Nail polish that can get you "in the mood" ?

It only took me a WEEK but I finally read this year's InStyle Sept. issue from cover to cover. It's honestly the biggest issue I've ever seen! It's full of interesting tidbits. One thing that caught my eye was a blurb about "mood" nail polish. Mood rings are so 1990!

Now your nail lacquer can sum up your feelings. I for one can't wait to try this! Instyle pubbed this brand but there are several out there, including a line at Claire's. Time to let your fingertips do some of the talking!

Make Your Closet Work & Save Money

Our fave "Queer Eye" shared tips on making the most of your wardrobe. I found this segment very informative. For once, there are NEW tips that can be easily achieved. Click the following link to check out the clip:

Make Your Closet Work & Save Money

For all of my RHOA Fans: Team Kim!...Or Not

Either way, this is hilarious...

Lucky Spandex

I'M BAAAAACK!! After an involuntary hiatus thanks to the insane demands of my "day job." Anywho, I've missed you urbanistas & urbanistos. I have lots of great things planned for the future of this blog so stay tuned...

Now for my latest Urbanista tip...Just a little something, something to re-wet your whistle...

This fall spandex is everywhere. From leggings to miraculous Spanx it's hard to avoid this stretchy substance that can either be your curve-hugging BFF or your worst fashion faux paux. Here are some tips from LUCKY MAG to prevent spandex from losing shape:

1. Wash stretchy pieces like leggings or jeans in cold water, separately from other clothes.

2. When washing, add a 1/4 cup of vinegar to detergent for each spandex item - the vinegar helps spandex retain its elasticity.

3. Avoid using heat to dry anything containing spandex b/c heat weakens spandex fibers. Instead, air dry or tumble-dry on a cool setting.

Ready for Your Close-up? "Sex & the City 2" Open Casting Call

For you urbanistas looking for your 15 mins/secs of fame our FAVE fashionistas are back & looking for some fab recruits for the SATC sequel. Peep the casting notice below. Hey, as my 4th grade teacher Ms. Walker used to always say, "you never know what you can do until you try!" Go ahead & put yourself out there! If I wasn't chained to my desk I'd be there:

Open casting call for union/non-union background performers for “Sex and The City 2″ to play international types (middle eastern, arabic, asian, european, british), professional soccer players, fashion models, urban club goers, gays and lesbians, celebrity types, upscale socialites.

Open casting call:

Date:
August 4, 2009
SAG: 10am-12:30pm
Non-union: 1:30pm-4:00pm

Address:
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 W 18th St.
New York, NY 10011

PROJECT: “SEX AND THE CITY 2”

CASTING CALL CATEGORY: FEATURE FILM EXTRAS

LOCATION: NEW YORK, NY

CONTACT: 125 W 18TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10011

SOURCE

The Perils of Skinny Jeans

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Greetings urbanistas! Ok we've all been there - to get into the hautest pair of skinny jeans we'll do anything from hopping around our house, to laying on the bed while we shimmy around like a fish out of water, to enlisting help from a friend/boyfriend/whoever is around at the time. The vid above is a must-see for all self-proclaimed fashionistas. The TODAY SHOW exposed some of the very serious downsides to this fashion trend.

If you're having problems viewing the vid CLICK HERE.

"DIY" Drab to Fab Distressed Denim

This spring it's ALL about distressed jeans. But there's a way to get the look w/o dropping $200-$300 in the midst of a recession. Check out the video below for some do-it-yourself tips on transforming a pair of blah jeans already in your closet into the hautest new trend:





And if you (like me) are trying to preserve your designer denim collection, check out LAUNDRESS DENIM WASH - this non-toxic, allergen-free, biodegradable product blends detergent and fabric softener to clean, soften & give denim that perfect worn in feeling.

Never Let 'Em See You Sweat!

We've ALL been there...the degree of life rises & those dreadful pit-stains appear, turning you into an awkward-looking modern mummy as you keep your arms glued to your body so no one will discover you can't control your "bodily functions." Well those days are gone thanks to DERMAdoctor MEDeTATE Control Wipes which will give you a blissfully dry existence. These handy wipes are being equated to a shot of botox in the armpit. I know it sounds way left field, but this product is a summer must have for all! For those moments when your Secret deodorant spills the beans, these medicated wipes will keep you as dry as the Sahara. They aren't just for your "pits," but any other area where perspiration may appear including your face, cleavage (for you country gals - no more baby powder!), sweaty palms, etc. Now there's no excuse for letting someone see you sweat!

Paint & Peel Nail "Color"

Say "bye,bye" to that awful stage of chipped nail polish. You know those days when you know you need to get that week-old polish off your nails, but getting your hands on some polish remover seems to be more difficult than losing that ever-present extra five pounds. Well a new day is here...try Sula's Paint & Peel nail color b/c:

*It's odorless b/c it's water-based. No more nauseating fumes!

*It lasts just as long as standard nail polish.

*When you're over it, it peels right off!!!!

To find stores in your area that offer this product, CLICK HERE!

U.H. May Book Club

Add this book to your May reading list for tips on how to "get a grip on your finances w/o dying of boredom." For more info on the book CLICK HERE. To order the book visit AMAZON.

Kim K. Shows Us How to "Fit in Your Jeans by Friday"

Hate if you want on Kim Kardashian but you can't deny her fab flawless style OR her extra serious hustle! I mean who can go from being a no-name to climbing the A-list faster than Paris Hilton in less than 5 years? There isn't a person who hasn't heard of the most famous Kardashian a.k.a. "the tush" AND she has one of the finest men in the world on her arm...I ain't even mad. Well Kim K. stopped by "The View" today to pub her new workout video, "Fit in Your Jeans by Friday." She demonstrated some of her workout moves in what appeared to be 5-in kick-ass stilettos. I will say that if I was going to try a workout video it would be this one b/c even though I'm extra crunk about being fit I want to keep my curves & if anyone knows how to do this it's Kim K. Peep the trailer below & CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON HOW TO GET IT:


Kim Kardashian "Fit In Your Jeans By Friday" Trailer from Watch It Now Entertainment on Vimeo.

Another Reason to Hate Carbs

According to famed dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone, eating foods heavy in sugar and/or carbs can cause you to have a "doughy" appearance & who wants to look like the Marshmallow Man. So if you want your skin to look taut & chiseled then put down the bread & pastries.

SOURCE

Just Another Reason Why You Should NEVER Eat Fast Food!

It's THAT Time of the Month...To Go Car Shopping Silly!

Auto analyst & editor of JEFFCARS.COM tells ESSENCE MAG that the best time to go shopping for a new whip is the last week of the month when dealers & manufacturers are under pressure to meet sales quotas. Here are a few other car buying tips:

*Get last year's model - There's always a surplus & you may be able to save $5k & up. Hey it depreciates as soon as you drive it off the lot anyway so what's the point in getting an '09?

*Bring cash - Show up with your own financing. Usually credit unions give the best interest rates. Be mindful that due to current economic conditions although prices are low you will need a bigger down payment.

* Ask for extras - You never know what you can get until you ask. Free oil changes, extended warranties, complimentary car washes, customized headrests (j/k)...Hey you might surprise yourself.

These tips coupled with the desperate state of the auto industry should guarantee you to drive away with LOTs of money left in the bank for a new wardrobe to match your new wheels!

These Restaurants Could Kill You!

Ok, maybe the title is a little dramatic BUT if you frequently dine at unhealthy restaurants it's sure to lead to your demise and quite possibly a lot sooner than it should. Check out THIS very interesting article about America's unhealthiest restaurants. You might be surprised to find out which places top the list including the following:

1. Baja Fresh ( This one shocked me the most since they pride themselves on fresh, healthier food)
2. Romano's Macaroni Grill
3. UNO Chicago
4. Chevy's
5. Chili's

And guess who got the worst grade?

Applebee's, IHOP, Outback & T.G.I.Fridays who all refuse to give nutritional info for their menus!

But astonishingly the golden arch, McDonalds bka "Mac Donalds" scored a B+!

Burn Calories While Sitting on Your A**!

By now you know that I LOVE me some OPRAH! The latest thing I want to share with you is DR. OZ'S LIFE EXTENSION TIPS. I was surprised to learn that you can burn up to 700 calories just by sitting in an INFRARED sauna (different from a regular sauna). So get on the phone w/ your local YMCA and/or gym and see if they've got one! If they don't, then simply point out that they should get one ASAP! I know I'm on the prowl to find one.

Amanda Seyfried's DIY Exfoliating

America's fave "mean girl" & star of last year's big box office film Mamma Mia, Amanda Seyfried revealed one of her secret beauty tips to LUCKY MAG during her covershoot for the Feb. '09 issue:

"Dab moisturizer on flaky dry spots - like your lips - then rub vigorously with a towel. It exfoliates & softens."

There you have it! It's like dermabraison on the go.

Want to Be in the Next Issue of Lucky Mag?

One of my fave mags to peruse & "window shop" every month is Lucky Magazine. If you read it too then you know that the mag likes to highlight everyday style of urbanistas w/ a good eye for fashion & unique flair. If you would like to submit yourself or someone you know who has a funky fashion forward style go to their FACEBOOK PAGE & submit a photo under fan photos. You never know, you just might make your editorial debut! Get your shine on lovelies!

Food for Thought

Greetings from the west coast urbanistas! This is the last week of my vacay before I return to work & I'm savoring every moment. So forgive me for not posting as much as I normally do b/c I'm busy running the streets of L.A. I will post details about my trip & how I incorporated the sacred Urban Addiction Commandments next week. Anywho, while working out in the hotel gym I caught an episode of "The City" which for some reason I'm into although I've never been able to get into its predecessor "The Hills." On this particular episode famed designer, Diane von Furstenberg shared the following quote with Whitney Port:

"Absence is to love what the wind is to fire."

Just thought I'd share this with you as we each confront various challenges in our personal relationships. Def food for thought especially if you're in a long distance situation.



A DVF piece is always a good wardrobe investment BUT remember paying full price is a NO, NO! Instead find all the latest spring & summer DVF must-haves @ discounted prices BLUEFLY.

Who Is Mr. Fico & How Does He Come Up with Your Credit Score?

What's the difference between credit score, credit rating & FICO score - nothing much really. Do you know what FICO stands for? It refers to the Fair Issac Corporation which is the company that first developed a scoring system related to an individual's credit history. (Just a lil something, something for the water cooler to make you look smart.)

Anywho as we know there are 3 major credit reporting agencies: TRANSUNION, EXPERIAN & EQUIFAX which each report their own credit score. Transunion computes the Empirica Score, Experian computes the Plus Score & Equifax computes the Beacon Score. From there lenders basically determine your "credit worthiness."

Now how are these scores calculated? They are broken down as follows:

35% = PAYMENT HISTORY - Paying your bills on time. The last 6 months have the most impact with your highest monthly bill carrying the most weight when your score is calculated.

30% = BALANCES CARRIED - Debt vs. Credit ratio. In other words the relationship between the actual dollar amount you owe (ie. credit cards, loans, lines of credit) to the amount of credit you still have available.

15% = CREDIT HISTORY - Looks at the big picture of how your behavior with credit. Paying on time helps with this, but do not, I REPEAT, do not make the mistake of paying off a debt & then closing the account. Why? This erases all of the credit history for that account which could decrease your score.

10% = MIX OF ACCOUNTS - Credit bureaus expect to see mortgage & auto loans and 3-5 credit cards per person, but beyond this any other revolving accounts tend to bring your score down.

10% = INQUIRIES - Each inquiry by lenders will take points off your credit score. But multiple inquiries for a mortgage or car within 45 days will only count as ONE inquiry. Inquiries regarding a job, your own personal review or a promotion (those annoying pre-approval offers you get in the mail) WILL NOT hurt your credit score.

There are also a few surefire ways to significantly hurt your score that you need to know about:

· Being 30 days late on a payment can damage your credit score by at least 50 or more points
· Being 60 or 90 days late, or a 30-day late payment on multiple accounts can drop your score by 100+ points
· Having credit card balances more than 40% of your credit limit affects your score by as much as 100 points
· If multiple credit cards are maxed out or approaching maximum balances, your credit score will be diminished by at least 80+ points

Any questions?