Paging the Smokey Eyed Experts

[my fav model of the moment: Wakeema Holls: Source NY Fashion Mag]

If there is one thing that I struggle with when it comes to makeup, it is the smokey-eye! It get more of a raccoon eye, instead of the sultry smokey-eye, so I am hoping some experts can chime in here.What are your favorite products for creating the dark [almost black] smokey eye? Do you ladies use a brush? Eyeliner? Primer before the shadow?? Help me out here! [please]

Armed & Dangerous - -

For the past month or so I have been on the hunt for a GOOD HD Camcorder that was reasonably priced [as in under 400 dollars], and delivered great results. I have really put off making anymore video's until I got a better quality camcorder [I was using my macbook] as the quality was grainy, and just all around bad.

After trying and returning numerous camcorder's, I finally found a winner! My new CANON Powershot Camera w/HD Camcorder is everything I could ever ask for. It gives me the capability to play around with light settings, which is perfect for filming in low-light environments like my apt, and the kicker is that the video's will be filmed in true HD. Granted I now have two camera's, [the Nikon D60, & the Canon] but I will be using one solely for photography, and one for HD vids.

Here are the cliff notes from my recent camera debacle:

My experience with all of the SD Samsung's, Canon's & JVC Camcorder's [SD meaning Standard Definition] -

• When filming in optimal lighting, the quality is so-so. 

• The quality of the picture goes down drastically in low-light shooting, which is really important if you shoot in the house with regular lights/lamps.

•  If you plan on uploading your movies to a website like YouTube, or Vimeo, you can expect to lose some quality. [That is with any camcorder, which is why it is important to start off with the best quality your money can afford]. 

• Even if you do use daylight/florescent bulbs to try to improve the lighting conditions, more than likely the subject will be overexposed. [I experienced this]

         My experience with FLIP Camcorder's [Pocket-Sized HD Camcorders]

• These are only good for close up shots only - Some are equipped with zoom, but the quality suffers greatly the further away you are from your subject.  

• The lens is significantly smaller than most camcorders, meaning that you are only going to be able to fit so much in the frame.  

• You can't really manipulate the lighting settings [for example, daylight shooting, tungsten, night etc] 

          My Experience with the Sony Cyber-Shot 9.1 Megapixel Camera

• I absolutely loved this! It offers a High Definition camcorder with lighting options.  

• The quality on the camera is wonderful, if you plan on using that as well. I wasn't really concerned about the camera quality so much as I was the video. 

• The only drawback for me was the price $479.99 - And my new found friend at Best Buy in Burbank, [Hi Levon!] told me that Canon's video quality was a lot better than the Sony due to the quality of the Canon lens. At that point it was a no-brainer, as the Canon was $100 cheaper, and offered better quality video.

A few words of advice; shop around and don't be afraid to utilize the no-hassle return policy. Get advice from stores like Best Buy who don't work on commission, as this allows them to be honest when giving their opinion on what to buy.

Did you know they also make tripods/minopods that can stick on to a mirror, as in a bathroom mirror?? YES!

Spanish Castle Magic | I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way; things I had no words for - Georgia O'Keeffe

I was really hesitant about this dress. At first I felt it was a little obnoxious for my liking, however I couldn't get over the colors and the dramatic length. The kicker was that it was only $5 at the Fairfax Flea Market, can you really debate over something that is only $5?

If you are ever in Los Angeles, and you dig vintage shopping whether it be clothing, art, or furniture, you should definitely check it out. Some of the clothing is a little overpriced, but there are always vendors there that have super bargains. Take a big bag if you plan on buying clothes, and bring some fabric softener sheets to throw in the bags with the clothes while you shop. Then wash the items when you get home, I like to soak them in a tub filled with Woolite, gently wash them, and then hang dry!

To get the poofy hair thing, I braided my hair in about 11 big braids then I let it set for about 5 hours. After several hours (5) I took the braids down, and because it wasn't dry all the way it began to S W E L L. Now this is cool if this is the look you are going for, but I don't get second day hair out of it!

This dress is super comfy, and dressy at the same time! Perfect for when you want to be comfortable, and feel somewhat glam. 

Dress: Thrifted, Necklace: DYI, Bracelets: F21, Sunnies: Michael Kors

I Love You More

Hi Everyone,
How are ya, good I hope. I started writing Poetry when I was in my young teens. It was for me therapy. It helped me to express and be in touch with my emotions and still does today, obviously the other day I was in a pissed off mood. Words come to me easy from somewhere above I believe. I used to pretend I was taking notes in class, but I was really writing poems. Now when it gets slow at work I write poems in the photo notebook. I still have a lot of my older ones and some day I would like to publish a book. If any of you out there know an easy way to do it please let me know. On Monday I was going to go visit with Christa and Bri. I didn't feel too good, so I am going tomorrow. I am going to teach her how to Celebrate St. Patricks Day. Even though I am mostly Italian, I do have a little Irish in me. And who else better to teach her! I bought her some beer glasses and a hat and shirt. I hope to get some funny video of it. After Christa got off the phone with me Bri decided she wanted to call me. She's not even 3 yrs old yet! She has become this little girl and talks so well on the phone, no more baby:( And now when you tell her you love her, she says I love you more. Just when I think I can't love her anymore than I do, there she goes. She helped heal my ailments that day. It's 9pm and I have had 93 visitors so far today with 6 people on. Thank you all so much, I hope each and every one of you keep coming back everyday. It brings me much happiness which I especially need these past few days:)
Have a Happy Hump Day!
Janet :)

Confusion, Delusions,
State of mind, unwind
What is true, what is
untruth

What's meant to be?
Is there a Destiny?
Follow head or follow
heart, torn apart

From Sunrise to Sunset,
Some things are hard
to forget.
Lessons learned,
through pain and hurt.

Physically and Emotionally
my body aches
Rain on my face,
fiercely, not gently

Questions unanswered
leave me to imagine
Why do I do this to myself
I Prefer Heaven to hell

I am closing the door
on learning more
At least for today,
Tomorrow may lead
another way.
To happiness, knowing
no pain I pray

DIY Frayed Fabric Rosette Neclace

I love rosette bib statement necklaces, however buying them can cost a pretty penny. This necklace can easily be made with scrap fabric for about 1/6th of the retail cost.

You can make this out of any fabric, however I recommend using cottons over silky fabrics, as cotton frays easily. Also keep in mind a color scheme when picking out your fabrics, using a print with a solid color is always visually appealing.

You will need:

Scraps of fabric [45" in length]

Felt

Glue Fun

Extra Fabric [to cover felt]

Cord/Braid/Trim/Ribbon

Scissors

End Fasteners

Above are a few different fabric options; Notice how I have a matching solid to go with my prints - Pick your fabric and "rip" pieces that are about an inch wide. Don't worry, it does not have to be perfect.

After making your strips, fold the strip in half. Make a knot in the middle of the strip [you will have two free ends], then begin to twist the two ends together.


After twisting the free ends, begin to wrap the twisted section around the knot, and hot glue the rosette as you go.

Cut your pattern for your bib necklace out of felt - 

Take your rosettes and begin to glue them onto the felt, use smaller sizes of rosette's to help fill in gaps; don't worry about the white areas around the edges of the necklace, you will cut that off when you are done.

Now trim away all of the excess felt around the edges of the necklace. At this point, hot glue your cord across the back of the necklace. - If you would like to make the back of the necklace a little neater, hot glue some scrap fabric on top of the back, then trim away the edges. 

Add your end fasteners, and you are good to go!

Pesto & Cheese Filled Chicken Breast

I found yet another winner from Epicurious, and this one is definitely one of my favorites thus far! I decided to make my own pesto [you can use store-bought if you like], so it took about 30 minutes from start-to-finish. Finding great recipe's that can be prepared in a jiffy is an incentive for me to continue to cook, so hopefully I can kick this fast-food habit once and for all. I paired the chicken with a little bit of brown rice, and some asparagus!

Ingredients for Thyme Pesto:

• 1 1/2 cups loosely packed fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh thyme leaves or 1 tablespoon dried, crumbled, plus 1/2 cup fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup (about 2 ounces) grated Parmesan
• 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts or walnuts
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup olive oil

Preparation:

Finely chop first 5 ingredients in processor. With machine running, gradually add 1/2 cup olive oil. Continue processing until pesto is almost smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Pesto can be prepared up to 1 week ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate.)

Ingredients for Stuffed Chicken Breasts:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup soft, fresh goat cheese (such as Montrachet)
• 1/3 cup thyme pesto
• 1 teaspoon minced shallot or green onion

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• All purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350°F. Pound chicken breasts between sheets of waxed paper to thickness of 1/4 inch. Combine goat cheese, pesto and shallot in small bowl; mix well. Spread boned side of chicken breast with scant 2 tablespoons cheese mixture. Starting at one long side of chicken breast, roll up tightly, jelly roll style. Repeat with remaining chicken and cheese mixture.

Heat olive oil in heavy large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour and shake off excess. Fry chicken breast in olive oil until golden brown on all sides, turning occasionally, about 4 minutes. Place skillet with chicken in oven and bake until chicken is tender and cooked through, about 10 minutes.

The Winner Is!

 [I love Wakeema! - Source: Style]

True beauty comes from within. It is that quiet and sometimes awe-inspiring confidence that can't be contained. It helps others, brings joy to the world, and fosters happiness. True beauty can't be purchased, borrowed, or stolen. It is timeless and ethereal.
- Deborah

Deborah you are the winner! Please email me via Nikole@themoptopmaven.com, so that I can send out your Beauty Blender! Thank you to everyone that participated [there will be more giveaways in the future]! I really enjoyed reading all of your comments, and it was quite refreshing actually. Living in L.A, you may get various definitions of true beauty depending on who you ask, and some [not all] are very superficial.

The consensus in Los Angeles seems to be that if you are "lighter skinned, with long hair, and green eyes" you are an instant beauty. I love all my sista's equally, however that excludes a large number of us. As we are all beautiful, and flawed to perfection. Furthermore, skin color, hair length, and the color of our eyes should not measure or define our beauty.

It's very disheartening to watch beautiful black women bleach their skin; or down their sisters that decide to embrace their natural kink's, coils, and luscious curls. Trying to conform to the industry's standard of beauty only pits us against one another - Hold that thought, because that's definitely a conversation we will have at another time. I felt a tangent coming on, so I needed to stop myself there.

[Some of my fav comments!]