribe behavior. Its clique behavior all up and thru and I cannot get behind it.

 

The constant lack of diversity!

Let’s not even talk about lack of diversity when it comes to blogging. I could write a book on that for sure. As an African-American blogger in the game, I cannot tell you how many times I see only white bloggers at brand luncheons, campaign events and the like when I am on Instagram. I’m sorry, but its ridiculous!

 

Some of these Instagram pages lack any African- American bloggers and when you do see one, you have to scream for joy and shout it to the highest rooftop on their page to please share more. No, I don’t want to be invited so they can meet their quota or to take the heat off of people. But, I just believe your brand reach or target audience has quite a few African-Americans or even Latinas and the like as well. So, where are they??? Why don’t we see them? Were they even invited, reached out to, or asked for an opportunity for collaboration??

 

Why do I feel so strongly about this?

 

I know you may be reading this post thinking, dang girl, who made you mad? Lol. Actually, after blogging for almost 3 years, I am just starting to feel some kind of way about the things I see. I’ve been unfollowing a ton of bloggers I use to love because I just cannot take the fakery anymore.

 

One blogger, I use to absolutely love about five years ago! She was even following me back then when I was just taking outfit of the day pics in my backyard. She would even comment often on my pics. I noticed that she has changed so much over the time that her blog has taken off. She won’t even turn her DM on her Instagram. She tells you to go find everything on her blog. I mean, I get it girl, you probably would get tons of the same questions. But, its not what you say, its how you say it! I had to let unfollow her and a few others who appeared to be a bit beside themselves because of their popularity and growth. It just is what it is!

 

What lesson can you take away from this coffee chat?

I know that personally I am in a period in life where either you are real or fake. There is no in between. At this stage in my life where I am a wife, mother, blogger and everything else under the sun, things have to make sense. How I utilize my time and efforts are of the utmost importance to me. This is why its important to me to surround myself with others who like to encourage, uplift and motivate one another.

 

I enjoy meeting other women who are interested in blogging or just feel like we may have a connection. I enjoy getting emails or DMs from my followers who feel they can relate to me! It means a lot. I guess I am saying no matter how you elevate in life, be it career, ambitions or ventures, be true to yourself and others. Be the person you would be proud of! At the end of the day, the number of followers, likes or your bank account will not be how you are remembered. Am I right, or am I right?

 

Share with me some of your gripes with bloggers! This post is not meant to bash folks, but just to share what I have experienced and witnessed for myself!

 

 

October 19, 2017 20 comments
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traverse city michigan, pure michigan, travel diaries, best family vacation, best family road trip, road trip adventures, detroit to traverse city michigan, Brys Estate Vineyard, Brys Secret Gardens, Michigan wineries

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The saying there is no place like home rings so true! Especially since I returned back to my home town, Detroit, after three years, for a week long family vacation. I am so excited to share with you one of the highlights of my trip to Pure Michigan, which was visiting Traverse City!! I was born and raised in Detroit up until I went to college. So you can imagine that I  never experienced Michigan as a visitor or tourist. I always heard of people saying they were going “Up North” for the summer. I imagined them staying in wooded cabins or camping. Not really my style, so I didn’t think I was missing out… until I saw the Pure Michigan commercials that is!

 

The Pure Michigan commercials showed all of these beautiful towns, right in my home state, Michigan! I knew I wanted to return home to see my dad for a summer vacation. But, I also thought, how cool would it be to do a road trip and experience some of the sights I saw in the commercials? So we decided to road trip to Traverse City, Michigan, about a 4 hour drive from Detroit. Traverse City, Michigan is home to beaches, wineries, beer distilleries, light houses and plenty of outdoor activities for all of you outdoorsy folk out there. Of course its family friendly too with splash parks, U-Pick farms and more. Oh,  did I mention sand dunes?? Oh yes, you read right!

 

So stick around as I share with you the best vacation I’ve had, right in my home state, Michigan!

 

Day One: Traverse City, Here we come!!

 

We headed out around 10:00 am to grab breakfast before we hit the road to TC. Fortunately, the drive was about 4.5 hours from Detroit, which is perfect when you have a toddler in tow. The weather was a bit cloudy and rainy on the road, but the closer we got to the city, the skies began to clear up and all was well. I was so thankful that we had a spacious and comfortable SUV for the trip. The 2017 GMC Acadia had plenty amenities like WiFi, Apple Car Play, dual sun roofs and a third row. Camille really loved the dual sunroofs as she was all about checking the skies and trees as we were driving. Its funny how kids have a way of reminding you to look at the simple, beautiful things that we somehow take for granted.

 

Once we made it to Traverse City, we headed straight to the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Sleeping Bear Dunes is simply the most amazing sight on the Lake Michigan shoreline. In order to get there, you have to go thru Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive to access the points along the way to the dunes. You do need a park pass in order to drive thru. There are various points where you can pull off and take in the beauty of each stop along the way. I captured this picture of Camille at one of the points. This pic is all her daddy idea and I love it. I’m telling you Camille was living her absolute best life on this trip!

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Once we made it through a few of the stops, we were not prepared for the beauty that is the Sleeping Bear Dunes. As we walked up the path, it was super windy as the wind from Lake Michigan swept thru with sand whirling around us. But, once we were able to look up, I saw the most beautiful sight. The dunes are breath taking. You can hike up or down the dunes, but its not really recommended. I’ve read that it could take a full hour or more start to finish. These pictures are not really doing much justice. Thats why you just have to book a trip to Michigan and see it yourself!

 

traverse city, sleeping bear dunes

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Camille and her Papa!

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Can you see the people hiking up the dune?

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After the dunes, we ate and went back to our hotel, Bayshore Resort, to check in and relax. Bayshore Resort has its own private beach on Grand Traverse Bay. So you don’t have to worry about it being too crowded, which was perfect after a long day of travel and sight seeing. The rooms are very spacious and we were fortunate to get a beach front view. The decor is an older, victorian style, which is not my usual preference. But, very clean, comfortable and most importantly, great customer service.

Camille had an absolute blast playing in the beach and getting her feet wet. The weather while we were in Traverse City was very cool, even though it was August. The high was maybe 75 that day. So as you can imagine, the temperature was much cooler off the beach. Eric and I regretted not getting a bottle of wine before checking in to the hotel. Its something about relaxing by the beach, the sound of the waves and just feeling at peace makes you want to indulge in a glass of wine. We asked one of the hotel guests who were outside drinking wine, where did they purchase theirs. They kindly offered us some wine to share with them! Such a kind gesture from strangers made for such a perfect ending to a long day.

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View from our hotel room at Bayshore Resort!

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Day 2: Sailing with Tall Ship Manitou, Wine Tasting and Blueberry Picking at Brys Estate!

 

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We woke up around 8 after a wonderful nights sleep. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to this beach side view? Eric loved to open the balcony and hear the waves crashing about, even though it was so chilly outside. Bayshore Resort also offers a free, continental style breakfast which works well when you just want a bite to eat before heading out for a day full of activities.

 

The agenda for the day was sailing and visiting a few of the wineries in the Old Mission Peninsula! I’ve never been sailing before, so this was a new experience for us all. It was very cold that day and we instantly regretted not packing warmer clothing. But, we did the best we could and headed out for our sailing adventure at Tall Ship Manitou!!

 

Tall Ship Manitou offers 2 hour sails at various times of the day, even an afternoon Ice Cream sail for kids, where they can enjoy Moomer’s Ice Cream on deck, a local area favorite. What is also cool about Tall Ship is that you can do an over night sail or a private sail for 2 hours. We really loved how they got the crowd to participate in raising the sails. Camille even got in on the action too! It was a long 2 hours as it was very chilly. Thankfully, we bought hoodies at their shop and they were kind enough to provide us with blankets. Tall Ship Manitou is definitely one activity you want to add to your list of things to do while in Traverse City!

After sailing, we went back to the hotel to change and head out for some wine tasting. Traverse City is home to various wineries and vineyards in Leenlanau and Old Mission Peninsula. Its a short drive from our hotel of about 20 minutes.      Brys Estates was the first winery on our list and it did not disappoint. The grounds are beautiful and they also offer wine tours and an outdoor patio on the upper deck that overlooks the vineyard. Eric and I tasted various wines and they were all delicious. The Pinot Noir Reisling was my personal favorite. Brys also offers a wine club and can ship their wine offerings to you!

 

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Brys also has a Secret Garden and its beautiful. Lavender, a flower garden, strawberry and blueberry can be found. They also offer U-Pick where you can pick your own fruit!! Camille had a blast picking her blueberries, although she seem to have ate more than put them in her basket. The setting is just beautiful as you can see rows and rows of lavender. Unfortunately, our trip was after the lavender season ended, only by a few weeks. So be sure to head their between July and early August to take in the beautiful lavender color and scent. It was still a sight to see and I am determined to come back when its in season!

 

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After wine tasting and visiting the Secret Garden at Brys, our little one was exhausted and fell sleep in the car. We had plans to visit more wineries, but I knew that my baby wouldn’t be able to take any more adventures for the day. So we headed back to the hotel and ordered pizza and relaxed again by the beach. It was the culmination of such a perfect trip that I would never forget.

 

Day 3: Time to Return to Detroit!

 

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Pillow Fight!

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Thursday was our last day in T.C. I was so sad to leave as there was still so much more I wanted to see and do. We headed out and grabbed lunch in Downtown Traverse City. Their downtown area has plenty of shops and local restaurants. I really wanted to explore this area more, but we had to get back on the road. We did however, made sure to stop at Moomer’s Ice Cream as its been hailed as, “America’s Best Ice Cream Parlor” by USA Today. They make over 100 different flavors of ice cream, so who can argue with that title? It most certainly was yummy! I was glad to stop by for some delicious ice cream before we headed home.

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Our trip to Traverse City is definitely one for the books! We all had such a great time! It made my heart full to see Camille having such a great time, especially being there with her Papa. My dad told me the other day that he will never forget that trip. He said he constantly think about it and how happy he was to share those moments with us. Thats what family vacations are all about. Those memories that make you smile, just at the thought of it, the smiles and laughter or just the feeling of pure bliss. Even writing this post and looking at these pictures makes me so emotional to reflect on such a fun time.

 

So the next time you are considering a family trip, I invite you to my home state, Michigan, to explore all of its beauty and precious moments that I personally experienced myself, with my family. Add Traverse City to your list of destinations, you most certainly won’t regret it!

 

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Special Thanks to:

Traverse City Tourism

 Bayshore Resort Hotel

Tall Ship Sailing for our lovely sail,

Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery for an informative and delicious wine tasting

Sleeping Bear National Park for such an amazing experience!

Also, special thanks to Tony Denim of Tony Denim Photography for capturing such AMAZING shots of us on the Tall Ship Manitou and at Brys Estate!!

 

Disclaimer: This blog post is sponsored by Traverse City Tourism. Views and opinion written in this blog post are solely my own. I strive to provide trustworthy content for my viewers you can depend upon.

October 1, 2017 0 comment
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plaid blazer, a new day plaid blazer, affordable plaid blazers, fall fashion trend 2017, fall trend plaid blazer, detroit vs everybody t-shirt, plaid blazer outfit, dolce vita mules, gold mules, zara scarf, scarf tied on handbag, dallas blogger, fashion blogger, black fashion blogger

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Hey Loves!

 

If you’re on Instagram like I am and follow a lot of fashion bloggers, you will see the plaid blazer appears to be the “IT” item of the fall season. Its not hard to see why not: clean classic lines, a great layering option and a simple, sophisticated look. I cant wait to  pair my $35 Target blazer with wide leg pants, jeans or long, flowy skirts!

 

Ok, I know your eyes grew big when you read that this blazer is only $35 and from Target! I saw this piece online and on one of my many, weekly trips to Target. I knew I had to have it! It has a deep purple line if you look closely, which makes it so fun to add contrasting colors to make the purple show even more. I went all jewel tones with this oldie but goodie handbag, my trusty Zara bandana scarf and gold, satin mules!

 

Graphic tees are always popular and a go to for when I want to make a plain outfit more fun. I went home to Detroit a month ago and had to get another Detroit Vs Everybody tee in white and black. Be prepared to see me in this bad boy all the time. Y’all know I love my city and I represent Detroit whenever I can.

 

So how do you like the plaid blazer trend?

Do you see yourself participating? I’d say its a definite staple that you may be surprised how often you reach for it! Especially with the crazy, changing temps we’ve all been experiencing lately over the U.S.  I’m already seeing myself pairing this blazer, belted with some palazzo pants!!

 

See you Sunday for a special travel post! I’ll be sharing a travel diary of our family road trip to Traverse City, Michigan!

 

 

Outfit Details

A New Day Plaid Blazer by Target $35

Detroit Vs Everybody Tee $30

American Eagle Hi-Rise Jeggings Jeans $45

Dolce Vita “Henry” Mules 

Just Fab Dark Green Tote

(old, linked similar for $40!)

Zara Bandana Scarf $13

Henri Bendel “Bella” Flat Top Sunglasses $93

September 28, 2017 0 comment
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SKINCARE ROUTINE, TAO AURA CLEAN FACIAL BRUSH, FACIAL BRUSH, SKINCARE REGIME, SKINCARE ROUTINE WOC, HYPER PIGMENTATION, HOW TO TREAT ACNE SCARS, BEAUTY BLOGGER, TATA HARPER SKINCARE, LUXURY SKINCARE, CETAPHIL, BIOLOGIQUE RECHERCHÉ LOTION PIGM, SUNSCREEN ON WOC, WOMEN OF COLOR SKINCARE, SKINCARE BLACK WOMEN, DALLAS BLOGGER

 

Hey loves!

 

Today’s video is all about my day and night skincare routine. My skin is typically Normal to Dry and never suffered any acne related issues. Well, this year my skin decided to freak out on me. I was getting a hormonal pimple EVERY, SINGLE, MONTH! Not fun!

 

Not only was I dealing with trying to figure out what was happening, but I suffered from hyper pigmentation scarring as well. Hyper pigmentation on women of color can be a bit of a challenge in regards to fading the dark marks. Thankfully, I found a few products that has gotten rid of them. Hey, playing connect the dots with your pimple scars is not cute at all.

 

I knew then that I would have to step up my skincare game. No more going to bed with makeup on or only using one cleanser and a moisturizer. No ma’am! That would no longer do! So I’ve tried a few different products that have gotten my skin in check. When trying to develop a skincare routine, trying lots of products is a given. You have to determine what works and what does not. Yes, it seems like a lot of products and I don’t use all of them, ALL OF THE TIME. But, I now know what my skin needs when I do my daily routine. And that, my friends is coming a mighty long way from where I started.

 

Check out my Youtube video as I share with you my skincare routine, how I treated my hyper pigmentation and discuss a few of my fav products. One being the TAO Aura Clean Facial Cleansing brush! What I love about this brush is the sanitizing base which has a UV lamp inside that sanitizes the brush head. Thats right, you don’t have to leave your facial brush out on the counter exposed to dust, hair and who knows what. The sanitizing feature was the main reason why I purchased this brush. I love it and can’t imagine washing my face without it!

 

Must have product for your skincare routine!

If you are interested in the TAO brush,  they were so kind to provide my readers with a coupon code “AFL50” for 50% off!! MAJOR coins saved! It also comes in a Matte Black, so get one for your boo too 🙂

 

Products Mentioned:

CLEANSE

Cetaphil

*TATA HARPER Regenerating Cleanser

SERUM & TONE

YEOUTH Vitamin C Serum

*TATA HARPER Hydrating Essence Spray 

Mario Bedescu Rose Water Spray

BIOLOGIQUE RECHERCHE PIGM Toner

TREAT & CORRECT

SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil

MOISTURIZE

*TATA HARPER Eye Cream

CO BIGELOW EXTRA LIGHT FACE LOTION

ROC Multi Correction 5 in 1 SPF Cream

*TATA HARPER Clarifying Moisturizer

HydroPeptide Eye Authority

*TATA HARPER Beautifying Face Oil

 

Disclaimer: Items marked with a (*) have been gifted to me.  All views and opinions of the products shown are solely my own!

September 22, 2017 0 comment
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