May 2020 | Blueprint for Style

Features & Series

my may obsessions & purchases

May Purchases I had to get a garlic keeper because I was sick of having the bulbs just hanging out on the counter! My girlfriend, Steph, told me to grow up and get it so I did I sweat [not glisten] when I’m outside doing my socially-distant walk/jogs so I find my face needs more exfoliating. I scooped this Josh Rosebrook cleanser/exfoliator and I’m officially glowing!! I mentioned working out – – I need to do double-time after being away

2020/05/31

Footwear

clogs: they’re earthy stylish but are they good for you?

I’m a huge fan of clogs and it started, in earnest, when I was traveling almost everyday as a health care consultant. Clogs could be thrown on and off easily, they provided a little air circulation if you were headed to a warmer climate, and they provided protection if you were headed to a soggy or cooler climate. That love for clogs matured into the Dansko’s (you know the ones medical professionals roam the halls with…) and most recently, I’ve

2020/05/22

Beauty

my nails look a mess!

Before I had any idea quarantine was coming, I had decided to get my nails done and, to make matters worse, I had decided to get a gel manicure. Bad decision! Fast forward to day 50 of lockdown and my nails looked like a hot *ss mess. First ~ Steph saved me by doing a drive-by with some acetone nail polish…thank you! Then ~ my IG surfing yielded a new company called Static Nails that basically promises at least seven

2020/05/20

Lifestyle & Tech

post-quarantine – which fashion norm will you subscribe to?

When this pandemic slows down a bit….I mean this first wave at least….I am certain we’ll be re-surfacing with some new fashion and style norms. I can see a few factions popping up now like the “denim for everything” crew, “leggings for life” group, etc. I’m on the fence but likely sticking with my original idea: dressing for comfort & versatility! Which quarantine dressing faction are you joining?! [poll id=”16″]

2020/05/18

Style

my longstanding love affair with denim

I’m not sure when I came to admit it but I’ve had a longstanding love affair with denim for as long as I can remember! I thought it happened when I became an entrepreneur in the early 2000s and got to see how flexible it was but no. I thought maybe it happened when I purchased my first pair of $200+ jeans in Philadelphia with my friend Natalie back in the mid-90s but no. I wondered if it was when

2020/05/15

Features & Series

9 do’s & don’ts of quarantine dressing

I’ve been working with NBC News’ [know your value] team since last year. I contribute to their efforts with style articles every now and then – and this latest one details the 9 do’s & don’ts of quarantine dressing + some of my favorite pieces to make working from home easy! My guidelines include: DO create a uniform. DO focus on flexible pieces. DO rethink beauty and makeup essentials Read the rest here….

2020/05/13

Features & Series

the power of pivoting

2020 was supposed to be a different kind of year – full of promise, collaborations, and business successes (that’s what I asked God for). And then COVID-19 jumped upon the scene and well….I guess 2020 has been different but just not in the way I was expecting! If you are an entrepreneur then you understand what it means to pivot or change direction. As my mother used to say, ‘if you don’t bend, you’ll break‘. As an entrepreneur, you have

2020/05/11

Lifestyle & Tech

truly stylish phone grip

One of the truly telltale signs of being fashionable and stylish is making something your own….and standout! The phone grips have been around for a while and I resisted because they sported schools, sororities, whack sayings, etc – nothing that was quite my speed. Until now…… thank Janet Gwen! She has created a line of one-of-a-kind phone grips that read chic and upscale while still remaining functional. She carries other stone phone grip options like rose quartz and black agate….soooo

2020/05/09

Lingerie

supporting the girls but loving freedom

Being home a lot but still being “seen” has taken its toll on my underwear drawer! I have been trying to find the balance between giving the girls some support but not being overly restrictive either. And if you live with others (which I don’t….whew!) then you definitely have to consider what they are exposed to daily as well….lol. Icing on the cake – I don’t want to walk around with sagging boobs because it doesn’t make me feel sexy.

2020/05/08

Beauty

facial mask mania

Before this pandemic, I did masks on occasion because someone said I needed to and, frankly. afterwards my face looked better LOL! But now that I’m home more, it allows me a little more time to get into a facial mask routine that has yielded some yummy results. First – remember that different masks are needed to address different issues. Second – remember the timing on when to use them because that affects their absorption and effectiveness. The masks I

2020/05/06

Style

onesies for #wfh

What about a one-piece for work?! Since this quarantine and lockdown has been in effect, I’ve been trying to think of new ways to keep it fresh while working from home. One way I’ve come up with to ensure I’m still comfy and look pulled together – but not expending too much effort (lol) – is to do onesies in the form of rompers and jumpsuits! I like to add pizazz just like the next chick-a-dee but when I’m not

2020/05/04

Accessories

everyday #wfh earrings

Most folks know that my favorite earrings are my Erickson Beamon razor’s edge earrings! But given our everyday situation is working-from-home, they hardly seem appropriate so, I’ve had to find something else. Frankly, I need/want earrings because they add sparkle to the face but also for impromptu FaceTime calls that I field (now that I’ve relaxed my hair again!!). Plus I need something I can fall asleep in that won’t hurt me when I wake up the next morning. The

2020/05/01

Food & Restaurants

wine time!

What else can I do while I’m home to unwind in the evening? “They” say you’re supposed to maintain some type of schedule or normalcy so, a glass of wine sounds right! The issue for me is that when I think of opening a bottle, I remember that I cannot drink the entire thing in one or two sittings….so some gets wasted (smh). The solution hit my inbox two weeks ago with VineBox, a quarterly wine subscription service. Unlike the other

2020/05/01

Men's Matters

men’s summer essential

Think long and hard about the warm weather must-haves for men and I’m 80% sure you’ll come up with a short-sleeve shirt of some kind. It’s not cool to overheat or to show it… This Todd Snyder utility shirt works perfectly with jeans or linen pants but also with some dressier slacks + lightweight blazer for evenings outdoor affairs.

2020/05/01

Our Blog

News, Articles & More

my may obsessions & purchases

clogs: they’re earthy stylish but are they good for you?

my nails look a mess!

post-quarantine – which fashion norm will you subscribe to?

my longstanding love affair with denim

9 do’s & don’ts of quarantine dressing

the power of pivoting

truly stylish phone grip

supporting the girls but loving freedom

facial mask mania

onesies for #wfh

everyday #wfh earrings

wine time!

men’s summer essential

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