#HealthyWealthyAndWise Edition

Like countless others, I'm working on my financial situation and I'm sure you've thought about it as well. 

Please join me in sharing healthy, wealthy, and wise tips to others by commenting below or Tweet me @qianaqiana. 

I came across this friendly reminder...
Thank you Kendra - The Things I Love Most

I started with #2 - Have a budget and stick with it!

I started myself off with something small. I started off with my weekly allowance; It's important to have attainable goals.

I committed to making my own coffee at least 3 times a week (I saved $5.00) AND committed to taking my lunch to work at least 2 times week (I saved $20.00). 

This commitment allowed me to stick to my $20.00 per week budget and would you believe, I had a little money leftover - #Kaching!💲💲💲

Now don't get me wrong, I struggled to break the SPEND MONEY habit! This process was tough BUT my determination to be more disciplined was a priority. Which principle will you try? 

STRONG ENOUGH TO BEAR THE CHILDREN... AND GET BACK TO BUSINESS

#Motherhood 

Like most women I wear many hats throughout my life. I am a daughter, wife, coworker, poet, art lover, manager/supervisor, business owner, red lipstick addict, nail polish addict, maid, short order cook for a lunch time menu only AND A MOTHER! 

I have a daughter and a son I love dearly. My daughter is growing up so fast... I literally can't believe it! I look at her and still see that little baby I held, the baby with 2 ponytails and 2 bottom teeth, the baby who sat in her car seat singing with me as we commuted to and fro (Bitter Sweet). 

Now she's ready to fly the coup. 

Being a mother is hard work. Some areas we excel and in other areas we can do a little better. The balancing act of #motherhood and life is one that can never be described as easy. You do the best you can and remember to smile along the way. 

My daughter and I tend to lose our minds when Beyonce's song WHO RUNS THE WORLD... GIRLS comes on. 

She laughs every time I scream out the part where Bey sings STRONG ENOUGH TO BEAR THE CHILDREN AND GET BACK TO BUSINESS! 
#MyLife  

 Hug her while you can.

Remember to be supportive. 

Share your fashion sense with your little girl.

 Look at her when she's talking.

Remember to smile.

Photos info

New Wave Limited Edition Nail Polish by Marc Jacobs

If you know me...  then you know I am a bonafide #nailpolishaddict. I love everything from the caviar look, velvet shellac, to the latest craze of sea shell polish. 

I'm a total sucker for glitzy, shimmery and quick drying lacquer.

While perusing the aisle in Sephora, I decided to try on Marc Jacob's Limited Edition New Wave polish (because I'm a SUPER junkie for blue nail polish).

Photo credit. http://www.marcjacobsbeauty.com/

Word on the street is... this varnis gives you the wet look and it's an extreme wear polish (confetti is falling). 

Like any chiq (chick), I love ALL shiny wet polishes. Why you may ask? To me this means a top coat is not totally necessary (tap dancing). 

The moment I applied this Navy blue polish I fell in love (I know... Again lol). 

1. Easy to apply formula.
2. The shine was evident. (One coat and I was hooked).
3. The drying time was pretty speedy!! 

Of course this polish was not $ 1.99! It was $ 18.00 but I was worth it! Not to mention my daughter will definitely use this polish therefore, it's worth it (Mother and daughter moments are priceless). 

Long story short, I'm a happy camper!  

Take a look! Tell me your thoughts.

A bold color with vivid shine against my choqolate skin! 

Love it! 

THIS IS CHOQOLATE CHIQ APPROVED!

Btw... I recommend using a base coat (this color can stain your nails and a top coat (finish your mani with a top coat for extra protection).

(B) Beyonce + (B) Braids! = A+

BEYONCE does it all!!

She's a super star, mother, wife, business woman and humanitarian! Beyonce's work ethic amazes me! 

She works hard! and that is #NoLie. 

 BUT WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT BEY! IS THE WAY SHE ROCKS HER BRAIDS! 

Bey has worn every weave/wig possible... whether it's blonde, strawberry blonde, honey blonde or auburn. She has just about sported every possible hair do one could create! 

MY FAVORITE STYLE ON HER ARE ACTUALLY WHEN SHE WEARS HER HAIR BRAIDED! JUST TAKE A LOOK! 

I'm sure you will agree. 

 BEY KEEP THE BRAIDS MAMA! You look fabulous! 

Photo sources: iam.beyonce.com, huffingtonpost.com, rollingout.com & dopecelebkids.tumblr.com

It's all about the Stroppy baby! (butter London you ROCK)

HELLO WORLD! 

I was lucky enough to attend Nordstrom's Beauty Trend Show in San Francisco with Blinging Beauty, Tracey Brown this year (Yay me!!). 

Nordstrom's Beauty Trend Show was all about the latest Spring/Summer Beauty and Fashion trends. Let's be honest! This is the season to show off your radiant skin, amazing smile and of course the perfect time to show off your mani! YES your hands are just as important as your face is darling! 

While watching the models rip the runway I saw one model in particular wearing the prettiest purple nail polish I've seen in a while! I simply fell in love with that color. 

As the show progressed a butter London rep joined the stage and mentioned the Laura Mercier model wearing the beautiful purple polish! AND she hit the runway again! I was so elated. I quickly snapped a picture and added butter London's Stroppy to my beauty shopping list.

butter London's Stroppy nail lacquer titled Stroppy!! Is a happening color ladies! I thought to myself hmmm... Stroppy is an interesting name for such a dynamite color polish! (AND YES... I looked up the word and read the British version of the word. Click the link for the definition of Stroppy http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stroppy) 

At any rate, I am in love with Stroppy! This purple polish says FUN!! FUN!! FUN!! The Laura Mercier model rocked this color beautifully. This varnis is an eye catcher no matter who you are or what shade of choqolate (chocolate) you categorize yourself under.  

The glittery and shimmery specks throughout butter London's Stroppy nail polish really adds life to this vernis.

Long story short STROPPY is 
Choqolate Chiq APPROVED!  

Photo credit: butter London
To purchase: http://www.butterlondon.com/Lacquers/Purple-Nail-Lacquers/Stroppy-Nail-Lacquer.html

Lupita The Beautiful!

Congratulations Lupita!!
Lupita made the cover of The "Most Beautiful" issue of People magazine.

I am elated that she was added to the list! Afterall, she's a talented and beautiful! Intelligent and beautiful! Lupita's fabulous sense of fashion, her gorgeous smile and of course her smooth choqolate skin make her the total package... BUT WHAT I LOVE MOST IS HER ATTITUDE!

Lupita is the epitome of #InsideOutBeauty.

Lupita said, "Happiness is the most important thing,"

Yes! HAPPINESS!! The state of being happy.

People believe that they are happy because of the material possessions they  have. True happiness comes from within. It's important that you feel good about you!

Here's one of my favorite quotes regarding happiness:

"If you think sunshine brings you happiness, then you haven’t danced in the rain." – Unknown

Congratulations Lupita Darling!!!
#TEAMINSIDEOUTBEAUTY

Rest In Peace Karyn Washington -

This morning I woke up to hear the sad news regarding Karyn Washington's (founder of For Brown Girls) death. Apparently she committed suicide (Bless her soul). Needless to say I am still in shock and very sad about this news. I pray that her family be comforted especially during this time. 

Someone reached out to me to participate in the For Brown Girls project called The #DarkSkinRedLip Project. I was elated needless to say. After-all, I have a true love for red lipstick but after reading her site, I immediately connected with what this was all about. This was about more than red lipstick or rapper A$AP Rocky's ignorant comments/opinion on #darkskin women who wear red lipstick. The real life lesson here was actually all about uplifting one another, self love and being proud of dark brown skin. 

For Brown Girls served as a platform where women with pretty smiles, choqolate (chocolate)brown skin and countless shades of red lipstick were a divine display of true beauty.

You may find it hard to believe that some dark brown skin women and girls grow up believing their skin is not beautiful. I'm here to tell you it's true. For Brown Girls gave dark skin women a place to share experiences and celebrate who we are. I believe in the mission of For Brown Girls and I'm grateful for Karyn Washington's drive and determination to create a safe place for brown skin girls to shine.

We all must realize true beauty starts from within. It's the beauty from within that makes you radiant. This is true for every ethnicity, nationality and every shade of brown.

Karyn Washington may you rest in peace. I will never forget the great work you started.

Links for Brown Girls: www.forbrowngirls.com