Model Bites: Juice Served Here

Eating healthy can sometimes be a challenge. We get busy with our jobs and our day-to-day hustle and stuff our bellies with bad foods. Although I try to eat well, I'm still guilty of chowing down fried foods and sweets. It's the Southerner in me. This year I'm trying to push myself to do better and consume things that are good for me. With a big shoot coming up tomorrow that's going to have me in almost nothing, I figured now would be a great opportunity for a juice cleanse. I got up early this morning and went to my new fave spot Juice Served Here to get my drink on.

If you're new to the juicing party, raise your hands. Ok let me break it down. Juicing is a great way for you to get vitamins and nutrients from fruits and veggies. Often when we're preparing food, we overcook our greens leaving behind little for our bodies to soak in. Cold-pressed juicing produces a beverage rich in color, taste and nutrients for you to consume. Juice Served Here offers a variety of fresh, raw juices and tonics for your drinking pleasure. There's a juice for everything. If you need something that helps purify your mind and body, drink the 14: Coco Rosey. You need a juice oozing in antioxidants that will can also detoxify, that's 01: Field of Greens.

Because I've already tried most of Juice Served Here's goodies, I knew I'd enjoy the one day cleanse. It consists of six drinks and you can choose your level of difficulty: soft cleanse, semi and hard cleanse. I'm taking the middle ground for this one by going with the semi cleanse. The first juice is 02:Sweet Greens. I usually get this one when I'm running around LA and I need a pick-me-up. It includes cucumber, apple, romaine, kale, spinach, parsley, cilantro, mint, and lime. Yum-may!

The second dose is 08: The Pipe Cleaner. It's got apple, lemon, and lots o' lots of ginger. I drink this one normally too. And boy, does it pack some punch. Whew! I really like Juice Served Here because the drinks don't have all that added sugar that many other companies put in their juices. Like, it's actually good for you instead of pretending to be good for you. Through out the morning Kitty kept wondering what I was sipping on. I caught him sneaking around and sniffing my bottle. Bad kitty! He loves juices, so you can't leave anything unattended around him.

The other juices for the cleanse are Block Rockin' Beets, Green Milk, Green Easy, and Charcoal Lemonade. The caps of each bottled are numbered so you know exactly what order to drink them in. How nifty. Juice Served Here offers some juicing tips on its website if you need extra assistance. Just as advised, I've been doing my usual daily routine including breaking a sweat. Skipping out on a workout is a bad idea, because you need to do some activity to get blood flowing and release toxins. Oh and don't chug your juice. Thats a no-no. Just sip on it and drink water between juices.

Just as I made my way to my third dose of juice, this happened. That little devil snuck up behind me and got in my drink. Kitty! Apparently Block Rockin' Beets is his favorite. It's delicious and has some extra kick thanks to the Jalapeño. After this juice, my body really began to kick into high gear. I can still feel my insides moving around. Although I'm not yet finished with this one day cleanse, I definitely recommend you try it too. Every now and then we need to rid our bodies of all the awful things we put in it, so why not let a juice cleanse do the dirty work for you.

Thanks Juice Served Here for the yumminess. Check them out for yourself here.

xoxo

Dear Fairy Model Mother: How Do I Get Their Attention?

Hello lovelies! The first month in the new year is winding down. Yes! You've made it this far. This is a great time to reflect on your new year's resolutions and goals. Remember earlier when I wrote Regroup. Rethink. Renew? Let's go back to that and dig a little deeper. The idea for this came from a "vulnerable moment" from an aspiring model and actress named Karmin. Here's what she says: "I am trying so hard to attract the attention of agencies but haven't had any luck in a long time. I've literally applied to 22 agencies. I don't know what I'm doing wrong... I don't know if you'll read this, but if you have any advice, I'll take it! Thanks!"

Immediately after I got her message I reached out. Karmin explained that she'd landed a campaign through COACD that had her face on billboards around New York. How cool! She'd been sending out emails trying to get representation but without much if any response. This girl is just beautiful and I can't imagine any agency passing her up, but it happens. I immediately identified with Karmin because the same thing happened to me. I'd booked a major job that had me in magazines and ads, but I couldn't get an agent to save my life. What I learned is that you can't give up.

Keep working and pushing as if you're the hottest thing to happen since foamed milk. Set up test shoots with really awesome up-and-coming photographers. If any of them has a relationship with a good agency, have them put in a word for you. Attend fun events whether it's a party thrown by Nylon or a shopping event at Opening Ceremony that will allow you to network with some fashion insiders. You never know you might be rubbing elbows with the head booker of a really hip agency. And if that person checks your Tumblr or Instagram and sees you just shot with hot young photographer Kid So-and-So, you could just have a chance. Agencies want to know that you're the next big thing and that there's already a demand for you. If you create the hype, they will come.

Karmin has been working it a lot since we first touched bases. A few times a week I stalk her and see that she's constantly creating. (You can stalk Karmin here too.) Makes me so happy. She's generating her own buzz and soon she'll be on top of the world. Don't stop! Get it, get it!

As always, if you need a pep talk... I got you, boo. The Fairy Model Mother hotline is always open.

Everyday I'm hustlin'.

My Stylebook: Scarves 101

Knot it. Tie it. Drape it. Loop it. Turn it. Wrap it. Stop - unwrap it. There are so many different ways to wear a scarf. The options are endless. A printed scarf can add that extra something to make any outfit a banger. Think about it. When it's a layering weather, I wear the exact same thing all the time: a T-shirt, skinny jeans, simple heels, and my black leather L'Agence jacket. For some reason this look never gets boring, and you know why? It's all about the scarf, baby. If you're completely clueless as to how to wear one, I've got a few fun options that are sure to step up your style game.

First up to bat is an easy go-to scarf style I call the wrap around. Don't put any thought into this. You just throw on the scarf, wrap around your neck and go! It's supposed to look effortless, and it is actually. The wrap around works for scarves of any size, but the bigger the better. The next options I'll run through like a playbook, but very easy to follow.

When you're freezing...

When you need to be modest...

When you want to tie your scarf in a top knot... Just twist and tuck.

When you want the business in the back... Follow the example above but reverse the direction of the knot.

When you want to look like you're in an early 80s dance movie about street gangs...

Who knew one little scarf could have so many possibilities. It's like a basic song with a thousand remixes. You've got the dubstep remix, the deep house remix, the chillout remix, the trap remix, the extended album remix, the remix featuring all your favorite rappers. It never gets old. Pick a scarf that makes you feel something whether it's because of the color, texture, or shape and go for it! Just play.

XOXO

This Is How You Do Grammy Glam

Oh yeah! Last night's Grammy Awards did all the I hoped it would. I was entertained, shocked, and flabbergasted all at the same time. I categorize the awards show as an action-comedy with a little drama. The red carpet arrivals didn't disappoint either. Beyonce was gorgeous. Madonna and son David were pimps. But you know who really killed it? Chrissy Teigen! "If you've been living under a rock for a few years then you may be asking "who the freak is she?" Well she's this guy's other half, and by this guy I mean Grammy-winning crooner John Legend. Oh and did I mention that she's a model?!

Sometimes Chrissy and I don't meet eye-to-eye when it comes to her style, but for the Grammys she reminded all y'all of what she does for a living. Slaying it! The gold sequins gown by Australian designer Johanna Johnson is just so stunning. You see how it hugs her body and glistens in all the right places. Ooo girl! Chrissy's hair with those soft aves and side braid is edgy but glamorous. Her makeup is perfectly peach and shows off those cheeks. Notice that nothing takes away from the dress. It's all just a gorgeous combo.

So many celebrities get it all wrong on music's biggest night with big, bad hair, streetwalker makeup, and horrible style. But Chrissy nailed it. I'm sure even some Hollywood starlets are hating on her right now because this look is Oscar worthy. Thanks John Legend for reminding everybody that you're married to a model. And thank you Chrissy for showing us how to do the Grammys right.

Sound off: What was your favorite red carpet look from the last night?

Aerie Keeps It Real

No retouching. No airbrushing. No photoshopping. No supermodels. American Eagle Outfitters debuts a new campaign for its intimates line that promises to keep it real. Yes ma'am. The lovely ladies featured in the new Aerie ads have not been digitally altered. Gasp! Waistlines have not been narrowed. Tattoos have not been removed. And if you look closely, you can even see STRETCH MARKS. How much more real can you get! I'm loving this campaign already.

The big wigs at Aerie and American Eagle decide to go the unconventional route for this one. The idea of not airbrushing any of the models for the shoot is almost ludicrous. No one does that, especially when it comes to lingerie. Most intimate apparel lines sell you a fantasy or something unattainable. Aerie does just the opposite. At the same time the photos are also fantastic. Yes there are pretty girls, a glam a squad, and a fancy location but not much more frills. The hair, makeup, and styling are all so minimal and natural. It makes this whole campaign look warm and approachable unlike the images we see from other lingerie companies. Not only do you feel like you know these girls, but you know that you're just like them. A real woman.

Once again, this is all so refreshing. We can all learn so much about body image and loving yourself by seeing girls who are proud of their so-called flaws putting it all out there. These women are brave. You'd have to pay me a lot to show off my stretch marks. But don't be fooled. These may not be supermodels, but they are models. It's not like Aerie just picked some normal women off the street and put lingerie on them. Regardless of the casting choices and marketing agenda, this is still a great message. Let's hope this campaign encourages all of us to love our bodies no matter what shape or size.

Sound off: Are you loving Aerie Real? Do you think campaigns like this are just a fad or here to stay?

Lip Scrub-a-Dub

Tell me if this has ever happened to you. Getting ready for a night out. You start putting on your favorite lipstick, but there's a big problem. It's not gliding on smoothely. You lean in for a closer look in the mirror when you notice the flakes. Sorry girl. You've got a case of crusty lips. I know you didn't think it could happen to you. In the winter months you smear on Carmex to keep your lips from getting chapped. But the dryness has still crept up on you. There's no time to run out to Sephora to grab a remedy. You need a quick fix. Well I got you, boo. DIY lip scrub to the rescue.

I'm a huge fan of lip scrubs like Fresh Lip Sugar Polish or Bliss Fabulips, but sometimes you can't get it or you don't want to spend the money. I totally feel you. That's when you whip up something all on your own. There's no need to run out to the grocery store. For this little concoction you'll need a few items from your kitchen and a couple from your medicine cabinet:

Brown or refined sugar
Maple syrup
Orange slice
Coconut butter or oil (whatever's in your cupboard)
Vitamin E oil

Just a little disclaimer... this recipe isn't exact. First take about three heaping spoons full of sugar. Then add my beauty miracle go-to coconut butter or oil. If don't already know, coconut products cleanse the skin of bacteria, are packed with antioxidants, and contain fatty acids that seal in moisture. Za-zing! Next pour in a little maple syrup. This may come as a surprise but 100 percent pure maple syrup is full antioxidants too and can help reverse the signs of aging. Squeeze some orange juice into the mix. The vitamin C will help wake up your skin. Drop in the vitamin E oil which you already know is essential for keeping your skin youthful. Now stir until the mix is sort of crumbly. I added in a little more maple and coconut oil so mine is more like a lip drizzle.

Get ready for the fun part. Grab an old toothbrush. Dip it into your little mix. Now get to scrubbing. It's ok if you get messy with it. Unlike some of the lip scrubs on the market, this one is completely edible. And boy is it delicious! Just like you brush your teeth, scrub in a circular motion. The brushing should reinvigorate your dry lips and remove all the flakiness. Rinse and then pat dry.

Feel how smooth and soft your lips are after that. Your mouth will still be moisturized from the coconut oil and vitamin E. Ooo la la. So kissable. Now you should have no problem wearing your favorite lip color without fear of it crusting over. Enjoy!

xoxo

HOWTO : Highest secured Hiawatha Web Server 9.3.1 on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Server

Hiawatha is a very secure and fast web server in the market. It supports PHP, Perl, Python and Ruby. It is also very lightweight, easy to configure and setup too. How secure? Please refer to the features of Hiawatha.

For the performance, please refer to the study of SaltwaterC at here. There is a testing report on DoS at here.

This tutorial is writing for setting up the highest secured web server. Please also to apply the "Optional" steps mentioned below for making the highest secured web server.

Prerequisite

Select OpenSSH and Mail Server when installing Ubuntu Server 12.04 LTS.

Update the fresh install system to the latest status.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get --purge autoclean
sudo apt-get --purge autoremove

Select unattendance update to your system. It will push all the updates to your system when there is some. Or, you can create a cron job later to update your system in a certain of time if you prefer.

If the kernel or kernel modules have been updated, you are required to reboot your system before going further.

Step 1 - Installation of PHP5

sudo apt-get install php5-cgi php5 php5-cli php5-mysql php5-curl php5-gd php5-intl php-pear php5-imagick php5-imap php5-mcrypt php5-memcache php5-ming php5-ps php5-pspell php5-recode php5-snmp php5-sqlite php5-tidy php5-xmlrpc php5-xsl php5-xcache php5-suhosin php5-ffmpeg apache2-utils php5-fpm

Step 1a - Installation of Percona Server (MySQL Alternative)

To use Percona Server instead of MySQL is due to the performance.

gpg --keyserver hkp://keys.gnupg.net --recv-keys 1C4CBDCDCD2EFD2A
gpg -a --export CD2EFD2A | sudo apt-key add -

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/percona.list

deb http://repo.percona.com/apt precise main
deb-src http://repo.percona.com/apt precise main

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install percona-server-server-5.5 percona-server-client-5.5

Step 2 - Installation of Hiawatha

Install required dependenices for Hiawatha.

sudo apt-get install libc6-dev libssl-dev dpkg-dev debhelper fakeroot libxml2-dev libxslt1-dev

Download the latest version of CMake at http://www.cmake.org/

wget http://www.cmake.org/files/v2.8/cmake-2.8.12.1.tar.gz
tar -xvzf cmake-2.8.12.1.tar.gz
cd cmake-2.8.12.1
./configure
make
sudo make install

Download the latest version of Hiawatha (the current version at this writing is 9.3.1).

wget http://www.hiawatha-webserver.org/files/hiawatha-9.3.1.tar.gz
tar -xzvf hiawatha-9.3.1.tar.gz
cd hiawatha-9.3.1/
./polarssl/upgrade 1.3.3
cd hiawatha-9.3.1/extra

./make_debian_package

cd ..

sudo dpkg -i hiawatha_9.3.1_amd64.deb

or

sudo dpkg -i hiawatha_9.3.1_i386.deb

Step 3 - Configure PHP5

The following settings are for making PHP5 more secure.

sudo nano /etc/php5/cgi/php.ini

Make changes as is.

cgi.rfc2616_headers = 1

zlib.output_compression = On
zlib.output_compression_level = 6

Step 3a - Configure PHP5 (Optional for security purpose)

display_errors = Off
log_errors = On
allow_url_fopen = Off
safe_mode = On
expose_php = Off
enable_dl = Off
session.cookie_httponly = 1
disable_functions = system, show_source, symlink, exec, dl, shell_exec, passthru, phpinfo, escapeshellarg, escapeshellcmd
cgi.fix_pathinfo = 0

*** According to the author of Hiawatha, the cgi.fix_pathinfo should be set to 0 at this moment.

*** There will be something at the end of "disable_functions" at Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, you just append the captioned list to the end of the previous list.

*** some PHP applications may require safe_mode = off

Step 4 - Configure php-fpm

Append the following to the php-fpm.conf.

sudo nano /etc/php5/fpm/php-fpm.conf

[www]
user = www-data
group = www-data
listen = 127.0.0.1:9000
pm = static
pm.max_children = 100
chroot = /var/www/
chdir = /

Step 5 - Configure Hiawatha (Part 1)

sudo nano /etc/hiawatha/hiawatha.conf

The following is not talking about https configuration. If you want to configure https, you should refer to the Hiawatha official manual.



*** If you encounter Chrome browser being banned, you may consider to change the setting of "BanOnFlooding" to "90/1:300".

Step 5a :

Add the following line at VIRTUAL HOSTS.

Include /etc/hiawatha/enable-sites/

*Make sure the make a directory enable-sites and disable-sites under /etc/hiawatha.

sudo mkdir /etc/hiawatha/enable-sites
sudo mkdir /etc/hiawatha/disable-sites

Step 6 - Configure Hiawatha (Part 2)

If your domain is mysite.com, you are required to create a file namely mysite.com and place it under /etc/hiawatha/enable-sites/mysite.com.



*** If you do not implement "Step 7" below, please do not add "WrapCGI = Jail_mysite".

Furthermore, if you want to disable this virtual site, you can move the "mysite.com" to /etc/hiawatha/disable-sites/ and then restart hiawatha server.

sudo mv /etc/hiawatha/enable-sites/mysite.com /etc/hiawatha/disable-sites/
sudo /etc/init.d/hiawatha restart

Step 7 - Configure Hiawatha (Part 3) (Optional for security purpose)

sudo nano /etc/hiawatha/cgi-wrapper.conf

CGIhandler = /usr/bin/perl
CGIhandler = /usr/bin/php5-cgi
CGIhandler = /usr/bin/python
CGIhandler = /usr/bin/ruby
CGIhandler = /usr/bin/ssi-cgi

Wrap = jail_mysite ; /var/www/mysite ; www-data:www-data

Step 8 - Configure Apparmor (Optional for security purpose)

Install the following packages :

sudo apt-get install apparmor-profiles apparmor-utils

Execute the following command and then let the web site running for a while, maybe a week or so.

sudo aa-genprof hiawatha

About one week later or the web page/site is misbehaving, issue the following command to update the profile. Remember to reload the profile after the command has been issued.

sudo aa-logprof

Or, if you are impatient, you can edit the following file instead.

sudo nano /etc/apparmor.d/usr.sbin.hiawatha

The content of usr.sbin.hiawatha should look like this or make it look like this.



Make the profile in enforce mode (activate the above settings).

sudo aa-enforce hiawatha

If you have change some settings, you should reload the profile.

sudo apparmor_parser -r < /etc/apparmor.d/usr.sbin.hiawatha

If you want to disable this profile.

sudo ln -s /etc/apparmor.d/usr.sbin.hiawatha /etc/apparmor.d/disable/
sudo apparmor_parser -R < /etc/apparmor.d/usr.sbin.hiawatha

If you want to re-enable this profile after it has been disabled.

sudo rm /etc/apparmor.d/disable/usr.sbin.hiawatha
sudo apparmor_parser -r < /etc/apparmor.d/usr.sbin.hiawatha

Step 9 - Enhance the security of cgi-wrapper (Optional for security purpose)

Now, your hiawatha is very secure but I would like to make it more secure.

sudo apt-get install libcap2-bin

Apply Capabilities on cgi-wrapper.

sudo chmod u-s /usr/sbin/cgi-wrapper
sudo setcap cap_setgid,cap_setuid+ep /usr/sbin/cgi-wrapper

The result of getcap :

sudo getcap /usr/sbin/cgi-wrapper

It will display :
/usr/sbin/cgi-wrapper = cap_setgid,cap_setuid+ep

Step 10 - Configure logwatch (Optional)

Please refer to this link to make the LogWatch to know your Hiawatha webserver's log files.

Please make sure to re-do this step when the logwatch is updated or upgraded as it will overwrite the configure file.

Step 11 - Change the ownership of the log files

cd /var/log/hiawatha
sudo chown www-data:www-data access.log
sudo chown www-data:www-data error.log
sudo chown www-data:www-data exploit.log
sudo chown www-data:www-data garbage.log
sudo chown root:root system.log

* "php-fcgi.log" and "system.log" leave them untouched (root:root).

Step 11a - Change ownership of all directories and files at the /var/www/mysite

Put the web application files to /var/www/mysite and then change the ownership of all directories and files under /var/www/mysite to root:root.

cd /var/www/mysite
sudo chown -R root:root *

Step 12 - Start, Stop and Restart Hiawatha

sudo /etc/init.d/hiawatha start
sudo /etc/init.d/hiawatha stop
suod /etc/init.d/hiawatha restart

Step 13 - Performance tuning for MySQL or Percona Server (Optional)

You can fine tune the MySQL as per this link.

Step 14 - Secure your Ubuntu Server in a passive way (Optional)

Please refer to this link to secure your server in a passive way.

Step 15 - Setup a FTP server on Ubuntu Server (Optional)

This link shows you how to setup a vsFTPd server.

Step 16 - URL Rewrite rules (Optional)

For the url rewrite rules for your PHP applications, please refer to this link

Make sure you add "UseToolkit" at the VirtualHost section.

Step 17 - Send email to GMail via Postfix (Optional)

Please refer to this link

Step 18 - Create normal user for MySQL or MariaDB as well as Percona Server (Optional)

Please refer to this link

Step 19 - Linux Malware Detect (Optional)

Please refer to this link

Remarks :

If you encounter "500 Internal Server Error", you may consider to make the Apparmor to "Complain mode".

sudo aa-complain hiawatha

After several days browsing the website, you may consider to turn the Apparmor to "Enforce mode".

sudo aa-logprof

sudo aa-enforce hiawatha

It is because the captioned usr.sbin.hiawatha may not 100% work for you.

In order to further hardened your Hiawatha web server, please consider the following options :

Optional #1 :

For SSH connection security, you also may consider to implement the Port Knocking feature.

sudo apt-get install knockd

Optional #2 :

You may also consider to enable your firewall at your router or on the Hiawatha Web Server with UFW.

If ufw does not exist in your server, you can install it :

sudo apt-get install ufw

Optional #3 :

Consider to use Cloudflare (free or pay version) or similar. However, make sure do not disclose your server IP address to the public.

Optional #4 :

If budget is allowed, you can consider to implement Untangle and SmoothSec and refer to this link as an example.

That's all! See you.

Went Out For Pizza, Came Back With A Sequins Jacket

This is a true story. A love story. Yesterday afternoon I was starving after having worked with no snack break. I needed something to eat that was quick and easy, so I got in my car and drove to my neighborhood pizza joint. While I waited for my order, I dropped by this cute boutique next door. Do you smell trouble? I know I do.

I walk in and lo and behold in the distance I see this fine young thing. How adorable! It's flirting and winking at me with its sparkly sequins. I'm trying to resist, but I'm weak. The jacket was hanging there all by herself with no one to play with. She was the last of her kind. When I tried to leave she she got all sad.

Jacket by English Rose

I gave into temptation and tried her on. How easily my arms slipped into her sleeves. We shared a very tender embrace. It was love. After that I knew I couldn't leave her in that store alone. Without further hesisation I took the jacket to the register and decided to formally adopt her. As soon as I signed my name on the dotted line, she officially became mine.

The salesgirl carefully wrapped up my new jacket, and I strolled out with her in my hands. I'm the luckiest girl in the world. We picked up our fresh, hot pizza and walked off into the sunset... and lived happily everafter.

The End

That's Miss Smarty Pants to You

There's a common misconception that models aren't that smart. We've got these stunning faces and nice bodies, but the lights aren't on upstairs. This is an awful stereotype that I want to shut down right now. It takes a really intelligent person to pose with a blank stare on her face. That's a challenge. Ok, but in all seriousness we are not just mindless mannequins. Some of us are actually smarter than the average bear. Did you know Cindy Crawford was the valedictorian of her high school and went on to attend Northwestern University with a major in chemical engineering before becoming a full-time supermodel? Brooke Shields stopped modeling to go to Princeton. Or take long-legged stunner Lyndsey Scott...

She's walked the runway for Victoria's Secret and done campaigns for Calvin Klein and DKNY but she's a major coder. She's got a great portfolio app for models so you won't have to carry around your huge book to castings. So savvy! In a recent profile by Pando Daily, Lyndsey admitted "The industry makes an effort to reduce the model and, in a way, simplify things. The way they marketed me a lot of times was as younger than I am. They wouldn’t talk about my education, they wouldn’t talk about me… In a way I understand. Youth is valued more than a college education."

These aren't tall tales or legends of beautiful women who are ridiculously intelligent. This is real. I'm friends with a model named Michelle who's studying mechanical engineering with a focus in robotics. For the past couple years this brainiac has been doing theoretical physics research and developing models for space sensors. I can't even fathom what the freak that all means. I applaud her for stepping away from the camera for a bit to study and purse this other dream. Keep at it.

Don't let fashion downplay your intelligence. You've worked really hard to acquire that level of knowledge. I'm not saying that you should be a show-off and challenge photographers to a game of Jeopardy. But don't allow people to talk down to you as if they're smarter than you. Be wise about the career decisions you make. Agents will sometimes encourage you to dumb yourself down to get more jobs. But your looks will only get you so far. I think models like Lyndsey Scott are a perfect example of how you can capitalize on both your appearance and your intelligence. Let them know you're a force to be reckoned with. Beauty + Brains = Power

White Like Porcelain

Remember when you were a teen and you were bored in class. You took some white-out and started painting your nails. It was all streaky and matte, but you didn't really care. This is that but way better. Hello white nails! We're used to seeing pink, red, or even black nails. That's all fine and dandy, but I'm telling you white is where it's at. White nails look clean and crisp like a freshly starched dress shirt. It's so good. And the color will instantly draw attention to your perfect manicure. I'm declaring it... White nails are the new neutral.

All whites are not created equal. Years ago I tried a few white polishes that just looked cheap and awful on my nails. You don't want a product that looks like a kid used marker on your fingertips. Also, picking the right white is crucial. I chose this particular color at a party just last night. Other ladies steered clear of it thinking it wouldn't look right with their complexions. Oh please. This OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls is bright and pure white enough to work for any skin tone. If you're worried about the white making you look pale, go for a glossy color. You can also experiment with different shades like a pearly finish or something iridescent and sparkly. If you have darker skin, white will make your mani really pop. What compliments a fabulous cocktail ring better than killer nails?

If you're a DIY girl, here are a few tips to get your white nails perfect. Make sure your nails are clean and free of any oils. This may seem super basic, but a clean slate makes a world of difference. As always, start with a prep coat like OPI's Chip Skip. This will make sure that your polish doesn't peel off. Then go for a base coat like Essie's First Base. It's like a primer for your nails so that you get the true hue of the polish and the color won't stain your nails. Now it's time for the polish. The first coat won't be perfect, and that's ok. The second coat should be much smoother and more even. If it's not, a really thin third layer is fine. Seal the deal with your favorite top coat. I love Ciate's Speed Coat because it dries super quickly. If you're like me and you still get paranoid about messing up your fresh mani or you're in a rush to get moving, try Zoya Fast Drops. You'll be done with your mani in 20 minutes flat and ready to run to your next audition. Even the casting director will notice your white hot nails. Get it!

xoxo

Scarlet Fever

Hello awards season. It's nice to be able to celebrate the cream of the crop in Tinseltown. All those compelling films and nominations are great, but what I'm really interested in is fashion. Bring on the red carpet! Who's wearing what. Tell me about that necklace. I can't believe she picked that dress. These are just a few of the words that came out of my mouth yesterday as I was watching the Golden Globe Awards. Let me just say, I was throughly entertained by all the fashion hits and misses. What really caught my attention... the color of power and passion. The ladies in red won my heart and knocked them dead.

Amy Adams, Lupita Nyong'o, and Emma Watson are my top picks for best dressed. They all hit the nail on the head in very different ways. Let's start with Amy Adams. If you saw her in American Hustle, then you know she was oozing with sex appeal. She definitely channeled that in this two-toned Valentino gown looking like a slice of red velvet cake. Mmm mmm. You didn't see this during the pre-show, but Amy also had a red cape to go with the dress. But I'm sure once she saw showstopper Lupita in a caped dress, Amy probably decided to leave it off for photo opps. You can't compete with Lupita in all her scarlet glory.

Her dress had me at hello. That Ralph Lauren number is something else. The 12 Years a Slave actress looks like a superhero and I'm crazy about it. Let's get a better look at the face. Can we say flawless! You can't fake a glow like that. The hint of blue around her eyes is like icing on the cake. And for all the girls with short and sassy cuts, how can you not be inspired by her hair. It's sleek and polished but still funky. Even guys are sweating her side part right now. Lupita knows how to work her beauty.

Here's a closer glimpse at why I'm loving Emma's look. The color, the spunk, that back. She went for a Christian Dior pants look that I'm still dying over the next day. Emma is young and not afraid of taking risks, and this outfit really works for her. She keeps her makeup and hair simple but gorgeous, and allows the outfit to make a statement. Some of you might argue that the choice is all wrong, but Emma's having fun. Would you rather her dress like a 50 year old? Exactly.

The Golden Golden Globes are just the beginning. For the next month or so, we're going to be flooded with even more awards shows and red carpets. Some of my best dressed ladies could tank later. You never know. But I'm sure Princess Lupita will be shutting it down. That girl's a star! Can't wait to see what all of these ladies do for the Oscars.

Chime in: Who made your best-dressed list for the Golden Globe Awards?

My Style: Hip Hop Heavyweight

The rivalry continues. "If I had to choose a coast..." I'd have to choose the west. New York is fabulous and all but, the cold is no joke. The weather is obviously the deciding factor. While the Polar Vortex has been beating down on the rest of the country, we've enjoyed 75 degrees and sunshine in LA. I know y'all have been California Dreaming. Don't hate! Now when it comes to hip hop, I'm definitely all about the Eastside. I love Pac with all his sexiness,may he rest in peace, but I'm not down for that much West Coast rap. Sorry, it just doesn't do it for me. I'll get to the smack talking later. On to the main event... fashion. For this round we're taking it to the streets.


"Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west..." We rock big fake furs and boots. Not because it's cold outside... No, we just want to look good. Flossin'. When you think hip hop, you picture thick gold chains and an IN YOUR FACE attitude. So that's what I'm inspired by for this look. That "I don't give f***" style Biggie and Tupac rapped with. You feel it every time you listen to All Eyez on Me or Juicy. Nothing can stop you.

"It was all a dream. I used to read Word Up magazine." When I was younger, I wanted to dress like those New York hustler guys with their puffy coats and Timberlands. Now that I'm older, I can still throw a bit of that flavor into what I wear now. Playing it tough like a tomboy in my rugged boots and jeans. But then add some interesting textures like the faux fur and super shiny extensions. I'm a bad, bad girl. If you met me on the street, you wouldn't want to mess with me, but you'd want to mess with me. You know what I mean?


The Look:
Jacket: Lucca Couture(similar)
Shirt: Urban Outfitters
Jeans: Old Navy
Boots: Rag and Bone
Bracelets: R.J. Graziano
Earrings & Necklace: mine all mine

I was born on the east, but I'll live and die on the west. We can go back and forth all day about who's the best rapper and which coast is the best. But it's really about taking the good stuff from both and bringing them together. Winter coats with muscle tees. Big gold chains with vegan leather. Unbeweavable extensions with kinky hair. It all works to make me look fly.

"You know very well who you are. Don't let'em hold you down. Reach for the stars."

Gimme That Glimmer

Hair isn't meant to be boring. It's too pretty and fabulous to blend in with the background. Really great hair can define you. Short and funky or long and luxurious. Let your hair make a statement. I appreciate hair in different textures and lengths and colors. It's so much fun to play with. So why not get creative with some of the products you use. Your usual styling creams and hairsprays can be such a snore. You need some excitement. Well I found something that can add dimension and shine to your already cute cut. Free Your Mane's conditioning Glimmer Pomade. Boom!

If you're already familiar with FYM's normal Conditioning Pomade, then you know it packs some punch. It's not sticky or greasy. You can use on long or short hair and works great on any texture. I'll often use it whether I'm rocking a curly or straight look. Let's say I need my curls to really pop. The pomade will make sure they spring into action and it fights frizz. Or I've blown out my hair and I need those untamable edges to act right. Conditioning Pomade to the rescue. The glittery stuff works just the same if not better. It won't dry your hair out because it's made with Baobab Oil that holds in your hair's moisture. Don't forget it also contains Argan oil and antioxidant kicking sweet almond oil and pomegranate oil. Those sparkles you see come from golden mica. Isn't that cool! The glitter adds extra shine and works well with any hair color. I gotta tell you... I'm hooked on the Glimmer Pomade! Just call me Goldilocks without the extensions.

Get it!

With Love from ASOS

From ASOS Magazine January 2014

Hold up! Wait a minute! Is that who I think it is? There's Beyonce, Camilla, Rihanna and Lorde. But who's that other pretty girl? Oh, yeah that's me! Yours truly is featured in ASOS Magazine for January 2014. I love it when I get surprises. I kind of had an idea that it was going to happen, but things are never really for sure. You know what I mean. I found the story this morning and I'm so giddy about it. Yes, I'm a model and should be used to seeing my face pop up in random places, but it's the little things like this that make me happy.

Apparently my Black Like Licorice lipstick is still making its rounds. First it was Refinery29, then Rue Lala, and now this. I love it. ASOS included my photo in this cute write-up about some of the hottest lip color trends for the season especially deeper colors. Dark hues are so great for the winter and add a film noir femme fatale feel to your beauty look. It's so Veronica Lake or Ava Gardner. The colors range from a nice tart berry to my deep almost charcoal, smokey lip. It all looks really seductive and moody. ASOS even included brown shades like the one Drew Barrymore used to rock in the 90s. I wonder if you'd consider that retro now?

Thanks for including me in your gallery of dark-lipped ladies, ASOS. It means the world to me. Oh, and look out for a new blurb about how to de-winterize your lips coming soon.

Xoxo